PC Gaming or Console Gaming? Which do you prefer and why?

I have no horse in this race and have no reason to take sides, my father works in neither of the companies that manufacture these platforms. Nor does my uncle.

However, I own both and the value I get on the PC is other-worldly. Variety of input peripherals at my disposal, tweaking and changing of settings down to the smallest detail, I stare much less at loading screens, the games look so much better and make my eyes eager to see more, the rich connectivity of multiplayer games on the PC with server browsers and launchers, etc... I don't need to tell you about the framerate either. And ofcourse Steam has made game acquirement way too cheap and too easy.

I enjoy the occasional exclusive on my PS3, as I did with the PS2 once, but that feels like an enjoyable yet forgettable walk in the park. When I'm gaming on the PC, I'm driving a 4x4 jeep on the edge of a mountain, it makes me feel so alive because it's just so good.

PC gaming; The main reason is what i call the "gaming spectrum". I think PCs reach a much wider spectrum of game variety that consoles don't match. From the most casual, to the "insane folks" hardcore (people with full cockpit setups), and everything in between.

After that, it's the legacy software, if it don't work, someone will get it to work in most cases. I can buy PC games and, long term, feel like i'll still be able to play them. With consoles the software kinda dies when the box no longer gets support.

I feel there are really 3 categories. Classic console gaming, new consoles, and PC gaming. New consoles come with day 0 patches, micro transactions, pay to win, online DRM, nonsense DLC, and pretty much all of the other downsides of modern PC gaming without any of the benefits - modding, flexibility, upgrades, private servers, wider choice of controllers and input hardware, screenshots and streaming options,..

They really need to get their shit together with modern consoles if they want to continue to exist.

Classic consoles were pretty awesome even considering some of the limitations. I think I'd choose that over the other 2.

All I need is my PC, 3DS, and Super Nintendo. There still hasn't been any point in buying a Xbox: One or a PS4 as of yet.

Probably won't be since I got back into playing WoW again.

I used to be a really big PC-tuning enthusiast, but I tend to prefer playing new games on consoles these days when possible. I just don't have it in me to keep a PC upgraded anymore. $400 for a PS4 will keep me set for 5+ years, and it'd cost me at least $800 to replace all of the obsolete stuff that needs to be replaced in my PC at this point.

I still love to play older PC games or games that aren't hardware-dependent, but keeping up with new AAA releases on PC just isn't for me anymore.

I don't prefer one over the other as long as it gets the job done. If there is an obvious thing like RTS or controller specific games then I would play it on their native consoles.

I totally agree with @sin4profit, I prefer PC gaming for the flexibility and the legacy compatibility.

For me it's pretty much 50-50 split. I can't say I play more of one or the other as I play very different games on the different platforms. When I'm on my PC I'm most likely playing a strategy, classic western RPGS, FPS or point 'n clicks, if I sit down in front of my TV it's usually something like a fighting game, ARPG, JRPG, platformers or racing games.

was console now pc, fucking mouse bro.

Both equally for me.

PC, because when I get a new "system" I don't need to go and repurchase "remastered" or "definitive" versions of the games I already own. They automatically look better, not even a 10 dollar upgrade is required. Also if you are even remotely a fan of strategy it is without question the best place to play games. Also mods.

PC + 3DS for me.

Well my gaming PC isn't so gamey anymore, my video card is on its last legs (its old and im fairly certain its thermal paste is shot) So i can't really PC game anymore till i replace it, but i might as well get a whole new rig at this point its all fairly old.

Anyways, that being said, i think i prefer console gaming. It's just easier. Theres no real hassle to it ever, while on the PC side you gotta fiddle with settings and drivers alot, well not alot but enough to get frustrating. Plus playing on my big nice TV is much more enjoyable than playing on my shitty monitor.

Yes yes yes, i know you can set it up to play PC games on your TV, but you gotta dedicate your living space to arrange that and, well no. I live in the real world and thats just not practical. Possible? Yes. It's just not worth it. I fully admit that PC gaming has ALOT of advantages, mostly being power, but i dont really care about that.

