Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles?

Submitted by Christopher Groux; December 18, 2012

When all is said and done, PCs and consoles have come much closer to one another in recent years. If we look at some of the top notch games from the Xbox 360 or PS3, sometimes it can be hard to differentiate how they differ from what we see on a full gaming PC. Obviously if you've got the latest and greatest graphics card installed, odds are your games probably are going to have that little bit of extra shine on them, but let's think about this for a second. A lot of consoles out there today have specs that match up to some ten year old PCs, yet somehow they are able to create something that at the very least acts as a solid opponent to your traditional setup. Are we sure we need that PC anyway?

Then of course there is a case to be made with regards to functionality. It's no secret that PC operating systems are for more mature and open when compared to their console counterparts. This means that essentially they are able to get more done. When Valve says that they're bringing that kind of concept into our living room TVs then it kind of makes you wonder. If a living room PC can do all that extra stuff and let me play great games, could it be a better value to buy that rather than something like an Xbox?

To be honest I'm not really sure, and maybe I can cover this in more detail in another head to head story, but the argument found at my source certainly has me thinking. What about you?

Source

Tags: Console Wars, pc gameing, Valve

I know the game companies use a dev kit to publish there game so the retail consoles can use and run the game. But the PC is used to develop the game and then port coded to the console. I have every console and handheld ever made with vast libraries of games to play but I still like my killer rig PC I assembled together. It is like good and evil.....cant live/operate without the other

+1 # RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — Topken 2012-12-18 19:42

I know that the consoles are currently holding pc gaming back as all we have are crappy console ports. Look at Skyrim for example. Now if Vavle can offer PC like specs for a living room machine at the same cost as consoles which shouldn't be to hard to do and we are then able to upgrade the components ala PC like then we can hopefully see proper PC ports from publishers/developers. I would like to see proper PC ports compared to the crappy console ports we get now a days.

+1 # RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — Mr. Unknown 2012-12-18 22:02

Isn't this the same as putting your PC to the living room and connecting it to the TV?

# RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — Charlie420 2012-12-19 02:49

i also have my pc hooked to my tv and i would never trade in my console to play on the pc too much upkeep evry 2-3yrs u need a new video card then u need better cpu it just never ends the 360 has been out for years now and i havent needed to buy a new video card for that nuthin get my games n play

# RE: RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — Christopher Groux 2012-12-19 14:02

I talked about this with some friends yesterday and we both agreed on this. PCs can be really expensive to keep going. For me, I always use them for games until my specs get too low and then just sort of give up till the next time I buy a new one.

+1 # RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — BHA CUM BUM 2012-12-19 08:08

shouldnt this be the other way round.

in the past people have mentioned how superior pc gaming was compared to consoles.

but we find these days console games are almost equal to pc gaming, only difference is, pc gaming is not cost effective.

you can own a console for 3+ years and be capable of running a game, which a pc during the same period will need upgrading in order to run, and this upgrade in comparison isnt that superior when you consider the cost.

devs never really utilise pc gaming, the pc has far more potential power that could be used but they simply port a version.

consoles are now bar far the more cost effective method of gaming

# # RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — Samez 00 2012-12-19 08:24

Pcs are so easy to hack and can be quite amnoying when it comes to online gameplay fair enough i mod ps3 games but atleast its not around every corner like on battlefield pc you can inject a aimbot these are the reasons why pc will never be of a threat.

# Not Really a Threat for Now — El Alex214 2012-12-19 10:24

I don't think it’s a threat because the pc or pc like components have been out before than video game consoles. I understand that now things are different from 20-30 years back. However casual gamers and i would say that maybe over 85% are casual to a 15% hard core gamer like the simplicity of a console. There are different types of gamers; there are the ones that want the ultimate graphics and there are the ones that like entertainment despite the lack of graphics. Sometimes i see myself playing contra in my NES because is fun. That’s what has kept the video game consoles alive the fact that you can sit down turn it on and don't have to worry for a new video card or a driver update. Simple services tend to attract people. I could see this happening maybe after 2020 but for now with the current technology lots of things can be done but they would have to be beta testing those theories for maybe a year of two. The exclusive tittles are a big part of why the consoles are still here. If you think about it video game consoles are looking like a pc with the app system because they want to expand the range of content to keep them alive. Also, the remote controller of the consoles is another thing that people (myself) rather used instead of a mouse & keyboard. I know that now you have adapters then again simplicity for other people.

Lastly if this is in fact happening in the future then we could say that what follows is the HDTV replacing the pc and gaming consoles. Now HDTV have apps, Google, and Internet connectivity and with a better service than On Live game streaming or a steam for HDTV’S maybe this will be next, that is if companies agree to give their exclusives to this cause.

