The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Are we better at console games than we are at PC games?!
I will explain.
We all have PC’s well those who are reading this will have and all of us on here have consoles. We have all tried PC games and console games, and for me console games I feel are not easier, but I’m better at them. I have, an, ok PC, and it will run certain games pretty well like GTA2 and I thought this game was loads of fun, even on the PC. I am pretty good at it, but this is only because of the easy controls.
I feel that I don’t have as much freedom with my PC as I do with my N64. For one, the PC is not in my room making me uncomfortable, well I don’t mean it like that uncomfortable I mean it in a different way, I would rather the PC was in my room but because its half my sisters she would, lets just say not be happy about it.
If the PC was moved into my room, I may play better? I think I would, but only marginally. I think that PC games have too many bleedin’ buttons. Leaving you to choose the not so nice keyboard or get a £50+ control pad that isn’t that good anyway and you find out you have to play one handed because there is not enough buttons on your “New” control pad.
PC games makers obviously use the keyboard to test out their games but they must have a certain favourite “Pad” for them to enjoy the game fully. I personally think they should have a recommended pad on the side of the box, but if that happened you will soon have an empty wallet and piles of controllers cluttering up your desktop, more like your house. Imagine have about 20 pads, 10 steering wheels.. I will be quiet now.
Basically PC companies build their controls around the keyboard, making the set-up all rather boring, and having to make you use extra arms, which you don’t have, or another person to play with you, which you also don’t have or they wouldn’t want to so the only one left is you. You have to sit there breaking your hands trying to get to that so much needed key or have the manual stitched to your arm for quick reference.
So maybe they should bundle a free “Good” Game pad with 50+ buttons that plays most games with ease :o)
With many PC games these days you have to use 2 hands, minimum. One for controlling the mouse, and one for walking, opening door, using items, and the map :o)
With consoles, you have to use 2 hands, but they are moulded into such a nice control, you don’t have to reach for that button anymore, you don’t have to keep on putting the mouse back on the mouse pad losing you valuable seconds, which in these super fast games is critical.
Why is this I wonder? Well… The console has a control pad already with it, although you can buy slightly different ones, which are not official they still have the same button layout, and the same shape. This makes games easier to play.
This is because console games are made AROUND the control, not the other way around. Aha! PC controls are made AROUND the game.
Complicated?
I have spent 10 mins looking at that sentence and only just realised how silly it sounds. READ IT, again, and again, and you will soon understand. But, PC controllers have to be made for all types of games, so they can’t be as specialised as you would like them to be.
I mean, the N64 lets say, has a pretty good control. Games, are made around the control so the game can’t have any extra buttons because there would be no space on the pad, thus, making the game easier to play. Making it more specialised.
PC games are being released all the time, with different controls. Different numbers of buttons and so forth. So the controls that are made have account for many types of games.
If you try to configure your PC game with your control you will always find that you have extra buttons left over that you can’t put on your control pad because the buttons are already filled up with “Necessary” actions.
Console controls CANNOT be customised, this is a good thing most of the time. The companies give you a set of buttons and a few different choices but that’s it. You have to learn them yourself. Thus, making the game easier to play.
The PC has to account for many other things besides games, like writing this for example. If I didn’t have a keyboard I would still be on the first word :o) but still, you aren’t MADE to buy ONE control are you? You can buy your own, one that you want.
There is another thing that makes me play well. Being in my room. My N64 is in my room I like it there. Its my own personal space. I like it. If the PC was in my room would I play better? Probably not, because of the controls.
So if you are finding a PC game hard to play don’t worry, it’s the controls :o)
Thanks for reading
GasMask
I will explain.
We all have PC’s well those who are reading this will have and all of us on here have consoles. We have all tried PC games and console games, and for me console games I feel are not easier, but I’m better at them. I have, an, ok PC, and it will run certain games pretty well like GTA2 and I thought this game was loads of fun, even on the PC. I am pretty good at it, but this is only because of the easy controls.
