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[OmegaTreeFish]

You seem to be confusing option with burden. I don't complain when I go to a restaurant and they offer me a menu of items to choose from. I prefer it. Some prefer the same meal. One isn't objectively superior to the other, but one is more suited to an individual than the other.



PC gamers enjoy their mice and keyboards. Controllers are the option. I can understand how a console owner would dislike the fact, but again, not a real problem.



This is not a feature worth touting. A simple counter-argument would be that you don't have to get up and switch discs on a PC. It's silly.



I could easily set my monitor to sleep if I wanted automatic updates but my boot up time is around 7 seconds and my patience isn't so thin that I can't wait 3 minutes for an update to download. But if you really wanted to , you could.



Restrict better controls for the sake of uniformity. I understand the logic but this is a reach as far as benefits go.



It's never a good idea to have a single option. You are left at the mercy of that individual service. Again, options are not a bad thing.



What you call streamlined, I call restricted. That XBox One interface is a nightmare.



Again, options and difficulty are not the same thing.



And this is the crux as to why I chose to respond to you. I am in no way saying your way of feeling about PC gaming is wrong, but it is motivated by what you are looking for in a gaming platform. My disagreements are a reflection of what I hold important in a platform. Both are legit and serve to point us to the platform that is right for us. So when people "ignore" these reasons, it's not because they don't want to address it, it's because sometimes that level of logic doesn't apply to us.

I mean no offense here so if anything I said sounds adversarial, apologies as that is not my intention.

What on earth kind of reply is this? None of the things i mentioned are problems. They are reasons why consoles are easier to deal with and why people like to use them. I said from the start PCs are great but if you dumbed them down to console level they would stop being what makes them great.

PCs should be embraced for what they are not sold as something they aren't. The idea of having a version of something that offers a lot more options and can give a better experience if the effort is put in Vs a simpler experience that does the job well enough for your average user runs through practically anything. Fast food vs fancy restaurant. Point and shoot cameras vs dslr. Cars. Art. Tv. Basically everything.

Again it should not a hard concept to understand.

 

[ViolentP]

I'm not angry at all. I'm sitting here by the window looking at my new succulent lol. I like you and your posts for the most part. I even hope we can play some switch sometime as you added me. I just thought that particular argument was silly. Sorry, if it came across as aggressive, I'll gladly tone it down as I wouldn't want to insult you going forward.

Not at all. And I'm super down to play sometime. When it comes to threads like this, I find that it is quick to take on adversarial tones due to preference. I'm only trying to illustrate that there is a right platform for everyone and that is dependent on their individual tastes. I think the generalized nature of certain posts tells me people think there is a right and wrong here. I sincerely meant no offense. And congrats on the succulent. I really should pick some up for the home.

What on earth kind of reply is this? None of the things i mentioned are problems. They are reasons why consoles are easier to deal with and why people like to use them. I said from the start PCs are great but if you dumbed them down to console level they would stop being what makes them great.

PCs should be embraced for what they are not sold as something they aren't. The idea of having a version of something that offers a lot more options and can give a better experience if the effort is put in Vs a simpler experience that does the job well enough for your average user runs through practically anything. Fast food vs fancy restaurant. Point and shoot cameras vs dslr. Cars. Art. Tv. Basically everything.

Again it should not a hard concept to understand.

It's not a hard concept to understand and I do agree with you. I was just illustrating the other side of the coin here in hopes of making an example of the idea that a problem is only a problem depending on which side of the fence you lie. It wasn't against you, but your post was a good opportunity to make the contrast.

 

[Huge Succeeded]

PCs should be embraced for what they are not sold as something they aren't. The idea of having a version of something that offers a lot more options and can give a better experience if the effort is put in Vs a simpler experience that does the job well enough for your average user runs through practically anything. Fast food vs fancy restaurant. Point and shoot cameras vs dslr. Cars. Art. Tv. Basically everything.

I'd stop just short of the analogies because people don't like the insinuation that the thing they like is 'fast food', but I agree with the spirit of your post. PC can be difficult, PC can involve tinkering. PC isn't always easy, and that's not difficult to acknowledge. It's fine to me, because I really, really enjoy taking advantage of PC's unique features and functionality as a gaming platform, and the tradeoffs are more than worth it to me. But I'm just me.

 

[Cannon Goose]

I consider my brother to be this supposedly theoretical 'average user,' and I can say for certain that he will never even be a casual PC gamer due to his hatred of maintenance. He gets visibly angry whenever he has to download patches on his Xbox One and that process is basically automatic. He just wants his games to work without any extra effort and I completely understand his viewpoint and don't challenge it. He's not incapable of using a PC but he knows from my experiences that issues can arise, and anything at all would be too much for him.

