Console vs PCs in retrospect

[RCBH928]

This is probably one of the most of the debated and tired topics in videogames history . While we all know the advantages and disadvantages of both , I really believe that we are at a point where they are all the same point by now. Both consoles and PCs do probably the same thing even run Blurays and browse the internet. I believe the only advantage of consoles now are the fact that any game you buy is guaranteed to meet the system requirements.

What I wanted to know is back around the mid 80's to about to 2005 (Xbox launch) what made people choose the console over the PC. I can't tell because I wasn't enough to analyse both.

Can some one just give me an idea how was the console vs PC scene around that era? Here are some points I'd like to be discussed

1) If PCs were advancing so much , then a PC in 93 would have killed a SNES graphics that was released only 2 years ago (and had to fight for 3 more years until 64). This could be applied to any era (NES '83 ->PC '88). Neo Geo was released in 1990 , wasn't a PC more powerful by then to replicate arcade games? The console lived until early 2000's , Pretty sure PCs by then could put out arcade quality games.

2) Although the rule is PCs are always more powerful by the time a console is released I always remember that the consoles always had better (more aesthetic ?) graphics. For example I do not recall something like FF7 on a PC and all those beautiful looking RPGs of early 90's. Also Were there fighters for PCs as good as the Saturn ones?

3) Were people fighting between which was better a PC or a console? I have no memory of this.

4) Is it possible that console gaming was way much more popular than PCs because a PC was expensive and a console was only $100-300 ?

5) Other than FPS and RTS can some one name a game genre that was superior on the PC over their console counterparts ?

6)Would you say that the PC gaming today is at its all time high with services like Steam and huge backward compatibility , and services like Steam and GOG?

Note I am not trying to argue anything here, I am just trying to get a better understanding of the gaming culture of that era.

[Hobie-wan]

2) Although the rule is PCs are always more powerful by the time a console is released I always remember that the consoles always had better (more aesthetic ?) graphics. For example I do not recall something like FF7 on a PC and all those beautiful looking RPGs of early 90's. Also Were there fighters for PCs as good as the Saturn ones?

http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/f ... creenshots

RPGs made the jump from dice and paper to computers in the west. See The Bard's Tale, Wizardry, and Might and Magic. Dragon Quest/Warrior games were heavily influenced by these when they came about on consoles.

Fighters that actually were ported to PC were mostly ignored because there weren't a lot of multi button controllers that were appropriate to play them. Most gamepads back then had 2 buttons still and most joysticks that did have lots of buttons were flight sticks. So this meant you'd be left trying to play them with the keyboard which is obviously very difficult. Not that there aren't a few people that managed to do it.

[Erik_Twice]

1) If PCs were advancing so much , then a PC in 93 would have killed a SNES graphics that was released only 2 years ago.

I don't quite understand the question here. By 1993, the SNES was competing against both Doom and Myst which were far beyond the capabilities of the console.

2) Although the rule is PCs are always more powerful by the time a console is released I always remember that the consoles always had better (more aesthetic ?) graphics.

I haven't found any significant difference in the quality of art direction. There were pretty and ugly games in both sides of the fence.

Also Were there fighters for PCs as good as the Saturn ones?

All the good fighting games I know were made by Japanese companies, who weren't particularly interested in the PC platform so it has always been a minor genre there beyond some ports.

3) Were people fighting between which was better a PC or a console? I have no memory of this.

These battles have existed since the dawn of time.

4) Is it possible that console gaming was way much more popular than PCs because a PC was expensive and a console was only $100-300 ?

Depending on the region and the time frame, computers were more popular than consoles and often cheaper, specially considering how widespread piracy was on some of them (Commodore 64 and Amiga, for example).

5) Other than FPS and RTS can some one name a game genre that was superior on the PC over their console counterparts ?

Simulators, point and click adventure games, simplified pen and paper RPGs and economical games come to mind.

6)Would you say that the PC gaming today is at its all time high with services like Steam and huge backward compatibility , and services like Steam and GOG?

Gaming is now much more popular than it has ever been, I wouldn't be surprised if the market's share for PC gaming were lower yet more people played on it than ever.

Hope that helps.

[isiolia]

1) If PCs were advancing so much , then a PC in 93 would have killed a SNES graphics that was released only 2 years ago (and had to fight for 3 more years until 64). This could be applied to any era (NES '83 ->PC '88). Neo Geo was released in 1990 , wasn't a PC more powerful by then to replicate arcade games? The console lived until early 2000's , Pretty sure PCs by then could put out arcade quality games.