# RE: Not Really a Threat for Now — Christopher Groux 2012-12-19 14:05

Agree to this a million times over. You have an eye to the future like me, mate. I;m more of a simplicity player myself. I hate having to mess around with settings to get my game playing right. It's not that I can't I'm just not a fan. I'm sure there are many that feel this way.

As far as TVs go, I think it will be many years down the line, but I don't disagree with you.

# Not Really a Threat for Now — El Alex214 2012-12-21 00:26

Same here i consider myself very savvy when it comes to electronics, pc and other gadgets however is a bit annoying to do things when you can just grab your controller and turn it on. I forgot to mention that tablets and smartphones could be also part of this conversation since there are so many great games and the graphics keep getting better every day. Devices with dual, quadcore cpu's, multi core graphics and 1-2gb of ram games are running very smooth but whats killing some of these great games is the lack of a controller. I have an Ipad 4 and games like bastion, asphalt 7 among others look amazing. I am waiting for the icontrolpad 2 which would solve the lack of a controller for many people that like those games on the iOS and android. I would say that at those unbeatable prices you can really get many good games for the price of one PS3 or Xbox 360 game.

+1 # RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — Hellgun_BR 2012-12-19 12:40

of course that will work, but they will have to CAP the game on the specs of the first "VALVE Console" release for a long time as happens with consoles. will they allow you to upgrade the hardware? Maybe, but the games still have to run smooth on the first hardware. The Fact that the PS3 and Xbox are not a PC. means that it is not that easy for someone to use hacks while playing online, wich is a strong point for online game on consoles. Since you can not run hidden code with a game.

# RE: RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — Christopher Groux 2012-12-19 14:07

Lol this site is dedicated to running hidden code in games, but I see your point. It's a lot more difficult to do it on console without Sony or Microsoft banning you.

+1 # RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — Xorbius 2012-12-19 12:41

PC has always been superior to consoles and always will, unless they make a console you can upgrade and games that will upgrade also. If people would stop being console fanboys just so they can sit on a couch or whatever, and focus more on PC gaming, then we would start seeing more PC games coming out that would blow away anything on console, games that would be PC only because console couldn't handle it.

Games like http://www.robertsspaceindustries.com/ and so on. I so can't wait for that to come out and I am guessing that there is no way that a console could hope to run that game.

# RE: RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — Christopher Groux 2012-12-19 14:10

I sort of agree, and like that you're a PC fan BUT some people don't want have to tinker around with a computer to play games. Every few years you have to physically open up your machine to put a new GPU or RAM in but not everybody knows how to do that (as easy as it may seem to you.)

The idea of just sitting and playing without having to get your settings just right makes a lot more sense to the masses.

That said, I wouldn't mind more games on PC.

# RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — tohdom 2012-12-20 19:48

well. if you want to get console quality graphics on PC, you can use gtx 8800 or a little better.
No need for high end video card.

But just look closely at recent console games. They have frame rates drops for 25fps. That is not acceptable! All games should be played at 50-55 fps on average.

i never play console version if there is pc version behind the corner.

# RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — PC cc 2012-12-21 14:37

My ps3 will always be second to my pc for games and movies.

# RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — NakedFaerie 2012-12-22 01:05

I think its the other way around. consoles have always been a threat to the PC as they take away the gamers.
I for one have moved from PC gaming to console gaming. its easier to just put in the disc and start playing where with the PC you need to install it, make sure its connected to the internet if not your stuck looking at the box or you get a crack and patch it.

# RE: RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — El Alex214 2012-12-22 15:58

I do get what you are saying however you are wrong because the pc purpose is not for games. Thats what is being projected in this article if a device that the main purpose was for work or other task meaning that when you think of it you are not thinking games. If you go out and ask people what is the purpose of a pc the majority of them will tell you something other than video games. When you ask people about PS3, Xbox or Wii they will say is purpose is for gaming. So this article is trying to figure out if a non gaming purpose device can overtake a gaming device.

# Pc Games — optional 2012-12-29 23:30

Dude, Pc's were playing online games before consoles even though about it. PC gaming is awesome. But they have their place and consoles have theirs. Alienware dude made strickly for gaming. It's not what people think, its what is....

# RE: Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — guenthar 2012-12-23 02:28

My current PC (temporary) which is about 5 years old can run all current games so you don't need to upgrade every 3 years. If Valve released a PC based console it would have set specs and all games would be have settings preconfigured for those specs. Any kind of updates whether for game or system would be all automatic and there would be no tinkering involved. There would be an interface based on Steam that the system would bootup into which would probably give you the option to go into the OS if you wanted to. This would all be very similar to a console but since you would be able to download all of your games and have the ability to do anything you would normally do on your PC it would be better.

# Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles? — Def_Head 2013-01-13 23:02

My mate Patty thinks PC's are better than a 360, he goes on about it all the time but truth is they are not.

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Are PCs a Threat to Game Consoles?

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