Do you prefer to play games on steam or console?

[Knight of the Redlotus]

I am trying to decide if i should play games on console or PC. What i hate the most is that some games on PC have to have a mod or something installed to make the game work because of bad optimization, such as crashing when pausing the game or other annoying things such as FPS drops or stuttering. A few games i wanted to buy on Steam were the Kingdom Hearts games, just to find out i need to install some stuff so the game will be at least tolerable.

[Anthony "Jeet" Coast]

neither

[ShelLuser]

Originally posted by Knight of the Redlotus:

I am trying to decide if i should play games on console or PC.

Both have their merits IMO.. I've been gaming on console for almost 10 years but eventually came to conclude that it's much more fun on PC, especially when you can get involved with a platform like Steam.

But of course... that might be different for others.

Console

Playing on console can be a lot of fun.. you buy a game, pop it in, it gets installed and you're ready to go. It's easy!

But it's going to become expensive, really quick and really soon. First.. want to play online with your friends (or just online in general)? Oopsie.. that's going to cost you extra. If you play on Playstation on XBox then you'll need a subscription before that can happen. Something that is totally outrageous from my POV but whatever..

And of course it doesn't stop there. Because what's going to happen when the next line of consoles gets released? I'll tell you: then you either need to keep your old console around if you want to play the games that you own, because if you don't... then get ready to buy all those games once more!

Because they no longer work anymore.

PC

So, I've been gaming for quite some time now. I started with the Commodore 64 and eventually ended up here, on Steam. Eye of the Beholder is an RPG game from my teens, you'll quickly notice the dated graphics and game mechanics if you check the store page. This game is literally 30 or so years old. And yet, as you can see, it also got added to Steam and I can easily play this as-is without any issues.

And that's just one example... there's a lot more. Meaning? You're not forced into stuff, if you buy a new computer someday then you don't have to worry about having to buy all of your games again, because it just doesn't work that way.

SO basically.. you'll get way more value for your money.

Second... controllers. Consoles always work with controllers and I'm gonna tell you: they are - generaly speaking - awesome. Seriously, there are tons of games that I'd rather play with a controller vs. keyboard and mouse. Fun fact: that also easily works on PC. Although I don't have personal experience with this I know that even the Playstation and XBox controllers can be made to work on PC as well (though I think you might be better off with a 3rd party).

Last but not least....

Modding

This won't be everyones cup of tea, but I can honestly say that modding can easily help bring older now maybe boring (?) games back to life. My gf and me have been playing Minecraft ever since... 2013/2014 or so (I started with 1.8). If it wasn't for modding then we'd have moved on a long time ago.

There are tons of games where modding can really help to get a "better" game. Some personal favorites of mine being Skyrim, Cyberpunk 2077, Arma 3, Fallout 3 & 4 and of course Minecraft.

That sort of thing just can't happen on console.. not easily anyway. Not to mention that tampering like that could be seen as a violation and might land you into trouble.

I moved from console to PC and I never looked back.

[Blueberry {JESUS IS LORD}]

Originally posted by xBCxRangers:

Def Console. It's much easier. Much less hoops to go thru.

No hackers (unless a rapid fire remote counts), and you'll always have your games, no matter changes in OS, hardware requirements what not.

No crashes really, no Anti Virus matters. No problems.

What sets Steam apart for me, is soley the "type" of games you get on Steam you cannot get on console. But that seems to be changing which is good news.

this

[Blueberry {JESUS IS LORD}]

i started out as console then went to pc now im back to console again :)

[Piston Smashed™]

I went from console to PC to console back to PC over the years starting with the Grandstand Pong console until I had the original PlayStation, then I found online gaming on the PC and never looked back.

[PocketYoda]

I only use Steam Desktop it is way more convenient, Keyboard and mouse over uncoordinated controllers any day..

If a game wont use keyboard and mouse default i wont BUY it.

[crunchyfrog]

There's never been an either/or for me. I play on every platform I want to.

The way I look at it is simple - a console or computer is just a box that on it's own is somewhat useless (let's face it, most people don't really use a PC much outside of gaming unless you're doing some work - browsing and video is often about it).

Whenever I buy a new platform, I do this - I go look up what games there are that are exclusive. If there's about 6 I want, that's the threshold to warrant buying it. If it doesn't meet that then no.