Leisure time is very valuable for some people and they just simply don't want to have to put up with any possible issues, even if they are aware that the alternative platform can be better in several ways. Personally I hate running into PC issues and I hate troubleshooting, but I still think that the benefits of PC gaming far outweigh the negatives in the end.

 

[RichiRamjag]

Not at all. And I'm super down to play sometime. When it comes to threads like this, I find that it is quick to take on adversarial tones due to preference. I'm only trying to illustrate that there is a right platform for everyone and that is dependent on their individual tastes. I think the generalized nature of certain posts tells me people think there is a right and wrong here. I sincerely meant no offense. And congrats on the succulent. I really should pick some up for the home.



It's not a hard concept to understand and I do agree with you. I was just illustrating the other side of the coin here in hopes of making an example of the idea that a problem is only a problem depending on which side of the fence you lie. It wasn't against you, but your post was a good opportunity to make the contrast.

Ahh, I get what you mean. Yeah, there is a definite feeling of right and wrong. As you said, both are good options depending on the person. No right and wrong here. Again, sorry if I was rude before. I can be snarky without realizing it sometimes (my wife would agree I'm sure lol).

I'd stop just short of the analogies because people don't like the insinuation that the thing they like is 'fast food', but I agree with the spirit of your post. PC can be difficult, PC can involve tinkering. PC isn't always easy, and that's not difficult to acknowledge. It's fine to me, because I really, really enjoy taking advantage of PC's unique features and functionality as a gaming platform, and the tradeoffs are more than worth it to me. But I'm just me.

That's fair enough.

We're all coming together now. Lol

 

[ViolentP]

Ahh, I get what you mean. Yeah, there is a definite feeling of right and wrong. As you said, both are good options depending on the person. No right and wrong here. Again, sorry if I was rude before. I can be a snarky without realizing it (my wife would agree I'm sure lol).

All good, brother.

 

[Fess]

I don't think most people store logs of when random issues occur. If someone has experienced it enough to consider it a problem, then that's enough. Unless you're implying that we have to have X amount of issues that you agree with to consider it a problem? If your Xbox controllers desync'd so much that you said, "I'm sick of Xbox", that'd be enough for me.



I'm not angry at all. I'm sitting here by the window looking at my new succulent lol. I like you and your posts for the most part. I even hope we can play some switch sometime as you added me. I just thought that particular argument was silly. Sorry, if it came across as aggressive, I'll gladly tone it down as I wouldn't want to insult you going forward.

Fair enough. But I just wanted a rough estimate really, since I haven't had any issues myself it's hard for me to know how often they appear even if I search the issues threads. No biggie though.

Btw, I really appreciate the less aggressive approach. We're all here because we love games, so we should just celebrate this awesome hobby and upcoming E3 instead of fighting. I try to keep it civil myself too, I'm 41 with kids who has far too frequent angry outbursts so I get enough of the less civil stuff at home lol ;P

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

I'd stop just short of the analogies because people don't like the insinuation that the thing they like is 'fast food', but I agree with the spirit of your post. PC can be difficult, PC can involve tinkering. PC isn't always easy, and that's not difficult to acknowledge. It's fine to me, because I really, really enjoy taking advantage of PC's unique features and functionality as a gaming platform, and the tradeoffs are more than worth it to me. But I'm just me.

I get what your saying but i dont mean it any offensive way. Thats actually a problem on both sides. You get people who use the easy option but seem to get insulted if you suggest thats what it is and you get people who use the complex enthusiasts option but get offended when you make out its not as easy. People seem to get strangely defencive on both sides of the fence.

We should all simply be happy that so many options exist so that all people with an interest in games can play. Being it someone just wanting to play games on there phone, owning a console that plays the latest stuff, a laptop to play LoL or a pc with beastly parts and the ability to tinker away till their hearts content.

This thread is about one thing. Are consoles easier than pcs for gaming. Yes they are. Are they better? That entirely depends on what you want out of this hobby and has no straight answer.

 

[Calm waterfall]

What laptop did you get? Hopefully it doesn't have nvidia optimus, else you might run into tearing issues with some games.

I got Lenovo Yoga 2, i7, Intel HD graphics 620, 8 GB ram, 2904 processor speed. It boots very fast, but my friend told me that intel graphic card is not good for gaming. But fortunately after i booted the laptop Deus ex runs on it beautifully. All i need is a controller, because playing a shooter on a mouse pad sucks lol.

