Why console?

I was a PC gamer but gave up on it when I had to upgrade just to play the latest games. At least a console game is built for the system while you have to build a PC to play the latest PC games. The consoles this gen(PS360) are quite powerful and the games look really nice so I don't see the point in getting a state-of-the-art PC when getting a PS360 is simpler/cheaper in the end. I mean Assassins Creed requires higher PC specs than Crysis(which is ridiculous in my opinion).
 
I've ditched upgrading pc's as well. Got out of the habit when I went over to the UK and just never got into it again, once I got back. Besides, I'm too broke these days to do the console thing properly either. Think I'll grab the next generation when it comes out. By then, I'll hopefully also have a nice and big HD tv :D
 
You people are forgetting one thing. Console games are double the price of pc games. Would you rather pay R300 for cod4 or R600?
 
You people are forgetting one thing. Console games are double the price of pc games. Would you rather pay R300 for cod4 or R600?

Why do you think that is? There are alot of excellent games that will never make it to the PC and at the same time there are alot of extremely crap PC games that wouldn't make it to console. With consoles these days, pirating games comes at the sacrifice of upgrade opportunities to your console (being banned/bricked with chipped firmware etc), I don't know of any PC game that would improve the longevity of the hardware, do you?
 
You people are forgetting one thing. Console games are double the price of pc games. Would you rather pay R300 for cod4 or R600?


You are looking at saving R300 per game - I am looking at saving R2000 per graphics card that is legacy ware within 3 to 6 months.
But each system has it's merits, it depends on what the poster decides He will have to live with the concole for 5 years and 3 to 6 months with the pc... ;)
 
I'm also an ex hardcore PC gamer, now very happy 360 owner. We've done this discussion a few dozen times, but I'll try summarize from console perspective.

1. Consoles are (currently) a R2800~R5500 once off purchase for 4-6 years, PC require upgrades to the order of R2000-R5000 every year just to remain viable for current games. (OOI - current comparative video card to 360 or PS3 is a Geforce 8800GT - R2500 in its own right)

2. Console games just work and always look great. No new drivers, no BSoDs, no online verification, no CD keys, no having to turn down settings just to cope.

3. Console games are tradeable & rentable - Some might cost R600, but the fact is you can get at least half of that back on a trade or sale, or if you're patient, can get them for 50%-75% of list second hand.

R300 PC games days are numbered. Its a South African thing, everywhere else in the world they're about the same price as console games. Never mind "collecting" games, firstly they probably won't run on next years hardware you'll probably ever only play them once.

4. Mouse, Mice, Mees shmees. Once apon a time you were a useless noob pointing at the floor with your keyboard and mouse, and you learned to adapt. Same goes for a controller. It took me 2 weeks to feel comfortable, and after about 2 months I was as proficient with a pad as I was with a kb&m. Caveat emptor They are not the same and play differently. Most games take this into consideration.

And if your want to talk RTS. There are about 1/2 a dozen AAA RTS titles coming to 360 this year and they all look like superb conversions. Voice controlled "Endwar" also looks to totally revolutionize the Genre.

5. A biggy - Piracy is killing traditional PC games, leaving it only as a place for MMO's and downloadables. This is fact as measured by Infinity Ward online stats. 360 versions sell on average 4:1 in comparison to PC versions of the same game. Development houses see this and as such have shifted their focus. With consoles now being consider 1st class FPS and RTS platforms relegates PC as the hand me down platform which will play second fiddle to consoles for most of this generation.


6. Sitting on my couch playing games, beats sitting at my desk playing games.

Yes, I don't feel like working this morning ;)
 
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Another thing to add is. Some people already have pcs for another reason. Whether it's browsing the net, Media Centre PC, for work or just plain work.

With a drop of a GFX card it can play games and do everything else.

A cheap pc and games console is more expensive than a gaming pc.
 
From the number of posts, it seems quite clear:
Buy a console, 360 and use the PC for that is meant for, a multimedia device!
 
Well there's more to it then that as well - With Vista Premium or XP MCE you can use the 360 as a media centre extender, which is more than just being able to watch your PC movies on the console. There are also 3rd party tricks to be able to browse the net via Media Centre, hooks for DSTV all sorts of cool stuff.

Busy building a Vista machine myself :D

And it's not mouses, it's meese. ;)
 
I'm also an ex hardcore PC gamer, now very happy 360 owner. We've done this discussion a few dozen times, but I'll try summarize from console perspective.

(Not going to show whole quote)Well put and summarized doobiwan. I really feel that there is no argument regarding PC vs console when it comes to saving money over 5 years. SA is surprisingly PC orientated still though, when all the signs show that the next gen consoles are taking over the market.

PS I enjoyed your 3rd point.
 
Too true.

The easiest way to decide is the following:
Take the recommended requirements for the PC version of Assassins Creed and work out the price of the system.
The 360 is running on recommended requirements so we ignore minimum requirements.

Now take the price you got for the PC and compare that to a 360 Arcade of R2999 that includes 2 games, arcade game disc, 256k memory card and a wireless remote.
 
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Yup, I'm also done with PC gaming. My current R15 000 gaming PC will be my last.

I am over the whole "one device that can do everything" mentality.

PCs will from now on be used in my house for productive things, like coding, acting as a file/web/dns/etc. server and general tasks like surfing and checking mail.

Consoles will be used for gaming.

My cell phone will be used for phoning people.

My camera will be used to take pictures.

Use the device that is made for the task. You'll find that it makes your life a lot happier and easier place.
 
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