5 Reasons to Play Mass Effect 2 on the PC (and not Xbox 360)

GamingOgre lists 5 reasons why we should purchase and play Mass Effect 2 for the PC instead of the Xbox 360.

[kaveti6616]

1. Crisper visuals.

2. Better controls

3. Cheaper price (I'm assuming)

4. You're a rabid fanboy who can't stand the sight of owning a console that isn't made by Microsoft.

5. Because you touch yourself at night.

[kaveti6616]

EDit: IS made by Microsoft.

[bshubinsky]

Wrong.

I own both a 360 and a PS3.

[CWMR]

-Only own a 360 and PS3 so I got the 360 version and I love it.-

[captain-obvious]

thank god i got it on my PC

[Bigpappy]

We 360 owner are a bunch of brain-dead turds who have no idea what a PC is and that we were being ripped off by M$ for $10 (buck) every time we buy a 360 game. But now you have gone out of your selfless way to educate the dumbass 360 fanboys ... I STILL PREFER THE 360 VERSION you little vermin.

[Christopher]

Hack option isn't a strong argument. Most of the hacks you can make are with Hex Editors, and if you know how to transfer a 360 save file to your PC, you can do the same hacks with just a little bit more work as well.

I got it for the PC primarily because I hate my 360 (it has a very loud disc drive and gets hot fast). I owned the first on both 360 and PC, so had multiple save files to use for going forward no matter how I went.

@Jason_360: I get why people think saying that buying a Windows OS is the same as buying a game for a 360, but it really isn't at all the same. OS is a one-time purchase and Microsoft sees absolutely no profit from game sales, digital or otherwise, just because the game runs on their OS. 360 is their hardware, software, and platform and they make money off of each disc pressed by a publisher as well as each console sold and each piece of DLC downloaded on the console. Furthermore, the PC hardware is not made by Microsoft and available from many sources, whereas with the 360 you're stuck with just what they have. I would love to be able to swap out my 360 disc drive for one that isn't as loud, but unfortunately that's just not an option.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Own both an Xbox and PC and both run on a MS operating system. Everyone one who gets this on PC have also had to purchase a copy of Windows. The biggest advantage on PC is user created content and extreme AA if you have a good card.

[Reibooi]

The graphics thing is really the only thing here. If you know where to shop you can get the 360 version for PC price and as far as digital distribution I could care less.

Also the game controls nearly perfectly with the 360 controller so I can't imagine the controls on the PC version being any better then 360.

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

I thought the graphics on ME2 on PC is more or less identical to the 360 version since it isn't optimized at all.

Anyone that have both console and PC version can confirm?

[Rush]

Awesome thanks for the information its really helped me on deciding which version of Mass Effect 2 to buy.

*Picks up the 360 version*

Btw, this site has 2 whole articles gaming journalism at its finest!

[EVILDEAD360]

1. Your a tiny PC site who need hits

2. You hate Microsoft..also your a tiny PC blog site who need hits

3. You didn't realize that over 2 Million people played the original game on the console and about a million picked have already started playing it on the 360

4. As an N4G.com member..you realize that the 360 haters will potentially skyrocket this blog to the top of the site..and get this tiny PC fan blog site hits

5. You smoke crack when you believe that sitting comfortably on a couch with a beer playing Mass Effect 2 for 10 hours on Saturday on your 65inch HDTV and your suround sound somehow is trumped by a keyboard and a mouse on a desktop or a laptop (no matter how expensive it is)

My bad...I was only describing my ME2 experience on #5

The true reason for buying Mass Effect 2 on PC is that your a PC gamer with a hot rig and don't own a 360..

Other than that..you convince absolutely no one in the audience that is reading this on N4G.com..one side of usual suspects will hate and agree with you and the other will LOL and continue to play through ME2 (some on the 2nd time) on their 360s

I know I'm part of the latter..and when the sales results are revealed you'll see that I'm clearly not the only one

(good luck on the hits though..)

Evil

[MEsoJD]

if you have the option of getting the pc version. By all means thats the way to go.

The games great and highly addictive. LOL I love how you can tweak a pc game to your likings. For example, I chose vanguard and got the dlc pack and I wanted to use all the cool weapons I got so I looked it up and Google found out all I had to do was slightly edit a game file and done.
Hmmm cant wait for the mods for this baby.

Just like fallout 3. Not having the pc version is like having a striped down version.

[nevimkdojsem2]

since when is 720p identical to 1920x1200 native resolution or higher? What framerate does the xbox version have, since all my PC games run 60fps at the minimum. What about faster loading times (SDD HDD), cheaper price, better control with K+M...

[Rush]

Yeah because everyone has a 24" PC Monitor capable of running 1920x1200 in there homes, stop talking smack.

720p is a bigger resolution then what the standard PC resolution at the moment Which is 1024x768.

When you talk about PC's you automatically assume everyone has a high end PC monitor most people in there homes don't. So for alot of people playing Mass Effect 2 on a 50" HD TV with 720p is a better choice then playing it at 1024x768 on a 17" Monitor.

And its good to know you get 60fps min anything more is pointless anyway. Your monitor couldn't refresh fast enough to keep up with your graphics card.

[Guido]

One being the graphics and such. The PC version may not be leaps and bounds over the 360 version but it is better and there is no denying that. Second, for the reliability factor. My PC has never died on me but after 5 Xbox 360's, I am doubting it could make it through this game without dying. I use the 360 for exclusives and buy multiplats on the PC or PS3.

[zagibu]

@ Rush: According to the steam hardware survey, which is quite representative, the primary Desktop resolution of pc gamers is 1280x1024, which is 1.3 Megapixels and 33% larger resolution than HDTV (not full hd, mind you). Furthermore, there are only 25% of people with a lower resolution, and almost 50% have resolutions above this.

Relative screen coverage for a 17" screen is ~138 quadratic inch in 20" viewing distance, which gives us 6.9 quadratic inch per inch distance, and for a 50" hdtv, it's 1068 square inch in 80" viewing distance, which gives us 13.6 quadratic inch per inch distance.