I feel that I don’t have as much freedom with my PC as I do with my N64. For one, the PC is not in my room making me uncomfortable, well I don’t mean it like that uncomfortable I mean it in a different way, I would rather the PC was in my room but because its half my sisters she would, lets just say not be happy about it.
If the PC was moved into my room, I may play better? I think I would, but only marginally. I think that PC games have too many bleedin’ buttons. Leaving you to choose the not so nice keyboard or get a £50+ control pad that isn’t that good anyway and you find out you have to play one handed because there is not enough buttons on your “New” control pad.
PC games makers obviously use the keyboard to test out their games but they must have a certain favourite “Pad” for them to enjoy the game fully. I personally think they should have a recommended pad on the side of the box, but if that happened you will soon have an empty wallet and piles of controllers cluttering up your desktop, more like your house. Imagine have about 20 pads, 10 steering wheels.. I will be quiet now.
Basically PC companies build their controls around the keyboard, making the set-up all rather boring, and having to make you use extra arms, which you don’t have, or another person to play with you, which you also don’t have or they wouldn’t want to so the only one left is you. You have to sit there breaking your hands trying to get to that so much needed key or have the manual stitched to your arm for quick reference.
So maybe they should bundle a free “Good” Game pad with 50+ buttons that plays most games with ease :o)
With many PC games these days you have to use 2 hands, minimum. One for controlling the mouse, and one for walking, opening door, using items, and the map :o)
With consoles, you have to use 2 hands, but they are moulded into such a nice control, you don’t have to reach for that button anymore, you don’t have to keep on putting the mouse back on the mouse pad losing you valuable seconds, which in these super fast games is critical.
Why is this I wonder? Well… The console has a control pad already with it, although you can buy slightly different ones, which are not official they still have the same button layout, and the same shape. This makes games easier to play.
This is because console games are made AROUND the control, not the other way around. Aha! PC controls are made AROUND the game.
Complicated?
I have spent 10 mins looking at that sentence and only just realised how silly it sounds. READ IT, again, and again, and you will soon understand. But, PC controllers have to be made for all types of games, so they can’t be as specialised as you would like them to be.
I mean, the N64 lets say, has a pretty good control. Games, are made around the control so the game can’t have any extra buttons because there would be no space on the pad, thus, making the game easier to play. Making it more specialised.
PC games are being released all the time, with different controls. Different numbers of buttons and so forth. So the controls that are made have account for many types of games.
If you try to configure your PC game with your control you will always find that you have extra buttons left over that you can’t put on your control pad because the buttons are already filled up with “Necessary” actions.
Console controls CANNOT be customised, this is a good thing most of the time. The companies give you a set of buttons and a few different choices but that’s it. You have to learn them yourself. Thus, making the game easier to play.
The PC has to account for many other things besides games, like writing this for example. If I didn’t have a keyboard I would still be on the first word :o) but still, you aren’t MADE to buy ONE control are you? You can buy your own, one that you want.
There is another thing that makes me play well. Being in my room. My N64 is in my room I like it there. Its my own personal space. I like it. If the PC was in my room would I play better? Probably not, because of the controls.
So if you are finding a PC game hard to play don’t worry, it’s the controls :o)
Thanks for reading
GasMask
Page:
it depends on the game your playing, what control systems suits best, plus personal preference.
I prefer the PC keyboard and mouse for many games, mainly flight sim/combat FPS and stratagy, but for racing, car games i' go with the console.
It's nice to have the choice when a game comes out on both platforms, I wouldn't get Red faction for the PS2 as I think i'd find the aiming inacurate, but maybe I'm bais for playing FPS since the wolfenstien and doom days.
I prefer the PC keyboard and mouse for many games, mainly flight sim/combat FPS and stratagy, but for racing, car games i' go with the console.
