CAN'T do both. Console and computer gaming.... opinion's needed.

[lakerstowin]

I have a pretty decent collection of games that range from atari 2600 through ps vita. I have been a hardcore gamer since I was eight. Over the last 15 years, I have been off and on, back and forth, pc and console gaming. I do have every North American system since the atari 2600 that has come out. Almost all my games are in cherry condition and I do treasure them. I have sold, bought, sold, bought, sold, bought many times. Sometimes, I make money and sometimes I lose money. I got into computer's from a hardware, gaming, building, fixing, etc point of view starting in 1995. Maybe I am screwed in the head or something but I can't dedicate myself to both, not at all. I am either in 110 percent with console gaming and collecting and zero with pc, or the other way around. It drives my wife crazy. The thing that bother's me is when I am out of pc gaming, I seem to not have an interest in the pc community at all. I have skills with pc's that can help people{ family, friends, etc}. I just wanted to know if you guy's have any info or opinion's on this and what would you do.

[NayusDante]

In my opinion, PC gaming is for multiplayer and more independent stuff. Consoles are where you'll find more polished experiences and consistent quality.

If you're a collector first, PC gaming isn't going to be a very worthwhile front unless you're into specific developers or have some kind of scope. If you're an enthusiast, however, PC gaming is more interesting than console gaming. PC gaming is going to switch to digital sales before console gaming, so keep that in mind.

If you want to dedicate yourself to PC gaming, I suggest getting into the modding culture. Learn UDK or Hammer so you can make maps and content. Half the fun of PC gaming is the openness of it all, and the freedom to create what you want.

[wingzrow]

I bought pandora's tower from europe and am emulating it in 1080p using a wii remote on my PC.

again, how exactly can you not have the best of both worlds exactly?

[Lerxstnj]

Before the newer flatscreen TVs, there was more of a distinction between consoles and PCs. Now a TV is basically a large PC monitor and PC gaming is much more like a console. You can even hook everything to one TV. I don't see any reason you couldn't dedicate a PC for gaming and consider it as one of your consoles.

[Oobgarm]

Before the newer flatscreen TVs, there was more of a distinction between consoles and PCs. Now a TV is basically a large PC monitor and PC gaming is much more like a console. You can even hook everything to one TV. I don't see any reason you couldn't dedicate a PC for gaming and consider it as one of your consoles.

This.

[Polygon]

I just think of my computers as other gaming systems even thought they're not connected to my PC. Then again, I suppose things are a bit different for me. I'm not huge on newer games. Most of my collecting is older games even thought I do get some new games from time to time. Also, I tend to bounce around with my hobbies, and I have a lot of them. It keeps me from getting burnt out on any one hobby.

I just can't imagine choosing between my consoles and my computers.

[FxMercenary]

I have my Desktop hooked up to my 55" Samsung Television. I have a GTX 580 graphics card connected via HDMI, and a sound card with Optical Audio out connected to the Samsung Soundbar that I bought. The thing does not have a single issue, and playing games like Battlefield 3 on a 55" television at 60 FPS, WITH 16x Anti-aliasing is absolutely amazing.

It has also given me the ability to play retro console games out in the living room with the graphics smoothed up a bit. I bought a USB to SNES and USB to n64 adapter for my PC.

Last night I even played a little EverQuest on the thing, its absolutely awesome

[lakerstowin]

I appreciate the responses guys. The problem is I have tried to do both and I always neglect one or the other. For some reason I can't just have both things at once. So based on what you know of my situation, what would you do besides seeking a shrink:D


If I do decide to sell my collection again, it would be on here first of course!

[kedawa]

If you want to stop purging your collection, Steam would help you break that habit.

[lakerstowin]

Okay, then the majority here is to leave console gaming and collecting and get back into full pc gaming, hardware, industry, etc? I just want to know, because either way I go, it's the last time. I hope...

[Jorpho]

Do whatever will make your wife the least unhappy. :p

If you're in this to play games, then play games. You talk about computers from "a hardware, gaming, building, fixing, etc point of view", which really doesn't sound much like playing games at all. If you are unable to pull yourself away from hardware/building/fixing etc and you want to play games then perhaps you shouldn't bother. (And never mind your l33t h4x0r sk1llz. Being dragooned into providing tech support for friends and family can end badly (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/computers).)

