04-16-2010, 04:46 PM
0
PC Gaming vs. Console Gaming
Owning a PC gaming rig and a console gaming machine can be an expensive proposition, which is why most gamers choose one or the other. Since many popular software titles are commonly released for both PCs and consoles, it typically isn’t financially wise to invest in both sides. Newegg can help you weigh the pros and cons so you can decide on the gaming lifestyle that suits you best.
PC Gaming
The Good: The majority of households have a computer of some kind. Chances are that you’re reading this on a personal computer and have passed some time playing Freecell or Solitaire. If your system is older or you have a business machine, a few simple upgrades, like faster RAM or a new video card, can turn your PC into a gaming rig. PCs can also display your games in higher resolution than a console. Even if a gaming console is hooked up to an HDTV many games don’t take advantage of the full 1080p high-definition resolution. Just make sure you have a good monitor with fast refresh rates or you may notice some stutter in your graphics. As an added bonus, PC software titles are typically $10 less expensive than console software titles. Also, popular massively multiplayer online games have so far been made exclusively for the PC. Finally, only PC gaming allows for true personalization. With a wide range of computer cases and input devices, you can truly stand out and show off your gaming personality. This customizability extends to the games themselves. Programming-savvy gamers are constantly creating new maps, plug-ins, patches and sometimes entire new games for existing titles.
The Bad: Some technical know-how is necessary if you plan on keeping up with hardware demands. Not only do you need to know how to install upgrades, but you also have to understand if your components are compatible with each other. Staying on the cutting edge of hardware can also be very expensive, especially with multiple graphics cards and advanced cooling systems to prevent heat buildup from slowing performance. Additionally, since everyone’s computer is different, game developers have a harder time creating a title that will work flawlessly on every computer system. This reality has driven many software companies to develop exclusively for consoles where the hardware is uniform, resulting in less selection for the PC market. Additionally, since software piracy is rampant on the Internet, PC game developers have been forced to set up annoying anti-piracy measures that are typically just an inconvenience for paying customers and not a significant deterrent for pirates.
The Bottom Line: If you don’t mind doing a little research and doing your own upgrades, PC gaming can offer some of the most rewarding entertainment experiences around. The controls are more precise, the graphics are clearer and the online community is more mature. Best of all, when something breaks you can typically take care of it yourself.
Console Gaming
The Good: Nothing beats the gaming console for affordable, high-quality gaming – especially after you wait a couple of years. While most households have a computer, even more have televisions. That means all you have to buy is a basic system and some cables to connect to your television and you can start gaming immediately. The price for a basic console is relatively affordable when compared to a high-end gaming PC. Technical know-how is kept to a minimum and network connections are simple to set up. Console gamers also get the widest selection of software titles, including games for younger players that are almost completely absent on the PC. The gaming console also enjoys uniformity in design that eliminates any guesswork in what the game will actually look like when you start playing. Best of all, you can rent console games at most video rental stores and can trade-in your purchased games at many video game shops for store credit.
The Bad: When something breaks there is little you can do to fix it except send your console in for service if it’s still under warranty. Software titles are typically more expensive than PC titles by about $10. Furthermore, there isn’t much customization for your games. Some titles offer map editors, but the modifications available are severely limited. Many gamers may also be irritated with the frequent and typically long load times that plague console games. Some really great titles are also missing from the console market – namely anything worthwhile in the massively multiplayer online category as well as almost all real-time strategy games. Additionally, your game selection may further be limited to the console you choose since some titles are console-exclusive. Also keep in mind that the graphics of gaming consoles only really look good on an HDTV. If you don’t already own one, you’ll have to factor in that cost into your purchase if you want graphics that can match a gaming PC. Finally, expect to find a less mature online experience as you are assaulted with racial slurs, accusations about your sexual orientation and insults like “your mom is a dude!”
The Bottom Line: Console gaming is more affordable, simple to set up and easy to get into. The ability to rent and trade games in reduces your overall cost even more if you don’t care about owning anything. You’ll also have access to the widest selection of games, excepting a few popular categories that are next to impossible to play without a keyboard and mouse. Just make sure you have an HDTV or you maybe disappointed in the visuals.
