Are you a console or a PC gamer?

[Rogue Nine]

Gaming is obviously a big part of why we're here, so it's not a bad question ask if more people are console or PC gamers. Things are particularly interesting with the release of the Force Unleashed only on consoles, leaving poor PC users out in the cold.

Sound off!

[M@RS]

I voted for PC all of the way

[Writer]

Seeing as all I have is a PC...

[Master_Archon]

Mom always told me to try and have a healthy, balanced diet.

[Commander Obi-Wan]

Generally, I am a console gamer. I used to play PC, but there are really no games that a want enough on the PC, that aren't on the Xbox 360 already. I really only play older Star Wars games on the PC, since most of them are only on the PC.

[Jeff]

Traditionally I would consider myself a PC gamer (even though I've always had both a console and PC) but more recently with the Wii I would say I'm even between the two. Though WoW definitely takes up the most time.

[Prime]

A bit of both for me. I would prefer to be PC only, but alas I must face reality. I currently only have an old XBox though...

[Sivy]

i used to play on both, mainly PC. now it's mostly console. i finally got tired of having to upgrade my pc every time a new game came out, and then having to wait for a patch or two before it worked properly. the games industry nowadays is more focused on console games, and it's only going to get more so.

[FoolInTheWave]

I have been interested in PC gaming over the past year due to mods for all of my favorite games. That's what made me buy a new PC in the first place. But I do have to say I like playing my Wii and am looking to get an Xbox 360 by the end of the summer. Its just that PC gaming can get expensive due to upgrades, so I want to get into console gaming again to save me some money.

[tk102]

Originally Posted by Prime

A bit of both for me. I would prefer to be PC only, but alas I must face reality.

No, you really don't.

The PC will (must) always be fertile grounds for development.

Thanks for the poll Niner!

[Rev7]

I wish that I had more games for the PC, but I don't. I use the consoles mainly because that is all that I have to use.

[EnderWiggin]

Originally Posted by Prime

A bit of both for me. I would prefer to be PC only, but alas I must face reality. I currently only have an old XBox though...

Pure-blooded PC gaming for me - I'd much rather upgrade my vid card and ram than buy a console. The PC has so many more uses.

Originally Posted by tk102

Thanks for the poll Niner!

Agreed. Good poll.

_EW_

[Boba Rhett]

I certainly agree with you, a PC does have many more uses. However when I go to purchase, lets say a toaster, I'm going to pick out a toaster based on its toasting merits and not on whether it can also function as a blender and coffee grinder.

Likewise, if I want to play a game and I have a choice between PC or console, I'm going to usually go with the console option. I know I'm only spending a few hundred to be completely up and running, I know my game is going to work, my hardware is specifically made to run my games and I most likely won't have to patch anything. These points are worth a lot to me as I hate having to worry about system incompatibility issues for reason(s) 1, 2, 3 etc. and wondering if I need to upgrade every few months so I can run game X when it comes out next November.

At the same time, PC gaming is needed to drive forward the bleeding edge of hardware and software developments and there certainly are games that just play better with a mouse and keyboard. There's also the whole modding community to take into account which is definitely worth something. We're going to start to see a lot more mod functionality in the next batch of consoles though, so that major plus for pc gaming is waning.

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

Originally Posted by Boba Rhett

At the same time, PC gaming is needed to drive forward the bleeding edge of hardware and software developments and there certainly are games that just play better with a mouse and keyboard. There's also the whole modding community to take into account which is definitely worth something. We're going to start to see a lot more mod functionality in the next batch of consoles though, so that major plus for pc gaming is waning.

I vote Microsoft charges $19.99 a month to mod.

[tk102]

Originally Posted by Boba Rhett

I certainly agree with you, a PC does have many more uses. However when I go to purchase, lets say a toaster, I'm going to pick out a toaster based on its toasting merits and not on whether it can also function as a blender and coffee grinder.

Not a fair analogy. When you buy a toaster, you are buying appliance that was built for one purpose only. When you buy a computer, you have the choice of how it will be used. Will you use it only for email and internet? As an entertainment center? Home automation? A programming station? A server? Or maybe a gaming console? The choice is yours. In fact you can change your mind later if you like. Best you can do with a toaster is take it back for a refund if you decide you like coffee instead of toast for breakfast.

Likewise, if I want to play a game and I have a choice between PC or console, I'm going to usually go with the console option. I know I'm only spending a few hundred to be completely up and running, I know my game is going to work, my hardware is specifically made to run my games and I most likely won't have to patch anything. These points are worth a lot to me as I hate having to worry about system incompatibility issues for reason(s) 1, 2, 3 etc. and wondering if I need to upgrade every few months so I can run game X when it comes out next November.

