EB on consoles

[duncan.gill]

Does anyone know if you could play EB on an Xbox 360?

Does anyone know of any EB-like games that can be played (properly) on consoles - I never know how they work utilise the controls properly.

[Aemilius Paulus]

I don't think ANY true RTS can be played on consoles. I have heard that there were actually mobile phone versions of PC RTS games such as Empire Earth, but not any console RTS games. Usually people buy consoles to play other games, such as FPS and RPGs. Not only that, but there is also the controls issue - mainly the absolute lack of hotkeys due to the abscence of a keyboard.

Computers are just better platforms than a console, not to mention that everyone has computers, while in order to play a console game you have to first buy the console, which cannot be used for anything else except video games.

[desert]

Hey, these days you can watch DVDs and listen to music on them as well. And probably some other things...

If you want an example of an RTS successfully ported to a console, just look at Battle for Middle Earth 2.

[a completely inoffensive name]

RTS are so horrible on consoles especially turn based heavy mouse clicking ones like EB. Honestly, the only games suited for a console controller are shooters (first and third) and RPG's.

[Gleemonex]

Indeed, consoles were only [1] good for platformers, party games and special-input games (viz. the Logitech wheels + Gran Turismo) until they started converging with PCs. Most console fans who refute criticism of consoles usually bring up convergence issues to do so ("You can get a mouse and keyboard for the PS3!", "Consoles have had hard drives since the original XboX", et al).

That being said, I think any Total War console game would only work if keyboard, mouse and 1080HD output were requirements. IOW, if it was actually a PC game in disguise.

-Glee

[1] I don't use the term 'only' here as an insult. Gran Turismo is my favourite gaming series along with Total War.

[Senshi]

Honestly, the only games suited for a console controller are shooters (first and third) and RPG's.

In my opinion consoles are only good for fun games, Adventures, Jump&Runs or RPGs, but not for any game requiring a direct and precise input.

Generally it's of course possibly to play everything with any device (e.g. I play EB with a graphics tablet and even my joystick works with it, and I even can play action games like BF or UT with my tablet, but it's just not the real deal of course), the question is if it makes sense. Having a relative direct input like a mouse is good for every program where you have to be quick and precise on spots. If the program requires more "feeling" and subtle inputs, go for a throttle control-joystick or a gamepad. A graphic tablet featuring absolute direct input is only in very few games useful (e.g. Paradox strategy games)

Shooters on consoles are extremly weird, having no high reaction input device as a computer mouse there is far less atmosphere and immersive feeling. RPGs or Adventures or some "unconvential" action games featuring indirect controls (e.g. Assassins Creed) are perfect for consoles too, I'm relating to "crosshair"-shooters (including autoaim-games like GTA, one of the dumbest features ever).

Actually, I still don't see the sense of consoles when there are PCs, despite their "party aspect" or when they offer really innovative and unique features like the Wii

[Marius Dynamite]

If they put a mouse & keyboard on a console I think RTS would be fine. They probably will one day as well you know.


As far as shooters goes it's all down to preference. While some find shooters on consoles weird, I feel that way about PC shooters. I've never liked using the mouse to aim, to me it feels like a point&click excercise. I respect that their is enough people playing shooters on both platforms to conclude that both control types are entirely sound.

With RTS its clear the analogue control is just not suitable. The need to get the pointer to a certain point in the screen instantly is not a feature of analogue sticks and it is necessary for RTS.

Actually, I still don't see the sense of consoles when there are PCs, despite their "party aspect" or when they offer really innovative and unique features like the Wii

Trust me, the sense is there otherwise they wouldn't sell as well as they do.

Consoles are like PC's dedicated to gaming. For that reason, they are cheaper than PCs. A £200 PC's wouldn't really be able to play the games out nowadays would it?

This PC I got for around £600 last year won't run Gears of War as well as my Xbox, if at all. Admittedly some people could build really good PC's at a good price but for those who can't the console is there for them.

[||Lz3||]

do you guys even remember price??

Console (PS3) $400 USDLS -you can play ANY game you want (for that console that is) with the HIGHEST graphics available and no lag whatsoever.

PC, in order to get a pc to work with maximun graphics you need at least like $12000 to get a good computer.


besides... a console is easier to use and you get used to the games faster.
at the end ... it doesnt matter. PC gamers will always prefer PC while console gamers will stick to consoles.

