Explaining PC gaming to a console friend

walk on

walk on

walk on

Associate
Joined
19 Jun 2011
Posts
241
So I invited round a friend, he a gamer, has been for years but has always stuck with Sony consoles and more importantly, joypads. I introduced to him to some PC games.. First I tried Diablo 3, after 15 mins he suggested trying something else. He said the camera point of view didn't make him feel involved and using the mouse to move gave no control of the character. Next we put on Dota 2, same response. After that we tried World of Warcraft, after noting that the graphics where like a Ps2 and saying the camera was too far from the character to be able to draw you in but liking seeing different people on the screen in the city, he asked for a racing game. C.A.R.S was chosen, but not being able to control the game well soon led to another switch. Counter Strike Go was the pick, however after 10 minutes of play and 15 deaths we decided to watch a movie.

Is it me and my games choice that's bad, or is it the control method? Ive often enjoyed playing Fifa and GTA at his house but it seems returning the favor is harder than I thought. Do you have any similar experiences?
 
For me using a mouse and keyboard to control a player in a FPS game is far harder to learn initially then a game pad therefore it will feel alien to him. If you let him play C.A.R.S with a mouse and keyboard I don't really blame him for having problems.
 
If he hasn't grown up with a mouse and keyboard then he'll find it strange naturally. Also the choice of games he played might not be to his fancy.

He plays FIFA and GTA. You got him to play D3 and WoW, from what he said it seems he doesn't like these sorts of games. CS:GO put him off due to what I said first, he's probably used to playing COD so of course he was going to get wrecked using M&KB.

Next time, ask him to bring his PS3 round, that's the beauty of consoles.

Also in my personal experience, I've never asked my mates to come round so we can have a go on one PC, its the console for when multiple people come round because you sit back on the couch and play.
 
I had a similar experience trying to explain PC gaming to my girlfriends dad. He is an avid 360 gamer - plays more COD and Fifa on Live more than anyone else I know.

He reckoned that as consoles were built specifically for gaming in mind, with controllers with an ergonomic design, optimum button locations etc that they will always be better than a PC. In his mind a PC is for office work. A keyboard and mouse set up is way too complex for him. To quote "There's too many effin buttons".

Also, the high price of top end computer components and the faff of having to install and configure each game for optimum performance really makes it seem a waste of time to him. If you can't just stick a disc in and go some people just aren't interested, and to be honest it's easy to understand that.

Each to their own I suppose.
 
Show him Crysis, Witcher 2, Skyrim (with high res texture pack and ENB mod), any of the Stalker games with 'Complete Mod'. I know it's not all about visuals, those games also have great gameplay so I'd say they are good examples of what a quality PC game should aspire to.

If he doesn't like any of those then you should obviously be choosing your friends more wisely!:p
 
Shocking game choice... DOTA2 for a PC Gaming novice? Should've sat him down infront of something like Modded Crysis, Stalker, Portal, Half Life, Total War e.t.c. The kind of experiences you can only get on a PC.
 
At the bare minimum you should have shown him GTA IV with mods on the PC.

CS:GO is a bit of a hard one for a console gamer to pickup. They're used to barely moving a thumb and aim-assists to help shoot people, not an accurate twitch movement of the mouse.

Other than that, things like Skyrim may be a good choice, Fallout 3 perhaps as well.
 
So you went from, Diablo III, to DOTA 2, to WOW. They are hardly much different in terms of how you play them (View etc.) so you probably could have guessed he wouldn't like them after not liking diablo.

CS has a rather steep learning curve, for someone that's only ever played on consoles will struggle immensely, but the point should get across that aiming with a m+k is far superior - can't say it's rubbish just cause he sucked at it.
 
thing if a keyboard and mouser user was to go back to a gaMEpad etc it will feel awkard as hell, especially to aim in fps games anyway, so i guess its the same both ways.
 
kaotikuk said:
thing if a keyboard and mouser user was to go back to a gaMEpad etc it will feel awkard as hell, especially to aim in fps games anyway, so i guess its the same both ways.
Click to expand...

This is so true, I really struggle with a gamepad so I'd never expect a consolite to get the same experience as me.

Plus those are poor games to introduce a person to, Skyrim modded always works for my consolite friends
 
I have been a pc gamer for years but just cannot get into those sorts of RPGs! They may have been not his style of games. A modded Skyrim maybe. Borderlands 2 with physX. AoE III or Anno, for good strategygames that don't need a close camera to 'feel' the protagonist.

As for the keyboard and mouse, if he hasn't ever gamed with one he isn't going to be used to naturally covering wasd + ctrl + e/f, or the quick reactions needed in any type of pc game really. He will have quick reactions with thumbs instea!
 
I agree to use highly modded versions of console games and also ones where he can use a controller. I moved from 15 years of console gaming to PC gaming 3 years ago and I still cannot use a keyboard and mouse to play, it is just too hard and unnatural. I use a ps3 controller and xpadder for my games.

Also if you are not able to use modded console games look for unique games like total wars or paradox games for example. It was mount and blade which made me give up console gaming for good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom