Console vs PC Gaming
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Are Consoles or PCs Better for Gaming?
My purpose with this page is to provide an unbiased (I hope) PC vs console comparison in regards to games, controls and price; to publish the best arguments for each platform from the visitors; and to collect anonymous votes about the most popular gaming system.
Scroll down below to read about PC vs console games, features and other details, vote in our poll, and see what other gamers have to say. You are more than welcome to participate in the discussion yourself (no login required), or just leave us a regular comment with your thoughts.
How a PC is Better Than a Console
Here are some areas where PCs are superior to consoles like Xbox 360 and Playstation 3:- Better graphics: a high-end gaming rig will have better graphics than a console. The downside is that a top of the line computer will cost more, and you will also need to upgrade it at least every few years to keep up with the ever-increasing system requirements of new PC games.
- Cheaper games: the standard price for a new PC game is $50, while a new Xbox 360 or PS3 game usually costs $60. This is not all: digital PC game distribution services like Steam often have sales where older titles can be bought for as little as $5.
- Superior controls (for some games): this is an arguable point that not everyone will agree with. However, I do believe that a mouse provides better precision and is superior to a controller in FPS games. The fact that almost all console shooters have built-in auto-aim (aka aim assist) serves to prove my point.
There is even less of an argument when it comes to strategy games (both real-time and turn-based) and MMORPGs. Console controllers simply do not have enough buttons to map all the functions of popular RTS and MMORPGs, and these games would have to be simplified (dumbed down, even) to work properly on consoles. - More freedom: you can upgrade and customize your computer with thousands of different components; you have access to game mods, unofficial patches and hacks, and level making tools; you can play creative indie games like Minecraft which are unlikely to be released on consoles due to licensing costs and other issues. You are not tied to a single online service (PSN / Xbox Live), either.
How a Console is Better Than a PC
There are plenty of reasons why consoles can be considered superior to PCs for gaming, too:- It's more affordable: when you buy a console, it will last you a good part of a decade, until a new generation of gaming devices is released. It's a one-time cost, and unlike with gaming PCs, you won't have to worry about any upgrades or your game not running due to your system not being powerful enough.
- Easier to setup: using a console requires much less technical knowledge than using a PC - it's much more simple and straightforward. You won't have to worry about conflicting software, incompatible driver versions, or wrong internet settings.
- Rent and trade: while console games are more expensive than their PC counterparts (usually $10 more), this is easily offset by the fact that you can rent your games cheap, and trade-in games you purchased previously for store credit.
- Superior controls (for certain genres): most people will agree that a console controller is much easier and more fun to use for fighting, action, jRPG, and platformer games. The only genres console owners will miss out on are strategy and MMORPG.
- Split screen: consoles are much better for local multiplayer games since you can just sit down with your friends (up to 4 people) and play on the same Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 console together.
I might have missed some important points in this overview, so please add your thoughts to the discussion below!
Consoles Versus PC Discussion
Which gaming platform do you think is superior?
Consoles are better than PCs!
HW says:
@Bond
So? PCs are multi-core and can handle all that consoles can handle and with flying colors. And one person on YouTube built a $300 gaming rig that handles most games on med.-high settings. And if you want, just hook up your PC with your TV. And then use an Xbox 360 controller. And now most PC games have LIVE, so you can game with your console friends. And Steam is awesome. The games are dirt cheap. Console games are expensive for $60 and the PC has has a ton of great indies like Minecraft. Compare Crysis on a PC to Uncharted or God of War. The graphics are just incomparable. Unfortunately, its a myth that PC gaming expensive and lot of my acquantinces say that PC gaming is 'gay', but the only reason they can give is like "LOL. PC gaming sucks. Xbox is better." And on Xbox and PS3 you can get banned for everything. Mods? BANNED. On PC do whatever you want. It's yours. And here's the the link to the guy with the $300 gaming rig.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Me5age#g/u
Bond4141 (that's my psn name) says:
I say the Consoles are better, mostly because of the ps3's cell prosesser that acts as many prosessers as one, for example one cell can handle the dialog, while one does sound effects, etc, my 2nd point is the fact everyone is the same, while with PC if you have a lower end PC you will suffer, greatly. 3rd of all the price for new pc parts can be high, when the Intel I7 prosesser originally came out, it was 2grand. and lastly because a console is completely user wireless and doesn't need 1 chair, if i wanted to i could hang upside down from my roof and game it while chatting on Bluetooth mic, and Bluetooth ps3 controller.
ZOidberg says:
If you have a family go with the console. If your a game designer then PC. If your just a average guy with a family who loves games go with the console. Wii sucks btw its like a GameCube which you can buy for 20 bucks.
Classicvideogamesplus says:
For RTS games like Starcraft, Command and Conquer, etc PC all the way. But playing with friends, range of physical movement, sentimentality and overall cost, I would give consoles a slight edge.
Coaching101 says:
It depends on what game you play, PC's are much better for fps. But for racing games or sword fighting stuff you can't go wrong with consoles.
Try to get both and play only certain games on each one
PCs are better than consoles!
Fade. says:
IN THE LONG RUN, PCs are better than consoles. Let's say you buy and xbox and you've been playing on it for 5 years. Of course the cpu and gpu's are outdated, so you're going to have to go out and buy a whole new console
Where as the PC, all you have to do is buy a newer model that will cost about 100$ more. So you're looking at spending 200-300$, keeping your old hard drive and storage, without having to buy a whole new computer.
Consoles also suck at cooling. I played on my xbox for an hour. It's steaming hot. I place on my laptop for an hour, it's not even as hot as the console. One fan isn't usually going to do for a gaming console.
