I'm thinking of getting PS2 or XBOX for games, but I already have a powerful PC, and I'm wondering which is better for games. Of course, I hear that the XBOX for example, has a 64-bit processsor (so I hear), which already makes it the better choice, but still . . . I just want to get some informed viewpoints.
nobody take my Cube from me :) But really, to me consols are easier simply because you don't have to deal with the installing and uninstalling (if you don't like the game)
Compo Up da' crunche' salad and meatloaf with the side-orda' fries, yo!
now.. that´s a nice question:) i think it counts where you want to play. if you´re playing on your pc you´re alwas sitting there on a chair... or whatever and have to stair in your 17 or 19" monitor. but it´s excellent gaming because.. you´ve a lot of power in front of you.
BUT
if you want to play relaxed .. on the couch in front of your TV ...
i think that´s a question of what you prefer. if you like high-end gaming with high end bla bla bla than play pc-games. but if you like to play interesting games... (oh there are so many japanese games out there for XBoX and for PS2... so much dgood stuff) than get a ps2 or XboX...
i don´t like gaming.. only thing i play is Diablo2 in network... but thats 4 or 5 times in the year.. so what shells?
So, I have a 2.2 Ghz powered Athlon XP, with a 128mb Radeon 8500 and 512 mb RAM - - - does this make mine more powerful? Hoe come console grafix look soo smooth and there is NO lag?? Maybe I'm not uderstanding something, but doesn;t the XBOX for example, haev a 64-bit processor. PC processors now are 32-bit, and AMD will release 64-bit around September of this year . . .
it's nvidia's NV25 chipset... so it's powered roughly by a GeForce 3.5 the fact that there is no software operating system to get in the way of the processor is what makes the xbox seem so much faster than it really is... if PC games were made to run on just the system BIOS, and not have an OS in the way, they would be blazingly fast.
"Hey, look over there!" *runs away* (its my tag, I'll use it if I damn well please :P )
Going by raw numbers, the XBox is the best system. Unfortunately, its game selection is mediocre at best. That's why I say get a PS2. Better games and more of them. Of course, if you have a lot of friends and/or siblings, you might look into getting a Gamecube...Super Smash Bros. Melee's 4 player mode is fun as hell :D
Ahhh, so its the OS that kinda gets in the way, ok that does make sense. So, I suppose I can say that PC games are not running at their "full potential" on a PC, due to the resources required by the OS running in the background??
consoles are fun when your friends are over. like red faction 2 for ps2 is awesome multiplayer. but pc games are good too. i don't know its a tought call to say one is better than the other. from a graphics position the computer owns but as far as out right fun i think consoles have an edge.
xbox does have an os actually, it runs on a super stiriped down version of w2k. and they do lag sometimes, play the library in halo, and run into some of those aread with 20-30 bad dudes, youll notice a little slow down.
aslo one reason console games can run faster, is they can be optimized for the systems hardware. the designers know eactly whats going to be in the system thats gonna play it.
unfortuanatly the developers get a little lazy and dont' optimize for that one system... You'll notice if you read reviews to a game that has been ported to all three systems that one system will lag a bit where as the others don't... And it's not always one of the three...A game may run nicely in the graphics department on the GCN, and pixelated on the PS2 or visa versa.... (sp?) Really, it depends on which games for what system or computer... This is really a opinion call....
Compo Up da' crunche' salad and meatloaf with the side-orda' fries, yo!
to me, they are both the same. consoles have faster loads and easier setup, but PC games have more customizability and better graphics. also, you can always upgrade your PC's hardwar, but you can't really do that with your console. but on the other hand, the console comes with a controller already, and it's no fun playing with a keyboard. in the end it's all up to you. if you can, get both. if you can't, pick the one that has the most games that you like.
if you like FPS games (Unreal, Quake, Half-Life, etc..) stick with the PC... controllers just cannot give you the precision and speed a mouse can for aiming
"Hey, look over there!" *runs away* (its my tag, I'll use it if I damn well please :P )
I like consoles better because they are a heck of a lot faster than my comp, i have 64 mb of ram, a processor that is so old I don't know it's name, a 54k dial-up modem, and 6 gigs on the hard drive. Consoles are a lot easier for games.
Crazy Kid - I mean computers that are NOT ancient. Check what I have further up in this thread . . . . It appears that as far as raw power and graphics go, computers rule hadns down.
Thats undisputed. Consoles are cheaper though, and easier to operate most of the time. All in all, i agree with Average Joe. FPS are better on computers. Racing games, though, are good for Consoles. Designer games, like rpg maker, are sooo much better on the computer. RPG's, though, are better for console.