[lakerstowin]

Do whatever will make your wife the least unhappy. :p

If you're in this to play games, then play games. You talk about computers from "a hardware, gaming, building, fixing, etc point of view", which really doesn't sound much like playing games at all. If you are unable to pull yourself away from hardware/building/fixing etc and you want to play games then perhaps you shouldn't bother. (And never mind your l33t h4x0r sk1llz. Being dragooned into providing tech support for friends and family can end badly (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/computers).)

That link is funny as heck. I am into playing games, but I also love computers, especially the technology side of it. I just always give 110 percent to either one. If I am into computer's all way, I don't even have an interest in the console stuff. Sits here in boxes and looking nice on shelves. I mean I have been back and forth so much I have a TON of games on steam.

[Genesaturn]

I am both a PC gamer and a classic console gamer/collector. I don't find it hard to go between. I don't play many PC games anymore as all my favorite genres have seemed to of fallen to the wayside..such as point and click adventures. But I do play all of Blizzards games including World of Warcraft and other MMO's. I don't find it a problem...PC gaming is just another platform that allows more customization and can be upgraded. I guess I can't wrap my head around it being a problem that your either or? So be it some people stick to one or the other..but thats generally because they can't get into one of the other forms.

[Cornelius]

I am both a PC gamer and a classic console gamer/collector. I don't find it hard to go between. I don't play many PC games anymore as all my favorite genres have seemed to of fallen to the wayside..such as point and click adventures. But I do play all of Blizzards games including World of Warcraft and other MMO's. I don't find it a problem...PC gaming is just another platform that allows more customization and can be upgraded. I guess I can't wrap my head around it being a problem that your either or? So be it some people stick to one or the other..but thats generally because they can't get into one of the other forms.

I'm pretty similar except for the MMO part. My previous game was Batman AA on the PS3, and now I'm playing Mass Effect on PC. Part of my switching back and forth is influenced by the modern-ness of my PC. I upgraded the video card recently, so I feel like I can play more recent games on it now. But that's only part of it, because I have such a huge backlog of Steam and console games that I usually have no need to play the most recent stuff until my hardware catches up and/or it is a lot cheaper to get the games.

It sounds like the problem is your physical collection taking up space. Maybe you just need to pare down your console systems and games to ones you actually play regularly (when you are in a console mood/phase), rather than giving them up entirely for PC gaming. That way after a phase of PC gaming you can still go back to consoles without the burden of them sitting there idle and taking up space. And I really don't see how it is possible to give up the PC gaming possibility. You are still going to have a PC no matter what, I'd assume. And if you like to tinker with PCs, well, they don't really take up that much space comparitively unless you get really nutso. It has been enough for me to just build a new PC every 5-7 years when needed.

[lakerstowin]

All good point's. Thanks guys.

[Panzerfuzion]

http://www.nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=7&threadid=68411
Be Aware of the OP!

[Gamevet]

Someone's up to something, aren't they?

[HappehLemons]

this thread was dumb anyway

[lakerstowin]

I admitted to everything I did and explained in detail to why that happened. Tom got his money back and I am paying paypal and american express back the money in payments. I have never cheated or done anything wrong on this forum, I have good feedback as well.

[Gamevet]

It wouldn't seem so fishy, had you not wrote the exact same stuff on several different sites.

Especially this!


If I do decide to sell my collection again, it would be on here first of course!

Obviously, this would be a lie, since you've posted it on several sites.

[lakerstowin]

It wouldn't seem so fishy, had you not wrote the exact same stuff on several different sites.

Especially this!



Obviously, this would be a lie, since you've posted it on several sites.



I only listed here and na so that's two sites. I apologize if I forgot to change that one line at the end of the post. I copied and pasted.

[Rickstilwell1]

Maybe to get some people's trust back you should ship out some items to people BEFORE they pay. The people here are honest enough to still pay you. One guy told me if shipping for his item went over what we thought it would be he would paypal me the difference. He did. One guy in Canada and I didn't know it cost twice as much for shipping and he was nice enough to pay me back the extra as well.

[Griking]

I'm almost exclusively a PC gamer. I started out as a console gamer back in the early days of the Atari but once I got an Apple II I never looked back. I just feel so limited with a console.

I understand that people like the ease of starting up and playing a game on a console but it's really no more difficult on a good PC. I think that many people are still remembering the early years of PC gaming where you had to manually configure your graphic and sound devices to work with a game via command prompts. Those days are gone just like the days of blowing on a cartridge to get it to work on your console are. It still may take a few seconds more to launch a game on a PC than a console but once you do you have the luxury of;

* generally better graphics on a PC game
* patches released more regularly on a PC game
* community add-ons and mods
* multi-tasking

Another thing from the past that I think a lot of people still believe is that PC gaming is so expensive compared to a console. Again, maybe 10 years ago you'd have to spend $1000-$2000 for a good gaming PC but nowadays you can spend $500 and get a fairly adequate gaming PC. You won't be able to get a top of the line graphics card in it for that price but you'll get at least Xbox360 comparable graphics.

