Windows vs Mac/Linux vs Console Mayhem (Split Thread)

Post by **Funk, E** » Fri May 09, 2008 3:31 pm

That's true, but you're also shutting yourself off from a good portion of gaming goodness. If you're cool with that, that's fine. Note, too, that I've never had a problem with Steam. I know plenty of folks have, but I'd wager they're a vocal minority.

Post by **Mozgus** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:02 pm

Funk, E wrote:That's true, but you're also shutting yourself off from a good portion of gaming goodness.

Not just a good portion. The vast majority. I stick with PC, because most of the 360 games I want come to PC in 6 months. The reverse is not true at all, despite what he thinks. Only a few of the good PC games come to 360, and usually with hampered controls and features.

Post by **Niode** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:28 pm

I am aware of a lot of games not coming to anything but PC. You have to admit that PC gamers are a dying breed though. Most PC only devs are going console. Even Crytek are going console for their next games. Epic seem to be swaying more towards developing games for pc and console at the same time.

I'm quite happy to miss out a handful of games for PC and enjoy much better games on consoles. Like you said Moz, the games come out eventually for PC 6 months after release. I can have those games now, and without the hassle that comes with PC gaming. (ie, driver issues, hardware upgrades, OS instability).

PC gaming isn't the be all and end all that it once was. When the highest spec'd PC's can't handle Crysis on the highest settings, what's the point? Wait, do I have to wait 6 months to play a PC only title now? C'mon PC gaming ain't what it's cracked up to be anymore. I know, i've been there, done that.

The only thing I miss is Sam & Max episodes, but that's rumored to be getting a port. So I can hope for that.

Post by **Mozgus** » Fri May 09, 2008 4:45 pm

I guess this isn't going to end. ::sigh::

This articles kills most of your arguments. I'll let it do the work for me.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1 ... 336,00.asp

Also this just in. Burnout Paradise coming to PC.

http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50526

But oh no! I'm not getting to play it in the same time-frame as my console brethren! Whatever shall I do? Oh, well. I guess I'll have to just not give a fuck, like how I've been playing countless retro games years or even decades late, and not giving a fuck. Fact is, PC games completely quench all of my thirst for cutting-edge gaming.

Post by **Niode** » Fri May 09, 2008 5:10 pm

I think i'd rather save cash and just play consoles. Thanks for all the info but i'll go back to not giving a fuck about PC gaming anymore. I'll enjoy all my cutting edge games on 360 and PS3 exclusives that will never get a release on PC. Then i've also got my Wii with even more games that won't be coming out on a PC. Then i've got all my retro games on their original consoles. Oh yeah i've also got my xbox for emulating everything that a PC can emulate.

Anything else I have my MBP for.

PC gaming and windows just doesn't even come into it. I have no need for that crap anymore.

Post by **Ivo** » Sat May 10, 2008 5:01 am

devilmyarse wrote: PC gaming and windows just doesn't even come into it. I have no need for that crap anymore.

It's perfectly fair to say you have no need for PC gaming at all. But it is at best ignorant, and it may be downright stupid to insist PC gaming is crap.

I think it is fair to say it has declined from previous years (depends on how you evaluate, because if you count in terms of profit, WoW and company make strong points towards PC gaming growing). Number of "exclusively" PC good titles may be a worthwhile metric here, and how many titles to do you need to have per year to consider PC gaming isn't crap?

Anyone that dedicates himself to just one platform, or to one subset of the available platforms, is likely missing out on some good games. I don't think there have been that many systems out there that didn't have ANYTHING good (good is not the same as excellent).

Now, the type of games that the platforms you opted out on may not be worth the effort / cost. There are many good games, new and old, to play that compete for your time.

