Dying platform?

[PipeDream92]

Intro (Not necessary to read)
Basically, all my life I grew up with PC games, my parents would never actually buy me say a Xbox or Playstation or Gameboy, because...well, you probably all know the main reasons, as well as the fact that I spent enough time on the computer as it was. I slowly evolved from a youngster who just enjoyed playing online, on sites such as addictinggames or newgrounds, into an avid PC gamer. Now, as much as I do enjoy playing xbox or playstation at friends' houses, I can't help but feel as though they are completely pointless consoles...

Main (Should read, and if at any point you see that I'm wrong, please correct me cause I'm going on general knowledge here)
Now, the reason I believe that playstation and xbox are completely pointless gimmicks (so I guess there IS a point, $$$), is that to my knowledge every game available to play on Xbox, playstation, whatever console, is originally made on the computer (or at least most of them), which means that every game (even the xbox or playstation exclusive ones) could simply just be released for PC, and everyone could at this point be used to gaming on the PC. So basically, the xbox and playstation were created simply so that gamers can spend their money buying a new xbox (im just gonna say xbox from hereon out) and $70 games for it, as opposed to just upgrade their PC.

Questions (Have to read in order to reply properly)
So firstly, my question is, who here agrees that while non PC consoles are maybe useful for those without computer experience, and also fun to play, they are overall unnecessary (I like to think of them as appendages torn from the computer and sold at an inconvenient price)

Next part, is that when playing with my friends on their consoles, we often discuss the difference between Xbox and PS3 (don't worry, that's not what this is about). During these discussions, it almost always occurs that the topic of PC gaming slips it's way in (usually caused by me), and what I usually end up having to hear is that "Well yeah, it's sick that you play your games on a system which allows you to play games AND go online easily, watch videos, etc... (not that xbox and ps3 don't let you these days, but not as efficiently), but the PC Community is dying, compared to the way that Xbox and PS3 are thriving"

So lastly, my question is, do you guys agree that PC Gaming/Community is on it's downfall?

(End, read and please follow)
When replying, please state whether your more of a PC Gamer/Xbox&Playstation, and try to provide reasoning to back up your answer.
Thank you for your opinions, and please be respectful

[Cardiac Kid]

If you expect me to write an essay for my answer, you are on some form of drug.

That being said, I would say I am more of a PC gamer. To answer your question, I don't think PC gaming is on its downfall. I myself happen to know quite a few people (not from here) that still play PC games. It's all just personal preference. Some older people think that consoles are way harder to play, so they don't play them.

[Exoskeleton]

.................

I'm a playstation gamer mostly but I do have PC games... I wouldn't say that the PC gaming industry is on it's downfall. There is always going to be a need for PC's so they'll most likely stick around more.

In my eyes gaming systems are just portable and more compact versions of PC's. You can't drag a PC everywhere. PC games are just as big as console games. Its just that the PC community is not as hyped...

sorry my response couldn't be bigger. I'm on my PS3 XD

[Cyberdelius]

Glorious PC Gaming Master Race here.

PC gaming, while not what it once was, will always be better. It's not opinion that games look and preform better on PC's, it's fact. PC's, no matter what the current age of gaming, will always have higher capabilities than consoles.

Case and point: Crysis

A game made in 2007 still looks better than FFXIII, Uncharted 2, and everything else that consoles have. And with community fan made graphics packs, it's made to look even better.

When it comes to PC games, you also have to look at the fact that mods exist. Most of these are fanmade, and exist to enhance the pleasure you can get from a game. I know back when I played Morrowind on the PC, the game took up about a gig, after I modded it with extra content and extra graphics packs, the game took up about 25 gigs.

Even today, I can still pull massive amounts of enjoyment out of that game.

Something that I can't say about any console exclusive game. Save for maybe Wind Waker, but I can play that on my PC now through emulators.

EDIT: Also, with that being said. My PC can actually play Wind Waker and it looks better than it does on the console, because I can mod that shit to run in High Quality.

[The Illusive Man]

PC gaming has had its ups and downs through the years, but the main case and point stands.

It will never die because games cannot be developed without PC's!

The pretty graphics for CGI, the animation, the musical score, EVERYTHING for a game is made through programming tools and the like all through the PC.

The PC will always have its exclusive titles, things that consoles just cannot accomidate such as MMORPG's like the upcoming Star Wars title, games that require monstrous amounts of power and so much space, it would be litterally impossible for them to fit it onto a console!

Has it seen a decline? Certainly
Will it die? Not for a very very long time to come.

[PipeDream92]

thanks all for the replies, glad to see you all are on my side and no, i do not expect you guys to write equally long answers (for anyone else who may comment on this), this was actually the longest post i've ever written

[Sum1sgruj]

To be able to play most games that require the speed and technology of an Xbox or PS3, you need an Alienware computer or something equivalent, which will end up more than the price of a console. (Though I will say that the current consoles are already outdated by PC's)
Nonetheless, games are partially to blame. For example,, FF would never have had to switch to the playstation if nintendo had had more space on their cartridges. That's when FF7 was released. It also came out on the PC. FF8 went the same way, but Square didn't make enough profit from the PC versions and stopped after that.
Personally, I think that the PC community has gotten a little smaller, but the demand and popularity of the current consoles dwarfs it, making it seem even less_

[Cyberdelius]

To be able to play most games that require the speed and technology of an Xbox or PS3, you need an Alienware computer or something equivalent,

Not necessarily true. I have an old computer with a pentium 4 processor (3ghz) that can easily run games like Oblivion (that are released on consoles and PC) with graphics on high with no problems.

The current gen of consoles were already outdated by PC's upon their release.

Essentially, if you can't afford a good PC, or you want to play the console exclusive games, go with a console. If you want a better graphical performance, and you have cash to throw around, buy a PC.

Everything has their ups and downs, but when it comes to performance, PC trumps all.

[The Illusive Man]

A major factor of PC's is also that you can upgrade them overtime as opposed to having to buy a whole new console everytime the latest one is released, admittedly technology moves quite fast and if you want to keep at the front of the pack, its going to cost you a LOT of money.

The Majority of us are quite happy to upgrade over time and stick with what we have for a good few years before a major upgrade, which tbh one PC processor can easily last several console lifetimes.

[Sum1sgruj]

Not necessarily true. I have an old computer with a pentium 4 processor (3ghz) that can easily run games like Oblivion (that are released on consoles and PC) with graphics on high with no problems.

True, but look at the downside,, the thing with fast processors is that they require heating, power, graphic cards, etc. to cope. Having many different games on one pc means bending the frame-rate, frame-buffers, and so on constantly,, which causes memory lag and instability after long time use. That's why Microsoft took so long to make the Xbox more stable, because their original expertise wasnt in gaming technology.
'Gaming PC's' are the way to go if you want to cut out consoles.