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To abandon PC gaming?
Pheezer
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Okay, so let's face it: PC gaming is getting more and more marginalized as time passes. Civ IV is the last new game I picked up and I just can't see getting any new PC games any time soon.
I built my PC when HL2 was coming out, it was for the sake of HL2 alone. And yeah, it was mostly worth it but when I look back at things, there have only been three really big PC titles that I can look back on and say I'd really have missed if I couldn't played them: HL2, V:tM Bloodlines and Civ IV. And HL2 came out on the XBOX anyhow.
I'm not into online gaming any more, I gave up on WoW when I moved in with my girlfriend, and I don't know. I'm having a hard time seeing the point these days. Hell, once I got my wifi set up, I've been using my iBook almost exclusively. I might use my PC once a week.
Now I'm looking at the games coming up and every time I see a PC game that might justify the next round of upgrades (PSU, video card, extra RAM) it never actually turns out to be worth the buzz and I end up glad I didn't splurge. To make matters worse, I've got an AGP board. So by the time anything that might actually drive an upgrade comes out (I don't know, maybe Fallout 3? EDIT: Or Bioshock, I guess) I'll need to piece together a whole new PC.
On the other hand, I've consistently pined for a 360 in my home. It seems to have every game I want to be playing that isn't a Wii game, and well let's face it if I could buy a Wii I would have by now.
So let's say I wait and end up taking the PC route again.
It'll be $150 or so for a motherboard, $150-$300 for the CPU, $300 for a video card, $100 for a PSU, and $200 for the RAM. I can keep the hard drives and DVD burner, but I'm spending $900 to get caught up. And I haven't bought a game yet.
Now on the other hand I could get a 360 ($500) and a Wii ($280) and still have $120 for games, and grab 2-4if I take advantage of the used section.
So...
Does anyone have a compelling defence for the gaming PC?
I built my PC when HL2 was coming out, it was for the sake of HL2 alone. And yeah, it was mostly worth it but when I look back at things, there have only been three really big PC titles that I can look back on and say I'd really have missed if I couldn't played them: HL2, V:tM Bloodlines and Civ IV. And HL2 came out on the XBOX anyhow.
I'm not into online gaming any more, I gave up on WoW when I moved in with my girlfriend, and I don't know. I'm having a hard time seeing the point these days. Hell, once I got my wifi set up, I've been using my iBook almost exclusively. I might use my PC once a week.
Now I'm looking at the games coming up and every time I see a PC game that might justify the next round of upgrades (PSU, video card, extra RAM) it never actually turns out to be worth the buzz and I end up glad I didn't splurge. To make matters worse, I've got an AGP board. So by the time anything that might actually drive an upgrade comes out (I don't know, maybe Fallout 3? EDIT: Or Bioshock, I guess) I'll need to piece together a whole new PC.
On the other hand, I've consistently pined for a 360 in my home. It seems to have every game I want to be playing that isn't a Wii game, and well let's face it if I could buy a Wii I would have by now.
So let's say I wait and end up taking the PC route again.
It'll be $150 or so for a motherboard, $150-$300 for the CPU, $300 for a video card, $100 for a PSU, and $200 for the RAM. I can keep the hard drives and DVD burner, but I'm spending $900 to get caught up. And I haven't bought a game yet.
Now on the other hand I could get a 360 ($500) and a Wii ($280) and still have $120 for games, and grab 2-4if I take advantage of the used section.
So...
Does anyone have a compelling defence for the gaming PC?
IT'S GOT ME REACHING IN MY POCKET IT'S GOT ME FORKING OVER CASH
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Pheezer on
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Games like Dwarf Fortress don't require the latest hardware. Besides, you will *always* have a computer that can be used for gaming. Buying a console requires extra money. Also PC games tend to be cheaper (or more easily obtainable as free if you don't care about legality), especially compared with the prices of most next-gen console games.
If non-gamers can have fun playing games on their computers without all these expensive video cards, you can too.
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I would say hold off on upgrading until Vista has had the major kinks ironed out and the cards and everything are more optimized for it- otherwise you're just going to have to end up upgrading soon after anyway.
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There are a select few games that might convince me to keep gaming on the PC, chiefly Hellgate: London.