This means a 50" HDTV has only twice the viewing area coverage of a 17" Monitor, at a worse resolution.

[dragunrising]

#1 Graphixz? Who other than PC diehards are going to complain about the graphics anyway?! Its a fact, the 360 version is gorgeous.

#2 Why do I want to play with a mouse and keyboard? I don't. Depends on your preference.

#3 Why do I want to want a digital and non-resell copy of ME2? I don't. Not that I'll ever sell my copy, but I have the option.

#4 I can't afford $10?! Omg thtz expenzive! Enough said...get a job if $10 more for 35 hour game is too much.

#5 Why do I want to mod a single player game and ruin the experience? I don't. Some people like to play the game as intended.

[Solidus187-SCMilk]

IT isnt a online game so you dont need to be super accurate with mouse and keyboard.

Also the controller offers force feedback/analogue movement. I know I could hook up my 360 pad to the computer but I dont have a wire and I dont want one.

Ive played FPS on PC ALOT and my fingers on the WASD keys starts to hurt after a while.

I like how they assume everyones computer is more capable then a 360. I got a better GPU in my PC but it has a weak processor and limited ram. For someone like me its much better to go for the optimized 360 version then taking a chance with my computer as I honestly dont know how well it would run. Everyone with a 360 can run it great.

I also would NOT want a digital copy. ME2 is one game that I really want on the disk.

EDIT- THIs GUY(who wrote this) IS A MORON WHO HASNT PLAYED THE GAME-

He says "Mass Effect 2, and it’s predecessor, are definitely not those games. When it comes to movement, aiming, choosing special abilities, managing inventory and other functions in the game, a keyboard and mouse cannot be beat."

Uhh movement is better with a pad(analogue movement), aiming doesnt matter too much as its not competitive online game, 360 lets you hotkey 3 powers, AND THERE IS NO INVENTORY IN THE GAME AT ALL.

[Dev8 ing]

I disagree lots of people aren't buying windows 7. Just got to any torrent site and type in windows 7 and see how many people are stealing it. Then consider how long the OS has been out. You're looking at a lot of people that haven't paid MS anything.

[ProjectVulcan]

Why is this such a big deal. If you have a good Pc, get it on Pc. If you dont, get it on 360. If you have neither then ps3 version will come along sooner or later most likely.

I have it for Pc. Among the reasons posted here, one being i can play it on me laptop anywhere and on my home PC, with settings in excess of 360. The game also cost less, and i would just ebay it afterwards so much for trade in value, its still a complete rip on console games.

[DMason]

@DeadReckoning360

Have a bubble, you made me laugh today with the cold, hard truth.

[NewZealander]

i have a 360 and a 1080p tv so why would i get it on pc when i would have to fork out for a pc that could handle it?

and i hate playing games at a pc with the mouse and keyboard anyway, i like the social aspect of playing a game on a big screen with mates over.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

I'm cool with the 360 version thanks..

[Major_Tom]

Yeah most people just prefer the low-fi version to the hi-res version.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

I don't have a PC sitting in my living room next to my 67" HDTV. It looks gorgeous so I don't have any complaints..

[El_Colombiano]

You can't honestly tell me you really stretched out a 1280x720 image onto a 67" HDTV. That's what PC's are for. Higher resolutions!

[CobraKai]

I may not have a pc costing thousands and thousands, but Mass Effect 2 looks damn fine on my $200 360 thank you very much!!

[DelbertGrady]

If you already own a 360 you'd probably want to get the 360 version. Gotta get those achievements ;p

[Dev8 ing]

I don't have my PC next to my tv either but I do have a long HDMI cable. And lol at the ignorance all the disagrees when dude says PC has better resolution; that's a fact and in all probability better frame rate. Thousands and Thousands for a PC hey? Read the article $500 gaming PC. I paid less than a thousand for mine and I haven't had anything it couldn't play although I only needed a new MOBO, Processor, graphics card and RAM. I saved money by using my old Case, power supply, disk drive and hard drive.

http://www.maximumpc.com/ar...

[Major_Tom]

I always think about meaningless numbers that pop up on my screen when I do something in-game, it keeps adding to the large number in my Xbox Live profile, until I have large numeration of 5 digit figures, I cannot be satisfied.

I mean achievements are way better than playing in 1080pHD without stutter, long loading times, anti-aliasing, among other perks.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

1. Because it's not on a PS3 (yet)
2. Because it's GOTY on PC or Xbox
3. Because if it ever were to go to the PS3 Mass Effect 3 will be out
4. If you own a PS3 you have nothing but flops to play this year
5. Because PC is the god of gaming platforms.

Every game sold on PC, a copy of Windows s sold because it's required. MS benefits (que the droids but but teh)

[dtrain21]

Metacritic

Xbox 360- 9.6

PC- 9.5

[captain-obvious]

"Every game sold on PC, a copy of Windows s sold because it's required."

wow your dumb
so every time i buy a game on my PC i buy Windows again ??

+ i didn't even buy my Windows i got it free and pre installed on my PC

[Nihilism]

"Every game sold on PC, a copy of Windows ss sold because it's required"

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA H AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH A HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA H AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH A HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA H AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH A HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA H AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH A HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA H AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH A HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

That's funny because I bought my O.S 3 years ago, gaming was not on my mind when I bought it, and I have bought about 30 games since then. Guess how much money MS got from my game purchases.... $0

Guess how many copies of windows they sold from each of those purchases....0

MS does not profit fro PC gaming IN ANY WAY. The multiplatform games usually only run DX9 anyway, and even if they do have a DX10 mode, it is not a requirement, so there are many people ( the majority ) of PC gamers running XP which is how old now....7 years?, that's 7 years that MS has not made a single cent from every game purchase from each windows owner, you sad deluded fool.

EDIT:

@Jason 360

You're not too bright are you. People REQUIRE an O.S regardless of whether or not they play games. Windows has the biggest adoption rate. This is in no way tied to PC gaming, and they do not profit from it.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

"so every time i buy a game on my PC i buy Windows again ??"

