Anyone considering a switch to PC gaming?

[WCP]

First, a little backstory... I haven't been a PC gamer since mid 1999. I discovered 3dfx gaming sometime in 1996, and built my first PC. Prior to that, I was 100 percent a console gamer. After building my first gaming PC in 1996, I was big time into PC gaming during 96,97,98 and early 1999. With the announcement of the Sega Dreamcast, and me checking it out first hand at e3 that year, I decided to put PC gaming on the backburner and jump back to the world of console gaming. I played a few more PC games during 1999, and maybe one or two in 2000, but after that, I was 100-percent a console gamer.

10 years later, I'm starting to wonder if maybe I should give PC gaming another try. Why would I feel this way? Well, I must admit that I'm a chronic early adopter, and it seems weird to not have any new consoles coming this Xmas. Since I've been gaming (Atari 2600), it seems that every 5 years a new console gets released. If things followed the normal pattern, Microsoft would be introducing a new console this November. obviously, we all know that ain't happening.

The truth of the matter, is that we aren't likely to see a new console from Sony or Microsoft anytime before at least November 2013, which is a long time away from now. I was thinking that maybe if I built a gaming PC, I could get my "new console fix", even though it's actually a gaming PC instead of my normal console. Of course, a major issue, is the fact that the console side of gaming is basically running the whole show right now. In previous years, a company like id or Epic would release their next major game on PC, and then maybe it might trickle down to the consoles. Nowadays, it's the other way around. Even if I did jump on the PC bandwagon, would I really experience anything next gen? I'm not sure I will, because most of the big PC games are console ports. The games are designed more with the 360 and PS3 in mind, and ported over to the PC. Sure, you get a nice resolution bump, and some special effects, but the console dominance is kinda screwing the pooch for PC gaming. PC gamers are getting the sloppy seconds. If Epic or id or Infinity Ward or any of those guys made a game specifically taylored to take full advantage of the latest PC technology, I'm sure the results would be spectacular, but they are more interested in selling to the masses on consoles.....

Just wondering if anybody else might of been thinking a similar thing...

[Icarus Moonsight]

I would think, you are not going to be as fulfilled with PC gaming now as you were in the late 90s. I hopped into PC gaming full-swing at around the same time and got out around the same too. I'd warn against what you are considering, but that is just an opinion. I don't see anything on the PC platform I am interested in that; isn't also being offered on consoles, requires a dedicated gaming rig, or justifies the expense, research, tweaking and tinkering etc of a gaming rig, and the PC games I am interested in do not demand the pricey hardware (mostly freeware shmups... So, take as you will).

Of course, if there are ample things that you want to do that requires a high-end system built for gaming on the platform, I say go for it!

[j_factor]

I spent well over a grand building a "decent" PC, and ended up buying a bunch of adventure games. I think the most demanding game I have is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky. It's not just console ports, they just don't have much incentive to be cutting-edge.

[erehwon]

I like having the option to game on my PC. Some games are just better on that platform, in terms of controls and mods. The one thing I don't like is the DRM that is common on PC games. SecuROM is bad and the stuff Ubisoft is including is worse. I'm not getting a game that requires a constant internet connection that kicks you out if you lose the connection.

[Flippy8490]

I can definitely see where you are coming from, however, I am thankful that nothing is being released anytime soon...no urge to go out and spend ridiculous amounts of money! haha.

But honestly, stick to consoles. In today's gaming world, the entirety of it revolves around the console world. There are a drastically smaller number of quality PC games in comparison with whats available on the three majors right now.

[rxd]

I would think, you are not going to be as fulfilled with PC gaming now as you were in the late 90s. I hopped into PC gaming full-swing at around the same time and got out around the same too. I'd warn against what you are considering, but that is just an opinion. I don't see anything on the PC platform I am interested in that; isn't also being offered on consoles, requires a dedicated gaming rig, or justifies the expense, research, tweaking and tinkering etc of a gaming rig, and the PC games I am interested in do not demand the pricey hardware (mostly freeware shmups... So, take as you will).

Of course, if there are ample things that you want to do that requires a high-end system built for gaming on the platform, I say go for it!

