8 Ways PC Gaming Hurts Consoles

Games 4 Guys writes: This is not meant to be a mindless hate article though it is definitely an opinion. There are console gamers and PC gamers. Rarely is there significant overlap between the two. This is also a two way street. PCs hurt and help consoles and consoles hurt and help PCs. As a console gamer it’s easier to identify the ways PCs are hurting our experience. Maybe a PC gamer will constructively rebut this article. The key word being constructively and not just spouting mindless diatribes.

[Jimmy the Greek]

pc gamers are the most prominent on the internet, i dont expect this to go anywhere meaningful.

[pangitkqb]

Well....right off the bat I can tell this is ridiculous from this simple line:

"There are console gamers and PC gamers. Rarely is there significant overlap between the two."

Really? What stats can you show me that support this statement? As someone that enjoys both PC and console gaming I wholeheartedly disagree with the assertions in this piece.

Another great one: " you won’t find a PC gamer willing to admit consoles are superior in any way."

Bologna. I'm a PC gamer and I readily admit that consoles are a more convenient way to game for the average consumer. The higher complexity of PC gaming - graphics cards, settings, cost, upgrades, ram, etc... - are things many don't wish to deal with. Those things may not bother me, yet I readily admit that consoles are "SUPERIOR" at offering gaming convenience.

[Agent-86]

@pogibaldy, I am with you. I own a gaming PC and a PS3. Though I game mostly on the PC, I do enjoy the PS3 for console only games and Sony's quality lineup of exclusive games. To me, a gaming PC plus a PS3 equals an incredible gaming combo.

[pr0digyZA]

we should have everyone say who owns both and create our own stats;D

I personally own 360,PS3,and gaming PC. 360 is the least played unless there is a multiconsole only game that's "apparently" better (i dont personally notice I just take peoples word for it).PS3 is the second highest played one because of the great exclusives (will try and get as many of them as possible). PC is the one I play the most on especially with multiplatform games and exclusives.

[Agent-86]

Apparently, this troll "wrote" this article in response to MaximumPC's article on "12 Ways Consoles Are Hurting PC Gaming". This is just his butthurt response to the article. Everyone please read their article and then compare it to his. One is well written, based on facts, and makes a very legitimate argument and the other, well not so much.

http://www.maximumpc.com/ar...

[HenryFord]

I only own a PC but I am generally very jellous on those Sony-Exclusives - that would be the only reason for me to buy a console though.

[BK-201]

I stopped reading when they mentioned the 360's DVD drive and innovative in the same sentence.

[Wenis]

I stopped reading your comment when I realized you used one of the most cliche quips on this site.

[Trunkz]

PC Gaming = MMO's + FPS is where it's at. Consoles = Everything else.

[Rikan]

Um...RPGS are also done best on a PC. Actually, all games are better on PC.

[Hashashin]

Pc gamers are most prominent on the internet? Are you assuming console gamers aren't connected to the internet? Look up at the tabs for a second and you will see consoles. Nice troll piece dude but it was way too obvious. I own both consoles and a pc and I can say what you wrote is grade A B$.

[Pandamobile]

1. How does piracy on the PC affect consoles in ANY way. There is piracy on every and any platform. It's just the way it goes.

2. If you can't use a keyboard, get out of the technological age.

3. Wow, some people like having a better gaming experience, oh no.

4. PCs are customizable and constantly evolve. THAT'S THE WAY TECHNOLOGY WORKS. PC gaming has always been, and will always be at the forefront of technology.

5. This has nothing to do with PC gaming. At all.

6. Video games are incredibly complex feats of engineering, computer science and art. Tenfold what they were in the last generation of consoles. Are you seriously bitching about developers supporting their games post-launch with bug fixes? Would you rather have them be buggy forever?

7. This makes no sense.

8. Now you're bitching about how people got angry when Infinity Ward removed a feature that has been present in just about every PC game since the 90s, and replaced it with a peer-to-peer network that doesn't work nearly as well? Forgive us for fighting for something we love, and not wanting to be pushed around and screwed over like console gamers.

