Serious gaming question

Forums › Gaming › Serious gaming question

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

1136 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 76

#471376 19-May-2011 23:08

vinnieg: Price and the fact you don't have to upgrade the graphics card every 6 months or when a newer game comes out, because they are built around the existing system

To be fair, that statement isn't really relevant anymore. My 8800GT has been going strong for a number of years and still allows me to play the latest games with no trouble.

I suppose if you buy a cheap card that only just does what you need now, then 6 months down the track you may need to upgrade. But most people would realise that and spend extra to future proof themselves somewhat.

HanSolo

1 post

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#471406 20-May-2011 02:02

I prefer consoles, becouse:
1. There are many exclusives, like Tekken for Playstation.
2. Playing on pad is more comfortable
3. I prefer 40' TV screen to 21' LCD monitor

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
9333 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6203

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#471423 20-May-2011 08:07

I have a PS3 and a game-spec laptop but use both for gaming a bit less than I did in the past. As several have said before, which I use depends on the type of game. Ever tried playing Civ on a PS3? (I know you can't because it's not a PS3 game but PS3's Civ Revolution was a kiddies arcade version). I played Fallout III on the PS3 and Fallout Vegas on the laptop - so I guess I'm pretty ambivalent.

I am thinking of getting LA Noire shortly and will probably go with the PS3 for that. The only thing then is that if I want to play it on the 52" LCD with the 7.1 sound, it means my wife can't watch TV while I'm doing it. So I either do it after-hours or get the PC version.

I think overall I prefer the PS3 and big screen but there's always the spousal factor (even though she's very tolerant of a 59 year old gamer).

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

clevedon

1059 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 205

#471429 20-May-2011 08:49

eracode: I am thinking of getting LA Noire shortly and will probably go with the PS3 for that. The only thing then is that if I want to play it on the 52" LCD with the 7.1 sound, it means my wife can't watch TV while I'm doing it. So I either do it after-hours or get the PC version.

I think overall I prefer the PS3 and big screen but there's always the spousal factor (even though she's very tolerant of a 59 year old gamer).

2nd TV for the bedroom for her would fix all that.

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#471443 20-May-2011 09:25

jaymz:
To be fair, that statement isn't really relevant anymore. My 8800GT has been going strong for a number of years and still allows me to play the latest games with no trouble.

Guess it depends on the resolution really and the type of games we each play

Fallout 3/Crysis Warhead/Farcry 2 back when I had my 8800GT were ok to play at say 1600x1080 on my old monitor at medium levels, but turning it up to high, everything was too slow

Upgraded to a 4870 1Gb after that and that was fine for a year, till I got my larger monitors 1920x1080, then upped it to a 6850 for late last years and this years games and it was going well till I sold it

I just like my resolution and settings as high as possible, eye candy is awesome :)

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

jaymz

1136 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 76

#471450 20-May-2011 09:37

vinnieg:
Guess it depends on the resolution really and the type of games we each play

Fallout 3/Crysis Warhead/Farcry 2 back when I had my 8800GT were ok to play at say 1600x1080 on my old monitor at medium levels, but turning it up to high, everything was too slow

Upgraded to a 4870 1Gb after that and that was fine for a year, till I got my larger monitors 1920x1080, then upped it to a 6850 for late last years and this years games and it was going well till I sold it

I just like my resolution and settings as high as possible, eye candy is awesome :)

Differnent strokes for different folks really!

If you enjoy the latest and greatest then upgrades are going to be there, which is one of the benifits of the PC over console.

To be honest, I am looking at a new rig now. But only cause I want to build something that has better specs than my current one - not cause of slow issues :)

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

jtbthatsme

937 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 70

Trusted

#471459 20-May-2011 09:45

Well i have to say I prefer the Xbox for most my gaming but have also recently bought some games for the PC as well.

Simple fact is sure right PC's with a mouse have a advantage when playing certain games but with a console all games meet the same specs and there is not often a need to upgrade for the latest game either.

Of course in saying that my current graphics card on my pc plays all games and has done so for at least 2 years.

In fact a good exampe of PC over Xbox or vice versa is the 2 games I currently have preordered at my local Gamesman (EB Games) store.

Duke Nukem (Balls of Steel Edition) for the Xbox and Dungeon Siege 3 for the PC.

I prefer RPG games on the pc as the inventory management etc is so much quicker and also not one of my Xbox live friends said they were getting DS 3 so I chose the PC.

As for the long awaited DNF I chose the console (Xbox 360) over pc as a few of my online friends were getting it. So I know I will get to play and catch up with friends online and offline.

