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KneeJERK reaction "Master race"
12 years ago
KneeJERK topic of the week is brought to you by:
PC elitists.
They annoy the hell outta me.
To be clear: I like PC. I think it's awesome. Fuck yeah Steam, Fuck yeah settings and modding, fuck yeah mouse controls, fuck yeah inexpensive upgrading prices, fuck yeah point and click adventures, etc. etc. etc.
But then there's console experiences. They are made to be enjoyed a certain way. I fucking love those console games.
To completely stand by PC as "superior" due to it's "tech" ...is to side with tech and capability as a definition of "better". However... to do so is to forget or neglect the importance of the actual experience that the software provides. the artistic value. The game's worth.
It's true that the PC can be played on the big screen, with controllers... (which is pretty awesome I might add) .... but Can a PC play all games that ever existed...legitimately? if so, perhaps I can nod and agree that PC is mostly superior. But that only addresses one thing.
There's something PC enthusiasts seem to forget, or fail to fathom altogether ... Not everyone likes to tinker. A PC is a tinker machine. You get a game, and you dive into your graphics card, you toggle a few options, you set your controls, you update certain things, etc.... But a lot of people are never in the mood for any of that. Some of us enjoy being able to pop in a disk, flick a switch, and immediately dive into the game itself. Either approach deserves respect and space.
PC enthusiasts have every right to enjoy their PC experience. It fits their play style, it gives them more, etc. But PC enthusiasts become so unattractive and obnoxious the moment they push their preference.... it's just like any hipster wanting the world to know all about their "good taste". Just like any religion that assumes the world is lacking without their god or special set of values.
It really rubs me the wrong way... hearing that PC master race spiel.... over ....and over... and over again.
It bugs because after a certain point, it starts to feel like they're trying to convince themselves... or perhaps it becomes more like a noise... a mating call... a caw, or a neigh, or a squeak.
PC is pretty awesome. But quite often I just want to hold a controller and play The Last of Us, or Metroid Prime, or Dark souls. Maybe I want to enjoy something exactly the way a developer intended. Giving me all the options in the world does not automatically make an experience better.
Can PC do all of those with a controller? Perhaps. Probably yes. I tried dark souls on my PC. it was a mess to fix, and ultimately failed to work for me... it was a steam sale purchase thankfully... but this is the type of thing that plenty of console enthusiasts want to avoid altogether. It's perfectly understandable. I don't have the time or energy or nerd cred to get my PC to dance like that. It aint for everyone.
These days, I use my computer to draw... not much else.
I do not want to start flame wars, but I am interested in learning more about how others feel.
Inflammatory comments are fine as long as their negativity is directed at me. No fighting bickering or squabbling among each other, okay? We're adults.
PC elitists.
They annoy the hell outta me.
To be clear: I like PC. I think it's awesome. Fuck yeah Steam, Fuck yeah settings and modding, fuck yeah mouse controls, fuck yeah inexpensive upgrading prices, fuck yeah point and click adventures, etc. etc. etc.
But then there's console experiences. They are made to be enjoyed a certain way. I fucking love those console games.
To completely stand by PC as "superior" due to it's "tech" ...is to side with tech and capability as a definition of "better". However... to do so is to forget or neglect the importance of the actual experience that the software provides. the artistic value. The game's worth.
It's true that the PC can be played on the big screen, with controllers... (which is pretty awesome I might add) .... but Can a PC play all games that ever existed...legitimately? if so, perhaps I can nod and agree that PC is mostly superior. But that only addresses one thing.
There's something PC enthusiasts seem to forget, or fail to fathom altogether ... Not everyone likes to tinker. A PC is a tinker machine. You get a game, and you dive into your graphics card, you toggle a few options, you set your controls, you update certain things, etc.... But a lot of people are never in the mood for any of that. Some of us enjoy being able to pop in a disk, flick a switch, and immediately dive into the game itself. Either approach deserves respect and space.
PC enthusiasts have every right to enjoy their PC experience. It fits their play style, it gives them more, etc. But PC enthusiasts become so unattractive and obnoxious the moment they push their preference.... it's just like any hipster wanting the world to know all about their "good taste". Just like any religion that assumes the world is lacking without their god or special set of values.
It really rubs me the wrong way... hearing that PC master race spiel.... over ....and over... and over again.
It bugs because after a certain point, it starts to feel like they're trying to convince themselves... or perhaps it becomes more like a noise... a mating call... a caw, or a neigh, or a squeak.