PCs are/were easily more capable. Generally, PCs were not trying to bring an arcade experience home, where that was more the style of games expected from consoles.

2) Although the rule is PCs are always more powerful by the time a console is released I always remember that the consoles always had better (more aesthetic ?) graphics. For example I do not recall something like FF7 on a PC and all those beautiful looking RPGs of early 90's. Also Were there fighters for PCs as good as the Saturn ones?

FF7 came out on PC too, albeit not at the same time as on the PS1. The PC, at times, had the best available ports of fighters. Some of that is simply a matter of opinion, and/or of realizing what all was actually out there.

3) Were people fighting between which was better a PC or a console? I have no memory of this.

Not usually. PC and console tended not to be used as much for the same genres. So if there was a debate, it'd be more between the style of games on PC and the style on consoles.

4) Is it possible that console gaming was way much more popular than PCs because a PC was expensive and a console was only $100-300 ?

In part. PC gaming used to require a bit more knowledge/prep work too though.

5) Other than FPS and RTS can some one name a game genre that was superior on the PC over their console counterparts ?

Basically any kind of simulation, adventure, strategy, etc. The common style of RPGs and the like was different as well.

6)Would you say that the PC gaming today is at its all time high with services like Steam and huge backward compatibility , and services like Steam and GOG?

Yes and no. I think the availability of software is there, but the huge variance in GPU power is a bit of a detriment.


Even setting aside the cost and complexity differences, I think the biggest difference is/was the popular genres on the respective platforms. You still won't find many true simulations on consoles, or MMOs, western style strategy games, and so on. It's still hit or miss on whether there's a PC version of the latest fighter, even if the arcade hardware is probably a PC anyway.

Back then, it was usually less a matter of if the PC version was better or worse, or whether you wanted to play something as stylistically different as, say, X-Wing compared to Super Empire Strikes Back (which both came out in 1993).

For those who had a choice, of course. There are other angles, like the relative cost of a home computer then, and parents who'd want to make sure it got used for as much as possible. That, prior to the advent of 3D accelerators, there weren't as many caveats on whether a game could play or not.
I think if you had something like a kid with an iPhone being told to use that for games instead of a 3DS, you might have a modern parallel.

[Menegrothx]

This argument is stupid because the two are not the same and compliment each other. If you don't play old computer games, you are missing out. If you don't play old console games, you are missing out. You ask about arcade conversions and such, but you don't realize that even though there were games that were ported to both computers and consoles, computers and consoles specialized in different kinds of games back in the 1980s and 1990s even though there was a lot of overlapping. Computers other than PC like Amiga and X68000 and FM Towns in Japan were catering more towards console and arcade style gaming as far as I know.

1) If PCs were advancing so much , then a PC in 93 would have killed a SNES graphics that was released only 2 years ago (and had to fight for 3 more years until 64). This could be applied to any era (NES '83 ->PC '88). Neo Geo was released in 1990 , wasn't a PC more powerful by then to replicate arcade games? The console lived until early 2000's , Pretty sure PCs by then could put out arcade quality games.

By 1993-1995 PCs were doing 3D games that weren't doable on SNES/Genesis. Some adventure games on PC had 2D graphics you couldn't do with a SNES/Genesis back in 1992-1995.

2) Although the rule is PCs are always more powerful by the time a console is released I always remember that the consoles always had better (more aesthetic ?) graphics. For example I do not recall something like FF7 on a PC and all those beautiful looking RPGs of early 90's. Also Were there fighters for PCs as good as the Saturn ones?

Are you talking about aesthetics/art or pure performance? Well, by 1997 PC had Curse of Monkey Island (some of the smoothest, most beautiful 2D to ever grace a video game). By 1998 PCs had games like Thief: The Dark Project, Half Life and Unreal while PS1 had Final Fantasy 8. I wouldn't say that PC had as much aesthetically beautiful games back then (although they did exist), but from a pure performance view point 3D games were always ahead of consoles.
I think (only guessing here) that PC games far less really use full potential of the hardware because the PC tech is always evolving.


There aren't a whole lot of PC exclusive fighting games. I know the Amiga had some fighting games that rivalled Neo Geo in graphics, but I'm assuming this thread is about PC only rather than all computer platforms.

4) Is it possible that console gaming was way much more popular than PCs because a PC was expensive and a console was only $100-300 ?

Yes.

5) Other than FPS and RTS can some one name a game genre that was superior on the PC over their console counterparts ?

