Drawbacks to PC Gaming

[Evastio]

So besides the big amount of money needed to constantly upgrade your computer for gaming, what other drawbacks are there to PC Gaming?

Keep in mind I'm not very familiar with PC Gaming, which is why I'm asking.

[Pike]

Installation time and possible related issues, poor ports (we seem to wind up with poor console -> PC ports more often than the other way around). Some people think PC games are less plug and play than console games are, which is a fair assessment, though personally I feel it's a matter of taste.

Some people also feel that console games are "comfier" because you're more likely to play them on a couch; me, I use the same chair for both console and PC gaming so it makes no difference to me.

I can't think of too many other major drawbacks. Also I feel like I am not "constantly upgrading my computer", personally - once every five years maybe :)

[Roogle]

The biggest issue that I can think of when it comes to the drawbacks of PC gaming has to do with the cost associated with it.

I had a poor computer for several years and I recently replaced it with a computer that has near top specifications for this generation. All in all, it probably cost about $1500 in parts to put together with several hundred additional dollars going into peripheral devices like monitors and so on.

The initial cost associated with it is much higher than buying an Xbox 360 or something like that.

[Freya]

Besides things like patching for MMO's or download times for those games you get off steam or wherever, there's not too much draw back. Depends on the game too. Such as Battlefield 3, it's way harder to fly a plane in the PC than the console but to overcome this just have a usb controller to use when you fly!

[Pike]

The biggest issue that I can think of when it comes to the drawbacks of PC gaming has to do with the cost associated with it.

I had a poor computer for several years and I recently replaced it with a computer that has near top specifications for this generation. All in all, it probably cost about $1500 in parts to put together with several hundred additional dollars going into peripheral devices like monitors and so on.

The initial cost associated with it is much higher than buying an Xbox 360 or something like that.

For me the cost is offset by the fact that I'd have a computer anyway, whether I gamed on it or not. My current setup is pretty much top-of-the-line and I built it for $900. That's only a couple hundred more than I'd drop on a decent non-gaming computer. So a gaming computer actually works out to be slightly cheaper than a regular computer + a console.

That might just be me, though. And I usually have at least one console anyway, so. xD

[Aulayna]

The initial setup cost of a PC is quite pricey but then you can do a lot more with your PC than you can with your consoles. I spent around 750 euro on mine about 3 years ago and it still has no issue running the latest games smoothly. Plus you have more control over the performance too.

When the new consoles come out there will likely be a bit of expenditure to get a better graphics card but that's about it. Honestly a decent custom built rig designed for what you need it for will last you a good 4-5 years (even longer if you can deal with not having all the settings on max on the latest games) and then the cost of upgrading bits of it on demand is no more expensive than having to buy a replacement console. PC gaming is a lot cheaper and accessible these days compared to what it was as little as 10 years ago.

[Del Murder]

The biggest drawbacks for me are threefold:

Cost - This has already been explained by others. Yes, you do get a PC that can be used for other things out of the deal but personally I don't like sitting at a PC and browsing online. I usually do that from a laptop or tablet, which aren't really great for hardcore gaming. So for me a PC would strictly be a gaming device and therefore the initial cost is more than a console.

Convenience - A lot of this stuff is minor. A console is more plug and play, but these days not really by much. There's also the aspect of the console being a 'complete' product that doesn't require you to do anything else to it, while a PC may need some maintenance, upgrading and knowledge of what's in it. I like putting the disc in my system and then playing it on my couch a minute later, which you can do on PC with some effort, but I hate effort.

Exclusives - This goes with selecting any console, you'll only have the games that are released for it. There's no Mario, Zelda, Halo, Uncharted, FF, etc. for PC. There are many PC exclusives for sure. It just depends on your gaming tastes. I've always loved the Sony and Nintendo exclusives which is why I stick with those systems.

[edczxcvbnm]

Drawbacks? The only one I can think of is really missing out on some exclusives.