It's nice to have the choice when a game comes out on both platforms, I wouldn't get Red faction for the PS2 as I think i'd find the aiming inacurate, but maybe I'm bais for playing FPS since the wolfenstien and doom days.
Thanks MJ.
And Venom
I would agree with you also, It is probably better overall but you have to get a good mouse, and a good layout. Then spend many frustrating hours trying to get to grips with the thing.
A 3d stick is much easier but I would say its a little slower than using a mouse. If you like programming your own layout then fair do's. I just don't like hassle :o)
I mean after buying about 20 upgrades trying to even run te game then I have to configure the controls! Nah :oP Leave it to the experts.
And Venom
I would agree with you also, It is probably better overall but you have to get a good mouse, and a good layout. Then spend many frustrating hours trying to get to grips with the thing.
A 3d stick is much easier but I would say its a little slower than using a mouse. If you like programming your own layout then fair do's. I just don't like hassle :o)
I mean after buying about 20 upgrades trying to even run te game then I have to configure the controls! Nah :oP Leave it to the experts.
Pads are easier to get used to, but keyboard and mouse is better overall because:
1) An entire hand controlling a mouse gives greater accuracy than one thumb on a 3D stick.
2) Efficiency. Using a pad leaves most of the fingers on each hand 'redundant'. Using keyboard & mouse doesn't.
3) Finger/button ratio (and therefore speed and ease of button access). Thumb on your right hand controls 4 or more buttons on a pad. No finger/thumb will have more than one (at most 2) buttons on well configured PC controls.
4) Amount of buttons.
Pad (example) = 4* regular buttons + 4* shoulder/trigger buttons = ~ 8 buttons + 3D stick/D-pad.
On a PC (example) = 2*mouse buttons + 3*mousewheel options (up, down, press) + 5 keys on keyboard = ~ 10 buttons + mouse aimer.
5) Freedom to reconfigure to your preferred system.
1) An entire hand controlling a mouse gives greater accuracy than one thumb on a 3D stick.
2) Efficiency. Using a pad leaves most of the fingers on each hand 'redundant'. Using keyboard & mouse doesn't.
3) Finger/button ratio (and therefore speed and ease of button access). Thumb on your right hand controls 4 or more buttons on a pad. No finger/thumb will have more than one (at most 2) buttons on well configured PC controls.
4) Amount of buttons.
Pad (example) = 4* regular buttons + 4* shoulder/trigger buttons = ~ 8 buttons + 3D stick/D-pad.
On a PC (example) = 2*mouse buttons + 3*mousewheel options (up, down, press) + 5 keys on keyboard = ~ 10 buttons + mouse aimer.
5) Freedom to reconfigure to your preferred system.
If I had read this about 2 months ago I would have been agreeing with you 100% but seeing as I didnt my answer is going to be different.
To me a mouse and keyboard is the best control system I could imagine. I recently got a new PC and a Broadband modem so I did the most likely thing and began to play FPS online and even joined a clan..(left it last night...joined new one last night ;))..at first I was really bad. It was very frustrating as you said trying to find where all the buttons where and so forth, but after a while I found the magical "edit controls" option. I began to test thing out, what controls I liked, what I didn't like and eventually I found a setup which suited my playing style wonderfully.
I was back to my glory days on Goldeneye, once again I could circle strafe people letting th bullets fly, no longer was I a sitting duck while trying to give my team orders. I was very comfortable playing.
So I guess my opinion is, that console games are MUCH easier to get used to but PC games controls are just as easy to use, but about twice as hard to get used to. Persist and you will succeed, don't and you won't. Simple.
Good topic by the way.
To me a mouse and keyboard is the best control system I could imagine. I recently got a new PC and a Broadband modem so I did the most likely thing and began to play FPS online and even joined a clan..(left it last night...joined new one last night ;))..at first I was really bad. It was very frustrating as you said trying to find where all the buttons where and so forth, but after a while I found the magical "edit controls" option. I began to test thing out, what controls I liked, what I didn't like and eventually I found a setup which suited my playing style wonderfully.
