PC Gamers Too Good At Cross-Platform Gaming says Microsoft

Rahul Sood, Voodoo PC founder and current CTO of gaming at HP, spins an interesting yarn about an aborted Microsoft project that would've let PC and Xbox gamers face-off. The only problem? During testing, the PC gamers cleaned Xboxers' clocks.

In the middle of a rumination on the lukewarm state of PC gaming, Sood divulges some details of a project Microsoft was working on "many many months ago" to let PC and Xbox users face off in games like Gears of War and Unreal Tournament, an effort that would've effectively bridged the gap between Xbox Live and Windows Live.

Sadly for the project, the fight wasn't exactly a fair one.

http://gizmodo.com/5593116/were-pc-gamers-too-good-for-microsofts-cross+platform-gaming-project

360 gamers got TOASTED :D

Already a thread on it here.

Makes sense. Of course, Kinect is going to change all of that, right? When I can start blasting guys with my finger?

I'm not surprised. I'm primarily a 360 gamer, (since thats what all my friends play) but every once in a while I'll start up TF2 or something like that, and when I go back to the 360 I feel so restricted with the controller. The mouse and keyboard are a much better input device.

Sky's still blue too, right?

That said, I'd like to watch 360 gamers face off against PC gamers using the 360 pad. I'm not under the illusion that it'd prove anything, of course - I just want to see it for the laughs.

Sky's still blue too, right?

That said, I'd like to watch 360 gamers face off against PC gamers using the 360 pad. I'm not under the illusion that it'd prove anything, of course - I just want to see it for the laughs.

lowe0

Sky's still blue too, right?

That said, I'd like to watch 360 gamers face off against PC gamers using the 360 pad. I'm not under the illusion that it'd prove anything, of course - I just want to see it for the laughs.

lowe0

Probably console gamers would have the advantage in that situation,just like PC gamers would have if everyone was playing with mouse and key.

Each one would probably be more proficient with the control scheme they´re used to,the only point this makes is that if both were playing in their original control schemes,the PC gamer would always win.

[QUOTE="lowe0"]

Sky's still blue too, right?

That said, I'd like to watch 360 gamers face off against PC gamers using the 360 pad. I'm not under the illusion that it'd prove anything, of course - I just want to see it for the laughs.

ferret-gamer

which is homefield advantage I suppose.

it'd be great to have this as an optional feature. some people like a challenge. others get to play the game with friends cross-platform.

should've pushed it forward.

[QUOTE="lowe0"]

Sky's still blue too, right?

That said, I'd like to watch 360 gamers face off against PC gamers using the 360 pad. I'm not under the illusion that it'd prove anything, of course - I just want to see it for the laughs.

Arach666

Probably console gamers would have the advantage in that situation,just like PC gamers would have if everyone was playing with mouse and key.

Each one would probably be more proficient with the control scheme they´re used to,the only point this makes is that if both were playing in their original control schemes,the PC gamer would always win.

the best PC players against the best console players, yeah.

but there's some 'slow' people out there. :P

[QUOTE="Arach666"]

[QUOTE="lowe0"]

Sky's still blue too, right?

That said, I'd like to watch 360 gamers face off against PC gamers using the 360 pad. I'm not under the illusion that it'd prove anything, of course - I just want to see it for the laughs.

HavocV3

Probably console gamers would have the advantage in that situation,just like PC gamers would have if everyone was playing with mouse and key.

Each one would probably be more proficient with the control scheme they´re used to,the only point this makes is that if both were playing in their original control schemes,the PC gamer would always win.

the best PC players against the best console players, yeah.

but there's some 'slow' people out there. :P

Sky's still blue too, right?

That said, I'd like to watch 360 gamers face off against PC gamers using the 360 pad. I'm not under the illusion that it'd prove anything, of course - I just want to see it for the laughs.

Console peasents are not worthy enough to enter the realm of true, competitive gaming. 8)

Skill has nothing to do with it, Kb/M is too big of an advantage.