My PC was middle of the road 3-4 years ago when I built it. Core i5, Radeon 5770, 1TB HDD. Under $750. This is more than a console but I was going to buy a PC anyway so the hit really isn't that bad considering I would be spending close to this anyway.

I have no problems with backwards compatibility. There is a much better thriving indie scene on PC. Steam sales! I sit on my couch and play games on my TV with my 360 controller. The mods...my god the mods!

Yeah... Exclusives is the only draw back.

[Madame Adequate]

Relatively poor selection of certain genres, for example JRPGs and platformers. This usually gets overcome by ports, though as Pike said there's a tendency for PC ports to be a bit shoddy, and can also be overcome by emulation.

PC is the only platform where people seem willing to release completely broken games. Not with some bugs or something, but flat out broken, do not do what they're supposed to.

Several large PC publishers have a massive hardon for insane DRM systems, because they seem to think that inconveniencing paying customers will encourage pirates to become paying customers.

[NeoCracker]

The games I play rarely show up on PC. That's pretty much it for drawbacks for me. :p

[Polnareff]

Relatively poor selection of certain genres, for example JRPGs and platformers. This usually gets overcome by ports, though as Pike said there's a tendency for PC ports to be a bit shoddy, and can also be overcome by emulation.

PC is the only platform where people seem willing to release completely broken games. Not with some bugs or something, but flat out broken, do not do what they're supposed to.

Several large PC publishers have a massive hardon for insane DRM systems, because they seem to think that inconveniencing paying customers will encourage pirates to become paying customers.

These, plus the fact that some newer games (and even some fairly recent ones that didn't just come out) require insane specs to play. Look at the Crysis games. You'll get screwed over wanting to play those unless your PC is completely and totally top-of-the-line. PC is the only gaming rig I can think of where not having good enough specs can effectively lock you out of games you may wanna play.

[Bolivar]

No big drawbacks, really, just minor headaches and even then, it's nothing that a little Googling can't fix, such as learning which ports to forward or what lines of the config file to edit.

I totally agree with the premise that I first saw Vivi post a long time ago, that if you add up what you'd pay for a PC and what you'd pay for a console, the cost of a gaming pc isn't that bad. When you factor in what you'll pay for games, it's not even close. Game prices on Steam are utterly ridiculous compared to console, and Amazon's even cheaper.

I don't think the generational transition will be all that painful this time around. Xbox One games will run off a total 5GB DDR3, and that's not bad at all to build even right now. Sure, you'll want a little more ram for everything else, but that's dirt cheap. And with architecture being so similar, I don't see why all the crazy optimization techniques console titles receive won't necessarily translate to the PC version. Compatibility will continue to be an issue, but still...

[Formalhaut]

Patches can sometimes be annoying I guess, but even then Consoles now have those 'system updates' that take forever. Pretty much everything else has been said by others.

[Slothy]

These, plus the fact that some newer games (and even some fairly recent ones that didn't just come out) require insane specs to play. Look at the Crysis games. You'll get screwed over wanting to play those unless your PC is completely and totally top-of-the-line. PC is the only gaming rig I can think of where not having good enough specs can effectively lock you out of games you may wanna play.

The Crysis games aren't really the go to standard for high spec games anymore. Sure, the original required a beast of a system to run at the maximum settings in its day, but even the recommended specs for either game are so low that a decent gaming rig from even five years ago could run them both at pretty high settings. If we expand things to today's average rig they'd run those titles no sweat.

Hell, even some of the true monsters of today like Metro or Battlefield 3 will at least run on five year old or more gaming rigs.


Game prices on Steam are utterly ridiculous compared to console, and Amazon's even cheaper.

Indeed. I've seen games brand new to a few months old go on sale at absurd rates like 50% off before. Even bigger titles like Skyrim have had insane deals really soon after release. And for older stuff? Forget about it. I just bought all of the Allen Wake stuff for $4.00 (90% off the regular price). If you want your games cheap, PC is a good platform to game on.

[Del Murder]

I guess if you buy a lot of games it makes up for it in the long run.

