March 29, 2024

Online Gaming: Console or PC?

We’ve come a long way since the days of the Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System. Today, gaming consoles dominate the video game market. Industry leaders like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have revolutionized how we play games. It used to be that you needed a PC to play games online versus other people, but today systems like the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation 3 allow gamers to enjoy similar experiences.

Today there are alot of options available to the gamer who would like to test his gaming skills online. When consoles began offering their own brand of online enabled game play, companies involved in PC gaming became concerned that this spelled disaster for their industry. Thankfully that hasn’t happened. Online PC gaming is still going strong despite the recent competition from video game consoles. In fact, PC gaming offers some advantages over console online gaming.

Disadvantages to online console gaming.

Console systems are all one unit. All of the parts and components of the console are sealed inside the case. Usually, opening the case yourself will void any manufacturers warranty, and working on consoles can be difficult and cumbersome compared to PC maintenance. If something goes wrong with your console, usually the entire unit must be replaced.

When a console becomes obsolete, you cannot upgrade it. Unlike a PC, which offers a plethora of upgrade paths and options, consoles are standalone units. What you see is what you get. If you want more power, you’ll have to buy a new console of the next generation. When your PC isn’t performing up to snuff, all you have to do is upgrade a component or two.

Gaming consoles do one thing, and one thing only. They play video games. While some consoles offer other functionality such as DVD playback and perhaps web browsers, these features pale in comparison to what a gaming PC can offer.

Another disadvantage to console gaming is the fact that games are not compatible across platforms. For instance, you cannot play your Xbox 360 games on your Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii, and vice versa. Games made for the PC can run on a myriad of different configurations and brand names.

Advantages to PC gaming.

The games. Very simply put the PC offers the most robust array and variety of games to choose from. Console gaming libraries pale in comparison to the variety of games available to the PC gamer.

As well, there are many free games available for play on the PC, many of which can be downloaded quickly and without hassle.

PC monitors are high definition. While many people are making the switch to HDTVs, not everyone can afford them or is willing to upgrade. However, PC monitors have been “Hi Def” for years, meaning if you’ve bought a PC within the past ten years, you already have an HD display ready for games. As well, not all game consoles support HD, and configuring an HDTV and game console can be cumbersome and expensive.

And there you have it. This is really just the tip of the iceberg in terms of a comparison between the two online gaming platforms. But it seems clear to this writer that for now at least, the PC remains king of the hill when it comes to offering compelling, cost effective and fun online gaming. You can have a look at cheap hosting for Minecraft to know more about strategy online games. The servers are really affordable and easy to use. You can host and play your favorite games along with your friends and family as well. You can even see the difference between PC and console gaming for yourself.