This is why I have over 70 working consoles and computers. But also why I don't have a PS5 or Xbox Series whatever. Because neither of those have any exclusives games bar one or two that I want.

You should try to reduce it to things like this and the moast important thing is to be honest with YOURSELF. What YOU want out of it is important, not what others tell you - including me.

As for making games workable or tolerable, there's no one solution. All games are different . If you're going to make a choice based on this, you're going to fail.

Better you choose based on the games you want and leave it at that.

[AROCK!!!]

Originally posted by NeRvEaGeNt UK:

Left console in 2017 never looked back, consoles are for kids

No ridiculous subscription to play online
No removal of games as they aint compatible on new consoles.
MODS
Much cheaper games
Much bigger variety of games
Mouse and Keyboartd is far superior to controllers
PC's can be upgraded at anytime your not restricted to waiting 7 years like console upgrades
Graphics are miles better on PC

Could go on for a while, Its not even a contest if your in doubt and dont really see these things without being told ,go with the cheap kids route

I used to be anti-console, until a friend convinced me to try it, and now....

It may cost to play online, but it's cheater free. I actually quit playing PC online do to cheaters, griefers, etc, but thanks to consoles, I'm back into it.

the majority of older console games will play on newer consoles...they design them that way.
Even given the few that won't, it's no different than PC, in fact, I have more old PC games that will not run on modern systems, than I do console games that won't run on my PS5.

Let us also not forget that Valve routinely upgrades the STEAM OS to the point that it will no longer run on older operating systems.

When I buy a console game, I know it will install and run...can't say the same about PC, and have never been able to.

The Xbox has some mods, though much less than PC.

The games might be cheaper, but with console you own them, you can legally lend and borrow them, and there is a used game market for console. There used to be one for PC games, but Valve/STEAM killed it.

There are more than enough games on console. I know STEAM likes to boast about it's library, but if you were to actually look, you would see that a whole f-ing lot of them are garbage games, asset flips, abandon-ware, etc.

The last few generations of consoles have M/K support, as do many of the games, especially shooters. The PS5 also has gyro aim.

Consoles don't need upgrades, and even when a new one does come out, it's still cheaper than PCs.
I bought my PS5 2 years ago. I paid 550 Euros for it, and it came with God of War. I then spent 150 Euros on an extra M.2 drive and 75 for a 2nd controller.
It will run many games in 4K, and still performs today as it did the day I got it.

I bought my PC around the same time. PC, 3000 Euros. Logitech gaming KB, 200 Euros, Logitech gaming mouse, 59 euros, 32" gaming monitor, 384 Euros.
Then I need a place to put it, a desk, etc.
Already the GPU is being pushed by some games, and an upgrade will likely be between 700 to 1200 euros.

Keep in mind that the ALE for a PC is only 5 years, and over a period of 7 years the average PC user will spend more keeping their system up to date than a console user will buying a new console, and those that don't periodically upgrade their PC will be limited to what they can play, and will be playing on the lowest settings...I know, because I've been a gamer since the 70s, and a PC gamer for most of it.

Oh yeah, the VR system is far superior on console compared to PC...again, I know, I've tried them both.

[Toriva]

I would play indie games on Steam and the rest on console. Because at the moment, the consoles are the place to be if you want to play the best games.

- Game of the year was a Playstation exclusive. (Astrobot)
- Most anticipated game is also not going to be on PC (GTA 6)

[wesnef]

A lot of the 'console' arguments here, pro & con, seem to be around multiplayer (having to pay a subscription, less hackers, etc). For those of us who don't multiplayer/pvp, none of those things really matter. /shrug

I bought my PC around the same time. PC, 3000 Euros. Logitech gaming KB, 200 Euros, Logitech gaming mouse, 59 euros, 32" gaming monitor, 384 Euros.
Then I need a place to put it, a desk, etc.
Already the GPU is being pushed by some games, and an upgrade will likely be between 700 to 1200 euros.

I built my current PC in 2020 for under $1k. Uses the same keyboards & mice I've used for years and years ($7 mouse). On a desk that already existed in my house (and held the previous PC)
And I replace my GPU every ~4 years, latest one was $275 in 2023.
(and this PC build was to replace the sub-1k build I made in 2011. Again, only changes was a new GPU in 2015 and 2019, both under $200)

PC gaming does not *require* you to spend out the ass, any more than console gaming does.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by wesnef:

A lot of the 'console' arguments here, pro & con, seem to be around multiplayer (having to pay a subscription, less hackers, etc). For those of us who don't multiplayer/pvp, none of those things really matter. /shrug

I bought my PC around the same time. PC, 3000 Euros. Logitech gaming KB, 200 Euros, Logitech gaming mouse, 59 euros, 32" gaming monitor, 384 Euros.
Then I need a place to put it, a desk, etc.
Already the GPU is being pushed by some games, and an upgrade will likely be between 700 to 1200 euros.