Owning a PC gaming rig and a console gaming machine can be an expensive proposition, which is why most gamers choose one or the other. Since many popular software titles are commonly released for both PCs and consoles, it typically isn’t financially wise to invest in both sides. Newegg can help you weigh the pros and cons so you can decide on the gaming lifestyle that suits you best.
PC Gaming
The Good: The majority of households have a computer of some kind. Chances are that you’re reading this on a personal computer and have passed some time playing Freecell or Solitaire. If your system is older or you have a business machine, a few simple upgrades, like faster RAM or a new video card, can turn your PC into a gaming rig. PCs can also display your games in higher resolution than a console. Even if a gaming console is hooked up to an HDTV many games don’t take advantage of the full 1080p high-definition resolution. Just make sure you have a good monitor with fast refresh rates or you may notice some stutter in your graphics. As an added bonus, PC software titles are typically $10 less expensive than console software titles. Also, popular massively multiplayer online games have so far been made exclusively for the PC. Finally, only PC gaming allows for true personalization. With a wide range of computer cases and input devices, you can truly stand out and show off your gaming personality. This customizability extends to the games themselves. Programming-savvy gamers are constantly creating new maps, plug-ins, patches and sometimes entire new games for existing titles.
The Bad: Some technical know-how is necessary if you plan on keeping up with hardware demands. Not only do you need to know how to install upgrades, but you also have to understand if your components are compatible with each other. Staying on the cutting edge of hardware can also be very expensive, especially with multiple graphics cards and advanced cooling systems to prevent heat buildup from slowing performance. Additionally, since everyone’s computer is different, game developers have a harder time creating a title that will work flawlessly on every computer system. This reality has driven many software companies to develop exclusively for consoles where the hardware is uniform, resulting in less selection for the PC market. Additionally, since software piracy is rampant on the Internet, PC game developers have been forced to set up annoying anti-piracy measures that are typically just an inconvenience for paying customers and not a significant deterrent for pirates.
The Bottom Line: If you don’t mind doing a little research and doing your own upgrades, PC gaming can offer some of the most rewarding entertainment experiences around. The controls are more precise, the graphics are clearer and the online community is more mature. Best of all, when something breaks you can typically take care of it yourself.
Console Gaming
The Good: Nothing beats the gaming console for affordable, high-quality gaming – especially after you wait a couple of years. While most households have a computer, even more have televisions. That means all you have to buy is a basic system and some cables to connect to your television and you can start gaming immediately. The price for a basic console is relatively affordable when compared to a high-end gaming PC. Technical know-how is kept to a minimum and network connections are simple to set up. Console gamers also get the widest selection of software titles, including games for younger players that are almost completely absent on the PC. The gaming console also enjoys uniformity in design that eliminates any guesswork in what the game will actually look like when you start playing. Best of all, you can rent console games at most video rental stores and can trade-in your purchased games at many video game shops for store credit.
The Bad: When something breaks there is little you can do to fix it except send your console in for service if it’s still under warranty. Software titles are typically more expensive than PC titles by about $10. Furthermore, there isn’t much customization for your games. Some titles offer map editors, but the modifications available are severely limited. Many gamers may also be irritated with the frequent and typically long load times that plague console games. Some really great titles are also missing from the console market – namely anything worthwhile in the massively multiplayer online category as well as almost all real-time strategy games. Additionally, your game selection may further be limited to the console you choose since some titles are console-exclusive. Also keep in mind that the graphics of gaming consoles only really look good on an HDTV. If you don’t already own one, you’ll have to factor in that cost into your purchase if you want graphics that can match a gaming PC. Finally, expect to find a less mature online experience as you are assaulted with racial slurs, accusations about your sexual orientation and insults like “your mom is a dude!”
The Bottom Line: Console gaming is more affordable, simple to set up and easy to get into. The ability to rent and trade games in reduces your overall cost even more if you don’t care about owning anything. You’ll also have access to the widest selection of games, excepting a few popular categories that are next to impossible to play without a keyboard and mouse. Just make sure you have an HDTV or you maybe disappointed in the visuals.