Not a very bright one are you? Every PC gamer need to own WINDOWS so if there are 50 million PC gamers there are 50 million copies of Windows... MS benefits.

Like I said you're not to bright.

[ChrisW]

Linux... Solaris... Mac OS...

Of course out of these, only Linux has a strong gaming community.

[Ilikegames76]

here's a website just for a boy of your age: http://www.nickjr.com/about...

[Guitarded]

A PC gamer is a person with more time on their hands(for assembly, software installs, drivers, etc., etc., etc.) and money in their pockets(360 Pre-assembled with a 3 year warranty $200, Mass Effect 2 $45 on amazon.com) than brains in their heads.

[FreeFalling]

Or how about I play it on the console of my choice, the Xbox 360? Sorry, me along with many others cannot get into PC gaming as easily as we can get into gaming on a console. Simple as that.

I prefer the simplicity of just sitting on my bed or couch and loading Mass Effect in and playing it on my HDTV. Sure you can hook it up to your computer, but the comfort and simplicty wouldn't be the same. Plus you have a community of gamers if you have an XBL account, and etc.
I'm not hating on the PC version, but how Sony fanboys and PC elitists are making the comparison out to be is ridiculous at times, the game will be great no matter what. Also, would you be sitting there playing Uncharted 2, God of War 3, or Gran Turismo on the PC if it came out on that platform and you could choose? Most likely not, because you prefer gaming on your PS3. Same goes with people who own a 360.

[wanderofys]

I swear to god I've read this exact post on N4G like 80 times. Couch bedroom blah blah blah, fanboys blah blah blah. PC elitist blah blah blah.

We get it. Jeez.

[zagibu]

And you will read it again and again. It's hardcore vs. casual, what do you expect? The hardcore crowd always makes it possible for the casual folks, and they seem to expect some kind of gratitude for this. But instead, they get ridiculed and beaten with ignorance. This happens everywhere, not just in gaming.

[wanderofys]

What do you mean it's hardcore vs casual? I don't see anything in his comment that has anything to do with that. There's nothing any more hardcore or casual about playing the same game on different medium, or WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO SIT to play the game! This generation of gamers are really, really dumb.

[FreeFalling]

It's called comfort with your setting, and comfort with the platform/ style you're playing. What exactly is so wrong with that?

[wanderofys]

There's nothing wrong with it at all, I never said there was. The article itself is dumb. The argument for both sides is dumb. There are perks to both, some people like PC's perks, some like console perks. Your original post was fueling an argument that was stupid to begin with.

[Lirky]

Most PC/console games that the PC is involved, theres modding communities at times. So id say the PC versions always are on the better end. Because of mods and modding tools that allows the gamer to create their own unique skinning and mods.

[flakko]

ill get it on the pc which is hooked up to my 46" lcd

[El_Colombiano]

Thats the way to play!

[toaster]

lol Why would you do that? TV's have a lower res than most monitors. And the PC can only output as much as it's given. So if your tv isn't 1080i then be ready for a storm of jaggies, even with AA on PC version.

[Dev8 ing]

1080i? I think you mean 1080p and a good graphics card can do better than that.

[flakko]

@toaster because my monitor is also at 1080p. sometimes i use my tv and my computer monitor in tandem for some nice gaming sessions. :) i didnt sense any jaggies on my TV at 1080p when playing prototype or Mass Effect 1 tho

[Nemo88]

The lower resolution of the TV WOULD NOT WORSEN the jaggies! It would smooth them. The opposite (when you have a crisp monitor and poor graphics card/optimisation) is when you would get jaggies.

[zagibu]

It would not smooth them, but smudge them.

[Monty_The_Great]

i should act like i have an awesome PC and will play it on that. Even though most on this douche bag of a site dont own both consoles or a PC that will play most of these game. Most on this site are just total assholes. They try to act like they are fangirls, but in the end the truth comes out.

[Dev8 ing]

I agree with everything but the last part. The truth never comes out. How could it? Are you going to go to fanboy X's house and check that they have the alternate console/PC rig?

[zagibu]

I think he's talking about verbal giveaways of the sort "i have a totally kick-ass pc, but prefer the gamepad over kb and mouse in halololorz".

[gamejediben]

PC>360

There is no argument. The only people that say they don't have their PC plugged into their expensive HDTVs are the noobs that don't know that HDTVs can be used as a monitor and a wireless keyboard and mouse makes it easy to sit on your couch and game just like if it was a console (only with better control). Just say NO to expensive online gaming like Xbox LIVE and hello to free online PC gaming with mods and customized controls. Consoles are for the noobs. Game better!

[Gamer7l]

...yet I hate PC gaming, and only game on my 360 (and occasionally on my used 40gig PS3). I love my Bluetooth Logitech MX5500 keyboard/mouse combo....but only for sitting back 10 feet from my 52" plasma, while checking e-mail or surfing the net. Keyboard/mouse is very awkward to me for gaming. Considering a lot of PC games can't be mapped properly...if at all... to a controller, I simply don't consider PC gaming a viable option. Crysis is the only game I've played on my PC in the past decade...and that was ONLY after the patch that fixed the 360 controller compatibility).

BTW, I have a MORE than adequate rig...just because ( I like my electronic "toys"):

-Intel Quad Core Q9550
-GeForce 9800GT
-8 gigs Corsair RAM
-Vista 64 bit
-750 GB Western Digital HDD

[nevimkdojsem2]

you are either a masochist or insane. Only one of the two would prefer playing in barely HD resolutions, with barely 2xAA, low resolution textures, slow loading times, unprecise controller instead of surgically precise mouse, listen to 100dB loud fans and DVD drive and pay more for games and laggy online service.

[Dev8 ing]

People without gaming PC's usually don't know that you can use you 360/PS3 controller from that same couch.

