right now....Is it worth getting a console?

[Vault101]

Go get yourself an old fat PS3.

They're pretty cheap now second hand. And will likely last you. And in my opinion. They have some amazing exclusives. Go get one.

I command you!

A ps3 hmmm well Im not really sure even if it dose have mass-ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL

going to the store right now...

 

[GaryH]

you wouldnt play dead space on a PC? unless you have a prblem with keyboard/mouse I find the controlls to be very good

I only ever didnt play assins creed with PC controlls because in AC2 they felt so unintuitive (but to be honest its not like i actually tried to the get used to them, I just had a controller...which is now broken) I mean you can get a controller if its such an issue(though weather or not said game suports it is another mattter)

but ive played Batman AA, Darksiders, Fallout, mass effect saints row 2 with a mouse and its been fine (saints row 2 was a little annoying since it was a lazy port)

I mean if all I could play were FPS and RTS I'd go mad, I need variety

I have a couple of reasons, but the main one is that aside from the obvious RTS/FPS/MMO games that really benefit from keyboard/mouse controls (which isn't necessarily all of them), I tend to prefer to settle in on my sofa for a long session of a single player game so that I can really relax and appreciate it. Dead Space 2 came to mind because it is the most recent that I have played but I just don't think that I would have gotten myself as immersed in the game had I been sat at my desk.

There are also games that are designed for consoles. They're don't have to be "bad ports" either. If a game is designed with an xbox controller in mind, you can bet that it's going to feel better with a controller than a mouse no matter how well you port the controls. Even if it's only a tiny fraction better, I would still prefer to play a game as the designer intended me too to guarantee the best experience.

I need variety too, which is why I advocate scrapping the "console war" or this elitist "PC gaming is REAL gaming" mentality that people seem to have (not saying this is you, btw, just people in general). I like choice, can you tell?

 

[loc978]

Eh, get a PS2. Still the best console on the market.


But seriously, there are a few games worth playing that you can't get on PC. Is it worth spending every spare dime you make on? No. Is it worth getting into if you have a fair amount of disposable income? Yes.

 

[Perfice]

...

Also, you know you can use a 360 controller with a pc right? (Being a console guy I never liked keyboard and mouse so any game I played on my laptop utilised the 360 controller).

I didn't know that, that's awesome.

Consoles are cheaper to maintain and generally have better exclusives than the PC (Halo and Uncharted, for instance). Additionally, racing games are way better on consoles if you're into those. But its a matter of personal taste. I enjoy my PC but I'd go crazy without my Halo ODST.

If you get a friend that's a computer geek to help you build your OWN computer it can turn out to be MUCH cheaper. Building it would only be abit more expensive than buying a console and your graphics and game card can be just as good as a console's. PC games are usually cheaper and better than console games and you don't have to get a new computer when the next generation comes out, you can just upgrade your game card.

 

[GonzoGamer]

If you have money troubles then screw the next gen. Get a PS2. You can get one cheap and it is generally accepted that it has the greatest library of any console.

This. Lots and lots of decent exclusives.

I would have to agree with the ps2 sentiment. I still play it when I want to play a good GTA or Burnout game.

Between that and the PC, you should be all set.

I posted this earlier this week but I feel it's most appropriate to the OP's dilemma:

Honestly, if it wasn?t for the rrod and a pay-to-play online, I would be a 360 owner right now.
The ps3 would?ve been a great machine if they opened it up like they said they were going to do but they only seem to want to sandbag it. Where are all the full HD games, where?s all the extra content they were going to cram on those huge BR discs, where are the games that link extra features to the psp, games at 60fps, and honestly, I would be a lot happier if they would just make the custom soundtrack available for every game rather than 4 or 5 where the devs patched it in.
I?ve found that the ?exclusives? for both consoles to be pretty lackluster. Saying one is a bit better is like arguing over who has the best burgers: White Castle or Jacks. They?re both crap but you might have a preference for one when you?re wasted enough.

So if you really want a console from this gen your choices are between a toy, a machine that was built horribly, or a machine that gets horrible support. Not much of a choice there.