That's a fair argument, but now you have to choose which console you're going to buy. Games made for one console don't play well on others. So while a PC gamer may have to upgrade her video card in order to play game X, a console gamer face a situation where you have buy another console altogether. Plus my video card can be used for Photoshop, video editing, as well as other high-end games.

At the same time, PC gaming is needed to drive forward the bleeding edge of hardware and software developments and there certainly are games that just play better with a mouse and keyboard...

...including many retro games that have yet to be ported to consoles.

There's also the whole modding community to take into account which is definitely worth something. We're going to start to see a lot more mod functionality in the next batch of consoles though, so that major plus for pc gaming is waning.

I certainly do hope so. Of course, the modding tools will have to be developed on a PC. If we could see a rise of user-generated content coming from the consoles, it would make a big difference to me. As it is, giving into console-only gaming seems like pure consumerism. Pure reward with no struggle cheapens the thrill. And the fact that you must depend solely on the supplier for the entertainment (and patches) is not appealing.

What other things will give up for simple one-trick-pony appliances? How about an internet appliance? I'm sure Microsoft would be happy to redirect all your HTTP requests through its servers. It would also make it so much easier for governments to one-stop-shop for information on its citizenry. But I digresss...

Originally Posted by jmac7142

I vote Microsoft charges $19.99 a month to mod.

So cynical yet so compelling.

[Darth333]

Originally Posted by tk102

Thanks for the poll Niner!

Thank you for reminding me to undust ( litterally speaking) my console! (I tend to forget I have one unless there's a poll like this one )

PC for me. Console is good for the big TV, the couch and the potato chips. I bought an xbox 360 several years ago but after 2-3 days it became a permanent dust collector (I don't have a big TV as 99% of the shows bore me and I rarely eat chips).

PC not only has many more uses but it gives much more freedom when gaming: don't like something? Just change it. Tired of getting your "posterior" kicked by the big bad boss before you can move out to the next level after a stressful day at work? You can turn him into a harmless little mosquito that you can kill with a fly swatter. You hit an annoying bug like the +-200 hour bug in Oblivion? You can restart the game if you're on console or fix it in about 30 seconds on the PC. Also, with a decent system, things just look better than on a console.

I never had any compatibility issue with the PC. I don't necessarily get the latest components (I never get the extreme stuff as it is just a waste of money) but keeping my system squeaky clean helps a lot.

[stingerhs]

well, i play on both because of the games that are available for both systems. obviously, there are exclusives to the console world (a la Force Unleashed and Forza), but there are also a few exclusives to the PC market as well ( a la Crysis). aside from that, though, there are also some games that play better on a console than a PC and visa versa which is also a factor in which system i game on.

currently, i've been using an Xbox 360 on my new 24" monitor, and it works just fine for what i've been playing. however, i'll also get on my computer and to stretch its capabilities in games like Crysis and World in Conflict.

in my mind, the strengths of both systems ensure that most gamers will benefit from owning both a nice PC and a console. if i had to pick one over the other, though, i'd have to go for the multifunctionality of a PC over a console. it may not be the best gaming platform in every situation, but since it lets me do so much other things, i'd have to pick it.

[MacTavish]

I use both. I just have different preferences for the two. Some games I enjoy playing with a controller while others (like KotOR) I prefer to play with a keyboard and mouse.

[jawathehutt]

I would say around 90% of my gaming time goes to my PC and maybe 10% to me wii, hopefully thatll change when I get some more games other than wii sports

[Titanius Anglesmith]

I've been a 100% PC gamer since the days of my SNES, though since I just got a PS3, I'm starting to strike a bit more of a balance.

[Pho3nix]

Both, though I've always been primarily a PC gamer.

[Soogz]

I like to switch it up between the two. Some games are generally better for PC, and some games are better for the console.

[txa1265]

I voted PC, because the Wii is really the kid's. There was no 'handheld' option, which simply illustrates your personal prejudice I probably split about 50% PC, 30% DS, 20% PSP at this point.

[TripHammer]

PC all the way...

[mimartin]

Both - own PSP and a 360. If there is a game I want to play I purchase whatever is needed to play it. Bought the 360 and a HDTV for Mass Effect.

[Serpentine Cougar]

I'm a "both" gamer, because I go where the games are. Consoles are nice 'cuz you don't have to worry about upgrading much, but PCs are nice 'cuz you can use them for so much else as well. And calling yourself a "PC gamer" sounds more hardcore. It should also be mentioned that you can hook up a USB controller to your PC if you prefer that kind of feel over mouse/keyboard. Really, I'd be a PC gamer if there weren't as many good console exclusives.

