All the games the OP listed have chances of going to or are scheduled to be on the PC. The 360 seriously has no exclusive games these days, and this is coming from a 360 fan boy.
For me, it boils down to who you want to play with, and if you enjoy mods and other PC-exclusive games. Because that's the only difference. If you were to draw a Venn Diagram for your interests with the 360 and PC, there would be a lot of mixes. But what you want to do is think about their own merits.
The 360 doesn't need really any upgrading, it's relatively reliable in that it doesn't need to be configured or tinkered with (minus the faulty hardware which is nothing you can really solve) the online gaming, while I think is too simple for a more pc-centric gamer like me, works wonderfully for what it does. Xbox Live is also fantastic and being able to download all this awesome shit like demoes and trailers straight from some main hub is fantastic.
But the PC has user-made content, much much more versatility, and usually it has the better versions of most 360-ported games (not saying the 360 never gets the upper-hand, I think it will for the 360, same with Alan Wake.) Games like UT2k7 are coming to the 360, but honestly, the mods for the game are going to be some awesome shit, and not to mention Crysis, if you're into that kind of thing, is PC-exclusive and the devs say if there will be a crysis port, it will be extremely different from the PC one (Think Far Cry for the PC and Far Cry Instincts.)
What seperates the 360 and PC is not the games, graphics, or the community, it's just the versatility of your experience. The PC has a wider range of games and ways of increasing your experience. I don't think the 360 could ever compete with the feeling you get playing Garry's Mod with PAers on Ventrilo at 3 in the mroning.
So yeah, I still stand by my comment. PC gaming isn't dead, but it's a shadow of it's former self.
I'll have to add this to my "PC negatives list": console fanboys declaring the PC dead, even in the face of overwhelming contradictory evidence. Don't worry, it's as constant and as easy to tune out as morning traffic.
So yeah, I still stand by my comment. PC gaming isn't dead, but it's a shadow of it's former self.
I'll have to add this to my "PC negatives list": console fanboys declaring the PC dead, even in the face of overwhelming contradictory evidence. Don't worry, it's as constant and as easy to tune out as morning traffic.
...Yeah....well I specifically said PC gaming isn't dead. I said it's golden age has long since passed it by, and I think it was proved by the so-called "overwhelming contradictory evidence" provided to prove the contrary in the form of that huge post padded by puzzle games and indy efforts; where most of the AAA titles are now mainly multi-platform (save for PC's premiere genre: RTS's), console centric developments (and subsequently usually superior experiences on the consoles by nature of said focus) -- that never used to be the case for the PC.
If my original post (in it's entirety, not the single sentence clipped by Rook) is indicative of fanboyism, I'd hate to know what you consider the postings at places like NeoGAF. So unless I misread you, try reading the post before you go ahead and tune out :P.
Ant000 on
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jungleroomxIt's never too many graves, it's always not enough shovelsRegistered Userregular
edited July 2007
I've got a question for my brothers up in Maple land:
Why the hell is your PC equipment so expensive? I mean, the US/Canada exchange rate is almost equal now, but your stuff is like... double the cost.
...Yeah....well I specifically said PC gaming isn't dead. I said it's golden age has long since passed it by, and I think it was proved by the so-called "overwhelming contradictory evidence" provided to prove the contrary in the form of that huge post padded by puzzle games and indy efforts;
Whilst I agree there's a lot of indy/dog titles in that list, there's easily 30+ top titles in that list, and that's before we get into the heavy hitters of 2008 that includes the likes of Starcraft 2, SPORE, Dragon Age, Warhammer Online etc.
where most of the AAA titles are now mainly multi-platform (save for PC's premiere genre: RTS's), console centric developments (and subsequently usually superior experiences on the consoles by nature of said focus) -- that never used to be the case for the PC.
I again, heavily disagree with this sentence. There are many top flight exclusive PC games still coming in many genres and games where the PC is still the number one platform to play them on. (seriously, Quake Wars, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead, UT3 on a console?) and outside of a couple of atrocious capcom ports, by and large the PC still gets good versions of multiplatform offerings.
