Skill: Console vs PC

I've heard quite a few comments from consolers stating "m/kb is too hard to adapt to".

Question: does gaming on PC take more skill than console? Or are the aforementioned statements simply coming from people who haven't had enough "time behind the wheel"?

Would a console-only gamer be able to survive in BC2 PC or CSS for example? Has Gears of War and its auto-aim/cover/regen'ing health mantra created a generation of gamers that have lost the "competitive" capability of previous PC based generations?

Anecdotally I can tell you that Gears on PC was one of the easiest games I've ever played; compared to a competitive shooter you can basically hold down the trigger and run forward to beat the game. While fun for the story/cutscenes, it leaves much to be desired gameplay wise.

In summation, I'm thinking this dichotomy exists on the two systems:

PC - gameplay first, story second (skill checks to advance to next cutscene)

Console - story first, gameplay second (run forward holding trigger to begin next cutscene)

I don't think it's as simple as PC gaming takes more skill/console gaming takes less skill or vice versa. However, I absolutely think there are some games and genres that take a huge amount of skill (certain Strategy games etc).

It just depends what you're used to. Someone who has never used KB/M would find it very difficult at first and the same may apply to a PC Gamer who tries consoles for the first time.

If I had to choose though, I'd say PC probably takes for skill

Impossible to judge.

imo it takes more skill to handle that stiff analgue stick in shooters :P

In before "PC shooter is point and click lol analogs take more skills" failing to mention that analogs have aim assist mechanics in place and alot less recoil in the majority of games.Birdy09

Analog aiming is an excersize in frustration; instead of mastering the combat, you are mastering a handicap.

It's a level playing field on both :)locopatho

That is true. But system to system PC is vastly more "skill" based.

Analog = wrestling with a handicap

Mouse = how dominant are you at aiming

IMO PC games have a much higher skill ceiling and general skill of players.

Jesus Christ, this are video games, you don't need some sort of PhD to play them unless you are professional and i really mean professional, other than that you don't need more than a couple of hours of free time, desire to learn the game and you will be good in any game in any platform.

Any console gamer who has never played counter-strike before will get destroyed. Ive played the game on and off for something like 10 years now and I still havent mastered the game. No aim assist, recoil, and ability to shoot through walls makes this game varied and much more competitive than most games you can find on the console.

IMO the skill difference doesnt neccesarially come from the controls but rather it is because a lot of games on PC are developed to last for many years. That being said, they have steep learning curves and a skilled player has much more advantage over noobies than compared to a game like COD. I wish more FPS developers on consoles would use this model however theyre too focused on making a game that lasts a year so that they can release a new entry into the series the next one and get double the sales. Its ridiculous but gamers only have their selves to blame. The way you use your money determines every choice the gaming industry takes.

Jesus Christ, this are video games, you don't need some sort of PhD to play them unless you are professional and i really mean professional, other than that you don't need more than a couple of hours of free time, desire to learn the game and you will be good in any game in any platform.

madsnakehhh

No PhD required.

Just a simple question about skill levels between the systems. One is mini-golf, the other is the US Open.

[QUOTE="locopatho"]It's a level playing field on both :)haberman13

That is true. But system to system PC is vastly more "skill" based.

Analog = wrestling with a handicap

Mouse = how dominant are you at aiming

Jesus Christ, this are video games, you don't need some sort of PhD to play them unless you are professional and i really mean professional, other than that you don't need more than a couple of hours of free time, desire to learn the game and you will be good in any game in any platform.

madsnakehhh

[QUOTE="locopatho"]It's a level playing field on both :)haberman13

That is true. But system to system PC is vastly more "skill" based.

Analog = wrestling with a handicap

Mouse = how dominant are you at aiming

All that is is your opinion. Theres no fact behind any of it.

You are essentially comparing different toolsets. If I had to make an analogy, I would say it compares to,, say Rally racing vs Nascar racing. Which takes more skill to master the sport? How can it even be judged?

[QUOTE="haberman13"]

[QUOTE="locopatho"]It's a level playing field on both :)locopatho

That is true. But system to system PC is vastly more "skill" based.

Analog = wrestling with a handicap

Mouse = how dominant are you at aiming

Objectively mouse allows for the player skill to shine through; with controller player skill also contributes, but the ceiling is much lower, so a highly skilled console gamer will still appear mediocre - whereas that same skill translated on PC would = domination.

