A PC gamer chats with a console fanatic...

[Brian Damage]

PCG: Hey, have you heard about Half-Life 2? It's looking to be one of the better games coming out this year...

CF: Nah, sorry, haven't. What's it about?

PCG: Oh, it's a sequel to Half-Life, one of my favourite games. Have you played Half-Life?

CF: Um... I think I've heard about it...

PCG: 'twas a good game... a first person shooter.

CF: Like Halo?

PCG: Yeah, I suppose...

CF: 'cos Halo's a really great game.

PCG: I suppose it has its moments. But Half-Life 2 is gonna be really awesome. Cool graphics, gr-

CF: Halo has cool graphics! Halo has the best graphics!

PCG: Um... well I suppose it looks nice enough, bu-

CF: Yeah, if you look at the stuff in the game, some of it actually has this, like, shiney effect on it. Looks really cool.

PCG: Well, Half-Life 2 can apply normal maps to surfaces in the game that make it look like a model or surface has more polygonal detail than it really does.

CF: Oh, yeah, Halo can do that too...

[Pause]

PCG: [Shaking head] Lets see... Half-Life 2's got this rather neat expanded Havok physics system, an-

CF: Y'know a game that's got great physics? Halo! 'cos if you've got, like, one dude standing still firing a rocket launcher, and like, one dude running while firing a rocket launcher, the rockets from the guy running go faster than the ones from the guy standing still!

[CF nods solemnly]

PCG: Um... okay, well, Half-Life 2 has loads of objects in every area that are actually physically simulated, so that they move around and interact with each other almost as they would in real life.

CF: Woah... you'd need a really powerful graphics card to handle that!

PCG: What the f... what do you mean? The graphics card doesn't perform the physics calculations, the CPU does!

CF: Pffft, yeah, right. Noob. There's this little secondary processor on your computer's graphics card that handles all the physics. 's called the FPU, the Physics Processing Unit.

[pause]

PCG: I'm going to go find something to do that doesn't feel like ramming a square peg into a circular hole.

CG: I'm gonna go play Halo!

(This actually happened earlier this evening. I'm not naming names, and I'd like to state here that I'm perfectly aware that at least 10% of hardcore console fans aren't like this. I've never met any of them, but I imagine they're out there somewhere.)

 

[Bad^Hat]

CF: Y'know a game that's got great physics? Halo! 'cos if you've got, like, one dude standing still firing a rocket launcher, and like, one dude running while firing a rocket launcher, the rockets from the guy running go faster than the ones from the guy standing still!

I am going to try this.

 

[Brian Damage]

Please do. I'd love to tell him if he was wrong.

 

[Seppo]

PCG: What the f... what do you mean? The graphics card doesn't perform the physics calculations, the CPU does!

CF: Pffft, yeah, right. Noob. There's this little secondary processor on your computer's graphics card that handles all the physics. 's called the FPU, the Physics Processing Unit.

That is so funny. I wish I'd heard the conversation. Did the guy actually call the other a n00b? Even if he didn't, that's still a terribly good analysis of a hardcore console gamer.

 

[IchI]

Hmmmm, noob is a term from PC gamers. If he was a console gamer I can't see how he knows this.

The conversation is a little crappy. I can honestly said I have had much better arguments with console 'noobs'.

 

[The Mullinator]

Hmmmm, noob is a term from PC gamers. If he was a console gamer I can't see how he knows this.

The conversation is a little crappy. I can honestly said I have had much better arguments with console 'noobs'.

I don't have X-box but couldn't it have come onto the console scene from X-box Live?

 

[Brian Damage]

I forget if he actually said "noob" or something else (the whole thing took about a minute), but the sentiment was the same.

 

[KagePrototype]

(This actually happened earlier this evening. I'm not naming names, and I'd like to state here that I'm perfectly aware that at least 10% of hardcore console fans aren't like this. I've never met any of them, but I imagine they're out there somewhere.)

And I pity them.

 

[Warbie]

I'd say around 10% of pc gamers are easily as obtuse. A far higher percentage are extremely arrogant and short sighted when it comes to gaming.

Many console fans are as discerning as the keenest and most informed pc gamer - infact i'd say that many demand higher quality in their video games (and, as most 'great' games appear on consoles, I believe they get it)

All imo of course

 

[AcousticToad]

FPU hehehe, i like that.

 

[h00dlum]

LOL is this real?...haha

 

[AmishSlayer]

I'd say around 10% of pc gamers are easily as obtuse. A far higher percentage are extremely arrogant and short sighted when it comes to gaming.