@clonedzero: I ran my wires through my drywall to make this happen, since i had to mount my TV over my fireplace anyway. When I need to use my PC at the desk I just switch cables. Obviously not a solution for everybody, but it's been nice playing next gen looking games on my TV while seated at the couch for the past 2 years.

PC when I'm alone, console when friends are over.

@clonedzero:

Hooking up a PC to your TV isn't that impractical. Yes, the computer is big, but there is already a receiver, cable box, DVD player, game console etc.. there anyway. The space requirement isn't that huge in my opinion. It's easy to set up nowadays, just an HDMI cable out to the TV. It's easy to switch inputs. It's not too bad to hook the PC up to the receiver. I think the perception of the TV as this gauche intrusion into the living room is an inflated characterture of the actual situation.

@giantlizardking: Oh sure, thats exactly what i mean. That set up sounds awesome, i'd love to have one like that. It's just i'm rather strapped for cash. Plus the cost / benefit ratio isn't enough to make me invest in that sort of thing. I'd have to get an entirely new PC, i'd have to do alot of house work, rearranging, ect. to make it work and then i'd still have all those pesky driver issues that drive me NUTS. Nothing gets me frustrated more than troubleshooting PC issues and i'm fairly knowledgable when it comes to computers, i just have no patience for it.

I just got enough hassle in my life that the ease and comfort of a console is perfect for me. I still fully admit PC's are better though.

Consoles, it's just easy. I know PC gamers always say PC gaming is easy too, but I don't really want to research all of the parts and put it together, and I'm not going to pay the extreme mark-up price for a pre-built machine. There's something to be said for a machine that plays all games in the foreseeable future perfectly, and requires 2 cables. I don't want it to be more of a commitment than that. Also given that I played PC games for a while, I've found that having all of my games on the same machine I work on to be an extremely poor idea for productivity and procrastination.

Only thing I use PC for is indie games and there are occasionally some older games on Steam sales that play fine on a fairly shitty computer.

@tourgen: I think the so-far stellar performances of the current console sales shows that it's not like they're in deep trouble...

console gamer, at heart.

convenience > customization.

Thats why I play all my games on Steam, on the couch, with a controller. Sometimes I miss RTS games, but not enough to get off the couch.

Zero plans to buy a new console.

I prefer the PC simply because I can do lots of things aside from playing MMORPGs like Eclipse War and Ragnarok. The console cannot run Adobe Photoshop or use Applications like MS Word.

I'm PC, but not due to any loyalty or master race bullshit, I just move around a lot due to my job and in addiction to that often find myself living in places where consoles are either not sold or their networks don't allow for digital downloads (China, Thailand, etc.) And since my contracts are a standard 1 year each, that is too long to be in the dark, so I invested in PC, which gets a wide variety of games with global availability.

I don't have the best rig, really. Just enough to run things smoothly maxed out, though the new console generation is gonna up the demands for things (have you seen the Watchdogs specs). I have a two year old GPU and a 4 year old CPU, I've put maybe about $1000 into it up front and another $500 into it in parts in the past 4 years. That is a lot for some people, but you do tend to save if you are patient and wait for steam sales.

The bad parts are moving as often as I need to through the airport with a bag of microchips (security ALWAYS wants to talk to me, and I can't check that stuff because it'll get junked getting tossed be handlers or jostled around in the hold) and there are no real exclusives, like The Last or Us. Plus, not a lot of Japanese games I love get on PC, like the Yakuza series, I still have to play 3 and 4.

I will likely buy a console, a PS3, when I can get a refurbished one for $100 and a couple of games on disc, and I'd like a PS4 but I doubt I'll be able to justify it to myself until I am living in the states permanently again. Before the 360, PS3-era, I had them all. Gamecube, xbox, PS2 and PC. I was more comfortable accumulating things back then because I didn't move around so much or live in oddball parts of the world. I'd totally do that again, even a WiiU, if I ever really settle down somewhere.