[QUOTE="haberman13"]

[QUOTE="locopatho"]It's a level playing field on both :)h575309

That is true. But system to system PC is vastly more "skill" based.

Analog = wrestling with a handicap

Mouse = how dominant are you at aiming

All that is is your opinion. Theres no fact behind any of it.

You are essentially comparing different toolsets. If I had to make an analogy, I would say it compares to,, say Rally racing vs Nascar racing. Which takes more skill to master the sport? How can it even be judged?

But both require mastery of a wheel - a more fair comparison would be:

PC = Nascar racing with a wheel

Console = Nascar racing with a radio control standing in the audience

[QUOTE="madsnakehhh"]

Jesus Christ, this are video games, you don't need some sort of PhD to play them unless you are professional and i really mean professional, other than that you don't need more than a couple of hours of free time, desire to learn the game and you will be good in any game in any platform.

haberman13

No PhD required.

Just a simple question about skill levels between the systems. One is mini-golf, the other is the US Open.

No is not, you will be good in any game you want despite the platform.

[QUOTE="locopatho"][QUOTE="haberman13"]

That is true. But system to system PC is vastly more "skill" based.

Analog = wrestling with a handicap

Mouse = how dominant are you at aiming

haberman13

Objectively mouse allows for the player skill to shine through; with controller player skill also contributes, but the ceiling is much lower, so a highly skilled console gamer will still appear mediocre - whereas that same skill translated on PC would = domination.

It really depends on who you ask. I personally am not the greatest FPS player ever, I am no champion. But I find it ten times harder to play on consoles. I cannot fathom playing games like GTA: Vice City, COD4 or any game for that matter on a console, I just can't do it because of the controls. Keyboard and mice have always treated me well. I've just always done all my personal gaming on PC and I only play with consoles at friends' and relatives' houses.

EDIT: For anyone that saw that last message, I realize that completely contradicted what I said. Sorry about that.

[QUOTE="madsnakehhh"]

Jesus Christ, this are video games, you don't need some sort of PhD to play them unless you are professional and i really mean professional, other than that you don't need more than a couple of hours of free time, desire to learn the game and you will be good in any game in any platform.

rikimaru93

Does that prevents me for been good at the game? No.

Have you read some walktroughts of any big RPG on consoles (Oggre Battle for example), there are tons of calculations and tons of theories too, but that doesn't mean that if i'm not some sort of a math genious i cannot enjoy the game and being damn good at it.

This whole, PC needs more skill may be true in some games, but saying that i cannot get into PC gaming because i've played consoles all my life and i don't have the necessary skill to be competitive in let's say Counter Strike, is plain dumb and ridiculous.

With that theory, i must assume that PC gamers are horrible in BlazBlue Continuum Shift and no one will ever be good at the game because they have been playing with a mouse and a keyboard their whole life.

It's impossible to be fairly judged. Especially considering that I'm sure there's isn't as much console only owning gamers or PC only owning gamers.

Not to mention there's the controllers and the Mouse and Keyboard. PC gamers would destroy console gamers in an FPS while console gamers would destroy PC gamers in a game like Bayonetta or DMC.

There's just too many variables.

Well IMO it is hard to say which takes more skill, but PC is better. A good analogy would be something like:

cutting a piece of steak with a spoon. (Console/analog)

cutting a piece of steak with a knife. (PC)

I mean it is just a no brainer really :P.

It's impossible to be fairly judged. Especially considering that I'm sure there's isn't as much console only owning gamers or PC only owning gamers.

Not to mention there's the controllers and the Mouse and Keyboard. PC gamers would destroy console gamers in an FPS while console gamers would destroy console gamers in a game like Bayonetta or DMC.

There's just too many variables.

tagyhag

You might want to fix that if you can. Otherwise, get your flame shield ready. :P

[QUOTE="tagyhag"]

It's impossible to be fairly judged. Especially considering that I'm sure there's isn't as much console only owning gamers or PC only owning gamers.

Not to mention there's the controllers and the Mouse and Keyboard. PC gamers would destroy console gamers in an FPS while console gamers would destroy console gamers in a game like Bayonetta or DMC.

There's just too many variables.

marcogamer07

You might want to fix that if you can. Otherwise, get your flame shield ready. :P

Haha I fixed it the second you quoted me. :lol:

They both take skill. People say that using a controller is stupid, other's say that kb/m is stupid. I personally found it easier to play an FPS with kb/m. It really is point and click.

Control system issues aside, I don't know of many console games that have community-driven competition on the level of Starcraft 2, Counter-Strike, WoW arena, Shogun 2, etc.

