CONSOLE VS GAMING PC
BY: COMPUTERMASTER3
Introduction
For the longest time in gaming history, consoles have had their dominance in the gaming world due to their ease of use and popularity. That isn’t to say gaming didn’t exist in the computer world though. In fact, most of the first electronic games came from computers; but this begs the question, why was gaming on the console the preferred way of gaming for many? Simply put, computers back in the day were mostly designed for word processing and business use and were not usually used as gaming devices. Computers were also quite an expensive investment back in the day and therefore made it harder to obtain the device in the first place.
Gaming on computers saw a fairly small revival in the early ’80s after the infamous Video Game Crash of 1983, but this short-lived success didn’t do much for computer gaming as following the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System, the console market absolutely dominated the gaming scene. It wasn’t until the 2000’s that PC gaming became much more popular. Some consider this the golden era due to the number of revolutionary games being released at the time. Games like Far Cry, Half-Life 2, World of WarCraft, and many more helped expand the PC gaming world significantly. With the rise of gaming forums and social media, this trend only grew over time.
Now we are in today’s era where Gaming Computers are highly capable devices that can display games at insane resolutions to the point of eye-catching realism. Gaming PCs have truly exploded in popularity in the last 20 years and that is thanks to the creation of the Graphics/Video card which has allowed computer gaming to reach a new realm of success. Consoles still seem to be dominant in today’s gaming world, but now Gaming PCs are their biggest competition. The question is which is better? Well, that we will determine.
Which is Better?
When it comes to which platform is best for gaming, oftentimes that comes down to opinion and personal preference. Both platforms have their pros and cons and come with an array of exclusives and peripherals. Money also plays a huge factor in determining which platform works best for you. Often times consoles are much cheaper in price but come with low to mid-range hardware. Gaming PCs, on the other hand, come with upgradable hardware that can be maxed out for insane results but usually cost a lot more than a console would. Overall, to figure out what platform would work best for you, determine what your needs are and what type of gaming experience you are looking for.
CONSOLE
Console gaming has been the preferred method of gaming for many throughout the decades. Its simplistic plug-and-play concept allows gamers to get right to the action without having to mess with building or hardware management. Just grab the controller and you’re good to go (that’s basically console gaming in a nutshell). Although console gaming is a great option for people who want to game in 5 minutes, there is a downside to consoles and it is quite a nasty one.
Consoles have the tendency to become outdated over time; especially since console manufactures create new consoles every so often. You are also limited on hardware upgrades, as most consoles don’t allow you to upgrade the internals, and at the very least, a storage upgrade is probably all you’re going to get. The worst sin of consoles though is the infamous “online membership”. This unfortunate tragedy in gaming history places a huge paywall and forces consumers to pay in order to get online service.
So, know that if you plan on purchasing a console in the near future, be prepared to spend money on online service, as these companies don’t offer a free solution. Despite these downsides, console gaming can be a great platform for users who are looking for a simplistic and easy-to-use platform.
PROS
– Exclusives
– Don’t have to upgrade the hardware
– Consumer-friendly
CONS
– Must pay for online multiplayer
– Limited upgradability
– Not always backward compatible
– Not always power-oriented
PC GAMING
PC gaming is arguably the most versatile and advanced gaming platform there is in the market. PC gaming is a popular choice by many simply because you are allowed to do more than just game. Browsing the web, editing videos, getting on Twitter, and watching Netflix are just a few of the examples you can do on a PC. This diversity of options makes the PC world quite appealing to gamers as it allows them to multitask, which is a feature that some consoles are lacking.
Another admirable quality of PCs is the customization and upgradability. You are able to upgrade your computer at any time of the day which means that your computer won’t run the risk of becoming obsolete or outdated. This is great because you don’t have to spend wads of cash to buy a new computer or a “newer” model when your computer is capable of upgrades in the first place. Sadly, some computers don’t have this luxury of upgradability, most notoriously laptops, and mobile computers. Still, though, computers are generally able to last longer with the right hardware, and thanks to the advancements in our understanding of computer upgrading, is becoming easier than ever.
Compared to consoles, computers are arguably more powerful and have a huge library of games and software to choose from. PC gaming, however, isn’t without its caveats. For one, PC gaming can become quite pricey if you are looking to get high performance and overkill specifications. PC gaming also requires users to be more tech-oriented since computers aren’t always easy to navigate. These casualties aside, PC gaming is a great way to game if you are looking for a multi-tasking, high performance, and upgradability.
PROS
– Insane customization
– Capable of impressive graphics
– High performance
CONS
– Requires more technical knowledge
– Can be expensive
– Requires upgrading every so often to remain useable for gaming
Conclusion
Ultimately both devices have their usefulness and purpose in the gaming world. Some users prefer simple and easy-to-use consoles, while others prefer the customization and upgradability of a PC. Objectively, PCs are better in terms of performance and customization. That’s not to say that consoles are not competent devices. In fact, consoles are usually much cheaper than most Gaming PC’s and usually offer a solid line-up of games. Still, though, the advantages of Gaming PCs are very hard to pass up on and with the continuous advancement in computer-based hardware, it is a sign that PC gaming is growing in relevance and popularity.
– Exclusives
– Don’t have to upgrade the hardware
– Consumer-friendly
CONS
– Must pay for online multiplayer
– Limited upgradability
– Not always backward compatible
– Not always power-oriented
