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[Scrabble]

I've been primarily a pc gamer for about three years now, and while it was awesome in the beginning to be able to play games at 1080p/60 frames a second. My tolerance for the level of bullshit I have to put up with has about run its course. It's not the price of entry, the mouse and keyboard, or playing games at a desk; those issues have already been addressed and largely fixed. It's the constant pc tinkering and general clunkyness that keeps people from pc gaming.

Disabling a keyboard driver to get a game to work, editing ini files and replacing .dll files on a regular basis, certain settings like DX11 or physx breaking a game, windows updates interfering with your game in the middle of a session, limiting certain games to two cores so they don't crash every 10 minutes, poor optimization, games being broken at launch, shitty 3rd party drm, and a whole bunch of other crap that is still common place and shouldn't be tolerated.

I just now reached my breaking point after not being able to progress in Arkham City due to constant crashes during the Mr. Freeze fight. I tried just about every fix I can think of: disable rivatuner-nope, disable D3Doverider-nope, evga precision-nope, restore all default nvida values- nope, update and restore drivers-nope, disable DX11 and physx- nope, and the list goes on and on ad nauesum for about an hour before I just decided to say fuck it, I'm not putting up with this anymore. There goes my money and about 6+ hours worth of play time down the drain. The time I spend to play games shouldn't be taken up with me pulling my hair out just to get a game to function properly, or just work for that matter.

And don't think I'm just being ignorant to the share of issues that plague consoles as well, but at least the only example of a console game I can think of that just flat out refuses to work is Skyrim for the ps3. Spending time to "fix" pc games and deal with the bs is a regular thing for me These issues have really made it hard to decide whether or not I should upgrade, or go ahead with consoles for next gen and for-go the extra bells and whistles with pc gaming.

I truly hope Steam os addresses to fix these issues, otherwise pc gaming will always be a shadow to consoles in terms of public awareness and publisher recognition. I say this as a core pc gamer, and I'm sure I'll get plenty of people playing dumb and telling me how wrong I am, but until people start to really address this and voice concerns, pc gaming will never be something that's taken seriously.

 

[GrizzNKev]

Having been a PC gamer for almost as long as I've played video games, the things you complain about are what makes PC gaming fun to me. The extra effort for the perfect gaming experience is exciting and well worth it.

I love tinkering.

 

[fvng]

Steam Machine will solve all. I think people are forgetting you'll be able to build your own steam machine

 

[moojito]

I think this thread is going to benefit from a definition of "taken seriously".

 

[KingSnake]

At list on PC you get a chance to fix a game you like, while on a console you're stuck with what the publisher considered acceptable.

As for Batman, it just seems to be a crappy job overall.

 

[kazebyaka]

No pain, no gain.

 

[Levyne]

Having been a PC gamer for almost as long as I've played video games, the things you complain about are what makes PC gaming fun to me. The extra effort for the perfect gaming experience is exciting and well worth it.

I love tinkering.

I'm newer to PC gaming but I enjoy it as well. Though it is a lot more enjoyable when you solve the problem and make the exception you need to, make the edit in the .ini or rivatuner or whatever and pat yourself on the back and feel good, but I have yet to run into a situation like the OP where nothing, absolutely nothing, works. I can imagine that being frustrating.

 

[Derrick01]

I have my days where I've about had enough of it too but thankfully I don't run into too many tech issues.

However when I first started Arkham Origins today and pretty much nothing happened for 5 minutes I just sighed and wanted to put my foot through the PC. It was the last thing I wanted to deal with after a very long day at the airport.

 

[Odrion]

More like console gaming will never be taken seriously until it has this bs.

 

[Omega]

The same ol' shit we've been hearing since 1985.

 

[Sethos]

There's always consoles.

( Oh and those issues sound blown a bit out of proportion )

 

[Atolm]

Reinstall Windows, it always works.

 

[-MD-]

I honestly very rarely have an issue with a PC game that takes longer than 5-10 minutes to get up and running.

Usually it's a minute of messing with graphic settings to get what I like and I go. PC gaming is easy for me.

