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| PC is a Gaming Platform Too! | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 5 2010, 12:56 AM (1,647 Views) | |
| dj91 | Aug 5 2010, 12:56 AM Post #1 |
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Avid All-Platform Gamer
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Just wondering if you guys, like so many other podcasts, are going to be so wrapped up in talking about all the console systems that you will neglect the PC, which is very much a gaming system. I hope you guys will make mention of the PC in your future podcasts. It would be interesting to here your take on Steam and downloadable PC games which are doing incredibly well at the moment. If anyone else wants All Gen Gamers to remember the PC as just another gaming platform post your feelings below! |
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| cousindave | Aug 5 2010, 01:14 AM Post #2 |
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I have a Mac so I could care less about Windows based games |
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| antnie0425 | Aug 5 2010, 01:53 AM Post #3 |
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I have a mac, but I use steam on my mac to play my games. So I could see them talking about the PC/Mac as gaming machines...Which they are. |
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| TheHBF | Aug 5 2010, 02:03 AM Post #4 |
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I don't consider Personal Computers as gaming platforms but rather as a cheap alternative... a multi- purpose machine that can play games. That's how it should be considered. iPods and Phones can play games but we don't consider them gaming platforms. |
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| dj91 | Aug 5 2010, 02:18 AM Post #5 |
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I disagree. Mainly because the PC was the first true gaming platform. I mean think of all the great classic PC games of the 80s like Baldurs Gate, Ultima, Wing Commander, etc. If not for the PC and the games born on them gaming on console wouldn't be the same as it is today. In fact there wouldn't be any games today because you wouldn't have a machine to program the code behind the games! It was the PC that started gaming and shortly after that Japanese companies decided to make gaming more accessible to families and invented consoles PC has always been considered a gaming platform. I'm not sure which planet you come from, but on ours we have stuff like labels on game boxes marked "PC DVD-ROM", and all major multiplatform gaming magazines and websites, such as Game Informer, Edge, IGN, Gamespot, etc all list PC among the other gaming platforms (and most list the iPhone as well!). What makes the PC so wonderful is its multitasking capabilities PAIRED with its long history of game software engines. And with the rise of platforms such as Steam, PC gaming has really grown mainstream. Quick, cheap and easy downloads and community features incomparable to those on console are what makes the PC stand out in the modern-day gaming scene. I would say you're incredible naive if you don't see the PC as a gaming platform. Several hundred million people, half of China, and all of South Korea disagree with you. Also, have you heard of the term MMO? Edited by dj91, Aug 5 2010, 02:22 AM.
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| dj91 | Aug 5 2010, 03:01 AM Post #6 |
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Avid All-Platform Gamer
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After listening to the podcast props to the guys for at least mentioning PC gaming and also the chat on Starcraft 2. You guys passed my test, haha. Well done. Much respect. |
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| IG9Gaming | Aug 5 2010, 11:05 AM Post #7 |
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Of course PC is a gaming platform and if someone said it isn't is an idiot. But many people that don't know what they are talking about say "PC is a console too" no PC is not a console it's a gaming system but not console and there is a difference between word gaming platform and console but people that don't know that and don't know what are they talking about say it's a console. |
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| TheHBF | Aug 5 2010, 09:30 PM Post #8 |
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Ok let me just say this, I expressed MY opinion the right way without insulting anyone nor being hostile to the subject or to the poster. So as a moderator I believe it's just right to say that the hostile responses in this thread are uncalled for and very immature. Anyway, back on the subject. Ever wondered why PC gaming is a separate category from video gaming? Because a personal computer is a separate entity from the gaming platforms that we all are familiar of. It's true that video gaming got it's roots from early computer games, but they are not the same thing. What is the purpose of a personal computer? Clearly, it's purpose is not entirely for gaming while gaming consoles are meant for gaming. The reason I used the iPod as an example is because it's a similar case, it's a music player with gaming capabilities. If we'll see things like the way you guys do, then that means the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP and DS would count as personal computers too, since they can perform tasks that PCs can do. Do you get what I'm pointing out here? Just because it has the ability to play games, that doesn't mean it counts as a 'console' or a 'gaming platform'. PC gaming and Video gaming are two different cultures and just because the mass media considers it a platform, that doesn't necessarily mean it's true. The mass media considers Barack Obama an African-American even though he's only partly black. If you take a deeper look, there's more to it than the reasons you've mentioned. But again, this is my personal opinion and what I think is true and you can't say I don't know what I'm saying because I have a completely valid reason to believe so. |
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| dj91 | Aug 6 2010, 09:45 AM Post #9 |
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Avid All-Platform Gamer