Apart from that? I dunno. Today I was even thinking about shuffling some crap around on the disks and give Linux a spin as desktop OS again.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
MS puts all the really good shit from the Xbox out on the PC eventually, except maybe Gears of War, but then again I have been playing shooters online since Quake so a shooter with "more cover," doesn't make me cream like strict consul people do.
yeah, you know what? I keep fucking hearing that, but I don't really play online games. The only mod I've played in the past two years has been Minerva for HL2. Admittedly it was one of the best gaming experiences I've ever had, and was easily on par with the absolutely best parts of HL2 itself, but you know what? If I'd never had the PC to play it, I never would have known how great it was and I wouldn't have suffered any.
Back in the last gen, I was thinking that the PC was really the best bet, but later, after having played the NIS SRPGs on the PS2, I can't even argue that any more. I want to like the idea of a gaming PC, but I'm being convinced more and more that the PC is no longer the winner for gaming. It's great for all the other stuff it does for me, but I don't need to upgrade it any further for any of those reasons to own a PC.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Lost Planet, Gears of War, Rainbow 6, PGR, Guitar Hero 2.
Bam. Already more games than I've wanted for my PC in the past year. And like I said, I'm not about online gaming anymore. Other people are idiots, doubly so on the Internet.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Also...like Pheezer said. With a console or handheld, I can sit on the couch with my wife and play and the boys like it too. Far easier and more fun. In my experience...pc games are good for those who are still single or have a lot of time to themselves. PC games just aren't that great for group gaming or social stuff and I prefer to be more social. *shrugs*
The cost is extremely prohibitive as well. Even a cheapy gamer pc cost about as much as a PS3. Yes you have other functionality, but everything I do outside of gaming could be done on a 10 year old pc. But people have said pc gaming was dying years and years ago. Yet I still see Dragon Age, Hellgate and a handful of others making me stay around. If these get a good port, good riddance to upgrading PC's for games.
On the plus side, the small little releases are fun like the indie titles, but could XBLA be the answer to that?
http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=24525221
Look and be amazed, pheezer. If those don't convince you PC gaming is alive, well, and kick ass this year, then I don't know what will.
A lot of that is somewhat contingent on understanding Japanese I suppose, though. *shrug*
There are definate advantages to consoles. They do tend to be more social, if you have people around who game, but there are still some experiences that can't be had on a consul. But yeah if you don't like playing games on the internet there really is no reason to upgrade your PC.
When I put a game in my console, it just works. I don't have to download new drivers, or search message boards for technical advice, or tweak settings to get an acceptable framerate.
I like PC games quite a bit - in fact I think the OP left out many recent games that are excellent - I'm just tired of wrestling with my PC.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
edit: SHIZCAKES! forgot about Spore. BioShock and Alan Wake, though, i'll be playing on the 360.
and really for me, it's a combination that, no real huge games I want are coming for the PC anymore, and 2. I don't have time for epic games like oblivion anymore.
I can see myself doing no pc gaming within 5 years, it'll just be my Wii, DS, PSP, and (eventual) 360.
GalCiv2 has interested me from afar for a while I'll grant, and a few of the strategy titles there look tempting, but none of those are "upgrade now" games. Luckily I don't think many (if any) would demand an upgrade, so that's good.
The thing is though, I'm still staring at the possibility of my current PC being the last gaming PC I build.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
All major research in graphics is done on PCs, and any suitable breakthroughs are quickly moved into the game market. The ease of programming, the power provided by the latest graphics APIs, and the low cost of development will always keep the PC around. Now I'm not saying that I hate consoles, or that the PC is the end all be all solution. I'm just saying that PC games aren't going to leave anytime soon.
You know what, this post sucks, ignore it. Unless you agree with it.
There are always reasons to have a decent gaming PC, though. MMOs, for one. Other small things you don't think about, though. That one-off indie game folks are talking about on the forums. Eventually the Penny Arcade game will arrive... Things like that, y'know. As a gmaer, I need the flexibility, anyway. Just in case.
<.<
>.>
The gaming gods are always watching for me to fall behind, at which point they will release everything I desire and laugh when I can't play.
It's true.
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Bioshock is confirmed for the 360, and Hellgate is rumored to be getting a 360 release as well.
See I knew that would happen too. If Hellgate gets confirmed 360, then I'm just going to buy one and that'll be that.
t NicktheNewbie:
You missed my point. I'm not saying that the PC isn't a viable platform for gaming, I'm saying that I'm at a crossroads where I'm being forced by the economics of the subject to consider abandoning the PC as a gaming platform and relying on consoles for my gaming needs.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
Well I can't argue with that. Shit. Give me something to disagree with.
I recommend the AMD X1600 Pro AGP gpu for any older rig. An extra gig of ram will really get it more headroom so you should be golden. Of course, you still won't be able to enjoy Unreal Tournament 3 with full features and physics and such but you can still fully enjoy any current games, even games like Oblivion can be made playable, even with more features turned on, like HDR.