Historically I've been a console gamer, but I haven't picked up and Xone or PS4 yet. My PC is over 3 years old and runs everything just fine and I'm not in a hurry to pick up one of those new machines yet. It's hard to find a reason to justify consoles right now, since my TV and my monitor are one and the same. PS+ makes the PS3 a much more vital ecosystem then the PS4 for the time being. I'm a happy Wii U owner and until Microsoft and Sony get some more exclusives I'll be sticking with what I've got.

To answer the question, I'm not sure what I am, I may be in the transitional stages between console gamer and PC gamer. Although, I think I'm playing my 3DS more then anything else at the moment.

Yeah, it was so weird hearing people kinda ridiculing us who'd love backwards compatibility in the new consoles, when one of my favorite things about gaming on PC is that I can pretty much effortlessly go from playing Zork or Wasteland, to some Hexen and then jump into a couple of rounds of Titanfall, all at the same machine.

I own all of the previous-gen consoles except for the Wii U (see what I did there), and even a 3DS XL and a PSV. I go where the games are, but if the PC version of a multiplatform game is at least equal to it's console counterparts, I'll definitely be playing it on PC.

I don't like to directly compare high end gaming PC's like mine to even the current consoles because of not only the cost difference, but the difference in performance as well. I'm also very sensitive to unstable or low framerates, so sometimes going to a console game after playing games on my PC for weeks is a bit of a jarring experience. Not to mention more particle effects, post processing, AA/AF, and more on PC compared to any console.

Console gaming. Played the Witcher 2 on the PC, too many buttons...

I played it on PC too...with a 360 controller

@-cipher-: Apparently you haven't taken the PC gaming 300 level course where they teach you to plug a controller into the PC.

@s10129107:

Yeah, like the Witcher.

@shadowskill11:@mb: Tried it with a controller too, still like the console. Bigger screen,

@-cipher-: Buttons? Man i hate when awful ports telling me they gonna bind 3-4 functions to the same key while i have 120+ keys unused.

Ohh... and you think Witcher 2 using to much buttons ??? Let me show you how looks like a keyboard layout for a proper flight sim:

I prefer PC gaming by far. There's more variety in games, modding, cheaper games, multi-platform games run and looks better on PC. I prefer mouse/keyboard controls for everything that isn't racing or platforming. My PC runs all games past and present. No need to hook up old hardware. If I want to play something from the 90's, I can grab it on GoG for a couple bucks and be good to go. I can switch outputs to my TV in the living room or monitor at my desk, so I can kick back on the couch if I want. More than power (which is the most common argument for PC gaming), I think having options is the biggest draw. I'm able to do whatever I want with it. Upgrade hardware, change settings, mod, play it like a console, run my own servers, multi-task, ect.

You don't really have to "think about drivers" really. I'm running 6-month old video card drivers and I've had no issues with new games. I like having control of the settings in a game. I don't see it as a hassle like some people. The framerate and visuals are in my control.

All of that being said, consoles are fine. I have a PS4 and I'm very happy with it. I'm thinking of grabbing a PS3 just because mine was stolen in the middle of last generation and I missed a lot. My friends play on consoles. There's something nice about being able to pop in a disc and play a game. Being able to rent and share games is nice. Something like Infamous is great, but has no replayability. I got to experience it at release without investing $60 in something I'll never touch again. There's no way to rent PC games, and no decent way to share PC games with friends digitally. Borrowing a disc is great on consoles.

I go wherever the games are. Because games.

from the top of my head some reasons on why i would choose console gaming over pc gaming are exclusives, server/netcode structure optimization and online population & activity.

pc gaming is just more flexible, less restrained in ways and generally has more customization. console & OS emulation, mods, graphics, storage, memory, processing power etc...

for input peripheral you have the compatibility with a wide variety of different mice, mechanical keyboards & keypads, gamepads, wheels & pedals, fightsticks, joysticks etc...

for display it will be better scaled with 4K/2160p with no trouble hooking up multiple displays from monitors, HDTVs, and projection. it's also nice to have an HTPC and gaming pc side by side or all in one for multimedia ADD entertainment

PC.

