@miser_cz Yeah, I mentioned the mod because I knew of its existence, but not all PC ports are moddable and not all PC gamers want to have the hassle of having to download or install mods just to get a game to run properly.
@YYankee So the term "Sony fanboys" was just thrown in there for fun? Read your original comment and take note of the tone and how it clearly seemed to be an attack on both Sony and it's customers. Also, try to understand that financial stress may have nothing to do with a company's business model and can quite easily be a reflection of the times. Seeing as how we've been going through a recession, as I've mentioned twice before already, and seeing as how many companies are feeling it and taking measures to combat those financial stresses, I just don't see the objective of that kind of comment other than to perhaps rile tensions.
Also, I mentioned microsoft as an example, but I did not accuse them of having a poor business model, or for doing things incorrectly, nor did I mention anything about fanboys. I was simply showcasing how everyone is suffering in this financial climate and my comment was in no way depicted as an attack like your original comment was. Perhaps I misread your tone though.
@YYankee Microsoft laying off 5000 employees in 2009 was also a sign of big financial problems. I'm not sure why you're trying to start a flame war when evidence clearly shows that many companies have been severely affected by this latest recession, not just Sony. To me it just feels like your comment was not aimed at starting an intellectual conversation, but rather to promote a bitter and unnecessary feud.
@demonkingx5 Choosing not to buy either can also be sensible, and would also be an informed decision aided by a graphics comparison like this. And yes, the most simple solution to this problem would be that devs stop making bad ports, but unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world where that would always happen, which means these kinds of comparisons may always be necessary.
@YYankee We just went through a recession (and some are still going through it). Everyone is having financial problems. Some just hide it better than others, but everyone still feels it.
@demonkingx5 Yes, but if the PC version was poorly ported from the console version and had a native resolution of, say, 1380 x 1024 and a choppy frame-rate while the console version ran smoothly with no issues, would you still choose the PC version?
Once again, I'll say this. I know there are other factors involved in choosing a game other than graphics or performance. Price is also one of those factors. Still, we can't deny that graphics or performance are factors that do matter to some people and can matter to the game itself.
@theend3r Let's not forget that in some cases, performance issues can cripple a game to the point where it becomes unplayable. Bayonetta is a perfect example of a console port that failed on one console but succeeded on another. If it was simply a case of choosing controller preferences, then those who chose the PS3 version on that factor alone would have been sorely disappointed by how inferior it was to the 360 version.
As another example, I'll use Dark Souls. The PC version for that game had absolutely no graphical advantages over its console counterparts whatsoever and, in fact, looked pretty ugly on a PC unless you got a community-made mod to fix it (which not all PC gamers would want to fuss with). Once again, this is an example where a graphics comparison like this could have saved those who own multiple platforms a lot of trouble and allowed them to make an informed decision to get the console version instead, if they wished to play the game without any fuss.
I do agree with you in that graphics or performance are not the only factors one should take into consideration when they are buying a game, but we can't pretend that they aren't factors at all.
Still people ask why these comparisons are made. I'm actually quite surprised people still don't understand yet, because the reason really isn't that complicated. It's for those who have multiple platforms to decide which platform to get it for. It is NOT to start a flame war or to prove which console is better, or to even try prove that PC's are better than consoles. It's just to allow gamers who have more than one platform to make a better informed decision!
"But if someone has a PS3 and a PC, it's obvious they'd go for the PC" you say, but that's not always the case, because not all PC ports are good. Even if they are, they are not always significantly better than their console counterparts, either from a lack of effort from the devs' side or because of technical issues. If there isn't too much of a difference between a PC version and a console version, some gamers may still opt to go with the console version regardless, simply because of ease of use (no installing, no risk of DRM, no worries about hardware incompatibilities, etc), while on the flip side, if the PC version is SIGNIFICANTLY better, they'd likely go with it instead for the performance.
I could go on to list other perfectly logical reasons why these comparisons are not only useful, but also in some cases necessary, but I really shouldn't have to because people should be smart enough to figure it out for themselves by now. I'm getting so tired of people running these comparisons down when gamers like myself, who own multiple consoles and a PC, find them to be very useful and helpful.
TenraiSenshi's comments