9. Thought this was supposed to be 8 ways. MMOs have always been sort of subscription based. How you can blame Xbox Live and PS+ on World of Warcraft?

[Jimmy the Greek]

PC gamers take all the time in the world to complain about consoles. when a console gamer complains about PC gamers, its the end of the world and theyre instantly called trolls.

[Pandamobile]

How about you try coming up with some legitimate reasons as to why PC gaming is hurting console gaming.

Nothing in your little opinion piece has any actual direct evidence.

[mrv321]

Your forgetting PC gamers have a point. Console gamers ( not you guys but the COD guys ) are like DUDE PC GAMING COSTS $4000 and... and 360 is faster and PC always break.

[-Alpha]

PC gamers have legitimate complaints about consoles. Some troll, some are elitist fanboys, but I do not see how you are acting any different, you're just going to the other end of the extreme.

As Pandamobile has demonstrated, your points just aren't convincing.

[Agent-86]

@Pandamobile, you are right on. This article isn't really about how PC gaming is hurting consoles. It is more like some console fanboy's rant against PC gaming. Not much in the article actually supports the title. In actuality, it's the other way around and it's consoles that are hurting PC gaming with sloppy ports. Anyways, PC gaming is doing fine without this clown and I say "good riddance".

[Solid_Snake-]

very very well said.

us pc gamers are the ones getting screwed by consoles.

[Baka-akaB]

I can only agree with panda here .

I'm tired of pc elitists and trolls refusing to admits that consoles can be at least interesting for some genre and mostly exclusive games ... but that list is scrapping the barrel to troll pc gaming .

[AntiHeroComplex]

article is lame pc is best end of story.

[x800]

what a sh*t site, no really wtf is this crap?

So Many Buttons? mahahaha that there proves that you have never gamed on PC before and i stoped reading there.

ppl had enough of pc gaming is dieing articles, now you come up with (ways) ohh look 8 ways how pc gaming hurts consoles just stfu already.

i could name 20 ways consoles hurt PC gaming.

what a console fanboy. stuid and lame. with your 8 lame (ways)

[Pandamobile]

The dude can't even count. Both the N4G title and the title on the website say "8 Ways", yet the article lists 9.

It's stuff like that, that knock down what little credibility his arguments had to begin with.

[pr0digyZA]

The disagree must be from the guy who wrote the article.

[Emilio_Estevez]

He makes decent points for some of them, but it should at least be noted the ways it happens in reverse, with consoles hurting PC dev - See Crysis 2.

[KRONie]

You know why exclusives are possible on consoles and not PCs? Because the console dev gives a call to game dev and says "OH PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make your next game an exclusive for our product so our sales could go up! We will pay you one gajilion moneys!". On PC since there is no middle man the game Dev's profits are purely from sales. So piracy or not, having your game on three platforms in the end will make you more money than it would on one.

[Kantor]

PC gaming costs more than console gaming.

PC gaming is better than console gaming, for pretty much all of the reasons that the author listed. The article is quite clearly driven by jealousy, because it is grasping at straws.

So what's the problem?

[BeastlyRig]

Yeah PC gaming should cost more than console gaming.

I pay more to get more!!

Some don't see the logic in that.

But it's funny that a lot of the games tend to cost less! or go on sale faster!

I will never pay $600 again for a sub hd console..

[Kantor]

That's true; games are cheaper. A good computer, however, is much more expensive than a PS3/360. It's worth the price, of course, but many people don't realise that, or simply can't afford it.

[tdrules]

i'd fucking LOVE for you to post this on am aggregator based on upvotes/downvotes like reddit.
there you will see how unpopular your stupid piece is.

there is no way of justifying the platform that is always progressing with technology is holding back the platform with the oldest hardware in any form of major consumer technology today.

I could write 80 ways console gaming hurts PC, but i'd rather just play both and get along with it

[ichdich]

PC gaming is dead. period.

