Comparing PC with Console games

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I work at a computer repair shop during the day, and when i want to play some games the last thing I want to do is stare at a computer screen for more than my obligatory 8 hours a day.

Its nice to lay on my couch with a controller in my hands and just play. If I game on the CPU then it seems to feel like work all over again. I also HATE tweaking settings to get the best graphics/performance ratio. Funny thing is, I don't even care about graphics, but when on a computer I get all OCD and I must max everything out, and find out the best settings. I don't even know why......

Some people like to mess with their settings to get optimal performance. I know I do anyway. Building your own machine is also part of the fun.

[MrPopo]

I work at a computer repair shop during the day, and when i want to play some games the last thing I want to do is stare at a computer screen for more than my obligatory 8 hours a day.

This is something I personally don't understand. I do programming for 8 hours a day and then will go home and be on the PC until midnight. Although now I do it on the couch simply because it involves a much bigger screen than my monitor.

[miked]

If I had a really nice wireless keyboard/mouse set up(one that I could get further than 6 feet from the receiver, like my current set) I would probably enjoy PC gaming a bit more if I could sit on my couch.

Also I have always been a console gamer. I try to buy nothing but exclusives for my consoles, but depending on the the gameplay style I get most of my multiplatform games on consoles too only buying a very occasional PC game. I don't know, I guess im a lazy ass and I enjoy sitting on the couch.

I guess what Im attempting to say is I like my gaming to be as plug and play as possible. Pop a disc in, sit on the couch and go.

Plus the stupid people you talk to in a computer repair shop makes me hate computers just a little more than your average user.

[GSZX1337]

If I had a really nice wireless keyboard/mouse set up(one that I could get further than 6 feet from the receiver, like my current set) I would probably enjoy PC gaming a bit more if I could sit on my couch.

That's not ideal for games like Crysis or Unreal Tournament 3. Now,if you're playing GFW games like Batman: Arkahm Assylum or LEGO Star Wars, then you could just get a wireless Xbox 360 controller.

Also I have always been a console gamer. I try to buy nothing but exclusives for my consoles, but depending on the the gameplay style I get most of my multiplatform games on consoles too only buying a very occasional PC game. I don't know,

Wait, so you don't get any games like Prototype because it's not exclusive to a console, or do you stay away from games like Doom 3 because it was a PC port? Just trying to understand you.

I guess im a lazy ass and I enjoy sitting on the couch.

Join the club.

I guess what Im attempting to say is I like my gaming to be as plug and play as possible. Pop a disc in, sit on the couch and go.

I don't blame you. As long as Windows is the main OS for games, gaming will never be plug and play. I'm trying to make my HTPC as close as one can get to plug and play, though. Just open up Maximus Arcade, look at the pretty cartridge pictures, pick up the controller and play (ironically, this is harder for videos than it is for games).

Plus the stupid people you talk to in a computer repair shop makes me hate computers just a little more than your average user.

I can relate with you there. I interned (and later worked) at a local computer shop for several years. I met some of the stupidest fucks when it came to PCs (seriously, one guy brought his comp in because he didn't know how to un-minimize his application). However, I still loved to game on my PC, so I guess I don't get quite as sour (remember when warheads were actually sour?).

[miked]

Wait, so you don't get any games like Prototype because it's not exclusive to a console, or do you stay away from games like Doom 3 because it was a PC port? Just trying to understand you.

What I mean is a KB and mouse are pretty much required for a competitive online FPS. If its a long single player FPS, like Bioshock or something, then I can get around with a controller just fine and have an enjoyable experience, but in something like Counter Strike I will get killed with the controller. So something like Prototype I would get on PS3, but a heavily multiplayer game I would get on my PC.

As for stupid customers, my favorite stupid problem that people come in with is, "It wont go."

Seriously. Does it not "go" past the bios screen? Does the video not "go"? Does it boot, but isn't fast enough so therefore it does not "go" fast enough? They can never seem to give me a clear answer either.

[MrPopo]

If I had a really nice wireless keyboard/mouse set up(one that I could get further than 6 feet from the receiver, like my current set) I would probably enjoy PC gaming a bit more if I could sit on my couch.

That's not ideal for games like Crysis or Unreal Tournament 3. Now,if you're playing GFW games like Batman: Arkahm Assylum or LEGO Star Wars, then you could just get a wireless Xbox 360 controller.

I agree it's not ideal, but I feel that I have really good control on my couch. I've never felt while playing that I died due to an issue with my mouse.

As long as Windows is the main OS for games, gaming will never be plug and play.

I disagree with this. There is nothing inheret to any other OS that would make them more plug and play than Windows. The main issue that keeps PC games from being plug and play is that my computer is different from your computer is different from Niode's computer. With the console you know EXACTLY what they're running and can design around it. Computers have a huge number of configurations and will be inherently more unstable.

[GSZX1337]

I disagree with this. There is nothing inheret to any other OS that would make them more plug and play than Windows. The main issue that keeps PC games from being plug and play is that my computer is different from your computer is different from Niode's computer. With the console you know EXACTLY what they're running and can design around it. Computers have a huge number of configurations and will be inherently more unstable.

I was mainly referring to drivers (ie. for controllers, KBM, etc.) and the maintenance. With Windows, you have to defrag, scan for malware (to be fair, this is always going to be a problem), clean out your cache, security, etc.