 

[RichiRamjag]

Fair enough. But I just wanted a rough estimate really, since I haven't had any issues myself it's hard for me to know how often they appear even if I search the issues threads. No biggie though.

Btw, I really appreciate the less aggressive approach. We're all here because we love games, so we should just celebrate this awesome hobby and upcoming E3 instead of fighting. I try to keep it civil myself too, I'm 41 with kids who has far too frequent angry outbursts so I get enough of the less civil stuff at home lol ;P

I feel ya, but I purposely try not to drudge up my specific issues because my intent isn't to imply that PC gaming is shitty and full of bugs, but that minor issues occur sometimes and I just don't want to bother with them. Also, people start trying to tell ya what you should have done lol. I spent so many years troubleshooting for customers that I just don't want to do it any other time. I can say that it's occurred enough to be a nuisance though. I was mainly playing indies on PC (after moving to console), but I'm buying a lot on the switch for portability.

Yeah in the end, no matter what it's about, you need to want to get good at something to become good at it and not just worry about the potential issues you may face.

I don't remember if I've already said this but my grand mother is 101 years old and can handle a computer, write documents and make layout using clip art illustrations etc. Got her PC at like 90 years old or something like that. She's amazing and could totally become a PC gamer, if she really wanted to.

If more people were like that, we'd all be better off. I've met so many people who are happy being ignorant though and don't want to learn basic usage. It's sad to see.

 

[Fess]

I consider my brother to be this supposedly theoretical 'average user,' and I can say for certain that he will never even be a casual PC gamer due to his hatred of maintenance. He gets visibly angry whenever he has to download patches on his Xbox One and that process is basically automatic. He just wants his games to work without any extra effort and I completely understand his viewpoint and don't challenge it. He's not incapable of using a PC but he knows from my experiences that issues can arise, and anything at all would be too much for him.

Leisure time is very valuable for some people and they just simply don't want to have to put up with any possible issues, even if they are aware that the alternative platform can be better in several ways. Personally I hate running into PC issues and I hate troubleshooting, but I still think that the benefits of PC gaming far outweigh the negatives in the end.

Yeah in the end, no matter what it's about, you need to want to get good at something to become good at it and not just worry about the potential issues you may face.

I don't remember if I've already said this but my grand mother is 101 years old and can handle a computer, write documents and make layout using clip art illustrations etc. Got her PC at like 90 years old or something like that. She's amazing and could totally become a PC gamer, if she really wanted to.

 

[Fess]

I feel ya, but I purposely try not to drudge up my specific issues because my intent isn't to imply that PC gaming is shitty and full of bugs, but that minor issues occur sometimes and I just don't want to bother with them. Also, people start trying to tell ya what you should have done lol. I spent so many years troubleshooting for customers that I just don't want to do it any other time. I can say that it's occurred enough to be a nuisance though. I was mainly playing indies on PC (after moving to console), but I'm buying a lot on the switch for portability.

I think I understand you.
And yeah Switch has oddly enough become my most used console right now. Perfect secondary platform no matter what your primary platform is.

 

[Filben]

he has to download patches on his Xbox One

Can't blame him since updates on the XOne take ages, even when there are small.

 

[Alphahawk]

It is strange that so many of the PC gaming woes people report have nothing to do with any failings of the platform itself. It seems that every single issue, no matter if it was caused by the user or the publisher or the developer, gets blamed on the platform as a whole. I don't get it. I'll just pick a a couple complaints from the last couple of pages and explain my issue with them.

I feel you are fundamentally misunderstanding this thread. Don't think of the responses as "PC VS Consoles" think more about the nature of the beast. A lot of the problems listed are unavoidable when it comes to open platforms that provides the benefits associated with PC gaming, however understand that not everyone necessarily sees these as a worthy trade off.

 

[LegendofLex]

I think his point is average people don't talk like that. People just want a PS4 or a iPhone or a galaxy. PC gamers talk up their hardware XYZ and their mods and their controller options and their steam link and this and that but then wonder why someone not in to PC gaming thinks that PC gaming is complicated. But even if you say you don't have to do all that the next question then is why wouldn't I just get a PS4/X1/Switch?

You're right, but we have to remember that it's not just that average people "don't talk like that."

It's that most people don't have a goddamn clue about PC components and don't see any reason why they should need to know.

And it's that any scenario where you need to know is a worse user experience for such people than a scenario where you can buy a box for which all the games "just work."