[Baka-akaB]

pc gaming ≠ your brain

[GrumpyVeteran]

umad

[Xristo]

You are wrong! exclamation point!

[BeastlyRig]

Stupid comment..

At least have proof that the Billion dollar PC gaming industry isn't not growing..

[KRONie]

Nope, still alive and kicking.

http://i.imgur.com/cIIkb.jp...
Umad?

[anonym]

This guy really doesn't know how to stick to a claim.

1. Sure, piracy is a problem with the PC, but there's no mention of why piracy of PC games hurts consoles (the claim).
2. I can accept that this CAN be true, but far more often it's the lack of buttons available on consoles that hurt PC games.
3. First of all, it's "purist." As far as this point, again, this has nothing to do with "hurting consoles." It's just a rant.
4. Once more, how does it hurt console gaming?
5. The idea that forcing devs to really work to make their game playable on a console is a good thing is just strange, and how does this have anything to do with your claim?
6. I'll give him this one.
7. So devs should all stick to teen-appropriate content because you'll cry if a sex mod pisses off a few crusty politicians? Oh, and once again, how does this support your claim? What harm to consoles was done?
8. Again, just a rant. Where's the damage?

[dry_ice]

I don't mean to sound harsh or biased... but that article was pure crap.

Most of what you said was pulled out of the air and loosely connected.

It seems like you cared more about getting a rise than providing any real substance.

[kesvalk]

you're not, the article is, indeed, pure crap.

[Urmomlol]

The author of this article not only is a terrible writer, but he knows absolutely nothing about PC gaming. I hope he gets fired for writing such crap.

[iamgoatman]

Pathetic troll article. The writer also fails to explain how the majority of his points actually hurt console gaming at all, I mean seriously, too many buttons?

[kevnb]

What's the point of these articles? Everyone just likes to bash one platform or another, we need more positive articles.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

OK...So I gave the article a quick scan and well as most here I think its a bit desperate in its attempts to try and blame PC gaming for shortfalls of Console gaming. So lets run down the list shall we:

1) Piracy? How can we blame PC gaming for this? I mean I suppose you could blame the "PC" for piracy since you have to use one more or less to pirate a game...but then again a PC is a must to make a game....
2) So Many Buttons? REALLY.... Just flat out stupid.
3) The Purests... well, OK sure the pure PC fanboy hurts gaming...but so do the purest Sony, 360 and Nintendo fanboys. Non of them help the industry so again...how can we single out the PC side?
4) Hardware for Software? Again...a flat out stupid argument. Its more rewarding to pull every ounce from a console game? says who? This guy that doesn't make games?
5) Loss of innovation? WHAT.... seriously WHAT?
6) Patching? I can see the argument here against patching but I would rather devs have a way to fix my broken game than them ship something that turns out to have a major issue that can't be fixed.
7) Hot Coffee? Ummm.... that has everything to do with the developer of the game sticking it in the game and nothing to do with PC gaming. As I recall this was really not so much a mod but rather a mini game the dev had hidden in the game and a released mod gave access to it.
8) Misguided sense of Entitlement - this is the same argument of the purest... stop trying to split hairs.
9) The monthly fee - Huh? You are going to try and blame PC gaming for the monthly service fee MS charges for Gold or the monthly fee Sony charges for PSN+? How are you going to blame PC gaming for this when PC gaming has free services of this nature like Steam? And dont try to drag WOW into the argument because you are talking about a game that is offering up fresh content, quests, etc...

[Emilio_Estevez]

about #9
Theres no monthly fee for ps+ to access anything, it's comepletely different than WOW or XBL. They just give you free games and discounts and such. 9 is totally legit though, no one was doing monthly for a game til' they showed people would pay it.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

@DrStabwounds... well I agree with what you say in part. Certainly proof was in the pudding...monthly fees were not common in PC Gaming until the likes of Everquest showed it could work.