If you like console gaming because of the controller, well they sell those made for your pc. So you can play all your games with a controller on your pc. Plus using a mouse gives u better precision than toggling with those knobs.
Tim says:
I've been gaming on pc since the 90s and theres somthing to be said for that. I build my own pc and I find joy in doing so. I may be abit paranoid but I have went through more (cheaper option) consoles over the years then I have spent on pc and pc parts.
My first win98 lasted 15 years before it died, xp 10 years, win7 still running. im lucky if my ps3 last 5 years. Im not saying consoles are bad im just saying there made cheap, and you cant even use a mouse and keyboard with it.
bottom line: when consoles support mouse and keyboard and still be sold for less then $600 then it will be on top.
sad part it people love the cheapos, now I dont blame you if your limited by your income BUT! alot of us that play on these consoles (nintendo not in cluded) have jobs and we can work more hours and put away alittle at a time for which ever we want but we always go for the one thats cheaper and the one that the public clam is best. To prove my point at lauch the 360 priced at $400 sold out yes but had a 42% return due to faulty contruction (which wasnt fix till the new version came out in 2011. The ps3 priced at $600 and $800 sold out at lauch how ever did not have even 10% return. Over the next few years the 360 would out sell the ps3 due to lover prices, even though the ps3 had blue ray player, games with more contents, a faster and smoother cpu, and built in wifi. Sells in the ps3 did start to pick up until the ps3 slim was released. Now the 360 cost $500 and the ps3 is now $250.
People like cheap things, people like what most of the other people like.
Tobi says:
as
Planet side 2 is gonna be epic says:
OK PC`s are worth it for 400 dollars you could make a 2 times better of a machine with the right budget parts. Pc are not that expensive anymore you just need 800 to play The latest games with insanlying good looking graphics. You can just tell whos the winning look close at a texture on a console its all blocky and ugly Pc looks like its a real object. Pc online is better you dont get that hey i have aim assist i can point where you are and autokill you. Oh yea and you get PLANETSIDE2 >:D
sd says:
PCs > Consoles. You can build a PC for $500 with a 6870/6850 that will own any console.
jjmwood says:
PCs are just worth it. Xbox and PS3 are like around $400 on launch. and they are stuck with that hardware from the launch date. PC's cost about $400-500 for a great Gaming Computer. High-End PC's are for enthusiasts. The $2000 Computers you think of are Extreme Overkill. 1080p also looks really good as Consoles don't play games higher than 720p no matter what cables you have.
HW says:
Consoles are great, but gaming on PC gives a lot better graphics. And it's not expensive. Just upgrade your GPU in your computer, and you'll have a PC that is better than a console. I have an Xbox 360, and its great because it has better multiplayer, and a variety of games, but if comes to a graphics intensive game, PC can handle it while PS3 and Xbox can't. And (sometimes) PC games can be had for cheaper than console games. A one year old console game will be $50-$60, while a one year old PC game will be at most $45. I recently got Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II for $5. Nevertheless, they both have their merits and serve different purposes.
ElGibby says:
I have both, but by far prefer my PC. A lot of my friends play solely consoles, however even they are beginning to see the light. Also, as the quality of console ports increases, and with the availibility of console controllers now, I think a lot of the main arguements for consoles are slipping away.
YAAY says:
if you have a tight budget, go for a console, if you have money, build yourself a powerful gaming rig (:
MAXIMUS says:
consoles are only for gaming. but PC's can do anything like Gaming,Play Video's,Editing Videos,Office works and other types of task..
blinkreder says:
I would have to go with PC's for gaming but I love the difficulty and experience of hacking and modding consoles.
stephen says:
Want to play originals? OK! Want to play hacked (pirated) games? OK! Want to play mods? OK! On a PC you can do all that at once, while on a console - it's either only originals or only hacked games.
chris says:
I don't agree with the exclamation point but i prefer a pc to my xbox, but i play my xbox 300% more then the pc (unlees its minecraft) but i would love to game more on my pc than xbox if all my friends got a gaming pc and I got enough money to buy one but until then il be playing bc2 on my xbox.
awesomepants says:
The #1 reason why devs move away from PCs to consoles is because of piracy (and hacking, etc). It's simply the case of greedy corporations wanting absolute control of what you do (= more profits for them). Just remember Sony freaking out about a guy installing Linux on the PS3. It's your device, you should be able to do whatever the f@ck you want with it!
Choose PC, you control what an when you do.
mypotlpeople says:
I use my computer for any games. I guess that puts me in the pc camp
Chadrew says:
I think computers are better because you can use them for pretty much everything, not just gaming. It's true even if we're comparing only the gaming aspect. Take Steam for example. Awesome game sales, you can access your data from any PC, no losing DVDs (just re-download the game), etc.
Besides, you get to play all the old, abandonware, open source, and indie games.
And I'm something of an MMO fan, so I guess I'm biased towards to PC for that, too.
Best Gaming Platform Poll
Comments
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mantele11
Feb 18, 2012 @ 1:01 pm | delete
- I always play game with PC, because Xbox or Playstation 3 is not cheap. But I think I will try Xbox or Playstation one day. Great lens.
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uncle-x
Nov 1, 2011 @ 8:03 pm | delete
- i dont see how console cud beat pc c'mon...let me minus da keyboard n add a controller n lets game away...ur jaws wud shatter on da floor to see graphics beyond a consoles reach
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LilSquido
Apr 5, 2012 @ 5:51 pm | delete
- i couldnt have said it any better
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by Chadrew
People have been arguing about whether PC or console gaming is better for ages. Let's get some good arguments in the PCvsConsole debate here.
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