10mo ago

Older patient gamers: what is your preferred gaming platform?

I used to be a PC-only gamer but the older I get the more I gravitate toward very 'simple' platforms.

Because my gaming time slots can be unpredictable and sometimes short I can't take too much time setting things up.

I was surprised to find that I use the Nintendo Switch a lot because the games are on cartridges (usually few to no downloading needed) and I can continue playing the game when I am away from home. Really surprising, considering I bought it out of curiosity in 2017 and that it is in some ways underpowered compared to my other devices- I never had a Nintendo 'home' console before that.

I thought of adding the PS4 to this mention however recently I've been avoiding playing it due to the constant updates. The worst example was when my SO bought me Red Dead Redemption 2. I sat down, excited to play it, when suddenly it pormpted me to download a HUGE update . It really kind of ruined my first session.

What are your experiences and your preferred devices?

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PC. Because:
Better controller support—I'm not limited to what MS or Sony deem as "certified" or "authorized" hardware. Most of the really good hardware (VKB, Virpil, Arduino) will never be available for consoles and what little is available is bad at best.
Best sims are PC only (DCS, Il-2, E:D, X series, Hunternet etc)
Sims support 3rd party auxiliary software (TacView, EDDiscovery, OMH, EDMC etc) for better experience and that's simply not going to be possible on consoles, ever.
For other games, modding experience on PC is simply better. SKSE and ENB is what keeps Skyrim going and makes it still relevant 13 years later. Can't have this kind of code injection and wrappers on consoles.
If I ever get into retrogaming, emulation is the way, especially since actually acquiring retro console games in their original physical format is bound to become a very expensive collector's hobby if you don't have your own collection from childhood already or don't have local second-hand options.
- My laptop is pretty portable, I just carry my hdmi and controllers with me and can hook it up anywhere to play some games. Want to watch some movies too? I gotchu. Pc all the way man.
  
  I have a gaming desktop, personally, with a relatively light laptop I picked primarily for repairability and battery life.
  My laptop can't really game, but it can run Moonlight like a champ. I have a Raspberry Pi setup as a VPN and the gaming desktop has Wake On LAN, so I can have Baldur's Gate 3 up and running in a couple minutes from anywhere with internet.

In my mid 50's. I use a steam deck and my PC running Linux.
- Just turned 50, same! Plus a PS5 because previous generations had good exclusives and I expected the same this gen.
- I've been considering switching my PC over to Linux as well. Would you recommend it from your experience? Anything you'd do differently if you could?
  
  I’m not the OP but I just built a gaming PC and switched to Linux. No regrets so far. I picked Mint and it went smoothly. Just had to install more updated graphics drivers.
- Early 40s and same.
- Based Unix coomer

I'm not sure what your definition of "older" is, but I'm past my 20s so I probably qualify.
I really like my Steam Deck. I have a Switch as well, but I only use it for exclusives. The Deck is great because it lives next to my bed and I can easily pick it up and play pretty much anything on it.
I used to love my desktop PC, but I keep feeling like I should be productive instead of playing games when I'm on it, and it's just not as comfy as laying in bed.
Then again, I'm a grumpy Linux user since 15-ish years, so using locked down consoles is offensive to me.
- Same here. I have a gaming laptop that sees the majority of my play time but the Steam Deck is perfect for picking up where I left off in bed or chilling on the couch with my partner instead of being shut away in my office.

Steam Deck
So PC

Yet another dude in his 40s here using a Steam Deck. I travel a lot for work so something portable and easy to just pick up for a short period is important. It has run pretty much every game I've wanted to play flawlessly.
- 2nd
  
  Also my axe, additionally.

I guess I'm in the older segment as I'm in my 40's, and still basically exclusively a pc-guy, making a slow but somewhat sure transition over to penguin themed os from windows.
I do play some older console games (via emulation), adventure games (scummvm <3) and quite a bit of modern pc singleplayer/coop titles. My go-to launchers are Steam and GOG.
Sure, pc maintenance can be a lot at times, but I'm a nerd and tinker on my pc a lot anyway, so it just happens.

Steam Deck (so technically PC).
I can lay down on the couch while my SO watches some show on the TV I am not interested in but depending on the game, I can still follow the general story so we can discuss and react to things together. Enabled me to finally do some more gaming (1 hour per evening) again (compared to a few hour per month previously).
- I've got some young kids and the Steam Deck makes it a lot easier to take them places and keep myself (or them) entertained. It also means I can get some game time in while they watch their shows.
  Best part was taking it in vacation, plugging it into a TV, and using it like a console we all play together. It felt like I was sitting on the floor playing N64 with my siblings again lol.
  I've loved having this thing. I still do more gaming on my PC but I'm glad I bought it.
  
