The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Gaming - which platform is best? David Hague editor@melbpc.org.au |
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Gaming - which platform is best? David Hague has been asked a gazillion times. Well, lots OK? |
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I have had many requests as to what computing platform is best for gaming. Not that long ago, hard core "gamers" spent the equivalent of a deposit on a Porsche in order to get the best possible components in their computer such as high-end video cards, lots of and super-fast RAM, top-of-the-line monitors and so on. In fact it is fair to suggest, and many industry commentators do, that gaming actually drives PC and component development. |
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It's also fair to say that the PC is/was the dominant platform for gaming, as
against the Mac.
There were a few reasons, but the primary ones were the PC was easier to modify
and cheaper,
but most importantly, much more game development was done
for the larger PC market.
Today though, that has all changed with the dedicated gaming console ruling the
roost. And while in the past the Sony PS 1 and 2 reigned as king, new kid on the
block, the Microsoft Xbox, is aimed at dragging away market share with its
brilliant Halo franchise.
Once supreme, then has-been, Nintendo wallowed somewhere in the background, and
very few took the company seriously.
But wait - figures released today have turned this all topsy-turvy - mainly
caused by the next generation machines, the Xbox 360, Sony
PS3 and Nintendo Wii (no I don't understand the silly name either).
Now faster than ever, sporting innovations such as Blu-ray and HD DVD
high-definition drives, online gaming via networks and more - especially the
unique Wii interface with its "wand" - customers are dumping the PC in favour of
dedicated gaming consoles by the millions.
Would you believe that Microsoft sold over 4 million Xbox 360s
last year, Sony a fraction under that? Nintendo won't give out numbers, but an
independent research group says last year the Wii picked up 52% of the global
market. That's a big number.
The point to all this? If you want a gaming machine, buy a console. They are
relatively cheap, unlike PCs they don't have issues with crashing or
incompatibilities and are portable. Match a console with a large screen hi-def
plasma or LCD screen and good sound system and they are unbeatable. And you
won't wreck your PC so it can't even run Word any more.
Which one? Personally I'd go with the Sony PS3, primarily as it has the
advantage of the Bluray drive that can also play hidef movies on Blu-ray discs.
As this is now the dominant format, that's the way of the future. But as always,
buy the one that has the games you also want to play - very, very few, if any,
come out on all three - or even two - platforms.
Reprinted from the January / February 2008 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