Any recommendations on some good freeware shmups?

And I agree, I'll never get into high end pc gaming again, way to much hassle for me. Give me a console game where I just plop in a disk and go at it any day.

[Jorpho]

Any recommendations on some good freeware shmups?

ABA Games. 'Nuff said.

Oh, and Tyrian 2000 is freeware too. Everyone seems to like that one.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Check out Vector too. Lot's of goodies, some weeding required. Eden's Aegis full was released recently. I dl'ed it last night. Been playing the demo off/on though for about a month.

[chrisbid]

the decline of PC gaming and the rise of DRM are not mutually exclusive trends

[Nophix]

I was a hardcore PC gamer, aside from Nintendo. Most anything I could get for the consoles felt better on my custom built PC's. That was until I got my 360, and really spent some time with it. Now, I've realized how much easier it is to run with the consoles.

PC's go out of date so often, and you are constantly messing with them and tweaking them. I have limited time, and would rather throw the game in and play.

I still do some mild gaming on PC. We always have 1 or 2 gaming PCs around. Right now, the bad boy in the house is my wife's new Asus G60. That thing is a powerhouse!

[BetaWolf47]

I'm not really a fan of PC games. Nowadays, I'm just playing crap on Kongregate and sticking with freeware games. Quake Live and the freeware C&C games are really great for the budget gamer. That, and classic game compilations.

I highly suggest seeking a copy of Taito Legends 2 for PC. It's the best version that came out stateside.

[b0ub0u]

I've always been a "hybrid" gamer... playing both consoles and PC games.

Some genre or just better on one or the other. FPSs and RTSs are only playable on PC where you can optimize your framerate at your own will.

All the rest I prefer on consoles.

[Zthun]

The only reason to go with PC gaming is for the very few exclusives that it offers. In otherwords, Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3...when the come out......if ever.

[Ed Oscuro]

I am busy enough that I get by just fine with PC games. The lack of third person jumpfests and collectathons hurts and makes me want a console, but whatever.

Valve and the good stuff on their Steam service really have been the sole saving grace of PC gaming in the last few years. Keep in mind that there may be lots of games from the 90s and 00s that you haven't played but would enjoy though - I'm still finding lots of classics that I never tried out.

[Ze_ro]

You're asking this question on a forum that is centered around console gaming, so I think it's safe to say you won't get a lot of recommendations for PC gaming.

Both have their pros and cons. Naturally, PC gaming is far ahead of the curve on hardware, and that advantage is only going to increase with time... of course, that advantage comes with a large price tag and frequent upgrades if you want to keep up. With PC's, you're also stuck with all the DRM and copy protection hurdles to jump through... not to mention things like video driver conflicts, non-standard controllers, and operating system issues (virii, malware, etc). That kind of stuff doesn't really happen on consoles, where you can just pop the game in and know that you're getting exactly the experience the developers intended.

I suppose the real question here is what exactly are you looking for? You say you want a "new console fix", but what does that mean? You'll get the flashy graphics on PC, but the games aren't going to be a whole lot deeper than what's showing up on Xbox 360 and PS3.

--Zero

[Smashed Brother]

I've just starting using my PC for emulation purposes (sure beats the chunky, limited MAME emu on my DC), but since I managed to find the Diablo Battle Chest at a thriftstore for $5, I've decided to look into some older games that I missed out on back in the day while I was huddled over my precious consoles.

I agree with most of the posters on here in that I wouldn't even try to set it up for modern gaming (too expensive+too much hassle), but since I personally love the older arcade games and the older strategy games, I've discovered a whole different side of gaming with my PC and it complements my console habits pretty nicely.

[NayusDante]

Honestly, I don't know why I still bother with a desktop PC. In the past two years, I've played Fallout 3, Bioshock, Spore, The Last Remnant, Borderlands, UT3, and The Orange Box. I'm not into RTS, and all of those European RPGs don't seem to grab my attention, so I hardly even bother with the PC-exclusives that are on the market. Dealing with DRM and crap isn't fun anymore, and I find myself spending more time tweaking the games for performance than playing them. I still love a good shooter now and then, but I simply CANNOT wrap my head around aiming with an analog stick. If developers would quit being retarded and include USB mouse and keyboard support, I'd switch to console entirely. Instead, I'm stuck in the upgrade cycle, unable to break free.