Many games would work fine cross platform, like racing games and fighting games, PC gamers and console gamers will both be using controllers, its fair ground and i would love to see it. Street Fighter 4 and Dirt 2 both used GFWL on PC it could have worked and made people care about GFWL. Also co-op could work fine.

Console peasents are not worthy enough to enter the realm of true, competitive gaming. 8)

WhenCicadasCry

people like this make me ashamed to be a PC Gamer... not that I restrict myself to PC, I own all systems and enjoy them all for their strengths and the games they give me.... I often choose the PC version of a 360/PC game, with some exceptions. Anyone who limits themselves to PC's are not true gamers.

[QUOTE="WhenCicadasCry"]

Console peasents are not worthy enough to enter the realm of true, competitive gaming. 8)

people like this make me ashamed to be a PC Gamer... not that I restrict myself to PC, I own all systems and enjoy them all for their strengths and the games they give me.... I often choose the PC version of a 360/PC game, with some exceptions. Anyone who limits themselves to PC's are not true gamers.

[QUOTE="moistsandwich"]

[QUOTE="WhenCicadasCry"]

Console peasents are not worthy enough to enter the realm of true, competitive gaming. 8)

NVIDIATI

people like this make me ashamed to be a PC Gamer... not that I restrict myself to PC, I own all systems and enjoy them all for their strengths and the games they give me.... I often choose the PC version of a 360/PC game, with some exceptions. Anyone who limits themselves to PC's are not true gamers.

Obviously not. :P

[QUOTE="NVIDIATI"][QUOTE="moistsandwich"]

people like this make me ashamed to be a PC Gamer... not that I restrict myself to PC, I own all systems and enjoy them all for their strengths and the games they give me.... I often choose the PC version of a 360/PC game, with some exceptions. Anyone who limits themselves to PC's are not true gamers.

WhenCicadasCry

Obviously not. :P

no i didn't realize, I suspected, but wasn't sure.... regardless there are plenty of people around that actually think that way.

[QUOTE="NVIDIATI"][QUOTE="moistsandwich"]

people like this make me ashamed to be a PC Gamer... not that I restrict myself to PC, I own all systems and enjoy them all for their strengths and the games they give me.... I often choose the PC version of a 360/PC game, with some exceptions. Anyone who limits themselves to PC's are not true gamers.

WhenCicadasCry

Obviously not. :P

Its true we are just a bunch of elitist ****bags :P

:? You do know he's just joking around...NVIDIATI

Unfortunately, sarcasm and jokes do not translate well on the Internet. Also, due to cultural reasons, people do not take lightly to certain jokes.

[QUOTE="NVIDIATI"]:? You do know he's just joking around...thom_maytees

Unfortunately, sarcasm and jokes do not translate well on the Internet. Also, due to cultural reasons, people do not take lightly to certain jokes.

move and wii motion plus are better for shooters

I think it would be fine if there was a universal control scheme. I mean, its not just one way you know.

I imagine if PC gamers faced off against consolites in a fighter like Street Fighter IV the advantages of face buttons and memorization on a controller would well be above a keyboard. In short, its not so much the PC gamers themselves as it is the highly accurate and speedy nature of a mouse and keyboard combo for shooters.

Seriously, if it was limited so that PC gamers had to use controllers or someone made a console that used a keyboard set up than I imagine there wouldn't be much difference other than PC gamers having no life when it comes to "being l33t" :D

[QUOTE="WhenCicadasCry"]

[QUOTE="NVIDIATI"] :? You do know he's just joking around...moistsandwich

Obviously not. :P

no i didn't realize, I suspected, but wasn't sure.... regardless there are plenty of people around that actually think that way.