There is just a lot more to do on the PC for someone who wants to play very competitive games.

im enjoying gears too much to care

It's impossible to be fairly judged. Especially considering that I'm sure there's isn't as much console only owning gamers or PC only owning gamers.

Not to mention there's the controllers and the Mouse and Keyboard. PC gamers would destroy console gamers in an FPS while console gamers would destroy PC gamers in a game like Bayonetta or DMC.

There's just too many variables.

tagyhag

Exactly, it is impossible to know for sure.

Control system issues aside, I don't know of many console games that have community-driven competition on the level of Starcraft 2, Counter-Strike, WoW arena, Shogun 2, etc.

There is just a lot more to do on the PC for someone who wants to play very competitive games.

superfluidity

Are there competitive games on console? I can't think of one, but maybe someone would say Halo?

[QUOTE="superfluidity"]

Control system issues aside, I don't know of many console games that have community-driven competition on the level of Starcraft 2, Counter-Strike, WoW arena, Shogun 2, etc.

There is just a lot more to do on the PC for someone who wants to play very competitive games.

haberman13

Are there competitive games on console? I can't think of one, but maybe someone would say Halo?

off the top of my head i can think of 15

I would argue that console "competition" is a game of mastering a handicap (which takes skill for sure).

PC competition is a game of mastering the game - you aren't limited by control method, but by your own ability. In other words the game is your limitation, not the control method.

[QUOTE="superfluidity"]

Control system issues aside, I don't know of many console games that have community-driven competition on the level of Starcraft 2, Counter-Strike, WoW arena, Shogun 2, etc.

There is just a lot more to do on the PC for someone who wants to play very competitive games.

haberman13

Are there competitive games on console? I can't think of one, but maybe someone would say Halo?

If they do exist, it's probably rather mild. I really don't know if console gamers are competitive compared to the magnitude of PC gamers (from what I've seen and heard).

[QUOTE="haberman13"]

[QUOTE="superfluidity"]

Control system issues aside, I don't know of many console games that have community-driven competition on the level of Starcraft 2, Counter-Strike, WoW arena, Shogun 2, etc.

There is just a lot more to do on the PC for someone who wants to play very competitive games.

marcogamer07

Are there competitive games on console? I can't think of one, but maybe someone would say Halo?

If they do exist, it's probably rather mild. I really don't know if console gamers are competitive compared to the magnitude of PC gamers (from what I've seen and heard).

Agreed. PC gamers are a different breed of competitive psychosis.

Console seems more like waiting for cutscenes/enjoying story/etc.

I would argue that console "competition" is a game of mastering a handicap (which takes skill for sure).

PC competition is a game of mastering the game - you aren't limited by control method, but by your own ability.

haberman13

no competition simply means battling other players, none of this elitist PC no "113 soop4r n0 a1m ass55sist h3a4dsh00tz" crap

so dont give that PC is the only competitive platform , its just as competitive as the wii or the nintendo 64, just with better aesthetics

I think a console gamer trying PC controls for the first time, will have an easier time adjusting than a PC gamer trying console controls for the first time. That's all I have to say.

Control system issues aside, I don't know of many console games that have community-driven competition on the level of Starcraft 2, Counter-Strike, WoW arena, Shogun 2, etc.

There is just a lot more to do on the PC for someone who wants to play very competitive games.

superfluidity

PC gaming is with no doubt house of the biggest E-Sports and i'm happy since i enjoy a lot the SC2 scene, however, there exist also a strong competitive side in consoles too, starting for fighters, they have their own big tournament, EVO Championship, and in Japan they also have a serious of big tournaments like God's Garden (that's the name i think).

[QUOTE="haberman13"]

[QUOTE="superfluidity"]

Control system issues aside, I don't know of many console games that have community-driven competition on the level of Starcraft 2, Counter-Strike, WoW arena, Shogun 2, etc.

There is just a lot more to do on the PC for someone who wants to play very competitive games.

HailedJohnDman

Are there competitive games on console? I can't think of one, but maybe someone would say Halo?

off the top of my head i can think of 15

[QUOTE="haberman13"]

I would argue that console "competition" is a game of mastering a handicap (which takes skill for sure).

PC competition is a game of mastering the game - you aren't limited by control method, but by your own ability.