If you've got enough money then have both, but I personally prefer the PC because I would get sick of games if I'd completed and then couldn't do anything to modify them. I'm a huge fan of (PC) Quake and UT just because of the vast amount of add-ons you can do to them. Stick me on (Console) Crazy Taxi and I'll be sick of it after a couple of hours.
Like AverageJoe said, it depends what you're after. I know I'd quite like a console, but for me it would be an occasional novelty thing, not a general use thing.
I prefer consoles, mostly because I can play them while I use my computer. Besides, there just arent as many different kinds of games for pcs, unless you're talking about emugaming too.
the only way ide choose a pc for gaming is if i had a 3ghz with the new nvidia chip and 512mb and not 2.2 Ghz powered Athlon XP, with a 128mb Radeon 8500 and 512 mb RAM, you will be able to play most of the good games out today smoothly on that but in a year or two you will be whining because your computer got fried trying to play unreal 2004, so go with a console, ps2 would be my choice soley for the reason that the games are superior to the xbox games, my computer is decent but by no means is it a gaming machine, i have a 1.6ghz, geforce 4200ti and 128mb of ram and i can play hitman2, gta3...but when i had unreal 2003 installed it was a bit sluggish at times...all that being said get a ps2 and the internet connector thingy if you have broadband
It also depends on what kind of games you like to play. For instance, if you are like me and worship Final Fantasy then the this a no brainer, you want a console, and you want Sony.
For me it greatly depends on whether I can play Final Fantasy, Star Ocean, and Chrono Cross on it. If you can emulate on the computer and have them work, I'd do that instead. But that's just what I would do.
So right now I am a console player (but then again, by computer is crap), and I play on my PS2. I am currently training all my GFs (I like FF8 [I]way[/I] too much...)
Emulate, you can always upgrade your computer!
[I][B]Miiro[/I][/B] ".........I can burn water........."
Agrees with shocks, if your an idiot and like to waste money get ps2 lol.
Cube is by far my favorite, it has an awesome library of games (Metroid Prime, 007 Nightfire, Mortal Kombat: DA, Pikmin (cool strategy game), Mario Sunshine, Final Fantasy Chronicles, and PSO 1 and 2 multiplayer rocks)
I get so sick of games , that promote to be better because their more violent, have people bleeding out holes we never knew existed, and have curse words in them, I'm a VERY objective person, and I consider good wholesome fun still the best thing to play on a console. I"ll pick up Mario Sunshine for gamecube, before i'll jump on my PC and load up UT2k3 or anything, they just get boring.
GameCube is also an awesome nostalgiac system, after 8 years waiting for a sequel to Metroid 3 for SNES, and having Grown up on the nintendo, who WOULDNT want to play the next-gen versions? :)
Xbox puts out a shitload of games, many of which totally suck, they're just worried about having the biggest game library, while not paying attention to game quality. Personally, I still think gamecube has better graphics, the colors are more vibrant, the anti-aliasing is a lot better in most cases, and in 75% of the Xbox games i've played, their horribly laggy, and 16-bit dithered, very horrible.
@ridgeburner, man, i'll have to agree with you on the nostalgic part, played mario since i'll known what a nintendo is - myamoto is one that hardly dissappoints.. :)
Compo Up da' crunche' salad and meatloaf with the side-orda' fries, yo!
I have a 1.7 GHZ Pentium 4 with 512 MB Ram and a 64 MB GeForce 3. Obviously with a system like this I have the option to play any game currently on the market with no trouble. However, it really comes down to the 3 C's... Convenience, Control, and console limitations.
I believe hands down that the PC platform is the best for First Person Shooters because the combination keyboard/mouse provides the best control for that type of game. Also, since most First Person Shooters have online capability, you don't have to worry about internet connectivity since you already have it.
On the Console side, RPG's and Racing games are better played on the Playstation 2 because they aren't usually online with a couple exceptions, and a standard Dual shock controller is all you need. And since RPG's will leave you playing for hours on end, it is more comfortable to play on the couch with the 27" TV.
As for Xbox, yes, it beats PS2 in hardware capability, but there is only one game I want and that isn't enough to buy the system. As for Game Cube, Nintendo has chosen to follow the path of the younger audience. (Which isn't really a stupid idea since the younger audience is a huge market with unlimited profit potential) So unless you like cutesy wootsy Mario games, you will be dissappointed. (Only my opinion)
Did you just diss Mario, the most legendary game character of all time? You owe that little Italian guy your gaming soul, and you know it. I still bust out Super Mario Bros 1 or 3 from time to time (my NES works!). The classics never die!