That said, the services offered by XBL and PSN+ are totally different than that of games like WOW or Everquest. In those games you are paying monthly fees to play that game...and only that game. Consoles on a whole have very much stayed clear of that mode of pricing. DC Universe Online and Final Fantasy XI are the only two games on console to have gone that route... and to be frank MS has been very leary to try and do any kind of monthly fee'd game ever since FFIX. They have shot down / killed every poject like that. Sony is still playing in those waters but I just dont know that will succeed for consoles.

Now getting back to the services of XBL and PSN+... both are services that add value to the customer...neither are required to buy to play games on the console. Yes you can argue that XBL Gold is needed for mulitplayer...but at the end of the day if all you care about are single player games ...neither console makes you pay for that. They offer services that you can buy up in monthly & yearly price points. But again...they are services, just your cable service, phone or your monthly checking account fee if you have such an account type... paid for montly services have been around long before PC Gaming.

[Emilio_Estevez]

I see what your saying, but I think my point and the authors was it didn't come to gaming specifically until the PC started the ball rollin'. A lot of other things he said were nonsense, but this actually made sense.

[TABSF]

1. Piracy - This happens on everything.
2. So Many Buttons - That is why I love it, but pads also work E.G 360 and PS3 pads
3. The Purests - Everything that is done on consoles came from PC in some way.
4. Hardware for Software - CryEngine 2 pushed hardware because of software.
5. Loss of Innovation - So PC having 3D in 2008 and PhysX is not Innovation.
6. Patching Games - Games will never be bug free, plus patches add things like free content.
7. Hot Coffee - 100% irrelevant.
8. Misguided Sense of Entitlement - Dedicated Servers 1,000,000% > P2P.
Bonus: The Monthly Fee - not all MMOs charge, its up to the developer. Ask WoW players if it worth it.

Seems like this guy, it just pissed that PC made the PS3 and 360 out dated on release. Wii was out dated 5 years before release.

I have the beauty of owning all current Gen Consoles and PC.
Besides getting some great exclusives on Consoles I would always advice PC as a first choice of games and hardware.

Here a list for you:

1. Consoles stifle innovation.
Besides waggle controllers and Eyetoy 2.0 (kinect) what is new?

2. Consoles cause less user input.
PC developers get tons of user input, just look at Valve, their games are almost 100% influenced by the community and not board members or people that don't play games.

3. Consoles cause more ports.
Developers now just port games, E.G Crysis 2 on PC and PS3 was ported from 360, why because it less work for them. Why push ourselves when consoles gamers will purchase recycled games every year (COD)

4. Consoles cause £12 DLC (which in most cases is already on disc)
All DLC for COD4 was 100% Free on PC same with WaW. Since then its cost £12 per pack with little added plus with some of it already installed on Disc its not just COD. Developers like Valve still bring 100% Free content to all their games. You could say but on TF2 things now cost, however you can craft it for Free meaning no content does cost, its just a short cut.

5. Consoles cause games to be dumbed down.
Very similar to Ports, Developer by focusing on Consoles they have to release lower quality tittles. Just look at BF2 and then compare it to BFBC2. Hopefully Dice will do what they are claiming by doing 2 different versions for PC and Consoles. Crytek said the the same thing but failed.

The list could go on.

[BeastlyRig]

"Microsoft even has a new file system for DVDs that will allow them to store more data. That’s more progressive and innovative than using the most powerful graphics card or fastest CPU."

I call this trying to keep your head above water with an extra gb not innovation..

I don't care about any of this crap

PCFTW! STEAM FTW!!! that's all...

[HenryFord]

Which is not even true... there is no such thing... How would a file-system help you store more data? Does the data become somehow less when you use another way to store them?

[Jimmy the Greek]

im waiting for the death threats to start pouring in.

[jakethesnake]

And that there is proof that you wrote this article to troll people. You are just doing it for attention and it wastes everyone's time. If you wrote the same article but put some real thought into it and used sound reasoning you wouldn't get the same amount of negative feedback.

Don't glory in your bad article. It's not a badge of honor.

