Making the leap from console to PC gaming

So I have been a console player since the first Playstation and after that I have owned PS2&3. The PC has always been the lesser platform for me the only games I have really played on it have been Dawn of War and Battlefield 2 and 2142. My PC was crappy thing bought from my friend and used to only surf the web and MSN.

Then came the changing moment. I went away for a weekend and when I came back my PC was broken. I don't even know what happened. It just refused to boot up. So I was faced with the choice of buying a new PC or fixing the old. I chose to put some money into it and get a decent computer for once in my life. So I cashed in the 1000 euros and leaped into PC gaming.

The first day went with installing different programs and downloading updates. Then I installed my first game to my new PC. I had bought Crysis Maxium Edition with 10 euros but I was faced with the first of problems that scare the console players... My CD key didn't work. I installed the Crysis but Warheads key wouldn't work. Somebody probably had used it with key generator (BTW thx for all the pirates making life harder for us who buy our games). So I wasn't too upset because it was the Warhead not working so I thought I send e-mail to EA. It isn't as easy as I thought I could choose between calling their expensive customer line or sending them a "question" over net. The net form was broken and I'm not gonna pay for calling them so I haven't done anything yet.

So a minor setback nothing too frustrating. I bought Dawn of War 2, Arma 2, Mass Effect 2 and Need for Speed Underground 2 and Most Wanted (The ones actually worth playing). All of those worked well but then I bought Left 4 Dead 2. Well somebody had used the CD Key so I contacted the steam support. So I found out that if I had bought the game from an online store valve wouldn't do anything to give me back the CD key. It was lucky that I had bought it from actual store and had receipt and could takes pictures of the game and CD key for them but it took me well over 2 hours work and took 3 days before I was able to play this game. After this I was little irritated but pushed on.

So then I decided to get my first on-demand game. I bought Battlefield Bad Company 2 and I was delighted that it was so easy and fast. So now I had some decent games and had played them multiple hours. I have to agree that playing FPS games on PC is easier than on the console but playing Assassins Creed 2 and Batman Arkham Asylum at my friends place I have to say that games like that belong to console and are easier to play on them.

For now I'm waiting for my Empire: Total War and I'm embarking on a journey to learn the secrets of EVE: Online. I know this will be a hard thing to do and I will get frustrated but I'll get trough it as I learned to play Arma 2 too.

I will soon write about my adventures with EVE and maybe the Empire. I have also thought about Hearts of Iron and Civilization IV and would want to know if they are any good. If there are mistakes in the grammar point them out so I can work on them as I'm a Finn.

[theonlylolking]

Seems like PC gaming is stressfull. I dont PC game much but I am glad I dont.

[poindat]

I'm primarily a console gamer, and ease of use plays a lot into that. But unfortunately my PS3 decided to YLOD on me last week and I lost all my saves and don't yet have the money for a replacement. Because of that, I've temporarily turned my focus to PC gaming until I can get the motivation to replace the damned console; and I have to say, I've discovered that the extra effort put into gaming on a PC is usually well worth it.

There's no denying that the PC is definitely a lot more flexible and capable than a console, but you just have to find a compromise somewhere between ease of use (or the lack thereof) and the advantages of PC gaming. Usually that compromise comes once everything has been set up and is stable and the game is finally running with the same ease found on consoles. It's the initial bit that's the stressful one, and then from there on out it is (usually) pretty smooth sailing.

But that's just my view as a console gamer forced to PC gaming out of necessity., and discovering its pros and cons.

[avengers1978]

PC gaming is just to damn expensive... My friend just spent 3300 dollars on a gaming rig PC, and another built one for around 1900 dollars just to be able to play Starcraft 2, and crysis 1 and 2.
I'm also sick of PC gamers thinking they are so superior, and so smart, FYI building a computer from scratch isn't really that hard, and just because you spend more money to play games means absolutely nothing.
Gaming belongs to the console.

[Theo1130]

a mac book could play starcraft 2, and those are 1000, so your "friend" spending 1900 just to be able play sc2 is a lie. I spent less than 1500 to build a i7 920 W/ 4 gigs of ram and 2 5870's, this machine will last me about a decade. once again people talking about things they don't know about, then again this is n4g...in fact the blog wasn't even about how much he spent on his pc, rather it was about the trials he went through, yet you still some how come to this conclusion. Learn how to think outside the box

On topic, i have never had a problem with pc game activations, just get in through steam directly and you'll never have a problem.

[Ravenor]

He get a solid gold case? 3300 dollars is a massive waste, tell your friend to do some research next time.

