Is the PC really the best gaming system?

It seems to me it has recently become popular to think that the PC is far above any other gaming system and that it's only natural that it's the best gaming system.

But is it really?

First off, we have look at things from different perspectives.

Sure, the PC has "potentially" the most power and is the most versatile.

After all, it's not only a gaming system (though, that doesn't matter in this particular case).

It also has the biggest game library of any other system, given that you are able to run those games (legally).

Likewise, the graphics are usually the best on the PC and it allows for modding and actual game development.

The openess and upgradability of the platform are certainly advantages (from a certain perspective).

The system also has a lot of it's own or atleast centric games which include entire game genres.

However, there are also certain disadvantages to this platform.

For example there is no standardization of the hardware which means that there will always be a big gap between the lowest-spec PCs and the highest-spec ones.

The average PC is surely not very powerful, altho systems built for gaming specifically tend to have better performance.

There is also no real standardization on the software (appart from "Games for Windows" label which ensures Windows compatibility), meaning that a lot of PC games get released in incomplete states, are buggy, unstable, ect.

Hardware prices are also pretty high and no matter how you try, the console will still be the cheaper system (appart from game prices).

There is also a need to frequently upgrade the hardware, unless one does not have high demands.

And finaly there are games (and even game genres) which do not get a PC release or come with delay on the PC (altho the same can be said in the other direction too).

Conclusion: the PC is a very good gaming system with "potentially" best hardware, the biggest game library, the most options and "potentially" best graphics, but may not satisfy everyone's gaming needs or taste.

It's really all in the eye of the beholder.

If all you want to play is RTS and MMO games, then yes. Every other genre can be found on consoles.

I would not think so. . .

For me, it is the best, but it's not because of graphics, mods, resolution, or whatever general perks people often tell you about it.

I like to have one place for all of my games and I center it around my PC because I do a lot of stuff on it. Also considering that it will be the only system to go on to the next generation, I do not have to worry about spending money for a new console to play next gen games.

As for it being the best, that's all in the beholder's eyes, which is decided through a system's software.

I recently played Gears 3, and I hated it. Aiming is crap and horrible compared to a pc with 60fps. Response time is horrid on that game...aiming shouldn't be so difficult and time consuming (if this makes no sense...youtube mouse vs gamepad videos for examples). Graphics are crap (yet supposedly awesome for console). After getting used to nice pc hardware and a proper pc experience, consoles feel extremely old. 60fps, full hd resolutions, more game options (of course you lose the console exclusives, but pc exclusives are there as well and often better experiences), you can still use a controller on many games, you can check for hints online if you are stuck while in game, etc. The list goes on... My conclusion is that PC gaming is much, much more engaging than console solutions. That's not to say there's anything wrong with consoles...it's just saying that I personally prefer pc gaming to such a degree that playing on consoles is frustrating, rather than entertaining, to me. demi0227_basic

Playing one game, and comparing it to resolutions and fps of pc games makes console gaming crap? :lol:Whatever helps you sleep at night...

You even failed to name some of those PC exclusives that offer "better" experiences :roll:

IMO yes, I play it more overall then my ps3 and xbox360.

I think as a system the Xbox 360 is best.

in terms of options and selection of games, and all the other non-gaming things it does...yes

It's really all in the eye of the beholder.

lundy86_4

Yeah. the best platform is relative to your needs/wants.

Also considering that it will be the only system to go on to the next generation, I do not have to worry about spending money for a new console to play next gen games.

Valiant_Rebel

But you don't know how you current PC will run future games so you still have to worry about upgrading it (unless you got some very future-proof system).

Personally I game more on consoles, I only use my PC for Diablo 2,Warcraft 3,Starcraft 2,The Witcher 2,Dawn of War games and later this year ToR, other than that every game I pick up is on 360 or ps3.

Well it does everything a consoles does, better and it does more than that as well. Personally, it is the best gaming system. It gives you the options to do what you want.ShadowDeathX

Personally, I judge every gaming system on how appealing it's games are to me. Incredible power would mean next to nothing to me if there were no games that would appeal to me.

A six years old PC is pretty garbage today btw.

[QUOTE="Valiant_Rebel"]

Also considering that it will be the only system to go on to the next generation, I do not have to worry about spending money for a new console to play next gen games.

nameless12345

But you don't know how you current PC will run future games so you still have to worry about upgrading it (unless you got some very future-proof system).

System requirements really aren't evolving that much anymore. Sure, there are more games coming out that support DX10/11, but if your PC is already capable of that, there's nothing much to worry about. I bought my PC 1,5 years ago and it can still run pretty much any game at max settings (except system hogs like Arma 2 and Cryostasis). I don't expect system requirements to take another major leap before the next generation of consoles, making the 'constant upgrading' argument practically a moot point by now.