[Jimmy the Greek]

i wrote it, but not to be a troll. in psychology they call that projection, you're projecting your attributes on me.

i did it in response to an article on maximumpc called 12 ways consoles are hurting pc gaming. they were all unmerited accusations but it was lauded as genius because it was pc gamers trashing console gamers.

[superrey19]

no, it was not pc gamers simply trashing console gamers. They gave good, legitimate reasons which they then backed up with many examples.

[BYAAHHH]

It's ignorant comments like these that make you look worse.

[jakethesnake]

Terrible article by an immature child pretending to be an intelligent person. PC Gaming has it's legitimate drawbacks and console gaming has it's advantages. But this article serves one function only - as a good example of logical fallacies for any student studying logic.

One of the worst articles on N4G in a while. I can only assume this guy is trolling (or else my faith in mankind is broken forever!)

[zak94ma]

one question do your consoles run directx 11 ?

[Aarix]

I love the unlimited features and hardware of a PC. But consoles have 3 things over PC's.

1.Price- Can you run crysis 2 or killzone 2 on a $300 PC.

2.Convience- The ability to put a game in without having to check for system requirements which is a pain for some.

3.Confortability- Maybe or Maybe not, but I found being slouched in a gamer chair with a controller in my hand looking at a tv more confortable than sitting in a hard chair with a mouse in one hard and a keyboard in another.

But Pc's Have Much more over consoles but these reasons are why alot of people like gaming on consoles.

[Aarix]

Anyone gonna tell me why I'm wrong correct me if I am please.

[toaster]

1. You probably could. The console version of C2 isn't all that spectacular. Low resolution, shit textures, minimal (if any) AA. It won't take much to run Crysis 2 at console level image quality.

2. Usually when you get a game, it will list sys requirements. It's not like you have to go hunting for it.

3. Herp a derp you can connect PC to your TV and play on your couch. Or you can connect a gamepad to your PC and enjoy the benefits of a gamepad.

[Kahvipannu]

"So many buttons?", well, play with controller, or simpler games. PC have superior ammount of "simple" games that you can play with your ds3 or xbox-controller.

Patches are bad thing? Well games are so complicated these days that there will be bugs with most games. If there wouldn't be an option to have dlc/patches, most games would be broken, and many games were broken on last gen consoles.

Hot coffee? Now mods are bad thing? Mods are propably the biggest thing PC have over the consoles.

Monthly fee? PS3 already has a game that has it. And to think that PC is the reason companies take more money from consumers, is just dumb. I would say the thing is totally opposite. Most PC-MMO-games are going/have gone free, like LOTR, APB, Crimecraft, etc..

Overall the text was written like pure trolling, if someone thinks this way, they should get theyr facts checked. I love to play my consoles with my friends, nhl for example, but PC is way better gaming-platform in so many ways.

And no, I don't have super PC, 5 years old Acer Aspire 5520G laptop, runs most games with good graphics. Currently I'm playing Civilization V with it, and Crimecraft, which is grinding-MMO-shooter using Unreal engine, and free to get and play.

[Rikan]

Whats all this nonsense about consoles being more convenient ect?? Graphics cards, upgrades; thats all part of the hobby and well-enjoyed by the privileged PC gamer.

Video games have always been best experienced on a PC gaming rig. Its always been that way, always will. Those that say otherwise are children who can't afford a PC or one who is not tech-savvy enough to enjoy a pc--or both.

Consoles DO hurt PC gaming. Because of the console platform's success, games are designed to accommodate the PS3 and Xbox ever-aging hardware rather than accelerating and using new graphics technology (DX11 for example). Crysis 2 no doubt looks great, but know it could have been much better being designed PC-exclusive.

Ultimately, those that can afford it, get a PC. Triple-display, beefy GPU and surround sound >console experience. Always.
Its like when people say "what would you want a Ferrari for anyways? There is no where to go that fast". In the end, they're just jealous they don't have one.