In the past, the big advantage of consoles is that they just worked without exception, provided the machine itself functioned properly. You could put in any game, turn the console on, and you would be playing it, same way that everyone else with a functioning console and that game would be playing it. That and they were cheaper. With the 360 and the PS3, though, consoles started getting updates. Publishers started releasing games and then patching them. DLC has become a pretty big thing and free to play is being implemented more and more into consoles. If I'm going to have to deal with that shit, why on Earth wouldn't I deal with it on a platform with cheaper games, faster framerates, higher resolutions, better graphics, mod support, support for any input I want, and more? There's a higher initial cost when building a PC, but if you build a good one and you build it right, you shouldn't be putting hundreds of dollars into it every year, or every few years. Not to mention that I rarely have to fear a lack of backwards compatibility and, through emulation, I can play anything and everything up to and including the Wii.

PC does have its drawbacks. Since hardware configurations vary wildly, one person might have a problem with a game that ten thousand other people can play without issue. PC's are still susceptible to viruses and other PC problems, so you have to have some level of knowledge about troubleshooting a computer (as in, if all you know how to do is check e-mail and post on GB, PC gaming isn't for you). You also need to have an idea of what your computer can handle when messing with PC options. Some ports of games are really bad and need to be modified a little to run properly (Dark Souls). These are tiny problems in comparison to the massive advantages of PC gaming as far as I'm concerned, especially since I already know how to work with computers.

As a final note, I don't have anything against consoles. My 3DS and PSVita actually get more playtime than my PC these days. My PS3 and my 360 sit next to my TV, ready to be played anytime (and they still do get played!) I like a lot of console games, it's just that playing games on a PC is always a better experience.

Console because I like a lot of games that are only on consoles. I am not a fan of RTS, MMO or Indie games, so console fits me perfectly. I also like that all my friends are on the Sony or Microsoft side and they also own consoles and play on them exclusively(I could have just said "friends" huh?), also I don't have to deal with too much bullshit when gaming on a console, as PC there is a lot of potential for bullshit, I have ran into some and I was not pleased. Lastly, I don't like upgrading my PC, I do it but I don't like it because since I am on a small budget these days I have to go through hell picking out certain things(my own fault)for my PC, so fuck that too.

At the moment I'm probably a solid 50/50 split.

ATM I'm playing Yukuza 4 on PS3, Titanfall on XB1, Planetside 2 and Dust: an Elysian Tale on PC, and I just finished Infamous Second Son. (me playing this many games at once is not common but I'm off work for a month so why not).

There have been times where I've only played PC or Consoles (or even a specific console) for long stretches, but an exclusive will get me back, and once I'm playing on a particular system I tend to spend more time with it until another exclusive on another platform grabs me and them I move to the new system for awhile. Like when the new consoles came out, I bought Dead Rising 3, and because I was playing the XB1 (and didn't hear any bad things about the XB1 versions) I also bought Need for Speed and Lego Marvel on XB1.

I also don't really get those peeps saying "just plug your PC into your TV" that's cool if you want couch/controller play all the time, but then you sacrifice games that are better close up and K/M optimised. Those are the games I bought the computer for, so the computer lives in the study.

For example I like to play most run and gun FPS like Titanfall with a controller and while I think my computer might run the game prettier than XB1 I didn't buy it for PC, I bought it on xb1 because I don't want the hassle of moving my computer between my study and my living room, the rooms are far apart and I'm not running a permanent cord through my entire home, nor do I trust in any wireless solution at that distance with so many walls in between computer and TV. So XB1 version is the appropriate choice for me.

It doesn't really matter. The only screen I have is my TV, and my PC and all the consoles are hooked up to it. I go wherever the games are.

I dont play hardware, I play games. I have no preference at all however I would much rather play certain games with a KB/M.

