PC gaming, here I come
I finally built a computer that can play games. Gone are the days of having to use an outdated Gateway or Dell to try to play the latest games in their lowest settings. Having built my first computer out of school I no longer need a homework PC. This thing is built for gaming and that is exactly what I've been doing.
Recently, I've grown tired of playing on the console. With nothing but an influx of sequel after sequel I have a feeling of been there done that with every game I play. I want something new. It kind of sucks to be a gamer like me right now because of the current game selection but I understand from a business standpoint why the console is suffereing from this. FPS titles are huge right now, they sell, and as long as they do nothing much will change because console gameers will continue to be fed the same thing. Its the same reason we keep getting Final Fantasy sequels up to double digits (and other cliche crap games from Japan). People keep buying them. Maybe they want the same thing, maybe they're fanboys, maybe they think the next one will be different enough from the previous game. I can longer stand to play games from Japanese developers. Don't get me wrong, its nothing against them personally, and they have created some great game but currently they produce the same cliche broken games. The RPG genre is one that has slowly drifted to the west. With games like KOTOR, Mass Effect, Fallout, Oblivion and the likes that take a new approach to the style its refreshing. I can't tell you how frustrating it is that you can almost point to any JRPG and it will contain femenine looking male leads with cutesy sidekicks, a quiet ahole like side character, a bad guy that wears too much makeup, cliche "chosen one" story lines of saving the planet from "great evils".
Another reason for my emphasis on PC gaming at the moment is the complete customization. I can make the controls whatever I want, I can get patches when I want, I can download user generated content, extra missions, maps, and a variety of other enhancements. As a lefty handed gamer I have to play a little differently on the console. If I play a shooter I must have the left stick as look and the right stick as move, thats just how my brain interprets it. I've seen trolls who attack lefty and legacy players saying they should learn how to play default but there is a huge problem with that. First, we shouldn't have to learn anything. Next time you play a game you probably don't even think about what your hands are doing, its instictual. If I had to think about what stick does what I'm going to get frustrated and its not as fun. Secondly, our brains are wired differetnly. Try writing with your offhand. In fact, copy a newspaper article and see how much you have to really think about what you're doing and how slow and frustrating it is. Now switch to your dominant hand and notice how fluid and easy it is. That is what its like when we don't have the option. All PC games have either in game or backdoor ways of altering the control schemes to allow everyone to play to their comfort level.
The game selection on the PC is currently fresher to me at the moment. I feel like I have a variety with different types of games rather than different takes on the FPS genre. So until we start to get some more innovative or different console games I'll be lurking in the PC game section of my local Best Buy.
*Console argument not valid for Fallout 3 which is an amazing game (we just happen to have it for the Xbox).
Recently, I've grown tired of playing on the console. With nothing but an influx of sequel after sequel I have a feeling of been there done that with every game I play. I want something new. It kind of sucks to be a gamer like me right now because of the current game selection but I understand from a business standpoint why the console is suffereing from this. FPS titles are huge right now, they sell, and as long as they do nothing much will change because console gameers will continue to be fed the same thing. Its the same reason we keep getting Final Fantasy sequels up to double digits (and other cliche crap games from Japan). People keep buying them. Maybe they want the same thing, maybe they're fanboys, maybe they think the next one will be different enough from the previous game. I can longer stand to play games from Japanese developers. Don't get me wrong, its nothing against them personally, and they have created some great game but currently they produce the same cliche broken games. The RPG genre is one that has slowly drifted to the west. With games like KOTOR, Mass Effect, Fallout, Oblivion and the likes that take a new approach to the style its refreshing. I can't tell you how frustrating it is that you can almost point to any JRPG and it will contain femenine looking male leads with cutesy sidekicks, a quiet ahole like side character, a bad guy that wears too much makeup, cliche "chosen one" story lines of saving the planet from "great evils".
Another reason for my emphasis on PC gaming at the moment is the complete customization. I can make the controls whatever I want, I can get patches when I want, I can download user generated content, extra missions, maps, and a variety of other enhancements. As a lefty handed gamer I have to play a little differently on the console. If I play a shooter I must have the left stick as look and the right stick as move, thats just how my brain interprets it. I've seen trolls who attack lefty and legacy players saying they should learn how to play default but there is a huge problem with that. First, we shouldn't have to learn anything. Next time you play a game you probably don't even think about what your hands are doing, its instictual. If I had to think about what stick does what I'm going to get frustrated and its not as fun. Secondly, our brains are wired differetnly. Try writing with your offhand. In fact, copy a newspaper article and see how much you have to really think about what you're doing and how slow and frustrating it is. Now switch to your dominant hand and notice how fluid and easy it is. That is what its like when we don't have the option. All PC games have either in game or backdoor ways of altering the control schemes to allow everyone to play to their comfort level.
The game selection on the PC is currently fresher to me at the moment. I feel like I have a variety with different types of games rather than different takes on the FPS genre. So until we start to get some more innovative or different console games I'll be lurking in the PC game section of my local Best Buy.
*Console argument not valid for Fallout 3 which is an amazing game (we just happen to have it for the Xbox).
posted by Dez1013 at
12:27 PM
2 Comments:
PC gaming is fun and all, but it has it's fair share of problems as well. First and foremost on my list is the lack of multiplayer support. Sure, games give you the option of playing multiplayer, but then you have to go and configure your router settings to allow port forwarding for some, or you have to deal with really crappy internet connections, or deal with modders who have changed their game code to the point that they have every advantage over players that don't mod.
Another problem I have with PC gaming is the hardware requirements. I really like the fact that with a console I don't have to worry over getting my hardware configured just right to give me the best gaming experience. With consoles, the games are written directly for that hardware setup--no modification necessary.
That said, I still enjoy a good PC game, but of the selection available there are a much smaller percentage of good games to choose from. Then there's the fact that my TV is much larger than my computer monitor and laying on my couch is much more comfortable than sitting at my computer desk.
I can understand the frustration with the left handed controls. I'm really surprised no one has designed an Xbox controller that is 100% mirrored from the standard controller.
Welcome to the other side! Personally I'm sort of split on the pc versus console. My laptop can handle all the latest games and I also own a 360. I play both around the same amount of time. I also have people to play with on both. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and it seems to come down to the game for me. For example the UT series has always been very pc oriented and having played UT3 on both console and pc, I must say I'd take pc any day. The fast pace of the game and general emphasis on complete twitch leads it more to the more accurate and quick mouse and keyboard. But take almost the entire RTS genre and it just doesn't work as well on console controls.
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