Many console fans are as discerning as the keenest and most informed pc gamer - infact i'd say that many demand higher quality in their video games (and, as most 'great' games appear on consoles, I believe they get it)

All imo of course

Amen...and such.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

can u say "Halo fanboy" ?? :E

 

[Kristafon]

I was very insulted once...

My friend, anouther console freak, wanted to borrow half-life. I neatly packaged it up for him and gave it to him, only for him to practically throw it back at me and say "What? I thought it was for XBOX, I dont want it now!"

Harumph

EDIT Ok does a video card have a physics processing unit or is that BS?

 

[Seppo]

Ok does a video card have a physics processing unit or is that BS?

Yep, that is BS. And if there ever was a physics processing unit, I'd imagine that it was built inside the actual PC processor instead of the video card.

 

[kiwii]

your making this up right?

 

[Brian Damage]

Nope. CF is a friend of mine. For future reference, CF is an unusual person... the sort who, for instance, manages to crash his car three or four times a year, and thinks it's "cool" to get rid of the weeds in his garden by using an aerosol/match combo on them.

No joke.

 

[dart321]

I hate consoles, thats why I have an Xbox.

 

[<RJMC>]

are PC fanboys that are like that console fanboy

the fanatisn is begin to be stupid

 

[nicrd]

Why are some poeple so close minded? Maybe I'm just from another world or something, but isn't the word "fanboy" an insult ?

 

[Delicious Bass]

lol i have a couple friends like that. sometimes it gets really annoying to talk to them cuz they never understand anything. i am a huge pc guy, consoles are ok for multiplayer, but i just dont feel right playing singleplayer games on a console

 

[Hazar]

ROFL!

hahaha, there are so many stupid people like that where I live.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Nope. CF is a friend of mine. For future reference, CF is an unusual person... the sort who, for instance, manages to crash his car three or four times a year, and thinks it's "cool" to get rid of the weeds in his garden by using an aerosol/match combo on them.

No joke.

I'm trying to see what isn't cool about flaming weeds :O





Some console gamers are like this, but the majority probably don't really care about PC's much at all and simply don't know what you can get on a PC.

Go into a typical game shop around here nowadays, and where there used to be a wall dedicate to PC games, they now have the Xbox charts, and games. Another wall goes to PS2, and then the rest is devided up between PC and misc stuff...including education games :x

 

[Dalamari]

I don't have this problem, I just berate them and make them feel like a little girl until they accept my point.

 

[Epyon]

I had a arguemnt at school today about how Halo 2 isnt anything special. Of course, it ended up talking about which is better, PC or xbox. Of couse its PC, but i couldnt get it through the kids head. Then it ended up talking about video cards and the kid said (and he wasnt jokeing) "Yea well when you play halo 2 it installs a videocard into your xbox"...so i just left.

 

[Ames]

I had a arguemnt at school today about how Halo 2 isnt anything special. Of course, it ended up talking about which is better, PC or xbox. Of couse its PC, but i couldnt get it through the kids head. Then it ended up talking about video cards and the kid said (and he wasnt jokeing) "Yea well when you play halo 2 it installs a videocard into your xbox"...so i just left.

Ah, the New York Education System at its best.

 

[ButtHoleMcGee]

****, I don't have my own FPU. How am I going to see any physics?

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Nope. CF is a friend of mine. For future reference, CF is an unusual person... the sort who, for instance, manages to crash his car three or four times a year, and thinks it's "cool" to get rid of the weeds in his garden by using an aerosol/match combo on them.

No joke.

At least he's doing something productive with the flames. Not burning other things

 

[Sparta]

I had a arguemnt at school today about how Halo 2 isnt anything special. Of course, it ended up talking about which is better, PC or xbox. Of couse its PC, but i couldnt get it through the kids head. Then it ended up talking about video cards and the kid said (and he wasnt jokeing) "Yea well when you play halo 2 it installs a videocard into your xbox"...so i just left.

Oh lord are you serious? Thats baaaaaaaaaaaaad, how old was this kid?

 

[nicrd]

Go into a typical game shop around here nowadays, and where there used to be a wall dedicate to PC games, they now have the Xbox charts, and games. Another wall goes to PS2, and then the rest is devided up between PC and misc stuff...including education games :x

Of course game shops don't have a lot of pc games, everybody downloads them on the net.


Why are you guys debating on which is "better" between the PC and consoles ? Just play what you like and stop saying its better because you like it for whatever reasons.

 

[Asuka]

Iv seen that happen. Is sad but oh well.

 

[Naudian]

I.m.o.