...Yeah....well I specifically said PC gaming isn't dead. I said it's golden age has long since passed it by, and I think it was proved by the so-called "overwhelming contradictory evidence" provided to prove the contrary in the form of that huge post padded by puzzle games and indy efforts;
Whilst I agree there's a lot of indy/dog titles in that list, there's easily 30+ top titles in that list, and that's before we get into the heavy hitters of 2008 that includes the likes of Starcraft 2, SPORE, Dragon Age, Warhammer Online etc.
where most of the AAA titles are now mainly multi-platform (save for PC's premiere genre: RTS's), console centric developments (and subsequently usually superior experiences on the consoles by nature of said focus) -- that never used to be the case for the PC.
I again, heavily disagree with this sentence. There are many top flight exclusive PC games still coming in many genres and games where the PC is still the number one platform to play them on. (seriously, Quake Wars, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead, UT3 on a console?) and outside of a couple of atrocious capcom ports, by and large the PC still gets good versions of multiplatform offerings.
I'm gonna be playing TF2 on my console and I'm pretty sure a fuckton of other people will be too.
Balefuego on
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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Clutch414Dodge Swinger.......WHENEVER IT FEELS RIGHT!!!Registered Userregular
edited July 2007
Well, just to put my own two cents in....I'd go with the 360. It comes down to the difference between playing games on my 17" LCD computer monitor with decent Logitech speakers or on my 50" DLP with my 700-watt Sony Home Theater System. I'm sorry but the 50" DLP and 800 HT system wins everytime. I'm much more comfortable sitting in my recliner zoning out to the 50" HDTV and 700-watt surround sound sweetness, rather than sitting in my computer chair staring at my monitor. Not that there's anything wrong with those who prefer the PC, I just don't prefer it.
Also, I agree with the people who say that it is a cost benefit to purchase a 360 over a high-end PC. I don't like the idea of having to continuously having to upgrade my PC in order to play games with the same graphical quality as my 360. I don't want to pay to get more RAM and a new graphics card and which drivers do I need to download in order to play the game as the devs envisioned.
For $400 bucks, I get a 360 with, as someone above stated, the ability to just pop a game in and just play it.
Also, like someone else above stated, I like using a console controller rather than a keyboard and mouse. Maybe it's because I grew up playing games on consoles (my parent's bought my older brother and I a ColecoVision when we were just 3-apples-tall) and it just makes sense to me, but I really could never get used to using a mouse/keyboard control scheme. I'm not dissing it by any means, I could just never use it effectively.
Please note, everything contained in this post was a personal opinion. It was not meant to upset those who prefer the PC. The OP asked for opinions, and I gave mine. My vote is go for the 360.
Well, just to put my own two cents in....I'd go with the 360. It comes down to the difference between playing games on my 17" LCD computer monitor with decent Logitech speakers or on my 50" DLP with my 700-watt Sony Home Theater System. I'm sorry but the 50" DLP and 800 HT system wins everytime. I'm much more comfortable sitting in my recliner zoning out to the 50" HDTV and 700-watt surround sound sweetness, rather than sitting in my computer chair staring at my monitor. Not that there's anything wrong with those who prefer the PC, I just don't prefer it.
You can plug in a PC to your sound system and 50" HDTV. You can also buy very nice small form factor PCs which are quieter than 360s.
Also, like someone else above stated, I like using a console controller rather than a keyboard and mouse. Maybe it's because I grew up playing games on consoles (my parent's bought my older brother and I a ColecoVision when we were just 3-apples-tall) and it just makes sense to me, but I really could never get used to using a mouse/keyboard control scheme. I'm not dissing it by any means, I could just never use it effectively.
You can just use an xbox 360 controller on a PC. It even works wirelessly.
(not saying that what you're doing is wrong, but. some of us have our consoles in our bedrooms on tiny SDTVs, others of us have our PCs hooked up to monster theatre systems in our living room. Where you place something isn't really a limitation of either the 360 or a PC.
I have spent more money on consoles + games + controllers than my pc + games(4 years old 650$ total spent on it and I can still play anything I try to), yet I have spent much more time on my computer, why? Mods, and user created content.
example-
Garrys mod(10$), a mod for hl2, that has tons of user created content has kept me entertained much longer than many AAA 50$ console games. Sure I loved playing those games on the console, and had a blast, but some AAA titles have little to no replay value.
Also if your worried about money, dont forget live charges, if you plan on playing online, and the extra cost of 360 games.
I thought of getting another console besides the wii I own, but i realized that upgrading my computer this year would set me up for many years to come, some of you may say that I will need to upgrade in 6 months, thats total bullshit. My current computer has ran every game I tried to play on it. The graphics looked the same as when I first got it, sure I had to set the graphics lower on new games, but they looked the same as older games with higher graphics settings.
