PC vs. Console gaming

[asintu]

Which one would be better and why?

1). High-end computer for games and general computing
2). Console for games and also a medium performance comp.?

Assuming both options cost the same.

 

[mugs]

Depends entirely on personal preferences.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: mugs
Depends entirely on personal preferences.

/thread

this thread should be locked before it becomes a flamefest.

 

[EvilComputer92]

Originally posted by: mugs
Depends entirely on personal preferences.

That's all that needs to be said on this issue.

 

[Engraver]

Console /w keyboard+mouse=PC with standardized hardware.

 

[warcrow]

This thread is going to so freak'n awesome! :laugh:

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: mugs
Depends entirely on personal preferences.

Exactly. This thread is pointless unless this a question about your own purchasing plans, with a specific maximum budget and list of games that you want to play.

Also, depending on what you want to play the answer might be a high-end PC and a console. High-end for everything except Crysis at 3096x2048 is very reasonably priced.

 

[austin316]

Originally posted by: asintu
Which one would be better and why?

1). High-end computer for games and general computing
2). Console for games and also a medium performance comp.?

Assuming both options cost the same.

Option 2 is what I do. But in reality at that point, a $150 graphics card is cheaper than a 360 or PS3.

 

[JackBurton]

All I can tell you is that I LOVE my PS3 and 360! I don't even play PC games anymore, and I used to play them exclusively. But again, it also goes back to personal preference.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: mugs
Depends entirely on personal preferences.

Agreed.

In my situation, all of the games that I currently play and plan on playing are PC exclusives (for now at least), add the fact that the bulk of those games utilize community / player made content and my choice was easy. I do have a PS3 (better graphics than my "gaming" pc with Athlon64 and x1950 Pro AGP) as well and while I do own some PS3 games (unfortunately, I got burned pretty bad by buying them), it is not being used for gaming at the moment nor will it be used for gaming in the foreseeable future since there is a lack of story driven, party based roleplaying games. Everybody wants to produce "Action-RPG" these days (some of them are little more than third person shooters with stats) (not specifically directed at the PS3, but seems that way on all platforms (including PC)).


Some of you guys maybe interested in the new Console versus PC Gaming thread over in the PC forum.

 

[potato28]

Mix of both, I'll make my high end PC and buy a console later on. Thats what I did this console round, worked perfectly so that I can upgrade for the summer and then in the winter have enough set aside for maybe a PS3 or a bunch of 360 games.

 

[Sadaiyappan]

I used to be just a PC gamer but now consoles have gotten powerfull enough to where all the best games are on both (and usually on console first).

 

[gamepad]

consoles are for noobs

 

[destrekor]

I'm a PC gamer and a console gamer. Two different worlds imho. Also, it is why I stick to the Playstation brand. Not fanboyism, simply... 360 serves no purpose for me. All games that I like on the 360 are available or will be available on the PC. The PS3, on the other hand, still has a lot of developers that are console-only or stick to the playstation brand. I do have a Wii, but it rarely gets played.

I prefer FPS games with my mouse and keyboard, so any FPS that graces both consoles and PC, I'll pick the PC version. However, some FPS games are exclusive to the PS3, and I enjoy them. Every PS3 game I have is console only, and most are exclusive. And I enjoy those games.

This was my attempt at a real response to the OP. However, I think I should abandon this thread and it already sunk.

I love my gaming PC, and I love my PS3. Best of both worlds and I get to play all the best titles.

+

 

[JE78]

I have to chalk it up as personal preference as well. I have a PS3 and a relatively new PC. I use my PC for FPS, and racing simulations and my PS3 for sports games mostly so far. Just got my PS3 a few weeks ago so i'm sure i'll find other games I enjoy on it.

 

[ZzZGuy]

I would really like to see a hybrid of PCs and consoles.

The standardization/ease of use of a console with the multitasking/customization of a PC. It might even help push out new and better tech over limited backwards compatible tech not to mention make it easier to make games.

But as it stands here is how i see it.

Console:
Pro
- Ease of use
- Lower cost when used with a existing TV
- Co-op
- Portable

Con
- Non upgradeable
- Limited use to games/movies/music
- Lagging behind PC games
- Limited input choice thereby crippling some game types (like RTS), though this could be solved with a air mouse and mini keyboard
- Limited multiplayer
- Have to buy new console to upgrade
- Relatively small game collection


PC:
Pro
- King of multitasking
- Customizable so you can optimize your PC for whatever task you use it for
- One step ahead of consoles and has the bleeding edge in power/performance
- Large choice of input devices
- Can play all games as well or better then any console with your choice of input devices
- Multipalyer
- Longer life then consoles with minimal upgrades if planned right
- If a good work PC is going to be bought regardless, spending the cost of a console setup (everything except the TV) on gaming related parts will yield superior results
- Massive game selection

Con
- Co-op being a rarity
- DRM
- High cost for high end systems
- Requires a minim level of intelligence that increases with the more you demand of your PC
- Hard to start from scratch with little to no knowledge
- Time required to maintain/fix PC
- Less portable

In the end it all boils down to preference. The cost of a mid range PC isn't much more then a console setup if you go for high end TVs and such as everyone these days has a work PC (suddenly thinking of the "internet is for pron" song). The console can go the lowest with costs while the PC can go the highest for the gaming enthusiast. You also have people who are more into movies and already have a setup to make the best use of a console (in the case of the PS3 can improve it) with mild interest in games. Then you have people like me who have a mild interest in movies and enjoy higher end PC games and are willing to pay to gove above average.