If you're into RTS and MMOs, then by all means, build a killer rig. I'm getting tired of it. I enjoyed Fallout 3 and the continuing saga of Half-Life, but there's simply not enough for me on PC.

[Poofta!]

I have been a hardcore PC gamer since my first 286 IBM compatible =D so here is what i have to say about PC gaming:

it no longer outleaps console gaming. throughout the 90s and up until the current 360/ps3 generation, the pc was simply the most advanced and comprehensive gaming platform. no matter what you were into, the pc did it best (i am taking emulation into consideration, apologies).

these days, gaming on the console and PC have seperated. certain things the PC does best, certain things the consoles. and with the standardization of the 360 gamepad (they all work for PC), even multiplatform games are often better off on the pc, if you have the juice to run it (more on that later).

certain games, as always, will be better on either consoles or PC, and certain are totally agnostic (multiplatform racers/platformers/action). if youre into JRPGs, you have little choice past consoles, if youre into FPSs/RTSs/WRPGs/SIM, the PC is absolute king when it comes to skill and control. it you are into a certain franchise, you may be pigeonholed into a platform, unfortunately (forza, GoW, GT, Halo etc)

while i admit i dont quite remember the price of top of the line pc gaming in the 90s, these days, dont even bother unless you are ready to spend $300+ on a video card, having an overall PC build costing you between 800 and 1500 bucks depending on your budget and sanity. once you have a great rig set up though, all your games will blow their console counterparts away (please dont bring up bad ports as an example, capcom, in particular, up untill SFIV has been awful at making pc games).

so while i cannot recommend the PC for gaming enough, i am also hesitant to recommend it above and beyond everything. i think it is a must have but not a replacement. if youre into what the PC does best, then you have no excuse.

check out Steam and see what they have to offer (its a pretty good showcase of the best pc stuff, and on holidays the deals are just absurd, i typically spend 70$ and end up with about 35+ games during that period). the indie scene is much more evolved on the pc, of course. plus, games are a LOT cheaper!!!

[Jorpho]

these days, dont even bother unless you are ready to spend $300+ on a video card, having an overall PC build costing you between 800 and 1500 bucks depending on your budget and sanity.

You do not need to spend that much money on a PC to enjoy a lot of the games currently available. You certainly can, and it might make the games look extra pretty when you turn on absolutely all of the details, but the games are perfectly enjoyable without ridiculous amounts of bling.

And I've never had any kind of problems with DRM.

the indie scene is much more evolved on the pc, of course. plus, games are a LOT cheaper!!!

Really, that's what's keeping me out of consoles. $50-$60 for a quality recent release!? I could hardly dream of spending that much.

[Poofta!]

You do not need to spend that much money on a PC to enjoy a lot of the games currently available. You certainly can, and it might make the games look extra pretty when you turn on absolutely all of the details, but the games are perfectly enjoyable without ridiculous amounts of bling.

well since there are like hundreds of thousands of games available for the pc, of course you dont need the latest and greatest hardware to enjoy a lot of them =P

but lets face it. if you want to play the newest games at equal or greater quality than the ps3/360 counterparts, you'll need to drop 250+ on a video card. with a cpu and enough ram to match.

i am currently gaming on a far from top of the line pc, and while i can [almost] max out current games (as long as i keep shadows off), some new stuff like just cause 2, i barely meet the MIN specs for.

of course you can get games to *run*, but we're talking about a comparable experience to consoles, and to achieve that 30+fps with amazing graphics (at times even superior to consoles), you'll pay through the nose. keep in mind im not bitching. somehow i find it much easier to justify a 350$ video card every 3-4 years than i do a new console (actually its because the games make up for it, theyre cheaper and the upgrade makes your old games run better!).

for the record, ive been running this for the last 2-4 years:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+
8GB RAM
Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT
(lots of HD space. lots.)

hardly impressive these days.... but i can max out dragon age and Mass effect 1, as well as almost max out Modern Warfare. im gaming on a 1080p monitor, btw.