I think the major reason why people think consoles are better than PCs is that they are cheaper...but... you pay the price in the long run, e.g. xbox live subcscriptions also you have to pay for addons e.g. cars in PGR3. This all adds up.
I have a fairly decent gaming rig. However, I some of my components e.g. processor, ram is getting on for 2.5 years old. If you play the smart game with purchasing graphics card e.g. go for something middle top range. e.g. 7900gto or x1950xt you get superior graphics to the consoles, there is no game on consoles, inc GoW which can match high end PC graphics (see gamespot article on Prey 360vsPC).
The thing that i can't believe people can't see is that everyone here is using a PC to type on these message boards. Most people upgrade their computer every few years anyway- even if it is just buying a slightly faster system from DELL, HP or something. Yet if people actually used their nogign they would be able to buy that PC (which they would be doing anyway) spend the same as they would on a console e.g. £280 for an xbox360 which would go towards a 8800gts 640mb which is far far faster than a console. Yet people still say that they have to upgrade every 5 months, you don't. Your PC that you buy now will run games better than a console for the whole life on your system. As games get progressively more detailed and you are forced to run medium etc this will still look better than the console as you still have a more powerful system.
Which brings me next to mods, probably the single best reason why console games can't compete at the moment. Garry's Mod for example is perhaps the best mod ever- was completely free and is mega fun. Find an example on consoles of that? Just look at the masses of UT, Quake and HL2 Mods. It's insane.
Also controls- yes the gamepad is good for some games but it is not good for RTS/FPS games. Try playing an FPS on a gamepad and then on a keyboard and mouse, the gamepad seems clumbsy and inaccurate in comparison. THe RTS speeks or it's self really- it is truely terrible. Supcom and COH are two of the best RTS games out - they would be no where near as playable on a gamepad.
The comes to the price of the games. THe same game on both systems usually PC game is £30 and Xbox game is £50. £20 difference. Usually over a couple of years you'll buy maybe 25 games that is a massive £600 truely enough to upgrade you system with to make it even better.
Ah, the jewel the HDTV- most HDTV (certainly my Samsung r74) has PC input and i've tried most my games on it. Some times it fun e..g racing games, but other i prefer my monitor. THis is something consoles don't have over PCS.
I have 360 but i far prefer gaming on my PC.
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