 

[doodger]

I'm a PC gamer, and I'm thinking of buying a ps3.
1) great game library
2) the great games price's are at rock bottom
3) you can use it to run linux (Kinda like a computer)
4) It doubles as a blueray

 

[Korten12]

I'm a PC gamer, and I'm thinking of buying a ps3.
1) great game library
2) the great games price's are at rock bottom
3) you can use it to run linux (Kinda like a computer)
4) It doubles as a blueray

They removed that. Thats why their has been the load of hackig lately and such on ps3s.

 

[Artemicion]

If you get a friend that's a computer geek to help you build your OWN computer it can turn out to be MUCH cheaper. Building it would only be abit more expensive than buying a console and your graphics and game card can be just as good as a console's. PC games are usually cheaper and better than console games and you don't have to get a new computer when the next generation comes out, you can just upgrade your game card.

I built my own computer and it ran me $1200, compared to my 360 which was a mere $250.

 

[Rewrench]

I had not touched consoles for a long time but saw a good offer on Xbox 360.
Was very skeptical as PC gamer also now but I have ended up being happy I got it.

If you see good price on Xbox360. Maybe a bundle with something you wanted anyway.
Then go for it. Can get the games cheap also if you dont rush at newest games on release.
I would advice against getting one for normal price and the playstation3 was more than double the price i got my Xbox360 for, and seems to still be. So unless you (literally) have money to burn (with fire turning it into ash) I would stay away from the PS3.

 

[spartan231490]

I actually did a thread like this a while ago but anyway this can be the revised version

So Im a PC gamer and its going great for me, I have quite a backlog of games not including all the exiting new releases this year (and older games I need get round to playing), I also have the added awsomeness of portability (its a laptop) I also seem to live in a magical fantasy land where the stores have PC games (as In Ive never bourght off steam...not an option anyway)

and Really I dont feel Im missing out on much (well Red dead redemption and gears of war but I'll live)


so lets say in a magical version of the future I may actually have money (I can dream) so the Idea of actually getting a console might come into my mind, the are two reasons why Im not sure

1. the idea of deciding weather or not to get it for the console or PC (preference being PC) makes my head hurt, what if I end up getting hardly any games for the thing? plus playing on a couch makes me feel like a fat slob (ok so I supose I am but at least I can pretend im doing somthing important at a desk)

2. and this is the importnant one

the next gen, Im not sure how far away it is (a while if kinect has anything to do with it) but perhaps its worth waiting?

thats another thing I like about PC gaming, I know that you have to replace parts/computers so its really not any better than consoles in that regard...but its that mentality that your machine has a set life....that the SECOND the new console comes out thats it, your beloved gaming machine is now dead, outdated a piece of dust-gathering junk...and then you need to scramble and go buy the new one

at least with a PC its kind of gradual

I haven't had a new gen console until like 2 or 3 years after the 360 came out. I always waited for price to drop, never bothered me. As for your question, It's about the games. If you like the exclusives of one of the consoles, buy it. If you prefer PC exclusives or games that are across all of them, stick with what you've got. I personally hate PC gaming, the controller is infinitely more comfortable, and more accurate for me, but apparently I'm the only one.

 

[Chromanin]

If you have money troubles then screw the next gen. Get a PS2. You can get one cheap and it is generally accepted that it has the greatest library of any console.

Definitely consider this.

Other than that, I say stick with PC. I grew up on console gaming, and when I finally decided to dabble in PC with games like Fallout, Gothic, Anachronox, and Ultima, I thought, "I've only been living half a life." For the most part, all of the most innovative and unique games come out for PC. If I had the money, I would love to build a tricked out gaming rig, but I can't afford to do both PC and console gaming, and console gaming has had its hooks in me for over twenty years. I just can't stop now.

 

[Chibz]

Why not, go ahead.

I always want more people to play MH3 with

 

[Wayneguard]

Hell yeah the 360 is almost like the ps2 of this generation in terms of the amount of high quality games you can get for like 8 dollars in the gamestop bargain bin.