Like, I'll take apart stuff and tinker with it if I have to. I'll deal with the PC maintenance experience for things that actually require a PC. But when I'm talking about a box that I use to play video games, I never feel like I "have to." I'd rather just buy a machine that I rarely if ever have to think about.

 

[hitgirl]

This latest PC build has been an absolute nightmare with multiple DOA parts, having to take a dremmel to my case and re-spray it, and things just not going generally as planned. But still I'd take this over the severely under powered consoles that are being sold now adays..

 

[borges]

My 77 years old dad can barely use a console and Whatsapp. Anything beyond that complexity is unreachable for him. So what I trying to say is: Complexity is quite a subjective metric.

 

[CrustyBritches]

PC is about having the option to control your experience. What some people see as a negative is the very thing that makes PC great.

PS4 Pro is the perfect example. So much angst over lack of options, sometimes like supersampling, needs a patch to run better, etc. You buy a system 2.3x as powerful and you might not even get a performance upgrade.

On PC, you buy a new GPU, uninstall old gfx driver, install new graphics driver and all the games get a boost. On PC, a modder is more likely to fix a broken game before a dev. The ability to tinker is what keeps standards high.

 

[noire]

deleted

 

[NewGame]

Consider taking a video of how you install it and show us here

http://www.baldursgatemods.com/forums/index.php?topic=7973.0

I was installing Shadows of Amn from CDs on a Win10 laptop.

 

[noire]

deleted

 

[Spladam]

This thread is interesting. I've been so close to jumping to PC gaming over the past few years but always lost my nerve. I'm still on the edge (my primary interest is racing sims) but I'll be waiting to see just what Scorpio brings to the table later this year. I think second- or third-gen VR (with less of the current resolution and FoV compromises) might be the trigger I finally need. It's a constantly-evolving moving target though.

If you are in to racing sims, it's worth it. Just for the mods, it's worth it. Assetto Corsa is so much more on the PC thanks to Race Department and the modding scene there, and you have so much more control over the fine tuning of your racing rig, additional control profiles for your wheel, and apps you can add to the games to keep lap times and performance in real time on a phone or second screen.

Even with the power of the Scorpio, it's a bit shy of real VR experience power. Racing sim gaming IS on the PC.

 

[Spladam]

The case being presented for the overwhelming complexity of PC gaming often seems to be based largely on fictional people straight out of a bad infomercial. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide play on PC every day, little kids grow up playing League of Legends and Minecraft on PC, tons of casual gamers play the Sims, yet the average adult male or female consumer is presented here like a complete moron. Using and gaming on a modern PC is well within the skills of an average person.

You have no idea how many hours it took me to properly mod up my Minecraft on PC, hahahaha.

"Overwhelming"? No. But there are some games that I've spent more hours setting up than I did playing. Do I tinker too much sometimes, yes. But let's not push the fiction of little kids playing LOL or MC on PC accounts for the effort needed to game on PC. I spend too much time in support forums helping people to hear that bullshit. In fact, we could use you over at the Steam Fallout NV thread. We need qualified experts to show us all how easy it is, lots of folks need your help.

In fact, right here on NeoGAF we have a Tech Support thread with gamers that need your help. It would be an honor if you could come show us how easy it should be for average people. I'll see you there.

 

[NandoGip]

Many of you assume the average person knows how to do anything besides click on websites. PC gamers are a minority of a minority when it comes to tech

 

[statham]

If its a simpler game and 80% of my pc play time is P&C games that run fine on a toaster, I don't fiddle with anything. but if its something that pushes my system, yea, I fiffle for a hour. I know I did on Tomb Raider and bioshock, play for ten minutes, don't like the FPS, fiddle, repeat. But its my problem, I don't use recommended specs, as I OC and think I can notch some stuff up. some works, some don't.

 

[RedSwirl]

If you are in to racing sims, it's worth it. Just for the mods, it's worth it. Assetto Corsa is so much more on the PC thanks to Race Department and the modding scene there, and you have so much more control over the fine tuning of your racing rig, additional control profiles for your wheel, and apps you can add to the games to keep lap times and performance in real time on a phone or second screen.

Even with the power of the Scorpio, it's a bit shy of real VR experience power. Racing sim gaming IS on the PC.

I would say if you're into sims in general, strategy games, or adventure games PC is definitely worth it, as those genres are more abundant on PC than on consoles. They can be fairly abundant on handhelds or mobile or the Japanese console scene too, but the western console scene is still dominated by action games and sports games.

