Sunday, Aug 2, 2009
We who pledge our allegiance to the mighty personal computer have a good reason for it: we already have the best games available to us. At least in our opinion. Why buy another system to play inferior versions of the same games? Yes, there are many cases where the porting of a console game to PC was done by a bunch of apes dancing samba on a keyboard but such titles are easily ignored with short shrugs and ignorant statements such as ''that game sucks anyway''.
Of course there are plenty of quality exclusives, such as Killzone 2, infamous, Metal Gear Solid 4, BlazBlue, Fable 2 and many, many others, but everyone (including me) doesn't feel like investing in a console such as Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 to pay $60 for a single game, or considerably more in case you live outside the United States. Not to mention the costs of a HDTV and a sound system - horrible built-in flat panel screen speakers just don't cut it if you want the 'true HD experience'.
By now I must have plenty of console gamers breathing down my neck for underrating their system of choice so much. Just like you might prefer the hassle-free console experience, we are ready to spend time tweaking our games and systems to get the most out of what we have. I even enjoy the hours long tinkering to some extent and I'm certainly not alone.
It's not that I don't want to play on 360 or PS3, I just don't have the time or money to do so. A gaming PC isn't as expensive as some people make it to be but games cost, even if they are often half cheaper on PC. I might save $20 or so when I buy the PC version of a multiplatform game but in the end I save nothing because I still use the same amount of money on games, I just buy more of them and spend even more of my precious time gaming.
But I believe that no so-called hardcore gamer can call himself a true aficionado if they only game on one system, whether that system is a 360, a PC or an iPhone. There is so much singleplatform users are missing. I don't care too much if a game is 10 or 20 hours long, as long as the time I spend playing is quality time. I want the most and the widest variety of experiences. Once I'm done with the singleplayer campaign of a game, I'm done with it and move on to a new gaming experience.
When choosing a console to go with my PC, I have to choose carefully because I only a limited amount of time and money. Whether you like it or not, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 more or less emulate a media center PC and with the huge amount of multiplatform games, the differences between console and computer games are becoming less and less visible. Plug in a 360 controller to your PC and you won't even notice the difference. So why invest in a console when we have already spent time and money on our gaming rigs which in our opinion offer the superior experience?
Fortunately Nintendo does things differently. Rather than following the mass, Nintendo has made the mass follow them. As much as ''current-gen hardcore gamers'' seem to loathe Nintendo, I very much have to give them credit for what they've done. The Wii might not have the best or the most games out there, but what they've created is something you can't experience on any other system; unique control scheme (resulting in unique games) and Nintendo's own game development studios, arguably the best in the business.
What does it matter if Wii doesn't have as many quality titles as the other two consoles, I don't even have the time to play every PC game I want. Super Mario Galaxy, Smash Bros. and Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 are enough to keep me busy when I don't feel like playing on PC. After being a happy Wii owner for two years I decided to purchase their even larger success story, the DS. And I can say that I don't regret it one bit. Neither Wii nor DS try to compete with graphical prowess, forcing developers to come up with unique game ideas to stand out of the crowd, rather than developing lite versions of console games. And the risks are low thanks to low budgets.
Even if I have a gaming PC capable of producing marvelous 1080p graphics, I know that graphics don't make a game. I still play old games because many cIassics simply are that good. I'm currently working on Arcanum, which was released eight years ago and still is better than any WRPG I've played in the past year. And for example Secret of Monkey Island is still just as good as it was 20 years ago.
The World Ends With You, Boom Blox and Rhythm Heaven might not look like much but they are an absolute joy to play. Same goes with the rest of weird-looking ''kiddy'' games on Nintendo systems. Don't let the looks fool you. If you are a PC gamer, grab a Nintendo console or two. Wii is the worst choice for a singleplatform gamer but Wii and DS are fantastic choices for a secondary system. And that goes for everyone.
The weirdest thing of all, as soon as I start a round of Wii Sports, my friends suddenly find it cool that I'm a gamer. I never got that kind of response when I tried to show how awesome Bloody-Killing-Massacre 3 is.
Of course there are plenty of quality exclusives, such as Killzone 2, infamous, Metal Gear Solid 4, BlazBlue, Fable 2 and many, many others, but everyone (including me) doesn't feel like investing in a console such as Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 to pay $60 for a single game, or considerably more in case you live outside the United States. Not to mention the costs of a HDTV and a sound system - horrible built-in flat panel screen speakers just don't cut it if you want the 'true HD experience'.
By now I must have plenty of console gamers breathing down my neck for underrating their system of choice so much. Just like you might prefer the hassle-free console experience, we are ready to spend time tweaking our games and systems to get the most out of what we have. I even enjoy the hours long tinkering to some extent and I'm certainly not alone.
