CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

for some reason, this thought came to me. it seems like everyone here plays consoles only. this includes emulated games. and games on PCs that are discussed are usually oriented on RPGs.

it's just... weird

any explanations why this 'trend' is occuring?

Well I only play PC games (either RPGs, or on the increasinly rare occasions that I can find a good one, adventure games), so I'm probably the odd man out on this. RPGs I can understand at least, since they're more plot based (the better ones anyways) and I expect most people here like scfi/fantasy stories anyways, which is what most of these games are based on. I'm not a big fan of console games personally, as they always seem too "arcade".

I don't think it's a trend really, but many of us seem to have common personal hobbies and tastes, so it's not surprising that the majority of us would be prefer a certian thing over the other - such as console rpgs.

Myself, I have only a couple PC games. Most of the time I find PC games dull, and can I actually feel myself wasting time when I play them. However, I got a huge kick out of Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine, as well as Oni, and Septerra Core. I still love to play Lords of the Realm II. Tachyon is great, and Myst series kept me glued to my computer for a week. Although, at times, I had to walk away before I did something immature and thoughtless .. like picking my monitor up and hurling it out of my second story window ... Myst games can be incredibly frustrating when you don't cheat.

But as for PC rpgs, I just don't see the character development or hooking stories that I get from console games. Not to mention the fact that many of the games coming out now don't agree with my puny video card.

Maybe cause we spend all our money on anime, so we don't have enough money to play PC games and play console games instead, which are much cheaper, overall.

excellent reasonings. they all make sense.

Technomancer : You and I are the odd ones out of here.

Gypsy : there are so many more RPGs on PC that surpass the numbers of excellent RPGs available on console. There's Baulder's Gate 1 and 2, Diablo, Diablo 2, Neverwinter Nights, Ultima series (there's like 12 of them, i lost count ), Everquest (evil ), Heroes of Might and Magic RPG ones... endless really.

just that these days everyone plays FPS on PCs, simply because PC is the only machine that can play FPS well.

Rashiir : actually, that is one of the known reasons. people do have other things to buy than $4000AUS worth of hardware just for games

Still, X-Box didn't even last 6 weeks when it went against the PC market. so PCs still have the 'capability' of all games, all the time.

In the UK console games are much more expensive than pc games. ie usually:

£45 for new console game
£30 for a new pc game

I doubt consoles will ever beat PCs as far as online games are concerned anyway.

Arrgghhh! Diablo (sorry, I couldn't help it, it just seems to represent everything I don't like about the direction gaming seems to be going in). Then again some of the first computer games I ever played were text adventures...

There really are some excellent PC RPG's though that have great story llines (i'll call Diablo an RPG, only for want of a better apellation). Let me think: Fallout 1 and 2, Arcanum, the older Ultima games (I don't like the creeping arcade feel of the later ones though, pandering to console gamers if you ask me ). The new Elder Scrolls looks *really* good too. But really, I'd argue the opposite about character development and story lines. The PC interface allows a lot more depth (not that that means it gets used), because of its greater versatility.

here in Australia, they cost the same for new releases

PC will always reign with games. i guarantee it.

unless you get customisable consoles, but that becomes another thing altogether

im one of the few i know that almost only plays pc games, the only execption would have to be arcade games like time crisis or area 51 both are some of my favs

reason to buy a PS2: DDR
Also: Final Fantasy
I rest my case.

I play Starcraft, but that's about it.

you can play DDR on PC you know.

once upon a time in Korea, there was this enormous DDR rage. every single person out there played it, from 7 year old kids to grandparents. well, not many grandparents play DDR. but hey, you know the point now; everyone played it.

there even was teams and competitions with DDR. that's how crazy it was.

so there's no reason why i couldn't see a PC version of DDR. saw like 5 of those...

but i can't say anything about FF since after all, they are emulated, and emulation is not flawless. unfortunate indeed.

but there is FF8 for PC. i'm sure. and who knows, maybe there are other versions for PC...

reason to buy a PS2: DDR
Also: Final Fantasy

Your aside (FF series) is actually WHY I bought a PS2. I wouldn't have dreamed of getting it if square had JUST RELEASED FFX FOR PC! (In a timel mannor). The whole PC/Console thing boils down to this:
If you don't have any reason for a fast computer, you are better off with a console.
If you HAVE to have the newest computer (or at least a new one every 2-3 years) you are better of with PC games.
If you have an old computer AND no $ for a console, download an old public domain emulator and a few roms. Problem solved.

What? No one here ever played games like the Monkey Island series? I was pretty into adventures from Sierra and LucasArts. Quest for Glory series, Day of the Tentacle, Gabriel Knight, Sam and Max, and 200 other 80's-94 assorted PC games I have in 2 CDs ^^;; (from pac-man to Prince of Persia)

Ooh, Diablo I&II, then American Mcgee's Alice, Blade Runner....

Well, I haven't played PC games since... well... since a long time ^^;;;;

There was a Monkey Island themed easter egg in Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine. Indy turned into the blonde pirate looking guy and instead of his trusty handgun ... you got a bazooka that shot baked chickens to the tune of Caribbean steel drums.