Lastly I'm not trying to be insulting but it feels like everything on a console is dumbed down so that you can control it with a gamepad. I mean for some genres such as sports or fighters a gamepad may be preferred over a keyboard or a mouse but ever since they made the Xbox 360 gamepad compatible with Windows I don't feel like I've been missing a thing. I spent like 5 minutes trying to control Skyrim with a gamepad before I unplugged it and swore never again.


I'm curious what benefits people feel a console still has over a decent modern PC.

[Rickstilwell1]

I'm almost exclusively a PC gamer. I started out as a console gamer back in the early days of the Atari but once I got an Apple II I never looked back. I just feel so limited with a console.

I understand that people like the ease of starting up and playing a game on a console but it's really no more difficult on a good PC. I think that many people are still remembering the early years of PC gaming where you had to manually configure your graphic and sound devices to work with a game via command prompts. Those days are gone just like the days of blowing on a cartridge to get it to work on your console are. It still may take a few seconds more to launch a game on a PC than a console but once you do you have the luxury of;

* generally better graphics on a PC game
* patches released more regularly on a PC game
* community add-ons and mods
* multi-tasking

Another thing from the past that I think a lot of people still believe is that PC gaming is so expensive compared to a console. Again, maybe 10 years ago you'd have to spend $1000-$2000 for a good gaming PC but nowadays you can spend $500 and get a fairly adequate gaming PC. You won't be able to get a top of the line graphics card in it for that price but you'll get at least Xbox360 comparable graphics.

Lastly I'm not trying to be insulting but it feels like everything on a console is dumbed down so that you can control it with a gamepad. I mean for some genres such as sports or fighters a gamepad may be preferred over a keyboard or a mouse but ever since they made the Xbox 360 gamepad compatible with Windows I don't feel like I've been missing a thing. I spent like 5 minutes trying to control Skyrim with a gamepad before I unplugged it and swore never again.


I'm curious what benefits people feel a console still has over a decent modern PC.

I think the hard part is finding out just what is a decent modern PC. Some stock PC's look really nice on the outside and then after a while of use you realize it has problems with lag instead of running things 100% perfectly every time. The more you use a PC and the more games you install, you're taking a chance with slowing it down to where it has to use more RAM just to find the files. This happens with pretty much every PC as it ages and gets filled up with stuff, especially if you use the internet. You might have better luck using a PC as a gaming machine if you buy a separate one to keep offline at all time, but the more things you install you're just taking a risk at ruining your experience.

Mine has a problem when running emulators or games where it stutters every couple of minutes. I looked all around for a solution and nothing can fix it. One possibility I read was that Daemon Tools' virtual drive could be what is using up the RAM, but I tried removing it and it made no difference.

[Griking]

I think the hard part is finding out just what is a decent modern PC.


That pretty much depends on what kind of games you want to play. I'd always recommend buying the parts from Newegg.com and building your own. Store built PCs usually come sufficient enough memory and CPU power to play many games but you'll definitely want to pick up an upgraded video card.

[Edmond Dantes]

I appreciate the responses guys. The problem is I have tried to do both and I always neglect one or the other. For some reason I can't just have both things at once. So based on what you know of my situation, what would you do besides seeking a shrink:D


If I do decide to sell my collection again, it would be on here first of course!

I'm the same way, but I don't see what the problem is. As another person said, bouncing around keeps you from getting burned out.

If you parted with either collection, all that would happen is you'd have a craving for whatever you got rid of earlier, and you'd want it back and you'd be like "what was I thinking?" and so on and so forth. So I'd say, just keep everything.

It's like, I went two years without using my gaming comp, but then last week I booted it up for some Prince of Persia 2. If I had sold it I would've gone crazy, but fortunately I didn't. So yeah, don't part with anything.

[Gamevet]

I think the hard part is finding out just what is a decent modern PC. Some stock PC's look really nice on the outside and then after a while of use you realize it has problems with lag instead of running things 100% perfectly every time. The more you use a PC and the more games you install, you're taking a chance with slowing it down to where it has to use more RAM just to find the files. This happens with pretty much every PC as it ages and gets filled up with stuff, especially if you use the internet. You might have better luck using a PC as a gaming machine if you buy a separate one to keep offline at all time, but the more things you install you're just taking a risk at ruining your experience.