"Hey, look over there!" *runs away* (its my tag, I'll use it if I damn well please :P )
Yea, Sony has been the one censoring games - not nintendo.... Nintendo(unfortuanaty) has decided the Cube will include more adult titles... But Mario still rocks...
Compo Up da' crunche' salad and meatloaf with the side-orda' fries, yo!
I play my xbox WAY more than my PS2. It satisfies all my needs for the genres I like. Best FPS ever - Halo. Best racing sim - Sega GT 2002. My favorite RPG - Elder Scrolls: Morrowind, plus Fable is coming out soon (http://www.xbox.com/xboxtv/default.htm?t=3749&v=%2Fmedia%2Fg ames%2Ffable%2Fvid-fable-0001&bw=hi ). Best 3rd person action: Splinter Cell. Best fighting game: DOA3... No PS2 games in these categories come close to being as good. I think the reason people aren't giving xbox a chance because 1: there weren't very many good games for it when it came out, and 2: being anti microsoft is trendy
pc vs. console? i think it all depends on what games you like. some games work better on a console (mario, goldeneye, etc.) but some kick more ass on the comp (warcraft 3, diablo). the multiplayer argument for the console is moot because, hello, there's this thing called the internet. and have you been to a LAN party? :) on the flip side, there's nothing like making people weep in goldeneye or mario kart. or drooling at the graphics for ff10. comparing console gaming to pc gaming is like comparing pizza to ice cream. who cares? if can you afford it, get both systems. more pleasure to be had by all i say. :)
Ok I admit I didn't read this all the way through. I got about half way then decided that if the first half was a basic rehash of the same thing over and over...
But anyways I do have something important to say that I didn't see get mentioned.
First, what's better for gaming? PS2, Xbox, or PC? My take on the answer as one whom own 2 out of the three. (But I use a PS2 regularly so might as well own one) As for what one is best, that depends on a few personal choices.
Personally, I think the PC is best. It has the most games. Curently it even has the best graphics. Though the biggest problem with the PC as a gaming platform is the price. On average a PC runs 3-4 times more than a PS2 or Xbox. But then it's also multi-function. Lots of other things you can do with it.
What the Xbox and PS2 have over PCs is ease of use. You don't get any simpler than; Put disk in box. Pick up controller. Play game. As well, they have games that you can only play on them. (Big reason I have an xbox. But damn sony for getting some games that I want only on PS2) They are also generaly more portable. I toss my X into my backpack fairly often for some play at the friends house. Thats not something one can normally do with most computers.
Really it all boils down to money. If you're cheep, a console is better. For at least $300 you are up and running. Whats better between the two? Well PS2 has many more games. The Xbox has better graphics and defaults for 4 controlers plus has that built in network port. But they are reasonably close.
Or if you can live with spending more money, and know enough about computers or at least have a friend to help. You can have a computer built that's basicly a console. There are cases that are the same size as a consol. Lots of good video cards out with TV output. Though you still need at least a keyboard for input.
And I know people are going to want to argue about PCs having better graphics. So I'll take care of that here at the end. First it all depends on the graphics card. With something like a Gforce4 4200 with 128 ram you can trounce the Xbox. Or pick your card of choice, as long as it costs at least $150. Now pick some game with great graphics. Unreal 2, Asherons Call 2, whatever. Jack up every single graphical setting you can to as high as it can go but set the resolution to 800x600. I say 800x600 because that's the resolution that almost every single TV in the USA uses. Hence what the Xbox and PS2 use. There you go.
PC's - Can upgrade your hardware - Games are cheaper - Better Graphics - Can do many more things besides gaming
CONSOLES - Cheaper - Dont have to be sitting at a desk - Controllers are much easier to use than a mouse and keyboard - Faster Loading - Bigger Variety of games
Just some points i could think of.
NO TRESPASSING. Violators will be shot. Survivors will be shot again.
ok, why is everyone sputtering all this technical crap?! If yer looking for a good gaming system, don't bother with abilities of the system, look for what games are availuable! If you're are only interested in graphics of a game, then yeah, yer best bet is a PC with a great video-card, but if you're in for entertainment, just look at what games you can get. My personal opinion is the PS2, 'specially since MGS2:Substance is coming out.
* Imad-kun * "I made like a squirrel, gathered my nuts, and asked Amy out."
Splinter cell on pc is like a console game on xbox, the smoothest and richest gfx i have ever seen in any game.. Plus its probably the best game of the year too..
Wow, popular thread. OK, folks, thanks for the input! For now, I'll stick with my PC and just upgrade that as needed! Well . . . . until I play Gran Turismo 3 for the first time . :-)
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