> No one here ever played games like the Monkey Island series?

I sure have! It's the big use for Virtual PC on my Mac, emulating enough of Windows 98 to play Curse of Monkey Island. (I admit I had to resort to walkthroughs for some portions. *hangs head*)

Sam and Max is one of my all-time favourite LucasArts games. So is Full Throttle, which has probably the best voice acting of all of them (especially the gravelly Ben).

Gypsy mentioned Oni and that's excellent, too. And is anyone here besides oldphil and I a Shogo nut? I still need to get the firewall configured so I can blow oldphil's mecha into next week.

DDR for the PC? That'd be nice...

BTW Lorentz, they have DDR tournaments every month around here. But not everyone and their dog plays it....it's mostly kids and teens that play.

Um, anyway, PC games...I have none. Zero. I just don't like them.

The only consoles I play are old ones, NES and SNES. I'm just not much of a gamer I guess...I don't have the money for it really. Too expensive.

Oni is just plain awesome. It was horrible for consoles, though.

Monkey Island is hilarious!!!!! [spoiler=SPOILER]vegetarian cannibals...*snicker*[/spoiler]

...I'm going to go play it. I'm going to play it NOW.

> I was pretty into adventures from Sierra

Heh heh. Go ahead. Laugh. I have actually played (and own for my IIgs) every SQ, PQ, KQ and HQ game. (In fact, I learned to play the theme from SQ on my synth in the same voiced used in every game. heh.

Ahh...Quest for Glory. Now there's a series I could play again and again and never get bored. My favorite game(s) of all-time, actually.

to ShiroiHikari : i meant those 'professional' tournaments where you can win enough to pay your rent for at least a year.

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i can still remember the first 'game' i ever made. this Quiz game. there were two of them too. but they really sucked.

one day, when i can be bothered to find some, i'll play for text games. but these days, i have Deus Ex to play...

and i don't usually play adventure games. just when i have nothing to do.

even wonder how big those can be, especially if you use 'compression' to store all the text? imagine a text game that JUST fits into a 700Mb CD. compressed.

The only games i play for the pc are Strategy games.

imagine a text game that JUST fits into a 700Mb CD. compressed.

Sorta like Linux, where it's just source code that get's compiled later? That's all compressed text too. RH8.0 shipped on 3 CDs and took well over 4 GB for full install. Now THAT'S packaging!

I play a significant number of PC games (more when I had my emulators) I just haven't discussed them here. Plus, as usual, money is an issue. Anyone who's played Myst, play Riven. It's the best game in the series, in my opinion, by far. But Guru might give it a run for it's money...

oldphilosopher wrote:Sorta like Linux, where it's just source code that get's compiled later? That's all compressed text too. RH8.0 shipped on 3 CDs and took well over 4 GB for full install. Now THAT'S packaging!

... Debian...

Up till this past 6 months (less, actually) I played mostly PC games... there are a few things the PC is better suited for.

1) FPS (First Person Shooter) - the Mouse-Keyboard combo is much cleaner (once you learn it) than any game controller. I'm playing Halo on my XBox now, and while it's very playable, it's only so because the game was designed with some "play" in the aiming.

2) RTS (Real Time Strategy) - RTS games tend to be mouse driven. The only RTS I've played on a console has been the N64 version of Command and Conquer which played fine, but it was easier on my PC with the mouse (and # keys for grouping troups).

3) Tycoon/Simulation games - i.e. Rollercoaster Tycoon, Zoo Tycoon, The Sims, Sim Earth, etc. While some of these titles appear (and will continue to appear) on consoles, they all just about demand a PC, both for the mouse-interface as well as trading/customizing parks/cities/rides, etc.

4) Mod-ability - Take just about any game and you'll find some Mods for it (some more than others, Half-Life, Theif series, Unreal). It's just not doable on consoles. Sure, XBox is supposed to support downloadable content with Live, but that doesn't do anything for all the fans who make their own maps/missions.

Frankly I goto EB to get most of my software (that and Walmart). With EB selling used PC software (and lots of older cheaps stuff) I was able to build a large collection of good software, most of which I paid no more than $10-15 for (each)... many under $5! (Theif Gold for $2.99 ).

So, PCs not dead.. however

In fact I got the XBox for the same reason I got a N64. Too many problems meeting system requirements, tweaking, etc. I'd have to throw out my whole system and get a new one to play anything comming out now.

Down the road I'll replace the PC and give a new round of FPS and RTS games a run.. till then it's more arcade style stuff for me (not that it's all that bad).... now if they'd just score some Square stuff we'd be in business

PHIL

Currently I prefer console games but I will play PC games as well if they work right.
FPS games and RTS games tend to work better on a PC.

i believe system requirements is just an excuse, because most good games can just let you turn your requirements down. the minimum setting should allow you to play in the playable 30+ frames per second, without too much loading times, on a Celeron 733Mhz (eek!) machine with GeForce 2.