What do you prefer: PC or Game Consoles?

[springning]

As the title said, what do you prefer, PC or Consoles? For me, I prefer game consoles.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

I prefer games, and whatever platform (PC / Console / Handheld) required to play a specific game if what I prefer at that moment. Seriously though, I have always been a Console / PC gamer and enjoyed both greatly, these days the lines are so blurred between the two it does not matter. The plug n play simplicity of the console was gone since DLC, updates, patches, etc, and I been using a 360 controller sitting on my couch playing "PC" games for years using my graphic cards A/V output. I like consoles for exclusives and PC's for the wealth of indi titles but even more so MODS, from total conversion to extra levels or enhancements MODS are great to breath new life in old PC titles not to mention emulation etc. WHY LIMIT yourself? Both are awesome.

Edited October 15, 2014 by OldSchoolRetroGamer

[AtticGamer]

I prefered consoles, but since I don't trust Sony or MS, and Nintendo is out of the loop somehow, I shifted to PC. I had been a PC gamer for some time but I didn't know enough then to take advantage of it, and I always had problems with Windows bugging out after some time as well. Now that Windows 7 has come out, and to a lesser extent Steam, I've began researching about CPUs and graphics cards and I am now enjoying games as I want, even though it's more complicated sometimes.

 

My ultimate favourite are handhelds though. My GBA, DS, and even N-Gage gave me so much that I grew an affection for that type of "intimate" game experience. I must get back to my 3DS once I finish Alien Isolation.

[Keatah]

PC running emulators and other older games.

 

The modern console is laden with DLC and DRM. Too complex for what was once a simple turn-it-on and go experience.

[cimerians]

I've always been a PC guy, even more so before the new consoles arrived...but at the moment I play everything pretty much equally including handhelds.

[Rex Dart]

Like OldSchoolRetroGamer said, I just like games. Console, PC, handheld, board games, whatever. What does it matter, what's the big difference?

[Gamemoose]

I tried to be platform agnostic but I really am more of a console guy. I can totally run games on my PC at decent levels and I have had it hooked up to my TV and stereo system but I just can't get into it. There is a process I have to do to get the A/V signal over to the TV and sometimes the settings like to "stick" so when I do work my windows disappear and adjustments need to be made. When I'm done with work, I'm not in the mood to fix/adjust my own computer. I just want to turn on and go.

 

 

Even with the updates that float down to modern consoles, it's nice to have a dedicated piece of hardware that is pretty much for games. And when you have kids, the worst that can happen is that your game save gets deleted (unless you have your credit card on your machine and unlocked....).

[WestofHouse]

Consoles. I like being able to buy games without looking at system requirements and knowing they'll look and play great.

 

The only time I prefer a PC is when playing an FPS because mouse and keyboard beats thumbs when it comes to aiming.

[xenomorpher]

I somewhat prefer PC now because if there is a hardware problem, I can just replace the part. Console manufacturers have made that more difficult as time went on. Granted the only consoles that "died" were my PS3 and 360 (three times), and are fixable, but it was a wake up call for me. Before, that thought never entered my head because I never had a console "die" before. Mods, cheats, and actual game prices for PC gaming definitely helps too. I still want a PS4 because of the new Silent Hill game, unless it's coming for PC like the new Metal Gear Solid, but I'm not sure how long the average PS4 system will last.

[Mord]

Harder to say today than it use to be.

 

I use to be fully console. Because when I buy a game I want to pop it in and have it Just Work.

 

With modern consoles that's not quite as simple anymore. Turn on system, pop it in, get notice for required firmware update, agree to and install update praying power doesn't go out and brick the system, start game, game detects latest patch is required before playing, download bug patches, apply bug patches while reading book, install game, pray it doesn't still have any existing bug that won't crash the game. (Granted it's not always that bad, but there were times this happened.)

 

But still don't like PC gaming a lot simply because I don't have a good PC to begin with, and even for older games I seem to have a 50/50 chance of getting it to run at best.

[+save2600]

Consoles for gaming and computers for everything else. Except vintage computers (Commodore, Atari, TI) as they've always been fun to game on.

[Reaperman]

I prefer consoles.

Except that consoles started being a bigger PITA than computers.

And computers started feeling easier--more like what consoles should be.

So for this generation, I'm starting out with PC.

[Lost Dragon]

Mord nailed it.I can remember when MS assured us that the patch for Xbox Far Cry was NOT the start of consoles going route of the PC and expecting patches, just because hardware could connect online and thus would'nt encourage developers to 'ship now...patch later'.

Now look at it.Day 1 patches galore, partches to fix damage previous patch did, patche to remedy issues caused by recent firmware updates, you name it.

[Jess Ragan]

Transitioning to PCs myself. Not much from this console generation excites me; I'm better off going the Steam route.

[Ransom]

Consoles.

[Bill Loguidice]

I like everything, but I find myself playing more console games because of the sofa/bed comfort factor and larger screens. I wouldn't want to be without either, though, and there are certain experiences I wouldn't want to have on one over the other, e.g., serious strategy games are best on PC because of the fine detail and needing to be closer to the screen.