[QUOTE="ShadowDeathX"]Well it does everything a consoles does, better and it does more than that as well. Personally, it is the best gaming system. It gives you the options to do what you want.nameless12345

Personally, I judge every gaming system on how appealing it's games are to me. Incredible power would mean next to nothing to me if there were no games that would appeal to me.

A six years old PC is pretty garbage today btw.

If all you want to play is RTS and MMO games, then yes. Every other genre can be found on consoles.

Haiyama

Well that is clearly nonsense, the PC has the best games and the most games of any genre except perhaps sports and 3rd person cover shooters (not really a popular genre on the PC as it is easy to aim with the mouse so no need for them). My opinion of course, but it is also an opinion of any games reviewer, as has been demonstrated with statistics more times than I can count.

Incidentally I'm a PC gamer and I hate MMO games and have played about 2 RTS games briefly in the last 10 years. I generally prefer FPS or FPS/RPG or RPG, of which the PC is a long way ahead of any console.

RE TC - Depends on what you want to do and what games you want to play. Undeniably the PC has the greater power and the superior controls for a shooting game, i.e. faster and more precise. However if you like sports games then a console is the way to go as not that many are released on the PC. Likewise if you like 3rd person button mashers then the console is the way to go also.

That's purely subjective, I like playing the odd game on my PC but it doesn't compare to my PS3 and it's exclusives.MushroomWig

Honestly not for me. What makes a system for me are the games, and PC doesn't have as many games that interest me as consoles.

I think you could argue any system is the best.

If you're looking for a hardcore open platform with heavy customization but a need for technical know how, then you could say the PC is the best.

If you want something with an abundance of cheap games, some amazing, some not, with lots of room for local play and fun then you could also say the Wii is the best.

Its very subjective and all platforms have their pros and cons.

its a great system but it has its ups and downs. The grass is not greener on the other side.

Not if you're into Japanese games and platformers, which I am.

I think you could argue any system is the best.

If you're looking for a hardcore open platform with heavy customization but a need for technical know how, then you could say the PC is the best.

If you want something with an abundance of cheap games, some amazing, some not, with lots of room for local play and fun then you could also say the Wii is the best.

Its very subjective and all platforms have their pros and cons.

SPYDER0416

How dare you make sense! This is System wars! Pick a side or get out!

[QUOTE="Valiant_Rebel"]

Also considering that it will be the only system to go on to the next generation, I do not have to worry about spending money for a new console to play next gen games.

nameless12345

But you don't know how you current PC will run future games so you still have to worry about upgrading it (unless you got some very future-proof system).

Don't forget that PC games have graphical options. Just because it is possible for someone to run a game at its highest settings does not mean I have to as well. If need be, I would just lower the settings, turn down AA, or whatever else, so it's not as big of a worry for me.

For the most part, I've been able to run every game at its highest settings, so I'll be fine. This is just the case for me, of course.

For me, it is the best, but it's not because of graphics, mods, resolution, or whatever general perks people often tell you about it.

I like to have one place for all of my games and I center it around my PC because I do a lot of stuff on it. Also considering that it will be the only system to go on to the next generation, I do not have to worry about spending money for a new console to play next gen games.

As for it being the best, that's all in the beholder's eyes, which is decided through a system's software.

Valiant_Rebel

If all you want to play is RTS and MMO games, then yes. Every other genre can be found on consoles.

Haiyama

Only reason I prefer consoles is price.

I mean, to play Crysis at max settings you have to have a rig that costs atleast 600... That's just sad.

Only reason I prefer consoles is price.

I mean, to play Crysis at max settings you have to have a rig that costs atleast 600... That's just sad.

parkurtommo

To play Crysis at the settings it plays on an xbox, you would only need a rig worth 150.

PC is absolutely the best gaming system, there's no debating it from my perspective. It easily trumps consoles in every way possible. There are so many games on PC that just cannot be done properly on console, that's reason enough for me. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy my PS3 but it doesn't hold a candle to my PC.

[QUOTE="parkurtommo"]

Only reason I prefer consoles is price.

I mean, to play Crysis at max settings you have to have a rig that costs atleast 600... That's just sad.

iamrob7

To play Crysis at the settings it plays on an xbox, you would only need a rig worth 150.

I think as far as exclusives go, it's a mixed bag. I am interested in playing Dark Souls, which although isn't an exclusive for the PS3 it is an exclusive for consoles. However GOW3 doesn't interest me at all, I played GOW on the PC and it was incredibly mediocre and quite boring by PC shooter standards.

It depends on your preference though, the best exclusive IMO of the last 5 years on any platform have been the Stalker games. Some of my favourite games of all time. The mods and everything else have led to me playing through all 3 games 2-3 times each. However they were buggy on release and they certainly carry a more mature story/atmosphere than you would find in your average console game.