[Jedil3thal]

Im both

[EnderWiggin]

Originally Posted by Boba Rhett

I certainly agree with you, a PC does have many more uses. However when I go to purchase, lets say a toaster, I'm going to pick out a toaster based on its toasting merits and not on whether it can also function as a blender and coffee grinder.

Oh, I see.

That's why the iPhone didn't sell well?

_EW_

[Boba Rhett]

*scanning post for any possible relevancy*

[leXX]

I'm both. Being the old fogie that I am, I started off on consoles with Pong then the ZX Spectrum, Commodor 64, Sega Master System etc etc. I've owned just about every important gaming console there is, and I currently own all 3 next gen. When we got a PC (I dunno about 10 years ago?) I played on that mainly, with games like Duke Nukem 3D, Doom and Half-Life. The PC does have the advantage of the awesome modding community, but the consoles have the advantage of not having to be upgraded and no installation process. I've always divided my time between both consoles and PC's, and that's exactly the way I like it.

[Sivy]

the iphone didn’t sell because most people couldn’t justify spending that much money on a phone, regardless of it’s many extra features... so i suppose there's a slight relevance

[Diego Varen]

Both, although I'm on my computer more nowadays.

[RoxStar]

Originally Posted by Schmorgy

I've been a 100% PC gamer since the days of my SNES, though since I just got a PS3, I'm starting to strike a bit more of a balance.

SNES to PS3 is quite the leap in graphics.

[Da_man]

I strike a balance. I use my PC to play games most of the time, and my 360 to play online, though not all that much.

[TriggerGod]

I play online games on my PC, and other games on my Wii/XBox/PS2. I find that games I have on all of them are fun

PC: ... KOTOR 2: The Sith Lords (Don't have many other games for it anyways)

XBox: ... Tough... Either KOTOR 1 or Fable: The Lost Chapters

PS2: Rock Band. Only game I really have since we got it earlier in the year...

Wii: Either Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, or Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock.

[Relenzo2]

You realize this is a biased test group for the vote, right? PC will obviously overwhelm because LucasForums itself is on a computer, and PC gamers are all the ones more invlolved on their computer. A console gamer is unlikely to seek out a forum like this.

[Rogue Nine]

Originally Posted by Relenzo2

You realize this is a biased test group for the vote, right? PC will obviously overwhelm because LucasForums itself is on a computer,

That is the shoddiest reasoning ever.

Originally Posted by Relenzo2

and PC gamers are all the ones more invlolved on their computer.

This does not mean that a console gamer will not use a computer. In this day and age, I do not think a gamer of any kind is very far away from a computer.

Originally Posted by Relenzo2

A console gamer is unlikely to seek out a forum like this.

Why? Most of the games on these forums (at least on the SW side) are put out for both console and PC. With the impeding release of the Force Unleashed only on consoles, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to believe they'd seek out a forum like this.

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

Originally Posted by Relenzo2

You realize this is a biased test group for the vote, right? PC will obviously overwhelm because LucasForums itself is on a computer

I have it on good authority that all of lfnetwork is run on a cluster of PS3s.

[EnderWiggin]

Originally Posted by Boba Rhett

*scanning post for any possible relevancy*

You're kidding. You used an analogy about how you only wanted your toaster to toast, in favor of the console argument. But the thing is, usually people are more inclined to want the all-in-one product that has multiple facets. Take the iPhone - most people already had a phone, and had internet, and had a camera, and an iPod (etc.) but when Apple slapped them together, people lined up for hours upon hours in order to get one. Even at the ridiculously high price. That's why I'd rather have my computer for gaming. It's so much more useful.

The relevancy is that my post was a direct counterargument

Originally Posted by Sivy

the iphone didn’t sell because most people couldn’t justify spending that much money on a phone, regardless of it’s many extra features... so i suppose there's a slight relevance

No.

_EW_

[Taos]

When it comes to games, I've been PC exclusive for over five years now. Though if I do have a craving to play a console [which is very rare] I can go to my brother's place and play his 360. Admittedly, I'm terrible with the double thumb stick aiming in games like Halo 3. I'd much rather have a mouse and keyboard.

Originally Posted by Niner

Things are particularly interesting with the release of the Force Unleashed only on consoles, leaving poor PC users out in the cold.

I hope that LA will do the "right" thing and port it to pc a la what Bioware did with Mass Effect.