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1. Consoles ARE becoming more like PCs. The line between console and PC is blurring yearly. 2. It doesn't matter whether a system was built for gaming or not, it matters in what way the platform can be used. PC can be used for gaming very easily and millions of people use it for gaming across the globe (many more people than those who play on console). It's not a weakness that the PC is so versatile, but rather a benefit. It's quite naive and biased to count PCs versatility as a downfall and it's an odd statement you make. 3. You can watch DVDs, play MP3s, run linux, etc. on consoles nowadays. Ever heard of homebrew DS and PSP? Anything can be hacked and modded. So going by your logic, the PS3, 360, Wii, DS and PSP are not gaming consoles anymore... come on now. 4. " Just because it has the ability to play games, that doesn't mean it counts as a 'console' or a 'gaming platform'. What? The term "gaming platform" means nothing more than a platform on which you can play games! That means mobile phones, iphones, PCs, etc! They are gaming platforms (not consoles). They may not be as popular as PS3, 360 and Wii but they still have a gaming market on them and dedicated games developers and publishers! 5. I agree that PC gaming and console gaming are two different cultures. But I believe, because they are both hardcore gaming platforms, they can coexist, and they do coexist! And with the rise of Steam the PC gaming culture has become similar to the 360 and PS3 with achievements, friends lists and easy to download and install games. 6. Once again, all major multiplatform magazines and websites consider PC (and the iPhone in most cases) as a gaming platform. And that's really the end of the story. The GAMES media calls it a platform. Everyone calls it a platform . And it's been a platform longer than any console. |
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| StarMasamune | Aug 6 2010, 09:50 PM Post #10 |
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*Glances at All-Time favourite games list and sees Cave Story* The PC is a console in it's own right, and some of the best games I've ever played have been on it. I agree with hoping to include the PC, and indeed all older computers like the Atari and Amiga getting some attention in the Podcast. |
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| Griffolian | Aug 8 2010, 10:12 AM Post #11 |
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You have Steam now. |
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| ChrnoIV | Aug 8 2010, 11:54 AM Post #12 |
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Of course it is. Amiga > Commadore > DOS > Windows A 'platform' is ANYTHING that can play a video game. |
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| dj91 | Aug 10 2010, 09:09 AM Post #13 |
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Avid All-Platform Gamer
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This just in: gaming PC sales last year outsell total sales of the three consoles combined. http://news.filefront.com/report-shows-annual-pc-hardware-sales-doubling-console-sales/ Edited by dj91, Aug 10 2010, 09:10 AM.
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| Rubius | Aug 10 2010, 10:37 PM Post #14 |
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I think that PC Gaming is still alive because of Steam. Steam is the one who help little Indie Devs, create community, mods, achievements, sales. They really help for the PC. |
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| Hawat | Aug 12 2010, 09:22 AM Post #15 |
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Personally I love both, however, some PC gamers I know would see consoles as a cheap alternative to a gaming PC.
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| hooflung128 | Aug 13 2010, 02:31 AM Post #16 |
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TheHBF, opinions can be wrong when you dismiss reason. Personal Computers have been playing games since the beginning. Also, technology has pushed console makers into adopting a PC technology strategy. Consoles used to be PC's. Remember the Atari ST and the Atari XE? The Amiga? The Commodore 64? The Color Computer 3? These were the gaming platforms of the 80s in the US and Europe while in Japan people were pushing MSX computers. Consoles started to take a different path due to securing revenue streams through license lock-in. Computers never stopped playing games, and lets be real one moment. There are far more PC games than any set top console and all the hand helds combined. The difference is that gamers who chose consoles had a different cost to buy-in to the market. PC's are far more hands on, and far more diverse an ecosystem. So the market is fragmented much more than which brand of game console to choose. But PC games are far more diverse and some games are solely geared for the PC input methods. Some games, like Flash games and other browser based games are only available to the PC. Consoles used the same programming models with less and less actual assembly language code as the generations move forward. In the NES days, you have tons of assembly language mixed in with some C. These days you have a ton of C, and then if you need speed in some areas you write in assembly for those areas. Hell, most of the Indy games use DirectX 9 on the Xbox and the OpenGL ES on the PS3, they don't deal with bare metal language. For that you must get a non-indy development kit. So the PC is absolutely a gaming platform. And to think phones and pads are not emerging as gaming platforms are very short sighted. The only difference usually is in input method. They are all decedents of the PC no matter how mobile they are. Even the NEC, NES and Sega systems were cousins in actual chips used. Phones these days even use versions of the desktop operating systems. There is nothing new under the sun. Edited by hooflung128, Aug 13 2010, 02:34 AM.
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| TheGamingPhilosopher | Aug 23 2010, 06:51 PM Post #17 |
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The Gaming Philosopher
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Yes, the PC is definitely a gaming platform. Starcraft II is my favourite game of the year so far and I think it would be absurd to claim that the system I'm using to play the game is not a gaming platform. |
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| max330 | Sep 4 2010, 12:11 AM Post #18 |
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I found this interesting. With today's technology, there is no doubt that PC's are a gaming platform.....but to me, this wasn't true in the early days. I'm talking about with 286, 386, 486 and Pentiums. Bare in mind, personal computers were not toys, and were comparitively expensive. Plug and play was not the norm at all. PCs were a hobby in themselves, for me, I just always had bad luck with them at that time and stuck with the consoles when it came to gaming. |
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| Sinderopen | Sep 4 2010, 09:03 PM Post #19 |
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PC games should be counted as games but the PC isnt a game console in my opinion
Edited by Sinderopen, Sep 4 2010, 09:04 PM.