 

[Sad Affleck]

I feel you are fundamentally misunderstanding this thread. Don't think of the responses as "PC VS Consoles" think more about the nature of the beast. A lot of the problems listed are unavoidable when it comes to open platforms that provides the benefits associated with PC gaming, however understand that not everyone necessarily sees these as a worthy trade off.

I don't think that's the topic of this thread. Your response would fit a thread about why someone would prefer one platform over another, while this thread is about the reason why there's a perception of PC gaming being difficult to use. I was not comparing the ease of use of console gaming against PC, I was arguing that PC gaming is nearing the point of being easy enough for the average person to handle.

You have no idea how many hours it took me to properly mod up my Minecraft on PC, hahahaha.

"Overwhelming"? No. But there are some games that I've spent more hours setting up than I did playing. Do I tinker too much sometimes, yes. But let's not push the fiction of little kids playing LOL or MC on PC accounts for the effort needed to game on PC. I spend too much time in support forums helping people to hear that bullshit. In fact, we could use you over at the Steam Fallout NV thread. We need qualified experts to show us all how easy it is, lots of folks need your help.

In fact, right here on NeoGAF we have a Tech Support thread with gamers that need your help. It would be an honor if you could come show us how easy it should be for average people. I'll see you there.

Why not? I don't understand the point you are making. Tech support and tech support threads exist all over the internet for a multitude of different products. The core difference between an appliance-like device breaking down and a PC breaking down is that the PC's open and customizable nature allows the user, should he want to, to attempt a repair himself. This isn't a knock on the platform, it's a core platform strength.

Under normal conditions the amount of tinkering and fiddling that you have to do on a modern PC is very small and it doesn't include any obscure techniques and registry editing. That's just a meme at this point. The normal process for buying and playing a game is also extremely simple and almost completely automated.

 

[Adam_Roman]

I love PC gaming to death, but it is complicated sometimes. When I still have issues with my Dualshock 4 working natively in XInput games via Steam Big Picture mode, when I gave up on playing Dark Souls for months because I tried modding the game and only got a black screen even when I reverted, to games like The Witcher 1 having individual keys for drinking a health potion or a mana potion (I think that's what it was, it's been a while since I played it), there's a lot that can overwhelm new players trying to get the most out of what makes PC gaming great. Comparing that to plopping on my couch, hitting the power button on my Dualshock 4, and jumping into Final Fantasy XV, I'd say PC gaming still has a long way to go before it could be considered "not difficult", but I think that's okay. PC gaming is for the tinkerers and people who want the best of the best, while consoles are for people who want the easy, no-muss-no-fuss solution to play stuff.

Personally I enjoy both aspects, though at this point in my life I prefer PC and Switch over PS4. I definitely think when I move in with my girlfriend I'll either be getting multiplatform titles more on PS4, or at the very least buying a Steam Link.

 

[Fess]

I love PC gaming to death, but it is complicated sometimes. When I still have issues with my Dualshock 4 working natively in XInput games via Steam Big Picture mode, when I gave up on playing Dark Souls for months because I tried modding the game and only got a black screen even when I reverted, to games like The Witcher 1 having individual keys for drinking a health potion or a mana potion (I think that's what it was, it's been a while since I played it), there's a lot that can overwhelm new players trying to get the most out of what makes PC gaming great. Comparing that to plopping on my couch, hitting the power button on my Dualshock 4, and jumping into Final Fantasy XV, I'd say PC gaming still has a long way to go before it could be considered "not difficult", but I think that's okay. PC gaming is for the tinkerers and people who want the best of the best, while consoles are for people who want the easy, no-muss-no-fuss solution to play stuff.

Personally I enjoy both aspects, though at this point in my life I prefer PC and Switch over PS4. I definitely think when I move in with my girlfriend I'll either be getting multiplatform titles more on PS4, or at the very least buying a Steam Link.

Lots of people has talked about DS4 issues. Why aren't you just using a 360 controller? I just plugged in my old launch 360 wired controller and haven't once run into a controller problem, digital controls, analog controls, rumble, everything works as it should.

Edit: Ah you're talking about playing on the TV, probably can't use a wired controller then. But what about using a wireless 360 controller?
For Steam Link I use that weird wireless 360 controller with rotating Dpad. Works great.

 

[sleepnaught]

I've been PC gaming since the late 90s, so, if an issue pops I can almost immediately pinpoint the problem and have it fixed with a couple minutes tops. Google makes things incredibly simple these days, chances are 10,000 other people have had the same issue you did, so just Google away and the solution is at your fingertips. But even still, 99% of PC gaming is keeping drivers/Windows up to date and double clicking on an icon and you're ready to play.

