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PC vs. Console: Difference between revisions
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* Console gamers cite ease-of-use, larger communities, simple control scheme with the controller (sometimes [[Waggle|unusual]]), the ability to resell/buy used games (let's not get into the [[Internet Backdraft]] on ''that'' subject in this page), game stability, and easier local multiplayer, such as split screen.
Naturally, this results in many a [[Flame War]] on the web, not to mention high levels of [[Fan Dumb]]. To PC gamers, console gamers are either twelve year olds screaming obscenities into the microphone or a bunch of skill-less, obnoxious, and unintelligent frat boy dirty peasants, who couldn't even type their own name into a computer, both of which completely unwilling to play any game not [[Rated "M" for Money]]. According to console gamers, PC gamers are elitist, stuck-up geeks with no life that consider themselves the glorious master race and who live in their [[Basement Dweller|mom's basement.]] Unfortunately, magazines only reinforce these stereotypes, making gamers who play both or even exclusively one to yell "[[Stop Being Stereotypical]]" every time they read the next issue of their gaming magazines.
One thing that's almost never mentioned is the developer's point of view. Consoles are easier to develop for because every single version of that console has (or should have; hard drive size will vary) the exact same hardware and firmware; it's much easier to tailor the game to the platform, and to push the platform to its limits. Meanwhile, the PC world doesn't ''have'' standardized hardware; you might be running one of three operating systems<ref>Windows, Mac OS or Linux. For a long time, Windows was pretty much the default gaming OS, but this is starting to break down now that more publishers and developers are serving Mac OS and Linux as well.</ref>, two manufacturers' style of graphics cards<ref>AMD Radeon vs Nvidia</ref>, two manufacturers' style of ''CPU''<ref>Intel vs AMD</ref>, and God only knows what amount of hard drive space and RAM. And to be popular, your game needs to be accessible to as many of these options as possible. Part of the reason that games like ''[[Trespasser]]'' and ''[[Ultima IX]]'' flopped was because most computers then available could not run them without melting down; likewise, part of the charm of games like ''[[League of Legends]]'', ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', and pretty much all indie games in general is that you ''don't'' have to upgrade your computer to run them -- you could run them on lower-to-mid-end computers. It was part of what pushed ''[[Sins of a Solar Empire]]'' up, because they targeted the ''low'' end of the spectrum. (And yes, there is ''[[Crysis (Video Game)|Crysis]]'', the [[Trope Codifier]] for the [[Tech Demo Game]]. It's an exception to the rule.) This actually allows for greater accessibility in a format where developers push for the top. PC game developers ''already'' have to develop their games the way console developers would develop a third party game.
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[[Category:Videogame Culture]]
[[Category:PC Vs Console]]
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