[Nihilism]

Who cares what platform you play it on, the only thing that matters...is that the ps3 fangirls cannot play it

[nevimkdojsem2]

I can and soon will, but you won't be able to play gems like Uncharted 1+2, LBP, MGS4, Demon's Soul, K2, Flower, Warhawk, Last Guardian, Wipeout HD, Infamous, Valkyria Chronicles, GT5. :) -- your PS3 fangirl

[Nihilism]

Can you hear the crickets? no one cares.

You know how I can prove I don't care...I don't comment in articles about those games. But here you are begging for news of ME2, enjoy your wait.

Anyone can post a bunch of exclusive games, that doesn't make them good.

[kingdavid]

Lol well said dchal.

[nevimkdojsem2]

I don't have to wait, I have a gaming PC and can play it anytime I decide to pick it. I'm too busy playing other PC, PS3 and NDS games at the moment.

[edoman20]

Well they can play and enjoy MAG a game that will have a much large lifetime than the hyped for the press ME2

So stop talking nonsense and don´t be a poor asstard bot

PS3 + PC = WIN

[NinjaAssassin]

i couldn't care less about most of the over hyped ps3 exclusives. i got a ps3 to play blurays and the occasional good exclusive. if it wasn't for the bluray player i would stick with the 360. the pc is another platform that interests me but i just don't have the money right now.

[Eiffel]

Don't have a pc gaming rig, so sorry.

[SDF Repellent]

Until another rumored article of it coming to their beloved PS3. Then they will dump their mega powerful PC card and said they will wait for the PS3 version. It is a like automatic, really.

[Dev8 ing]

That's stupid unless the PS3 version has some killer DLC (which none ever does) why pay full price for a game when by the time it comes out on PS3 steam will have it for 1/2 to 1/3 of the price?

[hoops]

"Now the PS3 fanatics will claim they will buy it on their Alienware PC..."

I have been noticing this since i came to this site mere months ago.
They say they will get the "superior PC" version when the game is not on the PS3, HOWEVER, when a game is on ALL systems and the PC version is superior to all of them....they say they will get the PS3 version. LOL
Can you smell the lies and BS with that statement? Why would you say in the first place that you will get the PC version for a game that is better, then say you will get the inferior version for another game later on...LOL

[labwarrior]

So, what if it is a bit crisper on PC ? I surly would not even notice

But playing like crap on PC with a .......... keyboard (god forbid) would destroy the game for me, pad controls are a million times better

So, 360 only for me

[Nihilism]

I have no problem with the fact that you bought it for 360, but to say that a keyboard is worse for control is insane. RPG's are made to be played on PC, the controls are much more responsive as well as customisable. Of all the arguments against PC, that is the most baseless.

EDIT:

"i judge by playing games on pc and consoles for decades "

I doubt that, because I have too and anyone that plays games on a PC and console will tell you how much better PC controls are.

This is genre specific of course, but for RPG's and shooter games there is no question that a M/K is better. For racing games and action games, controller is better.

But as you would know ME2 is an RPG and a shooter...

You can't have been a PC gamer for long if you press the wrong buttons also, I never even have to glance at the keyboard.

@toaster

Actually the razer Imperator mouse has 5600dpi...

@ toaster

Better than my mouse 800dpi logitec MX-400....or something. I plan to get a hard core mouse next time, 800dpi isn't enough.

@ps360owner09

1. It is bette on PC.

2. It did not originate on the console's. ME2 was a multiplat from the start ( some people don't know what the difference between a port and a multiplat is, so i'll break it down. ):

They use the engine and scale the texture res, draw distance, effects, character detail, audio compression, they customise the controls and UI, and then finalise each build. Each build is separate and has no copy/paste elements from either game, unless there was no changes needed ( the cut scenes in ME2 are low res because of the 360 version and the graphics are actually much much worse than the in game graphics of the PC version ).

[labwarrior]

The very fact that you have to press a button among another 10 to do something totally kills any ease of use and immersion for me

Each to his own, pad seems like a million times more natural and immersive way to control a game to me

BTW i have not bought the game yet, i judge by playing games on pc and consoles for decades

[MicroSony]

And just for your information, you can plug a 360 controller on a PC. And get the output on your nice hd-tv.

[toaster]

lol You can turn your keyboard backwards and still have the same control layout. Keyboards will always be better for RPG's, shooters and strategy. More buttons, more hotkeys, kb/m will always have better accuracy (up to 2000DPI laser).

[EDIT] @ dchalfont
Haha holy crap!! My G5 only has 2000 and it's enough. I think 5600 is a bit overkill, especially since very few people will have enough reflexes to actually make good use of all that precision.

[toaster]

@ ps360owner09

You do know you can change sensitivity, right? That's why console-only people have a hard time wrapping their heads around PC, console people are just lazy and don't want to tune their game to perfection.

You can enjoy your sub-HD gaming and crappy controls while the Glorious PC Master Race dominates gaming.

[Nihilism]

"a game that originated on the consoles is somehow better on the pc"

That game was Mass Effect 1, this game is mass effect 2, 2 different games, 2 different development processes, and yes the PC version is better because there IS better effects and textures...and draw distances....that is not subjective.

Mass Effect 2 has no copy protection whatsoever tool.

I have not updated my bios in several years, I also upgrade my video card drivers at my lesuire, there is no incompatibility or imperative to update.

You don't know anything about how PCs work, your comments prove it.

My video card has an 8 year warranty, my PSU has a 7 year warranty and my RAM has a lifetime warranty, don't talk to me about stability or reliability. Which number 360 is that for you now?, your third?, fourth?

[toaster]

Ouch... reliablility. Tell me, how many people do you know have had their PC's completely malfunction and had to actually send it in to get repairs? Not that many huh, well let's compare. XBox 360 failure rate is....... above 50%! WOW. Thats reliability for you!.

I haven't upgraded my PC for years. Drivers are not mandatory, you update when you need to. And when you do, it is easy. Most people who already have a game rig already have a graphics card that will play almost every game. You see warnings on games that say it isn't compatible with a certain card. those cards are the very very low end, and if you're playing games on your PC then you already have a good enough card that you won't have to worry about that.

