Survey: PC or Console

[OrganisM]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

To play those games on the PC you're pirating games, so ethics kind of come into play there.

I really don't understand why you're choosing to make it an argument over hardware superiority, Afrobean. It has far less to do with hardware capabilities and entirely to do with content delivery and availability for a particular price point. Therein lies the point of this survey.

Are you seriously going to turn this into a thread about content delivery systems? I have a $4000 PC I built and I still have a Wii and an Xbox 360. The Wii has an exclusive interface and games that are exclusive. The 360 cost me less than the price of a good HTPC (in parts even) and allows me to play exclusive games as well as have content delivered to me that I can watch on my 360, and it also interfaces with my network.

For someone who just wants to play games and get content delivered quick and easy, there's no question that a console such as the 360 is a much more efficient and cost-effective way to get what they want. Why is there no question? Sales figures speak volumes.

Also, if you want me to spec out a basic good HTPC that actually functions properly, tell you how long it takes to assemble such a thing, and what else is involved, I'd be glad to give you the particulars. I build HTPC's as a part of my business.

Another thing I suppose I should mention is that within the console realm, the most powerful system doesn't always win. Look at the Xbox then, and the PS3 now. The PS2 outpaced both the GameCube and the Xbox, and the Wii, the least powerful of this generation, beat out the Xbox 360, which beat the more powerful PS3. Handily.

[Coolboyrulez0]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

PC all the way.

[Afrobean]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

To play those games on the PC you're pirating games, so ethics kind of come into play there.

Morality is easily justified by only emulating games you already own legitimately.

I really don't understand why you're choosing to make it an argument over hardware superiority, Afrobean. It has far less to do with hardware capabilities and entirely to do with content delivery and availability for a particular price point. Therein lies the point of this survey.

The question is "Which do you prefer for gaming?" not "Which has better exclusive games?"

People are free to choose for exclusive games, but at the same time, I'm free to tell them that I think it is illogical to judge a platform based on software rather than hardware.

Are you seriously going to turn this into a thread about content delivery systems? I have a $4000 PC I built and I still have a Wii and an Xbox 360. The Wii has an exclusive interface and games that are exclusive. The 360 cost me less than the price of a good HTPC (in parts even) and allows me to play exclusive games as well as have content delivered to me that I can watch on my 360, and it also interfaces with my network.

A cheapo PC could also fill every function but for playing exclusive 360/Wii games, and it'd do so at a similar cost.

Ok, it'd be a little more expense, but it'd also open a lot more functionality as well.

For someone who just wants to play games and get content delivered quick and easy, there's no question that a console such as the 360 is a much more efficient and cost-effective way to get what they want. Why is there no question? Sales figures speak volumes.

So we should give in to claiming something worse is better because people are stupid and lazy?

Also, if you want me to spec out a basic good HTPC that actually functions properly, tell you how long it takes to assemble such a thing, and what else is involved, I'd be glad to give you the particulars. I build HTPC's as a part of my business.

Yeah, bro, if I threw more modern graphics and sound cards at my cheap Dell, it'd be entirely capable of doing everything I could ever want from a HT perspective, although I suppose many people would probably want a much larger disc space for ripping DVDs or some bull****. I like my discs though, so storage space is unimportant. And honestly, I think VGA is doing a fair job at delivering the picture most of the time, and I still haven't gotten around to dropping the cash on surround sound system, so I don't mind my audio feeding through 3.5mm stereo jacks into my TV's built-in speakers.

And I already have a standalone BD player, so I wouldn't bother dropping cash on a BD drive for my PC for the purpose of watching movies that way anyway.

Another thing I suppose I should mention is that within the console realm, the most powerful system doesn't always win. Look at the Xbox then, and the PS3 now. The PS2 outpaced both the GameCube and the Xbox, and the Wii, the least powerful of this generation, beat out the Xbox 360, which beat the more powerful PS3. Handily.

I'm well aware that the best doesn't necessarily always win, but does that mean that's a legitimate reason for a single person to ignore logic? I own a Wii, but does that mean I think it's a better system for gaming than a fully customizeable PC? Hell no.

[OrganisM]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

You know what? Forget it. For someone so intelligent, you are sometimes so dense that it's not worth arguing the point with you.

[Afrobean]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

You know what? Forget it. For someone so intelligent, you are sometimes so dense that it's not worth arguing the point with you.

Aww, you're no fun. I was looking forward to throwing words at you.

[OrganisM]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

Look, the point is it has nothing to do with using your skills to maximize what you can get for the price and hardware. It has everything to do with making things more streamlined so that the average user can deal with it, and that on average is going to be the preferable platform. Many times the better solution for the average consumer may not be the most cost effective if you have the right skills. And often times the cheaper solution involving retrofitting systems with additional parts and trying to deal with screwy old OS's or needing to install or reinstall makes it just not worth the trouble.

[Afrobean]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

**** the average person. I don't care about them. I only care about me and what's better for me.

8)

[OrganisM]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

Well, personally, I agree, but I have to deal with averages to make more money.

[Syhto]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

Consoles.

p.s. afro you're dumb.

[Sgtzombie.]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

Both.

+PC can be modified, and made better to play new games for peanuts.
-Buying a new console, can cost a lot more than buying a new PC every time.
+More choice of games for consoles.
-Can't move a PC easily, from room to room.
+Don't have to worry about graphics cards all the time for consoles.
-You don't get classic games for PC. ):


That's all I can think of.