PC is pretty awesome. But quite often I just want to hold a controller and play The Last of Us, or Metroid Prime, or Dark souls. Maybe I want to enjoy something exactly the way a developer intended. Giving me all the options in the world does not automatically make an experience better.
Can PC do all of those with a controller? Perhaps. Probably yes. I tried dark souls on my PC. it was a mess to fix, and ultimately failed to work for me... it was a steam sale purchase thankfully... but this is the type of thing that plenty of console enthusiasts want to avoid altogether. It's perfectly understandable. I don't have the time or energy or nerd cred to get my PC to dance like that. It aint for everyone.
These days, I use my computer to draw... not much else.
I do not want to start flame wars, but I am interested in learning more about how others feel.
Inflammatory comments are fine as long as their negativity is directed at me. No fighting bickering or squabbling among each other, okay? We're adults.
Also, the internet and skype is the reason why I sometimes draw on paper, and often why I play games on a console...it's just too distracting sometimes. Games are where I go to be alone. Like books. In addition, I typically much prefer local multiplayer. or no multiplayer.
But that makes sense. PC gaming suits your needs. The point is to understand that it does not suit everyone's needs.
game consoles are computers, too -- they're just set up to be special-purpose machines, rather than general-purpose appliances.
one of my favorite bits of computer lore involves the history of the Commodore Amiga -- that it was born from what was to be a gaming system.
it turned out that this would-have-been gaming console made an excellent general-purpose machine that still has a strong following,
and was years ahead of other PCs in audio and visual prowess.
I'm mainly talking about PC players who feel the world is wasting their time with consoles... the ones who completely disregard and ignore that other people have different tastes and game needs.
My PC has my steam library as well as being a multimedia device for movies, tv, music etc.
My consoles serve as living room, relaxed gaming and local multiplayer systems
Hell still have my old n64, gamecube and ps2 hooked up to a small TV in my room if I want to play some old games again.
I get as annoyed at the "master race" stuff as you do it seems and just makes me roll my eyes, the way some of them act they are just as bad as the console people they look down on
There's just so much out there I think I'd miss if I locked myself to one system
yes.
It's like choosing to only read books by only one author... Which would be weird... but fine.... if they didn't brag or claim literature superiority xD
Whenever I go to a gaming article, I always see one of the following:
"Nintendo is doomed."
"Vita port please."
or
"Would be so much better at 1080p/60fps on a pc"
And it's just like what you said.
It gets so annoying and just makes me wanna roll my eyes into my sockets and just ... gah. lol
I play games out in my living room when I wanna focus/concentrate, or just relax.
For some reason, gaming on the PC just makes me feel like I'm wasting my time on something...
I guess it's because I see a browser button staring at me, telling me "hey, TVTropes/Wikipedia/some other highly addictive website wants you to visit", or my messenger programs going off all the time.
I mean yeah, I can just not sign in or open my browsers, but the constant temptation to use the internet makes focusing on gaming kind of un-fun.
So yeah, PC works for me, but there's other valid options out there for a variety of preferences.
I really like the plug-and-play aspect of game consoles and handhelds, particularly cartridge-based ones. Quick startup if I'm just passing time for a bit.
I have an awesome computer, but the console experience feels better when games are developed for the consoles first then ported over to the PC.
However, this is just my feelings and we'll see how it holds up with the architecture of gen 8.
Not everyone is caught up with the series.
DURP
I'll generally get a game on PC if I can, since I like having higher framerates and/or quality. And in general, it's pretty much a problem-free experience. I just install it on Steam, run it, maybe change the resolution... and I'm done.
I find the patching experience and generally crummy framerates to make the console experience worse. But I still own all of them, because I want my exclusives. And I'll never get Nintendo games on a PC without emulation.
It's my preferred platform, but why stick to one when you can have 'em all?
And yeah. I can understand if some PC people simply prefer the PC to play on. even to the point of not having consoles at all. There's a vast difference between preference, and sense of preference superiority.
Honestly, most console to PC ports haven't had their requirements go up in a long time. They've been held back by consoles for some time now, so a mid-range PC has been able to play games at comparable or better settings for years. You can't play everything on (very) high on a mid-range PC, but what you can play on will usually look better or at least run at 60FPS. lol
Drivers? certain ones are a pain in the ass to manage and install. require some amount of trial and error. Cause my computer to bluescreen. etc. What if my PC is 4 years old? Some people (like me) wouldn't even know what needs upgrading, let alone where and what to unplug and replace.
I like my playable console exclusives. I like how they're not poorly ported to PC or ran off an emulator. But it's true, if someone is PC savvy to the point where installing drivers, emulators, and knowing how to upgrade their PC without any issue, then yes. PC can be "better" for said individual.