Personaly I got more enjoyment out of my computer than my ps2, and gc. Thats why im going to throw down 800$ for a new gaming computer very soon.
Well, just to put my own two cents in....I'd go with the 360. It comes down to the difference between playing games on my 17" LCD computer monitor with decent Logitech speakers or on my 50" DLP with my 700-watt Sony Home Theater System. I'm sorry but the 50" DLP and 800 HT system wins everytime. I'm much more comfortable sitting in my recliner zoning out to the 50" HDTV and 700-watt surround sound sweetness, rather than sitting in my computer chair staring at my monitor. Not that there's anything wrong with those who prefer the PC, I just don't prefer it.
You can plug in a PC to your sound system and 50" HDTV. You can also buy very nice small form factor PCs which are quieter than 360s.
Also, like someone else above stated, I like using a console controller rather than a keyboard and mouse. Maybe it's because I grew up playing games on consoles (my parent's bought my older brother and I a ColecoVision when we were just 3-apples-tall) and it just makes sense to me, but I really could never get used to using a mouse/keyboard control scheme. I'm not dissing it by any means, I could just never use it effectively.
You can just use an xbox 360 controller on a PC. It even works wirelessly.
(not saying that what you're doing is wrong, but. some of us have our consoles in our bedrooms on tiny SDTVs, others of us have our PCs hooked up to monster theatre systems in our living room. Where you place something isn't really a limitation of either the 360 or a PC.
I never said it was. I just was listing my preferences.
And if your gonna talk about HD TV + Surround Sound system compared to your computer's monitor and speaker system, you may wanna factor that into how much your paying for your console.
Mostly source mods and games, I recently finished overlord. I used to play Wow a lot, played Lotro beta.
Ah, yep! That is what I thought. Thank god for Source.
But see, that makes me think that getting a console is a decent choice. Depending on your preferences, you'll be able to play games on your reasonably crappy computer for a while. The games that are usually most graphically intensive are frequently ported to consoles anyways, and the games that are least likely to be on a console are most likely to run on a decent computer: your RTS games and MMOs and such.
And if your gonna talk about HD TV + Surround Sound system compared to your computer's monitor and speaker system, you may wanna factor that into how much your paying for your console.
I agree with this to some extent. But...I would have the HDTV and surround regardless of whether I was going to play games or not.
This question all boils down to personal preference, and I just gave my preference.
I finally cracked and bought a 360. For me, it had little do to do with money, and everything to do with ease-of use. I just got tired of wrestling with my PC everytime I wanted to play a game.
Morrowind - would not run with my desktop set to 32-bit color depth. Had to change my desktop color depth to 16 bit.
Dawn of War - horrible framerates until I read that the (at the time) newest ATI drivers were much worse than prior ones. Rolling back my driver fixed the problem.
Titan Quest - extremely erratic framerate; everything would run smoothly and then every now and then turn into a slideshow for a few seconds, seemingly at random. Never resolved.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - terrible pop-up; sometimes walls would not render until after I ran into them. Plus occasionally other cars would fall halfway into the ground. Plus it does not properly support a dual-analog gamepad - you can work around with custom gamepad drivers.
As you can see, many of the issues have fixes; but finding those fixes sometimes takes hours of searching and experimenting.
Not to mention the PC is just not as stable as a console.
It all boils down to this... Do you want to play Halo 3 or StarCraft 2?
Knowing Blizzard, Starcraft 2 will run on a box of crackers with a mouse attached. They're the absolute best developer in the world for scaling their engines to the lowest common denominator, and then making it look awesome. Most PC developers are sadly not that talented (or just don't care about the lower end).
On the other end of the spectrum I have a nice big computer monitor.. and a small 26" shitty TV with two speakers built into the sides. I have never gotten around to purchasing a nice TV, and if I were to get a 360 I'd probably have to splurge for at least a middle-of-the-road HDTV. Which makes me much more reluctant to go a console route. Especially as my PC seems to be dying.. every other time I reset it I get funny lines on my screen at startup and it doesn't do anything.
So I'll probably end up getting a new computer very soon.
