Current Events > Is the PC a "dedicated gaming console" in 2024

(+) Yeah! (+)

Pretty much. Workplaces usually just use laptops, tablets, or phones these days from everything I personally see. PCs are basically gaming consoles/home media devices.

Yes, but you could extend that statement back all the way to the mid '90s and it would still be true

No. You can argue the Steam Deck is, but PCs dont have the same ease of use for normies to qualify as a dedicated console, at least not without someone setting it up for them.

Its still an objectively better platform for gaming, but thats not its purpose. It can do everything, but that requires some technical knowhow in many cases.

PraetorXyn posted...

No. You can argue the Steam Deck is, but PCs dont have the same ease of use for normies to qualify as a dedicated console, at least not without someone setting it up for them.

Its still an objectively better platform for gaming, but thats not its purpose. It can do everything, but that requires some technical knowhow in many cases.

Disagree

TimeCrisis posted...

It can do everything a modern gaming console can and then some so

That's the exact reason it isn't. What do you think the word "dedicated" means?

no

it's for porn too

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

That's the exact reason it isn't. What do you think the word "dedicated" means?

It can be dedicated to play games

It'd have to be able to play every single game released for the platform out of the box to be a "dedicated gaming console." That's literally what makes them dedicated gaming consoles. They don't really do much else, but you know every PS5, Switch, whatever game is going to run on your console, period.

Until everything can be done with a controller then nah.

Punished_Blinx posted...

Until everything can be done with a controller then nah.

Irrelevant

Punished_Blinx posted...

Until everything can be done with a controller then nah.

it could if you wanted it to be that much harder

that's the benefit of a PC

Punished_Blinx posted...

Until everything can be done with a controller then nah.

it can, you just aren't trying hard enough.

Waxitron_Gazer posted...

it can, you just aren't trying hard enough.

look at this perfect same time post

It can be if you want it to be

Waxitron_Gazer posted...

it can, you just aren't trying hard enough.

thronedfire2 posted...

it could if you wanted it to be that much harder

that's the benefit of a PC

How about we go with until it's designed to be used entirely with a controller then.

It ain't great using a thumbstick as a mouse to click settings and download drivers.

TimeCrisis posted...

Irrelevant

This thread is basically you not knowing what the hell dedicated means.

pc is for work related stuff not for gaming

It can be one

If you change this setting, it does. X-Box app games only though.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/e06638a3.jpg

Ratchetrockon posted...

pc is for work related stuff not for gaming

Nah, its for everything. Thats why its not dedicated.

PraetorXyn posted...

Nah, its for everything. Thats why its not dedicated.

And a PS2 is a dvd player that can also run Linux. Your point is invalid

TimeCrisis posted...

And a PS2 is a dvd player that can also run Linux. Your point is invalid

PS5 and Series S/X have all the streaming apps too

TimeCrisis posted...

And a PS2 is a dvd player that can also run Linux. Your point is invalid

No it isnt. Xbox and PS can play DVDs and Blu-Rays to this day. They can also do Netflix and shit, but thats not what theyre for. The purpose of a console is to play games. The purpose of a PC is to do whatever the hell you want to do better than a console could ever do any of it. But the tradeoff there is that you lose that dedicated simplicity for flexibility.

The Steam Deck is purposefully designed and built to be a gaming device right down to the OS, where you can do all the tinkering and tweaking etc. with a controller right in the main UI. Thats why it qualifies and anything where you go through Windows (or desktop Linux for that matter) doesnt and never will.

PC will never be a dedicated gaming console because it will always be able to do far more than that without really any limits

PraetorXyn posted...

They can also do Netflix and shit, but thats not what theyre for.

Says who?

I am PC player and i am missing out. For example I can't play the new God or War or FFVII

PraetorXyn posted...

No it isnt. Xbox and PS can play DVDs and Blu-Rays to this day. They can also do Netflix and shit, but thats not what theyre for. The purpose of a console is to play games. The purpose of a PC is to do whatever the hell you want to do better than a console could ever do any of it. But the tradeoff there is that you lose that dedicated simplicity for flexibility.

The Steam Deck is purposefully designed and built to be a gaming device right down to the OS, where you can do all the tinkering and tweaking etc. with a controller right in the main UI. Thats why it qualifies and anything where you go through Windows (or desktop Linux for that matter) doesnt and never will.

We arent taking dedicated simplicity into account here, this isnt 1985 anymore

PraetorXyn posted...

PCs dont have the same ease of use for normies

Normies are the ones lacking dedication, not PCs

cjsdowg posted...

I am PC player and i am missing out. For example I can't play the new God or War or FFVII

Sure you can. They come to PC now. Knowing how the internet works, I'm sure you can do some illegal shit in several years but I won't get into that.