  Glad to hear thay! Can you give some examples of the games you played with the kids? I'm trying to find titles like that
- It is honestly the best "pick up and play" platform. I love how everything just pauses when you lock the screen.

I grew up with SNES and N64 era, so maybe I'm old enough?
PC. Consoles are too much to deal with. Cartridges are probably better than discs, but either having to change games in either is probably gonna make me choose to just not play instead. With PC, everything is just a few clicks away.
- You can use digital downloads with consoles too. I don't see how PCs are easier than consoles.
  
  First you have to switch devices from the PC to the console to use it.

PC. I only touched my series X lately to clean the dust off.
I like modding games and just a few games support mods on Xbox. I bought it when graphic card prices went up astronomically. After I got me an 6750XT haven't played on the Xbox. Also older games run @30FPS or some half assed resolution on Xbox. Meh.

Unfortunately, with the current popularity of digital downloads, consoles aren't great for patient gaming because they rarely give a good discount for older titles on their online stores (especially nintendo).

I used to game a lot on a desktop, but now that I work at home, I kinda hate sitting in front of a PC. I wasnt playing a lot, but then got a steam deck at launch, and now I'm gaming a ton again.
I like the switch, but I really like how backwards compatible PC gaming is.

My favourite way to play games at the moment is with a retro emulator handheld. But with new games it's ps5. I'm still rocking a 1050ti in my pc so I prefer to play the big budget games on console.

Boring answer, but I play on the PC exclusively. When I'm not playing, I'm usually already using the PC for other stuff, so it's a faster switch than jumping to some other device. I thought about getting a Steam Deck for a while, but I gravitate so much towards the PC that I think I'd probably put it down after a while.
There's usually "routine" games I'll play during the week when I have little time - which are usually games that are unlikely to receive any big updates - and I'll leave new games to moments when I know I can sit down for a long while without worries.
The PC I use for gaming is practically only a gaming box, though. I don't tinker with it nearly as much as I used to. And I've started using a controller more, when that's an option.

Console (xbox, ps, switch) because i got tired of buying a new gpu or whatever upgrade for pc every couple of months. Now i dont have to stress for updated drivers or if it crashes because windows wants something done at the most fucked up time. Just sit in my comfy chair turn it on and play. Dont have time for all the other bs.
- Huh. I built my PC with mid-level specs 3 years ago and haven't upgraded anything but RAM and storage. Didn't even need either for gaming..
- Why so often? I just updated my almost 10 year old PC that had one gpu upgrade in its life, and was still happily playing the 10 year old games I wanted to play.
  Then I got the new PC with decent specs and decided to push its limits with some Stardew Valley.
- I'm the same way but I bought one of those mini pcs that has a laptop cpu/gpu in it, installed ChimeraOS on it which essentially turned it into a steamdeck.
  I have that hooked up to my living room tv and it's my main gaming device. It's essentially a console. I never upgrade anything. It runs what I play at 1080p with med or high settings.
  Suits me just fine. I mainly just want to sit on my couch and game on the TV instead of being at a desk like I did years ago.
  
  Oh thats a good idea. I do find that some games i miss out on because there not on console… this is a good idea. What mini pc did you get?

As time goes on I lean more and more into PC gaming with emulation for older systems. Resistant to hardware and disks/cartridges failing and there are fewer concerns with online functionality going away completely. There's a lot to like about the Switch but with it being literally their only console that still has any online features, I have serious concerns about longevity.

Do you have a few minutes to talk about our Lord and Saviour, Gabe Newell? But seriously, get the Steam Deck. It's awesome.
- Yep, OP uses his Switch way more than expected. The Deck is an extremely flexible device in a similar form factor. I've been able to beat so many games in my backlog with it, just excellent.

Xbox Series X for backwards compatibility with enhanced visuals
Nintendo Switch for ports from other platforms on the go
Analogue Pocket + dock for actual retro stuff
DSi, N3DS, Vita for other portable needs
I don't game on PC since I spend enough time with it at work.

Probably the Xbox Series S because of the quick-resume feature. Sometimes I just want to play for 15 minutes in-between other stuff so skipping the loading time is great.
- Xbox Super Sport.
  
