A few things need mentioning.
First is accessibility. Let's be honest. The majority of people who play on consoles do so because it is easy, shiny, fast, conforms to what their friends are doing, and it is marketed like hell. The PC platform isn't like that quite yet, but I feel confident that accessible solutions like consoles will become more mainstream as time goes by. There is already evidence of this happening. Think of Microsoft Windows. Apple's Mac OS has always been the easy-to-use operating system for people who don't *want* to tinker with the OS much to make it work. Windows has been far more cryptic, but is becoming very much the standard in ordinary middle-class households due to its excellent compatibility and also due to how much easier it has become to use. Its new graphical layout is easier to navigate, and things are put in more conspicuous places.
This leads me to my next point. A lot of people do *not* *want* to know all about their PC's hardware, they just want the simple solution so they can plug and play. This is why consoles are popular. This is what makes the audience so large, and the large audience makes developers and publishers very interested in the platform. The reason consoles have exclusives is not to *make* it a good option economically, exclusives come to consoles because they are *already* the most economical option for the businessmen who require a profit to stay in business. it usually is not the other way around, even though that may occasionally be the case (to a certain extent). People will subscribe to TiVo or buy a new Macintosh computer because, even if it is more expensive, it is easier to use. Accessibility has become a commodity, unfortunately for consumers.
My next point is that integrated graphics would be better than dedicated graphics if they had the power to play high-end console-like games, because integrated graphics take up *much* less space, and are cheaper to build and sell. A computer with good integrated graphics would cost less than a computer with a dedicated graphics card of equivalent performance.
Another point is that some people believe consoles will always be popular due to 'exclusive' features, instead of exclusive games. They make arguments along the lines of " Well, the Xbox 360 has LIVE, and PCs don't have LIVE, so Xboxes are better!" This is not true in the slightest. The PC has Steam, Windows LIVE, EA Online Store/ EA online accounts, BioWare's social network, and so on. The PC actually has FAR MORE options in terms of accessible and elegant online solutions. Plus they don't require a subscription. Or, of course, there is the option of simply buying a game without using any type of online platform, playing through the game's own servers without bells and whistles. There you have it. The network isn't a good reason to become a console gamer. It's a reason to be a PC gamer.
Of course educating the consumer can make a huge difference with some people, leading them to discover that there are good options outside of the console world they did not know of, but I believe not everyone *wants* to learn about all the hardware in a PC and what it does. They just wanna play, and who can blame them? This is yet one more reason why PCs that cost at least $300 and are made for regular home use should come with good integrated graphics, so as not to confuse people and/or create a lack of interest.
Some people say that exclusive features like motion controls will keep the consoles on top, but I do not believe in this. Motion controls have already come to the PC, even though they have not yet been officially supported by any modern PC games. For now, PC players may hook up WiiMotes when playing HL2 or something just as highly modifiable, but the official versions will come. Microsoft and Sony have expressed interest in putting their motion products on the PC. One day I am sure PC games will support motion controls, if they truly add any value to the game.
I bet that if HP or Dell, or any of the other major computer-making companies, put enough resources, research, and interest into it, they could create products in a joint effort with Intel or AMD that can play video games very well on integrated graphics for the price of a console. If they marketed it well enough, possibly even getting celebrities to endorse it, it could be very profitable and possibly eliminate the need for gaming consoles.
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