Bah. Lies! You may tone it down for awhile, but PC gaming will pull you back eventually. As an all around gamer, I don't think you or I could resist some of these games, now or later, for too long. Unless you're strong willed. But those guys are pansies!
Edit: But anyways, you can get a good gaming PC with DX10 for really cheap these days. New hardware, even. But either way, you don't necessarily have to upgrade to brand new hardware all the time. Things go down in price and they'll still be more than adequate for playing new games.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
I'm with you all the way Pheezer...I just don't see a need at this stage in my life for pc gaming and I honestly think that there are far more people like that than there are those that are in to the hardcore gaming side of computers.
Hellgate, Spore and Fallout 3 are certainly interesting, but there's more games coming out sooner on every single other console out there that's just as interesting, and I don't have to replace my video card to play them.
I don't have the exact link, but engadget reported a new video card came out that costs $880. And it only gives a marginal performance boost! Not to mention the whole physics card crapola (are they catching on, or are they being ignored?).
PCs pretty much have always, and will always have the hold on MMOs and RTSs.
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The Witcher.
Bioshock.
Alan Wake
Hellgate
Fallout 3
Mass Effect
Spore
There's quite a bit on the horizon, particularly the first two.
Anyway, like you pheezer, the cost just seems far too much for a glorified gaming machine. Like you said, it does other things, but all the money is going into games. And for the same price, you can snatch up a great console to enjoy with friends in the living room - a far more social experience.
I don't know if this helps you or not, but I already decided when I get settled in my new place I'm just going to buy a lightweight, mobile laptop for e-mail, surfing, etc. (Sounds like you already have said laptop) And get a 360 for my video game needs.
I might miss a few games, but to do everything would be far more money and time than I'm willing to commit to the hobby. Sounds like you're in the same boat, too. I think we'll somehow live if we don't catch every bleeding edge PC game.
EDIT:
Well, Kato said the exact same thing:
Completely agree. Especially with the part about feeling like PC gaming is, while really cool, not required. The consoles these days are pretty awesome considering the value you can get out of them.
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I'd be shocked if Fallout 3 doesn't make it to the consoles.
That said, I think PC gaming is in a renaissance. There's lots of great titles coming out, and just been out. More publishers are looking to put stuff out on PC. DirectX10 is around the corner. And you don't have to pay for basic online services.
Those do look like great games. The thing is, most if not all of those are likely or already slated to come to other consoles.
I've also gotten sick of the hassle. I just got CoD2 for the PC and it crashes all the damn time, after I spent forever installing it off of 6 discs. I used to be okay with that, but I'm just not any more. I want to spend my game time playing, not installing, tweaking settings, and reading forums to find out why the damn thing is crashing.
It's not a dead market, but it's really just not for me any more.
I've always, always, always hated RTSes. Always.
My current gaming PC will serve indefinitely as a standard using the Internet to download and store things box. My iBook is good for surfing around on the couch. I think I'm in the same boat as Hewn, Kato and wunderbar, to tell the truth.
Like, I get why it's still worth it for some of you, but yeah. PC gaming is at the stage I think where it's no longer for some former PC gamers. Sorry guys, but honestly I think the best arguments for giving up on PC gaming have come from some of the promoters of it, basically because I don't care about mods if all they give me are more online multiplayer game types that I'll never bother with, and I don't care about MMOs, and I'm not into RTSes. And of the very few engrossing single player experiences coming up on the PC in the near future, most of them will be available on the consoles, and for every one that isn't, there's at least one console game I can't get on the PC.
CUZ THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE AND IT'S GIVING ME A RASH
For my PC, the cycle is runs great. A year later, runs ok. A year later, maybe I need a new processor/card.
For consoles the cycle is. Wow that looks amazing, drought of good games, then wow I can't believe they are making games look even better. It's the exact opposite. And I paid so much less for it.
I'm usually happy with my console purchases, feeling like I got a great value out of them. Every PC I've purchased for gaming? I feel like its a fee or extra tax just to play that next must have title like Half-Life 2 or Oblivion. I claim I'm done buying upgrades for games, but I'm sure I won't be able to resist in the future if Fallout 3 or whatever my new obsession is comes out for PC. I just won't be happy about it.
edit: Fats. What you say is true. I've usually been lucky enough to own every platform and a decent PC since about a decade ago when I got my first job. This will be the first generation since then I'll miss out on (PS3) atleast for a long long while.