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I am usually not one to fly off the handle easily, but there is a certain sub-section of gamers that really irks me. These gamers are so blind, so defiant, that they do not see what is right in front of them. Of course, as you should have gathered, I’m talking about diehard PC elitists who believe that all things pertaining to consoles are the doom of gaming.
First off, I would like to point out that while I own multiple platforms, I come from a strong PC gaming background. I love games from many genres, and I spend a great deal of time on both my PC and my consoles. Therefore, I consider myself unbiased – I play games, not platforms.
Sure, the emergence of gaming from a niche pastime to a multi-billion dollar industry has brought its fair share of problems, but the fact is that more people are enjoying games now than ever before, and that should count for a lot.
The core reason for this jump in the popularity of gaming is a result of the rise of the console and its popularity with casual gamers. They are generally affordable and accessible, offering gaming to the masses. The games on consoles can be both challenging and utterly rewarding even for the most hardcore gamer. Many are visual treats, such as Uncharted 2, and they are a joy to play. So why is it then that certain gamers believe that consoles are for kids, or that consoles are holding the industry back!?
Let’s look at some of the reasons PC elitists consider console gaming to be the bane of the industry.
Firstly, “Consoles are for kids. The games are too easy”. To those who believe this, I ask: have you played Demon’s Souls, and the numerous other frantic action-packed titles that require incredible reflexes to complete.
Yahtzee’s depiction of PC gamer elitism
Next they say, “Controllers dumb down the gameplay. Nothing beats the mouse and keyboard setup.” Let’s take a step back here. Firstly, I would like to ask, how many buttons does one use for the average PC game? There are movement keys, a few mouse buttons, some keyboard shortcuts. Roughly ten, I would say depending on the title, but seldom more.
Now let’s look at a controller – the Xbox controller for this example. They have two analog sticks offering 360 degrees of movement that also double-up as buttons. Then there is the directional pad making up another four. Add to that yet another four for the buttons ABXY. Four shoulder buttons, plus the Start and Back buttons. By my count that is 16 buttons. MORE than enough to get the job done without “dumbing things down.”
Now before you PC elitists get your panties in a knot, I will admit that certain genres do work better with the mouse and keyboard setup, but even that is slowly being eroded. Furthermore, certain games work better with controllers, so it is not a one sided argument.
Next up, we’re often told how console development is holding back PC gaming. To a certain degree, I must agree, however, games on console still look great. The average gamer however, is not inclined to keep a PC up-to-date. Most prefer the ease of a console knowing that they will not have to upgrade for several years. Consoles open the market to all sorts of gamers – gamers who do not care for drivers or PC’s technical issues. They want to stick the disc in and play, no frills, no fuss.
Another thing, I would also like to point out is that consoles are keeping things somewhat fresh. Motion controllers are innovations aimed solely at the console market. I am sure the hardcore PC elitists will scoff at the idea of motion controllers (controllers in general), but then you are being self-centered, considering how many casual gamers ranging from small children to the elderly garner enjoyment from them. Should the industry only cater to the select “elite” few?
I sometimes wonder if all the console haters out there are just afraid of consoles, and are just scrambling at anything to rationalize their delusions as to why consoles are “junk”, rather than actually being forced to climb off their pedestals.
The sad thing is nothing will really change, and this column is unlikely to break through to anyone. All I can wish for is that if you are one of these PC elitists, consider giving consoles a proper try before condemning them. If you still hate them, that’s fine, but don’t go around spouting rubbish about how consoles are ruining the industry when this is not the case. In fact it is quite the opposite. If games are getting easier it has NOTHING to do with the limitations of a console’s hardware, but rather all to do with the intended audience (You mean the console audience, right? – Ed)
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