With Steam you don't even need to remember your CD-Keys. It's all there. Everything is there. No need to dig for info. Most PC gamers aren't even fussing with disks anymore.

[champ21]

@ps360owner2009

Talking about reliability and 360 in the same para dont make sense. i know 3 friends who have had owned the xbox 360. all of them have had the xbox fail on them atleast 2-3 times. 2 of them switched to pc gaming completely. 3rd one has just kept his xbox for exclusives which are few and far in between all multiplats on pc.

Infact i was about to purchase the xbox 360 once, i had a slight idea about the RROD issue hence i asked the shop keeper to show me the system running before i bought it. The packaged system he was trying to run wouldnt run because of RROD, thats when i decided against the purchase of the xbox 360 or any console for that matter.

Pc needs constant driver updates, thats not true. However look at the consoles this gen almost every other month there is a firmware update. Consoles are becoming more and more pc like with every passing gen.

Last gen console users used to whine about pcs needing installations for games, now the consoles themselves need it. but yea console owners are fine with that now.

last gen console owners whined about pcs needing driver updates, but they are fine with it now since consoles need firmware updates too now.

last gen console owners complained about pc gaming because games needed patches, thats become a case with every other console game now.

[Dev8 ing]

In 20 years of PC ownership the only thing that has ever broken down for me has been a hard drive. That is 1 part in 11 computers. The oldest computer I have is an old 286 and that still works. I don't use it but it still works.

Of all the people I know with 360's only 1 hasn't had it break down and that is because they only got it last year. That is a 95% failure rate though not a good sample size.

[champ21]

1. more choice of controls, runs on mouse kb. However any other controller may also be used.

2. can play on monitor or hdtv, with higher resolutions, higher AA and FPS

3. Mods

4. cheaper price

5. you get to support the open platform which is niether controlled by microsoft or sony. it wouldnt be a good thing for gaming if everything was controlled by these 2 companies.

[shutupandplay]

I only needed one reason to get the 360 version. Because I was in TRUE anticipation of Mass Effect 1 before it came out. I bought it for my 360 DAY ONE, and got that level 60 character.

[Nihilism]

My level 60 save was from so long ago that I didn't bother to use it, lucky for me there was an awesome site where people uploaded their saves and detailed their actions, so you could download the 'perfect save game'.

Now I have finished ME2 I have my perfect save of my own tucked away for ME3.

[blue7xx7]

The only good reason I see listed is lower price.

[Dev8 ing]

That is a huge one though. The savings on PC games (about $10/game) and not paying for live every year($50/year) could justify upgrading a decent midrange graphics card every 2 years. That is assuming you buy 10 games in 2 years which gives a total savings of $200.

[zagibu]

Most ppl buy more than 5 games a year, more like 1 every month.

[Enjoi915111]

only when its a 360 pc exclusive....when its not the pc section of n4g is dead......weird

[chrisulloa]

Lol, ME mods. What did ME have? Nude mods and that's basically it.

[Nihilism]

You can mode any aspect of the game, changed the effects above the maximum settings the game allows.

[Ilikegames76]

you couldn't mod your game on the 360. PC though is very flexible, you can play ME2 in full HD. Can't wait for Starcraft2 and Diablo 3 to come out.

[Guitarded]

So, tell me, did having more AA or AF or a higher resolution make the story better? Did the characters come off the screen and pat you on the back? No! Better get some more RAM and a new card. Maybe their are some new drivers you can install. Maybe a 52" 3600x2800 monitor would help.

[KimoNoir]

1. 1080p on consoles are never the true equivalent of the 1920x1080 resolution. So even if you raise the resolution on the consoles, it hardly resembles the actual resolution because, the games and even the dashboard is not running anything at that resolution other than the monitor or TV upscaling. The textures and quality of the game is not being changed at all.

5. Customization and mods usually referring to new maps, new skins, new weapon models etc. is not possible for Mass Effect 2. PC gamers look forward to good customization on games with mods etc. but, the developers either don't even give you the option or the mods just plain suck. The only good mods come from the Source and UTengine modders.

The only difference is slight visual difference on the PC but, nevertheless visually distinguishable from its counterpart the console with higher resolutions. Controls aren't significantly different and in fact, the 360 controller is not even supported in the coding so hooking up the PC to a big screen in the living room isn't so convenient. A lot of you pc guys like to say its possible to make joypads work but, its not simple because, many things are not possible through controller mapping as it is with the console features.

So there you have it, you have a choice to sit down in the living room and play with a controller or play with better graphics and slightly better controls.

[kraze07]

"when its not the pc section of n4g is dead"

I'm guessing you only show up in the PC section when articles like this pop up. The PC section is never really dead. It's not as lively as the PS3/360 sections, but there's always some interesting articles to read.

[Silber]

I dont know when PC Gamers will understand this.

Console and PC Gamers are mostly very different Persons. Console Gamers want to Play on Console because its so easy and comfortable.
No Installing,
no worry about Performance Issues,
no hourlong tweaking sessions to get optimal results,
The own Friendlist to chat,
And a Controller wich we Console Gamer all love to play with.

PC Gamers like to Tweak their PC for hours instead before they begin to play,Change the Games ini Files and so on. Its ok, but its a different world of interest.

I admit that The PC Version of nearly all Games are better, but anyway i dont like to play PC Games. I have more Fun with my Consoles - easy as that and dont know why. And i think many Console Gamers think the same.

[kraze07]

You do know some people actually game on consoles and PCs right? The world isn't only black and white, there are some shades of gray in between.

[Silber]

Yey you are right. I myself play PC Games too (specially Online-RPG´s) but i think you get what i mean? Sure there are such people, even there are some that have a PS3, Wii and an Xbox 360. But its not the standard.

But even the people with PC and Console have to chose where they play their new game.