[Jimmy the Greek]

i wanted to be honest with this article. it may have come off as trolling but that was honestly not the objective. thank you for all the comments, especially those that didnt resort to insulting. i would like constructive feedback if possible. please pm me and give me your opinion. you can call the article crap but please give realistic reasons why and if at all possible provide areas for improvement.

[L6RD7BLU3]

By making a post on n4g about it, there that's 1.

[Aarix]

Lmao!!!

[Apollyn]

That is all

[Wuu]

Cool story bro...

[DeeBee]

Hey Jimmy the Greek! ... Why you cryin'!?

[ATiElite]

1. Piracy...what's that? name an industry, format, or platform that doesn't have Piracy? PC Piracy has nothing to do with consoles. It's a NO brainer to buy the PC version of a multi-plat because of better graphics, mods, and free DLC.

2. So many buttons? think hard about that? The Atari 2600 had one button while the Commodore 64 had 70 keys. Consoles now have 16 buttons two analog sticks while a standard keyboard has 104 keys. looks like they both have evolved at the same percentage and more buttons equal better game play plus the PC does more than just Games Dumb ASS!

3. Many games get dumb down for console. it's a fact. Modern Warfare 1 was EXCELLENT. MW2 was broken and Blops sucked at being $60 DLC. Halo and Halo 2 were better on the console as the PC version was a shitty port and any PC gamer will tell you that. console games are great until the new flavor comes out. PC games need to be made with a long term commitment for example I've been playing BF2 for 6 years and it's still the BEST. How many call of duty's have been released since then? people play PC Games for a reason other than flashy graphics. there is a difference in experience.

4. All PS3 games do not look like Uncharted 2. All 360 games do not look like Alan Wake just like All PC games do not look like Crysis. sure not everyone has a max graphics Crysis capable Pc but with the PS3 and 360 being closed systems why don't all their games look like Alan Wake or Uncharted 2? this has nothing to do with the PC.

[ATiElite]

5. new techniques for a dying format. wow that sounds brilliant. Pc is mostly DD so how does the Pc have an effect on a consoles with this one? HD DVD was a bad choice. Devs have worked well within that realm but Blu-ray and HDD installs are WAY BETTER. Again this has nothing to do with the PC.

6. this has absolutely nothing to do with PC. this is from console publishers rushing Devs to get a game out thus skimping on QA. Nintendo doesn't have patches and they don't rush games either.

7. GTAIII on the console took the heat for violence, sex, and profanity, before that Mortal Kombat a console game. SA hot coffee was only slightly relevant in Pc circles and was over blown. again this has nothing to do with the PC. besides if your on a PC you have a whole Internet full of porn. 19 million units on one console sounds like good heat.

8. GTFO! dedicated servers are standard PC features that help maximize game play. all the features listed also are standard PC features. console gamers should demand dedicated servers to help prevent LAG, cheaters, and get some benefit from that $60 year fee. PC Gamers demanding dedicated servers just goes to show you the power PC Gamers have. we fight for our rights and consolers should too.

Bonus: Most MMO's are free to play or the game is free. sure some games like WOW require a $50 game purchase plus $15. Console publishers wish they had a game good enough to do this. maybe next gen.

[ATiElite]

That last paragraph was bullshit. the PS3 360 install base is like 90 million combined and that's a rough estimate because many of those are not online and many of those are RROD or YLOD.

Wow 11 million
Runescape 9 million
Second Life 15 million
Maple Story 11 million
Habbo Hotel 14 million
Steam 30 million

This is just 5 MMO's and the Steam community. These are ACTIVE Account numbers. it's well known that the PC Gaming world wide online community is over 250 million people.

[KRONie]

I wanna know what it is exactly you can do on a console that can't be done on a PC.

[DeeBee]

You can get a RROD or YLOD.
You can customize you console (case replacement) and void any warranty you had.
You can try to modify your console and then get locked up for doing so.

[ATiElite]

You can get RROD or YLOD. I laughed so hard
Instant bubbles.