From Console to Complexity: GameQuarter’s Doeke Reflects on a Lifelong PC Gaming Journey

Brussels, Belgium – for GameQuarter reviewer Doeke, PC gaming isn’t about chasing the latest AAA titles, but a return to roots adn a haven for creative, complex experiences. After a period focused on console gaming, a renewed budget and evolving tastes have led him to embrace a niche within the PC gaming world – one defined by indie titles, city builders, and the portable power of the Steam Deck.

Doeke’s gaming history took a turn in the mid-1990s, shifting entirely to consoles. “I have never had a real game PC again,” he explains in a recent article on GameQuarter.be. While work laptops occasionally allowed for games like Battlefield 3 and TrackMania, a dedicated gaming PC remained absent until roughly five years ago. This change coincided with increased financial flexibility, enabling the purchase of a laptop with an RTX3060 video card, later upgraded to an RTX4060 with 32GB of memory.

However, this return to PC wasn’t about replicating his console experience. Doeke now reserves AAA gaming for his PlayStation 5 Pro, instead focusing on “somewhat smaller and more complex games” like Rimworld, Project Zomboid, and Cities: Skylines. This preference is reflected in his recent reviews, including Block Factory in Pile Up!, and ongoing work on similar titles. He also extends this approach to the steam Deck, prioritizing smaller games and emulating older systems through MAME and other arcade classics.

For Doeke, PC gaming is fundamentally about relaxation and creativity.”Ultimately, that is what gaming is about: losing yourself in your hobby and just escaping the reality after a busy working week, or sometimes even during a busy working week if you don’t feel like putting the priorities on your work.” This personal philosophy shapes not only his gaming choices but also his approach to reviewing,offering a unique viewpoint within the broader gaming landscape.

ask the Editors: Has Gaming Influenced Your Taste in Music?

We posed the question to our editorial team: has gaming had an impact on your musical preferences? The ​responses reveal a spectrum of experiences, from subtle background influence to⁣ a complete ‍reshaping of musical horizons.

Several editors noted a passive enjoyment of game music while playing, but didn’t actively seek it out afterwards. One editor explained, “I really get absorbed in films, but ‍when gaming I’m too focused on the gameplay to truly listen to the music, though I appreciate good ​music being there.” Another echoed this sentiment, stating ​they enjoy music while gaming but don’t consciously pay attention to ⁤it.

For others, gaming served as a gateway ‌to new artists and ‍genres. Natascha, a long-time metal ⁤fan, finds herself discovering new bands within the folk and power metal subgenres through games. She also utilizes game soundtracks,alongside classical and jazz,as​ background music for focused work. Sil described a similarly eclectic taste,noting a playlist spanning Daft punk to Rachmaninoff,with some ‌songs discovered through games,though not⁢ necessarily formed by them.

Louis shared a specific example, recalling the soundtrack of Burnout‌ 3 introducing them to bands like My Chemical Romance and Rise Against, artists who⁤ remain in their​ playlists today.‌ However, they‌ acknowledge the possibility that this preference stemmed from the broader musical landscape of their youth.

But for David, gaming wasn’t just an introduction – it was a transformation. Initially devoted to the trance genre ‍as a teenager, David found⁤ his⁤ musical world expanded exponentially through gaming. He discovered chip tunes, orchestral compositions, classic music, metal, and glitch, all while immersed in pixelated worlds and epic boss battles. He specifically praised composers ⁤like Disasterpiece, ​Masayoshi Soken (of Final Fantasy XIV), Nobuo Uematsu, and Yasunori ​mitsuda (of Chrono Trigger), recognizing them as fully-fledged artists capable of creating‍ emotionally resonant ​and immersive experiences. David concluded that gaming broke down​ his previously limited​ musical perspective, allowing him to appreciate game soundtracks as much ⁢as‌ any conventional ⁣album.

one‍ editor highlighted the important role of their father in ⁤shaping their musical taste, acknowledging that while game music might subtly influence ⁤them, ⁢their father remains the primary influence.

the ⁢team’s responses ​demonstrate that⁤ gaming’s influence on musical taste is varied ⁣and personal. While not universally transformative, gaming clearly has the power to introduce‍ new genres,‍ artists, and a deeper thankfulness for music as an art form, enriching the‌ listening experience for many.