[champ21]

i would say console gamers now worry more about performance issues then pc. See every new game coming to consoles, first thing they are concerned about is, will the game do 30 fps?

while on the pc front anyone with a 150usd gpu knows they can most probably just max the game out at 1080p 60fps 4xaa. I have a rig with a 8800gtx it doesnt need hours of tuning to play, i just need to slide everything to max settings and works wonders. 8800gtx is a 3yr old gpu btw and ancient in everyway yet even that is enough to max out todays games (aside crysis).

Consoles now mostly require installs too. If installs are not done then game load times are slow, however most games do require installs.

I do agree that consoles are simple to use, thats a given. However with a properly setup PC. Steam installed, i feel pc is much more versatile then console. No need to swap disks everything runs at a click of a button, games get updated and patched automatically. Imo personally i find Steam much more comforting to use then any console.

[kraze07]

"But even the people with PC and Console have to chose where they play their new game."

True. I find myself buying most muliplats for PC these days and use my consoles for exclusives. I've noticed that more and more devs are being lazy and just porting games from the console to the pc. If anything it should be the other way around seeing as how games are developed on computers.

[Hiruu]

Every single point made is weak and no different than nearly any other game...jsut more hater fuel!

[ReBurn]

The 360 and PC versions aren't really that different. It really comes down to how you prefer to play your games. I like console gaming better than PC gaming, so regardless I'm going to pick the console version. But that's just me.

[Jaxer7]

PC version does not look that much better to call it difference
Reason №2, about controls, is bullshit
Other reasons are just lame
And don't forget the joy of playn' on the sofa, on a huge screen

[TheObserver]

tl;dr PCs are better

Pretty much a no brainer here for those that actually work and have a disposable income.

I said it before and I am going to say it again: The Xbox 360 is just a poor man's PC. You may argue that it is your preference, but it doesn't make sense to prefer something that is cheaper and inferior when you can afford something better. Also, not hooking it up onto a HDTV or get a controller is just your own short coming, the PC is also superior both those aspects. Tons of peripherals and accessories.

No game have topped Crysis yet and I haven't upgraded my PC since. People keep repeating the fallacy that you need to upgrade your PC every time a multi-plat game comes out, it is funny. They think the specs magically increased on consoles or something.

I laugh at people that are deluding themselves and think consoles version will be anything close to the PC version. I have many games on PC and I can see for myself that it is better than consoles counterpart of multi-platform games. L4D/L4D2, Orange Boxes, Halo:CE, MW,MW2, WaW, Mass Effects, FFVII(even this aged old rpg), FFXI, just to name a few games I have played on different platforms. I am going to get ME2 when I feel like it. No doubt it will be miles better on a PC, same with the rest of every game every time.

I am sure everyone know about mods. www.moddb.com is my primary source for awesome mods that extend life of any game phenomenally. Or google will do too. HL2 for example have tons of mods. Mods is not that hard to install, just copy and paste or they have an installer for you. That argument is moot.

You don't have to make a custom PCs if you are lazy. Ask your engineer friends to do it for you, they enjoy making kick ass PCs. Dell or HP is fine too. I personally have a gaming HP desktop with a few personal touches and modifications.

[champ21]

360 is far more expensive then owning a pc.

everyone has a pc at home.. most of them already have a dual core based pc. All it takes is a 150usd gpu upgrade to transform the pc to a gaming rig (which is cheaper then getting a 360).

Games are cheaper too, online is free, accessories are no where as expensive as the 360.

Even if a pc was built completely from scratch and costed 700usd it would still be cheaper then the xbox 360 in the long run.. 1-2yr of gaming and the pc would become cheaper. Price difference of games alone makes this a reality, every game on the xbox will cost 15-20usd more compared to the pc version and be inferior.

count 2 games a month and see whos cheaper at the end of the year. PC for sure:P

i bought about 70 games on steam so far in a matter of 2 years. had i gotten those on console i would have ended up paying 1200usd extra atleast.

yes a pc gamin rig can be expensive, but that is not required. That is a matter of personal preference.

[bshubinsky]

The argument of "I don't have a custom PC, so I can't run it, I'd get better results on my 360" is a bunch of bullcrap as well. I'd say that most people have PCs that are more powerful than is usually required as far as RAM and CPU goes and all they need is a decent GPU. I know people who play MW2 on laptops that are 5 years old and have a blast (despite the fact that the PC version stinks to high hell).

[Letros]

"PCs are better. Pretty much a no brainer here for those that actually work and have a disposable income."

Pretty much sums it up, there's a lot of teenagers in this thread. Save up some of that hard earned McDonald's income($500-$600) and get yourself a decent rig.

[bjornbear]

it will anger a lot of 360 fanboys = priceless xD

jk jk

[hellboy1880]

and higher resolutions. This game looks (and runs) beautiful with 4xAA/16AF, if you have a good GPU.

[Enjoi915111]

ME2 to the ps3......DENIED!!!!

[artsaber]

He forgot two:

1. PC has basically zero to 3 second load time (for me @ least)
2. PC saves are almost instantaneous(not sure about the 360)

But for all those people bytching about needing a new PC that cost a kajillion dollars, that is simply not true. I had bought the 360 version, but I read the system reqs for the PC version, and they are very reasonable. My 2 year old Dell XPS laptop runs ME2 just fine in @720 or 1080p. Took the 360 version back to Walmart.

As far as people complaining about controls, another BIG misconception. My PC controls beat 360 controls. I am using a SixAxis PS3 controller paired with a MOUSE (best for hacking/scanning) to play ME2 on my PC. Yes, the PS3 controller works with a PC/ME2, and I was able to CUSTOM program each button. EPIC.

If any PS3 + PC owners are interested and want to know how to do this, PM me. I can tell you how to set it up, and even email you a config file that works awesome with ME2. Gamers help gamers.

And 360 fans, just enjoy the game, many of you on here are talking a bunch of crap KNOWING that you haven't bought the game, and won't in the future because it isn't labeled a shooter. But in reality, much of the game is TPS, and it is pretty good. Some of you may be turned off by the fact that you'll actually have to READ and make decisions that affect your future gameplay, but my advice, keep multiple saves no more than 30 minutes apart, and you'll be fine.