 

[Vault101]

you wouldnt play dead space on a PC? unless you have a prblem with keyboard/mouse I find the controlls to be very good

I only ever didnt play assins creed with PC controlls because in AC2 they felt so unintuitive (but to be honest its not like i actually tried to the get used to them, I just had a controller...which is now broken) I mean you can get a controller if its such an issue(though weather or not said game suports it is another mattter)

but ive played Batman AA, Darksiders, Fallout, mass effect saints row 2 with a mouse and its been fine (saints row 2 was a little annoying since it was a lazy port)

I mean if all I could play were FPS and RTS I'd go mad, I need variety

I have a couple of reasons, but the main one is that aside from the obvious RTS/FPS/MMO games that really benefit from keyboard/mouse controls (which isn't necessarily all of them), I tend to prefer to settle in on my sofa for a long session of a single player game so that I can really relax and appreciate it. Dead Space 2 came to mind because it is the most recent that I have played but I just don't think that I would have gotten myself as immersed in the game had I been sat at my desk.

There are also games that are designed for consoles. They're don't have to be "bad ports" either. If a game is designed with an xbox controller in mind, you can bet that it's going to feel better with a controller than a mouse no matter how well you port the controls. Even if it's only a tiny fraction better, I would still prefer to play a game as the designer intended me too to guarantee the best experience.

I need variety too, which is why I advocate scrapping the "console war" or this elitist "PC gaming is REAL gaming" mentality that people seem to have (not saying this is you, btw, just people in general). I like choice, can you tell?

I see though I would find immersion a little more difficult on a small TV, plus Im right up near the screen and I use headphones so I can see/hear everything well, makes playing dead space in a dark room even better, plus Depending on living circumstances I would hate my gaming area to be the main living room

plus I use a laptop so I can play on the couch or anywhere else depending on my mood

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Neither do PCs necessarily. Providing that upon building/purchasing your PC you've actually thought about the hardware rather than 'ooooh, shiny case!' then you should be future proofed. Not to mention the cost in upgrades you might want (an extra 2Gb of RAM for example) is a bit redundant when you're paying £40+ for a new console release but only £25-30 for PC releases.

There are some limits on how effective future proofing is and involves nearly as much luck as it does knowing your shit. Allow for maximum expandability but also accept you may have sunk money into a a dead-end, tech evolution speaking. Even so, you can usually get a pretty good lifespan out of hardware if you're willing to poke around under the bonnet when it starts getting long in the tooth.

Also, some pieces of hardware are just that fucking good that they'll outlast all their competitors. Some even manage to out perform their successors. For example nVidia's 8800 Ultra was the best GPU the company had ever designed until the 400 line of cards was released... which was 5 generations later. Not a bad effort.

just the whole 'you have to upgrade every five minutes' thing is getting old and it's not an issue for anyone with common sense.

It's never really been an issue for people who weren't hardware whores demanding their system be able to play the latest and greatest at max rez with all graphic options set to 'fuck me crooked'. Sure, keeping cutting edge was a massive pain in the arse when PC gaming was driving both hardware and software development but these days it tends to be much more cyclical in nature and the cycles are much longer.

If you put together a good build it can last several generations of PC hardware before it's ages means it can no longer give a good gaming experience on the latest titles, and that's not including doing things that can further extend it's gaming lifespan like piecemeal upgrades and overclocking.

 

[Crankafoo]

To be honest, I got my 360 a little over a year ago, and I don't regret it one bit, glad to dive back into console gaming after so long. (my first next-gen console) But I would've gotten a PS3 now instead. I hardly play online, so the "AMAZING" XBL setup they've got going doesn't effect me. I usually just play the solo portion a little online to try it out and move on. But the Xbox 360 is losing it's line-up, from what I can tell the PS3 has picked up speed and has better (to me) story-wise games to get into and enjoy, or just better overall fun experiences. But that's just my opinion. /RANTOVER

 

[Lord Xtheth]

In all honesty, the next gen of game systems is probably real close to existing. Most likely right after this depression that doesn't seem to want to go away.

 

[Awexsome]

It's always a good time to get something different if you're in the mood for something different so long as you can afford it right? The current console generation has at least 2 or 3 years left with the recent influx of motion controls like Kinect and PS Move.

Sure those aren't most peoples' thing here but the companies aren't gonna just abandon their biggest project too quickly. Maybe Nintendo could be closer with their next generation of console but I wouldn't expect them to jump the gun too far ahead of Microsoft and Sony. Just enough to get the best edge on the market while still using the best technology they can.