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| igo | Sep 6 2010, 08:16 AM Post #20 |
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New User
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It's a device that plays games. It is in the same category as: ipod touch/ iphone / ipad / cell phones. Just because some people will by these devices and never play games on them. There are still some great PC exclusives tho. And tons of good indie games (some that are out for years before they make it to the xbox indie marketplace). There is tons of good history for PC gaming too (since it spans so many years). I think you should have the guy from "lazy game reviews" as a guest. He is the man for classic PC knowledge. http://www.youtube.com/user/phreakindee?feature=chclk |
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| triverse | Sep 14 2010, 09:40 PM Post #21 |
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PC's are a gaming platform, as stated before, at one point during the 80's they were quite the forerunner for gaming (around the gaming crash for instance). The biggest thing that people use to dismiss PC's as gaming platforms is the input (mouse and keyboard and not necessarily a controller) or the fact that PC's run other applications such as word processing applications and such. Let's look at both of those points for a second. The input, PC's keyboard and mouse/consoles predominately controllers. You can buy controllers for PC's and play games that way if you wish, though, many genres just work better with a keyboard and a mouse (unless you started on a console and have gotten used to that control scheme). There have been keyboards and mice for consoles throughout history. The SNES had a mouse thanks to Mario Paint, the Genesis had a mouse too (though I believe that was mainly a Japanese release, I do remember there being one for Genesis in the US). Saturn had an adapter for a PS/2 keyboard but no official keyboard for use with the Netlink. Dreamcast had a mouse and keyboard available. PS2 and PS3 have had little "mini" clip onto the controller keyboards released for them. With those options having been available, would you consider any of those consoles no longer consoles because they had a keyboard of one kind or another available? The keyboard option not being packed in is in the same vein as saying PC's aren't gaming platforms because the joystick is not sold with the system. Saying PC's aren't gaming platforms due to being able to run other applications than just games is also a mute point. Since the Atari, consoles have been able to run applications other than games (there is a rather useless BASIC cartridge available for the 2600 for instance). The NES had various art cartridges (and in Japan did a lot more than just drawing or basic animation with licensed characters), the SNES and Genesis had Mario Paint and others "games" and so on. There were various connectivity options for these systems to interact with other systems in one form or another (Atari 2600 had a basic dial up game download service that was to be released up to the newer consoles being able to access the Internet, or dumbed down versions of it thanks to the console manufacturer controlling access). Would this make the consoles that had these additional options no longer gaming platforms? To me, PC's will always be a viable gaming platform, may not be the forerunner at the time, bust still a gaming platform. Same thing for iPhone/iPod Touches, they have some interesting games on those types of devices too. Just because the control scheme is different than the majority system doesn't mean it is not a gaming platform. |
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| HenryBlazer20 | Sep 17 2010, 08:38 PM Post #22 |
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HenryBlazer
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I only play WoW on the pc. I also run MAME on it. Last game i tried on my pc was Assassin's creed..and that was a huge mistake because it lagged like a mofo oh, and i beat bioshock (1st one) on the comp I much prefer console games. |
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| Nophix | Sep 18 2010, 08:26 AM Post #23 |
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Being someone who has been into computers since, well, a long time ago (I had a Commodore 64 my parents bought for me brand new), and having worked in IT for years, I can tell you, PC is most definitely a gaming platform. The only reason that consoles are becoming more mainstream than a good gaming machine is because they are finally up to the level of performance as a moderate PC. Think about the days of old games. When you wanted the best possible graphical experience, you didn't go to Nintendo, you went to a PC. Consoles made gaming accessible for the many people who couldn't own or operate a PC. Even over the last decade, PC has been the platform of choice for serious gamers, right up until the latest set of hardware. The PS3 and 360 finally brought in the PC experience, to a point. But, the PC still has some major advantages. Parts can be upgraded one at a time to improve performance, and the software can be written to take advantage of it right away while not phasing out the older systems. Take Crysis. That game is a monster that would bring both current gen consoles to their knees on full settings. But, I could also play it on a res'ed down version on an older PC. My wife's current laptop, however, will play it at full res just fine, and is it ever awesome! PC is still a very viable platform, and anyone who thinks it's dead or "not a gaming platform" really should do a little more research. |
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| max330 | Sep 18 2010, 08:15 PM Post #24 |
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Think about the days of old games. When you wanted the best possible graphical experience, you didn't go to Nintendo, you went to a PC. Consoles made gaming accessible for the many people who couldn't own or operate a PC I can remember back to 1988. I was hot on role playing games, so the PC seemed like the place to be. But think about those games. (Ultima, the SSI Dungeons and Dragons line up etc.) Phantasy Star 1 came out on the 8bit Sega Master System, the graphics blew the latest PC rival out of the water! |
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