It's not that I don't want to play on 360 or PS3, I just don't have the time or money to do so. A gaming PC isn't as expensive as some people make it to be but games cost, even if they are often half cheaper on PC. I might save $20 or so when I buy the PC version of a multiplatform game but in the end I save nothing because I still use the same amount of money on games, I just buy more of them and spend even more of my precious time gaming.
But I believe that no so-called hardcore gamer can call himself a true aficionado if they only game on one system, whether that system is a 360, a PC or an iPhone. There is so much singleplatform users are missing. I don't care too much if a game is 10 or 20 hours long, as long as the time I spend playing is quality time. I want the most and the widest variety of experiences. Once I'm done with the singleplayer campaign of a game, I'm done with it and move on to a new gaming experience.
When choosing a console to go with my PC, I have to choose carefully because I only a limited amount of time and money. Whether you like it or not, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 more or less emulate a media center PC and with the huge amount of multiplatform games, the differences between console and computer games are becoming less and less visible. Plug in a 360 controller to your PC and you won't even notice the difference. So why invest in a console when we have already spent time and money on our gaming rigs which in our opinion offer the superior experience?
Fortunately Nintendo does things differently. Rather than following the mass, Nintendo has made the mass follow them. As much as ''current-gen hardcore gamers'' seem to loathe Nintendo, I very much have to give them credit for what they've done. The Wii might not have the best or the most games out there, but what they've created is something you can't experience on any other system; unique control scheme (resulting in unique games) and Nintendo's own game development studios, arguably the best in the business.
What does it matter if Wii doesn't have as many quality titles as the other two consoles, I don't even have the time to play every PC game I want. Super Mario Galaxy, Smash Bros. and Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 are enough to keep me busy when I don't feel like playing on PC. After being a happy Wii owner for two years I decided to purchase their even larger success story, the DS. And I can say that I don't regret it one bit. Neither Wii nor DS try to compete with graphical prowess, forcing developers to come up with unique game ideas to stand out of the crowd, rather than developing lite versions of console games. And the risks are low thanks to low budgets.
Even if I have a gaming PC capable of producing marvelous 1080p graphics, I know that graphics don't make a game. I still play old games because many cIassics simply are that good. I'm currently working on Arcanum, which was released eight years ago and still is better than any WRPG I've played in the past year. And for example Secret of Monkey Island is still just as good as it was 20 years ago.
The World Ends With You, Boom Blox and Rhythm Heaven might not look like much but they are an absolute joy to play. Same goes with the rest of weird-looking ''kiddy'' games on Nintendo systems. Don't let the looks fool you. If you are a PC gamer, grab a Nintendo console or two. Wii is the worst choice for a singleplatform gamer but Wii and DS are fantastic choices for a secondary system. And that goes for everyone.
The weirdest thing of all, as soon as I start a round of Wii Sports, my friends suddenly find it cool that I'm a gamer. I never got that kind of response when I tried to show how awesome Bloody-Killing-Massacre 3 is.
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Posted Aug 2, 2009 6:09 am PT
Like I said in the blog, you are missing a lot.
Posted Aug 2, 2009 6:14 am PT
I've never really liked to play non-strategy games on PC, so I just play on the consoles. Especially on that Nintendo 64.
Posted Aug 2, 2009 6:57 am PT
It's also nice to see another Wii owner on this site
The Wii might not have the biggest library of great games, but the great games it does have give you an experience you can't find anywhere else. You just can't find games like Super Mario Galaxy, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, Super Paper Mario, etc on any other platform.
The Wii might not have the biggest library of great games, but the great games it does have give you an experience you can't find anywhere else. You just can't find games like Super Mario Galaxy, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, Super Paper Mario, etc on any other platform.
Posted Aug 2, 2009 7:07 am PT
Loved the N64 and the Gamecube, hated the Wii. The DS though, is an absolute handheld gaming heaven. Chose it over the PSP, and damn, I was right.
Posted Aug 2, 2009 8:07 am PT
Another convert! Welcome to the fold, fellow happy DS owner. 
And The World Ends With You is an outstanding RPG. Please tell me you agree the soundtrack is perfect for the settings and characters?
And The World Ends With You is an outstanding RPG. Please tell me you agree the soundtrack is perfect for the settings and characters?
Posted Aug 2, 2009 9:02 am PT
The soundtrack is superb. Didn't think they could fit something like that on the DS cartridge.
Posted Aug 2, 2009 9:05 am PT
I found that the 360 compliments my PC just as the Xbox did before it. The Wii might provide a different experience, but what does that matter when the games (and its control scheme) simply don't appeal to me at all?