Looking at amazon, a watch dogs PC (required specs, not ultra) will cost you more than twice the price of a PS4. The worst part is, how the fuck do I know it's even going to run games in 2 years? No thanks, I'm fine with occasionaly getting the low impact indy game with my shitty PC and getting a console for the exclusives, the third party games and the much better quality*longivity/price ratio.

I prefer PC gaming these days for the reason that it's just less frustrating to me, one box as opposed to multiple. Third party exclusives just take the fun out of console gaming. Sure I'll miss some original content, but the trade off is worth it. Console gaming has just become far more trouble than it's worth.

I have a PC and 12+ consoles. I prefer PC because of framerate and graphics. For some games it's mods and network stuff. I play Both on the same HDTV, with a second monitor to watch giant bomb while I play.

I don't get much from games sitting at a distance, especially in an overly relaxed position like 'coach gaming' that everyone else seems to love. Makes immersion impossible for me.

Console. I find a lot of the games I enjoy most to be on consoles (JRPGS) and I like the idea of having a product for years and years that will still be able to play nwely released games consistently. In some cases the games will look better over time.

It takes about 4 to 5 years for a PC to go from running games on highest settings to having performance that is inferior to what you get on a console for the same game, just FYI :)

During the last generation, most PC owners upgraded only once after the initial build, so I'm pretty sure that's the equivalent of buying a second (and, sometimes, a third) console because the first two red-ringed or died.

Console. I don't own a PC. I own a Mac and I'd buy games for it if companies were willing to port their games to it. Unfortunately quite often they don't or they just use one of the two companies (Aspyr and Feral). I think its Feral that supports most controllers but Aspyr generally doesn't. Besides the games aren't really ever even available on Steam. They're generally found on Apple's "App Store" and around $30. I like to save money and Steam has sales while the App Store doesn't.

PC for me. Since we are spread all over the country now, my friends and I have a Ventrilo server we keep. Its great to be able to pop on and bother each other no matter what game/service we are using/playing.

Console. Absolutely console.

Easier. There's no drivers to worry about. If there's a system firmware update, it's fed to you instead of you having to look for it. There's no question as to whether a game supports the console's controller, because it has no other choice in most cases.

Actual ownership of games. With the exception of smaller sites like GOG and IndieGameStand, PC gaming is impossible without an online authentication system of some sort. As I refuse to support DRM of that nature, I don't really have many choices at all when it comes to the PC. If I want to play the big games, I have to buy them on console. And since boxed console games are still thriving (no matter how much the GB crew wish it was all digital), I don't have to download a game and worry about a hidden expiration date when the next system comes out. I just buy it at the Gamestop and I'm set for life.

Actual tech support. If a console fails, you're not going to be told that it's the software's fault, or told to contact some other party. You're going to, at most, be made to go through the common idiot questions (did you plug it in?) before actually being assisted. By the time a console is obsolete, many small-time repair operations will spring up to help you and your "retro" console. I actually have my TurboDuo in the shop right now, getting its caps replaced.

Offline multiplayer. Especially on Nintendo systems, but there are some goodies on PS3 and 360 as well. Playing online is all well and good, but nothing replaces being in the room with your buddies and talking shit. You can also punch them if they say something hateful.

Ironically, all the indies Sony's touting on the PS4 are games I'd never get on console due to DRM concerns, as those games tend to be DRM-free on GOG, IndieGameStand or Humble Store, so it's not like I have no love for the PC. It's just that console fits my needs better for non-indie games.

Grew up with consoles. Currently own a PC, Wii U, and 3DS while my PS3 and 360 are gathering dust in the corner.

Come on, guys. I don't prefer PC; it's better.

No, you prefer PC. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, and both are better suited to different people.

PC's require some more computer knowledge on the part of the player, but the actual games are better. Look better, play better, run better, and so on and so forth. Whether or not you care about looks or performance doesn't change the fact that PC games look and perform better.

Arguments about DRM, maintaining PC's, and their cost are not related to the question of which one is better at playing the same game. However, those arguments are relevant to which one an individual prefers overall.