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PC gamers moving to consoles for their online shooters

Although the PC represents gaming’s latest technologies, gamers are flocking to consoles for their entertainment. No other company is more aware of this fact than Epic Games, maker of Unreal Tournament and Gears of War.

Once a hardcore PC games developer, Epic now finds itself split between computer and console development. Gears of War on the Xbox 360 was an instant success in 2006, but Unreal Tournament III failed to make the same mark on the PC in 2007.

In an interview with Guardian Unlimited, Mark Rein related one of his experiences regarding the shift of first-person shooters from PC to console. “When Call of Duty 4 came out, I heard some of our guys sitting around talking about the great game they'd had last night and I'm like, 'Hey guys, what server are you playing on? I'd love to come and join you,' and they said, 'Just send us a friends request,'” he said.

“It was at that point I realized they were all playing it on console. Plus, the sales of the console versions are something like ten times the sales of the PC versions,” Rein said, affirming an earlier statement. “I'm a real fan of the PC, but yes, consoles are definitely stealing a lot of hardcore gamers from the PC.”

One thing easing Epic’s development on consoles is the emergence of multiplayer-centric gaming. Thanks to the current generation’s connectivity options, Epic is able to translate nearly all of the PC gameplay and options to the console. For example, the PlayStation 3 version of Unreal Tournament III supports most of the modifications available on the PC, partially due to Sony’s open approach to online services.

“I think Sony are real pioneers in this - I think they deserve a lot of credit for letting us do this,” said Rein. “They're really doing something different, and it hints at what they want to do with the PlayStation Network in the future. They're definitely on the right track!”

According to NPD data, PC gaming made up 14 percent of retail games sales in 2007. Besides the growing popularity of the new gaming consoles, the low percentage attributed to PC gaming can also be explained by the lower price of PC games, plus the emergence of digital distribution.

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Mouse and Keyboard
By ksherman on 2/7/2008 4:20:37 PM , Rating: 5
I cannot play FPS games very effectively with the controllers. To be fair, I haven't spent all that much trying to get better at it, but I find a mouse and keyboard far more conducive to an FPS game.




RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By TheDiceman on 2/7/2008 4:32:43 PM , Rating: 5
That is why I just don't but FPS games on consoles. Anythign else is fine, but I will never feel at home with two sticks instead of a mouse an keyboard when I am shooting. Even when I did play Halo 2 a lot with friends I and got used to teh controls I found the accuracy lacking compared to a decent mouse. And even if ths option to practically add a mouse and keyboard option to a console it still woudl not interest me since there is a lack of comfort (for me) to be using those two things on say a living room TV compared to a comfroatble desk and chair combo. I feel a similar way about RTS games, but that is a field that even developers only occassionally touch on with console gamers.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By enlil242 on 2/7/2008 4:34:50 PM , Rating: 5
I'm with you on that, plus as I posted above, custom maps and mods keep me stuck to PC versions.

If there was a Keyboard / Mouse peripheral, that may help, but that would still be hard for me to make the switch.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By kyp275 on 2/7/2008 4:47:39 PM , Rating: 5
correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the PS3 supports usb mouse and keyboard? or is that just for web browsing etc. and not for actual gaming?

but yea, I still prefer the PC for FPS games, at least for the time being.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By mmntech on 2/7/2008 5:23:40 PM , Rating: 3
Both the PS3 and 360 support them natively. The problem is that the games don't. However, I think it was either UT3 or COD4 that allows you to use keyboard and mouse. That's for the PS3 versions anyway. I don't see why you couldn't do the same for the Xbox. There's a lot of demand for it now. They say it gives people the edge online. I wouldn't know since I don't really play FPS games anymore, and never played them online.

There is some third party PS3 add-on dongle that allows keyboard and mouse in all games but they want a fortune for it.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By TheDoc9 on 2/7/2008 5:56:38 PM , Rating: 2
you can use a keyboard and mouse on UT3 for the PS3. Once you get it perfected it just like playing UT on the PC. You just need a mouse and keyboard with usb connections. I was really surprised at how fun it is and similar to the PC experience, it has allowed me to delay spending thousands to upgrade my computer to play. If Crisis ever comes out for PS3 they would be wise to allow the keyboard/mouse combo.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By ChronoReverse on 2/7/2008 7:08:48 PM , Rating: 4
Gaming computers haven't costs thousand s for quite a while =P


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By rudy on 2/8/2008 12:04:56 AM , Rating: 2
This is the fallacy that causes so many to go for consoles. You can get a perfectly reasonable PC for gaming and everything else a PC can do for 600$ easy. That just about the same price as a console with a couple accessories. Then the games are cheaper and you have no limits on what you can do with that PC.

