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Reader Discussion: Do You Play PC Games On Your Television?

During a recent interview with Kotaku, Valve's Gabe Newell discussed the popularity of Steam's Big Picture mode and the future of PC gaming on television sets.

"I think in general that most customers and most developers are gonna find that [the PC is] a better environment for them," said Newell. "Because they won't have to split the world into thinking about 'why are my friends in the living room, why are my video sources in the living room different from everyone else?' So in a sense we hopefully are gonna unify those environments."

Most modern HDTVs feature PC inputs, and DVI/VGA-to-HDMI cables are always an option for those that don't. Personally, I've loved playing PC versions of XCOM, Dishonored, and Far Cry 3 on my television. Is this an option you've personally used, or do you tend to stick to traditional consoles?

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Comments
  • I tend to stick with traditional consoles, to me it's more convenient.
  • If I had an HD tv I would
  • I do not, my pc gaming is mostly done on a laptop actually. When it's not done their its at a widescreen monitor.

  • No.
  • depends on the game. Racing games, even a game like X-Com I use my TV. Shooters and such where precise controls and visual detail are key I stick with my monitor. Basically if I am using my controller I will play it on my TV, if I am using KB/M then I will stick with my monitor.
  • I've always used a tv as my monitor. We don't have cable or anything so this is how we watch tv with Netflix and Hulu.
  • I do this quite often. Hook up the hdmi cord, plug in some efficient speakers, and (if possible) hook up a 360 controller to my pc. Good times.
  • If I was able to and had the money to, sure. I would love to be able to as I could get pretty much everything that releases on PC and usually looks better so I would just play it on the TV.

  • I do use my television (which is conveniently placed behind my laptop) when I'm playing PC games, hooking them up with a good old HDMI connection. It is after all a bigger screen which only shows the game off better than if I was playing it on the considerably smaller screen of my laptop. Dear Esther I remember being particulalry amazing to see on the larger screen.

  • I use a TV as a monitor, mainly because there's no viable place to set up a monitor in my room. so it's just more convenient.
  • If I have a HD screen handy I will sometimes plug my laptop into it and play, but usually I just use the build in screen. As far as consoles go, I will usually get a game for the console rather than the PC due to my laptop sometimes not being able to play the newest games.

  • All the time. My HDMI tv is 32" while my laptop is only 16", no brainer for me there.

    I also always use a controller with more action oriented games, even certain MMOs.

  • Some HDTVs look better than monitors. Wouldn't it be great to help Nathan Drake from falling out of a huge plane on a 92 inch screen? Or assassinating your target with a virtual life size blade on that big of a tv? Geez, that'd be legit.
  • I actually do the opposite.  I put a cable TV tuner in my computer.

  • I do this and use an xbox controller. My PC is basically a significantly more powerful 360.
  • Not yet. But when I get a longer HDMI cable, 52 inches of HD glory will be mine. MINE I SAY!!!
  • I usually just play games or watch dvds on my television besides just watching tv. I haven't tried a PC game...yet.

  • My PC is connected to my living room HDTV. Except I use a keyboard and mouse so I have to constantly sit close to the television so that i can use my mouse that sits on the coffee table. Is it easier to switch channels and turn on a console? Yeah, it is. The reason is, I have a nice graphics card/ power supply in my manufactured tower, but I still have problems when I get into a game. Like having to change the graphics settings so that I don't get screen tearing. Game systems are more stable when it comes to wireless devices. It is easier to surf the internet on a PC compared to consoles, while most console players don't really care about roaming the internet on their PC. For instance, Half Life 2 won at the VGA show. This is primarily because of PC and internet users are two birds of the same feather.
  • Yes I do

    all 42 inches of it

  • I'm more of a console gamer.  My computer can't really run AAA games

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