PCs are a lot more hassle if you just want to chill and play games. Not such a b...

skadamat · 2024-09-10T15:58:42 1725983922

I used to have an Xbox Series X and a gaming Pc. I completely agree with this.

PC gaming usually means more freedom but also more responsibility:

- Windows wants to update random stuff all the time

- Other person can't hear me. 5 different software apps want to install their own audio mixer apps

- Game overlay bars - Steam, Epic Games, Windows, Nvidia, all have in-game overlay bars that have to be disabled

- Drivers, drivers, drivers

- Many others.

On the flip side, I wanted to game at 120 - 240 FPS and PC made this easier. For console games, you have to wait for the game developer to support 120 FPS mode and they never do more than 120 (because most people lack high refresh TV's / monitors anyway)

amlib · 2024-09-11T06:33:28 1726036408

That's why I'm a big fan of a linux gaming/home theater PC for the living room. A lot less overhead and upkeep. GNOME + Steam Big picture + Plex/Jellyfin/MPV + Retroarch is a pretty nice "couch experience". The system is very clean and simple, using it is a dream compared to windows, even for normies.

Obviously it's not gonna work for everybody and everything. Depending on what you want to do it might be harder to setup. If you have games from platforms other than Steam you are gonna have a worse time. Also, if you insist on streaming you are gonna be limited to 720p on most services due to DRM (though you can delegate that to a smart TV). And if your hardware isn't quite Linux friendly it will probably end up being more trouble than windows.

imbnwa · 2024-09-10T16:22:36 1725985356

>Game overlay bars - Steam, Epic Games, Windows, Nvidia, all have in-game overlay bars that have to be disabled

I've got like 3 apps trying to hijack either Print Screen or the Xbox Controller big center button.

jwells89 · 2024-09-10T15:47:26 1725983246

Particularly if you want to play with a controller (as is common for a living room/couch setup). Windows somehow has the worst controller support out of all operating systems (including mobile OSes) and if it weren't for Valve patching things up with Steam, it'd be almost unserviceable in that category.

imbnwa · 2024-09-10T16:27:36 1725985656

I just don't undertand how Microsoft puts up the pithy 'Game Bar' and calls it a day. Put up a proper entertainment center UI for Windows that integrates stores, I shouldn't have to install Playnite or anything, which has its issues. Make it optional like PowerToys if you wanna be unrealistic about not 'cannibalizing Xbox sales' or some such nonsense. I should be able to game from any store or pop open Netflix without dealing with Windows 11's UI at all.

resource_waste · 2024-09-10T16:12:13 1725984733

I've been struggling with both Linux and Windows gaming.

Windows gaming is unstable AF, games crash, peripherals don't work, wifi and firewall issues galore. You won't know until you install all 160 gigs.

Linux games work when they work. If its linux compatible or runs on Proton, you are fine. However, not all games are like this. Your favorite 22 year old game, probably wont run, even with proton.

jwells89 · 2024-09-10T16:22:05 1725985325

For games that old the most trouble-free option is probably a Windows 2000 or XP VM using some VM software that offers graphics acceleration.

resource_waste · 2024-09-10T16:10:16 1725984616

I'm the other way. Last time I turned on my xbox, the updates took so long, I got bored and forgot about it.

Retric · 2024-09-10T16:25:38 1725985538

Not sure about XBox but PS5 has rest mode to keep updated. Only uses ~3.5W/hour until it’s actively downloading and installing something which means turning it off is basically pointless unless you’re looking at months of inactivity.

bubblebeard · 2024-09-10T15:54:10 1725983650

Agreed. Whenever I want to play anything on my PC there is always some problem I have to deal with.

jurassicfoxy · 2024-09-10T15:46:36 1725983196

Exactly. Keyboard and mouse? Desk? Software updates? Heaven forbid: Windows? PS5 on the couch is by far the better experience.

sbarre · 2024-09-10T15:49:29 1725983369

I mean, Steam Big Picture is pretty much the same as a couch console experience..

A console is still a more streamlined experience, but you get 90% of the way there with Steam BP, plus you have a general purpose computer as well.

But you spent more for the PC.. Different priorities for different people, for sure..

aspeckt112 · 2024-09-10T16:11:38 1725984698

For the general consumer, the target market of PlayStation, 90% of the way there isn't good enough. The cheaper option is 100% of the way there as far as they're concerned.

JohnBooty · 2024-09-10T19:21:34 1725996094

Well, depends on if a given "general consumer" has basic computer literacy.

If the answer is "yes" then I would say Steam is 100% of the way there. In that case the slight overhead of a desktop OS is not an issue.

sbarre · 2024-09-10T17:32:00 1725989520

> For the general consumer, the target market of PlayStation, 90% of the way there isn't good enough.

Oh come on, really? Big Picture is on par or arguably better than the PS4 interface was, and way better than previous generation consoles, and those all sold very well to the "general consumer"...

I think you're just trying to argue for argument's sake here...

I picked 90% as an arbitrary number, so you're literally arguing against a made up number..

My point to the GP was that gaming on PC doesn't have to be "Windows, keyboards and mice" and there's a perfectly good, and polished, store/couch/controller experience available to anyone who wants it, even if consoles are still incrementally better.

aspeckt112 · 2024-09-11T07:33:17 1726039997

I'm a hardcore PC gamer. I have a Switch, which I play Nintendo exclusives on, but other than that there's not a console in my house.

I'm telling you for a fact that almost all the people I interact with day to day RE games don't give a shit how good or accessible PC gaming is now. They're going to buy a console no matter what. That's the general consumer I'm talking about.

I'll come back to this and eat my words if this thing doesn't sell out. I think they've got more money than sense personally.