[Madame Adequate]

My computer's pretty old (eight or so years) and something of a Frankenstein's monster of various parts ripped out and stuffed back in due to parts dying etc., but even it can run most modern games pretty well. I'm not going to play Skryim on the highest settings or anything and I'd like it to run certain games like Victoria 2 faster, so I am looking around at getting a whole new rig soon, but this idea that you have to spend insane money upgrading every year or you can't play anything is complete poppycock.

[Slothy]

I guess if you buy a lot of games it makes up for it in the long run.

What do you mean if?

[Del Murder]

I only buy the games I have time to play. :p

[Slothy]

Then get more time in the day. No excuses!

[escobert]

I hardly ever sped all that much upgrading my PC. I see no issues with PC gaming!

[Laddy]

I would say the biggest drawback is it's a little lacking in some genres, particularly Sports and JRPG's. So if you want a lot of a particular game genre, best to check if the PC carries a lot of it.

Even then, I'd say this is a relatively minor drawback, as services like GoG and Steam allows for a good thirty or so years worth of games that's at your fingertips if you know what you're doing. Also, PC is the undisputed king console for WRPG's, Strategy, Simulation, and MMO's as well. Not to mention the ability to mod certain games, which consoles are unfriendly for.

So, if you can deal with the cost, have a bit of time, and aren't viewing the PC as just another console, a PC could potentially be the most satisfying gaming investment of your life.

[escobert]

But you can always emulate old consoles for JRPGs :p I do agree about the sports however.

[Laddy]

Yeah, emulation is another huge advantage to PC, amazed I didn't mention it.

[krissy]

hard to watch porn when you're playing something that only runs full screen

[Laddy]

If you have Baldur's Gate II you don't need porn.

[Pete for President]

I've never been a PC gamer, but I'm becoming tempted. Cheating holds me back though. PC gamers, what's your experience in online cheaters?

I know from YouTube the Dark Souls PC version has a lot of hackers/cheaters compared to the consoles. How is that with other games?

[Mirage]

Cost is not a drawback, because you don't have to go overboards just to play a game. It annoys me to no end when some people insist on buying components for over 1500 dollars to play games and then complain about the price, when the games they play would have run at a computer that cost half of that, and still perform and look better than they do on consoles.

If you don't complain about the graphics on your console games, why do you need a computer that plays them in twice the resolution, twice the framerate and a ton of extra graphical detail?

In either case, the drawbacks of PC gaming, for me, is that some genres aren't well represented, and that compatibility isn't always 100% perfect. A console game is almost guaranteed to work the same on all (non-defective) consoles, PC games are still quite a bit away from this level of compatibility.

Also, like Pike already said, I already have a desktop PC (because laptops just don't have enough space and power!) to use for non-gaming purposes. The parts in my computer that make it able to play all the newest games costs less than a PS3 does. Even upgrading my PC to play the newest games in even better graphics won't cost me more than a PS3, and it is about two years since i bought my current graphics card. Of course, I don't actually *need* to get a new graphics card, because I play all the new games in a lot better quality than on consoles already. I just want to play them even better cause I am a graphics whore and the PC gives me the flexibility to feed that addiction.

[Shoeberto]

Some people also feel that console games are "comfier" because you're more likely to play them on a couch; me, I use the same chair for both console and PC gaming so it makes no difference to me.
Really that's even easily avoided these days. My current PC setup is in my living room on my TV (I think it's like 42"?). I have a wireless kb+m from Logitech that works great and are super comfy, plus a wireless 360 controller. I started back around September with this setup and have played Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Black Mesa, Fallout: New Vegas, Bioshock 2, Rayman: Origins, Bastion, Braid, and currently Kingdom Hearts and Skyrim on it. My fiancee, who really isn't at all a hardcore gamer, has loved playing the old games with the controller. Plus it makes it way easy to catch up on TV since we can do Netflix, basic Hulu (no Plus required on the PC), and channels like Fox/CBS/NBC's streaming. And if we can't find what we want on those, well...