As for graphics, really I don't care too much that the PC has superior this or that. The only two things about graphics I care about are the resolution and the framerate. That's because I like playing a lot of FPS games, so playing at 30FPS just doesn't cut it when you are used to 60+. Likewise the resolution, I am used to gaming at 1080p in every game. When I play on a console with the blurry/jagged graphics and the low resolution it puts me off. I guess if you weren't used to a higher standard it wouldn't bother you though. Likewise with framerate, if you aren't used to it being butter smooth all the time then you might not care about 30FPS.

I've yet to encounter a multiplatform game that isn't superior on the PC. I guess you have to take your pick on the exclusives and whether the above mentioned graphical features are important to you.

[QUOTE="iamrob7"]

[QUOTE="parkurtommo"]

Only reason I prefer consoles is price.

I mean, to play Crysis at max settings you have to have a rig that costs atleast 600... That's just sad.

parkurtommo

To play Crysis at the settings it plays on an xbox, you would only need a rig worth 150.

I'm not, just recently I gave away a computer to a friends daughter for free. If I was to sell it I would be lucky to get £50 for it. It plays Crysis on lowish settings at a slightly higher resolution than the xbox plays it at. If I was allowed the indulgence of using 2nd hand parts off ebay, I could probably build a computer that runs crysis on superior settings to the xbox for under 100.

honestly yes...u can customize it anyway u want...u want a controller...buy one...theres hundreds for u to choose...and many of them have the same scheme as the 360 and ps3 controller....not to mention ones that are completely different for ur liking...u want 3 monitors go for it...u want surround go for it...u want to play on ur tv go for it...u want 3d go for it...there is nothing u cant do on pc...except for exclusives...but exclusives dont count cause ps3 and 360 and wii all have exclusives just like pc...

For me PC gaming is x10 better than consoles for too many reasons to write down.

But there are some good games PC aint got and thats the only reason why consoles ( for many people ) are more appealing. You just insert a disc and play an exclusive you wont find it on PC. And no im not talking about Wii ( you get what i mean i think , dont want to get moderated ) but for PS3/X360 exclusives cant find their way on PC.

But fully unbiased i want to say that this gen im a PC gamer only , my very first gen without own a console since ATARI 2600 , and it felt so good that i really appreciated PC gaming and made me some kind of fan. ( Im PC gaming also since 98 more or less but first time PC gamer alone ).

Multimedia options , online free gaming , modding and backwards compatibility is insane for PC gamers. you can play EVERY SINGLE game there is in gaming history more or less , aside PS3/X360 games. Who can beat that? Noone . And for these 4 reasons alone , to me , PC is a winner by default. ( i wont talk about graphics or power , games matters in the end ).

Only reason I prefer consoles is price.

I mean, to play Crysis at max settings you have to have a rig that costs atleast 600... That's just sad.

parkurtommo

[QUOTE="parkurtommo"]

Only reason I prefer consoles is price.

I mean, to play Crysis at max settings you have to have a rig that costs atleast 600... That's just sad.

ShadowDeathX

[QUOTE="ShadowDeathX"][QUOTE="parkurtommo"]

Only reason I prefer consoles is price.

I mean, to play Crysis at max settings you have to have a rig that costs atleast 600... That's just sad.

parkurtommo

you can play EVERY SINGLE game there is in gaming history more or less , aside PS3/X360 games. Who can beat that? Noone

AzatiS

Not legally tho. But let's not get into details, eh? ;)

The backwards compatibility may require some work too.

[QUOTE="Valiant_Rebel"]

For me, it is the best, but it's not because of graphics, mods, resolution, or whatever general perks people often tell you about it.

I like to have one place for all of my games and I center it around my PC because I do a lot of stuff on it. Also considering that it will be the only system to go on to the next generation, I do not have to worry about spending money for a new console to play next gen games.

As for it being the best, that's all in the beholder's eyes, which is decided through a system's software.

ianuilliam

I got it last summer, 2010. My PC before that barely ran Counter Strike on medium settings. It was only made for WoW at the time.

depends on who you are. what kind of games you like, and how much you are willing to put in.

Unless you are really into japanese games or figthing games i would argue that the PC is the best overall. for me it definatley is.

I would NEVER game on PC unless its a laptop, consoles are a lot more accessible than PC's when talking mobility lol.

also PC gamers have a horrible stigma of being "hermits" or nerds, even more so than console gamers. A console gamer can still be considered cool, but how does the PC gamer look when a guest or friend comes over to visit and he is sitting in front of 3 monitors side to side with a head set and keyboard ?

"hey bro ! come join me over here at my desktop, there's lots of space ! you use W-A-S and I'll use the arrows !"

yeah ... exactly.