That said, my entire family's computers are absolutely ridden with viruses and other malware, its no surprise to me people don't want to fool with PC as a gaming platform. They can barely use the web browser or find their tax documents, much less piece together a computer from parts and install all the applicable software for each piece of hardware.

Most of us have had years and years of experience, its second nature to us. Anyone wanting to step into the world of gaming has two choices. They can spend hours and hours researching the necessary parts of a computer, spend a chunk of cash up front for a good system, and spend more time researching how to put it all together. Then, they have to hunt down all the software they need and troubleshoot whatever problems arise. After that, they have to grab Steam, Origin, etc and all that jazz, make new accounts for each.

They can do all that or just grab a PS4 or Xbox, plug it in, and pop in the game and you're ready to play. I can see why the overwhelming majority of people consider PC too much work to game on.

As a grown adult with not a lot of free time, I probably wouldn't be a PC gamer if I didnt come into adulthood with all the knowledge necessary to do all that. I simply wouldn't have the time to do the research or the patience to handle the hiccups that occur along the way.

 

[Sad Affleck]

That said, my entire family's computers are absolutely ridden with viruses and other malware, its no surprise to me people don't want to fool with PC as a gaming platform. They can barely use the web browser or find their tax documents, much less piece together a computer from parts and install all the applicable software for each piece of hardware.

I'm not singling out your post, this sentiment has been expressed multiple times in this thread. The issue I have with it is that you chose to base your argument on a series of actions that only experienced PC gamers go through. People looking to dip their toes in PC gaming will not be doing extensive research, building the PC themselves and installing all the software. This is an option but it is not the only one.

Just like a console you can walk into a store, buy a pre-built gaming PC that has everything already ready and installed, buy a game and play it. You can choose the type of experience you want to have as a PC gaming novice and either build a PC yourself if you think you'll enjoy it or go for the turnkey solution.

 

[stan423321]

This thread is about one thing. Are consoles easier than pcs for gaming. Yes they are. Are they better? That entirely depends on what you want out of this hobby and has no straight answer.

Actually I think it is more complicated. PCs are harder to use, alright, but how much exactly?

I mean, in the DOS days things went pretty crazy, but today when things work they work painlessly, and a few advantages that people tended to give to consoles like lack of patches, installations, system updates - are now a part of console experience as well. And while badly behaving games on PC are more likely at the moment, comparing, say, resolution selection problems on PC instead of sticking with default settings to having to stick with default settings on consoles is not really sensible at all.

 

[Mascot]

If you are in to racing sims, it's worth it. Just for the mods, it's worth it. Assetto Corsa is so much more on the PC thanks to Race Department and the modding scene there, and you have so much more control over the fine tuning of your racing rig, additional control profiles for your wheel, and apps you can add to the games to keep lap times and performance in real time on a phone or second screen.

pCARS on PS4 already allows companion apps for telemetry etc via UDP. I believe Assetto Corsa does too, but the data is more limited. My rig is ready.

Mods are something I do miss though. I used to play Assetto Corsa on a laptop (wired up to my racing cockpit) and while the graphics were PS2 quality on my hardware, the wealth of tracks and cars from the mod scene were incredible.

 

[Adam_Roman]

Lots of people has talked about DS4 issues. Why aren't you just using a 360 controller? I just plugged in my old launch 360 wired controller and haven't once run into a controller problem, digital controls, analog controls, rumble, everything works as it should.

Edit: Ah you're talking about playing on the TV, probably can't use a wired controller then. But what about using a wireless 360 controller?
For Steam Link I use that weird wireless 360 controller with rotating Dpad. Works great.

I had a 360 controller but I loaned it to a friend who I haven't seen in forever. I only have Dualshock 4s because of my PS4. Half the time I can use DS4Windows and it'll work but that's usually after having to delete the entry for it from my device manager, and the other half of the time it just doesn't want to work so I have to use Big Picture Mode.

 

[Auto-Reply]

You need a modicum of technical understanding to enjoy PC gaming, I imagine the majority of people out there don't possess that!

PC hardware is easy to use and maintain, as long as there is no problem. If there is a problem, may god have mercy on your soul! As a "relatively" tech interested person I shiver thinking back to previous hardware related problems, one is enough to make you question the existance of a mercyful God!
People with nonexistent or weak Google-Fu are literally fucked if they are confronted with a hard-software related problem because it's often not easy to pin down to a specific component of the system if you have no basic understanding on how the damn thing works. Their only hope is capable friends or a PC repair/tech store nearby.