For the rest of us, it's just a headache to deal with at that level. Some of us are perfectly content playing "what the companies allow"
Sometimes PC's are a headache. Usually they are just a challenge.
you do not need to defend the PC. I've already stated that it has it's merits.
Consoles work just fine for a lot of people. Both have their pros and cons.
But seriously, you've made your point. and in doing so, have reinforced exactly what I was saying from the start.
This is getting a little silly. You almost sound threatened.
PC has it's merits, including the ones you have so clearly illustrated for us today. But consoles offer a lot for people too. Exclusivity and overall simplicity seems to win a lot of appreciation. Including mine. That's just how it is.
Consoles and PC are both pretty sweet for videogames. both offering different things for different people...
um...deal with it?
When developing a game for the PC, you have almost limitless resources. The boon here is that you can create something stunning and fantastic from a tech standpoint given time and funding, however the return will be limited by the people who have the hardware powerful enough to run it (Crysis 1, anybody?)
Consoles actually promote tech innovation BECAUSE they have a fixed hardware set. To ensure longevity, developers have to find new ways to tackle technical problems and squeeze every ounce of power out of the machine as possible. Consoles have a slight advantage when compared to a PC of equal specs due to a console not having nearly as much operational overhead that the average PC does. It actually takes really a step forward in PC hardware to really stand up to a consoles performance, but this only pertains to the early stages of its life cycle. Eventually, console hardware will fall behind the rapidly advancing PC hardware, and the gap grows rather quickly with time.
But this all pertains to technology. In a console, the tech is fixed, which gives developers an equal playing field. A game will run on one xbox precisely the same as another whereas a PC game may run slightly different on one rig compared to another due to differences in hardware, firmware, drivers, etc.
One constant thing I have noticed since the PS1 era is this: Consoles will drive innovation in gameplay and development techniques and will continue to do so until the hardware starts to lag far enough behind, at which point people who are able to use both tend to move back to the PC until the next generation comes along and proves it is more capable for a better value at the time. Eventually, it will follow the same path.
PC gaming is more difficult to get into due to cost and complexity of configuration, but the end result can and will be both more and less rewarding. With the standardization of 360 controllers being compatible with PCs (and PS3 controllers with some help), the barrier of extending the innovation from console to PC is getting thinner and thinner. This is why Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are injecting new functionality into their consoles so they don't just become over glorified computers (Sony made this mistake with the PS3 of saying it would replace the computer and it took quite some time for them to realize their error).
Overall, we are seeing something of a convergence of PC and console systems. Consoles already have hard drive upgrades (hell the N64 had expandable RAM). I wouldn't be surprised to see the two grow even closer together in the next two generations.
Strictly speaking, there is no "master race" of gaming platforms. Each comes with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. But in the end, each drives the other to some extent. However, something that NEEDS to happen is for developers to not let one limit the other. Given the similarity to PC hardware in the Xbox One and PS4, shoddy ports should be a thing of the past. Well, hopefully, anyway.
tl;dr: It's not that I worship PCs; it's that I curse consoles.
-Cant be obtained legitimately on PC
-Is not on a console I already own
-Plays best on that console (like Dark Souls)
The wii is a perfect example. It's given me years of service and quality entertainment. I have around 20 games for it that are simply not available for any other console unless I emulate them.
In addition, I too see a vast difference between my playstyle compared with someone who strongly prefers PC... I simply don't play videogames that much period.
PC might be suitable for harder core gaming...but really, I feel like it's better suited for people who have way more hours to invest on entertainment than I do.
So yes. buying a 600 dollar console for ONE game is plain ridiculous, and I fully agree...if that's the scenario, PASS on the console. but that's never the case with me.
I'm just surprised my brick of a NES is still around after my x-Box red ringed......
PC games used to have a lot more depth before consoles like the 360 and PS3 came along and held back gaming for a whole 7 years.
Now everything is designed around a controller with 6 buttons.
This is my main gripe about consoles.
We've had 7 years of stagnating game design due to console limitations and outdated hardware.
Nobody's making decent space sim, point&click adventure games, etc, anymore because these are unplayable on consoles. It's all japanese RPG clones, FPS generic cover box generators, and bad arcade racers.
I enjoy the hell out of games like Shadow of the Colossus HD for the PS3 and The Last of Us... I really don't consider those as examples of "held back" design.
Not every game needs to be keyboard controlled. Sometimes simplicity can be a good thing. What you find to be dumbed down, I find to be elegant and streamlined. There's a time and a place for super complicated and deep keyboard controlled experiences, and it's a shame that market has had a bit of a drought. But I wouldn't go as far as to say that consoles are holding game design back.