[fido123]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

-Buying a new console, can cost a lot more than buying a new PC every time.

Actually upgrading your PC costs more than buying new generations of consoles.

+More choice of games for consoles.

I would have to disagree. I find any game worth playing comes out for PC. Also emulators.

+Don't have to worry about graphics cards all the time for consoles.

It's more than just a graphics card, to keep your PC up to date you have to be upgrading everything as the years go by. This can be a good thing because instead of buying a new console you're just modifying your current system.

-You don't get classic games for PC. ):

Emulators




My personal opinion on this is pretty much as OrganisM said, the average person isn't going to be able to keep a gaming rig up to date and many can't afford it, I hardly can. Also if you're not very computer savvy, running into problems like viruses can be hell, where as if you are these things are easy to deal with. You also have to know what parts go together and what you need for the computer to serve it's function. You could always buy a pre-built computer but you still need to know what you're going to get. Consoles are a lot cheaper and work out of the box. Now on the PC side, if you have a good enough computer, the graphics are much better than games on the consoles, they can run emulators, and are customizable in more than just computer hardware but controllers. Also I find multilayer systems are much better than matchmaking. In short PC's are better if you know what you're doing and have the cash, so I voted PC.

[Sgtzombie.]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

Actually upgrading your PC costs more than buying new generations of consoles.

Depends on how much you plan to upgrade, and how long you intend to use said PC... I'm moving out soon, and I can't really afford a whole new gaming system. I just upgraded my crappy crap PC to play CoD4 for under £100... new motherboard and graphics card. A new PS3 would cost me twice that.

I would have to disagree. I find any game worth playing comes out for PC. Also emulators.

Yes, your opinion... your game genre preferences. Emulators are pants, in my opinion.

It's more than just a graphics card, to keep your PC up to date you have to be upgrading everything as the years go by. This can be a good thing because instead of buying a new console you're just modifying your current system.

To play the latest games, you need the latest consoles. You don't need to update your PC every time a new bit of technology comes out.. and it will run most new games.

Emulators

Are crap, in my opinion.



Most of what I said is just my opinion.

[OrganisM]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

To play the latest games, you need the latest consoles. You don't need to update your PC every time a new bit of technology comes out.. and it will run most new games.

You are grossly incorrect. The typical lifespan of a console is 5 years. The typical lifespan of a low-end computer for gaming is most certainly not 5 years. When you spend $400 on an Xbox 360, you know it will play all games the same until the end of the console's life cycle. On the other hand, I remember CES 2008 and Nvidia's triple-SLI setup demoing Crysis at actual playable framerates. The thing is, that setup included 3 8800GTX's from EVGA, and the framerates were still not so great at max res. Those cards cost a total of about $1500 back then. They're next to worthless now, and new games are coming out that require more powerful GPU's. And for those of you who want more powerful GPU's, you'll often times need a more powerful CPU since your crappy 2.2GHz 65nm Core 2 will bottleneck that brand spankin' new GTX260 you just picked up. Need a new CPU? Too bad for your motherboard then, you need a new one since you're lucky if your old mobo supports 45nm proc's w/bios updates, and even then half the time it doesn't run stable. Uh oh, you ran into some weird PSU requirement, and now you need a new PSU as well. And you just found out you're using some old-ass DDR-400 RAM and will need to upgrade that as well. But be careful when you're upgrading, because of the various differences in performance they don't tell you about, even on Newegg. Oh and in six months, a new game will come out, just like Crysis and Oblivion, and it will tax the hell out of your hardware with its inefficient use of drivers, and you'll have to buy 3 new Radeon HD 4870x2's and put them in Crossfire with a 1200w PSU with 3 12+v rails and a new x58 mobo and 3.2ghz core i7 with 12gb DDR3-1600 RAM, and $6000+ later, you've got a grand total of 15fps on your new copy of CryLivionDoomAwesome game. Congratulations.

Or you could just walk into best buy, point and say "gimme that", pick up a controller and a few games, plug the power and video, and start playing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a hardcore computer gamer and enthusiast, but trying to insinuate that consoles don't have their benefits is just plain laughable.

On another note, I'm building my first Nehalem system in a few days. *drool* 64-bit with 3gb DDR3-1600 and a $1500 quadro fx card. ohhh yeah. core i7 940 with secks included. I might post pics w/thread later.

[gafandriel]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

PC- no doubt about that one right there. If i cant wasd i wont play it haha

[OrganisM]

Re: Survey: PC or Console

Of course if you choose wisely and make your rig upgradeable, you'll probably be alright, but a $400 Dell is not going to be upgradeable, and that's equivalent in cost to the 360. You'll want to spend about $1000 to make it as "future-proofed" as possible, and even that term is pretty much bogus. And then after you make it expandable, you'll end up paying for $500 or more in upgrades. Not the same as getting a $400 system that works out of the box and is guaranteed to play every game that comes out within its 5 year or more lifespan.

Did I mention that most of this ability to upgrade comes with building your own system and dealing with all the config issues? If you spend $1000 on a Dell, LAWLAWLAWLAWL good luck. You'll be able to upgrade (to a certain extent) a slightly better GPU and slap in some more RAM. maybe a new HDD. But that's about it.