 

[Mugatu]

I've been PC gaming for decades, there's hardly any BS now.

There will always be some because a PC not a dedicated gaming machine - maybe Steam will change this but Windows is a general purpose OS even the most hardcore PC is still GP as well.

 

[Haunted]

I truly hope Steam os addresses to fix these issues, otherwise pc gaming will always be a shadow to consoles in terms of public awareness and publisher recognition. I say this as a core pc gamer, and I'm sure I'll get plenty of people playing dumb and telling me how wrong I am, but until people start to really address this and voice concerns, pc gaming will never be something that's taken seriously.

See, I can tell that you're from the US because your gaming culture and history is so much different from mine.

That said, consider the alternative to the annoying "tinkering and fixing" offered to you when encountering a serious bug in a console game.

Hoping and waiting.

 

[solarus]

You're going to get a lot of PC gaf here disagreeing and mentioning how they've never had any issues. I completely agree with your points though, even with steam PC gaming has never been just plug and play, there always have always been issues and tinkering required, although I'm fine with that as I'm good at guessing what's wrong normally. I don't think it will ever have mainstream appeal tbh unless steam os makes great strides. For example updating to windows 8.1 caused an issue where all games displayed in 3d, i fixed it by reinstalling 8.1 appropriate drivers, but what would the average joe know? There is a level of knowledge and tech savviness required to game on PCs and there is no doubt about it, it doesn't keep it from being my primary platform but I can see why it will in it's current state never reach console levels of accessibility.
Edit: lol all the posts are as expected, sigh.

 

[Sleeping Lesson]

OP implies PC gaming is not taken seriously.

/thread

 

[REV 09]

I have my days where I've about had enough of it too but thankfully I don't run into too many tech issues.

However when I first started Arkham Origins today and pretty much nothing happened for 5 minutes I just sighed and wanted to put my foot through the PC. It was the last thing I wanted to deal with after a very long day at the airport.

hmm Arkham Origins' performance is very good for me. Much better than Arkham City.

 

[Skilletor]

I've never had to do any of that for any of the 90 or so games I've played. Aside from the dsfix, I've never had to go into an ini file.

My experience for the past three years since I've owned my pc has largely been plug and play.

 

[The Janitor]

It already is being taken seriously, by millions of people. I rarely have any problems, and if I do googling the solution fixes it 99% of the time. Then again I might be more PC savvy than the average guy.
Those problems comes from PC being an open platfrom, but that also has benefits, being able to mod the game and having way more options.

 

[RK9039]

But.. I like tweaking things, and fixing stuffs.

 

[eznark]

PC gaming is not for you, OP

 

[Syf]

I like being able to customize and tinker with settings. And lol at PC gaming not being taken seriously.

 

[Durante]

Disabling a keyboard driver to get a game to work, editing ini files and replacing .dll files on a regular basis, certain settings like DX11 or physx breaking a game

These are not regular occurrences. Of the 200+ games in my Steam list, 1 (one) required me to replace a dll to make it work. None required editing ini files to make work (of course, many had the option of doing so to improve graphics).

windows updates interfering with your game in the middle of a session

This takes all of 1 minute to fix forever.


That said, an open platform will never be as unified or streamlined as a closed platform. By definition. On the other hand, a closed platform will never offer the opportunities afforded by an open platform.

Choose which one you prefer. I know which I prefer.

 

[Saintguine]

In what sense "taken seriously"? PC gaming is already seen as a steady revenue stream by publishers and it has the largest E-Sports scene.

It is being taken seriously if we're abiding by those definitions. As for wide appeal, an enthusiast gadget will always be more expensive and more niche than something you could pick up for $300 and plug into the TV.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

*looks at the sheer deathgrip PC has in many regions and the sheer money so many PC-only properties bring in, then at all the changes to patching, drivers, and data management over the last decade*

This ain't 2004 any more.

There's always consoles.

( Oh and those issues sound blown a bit out of proportion )

The last decade has proven that console manufacturers seem fixated on bringing over the downsides of PC gaming though...

