Game Development: PC and Consoles

Some of you may or may not have anticipated this in my blog entries, but I guess none of us gamers can escape the debate of which one is better; PC or consoles. However, I'm not here to say that PC is the "master race" or whatever that means. But, I do come to say why some people prefer PC other than consoles, and why some people prefer the other.

Why the debate?

Well, the debate is very understandable for some people. Some people simply prefer enjoying the game and having fun, whilst the others might enjoy playing the games with a high standard (or ultra, in this case) graphic settings. However, I feel like the high graphics that computers offer is just the surface why people prefer PC other than console. 

1 - Games are way cheaper online other than consoles.

The way shops sell games online is different than games sold for consoles. For example, a PC gamer can search for one game in many stores in their region, or internationally, without any restriction. On console, however, the games are like "walled gardens" (Chacos, 2016), meaning that the price doesn't vary in stores you go to which is close to someone. PC games on the other hand, shops around the world will have to compete for your wallet, where some places, they sell them for cheaper price, or better, its free! Some applications, such as Origin, by EA, they have this system called "On The House", where they give games out for free, without a catch. And for some people who are on a budget, this type of system helps them out a lot (including me..). 

2 - You don't need to pay, to access multiplayer.

On the Xbox 360, Xbox One and the PS4, users are required to pay to access Playstation Online or Xbox Live. For PC, you don't need to pay to play Counter-Strike, or League of Legends, or Battlefield. The only payment PC users are required is to pay for the game, and that's about it.

3 - PCs are upgrade-able and fix-able, whereas consoles can't be fixed or upgraded.

This goes for both graphics, and mortality rate. Once a PC dies or gets affected by a virus, the user could go to a computer shop nearby, and get it fixed, and the quality of the service depends on how much you want to spend. A console, however, when it reaches its life-span, its time for you to wear your black suit, say your prayers and buy a new console. The only way to fix a broken or outdated console is to buy a new on entirely, and consoles don't come cheap, in fact, consoles are more expensive than PCs in the long run. 

In terms of graphics, users can upgrade their PC to no end, with high-end graphics card, monitor, RAM (Random Access Memory) and VRAM, to give them a more realistic graphic detail when playing their favorite game, making it more immersive. 

However, consoles aren't all that bad. They do have its own positives, such as:

1 - Consoles allow a more social and interact-able game play experience. 

Local multiplayer on consoles is when you invite your friend over to your house or place, and would play a 2-player co-op session, or a 2v2 multiplayer session online against each other. In a social gathering or party, you would see a console somewhere within the party, where a group of friends would play some FIFA, or Call of Duty against each other (Spohn, 2016). Console gamers experience a more fun experience when playing with people they know together, other than with people from the other side of the world, without ever seeing them face-to-face or interacting with them. 

2 - Consoles are easy to set up and easy to play.

That is very true, consoles are really easy to hook up and set up. Unlike PCs, they need the right amount of power supplied from the motherboard to the cores and the RAM and graphics card, the PC specs HAVE to be met in order to play a specific game (if not, you can dream of playing the game because it will crash your computer) and other things are needed to hook up and play a game on PC. A console, however, would need a stable internet connection, a socket, and a TV. Before you know it, you'l be playing games with your friends. 

The learning curve for console games is really low (Spohn, 2016). You wouldn't need to learn what every button is on the controller, unlike the whole keyboard on some games, like Arma or Kerbal Space Program.

I can go on, and on, and on, about how these 2 machines are good in their own way, but for now, I believe I have covered some of the most... "important" aspects of these 2 machines. (Gordon, 2013)

References:

Chacos, B. (2016, February 12). 6 reasons why I love being a PC gamer. Retrieved March 02, 2017, from http://www.pcworld.com/article/3032557/software-games/6-reasons-why-i-love-being-a-pc-gamer.html

Gordon, W. (2013, November 26). Why I'm a PC Gamer. Retrieved March 02, 2017, from http://lifehacker.com/why-im-a-pc-gamer-1471860201

Spohn, D. (2016, October 13). PC vs. Console for Online Gaming. Retrieved March 02, 2017, from https://www.lifewire.com/pc-vs-console-1983594