RPGs. The style differs drastically though. Console/JRPGs shined in the aesthetics department, while PC/WRPGs shined in the gameplay/RPG mechanics and writing department
Point and click adventure games (d'oh)
Strategy games
Simulation games
MMORPGs

Keyboard and mouse is good for pointing at things at the screen quickly (FPS, RTS, strategy, point&click) and games that use a lot of buttons (simulation, MMORPG, some strategy, FPS and RPGs etc). Gamepad is better for SHMUPs, platformers etc. Though arcade sticks and joysticks are preferrable on some genres (flight simulators, fighting games etc). But you can use gamepads on a console (and you can use a keyboard and a mouse on a Dreamcast and bunch of other consoles had a mouse addon too like PS1, Genesis and 3DO)

6)Would you say that the PC gaming today is at its all time high with services like Steam and huge backward compatibility , and services like Steam and GOG?

As far as user friendlyness goes? Absolutely. As far as games go, it's at an all time low.

[Violent By Design]

1) If PCs were advancing so much , then a PC in 93 would have killed a SNES graphics that was released only 2 years ago (and had to fight for 3 more years until 64).

The difference wasn't as well known. Tbh, there was not a lot of focus on graphics when it came to PC games at the time.

The whole obsession with graphics and bits is a console thing. Homecomputers did emphasize on it, but on a commercial scale, it was a console war marketing ploy.

At the start of the SNES's life, there probably wasn't a large difference between those graphics and PC graphics. But games like Wolfeinsten 3D and Doom came out during the SNES life span, and are superior to any SNES game visually.

This could be applied to any era (NES '83 ->PC '88). Neo Geo was released in 1990 , wasn't a PC more powerful by then to replicate arcade games? The console lived until early 2000's , Pretty sure PCs by then could put out arcade quality games.

I'm kind of confused on what you're asking. Are you asking if PCs by 2000 were strong enough to replicate Neo Geo games? The answer is yes, they were for the most part.

The Neo Geo is an odd case though. The Neo Geo is essentially an arcade cabinet, aside from having expensive parts it is heavily customized to optimize SNK games. Neo Geo was likely far superior to any accessible PC people had at the time of its release.

2) Although the rule is PCs are always more powerful by the time a console is released I always remember that the consoles always had better (more aesthetic ?) graphics. For example I do not recall something like FF7 on a PC and all those beautiful looking RPGs of early 90's.

FF7 was designed for the Playstation, and was lazily ported to the PC - but for the most part they looked the same.

When you take into account games like Quake and Starcraft, PC had games that looked pretty good. I remember playing games like Croc, and it looked better than any playstation game (certainly a lot better than a Saturn game).

The n64 looked nice, but pale in comparison to Quake 3, Half-life and what not.

Also Were there fighters for PCs as good as the Saturn ones?

There were not fighting games for PC for the most part. Fighting game developers primarily developed for the arcades, which lead to ports to consoles.

A big thing that has always held back fighting games on PC gaming are the controls. Playing fighting games on a keyboard isn't quite attractive. One can buy an arcade stick, but it is a minor inconvenience, but back then there was little support for such things.

3) Were people fighting between which was better a PC or a console? I have no memory of this.

Yes, back then I think there was a stigma that it was strange to play video games on your computer, as opposed to a video game console. I think that stigma very well still carries till today, because there really is no reason not to at least try to play video games on the PC, but some people just play games on their console out of habit.

The reason why you have no memory of PC gaming vs Console gaming is because there was no internet to forum such discussions. PC gaming was also a lot more low key back then, so audiences were more niche (especially during the 2D era). When 3D games starting popping up, PC games started to gain a lot more commercial traction. The people who played PC games started to get more loud, and the fan bases would clash (after all, that is what happens when two parties are into something that is different in just about anything).

Though when you think about it, just about everyone has played Solitaire on their PC. Many people have experienced Sim Tower-Sim City. Many kids in the US grew up playing Oregon Trail in schools. PC had a lot of games that people didn't really look at as serious video games, kinda like how people look at mobile device games now.

4) Is it possible that console gaming was way much more popular than PCs because a PC was expensive and a console was only $100-300 ?

No, I don't think so.

For one, console gaming was synonymous with video gaming. Video games were more or less designed to be played in the arcades. After a while, people started saying "hey, you don't need to go to the arcades to play video games!" - then home consoles started to really take off.

Computers up until recently were associated with nerds and doing work. Computers are not a kids toy, while SNES, Genesis, NES, Atari were marketed toward children. Most developers looked toward making console games as opposed to PC games. Console games were just marketed so much better, after all they basically inherited all of the killer ips from the Arcades, which gave them name brand recognition.