[Saryk]

I have a nice big screen tv that can play my PC games just as well if I owned a Xbox 360 (which I don’t). In my opinion it has never been a question of which graphics was better. It is a question of controls and access. The Xbox or any console cannot get to a website quick , like I can with my PC if I need hints. I can buy a game within seconds and have it downloaded while I am playing another game. I don’t have to get up to put in a CD if I want to switch games, I just double click. And any controller for any console system cannot beat the keyboard and mouse. And that is the deciding factors for me to run a PC. If the consoles has mouse and keyboard support and the access of a decent OS, and can download my games. I would sell all of my PCs and go strictly console.

But to each their own.

[zagibu]

Even then, why would you trade in an open platform with theoretically unlimited upgradeability for a closed system with manufaturer dependance?

[Letros]

ME2 is probably not the best title to try to convince console only gamers why PC is superior.

I think they should do a follow up on this why you should play Bad Company 2 on PC, that list would be pretty long with M/KB and dedicated servers at the top.

[artsaber]

Some Console gamers need to be informed. They may be standoff-ish about PC versions because of controls. When in fact, PC controls have come a LONGGGGG way when it comes to console-like steering of games.

PC controls can actually be MUCH better than the console. For instance, a PS3 gamer may not want a PC version of an XBOX game because the controls may be unfamiliar. When in fact, if they knew that they could play a game like ME2 successfully with a SixAxis controller, they might be EXCITED about the PC version of the game that happens to be $10 cheaper by default.

[t850]

i use motionjoy on my pc to hook up the ps3 controller wirelessly on my pc works like a charm.

IMO ps3 controller is probably the best wireless controller out there and equiping that with a true hd machine like the PC is just epic.

also since motionjoy sees the ps3 controller as if its a xbox controller, all games automatically get mapped to use the ps3 controller just as if it would work on the console. However instead of seeing the ps3 symbols on the screen you get to see the 360 symbols. which is cool with me as long as i am playing at 1080p on my large screen @ 60fps 4x AA (something consoles currently just cant do).

my ps3 is just reserved for its exclusives. For everything else its the PC.

[Letros]

PC really has come a long way, granted I don't notice it much because I've been gaming on Window's since I was 10. But everything just works now, its a friendly platform, yea you're average user might not know how to install a mod, but it's fun to learn for your first time.

[NinjaAssassin]

the real question is, why in the hell would you want to hook up a ps3 controller when you can just use a 360 controller? the ps3 controller isn't horrible but the 360 controller is far better.

[ichimaru]

Sometimes i wish i could Faceplam this Site -_-

[s45gr32]

I laugh at the fools that don't know crap about PC. First off if you build a PC for $700-800 dollars+tax you will be playing all the PC games for an entire decade. After that decade the PC gamer all needs to do is buy a new graphics card or sound card and whatnot. There is also the advantage of playing say PC games with a xbox controller or that PS controller look alike and have your PC hooked up to your HDTV set wow!!! you just emulated your console gaming experience through your PC. The article is one hundred percent correct the hateful PC gamers did got the better version for less money than 360 gamers. Other advantage of PC gamers they get to enjoy xbox live gold without paying $50.00 a year look it up on www.microsoft.com and if you join Skype for free you get all of xbox live gold communication and party system feature for free. The xbox 360 is just a taste folks just a taste of Games for Windows and Games for Windows Live.

[taylork37]

Wow...actually i think you are the fool. In no way can the computer I bought in 2000 handle games that I play today. Of course they can if I turn the setting all the way down, and still probably wont run them, but who wants to do that? And at that point, you would absolutely have better graphics on any console.

Second, to think that all you need is a new graphics card and maybe sounds card, after a decade, is another joke. So do you think my 250-300 Watt power supply from 2000 is going to run a new 9800GT, which isn't the most power hungry card on the market?

Your "argument" is also shot to h*ll when you include hardware changes, similar to the ones you have seen in the past DECADE. In 2000, I was playing on my geforce ti4200 running on AGP. Good luck finding a state of the art AGP card today.

So to wrap it up a little. You will need to buy a new power supply to run your new card, which will probably require a new motherboard to run on the newest video card bus. With that mother board, you will absolutely need a new processor, because to think that a decade old processor will fit on a new mother board is just dumb.

I'm not going to try and tell you that you don't know anything about computers (kinda like what you said in your comment), because I myself am not an expert. But I do think you are making some pretty horrible assumptions.

I will make one assumption though... you are a PS3 fanboy that you can't play ME2 on the PS3, because you sure as h*ll can't be playing it on your 10 year old computer.

[champ21]

maybe 10years is a bit overstated.

though i do belive with current progress of games 7years without upgrades is doable (cause that is how long a console gen lasts).

any pc made 3 years ago with a dual core cpu and a 8800gtx still outperforms consoles in every game and runs all games at 1080p. the reason for this is because games are now based on console hardware, which obviously is not progressing as the years go by. which is why a pc with a gpu like the 8800gtx should out perform any console until the end of the generation until the new gen is out (which would be 7 years).

now think about how much cheaper the pc would be in about 7 years of gaming. if each year about 300usd are saved buying games on pc.

by 7yrs pc would be atleast 2100usd cheaper then owning console(also remember pc gaming prices get much better deals then consoles ever can hense this figure is still conservative it probably would be higher), not counting live charges, niether considering expensive 360 accessories.

oh btw there are AGP cards out today which will outperform consoles. the radeon 4670 still comes in agp, with a cpu upgrade and radeon 4670 a 10 yr old rig will get a little bit life in it, enough to stay neck and neck with any console. Perhaps even outperform it. Since as resolutions go higher, the bottleneck starts to shift from the cpu to the gpu.

http://www.newegg.com/Produ...

this babies a mere 100usd not a bad investment to bring an old rig back from the dead.

http://www.tomshardware.com...

check the above review 4670 will actually beat any of todays consoles.