None of this needs to apply to everyone, of course!
But I personally don't want to miss out on PC gaming.
a) the controls are better for me in a number of games available in consoles and PCs
b) I like the type of games that are PC "exclusives" (many of which are freeware or small budget indy games, of which you get only a small sample in XBox live arcade; others are MMO games)
c) Even not buying state of the art gear all the time, you can play the great PC games - only a bit later. This is what I do as well with consoles most of the time, it's MUCH more cost effective and there are so many excellent old games I haven't played yet that I don't see many good reasons to jump on just released stuff at (IMO) inflated prices just for the novelty of it (novelty that is often unoriginal

).

I like console gaming a lot, but just ignoring PC gaming for the sake of it is akin to being a Sony / Microsoft / Nintendo "fanboy" that can't see all platforms have their worthwhile games.

EDIT: The link Mozgus provides is a good read and basically provides the good points.

Ivo.

Post by **Niode** » Sat May 10, 2008 10:50 am

I just don't see the cost of entry worthwhile anymore. I was a heavy PC gamer for many many years. Since moving to OS X and Linux, i've been much happier at what I can achieve and how much faster I can do it with those operating systems. Never really thought about pc gaming that much anymore. There's nothing that really appeals that isn't available on another format.

Saying I'm missing out on PC gaming as a whole is not technically true, a lot of games get mac ports. I can still play games through virtualisation (ie cider/crossover). The majority of games that are coming out for PC don't interest me. I've never been a big RTS fan. The only games that i've really enjoyed are CIV IV (I sold my pc version to get a mac version) and Starcraft (which is mac/pc anyway). C&C I could just play on 360 if I wanted to subject myself to hours upon on hours of tedium. I'm bored of FPS and the big RPG titles are getting released multiformat.

I'd like to see a list of PC exclusive titles that are coming out in the next 6 months or have been released in the last 6 months. I will be shocked if theres more than 10 titles on there.

I'm talking games for windows games, not EA etc titles that are going to be/if not already ported to mac.

Post by **Mozgus** » Sat May 10, 2008 12:14 pm

devilmyarse wrote:I'd like to see a list of PC exclusive titles that are coming out in the next 6 months or have been released in the last 6 months. I will be shocked if theres more than 10 titles on there.

I'm talking games for windows games, not EA etc titles that are going to be/if not already ported to mac.

Most titles under the Games for Windows campaign are of course going to be on 360. You're just limiting choices to that bridge to make a point that you otherwise cant. GfW is a very limited set of games, usually very sloppy ports, and the whole thing is terribly executed. The finest PC games, of which there are hundreds in recent years, don't ever touch that fucking trainwreck. GfW is like a big spoonful of the absolute worst parts of Xbox Live.

Post by **Niode** » Sat May 10, 2008 12:19 pm

I didn't really know of any other way of saying pc games that are just for windows... games for windows is a nice placeholder. I honstely can't see there being a lot of games worth my time that are windows only. I've never seen many decent games in video game shops... It's been a long time since i've seen a truly great game for PC, obviously that I can't play on linux or mac...

I'm not sure what the point you're trying to make is.

Post by **Mozgus** » Sat May 10, 2008 4:47 pm

devilmyarse wrote:I didn't really know of any other way of saying pc games that are just for windows... games for windows is a nice placeholder. I honstely can't see there being a lot of games worth my time that are windows only. I've never seen many decent games in video game shops... It's been a long time since i've seen a truly great game for PC, obviously that I can't play on linux or mac...

I'm not sure what the point you're trying to make is.

OUR point is that just because you're ignorant about PC gaming, doesn't mean what you assume about them is true. No, PC games are generally not advertised on TV, or otherwise being forced into your brain, so of course YOU aren't going to hear about them, because you aren't educating yourself about them. You're making an active decision to ignore the platform because as you said, you already have too much on your plate. So just stick with that story would you? Cut it out with all the denial. I mean, I don't have a 360, Wii, or PS3, but I still watch trailers and read opinions about their releases, because maybe someday they'll be worth buying. I don't just put the hand up and roll my eyes at them when I see a console, and I don't stick my fingers in my ears when people talk to me about them.