 

As stated, while I also really enjoy my PC and PC setup, there's something to being at a PC for 8+ hours at work, then going home and trying to game on one. A console is a nice pseudo-break from that. Certainly there will be those who state that, "well, just run your PC to your TV." Of course that's an option, but even with pseudo-hacks like Steam's big screen mode, it's simply not as optimized an experience as a console is, just like Web browsing on a console is not a replacement for doing so on a PC or other computing device.

 

There was some talk earlier in this thread about the PC-like nature of modern consoles and all of the updates. That's true, but there are still nice conveniences with modern consoles as well. For instance, with the Xbox One having the pass-through for a cable/satellite box, if my TV is on, my Xbox One is on and ready to go at any time, i.e., instant switching to use the console, be it for something like Netflix, or of course a game. I'll take that convenience even with the relative annoyance of getting semi-regular system/feature updates.

[JamesD]

I bought a console because all the games just work without incompatibilities and there were a lot of readily available discount titles.
It was also more difficult to attach a PC to a TV and decent game controllers at the time.
At the time, I preferred consoles.

Now Steam and PC hardware is to the point where compatibility isn't such an issue.
My gaming PC goes through my TV so screen size is not an issue.
Using game controllers can still be an issue but support is better.
I have now accumulated a large game library very quickly due to sites like gog and humble bundle and at much cheaper prices than for console games.
Now I prefer the PC but I still buy a few games for the console.

[cimerians]

If you setup up your PC the right way its fun to game on the couch. You need a wireless mouse\keyboard\Xbox controller and then have a dinner tray next to your couch or this device...

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KW3OFG0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

...it's only a matter of switching inputs on your TV to your PC and then firing up your Steam game. With Windows 8 you can even pin all those games to the start screen with Steam Live Tile App.

 

Me and my wife play co-op PC games downstairs on the big screen using that all in one keyboard and two wireless Xbox 360 controllers. (I have 50 foot HDMI cable running through the wall to the downstairs TV)

 

With a little thought and planning PC gaming on a couch is definitely do-able. Consoles yes are still "easier" out of the box, I don't disagree with Bill but I think its easier these days than ever before.

[Bill Loguidice]

I'm not saying it's not doable, and in fact I've done and do do it on occasion (I use this, though mine is black: http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/19/phantomlapboard.jpg), I'm just saying a console is still meant for a TV most of the time and a PC is meant for a monitor most of the time. There's really no benefit to me for using my PC on my TV when I have high quality consoles hooked up to it.

[+Gemintronic]

After Comca$t arbitrarily raised my bill and cut the stations I watch it's been XBOX/XBMC for years. Now it's PC/XBMC. All TVs are just large PC monitors nowadays anyway. My PC gaming consists of emulating the video game consoles and carts that are packed away.

[cimerians]

I'm not saying it's not doable, and in fact I've done and do do it on occasion (I use this, though mine is black: http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/19/phantomlapboard.jpg), I'm just saying a console is still meant for a TV most of the time and a PC is meant for a monitor most of the time. There's really no benefit to me for using my PC on my TV when I have high quality consoles hooked up to it.

 

Yeah and thats why Steam is trying to get into living rooms. Consoles are still preferable for many people. Not sure how those Steam boxes are doing though...haven't heard about those in a while.

[moycon]

I used a PC to game for a couple years. Not exclusively, I used it mainly for Diablo 2 and Guild Wars. I had also set up a Steam account and had a few games though that.

I loved playing the MMORPG on it, didn't really enjoy playing other type of games on it. Just like I don't like watching movies on a PC. Something un-natural about it I guess LOL

So to answer the question.

 

I prefer the PC for browsing the internet, reading emails, doing work, and playing MMORPGs

I prefer a console for playing video games and watching streaming movies.

[R.Bear]

I prefer my PC over the consoles, however I do have a PS4, PS3, 360 and Wii which I keep around for their exclusive games.

 

So both really, but I do game on my PC more often.

 

^ That's my habit for modern gaming. For retro I use Consoles more. I do have some old computers but they aren't really convenient to game on often so most of my retro gaming happens on consoles unless said computer games are DOS games, in which case I have a P3 rig with Win98 on which I use for that.

Edited October 17, 2014 by R.Bear

[godslabrat]

Consoles, both for the convenience and the style of game. I even feel myself getting very particular about what *type* of console I use as well.

[mipaol]

When it comes to PCs I don't like having to "upgrade" perfectly functional parts JUST to play the latest video games at the best graphics settings, and with consoles I don't like DLC and patches to patch patches. So really the only logical alternative is to say screw both and buy an Atari 7800.

 

But then I think about how amazing a game like No Man's Sky is going to be played through the Morpheus virtual reality headset and I get sucked back into this retro vs modern funk quandary I've been stuck in the past couple months.

Edited October 20, 2014 by mipaol