Skashion
Well-Known Member
Whilst the console kiddies get all excited I think it's time for a reminder as to why PC gaming is so awesome.
Backwards compatibility
Out of the major console manufacturers none of the console manufacturers has anything like a perfect record of supporting the previous console. The Xbox was only partially compatible with the 360, the 360 isn’t at all compatible with the Xbox One. The PS2 was backwards compatible, however the PS3 was only partially backwards compatible and only the versions with the Emotion chip which added expense to the machine. PS4 not at all backwards compatible. Nintendo is probably the best but even then it’s patchy, for instance there was zero compatibility between the N64 and the Gamecube. However, the PC is so backwards compatible that I can play games from the 90s, and early noughties, and no, I’m not joking. Will post screenshots. This means I have a terrific game collection which spans basically my whole life. From Assassins Creed IV, released this very month to an open-source clone of Transport Tycoon originally released in 1994, to all N64 games, Red Alert 2 and Metal Gear Solid 2 released in 2000, Generals in 2003 etc.
Full list of current installed games:
Got to love a game from 1994 running in 2013:
[bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/PalE7xA.png[/bigimg]
Futureproofing
Linking into the point above, because PCs are manufactured with upgrades in mind, games are somewhat futureproofed meaning that even though current hardware might not be capable of delivering the graphics the game developer wants you to have, future upgrades make it a possibility. I will post some screenshots to show what I mean.
[bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/BWSvNYJ.png[/bigimg]
Possibly you won't remember, but I can guarantee you that Metal Gear Solid 2 (Substance edition), released ten years ago in 2003, didn't look this good on your PS2.
For instance, in the future, even though my PC is currently nowhere near being able to run 4k games, plus I don’t have a 4k monitor, Assassins Creed IV has 4k built-in, so when I do get that hardware, as I will eventually, it will look even more spectacular, whereas the console versions will stay the same.
Flexibility
Now this is a big point and perhaps it should be split into three separate ones (Mouse & Keyboard, Modding and Emulators) but hopefully, you’ll see what I’m going for when I say flexibility.
Easy one to start with – how easy it is to jump between a mouse/keyboard and a control pad. The official Xbox 360 wireless controller is available for PC so you can have console controls for games which suit it better – driving games, platformers. Then switch to mouse/keyboard for First Person Shooters. It’s so flexible in fact, that during GTA IV, where I mostly use mouse/keyboard, for the helicopter missions, where mouse/keyboard is very difficult, I just turn on the controller and seconds later I can use the controller. Then as soon as I’m out of the chopper and needing to gun someone down, back to mouse/keyboard I go.
Another is that PCs allow you to mod easily. There are some amazing mods, especially for the most popular games out there. The modding community practically create whole new games at times, and add very popular features in others. During GTA IV, did the lack of businesses piss you off? <a class="postlink" href="http://www.gta4-mods.com/script/farnsworths-business-mod-complete-v2-f21460" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.gta4-mods.com/script/farnswo ... -v2-f21460</a> Or did you want real car looks and names? <a class="postlink" href="http://www.gta4-mods.com/vehicles/realistic-car-pack-v4-f8054" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.gta4-mods.com/vehicles/reali ... k-v4-f8054</a> Or want to cruise around in the Batman Tumbler? <a class="postlink" href="http://www.gta4-mods.com/textures/hd-batman-tumbler-retexture-v2-f17027" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.gta4-mods.com/textures/hd-ba ... -v2-f17027</a> Or perhaps some nude mods, always good fun.
Finally, there’s the emulators. Not always perfect (except Project64 which is very close) but again as PCs move forward and the emulators get better, not only can PCs play PC games from any era with little to no trouble usually, they can play past console games with a time lag. Witness a 32 MB ROM of Ocarina of Time transformed into a thing of beauty running in 1600 x 1200 resolution – it has no right looking this good for a game that’s fifteen years old and crammed into just 32 MB:
[bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/4PThlsN.png[/bigimg] [bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/NuzsQKp.png[/bigimg] [bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/pBLF0vo.png[/bigimg]
That's why PC gaming, console kiddies. Please note, it's all in good fun. I own consoles too. :-)
Backwards compatibility
Out of the major console manufacturers none of the console manufacturers has anything like a perfect record of supporting the previous console. The Xbox was only partially compatible with the 360, the 360 isn’t at all compatible with the Xbox One. The PS2 was backwards compatible, however the PS3 was only partially backwards compatible and only the versions with the Emotion chip which added expense to the machine. PS4 not at all backwards compatible. Nintendo is probably the best but even then it’s patchy, for instance there was zero compatibility between the N64 and the Gamecube. However, the PC is so backwards compatible that I can play games from the 90s, and early noughties, and no, I’m not joking. Will post screenshots. This means I have a terrific game collection which spans basically my whole life. From Assassins Creed IV, released this very month to an open-source clone of Transport Tycoon originally released in 1994, to all N64 games, Red Alert 2 and Metal Gear Solid 2 released in 2000, Generals in 2003 etc.