I think that way.

console gamers are infinitely better than PC gamers... in terms of skill.

like myself PC gamers tend to be an older crowd.. and while i probably give us a mental/strategic advantage. The kids on xbox live have insane reflexes and hand eye coordination... much more so than the PC crowd.

of course the KB/M is an infinitely quicker and more precise input device which is why they can beat them on controllers... but as someone whos very familiar with both input devices and gamed on both... consoles gamers are a much more skilled group in general.

move and wii motion plus are better for shooters

dontshackzmii

Just no.

console gamers are infinitely better than PC gamers... in terms of skill.

like myself PC gamers tend to be an older crowd.. and while i probably give us a mental/strategic advantage. The kids on xbox live have insane reflexes and hand eye coordination... much more so than the PC crowd.

of course the KB/M is an infinitely quicker and more precise input device which is why they can beat them on controllers... but as someone whos very familiar with both input devices and gamed on both... consoles gamers are a much more skilled group in general.

markinthedark

I completely disagree with you. You want INSANE reflexes and hand eye coordination? Go check some real pros play some Counter-Strike. Their reflexes and twitch FAR surpasses any console gamer's.

console gamers are infinitely better than PC gamers... in terms of skill.

like myself PC gamers tend to be an older crowd.. and while i probably give us a mental/strategic advantage. The kids on xbox live have insane reflexes and hand eye coordination... much more so than the PC crowd.

of course the KB/M is an infinitely quicker and more precise input device which is why they can beat them on controllers... but as someone whos very familiar with both input devices and gamed on both... consoles gamers are a much more skilled group in general.

markinthedark

:lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlQY8e2mwzo#t=1m11s

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

console gamers are infinitely better than PC gamers... in terms of skill.

like myself PC gamers tend to be an older crowd.. and while i probably give us a mental/strategic advantage. The kids on xbox live have insane reflexes and hand eye coordination... much more so than the PC crowd.

of course the KB/M is an infinitely quicker and more precise input device which is why they can beat them on controllers... but as someone whos very familiar with both input devices and gamed on both... consoles gamers are a much more skilled group in general.

Eggimannd

I completely disagree with you. You want INSANE reflexes and hand eye coordination? Go check some real pros play some Counter-Strike. Their reflexes and twitch FAR surpasses any console gamer's.

Yea its gonna come off that way in a video... just like if you put me in a bugatti veyron and had me race dale earnheart jr in a kia sofia. I could probably beat him in a race and look much more impressive doing it... even though hes an infinitely better driver than me because i have the better vehicle.

[QUOTE="Eggimannd"]

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

console gamers are infinitely better than PC gamers... in terms of skill.

like myself PC gamers tend to be an older crowd.. and while i probably give us a mental/strategic advantage. The kids on xbox live have insane reflexes and hand eye coordination... much more so than the PC crowd.

of course the KB/M is an infinitely quicker and more precise input device which is why they can beat them on controllers... but as someone whos very familiar with both input devices and gamed on both... consoles gamers are a much more skilled group in general.

markinthedark

I completely disagree with you. You want INSANE reflexes and hand eye coordination? Go check some real pros play some Counter-Strike. Their reflexes and twitch FAR surpasses any console gamer's.

Yea its gonna come off that way in a video... just like if you put me in a bugatti veyron and had me race dale earnheart jr in a kia sofia. I could probably beat him in a race and look much more impressive doing it... even though hes an infinitely better driver than me because i have the better vehicle.

There is absolutely no correlation between reflexes and what gaming system one chooses. Just look at those quake videos if you want to argue skill. People complain about arrogant PC gamers, but who come they don't complain about arrogant console gamers?

I feel that this thread will not end well. The elitism from both PC and console gamers seems to already be brewing.

-

I think skill is determined by how well a person can play a game rather than how they stack against someone else. Along with that, you have to include homefield advantages that may be used against someone (console user playing on a keyboard and mouse/PC user playing on a gamepad). Yes, you can say someone has more skill or is more experienced with a game or control scheme, but I don't think it should be said in a way that shows superiority over another (I speak of this about anyone in general, not a particular group).

console gamers are infinitely better than PC gamers... in terms of skill.

like myself PC gamers tend to be an older crowd.. and while i probably give us a mental/strategic advantage. The kids on xbox live have insane reflexes and hand eye coordination... much more so than the PC crowd.

of course the KB/M is an infinitely quicker and more precise input device which is why they can beat them on controllers... but as someone whos very familiar with both input devices and gamed on both... consoles gamers are a much more skilled group in general.

markinthedark

Biggest load of bs I've ever seen in a PC vs Console argument.