On a sidenote, terrible digital stores are a blight on the image of pc gaming, if Steam (in it's curent state) wasn't around I would stay the hell away from PC gaming too!

 

[Dictator93]

pCARS on PS4 already allows companion apps for telemetry etc via UDP. I believe Assetto Corsa does too, but the data is more limited. My rig is ready.

Mods are something I do miss though. I used to play Assetto Corsa on a laptop (wired up to my racing cockpit) and while the graphics were PS2 quality on my hardware, the wealth of tracks and cars from the mod scene were incredible.

Dude. You have this thing and you DON'T have a PC?! MY GOD.

 

[sleepnaught]

I'm not singling out your post, this sentiment has been expressed multiple times in this thread. The issue I have with it is that you chose to base your argument on a series of actions that only experienced PC gamers go through. People looking to dip their toes in PC gaming will not be doing extensive research, building the PC themselves and installing all the software. This is an option but it is not the only one.

Just like a console you can walk into a store, buy a pre-built gaming PC that has everything already ready and installed, buy a game and play it. You can choose the type of experience you want to have as a PC gaming novice and either build a PC yourself if you think you'll enjoy it or go for the turnkey solution.

Still a fair amount of research to be done for a novice. Case in point, my stepmom buys her son an Ibuypower PC for $600 that's labeled as a "gaming" PC, decked out with all that atrocious gamer style hardware. Only to find out on Christmas its fitted with an Nvidia GT something, basically worthless for gaming. There's a sea of garbage, overpriced prebuilts to sort through. I don't know what they carry in stores these days, so maybe there are better options, though.

 

[TheChundertaker]

Yeah, even if in the long run console gaming is more expensive I just don't want to deal with the hassle of making a PC. I know it's not actually that much of a hassle but I'd rather just not deal with it at all. I get sad because I miss out on certain experiences but its not like I have all the time in the world anyway.

 

[Charamiwa]

What's with this obsession with having the most simple and hassle free experience possible anyway? I understand for casual players who just want to boot FIFA once in a while, but this is Neogaf. We talk about games all day long, we wait for them and speculate for years sometimes, surely installing Steam or tinkering for 20 minutes to get it just right can't be a deal breaker?

When people talk about couch gaming and plug and play and how they don't want to bother with anything, I wonder if the next step is to lie in their bed and and consume their games by a intravenous injection or something.

 

[Spladam]

pCARS on PS4 already allows companion apps for telemetry etc via UDP. I believe Assetto Corsa does too, but the data is more limited. My rig is ready.

Mods are something I do miss though. I used to play Assetto Corsa on a laptop (wired up to my racing cockpit) and while the graphics were PS2 quality on my hardware, the wealth of tracks and cars from the mod scene were incredible.

Nice rig bro, *fist bump*.

Now, it's time to add that VR ready PC to that monster, you've already made the investment that makes it worth it, though I know you're having a lot of fun with what you have there. I switch between my PS4 and my PC myself, depending on who I'm racing with and what I feel like doing, isn't it great the current gen of ffb wheels work just as well on both? I have Dirt Rally and Project Cars on both I can't wait for Dirt Rally 2 and Project Cars 2.

What's with this obsession with having the most simple and hassle free experience possible anyway? I understand for casual players who just want to boot FIFA once in a while, but this is Neogaf. We talk about games all day long, we wait for them and speculate for years sometimes, surely installing Steam or tinkering for 20 minutes to get it just right can't be a deal breaker?

When people talk about couch gaming and plug and play and how they don't want to bother with anything, I wonder if the next step is to lie in their bed and and consume their games by a intravenous injection or something.

There is no obsession? Where did you get that from? There are those that, like the OP, claim there is NO HASSLE. That is what this conversation is about.

 

[Omegashin]

pc nowdays is so easy and it gives so much more than a console.

 

[Sad Affleck]

Still a fair amount of research to be done for a novice. Case in point, my stepmom buys her son an Ibuypower PC for $600 that's labeled as a "gaming" PC, decked out with all that atrocious gamer style hardware. Only to find out on Christmas its fitted with an Nvidia GT something, basically worthless for gaming. There's a sea of garbage, overpriced prebuilts to sort through. I don't know what they carry in stores these days, so maybe there are better options, though.

Now this is something I agree with. I want Valve to partner with a hardware manufacturer and make a Windows-based affordable gaming PC for the masses. Not like the mess that was the Steam Machines, a single Valve 'console' that's preconfigured and boots straight into Big Picture Mode.