Also it should be noted that I built my PC first back in 2008 and spent ~$900. I've upgraded components but, really, I didn't need to. For example, I swapped out my dual-SLI GeForce 9800s (from the original build) for a 560 (or something) about a year ago. My 9800s worked fine, I just had also bought a new 3D monitor and needed more power to play Skyrim on high with 3D. I had also just started a new job and had more money than sense.

The biggest problem with PC gaming, as I see it, is that your computer isn't a toaster. A console works like a toaster. When you turn it on, you know what to expect. You don't have to tweak settings, you don't have to know how the parts work, you don't have to buy any special dongles, it just works. A PC is not a toaster. If you build one, you need to know at least at a rudimentary level what you're doing. And it requires some maintenance. But if you get past the initial hurdles, it's really quite worth it for the sheer versatility, despite the occasional headaches.

[escobert]

hard to watch porn when you're playing something that only runs full screen

duel screens!

[Mirage]

Let's D-D-D-D-Duel!

[Værn]

So besides the big amount of money needed to constantly upgrade your computer for gaming...
I'll have you know that I assembled my computer five years ago for less than the cost of a PS3 and it's still perfectly capable of running recently-released games.
The only thing I've had to buy for it in those five years is a replacement power supply - which the local computer repair shop owner sold me for half its listed price on Newegg, and tossed in a free copy of COD4 with the condition that I show up at a LAN party the following weekend.

I probably should replace this thing at some point. I don't see how it can be considered any more of a drawback, though, than upgrading from one generation of a console to the next. In fact, I'd say it's more of a drawback on the consoles' side. It's not absolutely necessary to upgrade a PC in order to play new games, and a new PC will be capable of running every game that you had for your old PC.

[Madame Adequate]

I've never been a PC gamer, but I'm becoming tempted. Cheating holds me back though. PC gamers, what's your experience in online cheaters?

I know from YouTube the Dark Souls PC version has a lot of hackers/cheaters compared to the consoles. How is that with other games?

I can't remember the last time I even came across a cheater in an online game. Years ago when I played a lot of Counterstrike, I think? I don't know.

It's not a problem.

[Slothy]

It's not a problem.

Agreed. I've witnissed maybe a half dozen cases of people actually hacking across all of the multiplayer games I play in the last six or seven years. It always blows my mind when people claim hackers are running rampant in the games I play because I never see them. I suspect there's some confirmation bias going on.

[Shoeberto]

It's not a problem.

Agreed. I've witnissed maybe a half dozen cases of people actually hacking across all of the multiplayer games I play in the last six or seven years. It always blows my mind when people claim hackers are running rampant in the games I play because I never see them. I suspect there's some confirmation bias going on.
I'm not sure I've even run into any since playing Diablo 2 in like 2003 or older shooters (UT, Q3, etc) and the odd few on CS1.6. With VAC bans it's just not worth it. I'm pretty sure you lose your whole Steam account if you get banned (or at least can't play it online anymore).

I've gotten my ass handed to me a lot in CS: GO due to AWPers, which I consider cheating, but that's mostly a personal preference...

[Pike]

Yep, other than the occasional WoW bot I haven't seen online "cheaters" in forever.

[escobert]

It's really not a big deal. there was a little bit when people were fly hacking in WvW in GW2 so they could just fly literally around the map. But usually must bugs and hacks are taken care of pretty quickly in PC games.

[Bolivar]

I think most hacking is more subtle than that, though. I've never seen anything blatantly game-breaking in the 160hrs I've played of Black Ops II, but they've been swinging the ban hammer left and right on that game.

That said, I've seen much more openly game-breaking hacking on console than I have PC this generation.

[escobert]

yes mostly I've encounted like aimbot or wall hacks in FPS's. But everyone going crazy in the early weeks of WvW with people flying around stealing the orb was hilarious.

[Slothy]

Honestly, if someone is using such a subtle hack that you don't even notice it in game then it's probably not an issue/they really really suck.