HailedJohnDman

no competition simply means battling other players, none of this elitist PC no "113 soop4r n0 a1m ass55sist h3a4dsh00tz" crap

so dont give that PC is the only competitive platform , its just as competitive as the wii or the nintendo 64, just with better aesthetics

Technically softball is competitive; but we see it differently don't we?

Console = softball

PC = MLB

[QUOTE="haberman13"]

I would argue that console "competition" is a game of mastering a handicap (which takes skill for sure).

PC competition is a game of mastering the game - you aren't limited by control method, but by your own ability.

HailedJohnDman

no competition simply means battling other players, none of this elitist PC no "113 soop4r n0 a1m ass55sist h3a4dsh00tz" crap

so dont give that PC is the only competitive platform , its just as competitive as the wii or the nintendo 64, just with better aesthetics

Okay...what?!?! :?

[QUOTE="HailedJohnDman"]

[QUOTE="haberman13"]

Are there competitive games on console? I can't think of one, but maybe someone would say Halo?

Birdy09

off the top of my head i can think of 15

1. cod4
2. cod2
3. cod5
4. codmw2
5. codbo
6. halo3
7. reach
8. gears1
9. gears2
10. gears3
11. kz2
12. kz3
13. uc2
14. uc1
15. bioshock2
16. bc2
17. gta4

and so on

I've heard quite a few comments from consolers stating "m/kb is too hard to adapt to".

Question: does gaming on PC take more skill than console? Or are the aforementioned statements simply coming from people who haven't had enough "time behind the wheel"?

Would a console-only gamer be able to survive in BC2 PC or CSS for example? Has Gears of War and its auto-aim/cover/regen'ing health mantra created a generation of gamers that have lost the "competitive" capability of previous PC based generations?

Anecdotally I can tell you that Gears on PC was one of the easiest games I've ever played; compared to a competitive shooter you can basically hold down the trigger and run forward to beat the game. While fun for the story/cutscenes, it leaves much to be desired gameplay wise.

In summation, I'm thinking this dichotomy exists on the two systems:

PC - gameplay first, story second (skill checks to advance to next cutscene)

Console - story first, gameplay second (run forward holding trigger to begin next cutscene)

haberman13

Neither match the skill of 80s/90s consoles.

With that said, I'd say there's more skill involved in pc single player games--ones that are made for pc, but for multiplayer it goes to consoles. Mainly in part because consoles are a fixed platform and everyone is on a level playing field, or at least for the most part.

[QUOTE="Birdy09"][QUOTE="HailedJohnDman"]

off the top of my head i can think of 15

HailedJohnDman

1. cod4
2. cod2
3. cod5
4. codmw2
5. codbo
6. halo3
7. reach
8. gears1
9. gears2
10. gears3
11. kz2
12. kz3
13. uc2
14. uc1
15. bioshock2
16. bc2
17. gta4

and so on

UC 1 doesn't even have multiplayer.... :lol:

[QUOTE="HailedJohnDman"]

[QUOTE="haberman13"]

I would argue that console "competition" is a game of mastering a handicap (which takes skill for sure).

PC competition is a game of mastering the game - you aren't limited by control method, but by your own ability.

marcogamer07

no competition simply means battling other players, none of this elitist PC no "113 soop4r n0 a1m ass55sist h3a4dsh00tz" crap

so dont give that PC is the only competitive platform , its just as competitive as the wii or the nintendo 64, just with better aesthetics

Okay...what?!?! :?

my point exactly

[QUOTE="haberman13"]

[QUOTE="HailedJohnDman"]

no competition simply means battling other players, none of this elitist PC no "113 soop4r n0 a1m ass55sist h3a4dsh00tz" crap

so dont give that PC is the only competitive platform , its just as competitive as the wii or the nintendo 64, just with better aesthetics

HailedJohnDman

Technically softball is competitive; but we see it differently don't we?

Console = softball

PC = MLB

no

PC=useless crap of a machine a nerd has to show for living in his moms basement for 18 years

Console=Just a normal gaming machine

You and haberman should meet up and scrap. :lol:

[QUOTE="superfluidity"]

Control system issues aside, I don't know of many console games that have community-driven competition on the level of Starcraft 2, Counter-Strike, WoW arena, Shogun 2, etc.

There is just a lot more to do on the PC for someone who wants to play very competitive games.

haberman13

Are there competitive games on console? I can't think of one, but maybe someone would say Halo?

This is the Roster for EVO 2011, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, Super Street Fighter IV, Mortal Kombat 9, Tekken 6, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift.

How many of this games are on PC, oh right...