Will consoles one day be just like PCs?

With all the console versions being released these days with different size hard drives, etc. And consoles behaving more and more like PCs with downloadable content, patches, etc. Will consoles eventually become very similar to PCs? Will there eventually start being different CPUs and video cards in different versions of the "same" console? Then will developers have to make games for the lowest common denominator, or for the least powerful version? And will compatibility start becoming an issue?

Basically will console gaming turn into PC gaming?

Opinions?

haha last night i just installed Ubuntu linux 7.10 on my ps3.. runs great.. pretty awesome.. Arsenal325

There is some change coming, that's almost certain. As they do more and more prices are getting bloated and that doesn't seem to be as profitable as the Nintendo approach. Upgradable consoles is a bit far-fetched tho, as that would pretty much ruin the whole point of having a console, then again with the add-on HDDs and HD-DVDs they in a way already are upgradable, so maybe it's not that crazy idea. For upgrades you would just get higher resolution and better framerate, it's plausible.

One major difference would still exist, PC is an open platform, consoles are not. Can't really think how they would get over that while still keeping it profitable. I rather see consoles taking a step back and going in the Wii direction, that is IF their motive is to make money on gaming and not just to push new disc formats to people(Sony) or hamper competition(MS). But whatever happens, one thing we know for sure, PC ain't going anywhere.

There is some change coming, that's almost certain. As they do more and more prices are getting bloated and that doesn't seem to be as profitable as the Nintendo approach. Upgradable consoles is a bit far-fetched tho, as that would pretty much ruin the whole point of having a console, then again with the add-on HDDs and HD-DVDs they in a way already are upgradable, so maybe it's not that crazy idea. For upgrades you would just get higher resolution and better framerate, it's plausible.

One major difference would still exist, PC is an open platform, consoles are not. Can't really think how they would get over that while still keeping it profitable. I rather see consoles taking a step back and going in the Wii direction, that is IF their motive is to make money on gaming and not just to push new disc formats to people(Sony) or hamper competition(MS). But whatever happens, one thing we know for sure, PC ain't going anywhere.

EntwineX

Console makers dont make money off the machines (except Nintendo) they make money off overpriced 5 hour long games...and royalities...and SDKs...

On the other hand I hope that M$ and Sony copy Nintendo's approach this will simply push Epic/ID etc to PC gaming....

PC=Personal Computer

i figure consoles=Personal computer also

Uh, so consoles are evolving into PCs? What's the point? I do, however, see the possibilty of a single entertainment unit that have features of both PCs and consoles.

Nope. For all the SKU hoopla, every 360 plays every 360 game that will ever be made. Every PS3 plays every 360 game ever made. There will never be a day where the 20gb ps3 can't play PS3 games anymore, or has to play it with crap graphics quality.Senor_Kami

It sounds like a PS2...PC is the same thing an 6200 difference to an 8800Gt is like PS2 to PS3 difference...the fact that you ignore something doesnt mean that it doesnt exist...

No, they will never be able to live up to the Pc, they will never become a 'Pc', they will stay what they are and keep doing what they do best, that is trying to be better than the Pc.

I really dont see the point of a console becoming a Pc anyway.

i think they already are in some ways, like thing about nintendo's wii channels, the 360 dashboard and ps3s menu as desktops on different OSes

Consoles are becoming the affordable Gaming PC tbqhwok7

Aha, so you admit consoles are PC wannabe's. Thank you Wok7 for admitting that every console wants to be just like it's big brother, the PC.

[QUOTE="Senor_Kami"]Nope. For all the SKU hoopla, every 360 plays every 360 game that will ever be made. Every PS3 plays every 360 game ever made. There will never be a day where the 20gb ps3 can't play PS3 games anymore, or has to play it with crap graphics quality.True_Gamer_

It sounds like a PS2...PC is the same thing an 6200 difference to an 8800Gt is like PS2 to PS3 difference...the fact that you ignore something doesnt mean that it doesnt exist...

Except a PS2 from 2001 still plays every PS2 game at max graphics. Even the games coming out in 2008. Name one 2008 game (and not some crap like solitare) that can run at max settings on a 7 year old graphics card. You'd be hard pressed to find one that runs at max on a 2 year old card. Consoles live for like 5 years on average and deliver maximum graphics even in the 5th yera. Hell, in the last year the graphics are usually the best. PC life cycle is like 2 years. And these aren't chump change card. You could buy like 4 console games for the prices on some of these things. In 2001 you buy a $200+ card that became crap for games in in 2004, so you buy another $200 card... which is old by 2007. You've probably purchased a whole new computer in the midst of all of that as well... and this is a gamer PC, not some $329 best buy e-machine.

