I like how easy is to operate a game console, other than that, I still prefer the PC.
For those old enough to remember first hand the 80s and early 90s, we had similar discussions over the ultimate victory of consoles over the PCs. The PCs were underpowered, the graphics in the games were horrible 99.9%. The sound was abysmal, and you had just a keyboard, not even a mouse in most cases, or a joystick. They were far more expensive than a game console and if you wanted to play new games (not even new games with high details but actual just new games) you had to heavily upgrade. In fact at some point even upgrading a PC was a bad move. Every year or so we didn't have just new graphics cards etc, we had whole new hardware interfaces that basicaly meant you would be better to buy a new PC much sooner than nowdays.
The games on game consoles had better graphics, better sound, some would say even better gameplay, and yes, better controllers. There were even game consoles that had full time keyboard and mouse in use that sold millions of units each. (for example Atari ST and Amiga "home computers", which I used to own btw).
For some reason the PC not only did not suffer, but, increased in popularity and became by the early 90s the superior gaming platform. Then, first with the Playstation 1, everybody who wanted to be "hip" and of course the people who would buy them, started again claiming the end of the PC as a gaming platform was near, that Playstation etc were selling millions of consoles etc etc. The PC didn't care though. It continued and to every one that said it was dead, it would reply "sure". And keep on living. When PS2, Xbox, GC (and earlier Dreamcast) arrived, they again were the last hits to the PC as a gaming platform. The consoles were cheaper than a brand new top of the line graphics card, did not need upgrade every year or so to continue playing top of the line games, were easier to control, when first appeared they had better graphics and sound than most modern PC games. Most of the media and the usual people, were certain, this is the end of the PC as a gaming platform. The PC and the PC gamers smiled and nodded.
End of 2005, 2006, the "next generation" of gaming consoles is here. Better graphics, better sound, better controllers than most PC games (still using a keyboard? hahahaha, so lame!). Why buy a more expensive PC when you can get a gaming console instead? You know that is cheaper to buy an Xbox 360 than a new top of the line PC graphics card, right? And the new gaming consoles are so much more powerful!!!
PC answers. "*sigh*"
Call me crazy, but I see a pattern over the last 25 years repeating every 5 or so years.
:whistle:
EDIT: I just want to add two more things. While when a next generation of game consoles is released they are more powerful than the average PC, the average PC is still a powerful equipment/tool/gaming console. Funny thing is to read an average PC review (actualy PC not game) about a system with a Athlon 64 or Pentium IV at 2.8 or something and say it is not powerful enough with the current configuration to run say the modern FPS games, but they are good enough for word processing and "home use". Word processing with a pentium IV at 2.8 GHz!!!! FFS!
Two, while it might be convenient (spelling?) to try to dismiss the effectiveness of the PC as everything else than just a gaming platform, it is IMO silly to do so if you want to get any real answers. Like or hate it, the fact that the PC is far more than to play games has and will continue to play a huge role as to why it remains the most popular platform. And as long as there are hundrends and hundrends of millions of PCs, there will be games for them