Anyone that cannot enjoy playing a game, regardless of what system it is on, is just not a real gamer.
xD PC owners who refuse to touch handhelds based on PC love principles must be really ridiculous if they do exist.
There are a lot of good sides to PC gaming but for me the bad outweighs them:
- I hate having to spend ridiculous amounts of time adjusting settings to try to get the game to play well. (Settings that I really do not understand.)
-- I hate having to juggle quality Vs performance.
- Similarly and obviously connected is a dislike of upgrading my PC cause it's just so damn complicated and expensive.
-- Elitists go on about it being less than a console but given the lifespan of consoles and having to keep upgrading parts over that time to keep up with the best new games offer paints a different picture. Especially considering throughout that time games are optimised to what the consoles have but PC's don't seem to bother with optimising at all.
- I have never been able to have a setup where mouse and keyboard controls were comfortable.
-- This goes both for the controls and for physical setup, having to only play short periods due to discomfort is frustrating.
-- Even if a PC game supports control pads they are rarely ever optimised for them so the gameplay suffers.
Again, this isn't meant to bash PC's. I do play games on them now and then when there's no alternative but for me PC's are for programmed, some social and videos. Consoles are for gaming cause that's what they are designed for [though they are starting to lose sight of that.]
Consoles allow you to trade your games, let friends borrow them, for example, whereas most PC games are locked to a single account where you cannot ever get rid of it. Consoles also allow you to bring people together in front of one TV for a game, which is pretty much impossible to do. The last time our whole family was over at our house for Christmas, we all played SFIV, just taking turns wailing on each other on one screen. It's pretty hard to do that on PC without a hell of a lot of work beforehand.
Bottom line is they both have pros and cons, and neither is clearly superior to the other.
Personally I prefer the PC because modding is one of my favorite things ever, most of the games I buy are DRM free so I can make all the backups I want, and because I find the mouse to be the superior pointing implement which I will take over a controller with thumb sticks every time.
But you know what? That's just me. Other people feel differently which is totally cool.
There is no need to be upset.
PS:
Sorry, had to hide my first attempt at this comment due to fuckered-uped tag formatting.
To say "I find the mouse and keyboard superior" is not at all inaccurate....WHEN applied to a certain kind of game. RTS, FPS, etc. are very much improved with a mouse and keyboard. there's no denying that.
Superior pointing implement" is indeed "better" when you're applying them to the types of games. But I imagine that "superior pointing implement" doesn't really work too well for titles like The Last of Us, or Bayonetta, Mario, etc. Not all games are improved with more inputs. There's a certain elegant simplicity with well designed controller games. This is not the case 100% of the time, but it certainly works well often enough.
it's totally okay to prefer either setup or game type etc.
But it's dumb when that preference is considered "superior" without any consideration to other game and play styles...and it's stated and declared to the point where some need to express it ad nauseam .... I experience people like this both online and offline. What can I say? dumb statements annoy me.
It's not dumb to have a strict preference. But credibility and respect go out the window pretty fast when certain closed minded statements are made. I often think we can be past this stage of childish fanboyism... but it's painfully obvious a lot of people out there aren't.
Eventually, you're spending another 600-1000 or so bucks to upgrade the PC wholesale or get a new one, it will become obsolete. If anything I think consoles made the industry focus on something other than graphics, which is ironic given that was originally a console boast and the best old PC games look awful.
The console standardization helped a lot, even though people in the industry were pulling their hair out over the hardware restrictions imposed by the machines for like a decade.
PC clearly has advantages, not just in hardware, but for one of my favorites, RTS games. Nothing but hotkeys and mice work well for that.
I really do prefer consoles for stuff like FPSs, just because while it's a little harder to aim, most people are on a more even playing field. Hacking is harder, and while connections vary greatly, the hardware will be more or less equal for all players.
I feel kinda dumb for latching on to that as a plus for the PC side even though the whole article was anti PC elitism. Goes to show , always do your research.
So there's even LESS reason PC elitists should be that way, as far as price goes... go figure.
As for the PC Master Race.. Yeah, Think back to when the current generation of consoles were newer, all you heard was 'PC gaming is dying! HA-HA!! Console über alles!!' from the Console Master Race. And you'll probably see it again once the new console gen rolls out. Everything has their elitists; you get the same arguments between different consoles and different kinds of computer.
Because something has become so simple and second nature for someone, does not mean it is no longer a chore for someone else.
Maybe I've just been lucky, but I can't speak for other people's experiances.