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It's much simpler. You turn on the console and go to the game you want, opening it. There might be an update, but nothing close to the annoyance of using a wind

by danhor 4y ago

It's much simpler. You turn on the console and go to the game you want, opening it. There might be an update, but nothing close to the annoyance of using a windows PC and custom launchers (linux is slightly better in this regard, but requires a lot more fiddling to get started & compatability). There are no launchers, no multiple stores, just a single, integrated UI that works great on a big screen with a controller. There are even physical media, if one so desires, and even better, most of it works offline (after getting the day one patch with fixes and blah-blah-blah). There are efforts to replicate that experience on a PC (mostly SteamOS) but they still have a lot of issues. I like my Deck and have used other consoles way less after getting it, but it's not for everyone. It still requires fiddling to get "all the current games" and a lot of launchers don't work when offline without some extra care [1]. Regularly launchers want the password again, which is horrible to type in with gamepad-like controls. You also need to configure the games to work properly. I don't want to configure the game so it looks alright at 30/40/60 fps, I want it to be done already. It's like people preferring iOS for having less options, choices and being simpler in comparison to Android, but way more extreme. [1]: How can it be so bad? Almost nothing with a launcher works right away, especially since there are separate launcher installations per game that need to be started regularly and have their own offline-mode settings

ziddoap 4y ago
>There might be an update, but nothing close to the annoyance of using a windows PC I generally can just come home, turn on my PC, and double-click the shortcut for my game. I have hundreds of games in my Steam library and maybe 4 have a custom launcher, which I agree can be a bit annoying but in 90% of cases just means I am clicking 2-3 more times before the game starts (adding ~10 seconds, maybe). Regarding multiple stores... What's that matter? Once I buy the game, I'm clicking the icon or start menu entry. Multiple stores does not matter at all once the game is purchased. From the purchasing side, I'm fine with looking on GOG first and then heading to Steam if the game I want isn't on GOG -- not really seen as an annoyance for me. To each their own, but I feel like your trying to make it out to be much more annoying than it actually is.
- jamespo 4y ago
  Depends on the game, but for a quick play it's nice to just sit down on the sofa, turn the controller on which turns on the console & screen and you're playing in 15 seconds.
  - behnamoh 4y ago
    I think it depends on what people find comfortable. Sitting on a sofa after a long day at work vs. sitting at a PC desk (with probably a decent chair but still not as comfy as a couch) and keeping the same posture that you had at work. I still think that mouse and keyboard gives me better control on the game, and I don’t like the stuttering that happens when using a controller to look around in an RPG. Compare that to a 144Hz mouse and monitor.
- danhor 4y ago
  If it's within steam (IMHO the best option for a big-screen experience), it takes ~30 sec to start the launcher, connecting to the server, wait for it to update itself, logging the user in (sometimes needing the password) and then splashing an additional screen while the saves are synchronized after starting the game. It's also only in a single place in the start menu. But the start menu isn't a great place for big-screen gaming. It doesn't have the sorting features, metadata (play time, friend are playing, screenshots, ..) and is not usable with a controller. It just isn't intended as a game library selector. If you want to integrate them into a single place with at least some of the features (like Steam) it's additional effort (in the worst case, per game). Purchasing the game isn't always possible on GOG or Steam. EA didn't have all their games on Steam for a long time, Epic has their exclusives and probably some others I'm forgetting. You also always have to interact with stores from other companies, even if you buy within steam. I have 7 accounts only for PC gaming that I'd still need even if I didn't chase lower prices. That's one on consoles. Windows also has popups on startup, trying to get you to do something and updates take much longer than on console (and can also delay startup after the last shutdown), sometimes driver issues. A couple of launchers start in the background, popping up because they want an update, some special one-time event and so on . To get it all running while using a gamepad on a TV, without needing a wireless keyboard during a typical gaming session, is a lot of tinkering that many would like to avoid. If I just want to play a game for 20-30 minutes, that's a lot of friction and annoyance. Playing older games often requires a separate console (increasing cost) but generally works. On PC it's often pretty painful (controller config doesn't match up with DirectInput vs XInput, compatibility patches needed, other weird issues).
orbifold 4y ago
I almost exclusively play steam games and I couldn’t imagine a more seamless experience. You go from buying a game to playing it in a matter of a few minutes to hours. There are rarely any surprises if you use current gen or slightly older hardware.
deleted 4y ago
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by danhor 4y ago

ziddoap 4y ago

>There might be an update, but nothing close to the annoyance of using a windows PC I generally can just come home, turn on my PC, and double-click the shortcut for my game. I have hundreds of games in my Steam library and maybe 4 have a custom launcher, which I agree can be a bit annoying but in 90% of cases just means I am clicking 2-3 more times before the game starts (adding ~10 seconds, maybe). Regarding multiple stores... What's that matter? Once I buy the game, I'm clicking the icon or start menu entry. Multiple stores does not matter at all once the game is purchased. From the purchasing side, I'm fine with looking on GOG first and then heading to Steam if the game I want isn't on GOG -- not really seen as an annoyance for me. To each their own, but I feel like your trying to make it out to be much more annoying than it actually is.

jamespo 4y ago
Depends on the game, but for a quick play it's nice to just sit down on the sofa, turn the controller on which turns on the console & screen and you're playing in 15 seconds.
- behnamoh 4y ago
  I think it depends on what people find comfortable. Sitting on a sofa after a long day at work vs. sitting at a PC desk (with probably a decent chair but still not as comfy as a couch) and keeping the same posture that you had at work. I still think that mouse and keyboard gives me better control on the game, and I don’t like the stuttering that happens when using a controller to look around in an RPG. Compare that to a 144Hz mouse and monitor.
danhor 4y ago
If it's within steam (IMHO the best option for a big-screen experience), it takes ~30 sec to start the launcher, connecting to the server, wait for it to update itself, logging the user in (sometimes needing the password) and then splashing an additional screen while the saves are synchronized after starting the game. It's also only in a single place in the start menu. But the start menu isn't a great place for big-screen gaming. It doesn't have the sorting features, metadata (play time, friend are playing, screenshots, ..) and is not usable with a controller. It just isn't intended as a game library selector. If you want to integrate them into a single place with at least some of the features (like Steam) it's additional effort (in the worst case, per game). Purchasing the game isn't always possible on GOG or Steam. EA didn't have all their games on Steam for a long time, Epic has their exclusives and probably some others I'm forgetting. You also always have to interact with stores from other companies, even if you buy within steam. I have 7 accounts only for PC gaming that I'd still need even if I didn't chase lower prices. That's one on consoles. Windows also has popups on startup, trying to get you to do something and updates take much longer than on console (and can also delay startup after the last shutdown), sometimes driver issues. A couple of launchers start in the background, popping up because they want an update, some special one-time event and so on . To get it all running while using a gamepad on a TV, without needing a wireless keyboard during a typical gaming session, is a lot of tinkering that many would like to avoid. If I just want to play a game for 20-30 minutes, that's a lot of friction and annoyance. Playing older games often requires a separate console (increasing cost) but generally works. On PC it's often pretty painful (controller config doesn't match up with DirectInput vs XInput, compatibility patches needed, other weird issues).

orbifold 4y ago

I almost exclusively play steam games and I couldn’t imagine a more seamless experience. You go from buying a game to playing it in a matter of a few minutes to hours. There are rarely any surprises if you use current gen or slightly older hardware.

deleted 4y ago

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