Console gaming is presently one of my passions. I have had the chance to look at the Xbox 360, GameCube (though briefly) Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2), and now I also hope to lay my hands on the PS3, once it is out in India. But that does not mean that I am writing off PC gaming. A few industry analysts maintain that consoles will dominate the video game landscape hereon, but I would beg to differ.
The latest console craze to hit India with Xbox 360 would be online console gaming. But, globally, both PS2 and Xbox are neck-to-neck in this area. Xbox Live (in India) does have an edge on multiplayer titles and offers a great player matching service complete with voice chat. Not to be left behind, Sony has released several big online titles for the PS2 too. I don’t have to mention names like Need For Speed Underground by EA Games, which has emerged as the first genuinely cross-platform game that lets PC and PS2 users race against each other.

I would like to list a few advantages and disadvantages before you decide on a console, this season. (Ideally I would rather like to have both a console and a PC, but if that’s not an option, here’s a quick comparison)

Console Disadvantages

• The first and rather obvious advantage consoles have over PCs is cost. The Xbox 360 currently sells for around Rs 19,000 – Rs 24,000 and a game title costs Rs 1200.
• Next on the list is, simplicity. Let’s face it, console games can be a technical nightmare (for beginners) as compared to PC gaming.
• There is a distinct lack of inter-connectivity between the different console brands. This means that people with Xboxes can only play against other people with Xboxes, so, for example, there is no way for console gamers to jump into a fray on one of the countless Counter-Strike servers available.

PC Disadvantages

• PCs have become cheaper but not necessarily powerful and speed is very critical to run any gaming application.
• Installing a game on your computer is a bit of gamble. You never really know if the tittle would run flawlessly until one is actually playing the game, and even then, in the back of your mind, you’re expecting it to crash at any moment.
• A tedious arrays of keyboard commands and lengthy tutorials which one must endure to learn how to play, can be quite a turn off.
• Unlike console games, you might have a hard time finding games that support two players on one machine at the same time.

So…?
Although consoles are my personal favourite, I honestly think it will be a while yet before the PC games has any serious rivals. But the hope from the next generation of consoles that promise to offer more inter-connectivity, more cross-platform games, and a game experience that PC gamers can only dream of.