Knowing that you probably wrote it with a straight face saddens me.

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

[QUOTE="Eggimannd"]

I completely disagree with you. You want INSANE reflexes and hand eye coordination? Go check some real pros play some Counter-Strike. Their reflexes and twitch FAR surpasses any console gamer's.

Firebird-5

Yea its gonna come off that way in a video... just like if you put me in a bugatti veyron and had me race dale earnheart jr in a kia sofia. I could probably beat him in a race and look much more impressive doing it... even though hes an infinitely better driver than me because i have the better vehicle.

There is absolutely no correlation between reflexes and what gaming system one chooses. Just look at those quake videos if you want to argue skill. People complain about arrogant PC gamers, but who come they don't complain about arrogant console gamers?

there is a correlation between age and reflexes... and the pc gamer crowd is much older. Its also a much smaller more exclusive group due to the price.

[QUOTE="Firebird-5"]

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

Yea its gonna come off that way in a video... just like if you put me in a bugatti veyron and had me race dale earnheart jr in a kia sofia. I could probably beat him in a race and look much more impressive doing it... even though hes an infinitely better driver than me because i have the better vehicle.

markinthedark

There is absolutely no correlation between reflexes and what gaming system one chooses. Just look at those quake videos if you want to argue skill. People complain about arrogant PC gamers, but who come they don't complain about arrogant console gamers?

there is a correlation between age and reflexes... and the pc gamer crowd is much older. Its also a much smaller more exclusive group due to the price.

Oh please. Prove that the PC gamer crowd is 'much' older. Prove it's a smaller group (oh wait... you can't). So far you've just pulled stuff out of nowhere to feed your ego.

Oh please. Prove that the PC gamer crowd is 'much' older. Prove it's a smaller group (oh wait... you can't). So far you've just pulled stuff out of nowhere to feed your ego.

Firebird-5

The thing I want to see the most is proof that the XBL crowd is more skilled than PC gamers.

Yes, you can put a monkey in front of a keyboard and I assure you it will smash buttons faster than a human. How good it would do in a competition, however...

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

[QUOTE="Firebird-5"]

There is absolutely no correlation between reflexes and what gaming system one chooses. Just look at those quake videos if you want to argue skill. People complain about arrogant PC gamers, but who come they don't complain about arrogant console gamers?

Firebird-5

there is a correlation between age and reflexes... and the pc gamer crowd is much older. Its also a much smaller more exclusive group due to the price.

Oh please. Prove that the PC gamer crowd is 'much' older. Prove it's a smaller group (oh wait... you can't). So far you've just pulled stuff out of nowhere to feed your ego.

"The average age of gamers increased slightly over last year from 31 years of age in the 2009 study to 32 years in this year's study. Avid PC Gamers and Offline PC Gamers, comprising 11 percent and 8 percent of the gaming population, respectively, are the oldest segments with an average age for both of 42 years."

just google "Average age of pc gamer" and goto the geezergaming.com link

im getting an error when i try to post the link, but the original info is from NPD

[QUOTE="Firebird-5"]

Oh please. Prove that the PC gamer crowd is 'much' older. Prove it's a smaller group (oh wait... you can't). So far you've just pulled stuff out of nowhere to feed your ego.

Mograine

The thing I want to see the most is proof that the XBL crowd is more skilled than PC gamers.

Yes, you can put a monkey in front of a keyboard and I assure you it will smash buttons faster than a human. How good it would do in a competition, however...

which is why i said i think PC gamers would clearly have the advantage in the intelligence/strategy category. But there isnt much thought process required to play most fps games. Any strategy heavy game i would think the average pc gamer would easily come out on top.

console gamers are infinitely better than PC gamers... in terms of skill.

like myself PC gamers tend to be an older crowd.. and while i probably give us a mental/strategic advantage. The kids on xbox live have insane reflexes and hand eye coordination... much more so than the PC crowd.

of course the KB/M is an infinitely quicker and more precise input device which is why they can beat them on controllers... but as someone whos very familiar with both input devices and gamed on both... consoles gamers are a much more skilled group in general.

markinthedark

My friend,what you state is untrue.