When taken out of context you can call both superior and inferior.

 

[bearxor]

Coming from a hardcore PC gamer from the mid-80's to the late-90's, I've switched to a 360. It was simply becoming too much of a headache to keep up hardware-wise on the PC side. It's definitely more expensive. On top of that, but as I grew up and got a real job, I simply didn't have the time anymore. I don't even build my own computers anymore, I did build my HTPC, but that was a project that stretched over the course of a year.

I also wanted to ditch my desktop. I was tired of being confined to one spot for my computing. However, I realized that there were still going to be some PC games I wanted to play. So I made sure that when I bought a laptop, I didn't go the cheapest route and got something with a little kick. To start with that was my Inspiron 6000 with a Radeon X300. Not very fast, but it played everything I threw at it just fine. I played through C&C 3 on it. Then my MacBook Pro. GeForce 8600GT. Plays everything great at the native res of 1440x900 (though, I haven't played crysis on it... It just doesn't interest me) and I'm currently trying to catch up on Sam and Max Season 2.

My advice, IF you're a die-hard PC gamer whose simply fed up with trying to keep up with the joneses, a console, coupled with a modest PC with a graphics card that can at least play a little something is the way to go!

 

[R Nilla]

Neither. I prefer to play games on my cell phone--a Nokia 232. Not quite as good as my older phone, but it gets the job done.

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: R Nilla
Neither. I prefer to play games on my cell phone--a Nokia 232. Not quite as good as my older phone, but it gets the job done.

What do you play?

As for the original question, all I play on my PC anymore is strategy games - the other stuff I play (sports, racing, and action) are done on my 360 or Wii.

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: A5

Originally posted by: R Nilla
Neither. I prefer to play games on my cell phone--a Nokia 232. Not quite as good as my older phone, but it gets the job done.

What do you play?

As for the original question, all I play on my PC anymore is strategy games - the other stuff I play (sports, racing, and action) are done on my 360 or Wii.

I only play entirely text-based interactive fiction adventure games, like Zork. I'm being completely sarcastic in case you haven't caught on yet.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: R Nilla
I only play entirely text-based interactive fiction adventure games, like Zork. I'm being completely sarcastic in case you haven't caught on yet.

If you'd like to throw the bra in the incinerator, text ABGQ to 5555 now...

 

[chrismr]

As above, neither is better than the other.

I have been a PC exclusive gamer until 3 months ago when I got my 360.

I downgraded my PC a bit, but kept it at a good level for playing games for some time, though I hardly use it for gaming at all now.

Have even considered getting some of the games I already have on PC for the 360, such as cod4, UT3, and perhaps ET:QW when it comes out.

I just prefer sitting in my bean bag playing on my tele, to sitting behind desk these days.

Granted, FPS games are far easier to control on PC using mouse for looking, but its bothering me less and less now that I have been playing a few FPS on the 360.

The only down side s hogging the tele a bit, but luckily the other half doesn't watch all that much.

 

[erwos]

This thread is exceeding my expectations - I thought it would have devolved into more fanboyism by now. Give it more time, I guess.

The main thing keeping me on the PC gaming is RTS games - playing shooters with gamepads isn't ideal, but it's doable, which is still not something you can say of RTS games. Considering the PS3 has KB+M support, I suspect it's only a matter of time until we see a few really good RTS games hit it, and that's when my PC loses a lot of its purpose.

 

[Wuzup101]

As others have said, it's just personal preference really. My computer is far too old to play most modern games on it, but I'll probably get around to updating it shortly after I graduate (and have some more funds). I opted to get a nice HD-TV instead of building a new rig this past winter. I've been enjoying the 360 and PS3 gaming, but I still use the computer to play quite a few older RPG/RTS games.

Great computer games always seem to have a great community of modders and such... which greatly adds to the replay-ability and enjoyment of a game (just look at games like Morrowind and Oblivion). On the console end, you have the ability to more easily play with friends/roommates at your place (via split screen). It's also nice to be able to kick back on the sofa and do some relaxing while you are gaming. I find that being able to play away from a desk is my favorite part about console gaming - it's really fun just to kick back and play CoD4 or Halo3 with my roomates.

The one thing I love about consoles (as a college student) is that everyone seems to have one. We use to always be playing Halo 1/2 back in the day in the dorms. Just toss some ethernet cables around the hallway and you had instant 16 person trash talking events! There was a great social aspect to it. The biggest downside (for me) about console gaming is that you don't have the great PC mod community (for maps, mods, etc... man I miss the original counter strike!). I've been playing console shooters long enough that I'm pretty decent with the controller as opposed to KB+M.... so that doesn't bother me.

The one thing I don't miss about PC gaming is the frequent desire to upgrade my hardware (Oh but I NEED 5 more FPS). To be honest, I like the fact that you are all on the same equipment when you play on a console.... but that argument can definitely go either way.

 

[Oyeve]

I have a fairly decent PC (see sig below) and have always preferred games on the PC compared to console, but, lately I have been playing my 360 80% of the time and havent turned on my PC in over a month.