On the other end of the spectrum I have a nice big computer monitor.. and a small 26" shitty TV with two speakers built into the sides. I have never gotten around to purchasing a nice TV, and if I were to get a 360 I'd probably have to splurge for at least a middle-of-the-road HDTV. Which makes me much more reluctant to go a console route. Especially as my PC seems to be dying.. every other time I reset it I get funny lines on my screen at startup and it doesn't do anything.
So I'll probably end up getting a new computer very soon.
Solution: Hook the 360 up to your monitor. I play my 360 games on a 22" widescreen monitor, and it looks glorious!
On the other end of the spectrum I have a nice big computer monitor.. and a small 26" shitty TV with two speakers built into the sides. I have never gotten around to purchasing a nice TV, and if I were to get a 360 I'd probably have to splurge for at least a middle-of-the-road HDTV. Which makes me much more reluctant to go a console route. Especially as my PC seems to be dying.. every other time I reset it I get funny lines on my screen at startup and it doesn't do anything.
So I'll probably end up getting a new computer very soon.
Solution: Hook the 360 up to your monitor. I play my 360 games on a 22" widescreen monitor, and it looks glorious!
Hmm. My current monitor doesn't have that capability, although I was probably going to get a new monitor with a new system. I might consider that, then.
On the other end of the spectrum I have a nice big computer monitor.. and a small 26" shitty TV with two speakers built into the sides. I have never gotten around to purchasing a nice TV, and if I were to get a 360 I'd probably have to splurge for at least a middle-of-the-road HDTV. Which makes me much more reluctant to go a console route. Especially as my PC seems to be dying.. every other time I reset it I get funny lines on my screen at startup and it doesn't do anything.
So I'll probably end up getting a new computer very soon.
Solution: Hook the 360 up to your monitor. I play my 360 games on a 22" widescreen monitor, and it looks glorious!
Hmm. My current monitor doesn't have that capability, although I was probably going to get a new monitor with a new system. I might consider that, then.
Most monitors these days come with both a DVI and a VGA port. The one I purchased even had a third port for HDMI. The only catches are that you'll have to spend an extra ~$40 for the 360 VGA cables on top of the cost of the console, as well as having to route the sound through your PC's sound card (to share the speakers, which works great so far).
And if your gonna talk about HD TV + Surround Sound system compared to your computer's monitor and speaker system, you may wanna factor that into how much your paying for your console.
When I was doing the pro/con comparison, I figured these would balance each other out, as LCD/Plasma TVs are now coming standard with VGA jacks and most motherboards come standard with outputs compatible with surround sound systems. However, I don't know if everyone's up for putting their PC in their home entertainment system, as Rook managed.
But surround sound isn't an edge that can be claimed by consoles. Surround sound headphones and speaker setups designed for smaller rooms are just as common as their larger cousins.
I think Serule hit the nail on the head when making the comparison: how much importance do you place on ease-of-use vs. flexibility?
And if your gonna talk about HD TV + Surround Sound system compared to your computer's monitor and speaker system, you may wanna factor that into how much your paying for your console.
When I was doing the pro/con comparison, I figured these would balance each other out, as LCD/Plasma TVs are now coming standard with VGA jacks and most motherboards come standard with outputs compatible with surround sound systems. However, I don't know if everyone's up for putting their PC in their home entertainment system, as Rook managed.
But surround sound isn't an edge that can be claimed by consoles. Surround sound headphones and speaker setups designed for smaller rooms are just as common as their larger cousins.
There's an additional problem for us in the UK. HDTV take up has been relatively slow, so prices for a good HDTV are still fairly high at the moment. Although I'm expecting that this will hopefully be coming down by around this time next year, maybe later with the Christmas sales and stuff. I don't know what it's been like in the US.
I think Serule hit the nail on the head when making the comparison: how much importance do you place on ease-of-use vs. flexibility?
I also don't get why people don't see the console/PC war in terms of packages.
If you buy a console ($400), you'll also probably want a hi-def TV ($800), surround sound, and at minimum a $300 PC to send e-mails and surf the internet.
For PC gaming, you need some expensive hardware (including surround sound) and, if you're not watching cable TV through your monitor, at least a standard-def TV for the living room. I don't watch TV - I rent seasons of good TV shows on DVD.
Either choice is going to cost more than a thousand bucks. It's never as simple as saying, "$400 console versus $3,000 PC and olol the games look exactly the same! You're paying $2600 for just keyboard and mouse!"
All I know is it's too expensive to support both console and PC together - I chose PC ... maybe I'll buy a 360 in 2010 when the price is dropped to eighty bucks.