 

[Mascot]

Dude. You have this thing and you DON'T have a PC?! MY GOD.

It's a shameful situation, granted.

Nice rig bro, *fist bump*.

Now, it's time to add that VR ready PC to that monster, you've already made the investment that makes it worth it, though I know you're having a lot of fun with what you have there. I switch between my PS4 and my PC myself, depending on who I'm racing with and what I feel like doing, isn't it great the current gen of ffb wheels work just as well on both? I have Dirt Rally and Project Cars on both I can't wait for Dirt Rally 2 and Project Cars 2.

My Fanatec hardware being cock-blocked on the PS4 was another reason I was leaning towards PC gaming, but the CronusMAX Plus now deals with that issue very nicely (in less than a minute of USB swapping). Full FFB, zero lag. Never thought it possible, actually.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Now this is something I agree with. I want Valve to partner with a hardware manufacturer and make a Windows-based affordable gaming PC for the masses. Not like the mess that was the Steam Machines, a single Valve 'console' that's preconfigured and boots straight into Big Picture Mode.

Why bother? The same people are going to complain that they have to tinker to get some game's to work, deal with clicking a button to update drivers, fiddle with settings, etc...

There's always going to be lazy excuses.

 

[Shari]

I love PC gaming to death, but it is complicated sometimes. When I still have issues with my Dualshock 4 working natively in XInput games via Steam Big Picture mode, when I gave up on playing Dark Souls for months because I tried modding the game and only got a black screen even when I reverted, to games like The Witcher 1 having individual keys for drinking a health potion or a mana potion (I think that's what it was, it's been a while since I played it), there's a lot that can overwhelm new players trying to get the most out of what makes PC gaming great. Comparing that to plopping on my couch, hitting the power button on my Dualshock 4, and jumping into Final Fantasy XV, I'd say PC gaming still has a long way to go before it could be considered "not difficult", but I think that's okay. PC gaming is for the tinkerers and people who want the best of the best, while consoles are for people who want the easy, no-muss-no-fuss solution to play stuff.

Personally I enjoy both aspects, though at this point in my life I prefer PC and Switch over PS4. I definitely think when I move in with my girlfriend I'll either be getting multiplatform titles more on PS4, or at the very least buying a Steam Link.

Gotta love this posts.

Doesnt work/Dont know how to:

·Use a controller meant for a different platform
·Mod a game
·A 10 year old game having obscure controls

That's is somehow "complexity". Truth is if you would have tried to use the computer as a console and restrain yourself to default options instead of biting more than you can chew your experience would have been very much like that of a console.

This kind of user has been coming to this thread over and over and over and somehow they keep blaming the platform.

27 pages no less.

 

[azyless]

Truth is if you would have tried to use the computer as a console and restrain yourself to default options instead of biting more than you can chew your experience would have been very much like that of a console.

Pretty much.
I think PC gaming is as complicated as you want it to be.

 

[Fess]

Now this is something I agree with. I want Valve to partner with a hardware manufacturer and make a Windows-based affordable gaming PC for the masses. Not like the mess that was the Steam Machines, a single Valve 'console' that's preconfigured and boots straight into Big Picture Mode.

How affordable? I don't think the performance would be enough with console level pricing. Consoles do fine with lower specs because the devs know the specs and the market is huge so the games get cleverly optimized to perfection (kind of) for that specific hardware. I don't think the devs would release specific versions for a Steam console, so they would just run the PC games as is with no clever optimization for hardware that would probably be too weak.

 

[jellies_two]

The answer to this question is that the topic that asks it is now 27 pages long. And the audience/participation is mostly dedicated accomplished gamers.

 

[Sad Affleck]

How affordable? I don't think the performance would be enough with console level pricing. Consoles do fine with lower specs because the devs know the specs and the market is huge so the games get cleverly optimized to perfection (kind of) for that specific hardware. I don't think the devs would release specific versions for a Steam console, so they would just run the PC games as is with no clever optimization for hardware that would probably be too weak.

Console games aren't cleverly optimized to perfection, a number of DF threads conclusively prove that. I think that $499 would be a good price point for the Valve Steamstation.

 

[Chairmanchuck]

The answer to this question is that the topic that asks it is now 27 pages long. And the audience/participation is mostly dedicated accomplished gamers.

There was an argument that looking to click on a downloadbutton for Steam is already a hassle.

I wonder how hard it must be to click X to start a game.