The Evils of Console-centrism

I find it disappointing that so many enthusiast gamers won't play games on their PCs yet use them to browse the internet every day. I understand that PCs tend to have different types of games on them than consoles but I find it hard to believe that any console gamer can't find at least one genre to love on PC. Of course, the reverse situation exists too with PC gamers who won't touch a console.

This console-centric mindset often results in a distorted view of video game history, where computer gaming and sometimes arcade gaming get undermined. Just look at almost every video game history book. They don't show you the whole picture.

Obviously, I'm not referring to everyone here. I just felt like ranting. It's just a shame that many people own a PC/Mac yet deny themselves the quality games available on it.

in general, they're completely different types of gameplay, I don't see what's so hard to understand.

I love PC gaming.

But I don't love all the extra stuff you have to do to get a game running sometimes.

Unless a game is really good (ie. Deus Ex 2), it isn't worth my time to deal with getting a game running that I'm having problems with.

I don't feel like upgrading my pc just to play games, nor do I feel like downloading patches. This is why I rarely play pc games.

Shakey, I understand that games tend to play differently. But there are "console-ish" games on PC like Heavy Metal FAKK2 that many people won't touch because it's on PC.

LOL, you know you're referring to me.

I don't have any interest in MMO-anything, which seems to be a major draw on PCs, and I'm just not interested in checking requirements, purchasing peripherals, downloading patches and sitting at my desk to play games when I can just pop a disc in my PS2 and be good to go.

I'm not denying that I may be missing out on some great games, but I don't have enough time or money for everything on consoles as it is, and I don't see the point in going through all the PC-related bullshit when I could be having just as much fun in my livingroom.

There have been 2 good (commercial release) video games in the entire history of PC's: Doom and Pirates. If the games aren't those, I'm not interested. :bang:

Now, homebrews are a different story.

I understand not having the money/desire to upgrade a PC but it's not like only recent games are good.

Actually burgundy, I wasn't referring to you at all. I was going to make this topic last night. :)

The only games I've played recently have been CS and Q3, I don't know why but I really hate american RPGs and all RTS games. I played many computer games during the mid-80's to early-90's but found myself becoming disinterested with newer american releases. I played loads of adventure, RPG, and arcade games, but soon got hooked on consoles. I guess its really a style/genre issue as many of the good games on the XBox are sorta PC-like, and I don't own or plan to own an Xbox. The only games I got right now on my PC are emulators for my old systems, abandonware, and ADOM (a rogue-like, text based RPG) I dunno, I just don't like most of the games. I don't think its because of an unfair prejudice, its more of a taste thing.

PC gaming is great, but some of us work all day on computers, and don't find it all that fun to play games on what we typically associate with work. Plus, PCs are expensive to keep up to date, and generally require some tinkering to get anything running in an optimal way.

Some games transcend the PC stigmatism for me though, like pretty much anything by Blizzard. Plus, local multiplay is much more fun with consoles, IMO.