new gen consoles vs. pc?

[rscaramelo]

I know this forum is geared towards classic console gaming but I think the people here know how to answer this all the same. How does a maxed-out pc with a broadband connection rate versus a new gen console? Lets assume the game sellection is the same for all the systems and the pc. I'm curious strictly from a game player's view. Which is more enjoyable? Any drastic differences? Remember price and game choices are not a factor. Is one type of game better on a pc versus a console?

thanks,

Roger

[Raedon]

depends of the game. MMORPG.. need a keyboard.. FPS.. need a keyboard..

I see console gaming as more of a, "I've got 2 hours to kill" while I see PC gaming as, "OMG, It's 4am?"

Ever hear the term Asleep at the Keyboard? It's common in the world of MMORPG's.. So if you have no life, go PC.. if you have a life.. go console.

[rscaramelo]

Let me give you an example of what I'm wondering about... Madden on PS2 vs Madden on a PC. Any difference? Both can go online but I'd suspect the PC would execute this a bit more seamlessly. I also would think that modifying rosters would be much easier with the capability to just download files. Am I wrongly making these assumptions?

Roger

[Griking]

As it's been already said, it depends on the game.

As for as Madden goes even though I detest the series the platform versions are generally always better. I have no clue why but EA can't seem to make a decent PC sports game. The other problem is that PCs don't have a default gamepad that a designed can keep in mind while designing the game like consoles do. Most PC games are designed with mouse and keyboard controls in mind.

If you like sports and fighting games then consoles seem to be the way to go.

If you like first person shooters and strategy games computers are the way to go.

I personally prefer computer role playing games to console ones but others will argue that consoles have better RPGs (they're wrong :evil: )

[Ed Oscuro]

I am not going to beat around any bushes to see who's peeing behind them - next gen consoles do not and (assuming they're always at least as limited as the Phantom will be in playing PC titles) will not ever compare to the PC.

Admittedly, now and again various classic PC titles become broken (I can't figure out how to play Heretic II for the life of me...) but for every one that is broken on the Wintel platform many other still work.

I'd say that even the Macintosh beats out consoles in this regard. Classic and new games across a span reaching well over a decade - while I like console games as much as the next guy, they just don't hold up to the PC. Granted, you have to buy stuff to make your PC more like a console, but you've got the ability to do stuff you can't with a console, plain and simple.

[kevincure]

Strategy is to be played on the PC (i.e., SC4 on a console would be awful). Everything else on a console. 2 player without having to haul a computer over to the bud's place is reason #1. The pick-up-and-play nature of most console games, the ease of use, etc., are the others. I even prefer FPS on console; I know keybaord and mouse allows more exact movement, but it's just not as *fun*.

That said, I'll pass on Excel on the Xbox :-).

[-hellvin-]

If it comes to fps or strategy gaming, it's best to have a mouse imo. Console gaming is fine for pretty much everything else.

[evilmess]

How does a maxed-out pc with a broadband connection rate versus a new gen console

maxed-out pc = $2000+ (built from scatch - all new components + 19" monitor)
new gen console = $99 to $149

That says a lot right there.

The reason I went from PC gamer back to consoles is because I got tired of trying to keep my PC up to spec to play the latest games at a level of detail and performance that I felt was necessary to get maximum enjoyment out of any given PC game. I also got to a point where I just wanted to put the game in and play it and not have to worry about drivers or patches and compatabilty issues or tweaking this and that for max performance.

Now that I've been doing the new gen console thing for a couple years I find that I play more 2 and 4 player games which is something the PC isn't really geared for unless you have a TV out video card and use that feature.

I will say this; I can't stand playing FPS games on the console because of the lack of keyboard and mouse. Also, I have found that the online gaming lacks the sophistication that PC gamers enjoy mainly because of the lack of a mouse and keyboard for communicating effectively on the console, although headset enabled games fix that somewhat.

I think I'm done with the PC for my main gaming needs and will stick with consoles for the ease of use.

[Brian_Provinciano]

I prefer consoles over PCs for games. PCs do have better graphics, are more powerful, etc. But I prefer the experience of living room gaming with the couch and a console. The graphics are good enough on consoles, and you don't generally need to mess with installations or driver configs. To top it off, even when the consoles are brand new and expensive (ie. $499), it's still a hell of a lot cheaper than a top of the line PC for gaming. As well, dev'rs tap into the consoles. Most PC dev'rs just increase the system requirements :)

[Ed Oscuro]

How does a maxed-out pc with a broadband connection rate versus a new gen console

maxed-out pc = $2000+ (built from scatch - all new components + 19" monitor)
new gen console = $99 to $149

That says a lot right there.
You forgot the bit where you pay at least $500 for an HDTV screen. Even if you don't buy an HDTV, consoles still require a TV.