I for one feel that console games are more fast paced (sp?) well.. faster... while PC games are slower paced but more complex...

lately I've been playing a lot of console games but pretty much nothing with my computer (I blame the fact that it can't even run M2TW)


NOTES:
1- I don't like shooters on pcs... feels weird after being playing all your life with thumbsticks
2- a +1 for the pc games are the modding comunities :P
3- My biggest gripe with pc gaming is the high price compared to console gaming

[desert]

$12,000 for a good computer? You can buy a top-of-the-line computer for less than $5000, or build one for for less than $4000.

Enjoy your PCs and consoles while you can, for within twenty years all electronic media will be experienced via a nanochip implanted in your brain.

[||Lz3||]

$12,000 for a good computer? You can buy a top-of-the-line computer for less than $5000, or build one for for less than $4000.

NOT here... <.< (in fact 12'000 is too low... I just didn't want to say the actual price hehe it would cost me bout 19000 to get a good computer capable of runing games at max graphics...< .<

[teh1337tim]

dam u all must t them at rip off full retail prices

my comp is top of the line in everything, runs any game max...
and ps3 n xbox playing everything on max is kinda false
consoles graphics are based mainly upon top of the line chipsets
(as ps3 was built of the 7900s or early 8xxx serries, i 4got and 360 off the 1xxx or 2xxx serries)
as today.. we've gone from 7900s as second gen to first gen gtx 280s 260s and 9xxx
(quad sli 9800x2-sli = quad sli)

$3800 everything at max no prob no lag (constant 200+ fps)

o ya and consoles getting best fps is kinda bull, all console games are designed to run at 60fps
(the fastest a normal human eye can see)

anyways back on topic

one thing with fps on consoles (i play console and pc)
is the low reaction times compare to mouses
it kinda cuts the corner turning and aiming on FPS games and will affect rts game on a normal
ps3/xbox controller w/out any add ons

O to the person who said u can play ps3 w/ a keyboard and mouse

SHHHH don't let those nup 10 yr olds kno my secret on call of duty 4 and crysis :D

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I built a near top of the line computer for $1800US.



I have seen RTS on consoles before, the simple old fashioned types. I have (somewhere) Red Alert for the PS1.

[Senshi]

Yes, there are multiple RTS conversions and I even remember some RTS games specifically made for consoles (though they were a commercial flop and I can't remember their names).

The good old myth of "consoles are cheaper than computers compared to perfomance offered" did work some 5-6 years ago perhaps, but it's really outdated. You can play even graphic monsters like Crysis on maximum settings with a 700€-PC, you just have to build it yourself and look for good&cheap sources (ebay traders, one of the many computer online stores...).

I won't explain in detail why consoles , cumulating all costs (initial price of hardware, upgradeability throughout the next years, software prices etc.), are more expensive related to offered perfomance as I'm sure there are already multiple such topics to be found in the net. Or you can do the little mathematics yourself if you are bored. ;)

The big difference is not the price, but this: Consoles are just WAY simpler than computers.
No need to spend hours trying to dig into the actual hardware market to find out what graphic card or processor is the best to upgrade your computer, no buggering around with nasty bluescreens, failing applications, no "everlasting" loading times (Booting up PC, inserting disc, starting application, loading...) etc.
Consoles instead simply....work! An enormous advantage
Using computers on long-term-base is surely more efficient and also cheaper, but it requires a lot more attention and "work", otherwise one easily risks to buy not the perfect choice, but either a perfomancewise bad component or to buy a good one for an exaggerated price...

o ya and consoles getting best fps is kinda bull, all console games are designed to run at 60fps
(the fastest a normal human eye can see)

Where did you get that info? According to my knowledge and the things I learned in school the human brain is in average capable of (conscious) processing 23-24 images "recorded" by the eye, the eye itself is capable of several hundred images, but as our brain is just to incompetent ;) it filters in advance.

That's why almost every cinematic movie or TV show is recorded in 24fps-videostreams, every image more just would increase the size and cost of valuable film material and would be "wasted".


@Lz3: are you making a joke? 12,000 or 19,000$ for a computer?

It would actually be rather difficult to find something that expensive (except some rip-off offers)...
Or do you live in the Antarctics and have to get your computer personally airmailed?


And I fear we are so incredibly offtopic now...

[-Praetor-]

I built a near top of the line computer for $1800US.



I have seen RTS on consoles before, the simple old fashioned types. I have (somewhere) Red Alert for the PS1.

One year ago, I also built a top of the line PC with $1200 US

And that`s in Chile.

[desert]

Alright, so, the computer I was thinking of would have cost 4-5 grand to buy a year ago. Now the parts are cheaper, apparently. You can get that same computer, which would still be a very good computer(Crysis-on-max-settings-good), from, say, a custom PC site for about $3000. Putting it together yourself probably wouldn't set you back more than $2,000.