The thing that bugs me is they keep making these games more noob for consoles. Of course PS3 UT3 outsold PC, all the PC players were fed up with the lameness of the new version so it would work with a controller.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By StevoLincolnite on 2/8/2008 1:48:22 AM , Rating: 2
Depends where you live and price of hardware, it's easy to spend 2 grand on a PC in Australia with a Core 2 duo, 2gb of ram and a Geforce 8800GT.
One thing annoyed me though was Unreal Tournament 3, It would keep reverting to the 800x600 resolution and all textures were in 8bit colour - And I have been looking for a fix to no avail, tried doing the whole driver update, tweaking the drivers, editing the unreal 3 config file, nothing works, also had the same issue with Bioshock - And I'm not alone on this, a quick jump to the official Unreal 3 forums will reveal the crap load of issues this game has on the PC.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By SlyNine on 2/8/2008 2:40:06 AM , Rating: 1
Try running http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=745
However who said you need a core 2 duo and a 8800GT. Their are cheaper setups.

The 2gigs isn't required either, but Highly recommended anymore.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By Adonlude on 2/8/2008 8:50:30 PM , Rating: 2
One thing you must take into account when comparing gaming computer prices to console prices is that most people have a computer anyway. Therfore you must take the price difference between the computer you would buy anyway and the gaming computer and compare that to the console. What it really comes down to in most cases is an extra $200-$500 video card which is about the same as a console. Most computers already have 2GB ram these days which is all you really need for gaming for the time being.

I am a PC gamer. I kinda went overboard with my 400W 5.1 dolby digital surround, 8800GTX, Fatality Gamer Pro soundcard, and 24" widescreen monitor, but this is excess.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By Blight AC on 2/11/2008 12:55:27 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah, nice widescreen monitor, and then developers like EA are like, "lol widescreen! no support for you". It's the only reason I haven't purchased a recent Battlefield game, even though I am quite interested in BF 2142 because of the unique gameplay aspects.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By redog on 2/8/2008 9:48:48 AM , Rating: 2
Even though they can be used, the way i have my house setup the consoles are attached to my big screen tv.

This means i'd have to try and use the mouse and keyboard on the couch and i just can't get used to that. i like to lounge around when i play consoles, not have to sit up.

For me, it's a matter of comfort and i'm just more comfortable at my desk when trying to use a keyboard and mouse.

-R


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By Future145 on 2/7/2008 6:07:14 PM , Rating: 2
only the PS3 supports a mouse but both support keyboard


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By P4blo on 2/8/2008 12:54:28 PM , Rating: 2
There will always be a divide between PC's and consoles and it comes down to where most people play. Because of this both will be around for a long time I think.

Traditionally the console is a sociable, easily accessible multiplayer (in one place) device that works great in the lounge, running through the main TV. The trouble is have you ever tried to use a mouse and a keyboard in that environment? It's near impossible. No matter how hard you try the mouse will feel uncomfortable, your wrist will begin to ache very quickly and your accuracy will suck. If you setup the mouse + keyboard on a coffee table or whatever you end up with an aching back. Even though the consoles can and do support mice + keyboard I think most people would rather just play the PC version, if they have a PC. I have a 360 but I only buy games that I know are great on gamepads such as Forza2 and Footie games / beatemups etc... Arcade stuff. I've played COD4 on XBOX and it sucks big time compared to the PC for a decent mouse user.

So long and short is that PCs and consoles have their own time, place and games. It often depends on whether I have friends round as to which I will use. There are some games I would never touch on a console, but all the games are playable on my PC :) Oh and they're cheaper :) Even if the hardware definitely isn't.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 2/7/08, Rating: -1
RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By Garreye on 2/7/2008 4:48:05 PM , Rating: 5
I'm not sure you'd be saying the same thing if you were playing against other people who we're using M+K when you're using joysticks...


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By VahnTitrio on 2/7/2008 5:01:07 PM , Rating: 4
I agree. Most people fail to understand that there is a fair amount of autoaim and also a slow cursor over target to assist you with the console controls so it is entirely possible to be better with this. Ever get frustrated on Halo and try to shoot a teammate, not nearly as easy as an opponent. So yes it is entirely possible with a well designed game to shoot perfectly on a console. And for those who will say "but I can't spin around fast enough", it just becomes part of the game to not get flanked.

Now if I plug the 360 controller in and try to play Quake Wars can I do it? Not a chance, it isn't built that way. I would say though that an RTS is the only gametype that cannot be effectively controlled with a console controller.


RE: Mouse and Keyboard
By SlipDizzy on 2/7/2008 5:35:09 PM , Rating: 2
I believe that is one of the main reasons that they will not let people in TF2 for 360 play against people online. Other then the server issues and what not.

I'm not saying M&K is superior to a controller, I just think that the game is built so that it will perform best for the hardware it was meant for. I've adjusted to being able to play with either platform, but you really just have to understand that the experience will change