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Personal Computer: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:7449607.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Diagram of a typical modern PC.]] | [[Image:7449607.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Diagram of a typical modern PC.]] | ||
A '''Personal Computer''' (or '''PC''') may refer to a desktop or laptop computer that is used for personal tasks such as browsing the Internet and gaming, rather than business or server functions. | A '''Personal Computer''' (or '''PC''') may refer to a desktop or laptop computer that is used for personal tasks such as browsing the Internet and gaming, rather than business or server functions. In relation to the [[Grand Theft Auto]] series, the PC has long been a traditional "platform" for GTA games. | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
Because the computing power of PCs are not bound by strict standards by manufacturer, the PC platform is the most versatile, supporting modular upgrades, and being one of the earliest platforms to support Internet connections, allowing early GTA games such as [[Grand Theft Auto 1|the first Grand Theft Auto]] and [[Grand Theft Auto 2]] to support [[multiplayer]] modes whilst online capabilities on consoles were still in their infancy. Certain PC versions of GTA games also feature slightly improved graphics, due to more lax limitations on hardware. PC GTA games are also the earliest games in the series to adopt [[Custom Radio Stations|custom radio stations]] and [[replay]]s with the release of [[Grand Theft Auto III]], as well as the short-lived ability to pick [[skins]] for the [[protagonist]]. | |||
Another notable advantage of the PC platform is their inherit ability to support third party utilities and [[modifications]], which allows users to alter various aspects of GTA games. Most GTA mods are for the PC version, and although some exist for the console versions, they are significantly harder to implement, and often require installing a "mod chip" which may damage the console and void the warranty. | |||
Like consoles, weaknesses are also present in the PC platform. Hardware requirements are a particular problem; unlike consoles, PC hardware experience more gradual improvements in hardware as hardware manufactures are not bound to computer manufacturers restrictions on computing power the same way console manufacturers do for each console. This results in inconsistent hardware capabilities among every PC in use, which may impede the ability for some players to play PC games smoothly or with the best graphics available. The adoption of the [[Rockstar Advanced Game Engine]] for [[Grand Theft Auto IV]], for example, led to a jump in the required amount of processing from the last PC port ([[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]], which utilized [[RenderWare]]); many PCs in use during the release of GTA IV were found to be inadequate in running the game smoothly, even with the lowest graphical settings, and would require several more months before PC users are able to afford to obtain better hardware to run the game proper. The wide range of hardware components on offer for the PC, as well as the constant need to update hardware drivers, may also lead to incompatibilities that result in undesired glitches in graphics and audio or even instability in the game. | Like consoles, weaknesses are also present in the PC platform. Hardware requirements are a particular problem; unlike consoles, PC hardware experience more gradual improvements in hardware as hardware manufactures are not bound to computer manufacturers restrictions on computing power the same way console manufacturers do for each console. This results in inconsistent hardware capabilities among every PC in use, which may impede the ability for some players to play PC games smoothly or with the best graphics available. The adoption of the [[Rockstar Advanced Game Engine]] for [[Grand Theft Auto IV]], for example, led to a jump in the required amount of processing from the last PC port ([[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]], which utilized [[RenderWare]]); many PCs in use during the release of GTA IV were found to be inadequate in running the game smoothly, even with the lowest graphical settings, and would require several more months before PC users are able to afford to obtain better hardware to run the game proper. The wide range of hardware components on offer for the PC, as well as the constant need to update hardware drivers, may also lead to incompatibilities that result in undesired glitches in graphics and audio or even instability in the game. | ||