There are a lot of misconceptions here I feel I must address. Not that I'm in complete disagreement with every assertion, it's just some are woefully off-base:
pulse2 said:
There are good reasons for that:
1. First of all its easier not having to think about the requirements, I don't want to have to keep checking my specs to see if my rig can handle 'teh powerz'! And then you have the likes of Crysis popping out and making my rig cry. Yeah, the sequel may have suffered from severe graphics satuaration to work on the PS3 and 360, but its more accessible and you'll find more people playing online than the PC verison.
2. Controllers, while you may be able to play with controllers on the PC versions, the console versions just feel more natural, vibration, keyed in controls so you rarely have to change or tweek anything.
3. I'd rather use my PC space for more relevant things to be frank, gaming takes up too much ram and too much harddrive space and the constant need to upgrade or get more space to play sims 3 3/9 gbs, Crysis another 3/9 gb and god knows what else, just becomes tedious. My systems play games, my PC is used for everything else.
4. Network, playing multiplayer is fun on the PSN and XBL, maybe not in the same league as some PC games, but nevertheless, fun regardless.
5. PC games are moving over to PS3 and 360, some exclusivly and others multiplat, no matter how you look at it, other than graphics, there isn't really a compelling reason to pick PC gaming over console gaming, not to mention the console exclusive games as well.
6. Games may be cheaper on the PC, but that's easier to handle than spending on a decent gaming rig to play less games. I personally only buy AAA games and specific ones I'd like, so the costs aren't that much, and even still, many of the games I want and buy are often exclusive to that console, so whether they are more expensive makes little or no difference as they can't be obtained anywhere else cheaper.
Conclusion, PC gaming is awesome, and if you can't find a good reason to own a console, stick with the PC for mod options, cheaper pricing and easier controls in certain games. But if you prefer to use your PC for graphics, music, movies, programming, writing etc and more serious things and care about harddrive space and all those other nitty gritty things, a console just makes life easier.
1: This is partially true. However, considering all three major consoles use 6+ year old tech, as long as your rig was built within that time frame you really don't need to worry about being able to play most games today.
2: This one in particular is nonsense. Now, don't take that as an insult. That is not my intention. All I'm saying is you can use almost any controller you want on a PC. You are not limited to just a keyboard and mouse. In fact, not only can you plug a 360 controller into your rig, but many games designed for consoles and PCs have their controls already configured for it. So you don't need to fiddle with your settings anymore than you would on your console.
3: This point is more relative opinion than anything else, but I have to say the amount of system resources your game(s) use up is a moot point. You can no more multitask on your console while gaming than you can on PC. In fact, you can do more on your PC while gaming. Disk space, on the other hand, is "somewhat" of a concern, but not having to constantly disk swap to play is damned convenient.
4: In this regard, yes it's all good for everyone. Playing with friends is always a plus. However, you have to admit doing it on PC is not only easier and more feature-rich, but is also essentially free. (as opposed to the monthly fees of, say, Live)
5: All platforms have their exclusives. Many titles are going multi-platform, but that's hardly a reason to not get them on PC. Barring a few exceptions, most PC versions are cheaper, have better and more varied features, and usually form some kind of modding community that helps keep the game alive and fresh.
6: This is probably the worst assertion I hear from people that say PC gaming is the wrong way to go. Building a gaming rig, one that will not only run all games available today but will last you, bear minimum, five years, is not as prohibitively expensive as people would have you believe. Case in point, my current rig will run Crysis on a combination of high and ultra settings at an average of 50+ frames per second (and games like TF2 at 150+). And, it only cost me about $400. Granted, I did have the case already and I already had two harddrives as well as a monitor (from my old rig), but still. I can play anything out right now with ease and I didn't break the bank. Besides, if you factor in how much extra you spend on console games, paying to play online, and paying for all the other features (controllers, etc) you end up spending the same if not more.
fenrizz said:
A few good reasons:
* It's cheaper and will usually last longer.
* You get to play in your sofa on a big TV.
* No need to worry about system requirements.
I addressed most of these above, but on your second point, I do that all the time with my PC. My GPU can output to multiple screens. So, for example, I can be playing Batman: Arkham Asylum on my big flat-screen TV with my 360 controller, all while surfing the net or what have you on my monitor with my keyboard and mouse. The only reason people don't associate PC gaming with couches is they don't realize how easy it is to plug your PC into a TV or they're too lazy to put their rig near the TV. I'm assuming most people on here are not the latter, though I know a few who are in real life. Lazy bastards.
ExiusXavarus said:
Because most people find consoles to be cheaper overall. People can spend $300 on a PS3 or whatever it is on an Xbox and jump right into games like Crysis. ANd you never ever have to upgrade a console. But for you to get a PC like that, you either have to make your own for like, $700-1300(depending on component and where you obtain them) and continually spend more money to upgrade your pc. People buy consoles out of convenience, simply because they're easier to work with, and easier on your wallet.
Again, this whole "PCs are more expensive" thing is ludicrous at best. I'm not going to repeat myself, just read above. As a side note, Crysis 2 is the only "crysis" game on consoles and it's been severely downgraded, in every regard (not just graphically) to even be able to run on today's consoles. So I hardly consider that a defining factor. Also, I spend no more money "upgrading" my rig every 5+ years then you do on replacing, obtaining, and maintaining your own console. So...sort of a moot point as well.
[edit] All of this said, I'm not saying no one has a valid point in choosing console gaming over PC gaming. I have a gaming rig but also own a DS and a 360. (and many more consoles prior) And, I'm on a strict budget. So, please, don't take this as some ramblings from a PC elitist who's decreeing, "Consoles suck!" On the contrary. I love my console gaming. I'm simply pointing out that much of the complaints about why PC gaming is such a hassle are unfounded. It all just comes down to preference.