I did buy a hi-def TV shortly after buying my 360, but I was in need of a new TV anyways. I use my TV for things besides games, so it's something I would have to have bought even if I went with a new PC instead.
I sold my 360/46" HDTV to get an amazing computer and a 22" monitor. I dont regret selling the tv because it was too big for my room and I'll get another one once I graduate and get a real job.
Still, the halo 3 beta was something else. The 3 maps were really really really fun, especially with friends. Most likely I'll rebuy the 360 when the price drops low enough, just for that game.
All I know is it's too expensive to support both console and PC together - I chose PC ... maybe I'll buy a 360 in 2010 when the price is dropped to eighty bucks.
Ideally, you could spread your PC gaming purchases over a long period of time and just eat the lump sum on the XBox 360. For example, my computer slowly evolved from a Geforce 6800/Athlon XP 2400+/350W PSU to a x1950GT/Athlon 64 3500+/500W PSU over the course of about 2 years, costing about $900 all together. Your game preferences will dictate when and how you upgrade.
The two platforms complement each other well.
My XBox 360 and my computer use the same headset, HDTV, speakers, and gamepad.
I have the wireless gamepad next to my keyboard, so I never have to get up to turn the XBox on.
I can stream videos and music from my computer to my Xbox.
I can plug the console into my sound card and listen to internet radio while playing.
I can also record XBox video, music and sound clips to my hard drive through my TV Tuner.
I can flip the switch on my vga splitter and surf the net during XBox game load times, and look at FAQs and maps for help. Or I can play an XBLA game while I'm waiting for a CD to burn on my PC.
I can download the PC and XBox 360 demos of a dual platform game at the same time and flip through them both to see which one looks and runs better.
It all boils down to this... Do you want to play Halo 3 or StarCraft 2?
Knowing Blizzard, Starcraft 2 will run on a box of crackers with a mouse attached. They're the absolute best developer in the world for scaling their engines to the lowest common denominator, and then making it look awesome. Most PC developers are sadly not that talented (or just don't care about the lower end).
knowing blizzard though, there's a good chance halo 3 PC will be out before SC2
Rook on
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jungleroomxIt's never too many graves, it's always not enough shovelsRegistered Userregular
edited July 2007
The other option:
Get a PC and hook it up to your 1080p and run a MythTV box on top of that.
It all boils down to this... Do you want to play Halo 3 or StarCraft 2?
Knowing Blizzard, Starcraft 2 will run on a box of crackers with a mouse attached. They're the absolute best developer in the world for scaling their engines to the lowest common denominator, and then making it look awesome. Most PC developers are sadly not that talented (or just don't care about the lower end).
knowing blizzard though, there's a good chance halo 3 PC will be out before SC2
It all boils down to this... Do you want to play Halo 3 or StarCraft 2?
Knowing Blizzard, Starcraft 2 will run on a box of crackers with a mouse attached. They're the absolute best developer in the world for scaling their engines to the lowest common denominator, and then making it look awesome. Most PC developers are sadly not that talented (or just don't care about the lower end).
knowing blizzard though, there's a good chance halo 3 PC will be out before SC2
So true
Bets now:
What's first? Mutliplayer online co-op or SC2 expansion?
I figured that this would be the best place for this.
I'm considering buying a used Xbox 360, and I'm wondering what I need to sent it to microsoft should it ever break. As long as I have the original buyer's receipt, should I be fine?
Posts
For me, it boils down to who you want to play with, and if you enjoy mods and other PC-exclusive games. Because that's the only difference. If you were to draw a Venn Diagram for your interests with the 360 and PC, there would be a lot of mixes. But what you want to do is think about their own merits.
The 360 doesn't need really any upgrading, it's relatively reliable in that it doesn't need to be configured or tinkered with (minus the faulty hardware which is nothing you can really solve) the online gaming, while I think is too simple for a more pc-centric gamer like me, works wonderfully for what it does. Xbox Live is also fantastic and being able to download all this awesome shit like demoes and trailers straight from some main hub is fantastic.
But the PC has user-made content, much much more versatility, and usually it has the better versions of most 360-ported games (not saying the 360 never gets the upper-hand, I think it will for the 360, same with Alan Wake.) Games like UT2k7 are coming to the 360, but honestly, the mods for the game are going to be some awesome shit, and not to mention Crysis, if you're into that kind of thing, is PC-exclusive and the devs say if there will be a crysis port, it will be extremely different from the PC one (Think Far Cry for the PC and Far Cry Instincts.)