I was back to my glory days on Goldeneye, once again I could circle strafe people letting th bullets fly, no longer was I a sitting duck while trying to give my team orders. I was very comfortable playing.
So I guess my opinion is, that console games are MUCH easier to get used to but PC games controls are just as easy to use, but about twice as hard to get used to. Persist and you will succeed, don't and you won't. Simple.
Good topic by the way.
I'll be in one of my more serious modes now.
I totally agree with what you are saying. The main reason for wanting an X-Box in the first place before noticing the size of it and just how wonderful the PS2 really is, was the reason for having a controller availible rather then the annoyance of the keyboard.
Even though I buy games for nothing else then my loveable PC and strategy games still are the best on it no matter what anyone says, it's the others like shoot'em ups and RPG that are imcreasinlgy hard because more options are being added to them and that means more buttons are being used.
You find your fingers being streched to every side of the keyboard and all to just shoot a baddie or open a door. Whilst with the PS or N64 everything can be done a lot quicker. That is the main reason why Beat'em ups never took off on the PC, they just don't offer us what consoles do and the companies knew that no one would buy them as they'd have to buy a controller or something.
Good post and I hope it wins, otherwise I'll run down to SR with a shotgun.....
And shake their hands ;-)
I totally agree with what you are saying. The main reason for wanting an X-Box in the first place before noticing the size of it and just how wonderful the PS2 really is, was the reason for having a controller availible rather then the annoyance of the keyboard.
Even though I buy games for nothing else then my loveable PC and strategy games still are the best on it no matter what anyone says, it's the others like shoot'em ups and RPG that are imcreasinlgy hard because more options are being added to them and that means more buttons are being used.
You find your fingers being streched to every side of the keyboard and all to just shoot a baddie or open a door. Whilst with the PS or N64 everything can be done a lot quicker. That is the main reason why Beat'em ups never took off on the PC, they just don't offer us what consoles do and the companies knew that no one would buy them as they'd have to buy a controller or something.
Good post and I hope it wins, otherwise I'll run down to SR with a shotgun.....
And shake their hands ;-)
Ooo you little .. Tom. If you were here I would..
:o)
Hurt you :-)Cheeky little scamp :-P
:o)
Hurt you :-)Cheeky little scamp :-P
People can't complete games so they look for excuses. This is probably one of those excuses that lies with the 'My seat was too uncomfy' and 'I wasn't trying to win' excuse.
They aren't real excuses but we use them to make ourselves feel better.
I'm Mr Nice Guy.
Goodnight.
They aren't real excuses but we use them to make ourselves feel better.
I'm Mr Nice Guy.
Goodnight.
Exactly my point, everything is done for you :o)
And I like it that way. Shame it doesn't work for everything like... Work etc :-)
And I like it that way. Shame it doesn't work for everything like... Work etc :-)
I love console controllers, everything has been tried and tested to suit the players needs and if your still not happy there's usually config options, PC's on the other hand provide you with a set number of keys that each do different thing and I Remember Tomb Raider, It took me a while to figure out which button pushed the rock, there wasn't a config menu so it's the old try every button thing again,d'oh.
PC's are a hassle,I mean just to to get the equivelent of the Dual Shock working on a PC you have to install the driver, set each button for a certain action in every game and lets not forget calibrating the analog sticks, by now all of your friends have got bored and wondered off, thats why console controllers are bliss, everythings been done before hand :-)
PC's are a hassle,I mean just to to get the equivelent of the Dual Shock working on a PC you have to install the driver, set each button for a certain action in every game and lets not forget calibrating the analog sticks, by now all of your friends have got bored and wondered off, thats why console controllers are bliss, everythings been done before hand :-)
It looks colourful to me. And that's all I look for in a control pad. As well as how comfortable it is, of course.
Page: