[jcian135]

Calling all gamers out there, regardless of your love for PC or consoles games, let us have us a friendly debate on whether and if consoles are actually hurting or have hurt the PC game industry. One of the latest blogposts in the blogs section highlights this and can be found here - http://www.hardwarezone.com.my/blogs/view/160810
And as you can see the debate has already begun but we would like to get more feedback. So let's have it. Are you a PC elitist or Console fanboy? And what do you think about the state of games these days?

[danielgck]

To me games are games, whether I am frantically clicking on my mouse and bashing on my keyboard or gripping a console with sweaty palms, all that matters is the way the games engage me, the innovation that the developers put into making their games stand out, and just the goosebumps you get at the end of a fan-freaking-tastic game.

As far as the war goes, the only thing that seperates console and PC gaming is genre and maybe a choice of controller (eg RTS games usually on the PC, FPS found on both). So its really more of a question of what kind of genre's do you like. Take me for example, I am slightly partial to my PS3 due to the fact that I just have to slide the game in and play. But I still think SC2 is one hell of a game!!

So to wrap it up, IMO its not a question of PC or Console but more a question of RTS or RPGs

[Fat Cat Lim]

It's erroneous to claim that consoles are hurting the PC game industry when it is merely undergoing a transformation. I still contend in my original reply to your blog that you're just looking for a punching bag for the changes that are happening to PC games.

[jcian135]

@danielgck
I am not disregarding the fact that consoles have a ton of awesome games, for me I wish the PC had games like Halo:Reach, God of War and etc. But for me, I find the PC a well-rounded machine as it can handle almost every genre of games. So hence, my affection for PC gaming.

@Fat Cat Lim
Well you do have a point but isn't it true that PC games have only recently undergone changes due to wanting to compete or be on the same level as consoles games?

And more often than not, some console games are great on consoles but when they take that leap over to the PC, it just seems to fall apart. So that's one of my reason for holding a grudge against consoles. I mean, in a sense, doesn't that seem like it's hurting PC games? Not everyone can afford a PC and console. So I don't think it is fair for PC gamers to have to deal with shoddy ports.

[Vertigo23]

My personal opinion is that there will always be a market for console games as well as PC games. There are those who like the simplicity of consoles that do not require installation like danielgck, and there will be those who have grown accustomed to the building their own rigs to support the latest games in the market.

There may come a day when developers choose to develop games only for a certain platform due to economic reasons, but I pray that it won't come to that. Developing games for both consoles and PCs are after all, two sides of the same coin.

[Tedrock13]

Is console gaming hurting PC gaming?
My answer is Yes...

Some the console gaming is only console exclusive. Look and feel great on the console. Causing people to buy console game rather than PC game. The console rig that stuck and static at certain "power" of delivering game cause the PC game to be at a "bit" lower level.

Then again, this is a good thing for consumer...if every game uses a High End PC gaming rig. A "poor" guy like me who can't afford to upgrade PC every year can't even play a simple FPS or RTS game.

Now the marketing strategy, the Game developer would focus more on the high number of consumer to deliver their game. Making sure that they get their investment back. In this case, the high rise number of console player hurt the PC gaming.

Last but not lease, the Piracy problem. The easy availability of pirated software really hurts the PC gaming. Developer sometime turns to lease pirated software out there (e.g. Blu-ray for the PS3...well, until recently) to developed their game and making sure they get back their investment. The anti-piracy that sometime ridiculous on the PC (e.g. the need of Internet Connection 24/7 to play a game) also contribute to the divert attention to the console gaming by consumer...

[trojanshark]

Should PC games become as easy to use as console games? yes. Should the level of complexity drop to the point where all you do is button mash the left mouse button like most console games tend to do? no. Is the PC industry dying because of this tendency to develop a PC game like you would a console game? partly yes, because the tendency to create a button masher that would do well on a console does tends to carry forward when developers port it over to a PC. Lets face it, PC users do tend to expect a bit more from their games; better graphics, more immersion, more features because they do pay more to play their PC games than the average console gamer.

@Fat Cat Lim - I'm not saying that console gaming is the sole reason for the PC Game industry going into the doldrums, but its a bit close-minded of you to say that console gaming had nothing to do with it.

EDIT: I have just tried out Crysis 2 for the PC and I now totally agree with the statement that console games are killing PC games. It looks just like a PS3 port and not like the original resource pushing Crysis game. Why does the water look so unrealistic? Where are my HD details!? WTF happened Crytek!!?

[solzafy3]

I know I'm too late to post on this thread but i will like to say is I agree on u trojanshark that crysis 2 is a very good example of console port that ruins the experience in realistic gaming environment.

[InfopierSG]

I don't think so. Me for instance, prefer playing games on PC than consoles. Just certain games are only available on consoles that make me no choice but to forget abt it. Same can be said to PC games.

[JohnWills]

Tedrock13 wrote:

Is console gaming hurting PC gaming?
My answer is Yes...

I also think that console gaming is hurting PC gaming. Now everyone prefer console gaming not pc gaming.



...............
free downloadable games without any software.

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

i honestly doubt it .....

the only console game i play is the PS3 Final Fantasy series.


The RPG games like FF are better played on a console in the living room, seeing as they have a gaming controller and a console system designed/optimized for that sort of gameplay.

FPS and RTS is more dominating on the PC gaming scene.

Hack and Slash is playable on both PC and console.



But the thing is, the PC gaming rig has more potential to squeeze the most fps and image quality versus the console. So hack and slash games for me such as Diablo 3, i will definitely be using the PC, rather than console (although Blizzard is creating a console version for the game).

[Raswong]

i think both is different and it not really hurt each other


Console for fighting game, RPG , Action type


PC is for stratergy, shoting and MMORPG type more.

It depend how u wan it to be play, on a big screen? console certainly. If for best Graphic sure PC

[sharmineishak]

I don't think consoles are hurting PC gaming - it's really like apples and oranges. Personally, I prefer consoles because I can just jump right into the game, but I don't have as much control as I have over it as compared with PC gaming, where I can do a slew of other things like enter debug modes, tweak the game, install mods, etc.

I guess it depends on what you want: I just want to play my game. Finito.