'swhat I think:

Console Systems are better for Racing/Driving games and stuff. (GT1/2/3/4 and uh...Driv3r???)

PCs are better for...everything else. (Mostly FPS and Strategy)
[Even though I have seen some cool racing games for PC (ToCa and Xpand Rally look neat)]

Mind you this is a royally simplified version of my real opinion...
And that conversation is like...unbelievably unbelievable :rolling:

 

[<RJMC>]

'swhat I think:

Console Systems are better for Racing/Driving games and stuff. (GT1/2/3/4 and uh...Driv3r???)

PCs are better for...everything else. (Mostly FPS and Strategy)
[Even though I have seen some cool racing games for PC (ToCa and Xpand Rally look neat)]

Mind you this is a royally simplified version of my real opinion...
And that conversation is like...unbelievably unbelievable :rolling:

IMO the console is also good for more games that races games only

ans the PC is better for strategy and FPS but that dont mean that they cant be played in a console

 

[Jackal hit]

'swhat I think:

Console Systems are better for Racing/Driving games and stuff. (GT1/2/3/4 and uh...Driv3r???)

PCs are better for...everything else. (Mostly FPS and Strategy)
[Even though I have seen some cool racing games for PC (ToCa and Xpand Rally look neat)]

Mind you this is a royally simplified version of my real opinion...
And that conversation is like...unbelievably unbelievable :rolling:

yeah i kinda agree... console is better for driving and sports games pc is better for sims, rts, fps games along those lines...

 

[CyberSh33p]

I have a friend(I hate the guy) who is exactly like that. Except most of his arguments are "Shut up... halo is the best game ever!" or "Shut up! Half-Life 2 sucks!" or "Sh... Shut up!"

 

[Brian Damage]

I'm trying to see what isn't cool about flaming weeds :O

Oh, it'd be cool if anyone else did it, but we try not to let this guy near flammable substances or sharp objects on general principle.

 

[disruptioN_]

I used to have conversations like this with my Halo-fanatic friend all the time. It was great.

 

[Warbie]

I personally think consoles are better for single player games (especially in terms of challenge and longevity) and multiplayer with a small no. of people (2-4)

If you're into adventure, driving, sports, JPN RPGs, platformers, beat em ups, party/social games, cool peripherals (fishing rods, lightguns, marracas, drums, dance mats \o/) [and single player fps that actually require some skill ] then consoles are the only choice.

I also find there's far more quality, challenge, creativity, innovation and variety in console titles - from Samba De Amigo and Donkey Konga, to Rez, Ico, Viewtiful Joe, House of the Dead, Eye Toy, Monkey Ball .......... the list goes on and on.

Don't get me wrong - pc gaming is great, but also very insular - catering for few genres and offering little variety (in comparison) There's also few quality titles, imo.

(look at any 'greatest pc games' thread ...... all the same titles keep cropping up - Half Life, Deus Ex, Grim Fandango, Baldurs Gate, Fallout, Planescape, Starcraft, Civ, XCom, Doom etc - all great games, but all old :/ There was a time when pc gaming would innovate and surprise us with quality title after quality title. Not so anymore, games like these are now very few and far between)

Of course, the pc is the platform of choice for mmorpg, rts, online fps etc. Add mods, communities/irc/forums and leagues/tournies and you can see why pc gaming is so attractive.

(imo pc gaming is about the whole package, rather than just the games - and this is it's strongest feature )

 

[Dr. Freeman]

I had a arguemnt at school today about how Halo 2 isnt anything special. Of course, it ended up talking about which is better, PC or xbox. Of couse its PC, but i couldnt get it through the kids head. Then it ended up talking about video cards and the kid said (and he wasnt jokeing) "Yea well when you play halo 2 it installs a videocard into your xbox"...so i just left.

omg Hahahaahahaahahahahahaaha... :|
...hahahahahaha
okay, thats sad.. PC games installing video cards?
wow.. someone is really out of the loop..

 

[Jackal hit]

okay i just remembered something from a video game art class i have. there are mostly console fanboys in that class. especially one that is supposed to be a real hardcore gamer, who goes to siggraph and e3 regularly... and well... these guys think the pc is a tool, and games belong on consoles only. well the teacher showed the e3 2003 video of halflife 2, and the console guys were totally blown away. it was pretty funny really. they still talk about how halo2 is gonna be the best game of all time though. the teacher asked me of my impressions of games like doom3 and the original halo, and the console kids were practically frothing at the mouth when i said halo felt a little too easy, fun, but nothing special. mehhhh.