Also for those who mentioned why they chose console over pc being due to the screen size eg 23inch lcd for pc over 40+ for their tv they use the console on. Not a issue for me as I run a HTPC with a nice 50 inch LG Plasma that has my 2 xbox consoles plugged in as well as my PC and for the super rare occasion I watch a dvd through my home theatre system too.

This debate is the same as the PS3 over the Xbox 360 debate really both have their advantages and disadvantages and a lot of people will simply stick to what they know eg I was a Xbox 1 user and preferred the ability to have up to 4 people sitting on the same system to play over only 2 people so stuck with Xbox all the way through and prior to Xbox it was a N64 for the same reason.

cgrew

860 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#471590 20-May-2011 14:18

clevedon:

Slouching out on the Layzboy playing a game or watching a Blu-ray on our PS3 on a 65" Plasma screen with 7.2 surround sound cranked right up shaking the gamesroom works for me.

Now that's what I'm talking about!

That's how I'm rolling with my gaming & movies - You can't beat it ;)

Lurch

1061 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 71

#471602 20-May-2011 14:59

Display

I have a PC connected to the TV in the lounge, so the large screen argument seems invalid.

Controller

keyboard / mouse / controller all three can be used on either a console or a PC.

Social

LAN parties and online gaming both can be done with either console or PC. There are games on both platforms that are multiplayer on the one device too.

Price

$550-$600 I can build a gaming rig which would play the current games fine. Built a PC a year ago for $600 which still plays the games I want. Currently still working through watcher 2 and Operation flashpoint red river with no issues.

Exclusives

This is the real reason, some games are only available on a certian platform so if you really wanted to play a certain title then you would buy that platform.

Tinkering

This is were the PC is great, but then I love tinkering (The geekside of me)

:-)

clevedon

1059 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 205

#471615 20-May-2011 15:22

Lurch: Display

I have a PC connected to the TV in the lounge, so the large screen argument seems invalid.

TV speakers are crap. Do you have your PC connected to a quality AV receiver out to decent surround sound speaker gear? And not some all in one HT in a box setup either. If not, having a large screen is only half the fun if your not getting the audio to go with it.

CopperKonic

26 posts

Geek

#471629 20-May-2011 15:46

Get a 7.1 audio card for your pc. boom, done.

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

jtbthatsme

937 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 70

Trusted

#471647 20-May-2011 16:17

Any decent HTPC should have a decent audio output. I upgraded my video card to a native HDMI and then when I got my new 50 inch plasma to my complete and utter joy it had a digital audio out for which my home theatre system did too.

I now enjoy suround sound on both my movies and gaming tis great.
:-)

JMatt94

225 posts

Master Geek

#471678 20-May-2011 17:47

I prefer consoles because you never have to look at the back of the game to figure out whether you can play it or not.

zaptor

745 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 39

#471744 20-May-2011 21:13

I basically game on laptop/PC, with some iPhone on the side.
Primarily because of convenience (it's sitting in front of me), and cost - PC gaming is considerably cheaper after a game's initial release (especially when they re-release under a budget label).

I rarely play on our ageing last-gen console. Having said that, the games we have are awesome IMO for the arcadey action experience they offer, and I really like the fact that games just work right of the box.

I don't like all the fiddling one has to do to get modern high-end PC games to run properly, let alone the intrusive DRM mechanisms some of them ship with.
However, I like strategy and some indie games, which are very well supported on the PC.

It's hard to see anything superceding a keyboard + mouse combo for certain genres.
Having said that, I do think certain games lend themselves to touch (screen) even more than kbd + mouse - Project Cafe will be interesting.

In response to some issues raised by the OP:
- I think the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch ecosystem/approach might be the solution to the legacy baseline problem
- AFAIK Sony have yet broken even with the PS3 (talking about the total lifetime cost of the console); not sure about the 360; Nintendo on the other hand is a different story, but their console was never a loss leader

Rocky80

47 posts

Geek

#471762 20-May-2011 21:54

I'm a bit naughty. I pay for the PS3 versions of games I really want, and just acquire the pc versions so i can play on the laptop while the wife watches Grey's Anatomy and Coronation Street. Shoot me I know, but I aint payin twice for the same game, sorry!!

Samsung LA40r8bx 40" LCD - Samsung HT-X250T Home Theater - Mysky Hdi - Nintendo Wii - Multiroom
Toshiba A500 Laptop ATI HD 4650 1Gb Ded graphics

1 | 2 | 3 | 4