Mine has a problem when running emulators or games where it stutters every couple of minutes. I looked all around for a solution and nothing can fix it. One possibility I read was that Daemon Tools' virtual drive could be what is using up the RAM, but I tried removing it and it made no difference.

Have you checked your virtual memory settings?

It also helps performance if you defrag your HDD at least once every couple of months, since files get spread out all over the HDD. If your HDD seems to be running quite a bit, chances are that your PC is scanning through files for other programs that are running in the background.

I have a PC that I've built just for gaming, with emulators on one HDD that runs Windows XP Pro, and on the other HDD I'm running Windows 7 64-bit for the more modern games. It's like having 2 PCs in one box.

[lakerstowin]

I'm almost exclusively a PC gamer. I started out as a console gamer back in the early days of the Atari but once I got an Apple II I never looked back. I just feel so limited with a console.

I understand that people like the ease of starting up and playing a game on a console but it's really no more difficult on a good PC. I think that many people are still remembering the early years of PC gaming where you had to manually configure your graphic and sound devices to work with a game via command prompts. Those days are gone just like the days of blowing on a cartridge to get it to work on your console are. It still may take a few seconds more to launch a game on a PC than a console but once you do you have the luxury of;

* generally better graphics on a PC game
* patches released more regularly on a PC game
* community add-ons and mods
* multi-tasking

Another thing from the past that I think a lot of people still believe is that PC gaming is so expensive compared to a console. Again, maybe 10 years ago you'd have to spend $1000-$2000 for a good gaming PC but nowadays you can spend $500 and get a fairly adequate gaming PC. You won't be able to get a top of the line graphics card in it for that price but you'll get at least Xbox360 comparable graphics.

Lastly I'm not trying to be insulting but it feels like everything on a console is dumbed down so that you can control it with a gamepad. I mean for some genres such as sports or fighters a gamepad may be preferred over a keyboard or a mouse but ever since they made the Xbox 360 gamepad compatible with Windows I don't feel like I've been missing a thing. I spent like 5 minutes trying to control Skyrim with a gamepad before I unplugged it and swore never again.


I'm curious what benefits people feel a console still has over a decent modern PC.



I totally agree with this post.

[lakerstowin]

I'm the same way, but I don't see what the problem is. As another person said, bouncing around keeps you from getting burned out.

If you parted with either collection, all that would happen is you'd have a craving for whatever you got rid of earlier, and you'd want it back and you'd be like "what was I thinking?" and so on and so forth. So I'd say, just keep everything.

It's like, I went two years without using my gaming comp, but then last week I booted it up for some Prince of Persia 2. If I had sold it I would've gone crazy, but fortunately I didn't. So yeah, don't part with anything.



I also agree with this to an extent. The issue is one or the other never get's used when it comes to gaming. Since I am on the computer a ton even without gaming, I will probably go that route.

[YoshiM]

I'm curious what benefits people feel a console still has over a decent modern PC.

To play the devil:

-Online multiplayer and an even hardware playing field: now I could be all wet with modern PC games but there was a time when if your rig wasn't overly up to snuff, you could get your butt handed to you by other players due to them having faster hardware. With consoles everyone has the same stuff with the only defining difference being network speed.

-Online multiplayer and cheat mods: granted consoles are starting to get their share of cheats but with a PC, you can run up against someone who has a hacked character or has hacked abilities to make them artificially superior. Again, it's been a while since I was playing online with folks on my PC so this issue could be gone.

-Console specific brands: can't get Mario legally on a PC, or Uncharted, etc.

[/horns off]

Beyond that...I can't think of anything else. PCs have gotten a LOT better in the gaming department since the 90's and early 2000's. Drivers aren't really an issue, prices are a lot better for hardware and most everything runs smooth. Speaking of prices, PC games can get some ca-razy pricing, especially through Steam sales. I've purchased more stuff on a whim on Steam as it doesn't spank my pocket book. Complete Civ IV for like $15 (or less), sign me up! Just Cause 2 for $7-never played it but I'll give it a whirl! Duke Nukem Forever for $5-hail to the king, baby! Plus with some programs (or just a special purchase through places like GOG), you can run older games from PC history. And the current surge of Indie games at wild prices-there's a lot of goodness I'm stumbling across as I rediscover PC gaming. I can easily piss away an hour playing Crayon Physics Deluxe, and I'm not a puzzle game type person!

