The thing that is causing more and more of the PC gaming community to feel bitterly antagonistic is the continuing trend of "consolized" games being released for PC.
Ah. I could see how that could be frustrating. I played Oblivion on the PC first, and I thought the spell selection system was a bit bizarre (coming off of NWN as my last PC RPG before it). Later discovered it was because of console support. On the other hand, that's laziness on Bethesda's part more than anything. Dragon Age on PC has a more proper hotkey bar, for example. Developing for consoles doesn't prevent a company from doing the PC version right, they just sometimes lazily choose not to...
The PC is capable of a vastly better fps experience than the console is. Period.
Vastly better for whom? For everyone? Because having played both extensively, I can say that that isn't true, since it is not a vastly better fps experience for me. I'm sure it is for you, and I respect that.
And this is the sort of thing I'm getting at. The only reason there's a PC vs console argument among gamers at all is that we speak in absolutes. The quality of an experience is highly subjective, and a person isn't wrong for having more fun one way vs another.
It's easy for me to see both sides having been on both sides, and the PC players have some compelling points when they're talking about the merits of the system and not just blanketly calling people wrong for enjoying something.
Mouse and keyboard is unquestionably more precise and responsive. For the competitive gamer a strong case can be made that it's the way to go. On the other hand, the controller has rudimentary haptics to simulate kick, and a proper trigger you can pull. Having used both, the mouse feels more like I'm controlling a game and the controller feels more like I'm immersed in the situation. I think that for the more casual player who is interested in the experience more than the challenge, a strong case can be made for the controller (for the convenience of lounging back in your recliner without perching your mouse and keyboard awkwardly and precariously around you as well). If those perks don't particularly appeal to you, that's fine, you're clearly playing on the right platform, then.
However, none of that matters when the majority FPSs are developed with the limitations of consoles in mind (cover systems being a perfect case in point.)
Hmmm..... It's definitely the case that tilting a joystick is more natural for peaking out of cover than moving a mouse, though, fundamentally, I think cover mechanics serve a very worthwhile cross-platform purpose, specifically the idea that you can aim and shoot at enemies without exposing your whole body to fire. In realistic tactical shooters where you can't take much damage, it's important to have ways to reduce the risk of getting hit, and it improves the feeling of being a real life spec ops agent rather than a power suited space marine who could survive a tank round.
So the bitterness is a product of envy. Not of your systems, but of your popularity. Many PC gamers are feeling increasingly ignored by the mainstream gaming industry.
Hard for me to speak to that. PC gaming is still pretty popular last I heard, so if there really is an industry apathy toward PC development, I'd blame the industry and not console gamers. Maybe they figure that if they transition to consoles exclusively, their PC fans will follow them, and then they can develop in a magical fantasy land where piracy doesn't exist at all.....
