PS3 and X-Box 2
Would it be fair to say that "consoles are proof that consumers are stupid"?
Don't get me wrong. I've owned them and will get the new ones because I will want to play games that come out for them. However, consoles shouldn't need to exist as there are these neat things called PCs that are cheaper (when you really do the math on what you're getting), MUCH more powerful in every way, way ahead of consoles in terms of technology, etc., etc., etc.
Consoles sell for one reason and one reason only, they're plug and play.
Consoles = PCs for dummies.
Don't get me wrong. I've owned them and will get the new ones because I will want to play games that come out for them. However, consoles shouldn't need to exist as there are these neat things called PCs that are cheaper (when you really do the math on what you're getting), MUCH more powerful in every way, way ahead of consoles in terms of technology, etc., etc., etc.
Consoles sell for one reason and one reason only, they're plug and play.
Consoles = PCs for dummies.
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
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mbilderback
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I've personally never purchased a console in my life. I got an original Nintendo back when my parents still had to buy stuff for Christmas. My PS1 I got as a bonus for leasing an apartment. Then the PS2 I have was a gift from my wife's parents since they had registered to get 2 and had a spare one.
I really don't like consoles much, but you can't get every console game for the PC, and there are some games that you really want.
I really don't like consoles much, but you can't get every console game for the PC, and there are some games that you really want.
I will admit, for mindless racing games like Wipeout, I prefer to sit on the couch with a controller in my hand. But, I think every other genre is represented better on a PC.* **
* I can't speak for sports games; never play them.
** Not counting when assholes release an extremely buggy PC game like "Star Wars: Battlefront" figuring they can patch it later. In a Rovian world console game developers would release buggy PC games just to get more peeps on consoles.
* I can't speak for sports games; never play them.
** Not counting when assholes release an extremely buggy PC game like "Star Wars: Battlefront" figuring they can patch it later. In a Rovian world console game developers would release buggy PC games just to get more peeps on consoles.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
PC games are better quality wise.
However, if you buy and Xbox game, you know it will work on your Xbox. You don't have to know about your processor speed, your RAM, or your video card stats. Plus, you can sit on your comfy sofa and play it on your big screen TV, which is generally a lot more comfortable than most computer workstations.
Oh yeah, and I've never seen 4 people try to play the same game on a single PC. 4 people playing in one place almost requires a sofa in front of the screen.
However, if you buy and Xbox game, you know it will work on your Xbox. You don't have to know about your processor speed, your RAM, or your video card stats. Plus, you can sit on your comfy sofa and play it on your big screen TV, which is generally a lot more comfortable than most computer workstations.
Oh yeah, and I've never seen 4 people try to play the same game on a single PC. 4 people playing in one place almost requires a sofa in front of the screen.
To most of the comments above, I'm just going to keep quoting myself:
As for genres, technically, everything "could" be done better on the PCs. The chip power, RAM speeds and amount, audio and graphics technologies are just superior there. Plus, the PC community has been doing it online since almost the start, while that's a new technology for consoles. On top of all that, consoles don't have modders and anyone who is a serious gamer knows what beautiful things modders bring to the table.
Still, as it currently stands there are things that stand out for both the PC and consoles. Consoles have better racing games and their sports titles are easier to access and play. However, RTSs and FPSs are a joke on consoles. In the world of RPGs, consoles BY FAR have bigger budgets and take more risks, however some of the all time classics are PC only titles. Party games are MUCH better for consoles as they tend to not be on a desk in the corner. However, games that set a "mood" like Doom 3 or System Shock are typically better for PC as you're usually closer to the screen, possibly wearing head phones, and/or have a better speaker setup that allows for sound to be a bigger part of the game.
Consoles sell for one reason and one reason only, they're plug and play.
Consoles = PCs for dummies.
As for genres, technically, everything "could" be done better on the PCs. The chip power, RAM speeds and amount, audio and graphics technologies are just superior there. Plus, the PC community has been doing it online since almost the start, while that's a new technology for consoles. On top of all that, consoles don't have modders and anyone who is a serious gamer knows what beautiful things modders bring to the table.
Still, as it currently stands there are things that stand out for both the PC and consoles. Consoles have better racing games and their sports titles are easier to access and play. However, RTSs and FPSs are a joke on consoles. In the world of RPGs, consoles BY FAR have bigger budgets and take more risks, however some of the all time classics are PC only titles. Party games are MUCH better for consoles as they tend to not be on a desk in the corner. However, games that set a "mood" like Doom 3 or System Shock are typically better for PC as you're usually closer to the screen, possibly wearing head phones, and/or have a better speaker setup that allows for sound to be a bigger part of the game.
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
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mbilderback
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Personally, I like consoles out there, it funds a lot of money for game development,
Because if everyone had a PC instead nobody would fund game development?
and the vast majority of games you can get for a console can be bought for PC.
That's not true at all. The vast majority of BIG NAME titles, yes, but not the vast majority. I should also mention that goes both ways.
We could go to Best Buy right now and I'd prove to you that 80% of the Playstation games never hit the other consoles, let alone a PC.
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
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mbilderback
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- Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 9:50 am
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- Contact:
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mbilderback
- Posts: 1282
- Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 9:50 am
- Location: Memphis
- Contact:
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mbilderback
- Posts: 1282
- Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 9:50 am
- Location: Memphis
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No, they would fund game development, but not to the extent because not as much money would be in it.
Can you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth? (movie?)
Seriously though, you missed what I'm saying. I'm talking about consoles not needing to exist. If no consoles existed all gamers would be on PCs, thus the money would be there for funding game research.
Thus my point about consoles existing because they're essentially PCs for dummies. No need for them there fancy new fangled thingamabobs, just plug it into the moving picture box and off you go.
I bet there would be more money in games, not less. The dollars spent on console development don't count, and that's overhead for the consumer that could be spent on more games.
Exactly. One platform not only drops console development costs, but it also drops the cost of making the game. No need to buy development kits for every console.
And 80%? Nah, I'd say it's much lower than that.
And you'd be wrong. Only the big name titles from the big name developers hit multiple platforms? Know why? They have the budget that allows them to do that. A lot of the smaller developers don't have the cash to purchase the development kits for each console. Plus, many developers see the PC as a waste of development money except in the cases of sure things due to the popularity of the game or because that genre does well on the PC.
That goes the other way as well. If the people here on this board combined to make a game, it'd be far easier and cheaper for us to make a PC exclusive game rather than trying to make something for consoles.
Go to the store this weekend and look at all the PS2 games and compare them to the PC shelves. Now bring into it the Gamecube and X-Box games that are exclusive to their systems.
To really pad the numbers you could also add in the Gameboy and PSP games and the huge overseas market where may games are released and never see the U.S. let alone a PC. This is particularly true in Japan.
As a guy who has every single system, I see what's available for them all. Believe me, there are a LOT more exclusive system/console/PC games than you're aware are out there.
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