What seperates the 360 and PC is not the games, graphics, or the community, it's just the versatility of your experience. The PC has a wider range of games and ways of increasing your experience. I don't think the 360 could ever compete with the feeling you get playing Garry's Mod with PAers on Ventrilo at 3 in the mroning.
T-Nation blog
I'll have to add this to my "PC negatives list": console fanboys declaring the PC dead, even in the face of overwhelming contradictory evidence. Don't worry, it's as constant and as easy to tune out as morning traffic.
...Yeah....well I specifically said PC gaming isn't dead. I said it's golden age has long since passed it by, and I think it was proved by the so-called "overwhelming contradictory evidence" provided to prove the contrary in the form of that huge post padded by puzzle games and indy efforts; where most of the AAA titles are now mainly multi-platform (save for PC's premiere genre: RTS's), console centric developments (and subsequently usually superior experiences on the consoles by nature of said focus) -- that never used to be the case for the PC.
If my original post (in it's entirety, not the single sentence clipped by Rook) is indicative of fanboyism, I'd hate to know what you consider the postings at places like NeoGAF. So unless I misread you, try reading the post before you go ahead and tune out :P.
Why the hell is your PC equipment so expensive? I mean, the US/Canada exchange rate is almost equal now, but your stuff is like... double the cost.
What's the deal with that, eh?
Whilst I agree there's a lot of indy/dog titles in that list, there's easily 30+ top titles in that list, and that's before we get into the heavy hitters of 2008 that includes the likes of Starcraft 2, SPORE, Dragon Age, Warhammer Online etc.
I again, heavily disagree with this sentence. There are many top flight exclusive PC games still coming in many genres and games where the PC is still the number one platform to play them on. (seriously, Quake Wars, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead, UT3 on a console?) and outside of a couple of atrocious capcom ports, by and large the PC still gets good versions of multiplatform offerings.
I'm gonna be playing TF2 on my console and I'm pretty sure a fuckton of other people will be too.
Also, I agree with the people who say that it is a cost benefit to purchase a 360 over a high-end PC. I don't like the idea of having to continuously having to upgrade my PC in order to play games with the same graphical quality as my 360. I don't want to pay to get more RAM and a new graphics card and which drivers do I need to download in order to play the game as the devs envisioned.
For $400 bucks, I get a 360 with, as someone above stated, the ability to just pop a game in and just play it.
Also, like someone else above stated, I like using a console controller rather than a keyboard and mouse. Maybe it's because I grew up playing games on consoles (my parent's bought my older brother and I a ColecoVision when we were just 3-apples-tall) and it just makes sense to me, but I really could never get used to using a mouse/keyboard control scheme. I'm not dissing it by any means, I could just never use it effectively.
Please note, everything contained in this post was a personal opinion. It was not meant to upset those who prefer the PC. The OP asked for opinions, and I gave mine. My vote is go for the 360.
You can plug in a PC to your sound system and 50" HDTV. You can also buy very nice small form factor PCs which are quieter than 360s.
You can just use an xbox 360 controller on a PC. It even works wirelessly.
(not saying that what you're doing is wrong, but. some of us have our consoles in our bedrooms on tiny SDTVs, others of us have our PCs hooked up to monster theatre systems in our living room. Where you place something isn't really a limitation of either the 360 or a PC.
example-
Garrys mod(10$), a mod for hl2, that has tons of user created content has kept me entertained much longer than many AAA 50$ console games. Sure I loved playing those games on the console, and had a blast, but some AAA titles have little to no replay value.
Also if your worried about money, dont forget live charges, if you plan on playing online, and the extra cost of 360 games.
I thought of getting another console besides the wii I own, but i realized that upgrading my computer this year would set me up for many years to come, some of you may say that I will need to upgrade in 6 months, thats total bullshit. My current computer has ran every game I tried to play on it. The graphics looked the same as when I first got it, sure I had to set the graphics lower on new games, but they looked the same as older games with higher graphics settings.
Personaly I got more enjoyment out of my computer than my ps2, and gc. Thats why im going to throw down 800$ for a new gaming computer very soon.
It's that way with EVERYTHING. Canadian retailers haven't looked at the exchange rate in over 10 years.
Fuckers.