But I still gotta have my gamepad...never could get a handle on WASD-style control.

[rolenta]

In my book, Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames, I just cover dedicated machines such as arcade and home consoles. As far as computers are concerned, I consider games as software, no different from Word Processing software. Also, when a new PC game comes out you need to ensure that your computer has the processing power and memory to handle a game. With a console you do not have these worries.

One of my worries while writing the 4th edition is how I was going to handle games for the iPhone and other devices. I decided not to. So in my eyes a game app is no different from a productivity app. The only exceptions to this is the Nokia N-Gage, which was a handheld unit that was also a phone, rather than a phone that also played games, and the Sony Eriksson Xperia PLAY.

I'll mention something in the introduction about computer games, games for devices and other social games, but they will not be part of the general history.

[Gamevet]

I look forward to reading your book. Do you have any idea when it will be published?

[rolenta]

I look forward to reading your book. Do you have any idea when it will be published?

Hopefully, around summer 2013.

[Griking]

In my book, Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames, I just cover dedicated machines such as arcade and home consoles. As far as computers are concerned, I consider games as software, no different from Word Processing software. Also, when a new PC game comes out you need to ensure that your computer has the processing power and memory to handle a game. With a console you do not have these worries.

One of my worries while writing the 4th edition is how I was going to handle games for the iPhone and other devices. I decided not to. So in my eyes a game app is no different from a productivity app. The only exceptions to this is the Nokia N-Gage, which was a handheld unit that was also a phone, rather than a phone that also played games, and the Sony Eriksson Xperia PLAY.

I'll mention something in the introduction about computer games, games for devices and other social games, but they will not be part of the general history.

I love your book btw but I find it disappointing that you don't see a great PC game as being any different than say Office 2010. That's kind of as close minded as my saying that the latest Legend of Zelda game isn't really any different than say Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 because they're both on the same consoles. Should we be categorizing the Xbox 360 in the same way as we categorize my converter box because I can access Comcast on Demand or Netflix on it? You're basically excluding the PC because it has the versatility to do more than just game on it. i hate to break it to you but this is the future of all consoles. you may not be writing a spreadsheet on your PS4 or Xbox 720 but I bet that you'll have the capability to do a whole lot more than gaming.

[jb143]

As far as computers are concerned, I consider games as software, no different from Word Processing software.
...
One of my worries while writing the 4th edition is how I was going to handle games for the iPhone and other devices. I decided not to. So in my eyes a game app is no different from a productivity app.


I love your book btw but I find it disappointing that you don't see a great PC game as being any different than say Office 2010. That's kind of as close minded as my saying that the latest Legend of Zelda game isn't really any different than say Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 because they're both on the same consoles. Should we be categorizing the Xbox 360 in the same way as we categorize my converter box because I can access Comcast on Demand or Netflix on it? You're basically excluding the PC because it has the versatility to do more than just game on it. i hate to break it to you but this is the future of all consoles. you may not be writing a spreadsheet on your PS4 or Xbox 720 but I bet that you'll have the capability to do a whole lot more than gaming.

Not to mention the fact that console games are also software. I can't tell if it's close minded, extremely elitist, or simply too overwhelming to count PC games. I could see saying that about something like Action Max "games" but not PC and iPhone games.

[Griking]

Not to mention the fact that console games are also software. I can't tell if it's close minded, extremely elitist, or simply too overwhelming to count PC games. I could see saying that about something like Action Max "games" but not PC and iPhone games.


I'd hope that it's due to how overwhelming it would be but if that were the case I'd recommend just covering the games or developers that were noteworthy for the period that is being discussed. Like the game or not but how can you write a book about video games and not even mention World of Warcraft? It had more users at one point than entire countries for Christ sake. What about Starcraft? It's pretty much the national game of Korea. How can you just ignore Diablo, Civilization, or Half Life? How would you write about a game such as Skyrim without covering a little of it's PC Gaming only history? It just boggles my mind.

[The 1 2 P]

I'm a console and portable gamer but I know plenty of people who play both their consoles and pc's equally when it comes to gaming. Both seem to be merging into each other alittle bit more with each new generation. I'm just glad that the majority of pc fps games have finally started coming over to consoles starting last gen.

[kedawa]

I'm definitely leaning more to the computer side these days.
I like being able to play games with whatever input device I prefer, which is never a control pad or motion control device.
Arcade stick, keyboard, and mouse all day everyday.

Perpetual backwards compatibility is also nice.