If you can't just select a game and have it play without potentially having to change settings, update drivers, or even upgrade equipment, then it's not a dedicated gaming console. If you have to check specs before you buy a game to make sure you can actually run it, then it's not a dedicated gaming console. If you have to potentially have additional technical know how at all beyond "Select game and press button," it's not a dedicated gaming console.

StealThisSheen posted...

If you can't just select a game and have it play without potentially having to change settings, update drivers, or even upgrade equipment, then it's not a dedicated gaming console. If you have to check specs before you buy a game to make sure you can actually run it, then it's not a dedicated gaming console. If you have to potentially have additional technical know how at all beyond "Select game and press button," it's not a dedicated gaming console.

With this logic then nothing except the switch is a dedicated gaming console.

Actually wait not even the switch because of required firmware updates

PraetorXyn posted...

Nah, its for everything. Thats why its not dedicated.

ahh ok

Will_VIIII posted...

With this logic then nothing except the switch is a dedicated gaming console.

Actually wait not even the switch because of required firmware updates

Firmware updates literally happen themselves on dedicated gaming consoles, you don't have to know anything beyond "press button." It's nothing like updating drivers. That's a silly argument that's intentionally missing the point.

StealThisSheen posted...

Firmware updates literally happen themselves on dedicated gaming consoles, you don't have to know anything beyond "press button." It's nothing like updating drivers. That's a silly argument that's intentionally missing the point.

You gotta check storage and potentially upgrade it or uninstall other content.

And in the case of the PS5 you actually have to make sure you're buying the correct storage upgrade.

Will_VIIII posted...

You gotta check storage and potentially upgrade it or uninstall other content.

Again, "press button," since consoles tell you when storage is full and go "Press X button to do Y thing." Dedicated consoles make all of that so easy anybody can do it, hence why they're dedicated consoles.

As for your edit, those upgrades are entirely optional, whereas on PC, you run into upgrades that will not be optional, over time.

Will_VIIII posted...

You gotta check storage and potentially upgrade it or uninstall other content.

I've never had to do this for a console firmware update.

The only good thing about PC to me is the ability to mod and some places go out of there way to stop people from doing that.

DepreceV2 posted...

Sure you can. They come to PC now. Knowing how the internet works,

But I want to play Spider-Man 2 now :(

Unknown5uspect posted...

I've never had to do this for a console firmware update.

Meant games in this case.

Had to delete some things ahead of Rebirth's release as it requires 145GB of space and I haven't added another SSD to mine

StealThisSheen posted...

Again, "press button," since consoles tell you when storage is full and go "Press X button to do Y thing." Dedicated consoles make all of that so easy anybody can do it, hence why they're dedicated consoles.

As for your edit, those upgrades are entirely optional, whereas on PC, you run into upgrades that will not be optional, over time.

The same upgrade happens with console, like needing to go from PS4 to PS5

Will_VIIII posted...

The same upgrade happens with console, like needing to go from PS4 to PS5

That's not even remotely the same, and you know it.

If a game says "PS5," it works in my PS5, period. I don't need to know anything else. That's not true with PC.

And, to be clear, I'm not saying dedicated game consoles are better than PC. Hell, I do most of my gaming on PC. I'm just saying there's a very obvious distinction, and PC is not a dedicated game console.

StealThisSheen posted...

That's not even remotely the same, and you know it.

If a game says "PS5," it works in my PS5, period. I don't need to know anything else. That's not true with PC.

If you use Steam it pretty much will tell you
other sources well who knows

StealThisSheen posted...

That's not even remotely the same, and you know it.

If a game says "PS5," it works in my PS5, period. I don't need to know anything else. That's not true with PC.

It's really not that different. Min sys requirements are 3 items that take a second to read. Both devices state a storage requirement.

The reason you have to check those system requirements in the first place is because PC is NOT a dedicated gaming machine. Like, you literally just defeated your own argument.

EDIT: If something comes in many different forms, and many of them don't play today's games, then it's literally not a dedicated gaming console.

StealThisSheen posted...

The reason you have to check those system requirements in the first place is because PC is NOT a dedicated gaming machine. Like, you literally just defeated your own argument.

Yeah but you gotta check the label of games to see if it's PS5 only now too

Will_VIIII posted...

Yeah but you gotta check the label of games to see if it's PS5 only now too

It took me this long to realize you're trolling, and I'm ashamed.

TimeCrisis posted...

It can do everything a modern gaming console can and then some so

That literally goes against it being a dedicated gaming console...

Saying that buying a game from the PS5 section is just the same as checking system requirements is a hilarious argument.