I never said it was. I just was listing my preferences.
What the hell do you try to play?
But see, that makes me think that getting a console is a decent choice. Depending on your preferences, you'll be able to play games on your reasonably crappy computer for a while. The games that are usually most graphically intensive are frequently ported to consoles anyways, and the games that are least likely to be on a console are most likely to run on a decent computer: your RTS games and MMOs and such.
I agree with this to some extent. But...I would have the HDTV and surround regardless of whether I was going to play games or not.
This question all boils down to personal preference, and I just gave my preference.
Morrowind - would not run with my desktop set to 32-bit color depth. Had to change my desktop color depth to 16 bit.
Dawn of War - horrible framerates until I read that the (at the time) newest ATI drivers were much worse than prior ones. Rolling back my driver fixed the problem.
Titan Quest - extremely erratic framerate; everything would run smoothly and then every now and then turn into a slideshow for a few seconds, seemingly at random. Never resolved.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - terrible pop-up; sometimes walls would not render until after I ran into them. Plus occasionally other cars would fall halfway into the ground. Plus it does not properly support a dual-analog gamepad - you can work around with custom gamepad drivers.
As you can see, many of the issues have fixes; but finding those fixes sometimes takes hours of searching and experimenting.
Not to mention the PC is just not as stable as a console.
Knowing Blizzard, Starcraft 2 will run on a box of crackers with a mouse attached. They're the absolute best developer in the world for scaling their engines to the lowest common denominator, and then making it look awesome. Most PC developers are sadly not that talented (or just don't care about the lower end).
No prizes for guessing which you'd go for I guess.
So I'll probably end up getting a new computer very soon.
Solution: Hook the 360 up to your monitor. I play my 360 games on a 22" widescreen monitor, and it looks glorious!
Most monitors these days come with both a DVI and a VGA port. The one I purchased even had a third port for HDMI. The only catches are that you'll have to spend an extra ~$40 for the 360 VGA cables on top of the cost of the console, as well as having to route the sound through your PC's sound card (to share the speakers, which works great so far).
When I was doing the pro/con comparison, I figured these would balance each other out, as LCD/Plasma TVs are now coming standard with VGA jacks and most motherboards come standard with outputs compatible with surround sound systems. However, I don't know if everyone's up for putting their PC in their home entertainment system, as Rook managed.
But surround sound isn't an edge that can be claimed by consoles. Surround sound headphones and speaker setups designed for smaller rooms are just as common as their larger cousins.
I think Serule hit the nail on the head when making the comparison: how much importance do you place on ease-of-use vs. flexibility?
There's an additional problem for us in the UK. HDTV take up has been relatively slow, so prices for a good HDTV are still fairly high at the moment. Although I'm expecting that this will hopefully be coming down by around this time next year, maybe later with the Christmas sales and stuff. I don't know what it's been like in the US.
I would tend to agree with that as well.
If you buy a console ($400), you'll also probably want a hi-def TV ($800), surround sound, and at minimum a $300 PC to send e-mails and surf the internet.
For PC gaming, you need some expensive hardware (including surround sound) and, if you're not watching cable TV through your monitor, at least a standard-def TV for the living room. I don't watch TV - I rent seasons of good TV shows on DVD.
Either choice is going to cost more than a thousand bucks. It's never as simple as saying, "$400 console versus $3,000 PC and olol the games look exactly the same! You're paying $2600 for just keyboard and mouse!"
All I know is it's too expensive to support both console and PC together - I chose PC ... maybe I'll buy a 360 in 2010 when the price is dropped to eighty bucks.
Still, the halo 3 beta was something else. The 3 maps were really really really fun, especially with friends. Most likely I'll rebuy the 360 when the price drops low enough, just for that game.
My intention was to just choose the platform you want after picking the games you like
Unless the guy he sold it to gets hit with the red ring of death soon after.
Seeing as how Microsoft doesn't have some extended warranty thing going on nowadays... :roll:
The two platforms complement each other well.
knowing blizzard though, there's a good chance halo 3 PC will be out before SC2
Get a PC and hook it up to your 1080p and run a MythTV box on top of that.
Fucking CHOICE.
So true
Bets now:
What's first? Mutliplayer online co-op or SC2 expansion?
I'm considering buying a used Xbox 360, and I'm wondering what I need to sent it to microsoft should it ever break. As long as I have the original buyer's receipt, should I be fine?