Also, not everyone had PCs just by coincidence like they do now. I mean in today's society, almost everyone uses the internet and what not, usually via PC (Linux and Mac can now run many games in their own right). Back then, not a lot of people went out to buy computers for the purpose of playing video games (in the United States).

5) Other than FPS and RTS can some one name a game genre that was superior on the PC over their console counterparts ?

The other genre's of strategy, simulation, adventure, RPGs (debatable), puzzle (debatable).

6)Would you say that the PC gaming today is at its all time high with services like Steam and huge backward compatibility , and services like Steam and GOG?

Yes, STEAM has made PC gaming very popular. Also, free to play online games have made PC gaming very accessible, which was a problem for it in the past. League of Legends is the most popular game in the world, and it cannot be played on a home console.

[Menegrothx]

At the start of the SNES's life, there probably wasn't a large difference between those graphics and PC graphics. But games like Wolfeinsten 3D and Doom came out during the SNES life span, and are superior to any SNES game visually.

Visually? Hell no. They were technically impressive but not as beautiful as colorful 2D SNES games. Better examples would be Ultima Underworld and System Shock (Looking Glass>id ), they were much more impressive as far as 3D worlds go. Not just how "3D" the games were, but also things like physics, lightning etc (not to mention gameplay mechanics). And then there were games like Wing Commander 3, Descent and the previously mentioned Myst that were released in 1993/1994.

The original System Shock is one of the most amazing games of all time. People rag on about Doom which is a simple run and shoot game, but System Shock accomplished so much more. Artistically and technically. Major gameplay and technical innovations.


You certainly didn't see intros like this on any games on SNES or Genesis back in 1994. (for example FF6 has an artistically amazing intro, but System Shock intro just kills any competition on tech department. Voice acting and 3D graphics+kickass music)

Actually that video should answer your question RCBH928. It's from the same year as Donkey Kong Country. System Shock was released in September 22, 1994/December 23, 1994 (Floppy disk, then CD) and Donkey Kong Country was released in November 21, 1994.

[MrNash]

Call me strange, but the big thing that has always drawn me to PC gaming is not the hardware, but specific types of games that I've only been able to find on that platform. Stuff like 4X and grand strategy have with rare exception been exclusively on PC. Given that they're two of my favorite genres of games, the PC will always be an important platform for me.

[Krejlooc]

1) If PCs were advancing so much , then a PC in 93 would have killed a SNES graphics that was released only 2 years ago (and had to fight for 3 more years until 64). This could be applied to any era (NES '83 ->PC '88). Neo Geo was released in 1990 , wasn't a PC more powerful by then to replicate arcade games? The console lived until early 2000's , Pretty sure PCs by then could put out arcade quality games.

They did. Compare the MS-DOS port of MK2 to the SNES port. It's absolutely no comparison, the MS-DOS port is virtually arcade perfect.

And that ignores stuff like doom.

But go beyond that - compare the Amiga in 1985 to the NES:

this:



vs this:



No comparison.

2) Although the rule is PCs are always more powerful by the time a console is released I always remember that the consoles always had better (more aesthetic ?) graphics. For example I do not recall something like FF7 on a PC and all those beautiful looking RPGs of early 90's. Also Were there fighters for PCs as good as the Saturn ones?

And yes, PC fighting ports were terrific. Super Street Fighter II Turbo, the MS-DOS CD version, blows away all other ports, including the 3DO port. The Windows 95 port of SFA2 is arcade perfect, even eliminating the loading times found in the Saturn port.

3) Were people fighting between which was better a PC or a console? I have no memory of this.

Yes.

4) Is it possible that console gaming was way much more popular than PCs because a PC was expensive and a console was only $100-300 ?

that is pretty much exactly why. Also, playing PC games required additional technological expertise.

5) Other than FPS and RTS can some one name a game genre that was superior on the PC over their console counterparts ?

flight sims, 4X games, adventure games, etc.

6)Would you say that the PC gaming today is at its all time high with services like Steam and huge backward compatibility , and services like Steam and GOG?

Without a doubt. Valve saved PC gaming.

Note I am not trying to argue anything here, I am just trying to get a better understanding of the gaming culture of that era.

Been a PC gamer since I got my 8088 in 1988. I've always had both consoles and PCs. they usually complimented each other, but there were always diehards in both groups.

[jfrost]

6)Would you say that the PC gaming today is at its all time high with services like Steam and huge backward compatibility , and services like Steam and GOG?

As far as user friendlyness goes? Absolutely. As far as games go, it's at an all time low.

You're insane.