Posted Aug 2, 2009 10:29 am PT
I love my DS, not sure I'll buy a Wii though. I was a PC gamer for 10 years before making the switch and it was mostly for convenience, I was getting tired of upgrading and just wanted to plug something in. I'm very happy with the results and I feel no huge pull to investment in a gaming rig again. If I had the extra cash I would, but I'm saving for a new kayak. I know what I'm giving up in the process though.
@ChiliDragon - You got that right, awesome soundtrack... Neko got on my nerves in the beginning (not another angst ridden spiky haired jerk with an attitude problem!) but he comes around. TWEWY is my favorite DS game, even ranks up there for my favorite game period on any system this year.
@ChiliDragon - You got that right, awesome soundtrack... Neko got on my nerves in the beginning (not another angst ridden spiky haired jerk with an attitude problem!) but he comes around. TWEWY is my favorite DS game, even ranks up there for my favorite game period on any system this year.
Posted Aug 2, 2009 12:12 pm PT
uh you don't need a wii to run wii games.
Posted Aug 2, 2009 1:10 pm PT
@polsci1503
I have TWEWY on my Top-5 list of RPGs of all time, just for the characters and character development. See, the thing is, unlike when they are combat-hardened veterans graduating from a military academy, but instead go to malls, use cell phones, and worry about school... the angsty-teen concept actually works. Because unlike nearly every other Squear Enix RPG, the ones in this game were real teenagers, and not just whiny 16-year olds.
Neko's growth from spkiy-haired jerk to far more mature and friendly is one of the better points in the game.
I have TWEWY on my Top-5 list of RPGs of all time, just for the characters and character development. See, the thing is, unlike when they are combat-hardened veterans graduating from a military academy, but instead go to malls, use cell phones, and worry about school... the angsty-teen concept actually works. Because unlike nearly every other Squear Enix RPG, the ones in this game were real teenagers, and not just whiny 16-year olds.
Neko's growth from spkiy-haired jerk to far more mature and friendly is one of the better points in the game.
Posted Aug 2, 2009 2:42 pm PT
The HD obsession on consoles is hilarious. There's a five year (possibly older) cheap-come-with-PC monitor here that can do 720P. Woohoo! :rolleyes:
I lived fine with just a wii for a year or two and until then there seriously were only 2 or 3 games I had much interest in on 360, and 5-10 on wii. I decided to go niche this gen!
However I cannot live without MGS! Thank God for Singapore and the time just before the economic crash.
I lived fine with just a wii for a year or two and until then there seriously were only 2 or 3 games I had much interest in on 360, and 5-10 on wii. I decided to go niche this gen!
Posted Aug 2, 2009 7:30 pm PT
I own everything except for handhelds but I generally agree with most of the things you say. Sticking to on platform means missing out on a lot of other things
Posted Aug 2, 2009 7:37 pm PT
@RK-Mara
Some good points, though I think you underrate the issues of compatibility, patching and ease of use that pop on on PC versions of games. I agree to an extent with your comments, but my feeling is that there are just some exclusive console games that are too good to be missed. Similarly, there are some where I just enjoy being able to sit back on the couch with my surround sound and huge TV to enjoy. It comes down, I think, to affordability and prioritizing. To those who can afford consoles in addition to a top gaming PC...then why not?
Some good points, though I think you underrate the issues of compatibility, patching and ease of use that pop on on PC versions of games. I agree to an extent with your comments, but my feeling is that there are just some exclusive console games that are too good to be missed. Similarly, there are some where I just enjoy being able to sit back on the couch with my surround sound and huge TV to enjoy. It comes down, I think, to affordability and prioritizing. To those who can afford consoles in addition to a top gaming PC...then why not?
Posted Aug 6, 2009 10:45 am PT
Like you said jim, it comes down to prioritizing. I'd love to own a PS3, but with my time and money? I don't think so. There are plenty of problems you need to deal with as a PC gamer but that's something I've grown used to.
Posted Aug 7, 2009 2:03 am PT
Hi RK. Hope you are doing well. Just dropping in to say hi. Seems like forever since I have seen you around.
Posted Oct 26, 2009 1:19 pm PT
I've usually had the privilege of owning all or most consoles in any given generation but the PC will always remain my one true love. Still, I couldn't imagine being PC-only either. Like you said, that would mean missing out on a lot.
Though I play with my Wii (yes I do) very rarely, one cannot help but see the brilliance with Nintendo's design. Though I hope they'd leverage that brilliance more often, instead of drowning us in casual mass market shovelware and endless Mario spin-offs.
Though I play with my Wii (yes I do) very rarely, one cannot help but see the brilliance with Nintendo's design. Though I hope they'd leverage that brilliance more often, instead of drowning us in casual mass market shovelware and endless Mario spin-offs.
Posted Nov 21, 2009 2:16 pm PT
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