[Dramscus]

I used to be a strictly pc gamer.
I had a nice top of the line pc that could play oblivion at max settings with OOO and a bunch of other mods that made the game more graphically and memory intensive.
Two years later after overclocking my graphics card and melting it I didn't feel like spending the small fortune that would have been required to get a new pc capable of playing current games at full settings (because as we all know. Go full or go home).
So I went out and got a $400 ps3 and have been happy ever since.
It looks great on my tv (which I upgraded after getting the ps3), it has great games, I haven't had to upgrade it since my purchase, and it only has one set of settings.

Personally unless your cool with spending 1000 or so a year to keep your pc pumping out top of the line graphics. Or are totally fine with your graphics being a bit lower. Consoles are probably the way to go.

The only thing I miss from the pc is being able to mod games.
When I'm rich I'll be a PC gamer again.

[jjesso1993]

1000 year i don't think you ever been a pc gamer spending 1000 on pc would get i7 2 5870 or 1 5970 6-8gb ddr3 ram and couple 1tb hdds a good psu. none this would need upgrading for years and you would still be able play all games at 1080p 60+fps.

[Dramscus]

There are video cards that cost 2-3 grand alone. Even just trading up your old parts and paying off the difference will add up to around a grand after twelve months.
Not to mention bi annually upgrading the motherboard, and possibly the os if your into that kind of thing.

Seems like you've never been a pc gamer.

[Nihilism]

Way to fail, the most expensive and fastest reference card money can buy is $650, the 5970.

[avengers1978]

Do some research yourseleves these are not uncommon prices to be paying. Alienware PC's and Labtops are expensive as hell and if you buy top of the line everything to build your own PC then your in for quit a bit of cash.

[Theo1130]

you don't need top of the line hardware to play games, a 5770 which is only 150 can run mafia 2 max @60 fps. While the console versions are running about 25 fps on low with no aa. that 5770 can run crysis, BFBC2, and any game coming out this or next year. And 2 to 3 years down the line, if you have to start playing games on medium settings, they will still look better at medium than their console counter parts. So saying that you have to get the most expensive top of the line hardware is a really faulty statement. one that people who don't game on pc or never would don't understand

[Thecraft1989]

Jesso is right 1000 year is stupid and you would not even find reason to spend that much. If serious in starting in pc gaming you would do research and find that buying an alienware is stupid. or any pre built pc. and as jjesso pointed out you could build pc that would last 5+ years or even as long console generation with out spending 1000 a year on it. I think you are one that should research.

[karlowma]

First of all, welcome to a better world. :)

While I've never had a problem activating retail product keys, you can avoid a lot of irritation (provided you have a solid internet connection) by purchasing online. Obviously you've discovered Steam, and probable know to watch for the amazing sales they often have, but don't forget to check out some of the other popular, though lesser known, online distributors such as Impulse and Direct2Drive.

A further note on action games; you mention Assassin's Creed 2 and Arkham Asylum were easier to play on consoles. I assume you are referring to the controls. You will be interested to know that you can use an Xbox 360 controller on your PC just by plugging it in and downloading the driver. If you have wireless controllers, there is a wireless dongle you can buy from Microsoft for like 20 bucks. You can use the PS3 controller as well, though there are no official drivers for it.

Good luck with Eve. Massively Multiplayer games are truly the realm of the PC. If you're interested in a polished experience, I definitely suggest giving the World or Warcraft and Lord of the Rings Online trials a go. Also, there are many, many free to play (F2P) games available on PC, my favorite being League of Legends.

Check out this vid, and have a look at the rest of the MMOHut channel for lots of first looks and reviews on MMO games: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Good luck and have fun!

[Got2bemad2behere]

I have been looking into different online stores like Impulse and Direct2Drive. I won't be playing WoW as it rips out people souls of their bodies and makes them zombies but I have been thinking about getting a LOTRO trial. Another thing is I really try not to get anything xbox this might be fanboyish but goshdarnit thats the way I live. I have found already many gaming pads but I still prefer console on these kinds of games as my friends get them on PS3 especially when the AC Brotherhood comes out. Thank you for your comment.

[Cajun Chicken]

PC gaming is good, but if you ask me, it used to be better. Going about 10 years ago, nothing could beat PC. It's only after about 2004 that PC gaming in my opinion started to pail in comparison and wasn't all that different to consoles.

[ATi_Elite]

Congratulations on your graduation from filthy consoles to the club of the PC Elite.

I never ever had a problem activating retail keys before. Hope you got it worked out. Remember Google and PC gamers in the forums are your friends now. We are all Family.

Steam is really all you need so learn to love it because Steam loves it's PC gamers.

You got some great games there. May I suggest the Stalker Series as it's the best. Maybe I'll see you on the battlefield in Arma II through my scope of course.

I knew a guy who was into Eve online. I haven't seen him in months.
Good luck with Eve online and say goodbye to reality as Eve will become your world. lol