I built my current PC in 2020 for under $1k. Uses the same keyboards & mice I've used for years and years ($7 mouse). On a desk that already existed in my house (and held the previous PC)
And I replace my GPU every ~4 years, latest one was $275 in 2023.
(and this PC build was to replace the sub-1k build I made in 2011. Again, only changes was a new GPU in 2015 and 2019, both under $200)

PC gaming does not *require* you to spend out the ass, any more than console gaming does.

Nah, I don't play multiplayer much on any platforms.

There's many pros and cons for all of them regardless. Nothing to do with multiplayer really.

I'm afriad you're not exactly correct about the requirement as it entirely depends on what you want to do with it.

You can indeed keep older bits (I certainly do). But the thing is if you are keeping up with the current games, the rate at which you buy newer bits becomes more.

And furthermore, when it comes to this tech you rarely just upgrade a graphics card, say, as you may get bottlenecks.

So this all means that prices are largely similar in the long run. Granted, this assumes people like Sony don't keep up with the silly pricing like they did with the PS5.

However, there is ONE way that console rocks PCs all the time cost-wise - games.

Now, sure you can buy games digitally on Steam on sales dirt cheap, and that's great. But one thing you can easily do on console you cannot do with PC is buy USED games.

I've always done this and using shops like CEX and many others I can buy any game at a small amount of the price a mere few weeks after release.

When you buy a few hundred games per platform, this adds up massively.

Horses for courses and all that.

[Crazy Tiger]

No preference in general on whatever device. I play games on devices that feel comfortable for me.

[Vilo_le_Loup]

It depends. I use my Xbox next to my monitor as a kind of backup launcher. If there's a game on Steam AND the Xbox, I prefer Steam. (I don't use other PC launchers for multiple reasons btw.) However, there are exceptions. For example, if the game doesn't have any achievements on Steam, but does on the Xbox. Or with “crossover” launchers, as I call them. So if I need something else for a game besides Steam. So a second or even third launcher like “Origin”, “Ubisoft Connect” or something like that. Then I also use the Xbox. Last but not least, there are games where complete features are missing on the PC or in some cases no next gen graphics have been used. This was the case with “Madden” for example. Then I also use the Xbox! Because I use the same monitor and practically the same controller, I sometimes have to double check what system I'm using right now.

[AROCK!!!]

Originally posted by wesnef:

A lot of the 'console' arguments here, pro & con, seem to be around multiplayer (having to pay a subscription, less hackers, etc). For those of us who don't multiplayer/pvp, none of those things really matter. /shrug

I bought my PC around the same time. PC, 3000 Euros. Logitech gaming KB, 200 Euros, Logitech gaming mouse, 59 euros, 32" gaming monitor, 384 Euros.
Then I need a place to put it, a desk, etc.
Already the GPU is being pushed by some games, and an upgrade will likely be between 700 to 1200 euros.

I built my current PC in 2020 for under $1k. Uses the same keyboards & mice I've used for years and years ($7 mouse). On a desk that already existed in my house (and held the previous PC)
And I replace my GPU every ~4 years, latest one was $275 in 2023.
(and this PC build was to replace the sub-1k build I made in 2011. Again, only changes was a new GPU in 2015 and 2019, both under $200)

PC gaming does not *require* you to spend out the ass, any more than console gaming does.

Then what is the point of going through all the trouble of building such a PC when a console will give you more for only a few dollars more?


I'm not trying to say one is better than the other..they both have pros and cons.

My main point is, a current generation console will give you close to what a top end gaming PC will, for a hell of a lot less, and a whole lot more than a budget PC for around the same price or less, and all the things that used to make people stick with PC, such as graphics, M/K, etc, are all null and void.

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by AROCK!!!:

Then what is the point of going through all the trouble of building a PC when a console will give you more for only a few dollars more?

Different purposes, different types of games, different rooms, etc.

All kinds of reasons why people have both. None of them wrong either.