PC or Console?

PC or Console?

Ever since the PC became a potent gaming device, one question has haunted all gamers: PC or Console? Both have their pros and cons, not to mention a dedicated fan base. Let’s take a look at the positives and negatives of each.

PC’s Rule...

PC’s are very popular for gaming. The biggest positive is that its uses are not restricted simply to games. You can use a PC for a million other things like browsing the web, creating and viewing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, or to listen to music, watch movies and so on.

At the same time, for people who only enjoy simple online games, PC is the only solution. In India, PC hardware is relatively easy to find, and PC games are available a dime-a-dozen. Further, if something goes wrong (which it invariably does) it is easy to locate a technician who can solve your problem in a jiffy.

Another, often overlooked point is the use of a keyboard and mouse. Since we have been using them all our lives, some people find it is much easier to play games with them, as opposed to a console where one has to first get used to a gamepad. Multiplayer online gaming is another big positive for PCs. All you need is a legitimate copy of the game and a decent Internet connection and you’re good to go.

Nothing in life is perfect though, and the PC is no exception. The biggest drawback of the PC is the fact that one needs to upgrade the hardware on a regular basis to play the newer games. With newer games pushing the envelope in terms of sheer power, often the low and mid-range systems can’t keep up. Thus, to stay contemperory one needs a bank account the size of London! Then there’s the ever-present problem of viruses. All it takes is one mistake and your computer could be lost forever. Not only does that mean giving up games until the problem is solved (an appalling suggestion in itself), it also means that if you’ve not backed up your game’s ‘save’ files, you will lose all your progress (major bummer).

Consoles are not bad either Consoles have been around much longer than the PC. From the humble beginnings of the very first Nintendo console to the ultra-modern PS2 or Xbox, it’s been a long journey for the gaming devices. With the PS3 and Xbox 360 all set to rock the world, it really is a great time to be a console gamer.

Consoles score big points where hardware is concerned, even though they effectively run on relatively old PC hardware. This is because all the games are optimised for that particular piece of hardware. If we take a look at the graphics, e.g., a PC game has to be built assuming that the gamer could be using either a low- or a top-end graphics card, and the game must perform acceptably in either case.

For a console, however, the hardware is always constant and thus the games look good enough to drool over without any issues like poor frame-rate. At the same time, this also means that there is no need to constantly upgrade the hardware, which allows you to save big bucks.

Further, consoles have traditionally been given preferential treatment over PCs, hence many games are either released exclusively for consoles (FIFA Street, Star Wars Episode 3) or are released on consoles months before they are released for the PC (GTA: San Andreas) Sadly, consoles are not easily available in India. PS2 is the only console which is officially available and this invariably forces the true enthusiast to turn to the local grey market to get anything else.

The paucity of consoles naturally leads to a shortage of games, legal or illegal. And even if you were to find the game of your choice, sky-high prices are sure to send you home empty handed. Online gaming is a major letdown since you need to pay to join an online gaming service such as Xbox Live, and most of these services are not available in India. As you can see, one can make a compelling case for both the PC and the console. While the jury is still out on console gaming in India, there is no doubt about its power and ‘game-friendliness’.

If you want a machine that is a jack of all trades, the PC is your best choice. If you want a hardcore gaming machine-lack of legally available hardware and software notwithstanding-there is no doubt that the console is what you are looking for.