With Linux, the drivers (for the most part) are already in the Linux kernel (I don't know about MacOS), you don't have to defrag (I don't think MacOS has to either), you don't have to clean out your cache (IDK about MacOS), Linux and MacOS are more secure than Windows so you don't have to constantly update for security (I could be wrong about the updates). Switching to Linux or Mac might not be perfect, but it'd be a step in the right direction (if it ever happened)

As for the different system configuration, that probably is a bigger problem than Windows now that I think about it. Having so many system configurations also hold back the uber1337 high end PC parts as engines have to be coded to run on lower end cards (well, they don't have to, but they should).

I often wonder if MacOS were to ever get a popular as Windows, if it wold fix or at least help with this problem. Apples only have so many configurations (if you're only those with Intel CPUs), and as far as i'm aware, you still can't build your own or swap parts, so the amount of configurations would be significantly lower. Also, AFAIK, every consumer level iMac uses an Intel C2D (now i5/7) CPU and nVidia GPU. Or Apple could change something (like go with AMD for CPUs_ and everything would be fucked.

[neilencio]

Wasn't one of DirectX's original goals to get around the differences between hardware configurations, but went downhill because, I don't know, MS wasn't too strict? And I heard DX11 was supposed to be more strict, which hopefully, will mean that the disconnect between the N and A videocards will be irrelevant as long as you pick one that's DX11 compatible.

[MrPopo]

Wasn't one of DirectX's original goals to get around the differences between hardware configurations, but went downhill because, I don't know, MS wasn't too strict? And I heard DX11 was supposed to be more strict, which hopefully, will mean that the disconnect between the N and A videocards will be irrelevant as long as you pick one that's DX11 compatible.

DirectX helped a TON. When was the last time you configured the IRQ of your sound card? However, there is still the issue that a given sound card may not support a specific rendering feature. DirectX in most cases can emulate it through the CPU but it will cause a huge performance hit. So you still need to have a bunch of sliders to tweak your settings. You might be guarenteed that the game will run thanks to DirectX but you aren't guarenteed to get a reasonable amount of frames per second.

I was mainly referring to drivers (ie. for controllers, KBM, etc.) and the maintenance. With Windows, you have to defrag, scan for malware (to be fair, this is always going to be a problem), clean out your cache, security, etc.

I built this machine two years ago. I haven't defragged once and have never had any problems with it. The Windows of today is not like the Windows of the mid-90's. Same thing with clearing my cache. Security updates all get done in the background anyway, so I don't see that as a legitimate complaint. I do agree that the driver situation on Windows isn't the greatest. But once again, I haven't updated my video drivers in about a year and haven't had any issues with my recent games.

With Linux, the drivers (for the most part) are already in the Linux kernel (I don't know about MacOS), you don't have to defrag (I don't think MacOS has to either), you don't have to clean out your cache (IDK about MacOS), Linux and MacOS are more secure than Windows so you don't have to constantly update for security (I could be wrong about the updates). Switching to Linux or Mac might not be perfect, but it'd be a step in the right direction (if it ever happened)

So if you get a new card you potentially have to update your kernel? That sounds similar to updating your drivers in Windows. As for the security thing, I always see that brought up. I agree that Linux gets a fast turnaround on security fixes because of the open nature. But I don't necessarily agree that Linux/Mac are inherently more secure than Windows. Windows is the vast majority of the home consumer market. By virtue of this fact it will be targeted more often and vulnerabilities will be higher profile than a corresponding one on a Mac.

[GSZX1337]

I built this machine two years ago. I haven't defragged once and have never had any problems with it. The Windows of today is not like the Windows of the mid-90's.

Could you fire up the defragger and see how much red you have? Whenever I defrag, I see a LOT of read and I get a noticeable performance hit.

Security updates all get done in the background anyway, so I don't see that as a legitimate complaint.

It is when Windows has to restart after every security update (unless there's a way to stop it that I don't know about.

I do agree that the driver situation on Windows isn't the greatest. But once again, I haven't updated my video drivers in about a year and haven't had any issues with my recent games.

I know some games for me refuse to work without the latest drivers. Back in '05, whenever I tried to play Far Cry with the default 6800GS driver, I'd get artifacts and a clear ground. When I updated my drivers to the latest ones at the time, Far Cry looked and ran very well.

So if you get a new card you potentially have to update your kernel? That sounds similar to updating your drivers in Windows.

If you want the latest nVidia or closed source ATi drivers, you gotta get them from their site (or use envy). Also, if you stick with the same company (ie. go from an nVidia GeForce 8800GT to a GTX 285) you wouldn't need to update anything. Besides, it's not like "Oh, I gotta update my kernel for my new (insert thingy here).", the kernel is more than likely up to date when you have your new hardware (I can't afford bleeding-edge tech, so I'm not entirely sure).

As for the security thing, I always see that brought up. I agree that Linux gets a fast turnaround on security fixes because of the open nature. But I don't necessarily agree that Linux/Mac are inherently more secure than Windows. Windows is the vast majority of the home consumer market. By virtue of this fact it will be targeted more often and vulnerabilities will be higher profile than a corresponding one on a Mac.

I heard that Linux is just harder to code viruses and spyware for (though, I heard it gets a lot of rootkits). I haven't read anything to dispute this, so I guess it's true.