The $2000+ "built from scratch" figure only applies if you absolutely must have a top of the line rig for new games; all I can say is woe onto him who upgrades his PC every year or more (I get by doing it every three years; I wouldn't buy top of the line components anyway).

For what you're getting, a PC delivers much, much more, even if you're not buying the latest models.

[evilmess]

I didn't forget to add the cost of TV because it is assumed that we all have a TV or two but you could also pick up a decent 27" cable ready with AV for the same price as a console still keeping your hardware investment way below a PC.

And he did say a "maxed-out pc" so that $2000 is off the top of my head based on my own buying and building experience.

My main PC is long overdue for an upgrade and it's been about 3 years since I built and incrementally upgraded this rig. My next upgrade will be mobo, cpu and ram which I anticipate spending $300 which isn't bad but it won't get me anywhere near a "maxed-out pc"

I wouild never knock the PC as legitimate gaming hardware because I have a nicely spec'd mame box dedicated for just that purpose and it get's a lot of play time. It's hooked to the living room TV with two PS2 (via usb adapters) controllers.

Dedicated gaming hardware has reached a point where you can get a fantastic experience with much less investmet than a PC built for high performance gaming.

But considering who we are here... I'd say we all enjoy gaming on anything with a display and H.I.D.

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, I see that, but I'm saying that most people don't need a maxed out PC. Waste of money!

[rscaramelo]

I guess I misspoke....I was refering to having the RAM "maxed-out". I went to the local Asian computer store and had a nice custom built computer made for me that cost about 500 bucks. I have a tv card too that I have plugged into a 36 inch tv. The hard drive is huge and I have 1024 Ram. I've had good luck using this system with every game I've thrown at it.

The reason for the thread was that I was trying to figure out if I really needed a XBox or a PS2. I have just traded in my PS2 because it was collecting dust since I use the PC and my GameCube mostly. I'm going to start checking out ROM's soon and I'm focusing my attention and money on getting older consoles and games.

thanks for the input...

Roger

[calthaer]

PCs are better gaming devices, but they're not as user-friendly as consoles. You do have to download and install patches at times, which as simple as that may be is still too complex for the generic d00d. Of course, the ability to patch and / or download mods is what makes games like Half Life or Halo PC or other things so great...

There's also Nvidia's confusing method of naming video cards so that 4 MX is less powerful than 3 Ti, and crap like that. If there were a poor man's DXDiag that people could run, print out, and take to the store with them so that they could tell if their PC would support a certain game, then this would go a long ways towards helping the plebes. As it is, they have to understand terms like "T&L Lighting" or risk bringing their Tron 2.0 or Star Wars: KOTOR game home and not have it work for some weird reason that they don't understand.

Consoles have their own limitations, though. A keyboard allows for a much greater range of input capacities, and the mouse is the ONLY way to play FPS and RTS games. A PC's greater video resolution is also way better than something a TV can put out - even those that are progressive scan compatible.

[Daria]

I like console games for their compatibility. An XboX game will always run on an XboX. A PC game may or may not run on a PC depending on your hardware. Even if we're to assume I have a maxed out PC with broadband there's no gaurentee my older PC games will still play.

The thing I do like about PC gaming is customization. A lot of games are fun when I can plug in new skins and mods, or even build my own. Sims, Morrowind, GTA, etc...

And then there's the mouse issue. Some genres are just made better with mouse control. Then again some games are better with a controler (for example Morrowind was easier for me with the XboX controller then with a mouse and keyboard or even with a mouse pc controller combo.)

And then finally there's a style of gaming more prevelant on the PC. For me I love PC RPGs (Baulder's Gate, Fallout, Arcanum, etc) and they just aren't avilable on console (and no sadly weak gaunlet clones by the same name do not apply).

[Ed Oscuro]

I guess I misspoke....I was refering to having the RAM "maxed-out". I went to the local Asian computer store and had a nice custom built computer made for me that cost about 500 bucks. I have a tv card too that I have plugged into a 36 inch tv. The hard drive is huge and I have 1024 Ram.
What good will one gigabyte of RAM be if the processor's old? Not even Star Wars Galaxies will be able to take advantage of that RAM when you're being slowed down by the video card (mobs of people in cantina entrances, for example).