Alright guys. I've been reading over this and here's what it seems to basically boil down to: a lack of people being able to see both sides of an issue. Many people on this thread have actually been able to experience both, and that's good. I suppose I'll throw in my two cents.
I am a "hardcore gamer". I've gotten just about every console released with the exception of a SNES, and a PlayStation and PS3. I have just about every other console, and I also have a laptop and PC. That in mind, I think it gives a little validation to this. I played Command and Conquer 1 & 3, End war, and Halo Wars on the console. On computer I've dabbled in Star Craft and Warcraft, and played Age of Empires I & II, Command and Conquer Generals + Zero Hour, Red Alert II & III, Command and Conquer 3, and a few other RTS on the computer.
While playing them I noticed a few things. My PC is approximately 6 years old, and it still can play all of those including the new ones at full specs without compromising playability. I won't question that the graphics are better on a mid to high-end PC; I believe most of us know this to be a GENERAL FACT. There are exceptions, but not many. My laptop is half a year old, it is for college. It is also around a mid level laptop and can still handle those games fine.
In terms of strategy, I believe it to be a matter of personal preference. In console gaming I found much of the strategy to be around the rock paper scissors schema, (I.E, each unit has a weakness to another unit and a strength against another type of unit,) and while micromanagement was still used there, it wasn't quite as important due to limiting controls. The pc version, while definitely still holding these ideals, also functions much more on micromanagement techniques. It's natural that both can still pull the strategy of; Create largest unit, spam largest unit, flood army of largest unit, yet on a PC, you generally see a (hopefully) more diverse and complex level given the more complex and diverse tools (I.E, a mouse and keyboard versus a Controller).
Personally, I find that I generally enjoy console gaming better. I found that on a limited income, it was easier IN THE SHORT RUN to keep up to date with games by going with a console. In addition, I prefer other genres of games, such as First Person Shooters, on the console. (Please do not point out they are better on the PC, I am fully aware that it's the same argument for a different genre. :3)
That being said, I did find that in the long run, a computer was just as viable an option, and its technological lifetime is a lot longer than most people give it credit for. I personally prefer my RTS games to be played on a PC, but I also have friends who play them on console and hated them on PC. In the end, it really comes down to personal taste and preference of controls and graphics and the style you play your games in.
Happy gaming, ladies and gentlemen.