 

[Oreoleo]

Don't drive a muscle car if you aren't willing to pop the hood and get your hands a little dirty.

 

[Into]

Well said, PC gaming can be great, key word: can. Its not always the "master race" so many want to present it as.

Your topic likely wont go over well with most people though, but there is a lot of true to what you are saying.

Ive been playing PC games since mid 90s, since Warcraft 2 and Doom. And its a common thing to fight and struggle with games to get them to work sometimes. Back in those days you had install all sorts of weird Sound Card drivers, its gotten better but there are all sorts of issues with PC gaming. Even when the user does everything perfectly.

There isent a single PC gamer who has not had some error and had to search the forums from years past in order to find a fix, ranging from editing files, installing unofficial patches/mods, reinstalling the game and doing all sorts of crap like they are Lara Croft, crawling to ancient forgotten caves in search for a answer. Anyone who claims they have never done that, is either lying or started PC gaming 4 days ago.

Sadly i dont think it will ever be fixed, too many variables, its a part of the package so to speak. Its one of the reason i just use my PC to only play Blizzard games and Minecraft, its been my secondary gaming device for decades now.

 

[Mugatu]

The other problem I think with your post is that it implies that console games all work without problem.

Yes some things like the Windows updates popping up do suck and are PC specific annoyances.

But a game that you can fix by changing a DLL or editing an INI file is a plus. You generally can't do anything to fix broken console games.

 

[Valnen]

I love tinkering.

Most people don't.

 

[Scrabble]

See, I can tell that you're from the US because your gaming culture and history is so much different from mine.

That said, consider the alternative to the annoying "tinkering and fixing" offered to you when encountering a serious bug in a console game.

Hoping and waiting.

I can't remember many instances where I ran into a "serious" bug or issue in a console game that demanded fixing. Everything aside from Skyrim on ps3, you put the disk in and it works. Some may not like 30 fps, or the amount of aliasing, but console games generally don't need "fixing" to the level of a game no longer being broken.

Just typing this is causing me to have horrible flashbacks trying to get Hotline Miami to work, these instances aren't rare occurrences in pc gaming.

 

[GrizzNKev]

Most people don't.

Then most people can keep playing console games.

 

[Derrick01]

hmm Arkham Origins' performance is very good for me. Much better than Arkham City.

Yeah the game seems to run fine now although I haven't "unlocked" the open world yet so we'll see there. I was gone when it came out until today so today was the first time I tried to play and when nothing happened I thought I was in for another pain in the ass PC problem but it sorted itself out.

I don't blame anyone for getting sick of tech issues on PC. I've been pretty lucky in the 3 years I've had my PC and even then it still finds ways to piss me off from time to time. I get that a lot of people have far worse luck though and just don't want to deal with that BS.

 

[DiddyInAHellcat]

Uh oh the PC gamers are coming to bomb this thread I'm Out lol

 

[Haunted]

Most people don't.

Luckily, there's a platform for people like that.

It's called iphone.

Easy, simple, one button controls even a cat can use, no options to speak of, no installations that can fuck up, no HDDs to replace, no save bugs, no fridge management, just play.

Perfect, really.



Wait, too dumbed down for you? Graphics not good enough? The games don't have the depth you require to engage and have fun with your hobby?

Well, now you know how it feels. Standards are relative.

 

[eznark]

Most people don't.

Yep, most people are willing to accept midddling experiences to avoid exerting any real effort.

PC is not for everyone.

 

[Sethos]

Uh oh the PC gamers are coming to bomb this thread I'm Out lol

And what was the point of that comment? It's a PC thread, with the OP making statements regarding PC gaming and the platform - Why the fuck wouldn't the PC gamers be coming?

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Then most people can keep playing board games.

fixed ^_______^

And what was the point of that comment? It's a PC thread, with the OP making statements regarding PC gaming and the platform - Why the fuck wouldn't the PC gamers be coming?

I think he meant that a select few will respond only with "too bad lol i enjoy what you hate".