There are pros and cons, but the differences are what seperates PC gaming and console gaming. The difference is the whole appeal of one vs the other.

[QUOTE="wok7"]Consoles are becoming the affordable Gaming PC tbqhDragonfireXZ95

Aha, so you admit consoles are PC wannabe's. Thank you Wok7 for admitting that every console wants to be just like it's big brother, the PC.

No problem. Wanna play a game on Steam?

Except a PS2 from 2001 still plays every PS2 game at max graphics. Even the games coming out in 2008. Name one 2008 game (and not some crap like solitare) that can run at max settings on a 7 year old graphics card. You'd be hard pressed to find one that runs at max on a 2 year old card. Consoles live for like 5 years on average and deliver maximum graphics even in the 5th yera. Hell, in the last year the graphics are usually the best. PC life cycle is like 2 years. And these aren't chump change card. You could buy like 4 console games for the prices on some of these things. In 2001 you buy a $200+ card that became crap for games in in 2004, so you buy another $200 card... which is old by 2007. You've probably purchased a whole new computer in the midst of all of that as well... and this is a gamer PC, not some $329 best buy e-machine.

There are pros and cons, but the differences are what seperates PC gaming and console gaming. The difference is the whole appeal of one vs the other.

Senor_Kami

What you fail to make mention of is that while PS2 can play all PS2 games at max settings, the graphics can never exceed what the systems hardware is capable of. This is to say that PS2 games can only look like PS2 games and nothing greater. While the PC can easily exceed in graphics or any aspect due to it being a open end platform. It doesn't have the limitations consoles have. So a new game can't run on a seven year old hardware? But it doesn't look like a seven year old game either, which is essentially the example you were giving. If PC games continued to look like games that were made seven years ago then there would be no need to upgrade. But PC titles always push the boundaries of graphics and audio, this isn't to say that you need the latest hardware to enjoy max settings. The different settings are a part of the platform being opened ended, since no PC isn't the same.

I wouldn't say that you need to upgrade so frequently. I brought a sli Geforce 6800 setup back in May 2004 and I just recently upgraded to a 8800 gts(g92). So thats close to 4 years of using the same video card and all my games ran acceptable unless I wanted to max out everything. While it might seem like you're spending more money every 3-4 years, try adding the cost of buying a console game vs a pc game and you will see that a buying console games adds up to signifcantly more. PC games on average are around $29 and console games $60. 2x the price. So lets say I brought one console and PC game per month. That would be around $360(no tax) for the PC games and $720 for the console games. Thats $360 spent that year that I could of spent to upgrade my machine if I choose to.

[QUOTE="True_Gamer_"]

[QUOTE="Senor_Kami"]Nope. For all the SKU hoopla, every 360 plays every 360 game that will ever be made. Every PS3 plays every 360 game ever made. There will never be a day where the 20gb ps3 can't play PS3 games anymore, or has to play it with crap graphics quality.Senor_Kami

It sounds like a PS2...PC is the same thing an 6200 difference to an 8800Gt is like PS2 to PS3 difference...the fact that you ignore something doesnt mean that it doesnt exist...

Except a PS2 from 2001 still plays every PS2 game at max graphics. Even the games coming out in 2008. Name one 2008 game (and not some crap like solitare) that can run at max settings on a 7 year old graphics card. You'd be hard pressed to find one that runs at max on a 2 year old card. Consoles live for like 5 years on average and deliver maximum graphics even in the 5th yera. Hell, in the last year the graphics are usually the best. PC life cycle is like 2 years. And these aren't chump change card. You could buy like 4 console games for the prices on some of these things. In 2001 you buy a $200+ card that became crap for games in in 2004, so you buy another $200 card... which is old by 2007. You've probably purchased a whole new computer in the midst of all of that as well... and this is a gamer PC, not some $329 best buy e-machine.

There are pros and cons, but the differences are what seperates PC gaming and console gaming. The difference is the whole appeal of one vs the other.

480p is not max dont say such things you create jokes to amuse us...