@ Zenfloder VGI
When someone says that PC games are cheaper then consoles they are referring to owning them.

Wow, I've had a lot of great responses to my last post, and honestly, I didn't think that you guys stood a chance. I know that shio spends his existance arguing this, but I'm really quite convincing on this subject, and the fact that you were able to form decent argument has vastly impressed me.

Of course, being just one man, I can't respond to everyone, so let me throw you a few talking points as I come to them, and see if you have anything worth mentioning as a reply.

A. Senlis, you are dead wrong about one thing. Dependability is a problem with all hardware. Nothing lasts forever, and I don't care how you want to argue it, any PC part has the potential for mass market defect, just like a console part. I don't understand the miscommunication. Think about it. Consoles, however, have between 1 and 3 year warranties, while built computers don't have a warranty.

B. Also, IMHO, the "you can build X computer for X dollars in theory" argument is as old as dirt. It's not true. If you build a computer, be prepared to spend over 500 dollars on it. Otherwise, you will be running new HD games on medium with fluctuating stats in almost every case. People who really build computers, spend between 800 and 2000 dollars per build. Just because you CAN do it, doesn't mean you should. Shit begats shit. I mean, shit, how much did you spend?

C. Senlis, no controlling options is ever factually superior to another. It can't be. Some people prefer a joystick no matter what. They never learned to play with a mouse and keyboard. More accuracy does not equal "better" in everyones eyes, and some people would prefer the controls of The Conduit to a mouse and keyboard, because they are more intuitive. Let me reitterate, opinions are subjective, and that is the only fact in this argument. Again, please, look up the term "better" and then look up the term "subjective." You are wrong, sir, and you should admit it. Besides those things, I think we agree.

[cut out a lot of text that didn't respond to my post]

...but maybe you're right. Maybe the 360 is so much more important to gaming, that the RRoD was a bigger problem in the videogame industry than was PC piracy.

If console gaming died tomorrow, what do you think would happen to the core games being developed? Increase in amount, or decrease?

If PC gaming died tomorrow, how would it affect consoles?

/bow

There are many games that are CPU heavy, not GPU heavy. Like WoW and GTAIV. You can't upgrade your CPU, so if yours isn't up to snuff, you need to buy a whole new computer.

That's why, when you build a computer, you shouldn't buy the cheapest shit you can find that will play crysis. Crysis is a GPU game. There are PCs that play crysis on Very High at 40fps, yet still catch slowdown on WoW at 1080p with the draw distance all the way up, because it's CPU heavy.

When you build a gaming computer, you should spare no expense on the CPU. Otherwise, you will not be able to play soon to be released CPU heavy games.

There are many games that are CPU heavy, not GPU heavy. Like WoW and GTAIV. You can't upgrade your CPU, so if yours isn't up to snuff, you need to buy a whole new computer.

That's why, when you build a computer, you shouldn't buy the cheapest shit you can find that will play crysis. Crysis is a GPU game. There are PCs that play crysis on Very High at 40fps, yet still catch slowdown on WoW at 1080p with the draw distance all the way up, because it's CPU heavy.

When you build a gaming computer, you should spare no expense on the CPU. Otherwise, you will not be able to play soon to be released CPU heavy games.

I'm glad we agree on some points.  Let my clarify the ones you responded to.

A.  You previous post: "Dependability is a common issue with all hardware, and gives no advantage to either side. However, consoles do come with warranties, and built PCs do not." You never really said what the problem with dependability is.  If you are referring to how all hardware eventually fails, well yea that's true.  What I think of a dependability problem are consoles failing within 2-3 years.  That is horrible dependability.  The RROD from the XBOX360 is caused by heat issues.  I can easily increase the ventilation of my PC.\

I have a pelican fan stand on my 360 as well as a nyko intercooler TS. I also have 2 external exhauts I bought off ebay, modded onto my old PS3. If my 360 burns up tomorrow, it'll be replaced for free, the PS3 and Wii will probably take years and years to melt down.

You can easily mod consoles for cooling issues.

I guess you are saying build computers as a whole do not have warranties.  My motherboard is built by ASUS.  It has amazing dependability, warranty and customer support.  I remember one time that I flashed my ROM chip incorrectly and turned my computer into an expensive paperweight.  I called ASUS, and even though my motherboard was no longer under warranty, they sent me a new ROM chip already flashed.  I think the only gaming company that has comparable customer support may be Nintendo.

Back to Dependability is a issue because all hardware fails eventually.  You didn't refute my point that parts are easier to obtain and replace in a PC.

Better (according to Webster): improved in accuracy or performance.

Subjective (according to Webster): characteristic of or belonging to reality as perceived rather than as independent of mind.

According to Webster, KB/M is 'better'.

C.  Maybe I can explain my point better with an analogy.  Are manual transmission cars better than automatic cars, or is it just a matter of preference?  Manual transmission cars 1) Get better gas mileage 2) Give you better control over the car 3) has less maintenance on the transmission 4) transmission lasts longer.  Automatic transmission cars 1) are easier and more convenient to drive.

I already said in my previous post that a mouse is more accurate than motion controls or a joystick (positional based vs. velocity based).  That is a fact.  If you prefer joystick or motion controls over the mouse/keyboard, I won't fault you for it.  You never did disprove that a mouse is more accurate, you just keep saying it cannot be proven.

A mouse is more accurate in most cases, but it's also worse in many cases as well. Some games are built around joystick controls and impossible to play with a mouse(down-forward+HP). The PC supports joystick as well, however so does the console. However, the PC doesn't support games that I know of, with motion controls. Those controls greatly increase the enjoyment of games like Flower. So, it's really subjective which platform has better controls.

"If PC gaming died tomorrow, how would it affect consoles?"

PC pushes forward the graphics technology industry the same way Nascar pushed forward the automobile industry.  If PC gaming died tomorrow, advances in video games would come much slower.

If Console gaming died tomorrow, core HDPC gaming would die the next day, and would gaming even be worth playing without Zelda, Mario, Final Fantasy, Gran Turismo? There would be no more millions sunk into top end games, except for Blizzard and maybe Valve. Without console sales, it would be an unsustainable industry(the high end core game), considering development costs. It would be like removing the movie theater from the equasion of viewing purchases of films. It would be an end of all we know of gaming, and a huge disaster.

If PC gaming ended, graphics wouldn't improve as fast?

Which one is more important to the industry?

"Wow, I've had a lot of great responses to my last post, and honestly, I didn't think that you guys stood a chance. I know that shio spends his existance arguing this, but I'm really quite convincing on this subject, and the fact that you were able to form decent argument has vastly impressed me."

Thanks.  I appreciate someone who likes a good debate.

@twesterm

"So, no, you didn't just shoot down my 3 reasons.  Stop assuming everyone has the same hard on for PC gaming you have.  I hate PC gaming and your endless ranting about how great it is isn't going to change that just like my endless ranting about console gaming will never change your mind."

Seriously?  You "hate" PC gaming.  Those are some strong words.  I don't even hate the xbox360, even though I would never buy one.

He's a spoony bard, ain't he?

CPU is the least required component for upgrade. CPU can last for ages, especially since Multi-core CPUs established themselves (since Core 2 Duos came)

Dual core processors are becoming insufficient for maxing the latest CPU heavy games.

Anyone trying to build a mainstream rig or better right now, would be silly to go cheap on the CPU and pick up a dual core.

Quad-core is the only smart thing to do, and in that instance, you don't need to play it cheap, because your older games will potentially only run off one of those cores.