 

[Lasthope106]

When Deus Ex : HR came out I simply could not get the damn thing to run on my machine. I spent hours trying, and even created an account on the Eidos forum to voice my problem. There are isolated cases like this, where a game will not work, but you know what, I'm ok with that because the game was one of the very few I've had any problems in the last 12 years. The advantages of pc far, far, outweigh the one or two games I can't run. Furthermore, a year later I came back to Deus Ex, after Eidos had released a patch, and the graphics driver had a lot of optimizations. It run beautifully.

 

[SlickMoney]

I think PC gaming is taken plenty seriously. The issues you describe happen from time to time, but far less than years ago. I will take the ability to upgrade my hardware anytime,mod games,etc over a closed platform. The problems are never all going to be eradicated when you have all the hardware/software configurations that exist on the PC. At least here a developer can push out a patch right away, no waiting for the console manufacturer to certify.

In short, we have all felt your pain. But don't throw in the towel yet.

 

[DeVeAn]

While I agree mostly, I keep PC as clean as possible. No added bloatware etc. I found this helps to avoid issues.

 

[waypoetic]

Fucking finally someone made a thread about it. And yes, that is why PC gaming sucks.

 

[Vodh]

All those reasons are the primary reason why I prefer buying multiplats on console. Gaming rigs able to outperform next gen consoles significantly enough for me to put up with the BS mentioned in the OP are going to be too expensive for my taste for at least a few years.

 

[ipukespiders]

I feel the opposite as the OP. These days pc gaming is basically idiot proof. I've only encountered 1 game that hasn't worked for me: Grid.
Well, it worked, but now fails to load. Tried all the fixes suggested, just doesn't work. Only cost me $5 so not to upset. Bioshock 2's patch fixed my only other complaint.

Ultima 7's voodoo memory manager? argh! Now that was some shit. Actually running the majority of Origin's games in the early 90s was a pain in the ass - but well worth it.

... I keep PC as clean as possible. No added bloatware etc. I found this helps to avoid issues.

This so much. My gaming pc is basically a steam box. I do nothing but game on it. No browsing, no youtube, no applications. Haven't even updated drivers in ages. Big picture mode, and nothing more.

 

[BrokenSymmetry]

Yep, just spend a few hours editing ini files to get Enslaved to run in an acceptable form.
For god's sake, it even had an (erroneus) resolution option of 1900 (!) x 1080.

 

[-MD-]

Fucking finally someone made a thread about it. And yes, that is why PC gaming sucks.

Severe sarcasm?

 

[Sapphire Dreams]

Isn't customizing and tinkering to your best interests THE point of PC gaming ?

Also, what game made you download a missing .dll file ? That never happened to me.

 

[Sethos]

I think he meant that a select few will respond only with "too bad lol i enjoy what you hate".

And how is that different from any other thread ever where someone's being critical about something?

 

[Durante]

Sadly i dont think it will ever be fixed, too many variables, its a part of the package so to speak.

It will never be fixed completely, but that's not a sad thing at all.

"Fixing" this to the point where every single game immediately runs on every single PC hardware/software configuration would by necessity mean limiting the space of possible configurations. And that is entirely against what makes PC gaming such a joy, and enables everyone to customize their experience exactly as they want to.

Opportunity and effort are intrinsically linked, and PC is a platform that simply slots in higher in both metrics than consoles. Making them the same would only serve to limit user choice.

Yep, just spend a few hours editing ini files to get Enslaved to run in an acceptable form.
For god's sake, it even had an (erroneus) resolution option of 1900 (!) x 1080.

How long did it take you to get Enslaved to run at 1920x1080 on consoles? This is why it's good to have both a platform for users who crave power and choice, and the inconvenience sometimes associated with it, as well as a platform for eople who just want to play games with the least effort imaginable.

 

[Devilgunman]

Having been a PC gamer for almost as long as I've played video games, the things you complain about are what makes PC gaming fun to me.

On the other hand, the same thing can cause immense frustration to those who aren't tech nerds aka 80% of people out there. PC gaming will never become mainstream unless these issues are fixed.