I´ve played Quake 3 for a long time and I had many matches with the console players that played with the keyboard and mouse on the dreamcast. Some of them were quite skilled I have to say.

Although,after awhile they started to set up their own "special" servers stating that they were for dreamcast players only. Why? Because they were in most cases flattened by the PC crowd.

And they were using mouse and keyboard as well...and I know this because many of us usually peeked on their forums here

They even created a thing called "fragging Fridays" where suposedly only dreamcast players were allowed so that they wouldn´t have to play against the PC crowd...

Why did they complained so much about the PC guys and avoided them like the plague?

They were using the same input devices as the PC gamers so that surely wasn´t it. Maybe the PC gamers had the unfair advantage because they were not using the dreamcast official mouse and keyboard?

Or maybe...

But there isnt much thought process required to play most fps games.

markinthedark

Here's the deal.

Pick 10 close XBL friends that played CoD4 a lot.

Give them a week or two to get used to the KB+M combo.

I'm going to use a silenced MP5/G36C/M4, UAV Jammer, Bandolier and Dead Silence.

See how your "amazing reflexes" and "no reasoning process required" turns out.

:lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlQY8e2mwzo#t=1m11s

WhenCicadasCry

Kids won't understand what's going on in that video.

On GT someone posted a similar video in a similar discussion and they were all like "omg boring all they're doing is jumping around. not impressive"

You can't appreciate what you don't understand. I used to be a PC gamer but I switched to consoles just because more of my friends/family have it but man, Quake was amazing.

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

console gamers are infinitely better than PC gamers... in terms of skill.

like myself PC gamers tend to be an older crowd.. and while i probably give us a mental/strategic advantage. The kids on xbox live have insane reflexes and hand eye coordination... much more so than the PC crowd.

of course the KB/M is an infinitely quicker and more precise input device which is why they can beat them on controllers... but as someone whos very familiar with both input devices and gamed on both... consoles gamers are a much more skilled group in general.

Arach666

My friend,what you state is untrue.

I´ve played Quake 3 for a long time and I had many matches with the console players that played with the keyboard and mouse on the dreamcast. Some of them were quite skilled I have to say.

Although,after awhile they started to set up their own "special" servers stating that they were for dreamcast players only. Why? Because they were in most cases flattened by the PC crowd.

And they were using mouse and keyboard as well...

They even created a thing called "fragging Fridays" where suposedly only dreamcast players were allowed so that they wouldn´t have to play against the PC crowd...

Why did they complained so much about the PC guys and avoided them like the plague?

They were using the same input devices as the PC gamers so that surely wasn´t it. Maybe the PC gamers had the unfair advantage because they were not using the dreamcast official mouse and keyboard?

Or maybe...

Dude i have no idea... i had a dreamcast but i didnt even know it had a M/KB and didnt even know you could play games online. Comparing the dreamcast online community to the xbox live online community is a little ridiculous. Back then if you were serious about online gaming you didnt play online on a console, you used a pc... this is the first gen where serious online gamers are using consoles.

also back in the quake 3 days... internet speed was probably the most telling factor of how well you played. I know because i used to go into my dads work and use the university connection and destroy people... but when i got home and used my 56k it was like a completely different game.

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]But there isnt much thought process required to play most fps games.

Mograine

Here's the deal.

Pick 10 close XBL friends that played CoD4 a lot.

Give them a week or two to get used to the KB+M combo.

I'm going to use a silenced MP5/G36C/M4, UAV Jammer, Bandolier and Dead Silence.

See how your "amazing reflexes" and "no reasoning process required" turns out.

or you could just get a 360 and try xbox live and see how well you do...