  I'm glad you went with that and not on a history lesson...

I use a sbc device with emulators now a days. It's the perfect "pick up and put down" situation for me. I'd really recommend looking into it especially for quality of life things like save states and being able to pick up where you left off exactly.
As for deciding what platforms to play, my biggest advice is looking at how many buttons a controller has. I don't see people talk about this a lot, but when I'm looking to play a simple game, my first thought is "how many buttons do I feel like using?"
With this thought in my mind I've been gravitating towards things like GBA, SNES, N64, and when I want something a little more complex, Ps1 or Dreamcast.

Used to be a huge PC guy but lately I like chilling in my recliner with my ps5. I can sit next to the wife this way and won’t catch flak for being on the PC too much. She games too and will move to the PC for those instances

I run the game on PC but use Steam link on the TV to connect to it and use a controller most of the time. It's not the absolute best for playing keyboard + mouse games but it's very nice for Subnautica for example.

PC running Linux with games purchased via Steam. Nothing extra to set up as the PC is always on and available anyway,

Android phone with Razer Kishi v1 controller. Stream PC games via Steamlink/Parsec. Emulators (NES / SNES / Genesis / GBA / DS / PS1 / PS2 / Gamecube / Switch).

My development PC running linux (I don't use Arch, BTW) + Steam has by far the most games I'm interested in playing. Games that I have played my entire life run great, through DOSBox, Proton, native, or console emulators.
That being said, I still have a huge soft spot from my old 3DS and wish I still had it. Sure the Switch is great, but the 3DS had so many fun little quirky features that it was just fun to use as well as play games on.
- 3DS might be my favourite console. The DS library is amazing - and not region locked - then the 3DS JRPG selection is probably the strongest out of any console.

Definitely a mix for me, depending on what I want to play and how I'm feeling, but primarily PC (massive GOG and Steam libraries), Xbox (I have a series X and adore the backwards compatibility), and an Evercade handheld for portable fun and the occasional exclusive, like the Duke Nukem 1 & 2 remasters.

I play mostly on my Steam Deck nowadays. If a game is too heavy for the Deck I just subscribe to GeForce Now for a month to stream to my Steam Deck. Once everything is setup on the Steam Deck it’s pretty much friction free to start a game, especially in GeForce Now.

PC for "real" gaming. Phone for casual stuff, although I'll stream better games when my connection is good enough.

I used to play everything, and had every major system to do so back in my teens and twenties. But I've since just been primarily a PC player because I know what I like, and what I like are weird games that experiment with new ideas and/or push the limits of complexity. Like Dwarf Fortress and damn near anything Ssethtzeentach reviews.
In the console space, much of the experimentation I see done in games that would otherwise interest me are more in the cinematography and other means of presentation, whereas all the weird and interesting implementations of fun tend to be PC exclusive.

43 I use GeForce Now. I get made fun of a lot for it. But $17/mo, and no hardware to buy is very affordable. An additional 5ms lag is fine for me.
Unfortunately, it is really buggy. A lot of trouble connecting. So, It is not perfect.

I play only on PC. I like mostly cRPGs and strategy games, so there is no need for console for me.

Perhaps similar to OP, I gravitate toward whatever's handiest. That's usually my smartphone or one of a number of old-ish Linux laptops. I have a handful of smartphone games that I play pretty much every day, and I've got controllers for both, so there's also lots of emulation of older games, and also some newer indie games on the laptops. After that I have a "gaming" PC (nothing amazing but it does enough for me) for more current games, although I'm finding that I don't turn that on as much as I'd like to, lately. Then I have a handful of less-old consoles that my other devices can't emulate well, but I can't even remember the last time I used one of those.

Playstations that are old enough to become cheap to get but new enough that the local libraries still have a game collection.
Otherwise a Linux pc and gog, flea markets, local used sellers, or other sources.
You can generally avoid big updates simply by keeping the machine offline.

Still mainly my PC/steam deck but I mix in the switch in there for specific games and the xbox every once in a while for spider heck.

I used to be like you OP, PC-only gamer for a long while, but as I'm getting older (and got back into gaming a few years ago), I've mostly been using consoles or equivalents:
PS5 40% of the time
Xbox Series X 20%
Steam Deck 20%
Switch 10%
Super Nt / PS3 / Analogue Pocket / Miyoo Mini Plus / 3DS / Vita, remaining 10%

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