Full list of current installed games:
- Assassin’s Creed IV, Assassin’s Creed III, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and Assassin’s Creed II
- Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes From Liberty City (I have San Andreas, Vice City and GTA III and they all work too and can be installed in minutes).
- Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 and Uprising ‘expansion’ (really a standalone), Generals and Red Alert 2
- Just Cause 2
- Mafia II
- L.A. Noire
- FIFA 14
- Call of Duty Black Ops (have Black Ops II but not installed at moment), Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, and World at War. Ghosts is out for PC but haven’t got it yet.
- Battlefront II
- Metal Gear Solid 2
- Sims 3
- OpenTTD
Got to love a game from 1994 running in 2013:
[bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/PalE7xA.png[/bigimg]
Futureproofing
Linking into the point above, because PCs are manufactured with upgrades in mind, games are somewhat futureproofed meaning that even though current hardware might not be capable of delivering the graphics the game developer wants you to have, future upgrades make it a possibility. I will post some screenshots to show what I mean.
[bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/BWSvNYJ.png[/bigimg]
Possibly you won't remember, but I can guarantee you that Metal Gear Solid 2 (Substance edition), released ten years ago in 2003, didn't look this good on your PS2.
For instance, in the future, even though my PC is currently nowhere near being able to run 4k games, plus I don’t have a 4k monitor, Assassins Creed IV has 4k built-in, so when I do get that hardware, as I will eventually, it will look even more spectacular, whereas the console versions will stay the same.
Flexibility
Now this is a big point and perhaps it should be split into three separate ones (Mouse & Keyboard, Modding and Emulators) but hopefully, you’ll see what I’m going for when I say flexibility.
Easy one to start with – how easy it is to jump between a mouse/keyboard and a control pad. The official Xbox 360 wireless controller is available for PC so you can have console controls for games which suit it better – driving games, platformers. Then switch to mouse/keyboard for First Person Shooters. It’s so flexible in fact, that during GTA IV, where I mostly use mouse/keyboard, for the helicopter missions, where mouse/keyboard is very difficult, I just turn on the controller and seconds later I can use the controller. Then as soon as I’m out of the chopper and needing to gun someone down, back to mouse/keyboard I go.
Another is that PCs allow you to mod easily. There are some amazing mods, especially for the most popular games out there. The modding community practically create whole new games at times, and add very popular features in others. During GTA IV, did the lack of businesses piss you off? <a class="postlink" href="http://www.gta4-mods.com/script/farnsworths-business-mod-complete-v2-f21460" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.gta4-mods.com/script/farnswo ... -v2-f21460</a> Or did you want real car looks and names? <a class="postlink" href="http://www.gta4-mods.com/vehicles/realistic-car-pack-v4-f8054" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.gta4-mods.com/vehicles/reali ... k-v4-f8054</a> Or want to cruise around in the Batman Tumbler? <a class="postlink" href="http://www.gta4-mods.com/textures/hd-batman-tumbler-retexture-v2-f17027" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.gta4-mods.com/textures/hd-ba ... -v2-f17027</a> Or perhaps some nude mods, always good fun.
Finally, there’s the emulators. Not always perfect (except Project64 which is very close) but again as PCs move forward and the emulators get better, not only can PCs play PC games from any era with little to no trouble usually, they can play past console games with a time lag. Witness a 32 MB ROM of Ocarina of Time transformed into a thing of beauty running in 1600 x 1200 resolution – it has no right looking this good for a game that’s fifteen years old and crammed into just 32 MB:
[bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/4PThlsN.png[/bigimg] [bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/NuzsQKp.png[/bigimg] [bigimg]http://i.imgur.com/pBLF0vo.png[/bigimg]
That's why PC gaming, console kiddies. Please note, it's all in good fun. I own consoles too. :-)
