» Thu Dec 30, 2010 6:25 pm
Price has nothing to do with it. (at least for me)
I can easily afford a "gaming" PC. I can easily build a "gaming" PC. I've got the certifications to prove it. (big deal)
I used to play all games on the PC and was a HARSH critic of the consoles. I didn't like the controllers, mouse/keyboard really IS beetter, I didnt' like the lower video quality...
But, after a while it got old. To play each year's new games (at the best frame rates, resolution etc) I would usually upgrade my Video card. Figure, $300, sometimes more for the level of cards I was using (was a Voodoo lover for a while). Then I'd fight the drivers war when it seemed that every other game had a different driver issue. Whether video, sound or... whatever. While these issues aren't as bad as they were, say 5 years ago, it was a pain. Though, yes, it was doable.
Once the next gen consoles came out with hi-def I started thinking... well, maybe... then after playing some Gears of War and other games at my brother's house I bought a 360.
Here's why:
No more hardware or software (OS?) upgrades until the next, next gen consoles come out. Every game I get was purpose built to work specifically on my machine.
No driver issues, EVER. Just put in ANY disk, hit start, play.
Ease of multilplayer use. Especially on the 360. As soon as I start up I see who is on-line, what game they are playing and if their game is joinable (30 seconds after powering up) SuWEEET!
In game and out of game chat, parties etc. built in. *I wasn't a fan of this until I started using it. Now I love it.
Downloadable content (movies, trailers, game demos), while I could get these on the PC (and sometimes do), I do like having it all in one menu that I can browse and queue up my downloads.
Instant patches! No having to download and install patches. I start the game, it pauses, loads the patch immediately, continues on to the start menu. All while I grab a beer.
Instant access. I don't leave the couch. I turn off them game, movie, whatever and pick up my console controller, hit one button and the system power up and off I go on my giant high def TV.
(Yes, I know I can hook my PC up to my TV too)
Mods are nice. Been there, done that. But I normally got bored with them not too long after figuring out how to make silly stuff happen in game. It just got old.
I now own a 360 elite, a PS3 (my blue ray player. Nice bonus) and a Wii (keeps the wife busy in another room)
Four years ago I would have bet a pile of money that I would NEVER own a console. "Screw that amature hour stuff" but now... well, I stand corrected.
Your mileage may vary.