What is so attractive about console gaming?

[Riftaxe]

This was the last console game i actually enjoyed playing.

Console controls are horrible, beyond horrid even. So damn small i can cup my xbox 360 controller in one hand.
There is no precision and the platforms themselves do not lend themselves to anything involved enough to require much thinking.

Obviously there is a market out there, but it completely stumps me as to why anyone would limit themselves so, so I ask you whyis it that you would prefer a console game to a PC?

[Broken_Hero]

1. I like consoles because

of the ease to use them, turn them on game boots up, and I like the controllers as well, and the bonus of being able to hook it up to larger tvs.

I know you can hook up laptops and what not to the tv, but I've almost always gravitated towards consoles for gaming. I don't like using the keyboard at all, and using laptops for such long periods of time looking at smaller screen's really strains my eyes, plus my wife can cruze the internet on the laptop while I'm hacking enemies on Skyrim.

I'm a creature of habit I suppose and have just stuck with consoles. My pc gaming consists of Hearts, Solitaire, and Conquest.

[Riftaxe]

2. Fair enough

There certianly is something to be said for HDMI/RCA inputs. At least no one has pulled hair out about compatibility with a TV

Anyone idiotic enough to buy an ATI video card knows all about drivers...back in 2000 they sucked, i took a chance on them in 2008 and lord the drivers still sucked, I mean as in 8 years of people complaining about bad drivers and they decided the could do it even more poorly. They see specs and not give a shit about whether their product is usable or not.

[LeftOfSelf-Centered]

3. I wouldn't know...

I grew up on computers, and was never really attracted to buying a console. But then the only console exclusive game I really want to play is "NCAA Football", and now even that one's going the way of the Dodo. Maybe now I could pick up a last gen console for little money so that I can at least play the last NCAA Football edition...

Anyway, back on topic. I grew up on the Commodore 64 and Amiga, as did all of my friends, no one had a console (NES or Sega Master System, at the time). Obviously the fact that I was in Europe had lots to do with it, I don't think consoles here really caught on until the PS1. Later I bought a PC to play "X-Wing" and ave been on the PC ever since.

Like many others there are some things that I have lamented about console-centric game development: regenerating health, checkpoint save systems, dodgily implemented mouse/keyboard controls, bundling a bunch of disparate actions to a single key... the list is long. One thing that never bothered me is the slowing down of the graphics arms race. It meant that my six year old rig (Core2Quad 8200 and GeForce 8800) has performed fine over the years.

The only thing about PC gaming that I would like to get away from (besides UPlay, Origin and friends) is Windows. Win7 was fine, but I have no desire to "upgrade" to Win8. I'm hoping SteamOS works out, even thought that won't account for older games and I'll still need to run Win7 for music production.

[Riftaxe]

5. The nice thing about about window 8

Is that we heading further away from WFW(and NT!) compatibility issues. The bad thing is that not everyone runs only 8 programs, lord if that crap ever popped up on my android tablet (123 apps and counting) I would run to the nearest Chinese knock off OS.

As we speak i am dealing with insurance issues and windows 8 keeps getting in the way of filling out the forms, it is pretty dismal as a GUI, since the public has overwhelming renounced it's GUI but it insists on doing somethings that classic shell is not good enough.

I would put my chances of buying a window tablet with the existing GUI at less the 1%, hell I actually use my tablet, is a bloody shame the people at MS don't use theirs often enough to avoid the obvious.

[NuclearDem]

4. I always found console controllers more ergonomic for shooters and RPGs.

I wouldn't want to try to play an RTS on an Xbox, but I'm fine having a Playstation for Mass Effect or an Xbox for Skyrim.

The level of thought in a game shouldn't be determined by its controller but by the gameplay mechanics. Most good RPGs on the market require a decent level of thought when it comes to choosing the right equipment and tactics for a given situation.

I'm both a PC and console gamer. RPGs and shooters for consoles, RTS's on the PC.

[Riftaxe]

6. I have trouble even with the console ports

Even ignoring the design decisions designed to piss you off like bioshock infinite's save system (in the end it does not have one, if i lose 10-20 minutes every time).

They just are way to small for adults.

[Bjorn Against]

7. I like both console and PC, each has their advantages and disadvantages

PC has the superior hardware but also can bring frustrating technical issues, consoles are not quite as pwerful but are really easy to use and bring far fewer headaches. When you buy a console game you know that it is going to run on your system, there is no worrying about system requirements, no need to turn down graphical features to make it run better, no need to upgrade your hardware every year, with consoles you just put the disc in and it works.

PC has some great things going for it, Steam beats any console gaming service by a mile and being able to use mods greatly enhances the gaming experience, but it requires a greater investment of both time and money just to get started.

I think PC is the more serious platform while consoles are the platforms that just allows you to relax and play your game on the couch without worrying about having to tweek everything.

There are advantages and disadvantages with both consoles and PC and I switch back and forth between Playstation and PC to get the advantages of each.