[QUOTE="Eggimannd"]

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

console gamers are infinitely better than PC gamers... in terms of skill.

like myself PC gamers tend to be an older crowd.. and while i probably give us a mental/strategic advantage. The kids on xbox live have insane reflexes and hand eye coordination... much more so than the PC crowd.

of course the KB/M is an infinitely quicker and more precise input device which is why they can beat them on controllers... but as someone whos very familiar with both input devices and gamed on both... consoles gamers are a much more skilled group in general.

markinthedark

I completely disagree with you. You want INSANE reflexes and hand eye coordination? Go check some real pros play some Counter-Strike. Their reflexes and twitch FAR surpasses any console gamer's.

Yea its gonna come off that way in a video... just like if you put me in a bugatti veyron and had me race dale earnheart jr in a kia sofia. I could probably beat him in a race and look much more impressive doing it... even though hes an infinitely better driver than me because i have the better vehicle.

It comes out that way because that's how it is. I've been playing CS 1.6/Source for many years and while being a pretty good player, I pale so much in comparison to top level players. Their reflexes/twitch are just inhuman. And it's not only because it looks like that on video. They're just insanely skilled. More than anything I've seen console players do.

[QUOTE="Arach666"]

[QUOTE="markinthedark"]

console gamers are infinitely better than PC gamers... in terms of skill.

like myself PC gamers tend to be an older crowd.. and while i probably give us a mental/strategic advantage. The kids on xbox live have insane reflexes and hand eye coordination... much more so than the PC crowd.

of course the KB/M is an infinitely quicker and more precise input device which is why they can beat them on controllers... but as someone whos very familiar with both input devices and gamed on both... consoles gamers are a much more skilled group in general.

markinthedark

My friend,what you state is untrue.

I´ve played Quake 3 for a long time and I had many matches with the console players that played with the keyboard and mouse on the dreamcast. Some of them were quite skilled I have to say.

Although,after awhile they started to set up their own "special" servers stating that they were for dreamcast players only. Why? Because they were in most cases flattened by the PC crowd.

And they were using mouse and keyboard as well...

They even created a thing called "fragging Fridays" where suposedly only dreamcast players were allowed so that they wouldn´t have to play against the PC crowd...

Why did they complained so much about the PC guys and avoided them like the plague?

They were using the same input devices as the PC gamers so that surely wasn´t it. Maybe the PC gamers had the unfair advantage because they were not using the dreamcast official mouse and keyboard?

Or maybe...

Dude i have no idea... i had a dreamcast but i didnt even know it had a M/KB and didnt even know you could play games online. Comparing the dreamcast online community to the xbox live online community is a little ridiculous. Back then if you were serious about online gaming you didnt play online on a console, you used a pc... this is the first gen where serious online gamers are using consoles.

also back in the quake 3 days... internet speed was probably the most telling factor of how well you played. I know because i used to go into my dads work and use the university connection and destroy people... but when i got home and used my 56k it was like a completely different game.

You are not speaking the truth again.

First,comparing those communities is not ridiculous at all. Those people were gamers just like the ones you have today and the Quake 3 dreamcst players were quite serious about that game(just like the ones that played PSO at the time).

Even today they are active and have a forum dedicated to the game.

So no,that´s not an excuse.

As far as internet speed goes,that has nothing to do with it,the dreamcast version of Quake 3 is known for being completely lag free and one of the best PC to console ports ever made. They never complained about that.Ever.

So no,that´s not an excuse in this case as well my friend.

All that I know is that the dreamcast players that were serious about Quake 3 all had keyboard and mouse on the console but almost everytime them were defeated by the PC crowd.

Again,they were using the same input devices as the PC gamers so that surely wasn´t the problem.

Maybe the PC gamers had the unfair advantage because they were not using the dreamcast official mouse and keyboard?

Maybe its because the dreamcast players weren´t playing on a desk(or were they?)?

Surely the fact that the PC gamers are sitting on a chair at the desk was giving them unfair advantage. Or maybe it´s because of the chair...

Fact is,the only game that I know of where console gamers and PC gamers had no real "advantages" over each other(like console gamers having auto aim...)is Quake 3 ,and the PC crowd won almost every time.