Will Console Gaming outbeat PC Gaming in the Future

Here we are finally, at the most awaited question of the year that could turn the face of the gaming industry, ‘Will Console Gaming take over PC future?’

This question has risen due to the introduction or more precisely the invention of high quality, high performance powered, sleek gaming consoles such as the Microsoft Xbox (just released Xbox360), the Sony Playstation2 (Playstation3 yet to be launched) and many more.

These are not only gaming consoles but are boxes with everything included in them i.e. from high speed processors to high-end video cards to even high capacity hard disks. They have everything which a high requirement game would need. This can also be fulfilled by a PC thus making it necessary to upgrade our PC every time a new game is released in order to experience each and every effect of the game.

Owing to the current graphics supported by the PC with the most advanced graphics card and a high speed processor with enough amount of RAM there is no comparison with the gaming consoles currently introduced. The graphics details will be always better when compared to the console such as the Playstation2. This does not mean that the graphics offered by consoles such as the Xbox is low end. The graphics are marvelous and are truly amazing however there is no match to a PC equipped with the latest hardware for true gaming experience.

The only concern which can affect the PC gaming future is the arrival of Sony’s Playstation3. But this won’t have any serious effect on the fans who are true devotees of PC gaming rather than going for console games.

With the majority of gaming events and game expos mostly focusing on the latest releases of games which are for the console genre, little is being done to focus on the importance of the present and the future contributions of the PC gaming industry.

The next root which can withstand the fall of the PC gaming future is the high availability of online multiplayer games like World of Warcraft, Counter Strike Condition Zero and many more which can only be played on PC’s with high speed internet connection. This is not the case with console devices due to the cost of a high speed internet connection needed.

Bandwidth of up to 100Mbps is enough to play a high graphics multiplayer game like Call of Duty 2 on a PC but in case of a console the equipment required to connect to the net would cost so much that we may have second thoughts.

Going further on the comparison I have jotted down some advantages and disadvantages that could decide the fate of both these device.

Advantages of Consoles:

The most obvious advantage consoles have over PCs is the cost factor. The Xbox currently sells for around $200, often with a couple of games in the bundle, while it’s easy to spend that much or more on a quality PC video card alone.

The second most obvious advantage is simplicity. Let’s face it, PC gaming is a technical nightmare compared to console gaming. People can actually take a console home and be playing a game within minutes. No operating systems to configure or drivers to update, and better still, no purchasing a game only to find out that it isn’t compatible with your PC for some obscure reason.

Many people prefer to play games sitting on a chair, or they want to play with friends in the same room. While these things are possible on a PC, consoles are extremely well-suited for this right out of the box.

Console games tend to have a relatively low learning curve. You might need tough hands, but you certainly won’t need to spend hours in a tutorial trying to learn how to operate basic game functions.

Disadvantages of consoles:

Although combining everything into one unit does keep it simple, when some of the components inside the box become outdated there is no way to solve the problem without replacing the entire console. Consoles perform only one task really well, where PCs can be used for an extremely wide range of things

There is a distinct lack of inter-connectivity between the different console brands. Many games are available for one type of console but not others, and when it comes to online play, each is typically restricted to its own network. This means that people with Xboxes can only play against other people with Xboxes. While the PS2 network adapter supports both 56Kbps modem and broadband connections to the Internet, broadband is required for Xbox online play. As well, Microsoft charges a yearly fee of around $70 to use the Xbox Live service.

Advantages of the PC:

One of the biggest advantages the PCs have over consoles right now is that there are a lot more games available for the PC than there are for consoles, particularly when it comes to multiplayer online games. Not only are the vast majority of massive multiplayer online games designed for the PC, but PC gamers also have the option to play email games, browser games, and a wide variety of titles available as free downloads.

As mentioned above, another clear advantage PCs have over consoles is that you can use them for a lot more than playing games. Furthermore, if you like to modify games or edit maps for them, a PC is essential, and you have to take a break from gaming sometime to read gaming sites.
Computer monitors look a lot better than TVs. Even with a high end television, console hardware is not currently designed to run games at PC resolutions.

There is a reasonable chance of extending your PC’s gaming life with a component upgrade, although it can get messy and expensive.

Computer systems give gamers a variety of ways to connect to the internet, and to each other, which aren’t restricted to proprietary services or software. Different brands of computer and different operating systems generally communicate very well with one another. This is quite different from services like Xbox Live, for example, which is the only option available to Xbox users that want to play online.

Even if a console offers incredible technology upon its release, there is no way for it to compete with the rapid hardware advancements that have become a way of life in the computer industry.

Disadvantages of the PC:

While PCs have come down considerably in price over the years, they are still quite expensive compared to consoles. Perhaps worse, we seem to be at a point where manufacturers would rather make them more powerful than cheaper, whether we need the speed or not.

Installing a game on your computer is always a bit of a gamble. You never really know if it’s going to work until you’re actually playing the game, and even then, in the back of your mind, you’re expecting it to crash at any moment.

Unlike most console games, PC games have the potential to get ridiculously complicated. This can give a game depth, but it can also result in tedious arrays of keyboard commands and lengthy tutorials which one must ensure to learn how to play.

PC games are often not well-suited for playing very easily, especially given that the mouse and keyboard are the preferred PC game controllers. Unlike console games, you also won’t find many PC games that support two players on one machine at the same time.

Last but not the least, we dedicated gamers have to decide what we want to use, whether it is a console or a PC or even both. The future is in our hands and it can be changed accordingly.

By Clive Dsouza