[DexterPsycho]

I play it on the pc, because im more of a pc gamer at heart, but now and then i venture,

If you want take a look at my montage i made its quite good my first of its kind, opening is all talking then it kicks in :)

http://extremegamingreviews...

[magicwalnuts]

Ill be headshotting mechs and watching them explode in glorious 1920 x 1200 resolution and listening to Jack Wall's amazing soundtrack on my surround sound headphones thx, go have fun with your radial menus and auto-aim 360 fanboys. And plus none of you payed 200 bucks for the 360 arcade, if you're that much of a fanboy to come here and troll about this very correct article you probably bought the 360 for 500 bucks when it came out and have probably had it RRoD about 4 times since then, you guys made a good choice.

[zagibu]

Auto-aim is probably the biggest console-turnoff for me. I mean, why do you play a shooter if you don't want to aim yourself?

[BardockS30Z]

I cant run in 1920 cause i have mine plugged into my 40' bravia. game still looked and player super clean though. O yes i forgot about m/kb. Yea i can easily aim and get headshots. 360 version has autoaim.... wow thats even lamer lol. I mean it makes sense but yea....

[nnotdead]

1.it looks basicly the same on either version. not the best game to show what your powerful PC can do.

2. shooting is better with m/kb, but i doubt people who only have a 360 to play games will care. plus, all the menu stuff is built for the console. i cant just hit j to look at my journal. have to pause and click through the menu.

3.though i use Steam a lot i did buy this one at a store.

4. sure $10 cheaper is great, but im sure people with 360 only could care less.

5. this is not the type of game where this plus on the PC will be used much.

6. why are 360 fan boys getting so butt hurt over this article? they have these things all the time. it will be a matter of hours before someone comes out with, "5 reasons to play ME2 on 360".

[zagibu]

They don't care for 10$ less, yes, and that's exactly it, because these 10$ every game transform themselves into a kick-ass PC-rig every two years.

[Dance]

Another fanboy rant article

[ATi_Elite]

Im a PC gamer...
I wouldn't waste my time putting this piece of crap gimped 360 console port on my PC.

It has NO PC FEATURES. It's a straight 360 port. So just play it on a 360. Unless you only have a PC then go get it and have fun.

Comparing the PC to a console is boring and moronic.
A PC exclusive crushes a console exclusive EVERYTIME.

[magicwalnuts]

The PC version doesn't even feel remotely like a port. The same went for the first one, in fact I played both versions of the first one and the PC version's controls were so much better that the combat felt almost as crisp as the combat in ME2, and even though the inventory was still total suckage, KB + M really made a difference when clearing that sh*t out. This time around the controls supposedly work quite well on the 360 gamepad (unlike the first iteration where squad commands, cover, and biotic powers were absolutely useless) BUT, since ME2 has regional hit detection this time around that mouse is tremendously useful in making you a total badass when you land headshot after headshot.

[bshubinsky]

@magicwalnuts

Completely agree. I played through the original Mass Effect on both the PC and the 360. It's obvious many of the changes that were made for Mass Effect 2 were influenced by their popularity on the PC and how difficult many people stated it was to issue commands and powers through the Xbox 360 controller (partially why I went a full assault route, I didn't feel like fumbling through awkward radial menus).

[edoman20]

Got ME2 for $40

PC + PS3 = WIN

The better mulplat + the better exclusives = "They only do everiting"

Why have an unreliable end expensive piece of sh1t like the "crap box please three fixme whit no games and DLC, except gaylo RRODST in sub HD and ONLY FOR (NORTH) AMERICANS... and CRAPZA "GT5 wannabe" 3"

[BardockS30Z]

Well my pc is plugged into my 40' bravia and I played and beat me2 and loved it. its not jus gfx but framerate and load times. load times on 360 version are insane and I can see why. and 360 version you need to swap disks. sure u can install it to the 360 but not everyone has a hard drive or an elite. That is pretty lame if you ask me. Also i didnt read if anyone said this but the dlc is free on PC

[rod_furlong]

This is on the top of the front page? Sad. What a horrific article. All five points apply to basically EVERY PC game.

[LONEWOLF231]

Well i get my game on, on the PC,360 and PS3.
Anyways i own both versions PC and 360 and i can only agree with 2 of the reasons and thats the graphics and controls. Especially when looking for resources without the ship upgrades it takes you ages to find something while scanning on the 360 side BUT on the PC upgrades or not the scanning is much faster!

[DuneBuggy]

Read the pamplet..err article

1) Graphics? Yeah I guess they are better.Have a year and half old laptop thats "ok" at games as my current PC.Didnt buy it to game primarily and upgrade options are limited. I'll stick to the 57" HD TV and the $200 console.

2) Controls.I prefer a controller for shooters.I have L4D on PC and the 360. The keyboard layout makes my fingers hurt after a while. Its a personal preference sure and I COULD make my controller work with the laptop..but then...read see 1) graphics. My PC cant do what my $200 console does and I dont "feel" hardcore enough to invest even $500 in a budget "gaming" PC.

3) Digital distribution. I prefer a physical copy I can take to my buddies and play,sell, let collect dust for 5 years and pick back up,etc.

4) Pricing. So I spent 10 bucks more for the game and pay $40 a year for LIVE. I can live with that. There are far costly forms of entertainment I enjoy that lasts a fraction of the time it would take me to go through Mass Effect II. Plus..See #1.Im not going to spend more money to "possibly" save some later.

5) Customization. This gen of consoles now has the little bug patch fixes too.My experence with L4D with both 360/PC showed that they werent that far apart from each other. That and PCs being more "unique" often had more annoying ones specific to people running a certain type of card..etc. Mods and hacks?? I'd rather play the game as its intended.Guess im not that hardcore that I just have to play Zoey naked.

[devilhunterx]

awww, xbutts are such whiny little babies.

[Professor PGX]

Who the heck bothers with mass effect with a gaming PC that runs Crysis? But If you wanna play that monologue filled, blue layer shooting game, PC is the best bet for obvious reasons.