1) The keyboard and mouse react much quicker than console controllers, and the added keys give you many more, at-your-fingers options to use controls. For RPGs, a number of games allow you to assign hotkeys to more abilities, powers, and spells than a console controller.

2) Mods. The mod community extends the life of many games thanks to community-made maps, scenarios, and more. You can't do this with console games (unless it's a game like LittleBigPlanet). 

3) Indie gaming. The PC is the cradle of the indie gamemaker. You don't need to deal with Sony or Microsoft policies: You make a game and distribute it. 

There is an easy way to tell if a particular game will run on your computer. Some nice person made a website that scans your computer hardware and answers that question for you: http://systemrequirementslab.com/cyri

You can use an Xbox controller with a PC. For Left 4 Dead, I use a 360 controller and mouse. I believe you can get analogue-stick things with more accessible buttons on them. Pair that with a mouse and you have accuracy of movement and aiming.

I use the same screen and seat for my PC and 360. If I could afford a big HDTV for my living room, and a gaming PC, then it wouldn't be much of a stretch to buy another computer for my study. (Which I also have, because, in this fantasy, I'm rich.)

My problem with PC gaming is that it's a crapshot whether or not games will work, even if I do meet the spec. It's expensive to keep up with, too. I think the upgrading and tinkering has the same appeal for some as maintaining a car does to others.

@Alex It's not as expensive as it used to be. My gaming PC is nearly 5 years old, and it still plays games great at 1680x1050, my monitor's native resolution. And considering I use my PC for much more than gaming (work, for example), it's a great return on the investment. (And since i use it for my home office, I can write it off, too!) Most of you can't write off your consoles!

Yes, I think there can be issues concerning compatibility, but I think so long as you choose your system wisely, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to use the same computer for half a decade or so.

For me, the open nature of the PC platform is always going to make it more alluring than a console. For example, imagine a music lover that only owned a CD player. Sure, they'll be able to listen to all that commercially produced music, and even some indie bands will eventually get picked up by a label and have their albums put out, but if you really want to explore the scene and experience everything it has to offer you want to get yourself a PC and start visiting Myspace pages where the barrier to entry is so much lower for artists.

Yes I'll admit the analogy isn't perfect, but I hope my point is clear enough: nobody does indie like the PC. 

I think the argument pretty much comes down to this: PC gameing can be a serious pain in the ass. PC games can also be fun and rewarding. So it's how much you are willing to put up with vs how much you get out of it. For people who grew up with PC games I think they are just much more used to the little hassles so they can't really understand why people who didn't grow up with it are agitated by it so much. It's not really an argument that can be settled objectively. Still it's always fun to throw your two cents in.

I like some PC games very much. But I hate keyboard and mouse controls. Mostly because of the mentioned problems with the keyboard being uncomfortable compared to a controller. The mouse is fine and does it's job very well, I just wish someone would come up with something cheap but effective to replace the weaker half of the duo.

Jason: Your PC is five years old and still runs games well? I figured anything three years and older was considered ancient in the PC realm.

And I can see where you're coming from when you say it's easier to control RPGs on PCs. My fingers have never been a fan of the WASD control scheme, though. It feels a bit clunky. I will, however, concede your points about mods and indie games; consoles just can't match that.

Jay: Thanks for the link! Then again, it kind of reenforces my point that figuring out if a game can run on your PC can be confusing.

Jon: The open-ended nature of PC gaming is definitely one of the medium's strengths. I do think, however, that console gaming is catch up in that area. Will it ever be at the level of PC gaming? Probably not. But the gap is smaller than it once was.

Alex: I see your point about using a console controller with PC games, but why not just game on a console in the first place? Pretty much every game is multi-platform at this point, so there hasn't been a PC exclusive that I felt I absolutely had to play.

Jeffrey: You're absolutely right that the enjoyment derived from PC gaming is dependent on how much time you put into it. Right now, I don't think the payoff is worth all of the work -- especially since the technology gap between consoles and PCs has closed over the years, and because most games are multi-platform now.

@Nick Tech gap is increasing between PCs and consoles. As consoles age, PCs increase their technical capabilities. As for gaming with a controller, I got The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition for $4.99 during the Steam sale. You won't see such crazy sales for console games. 

And PCs aren't really much work. My PC has run great over the last 5 years. I had a soundcard issue, or so I thought -- turns out my surround-sound speakers died. I dust it regularly, so that means opening the case every now and then. But since most of my PC maintenance is stuff I'd do even if I wasn't playing games, it's not much work. Since you no longer have jumpers and most pieces are plug-and-play, building these things yourself isn't all that complicated, and prices are reasonable enough that buying a game-capable PC isn't so bad (especially if you're using it for work purposes as well. As I said earlier -- writeoff!). I've only had one game not work in those 5 years -- the first Mass Effect. The graphics engine is very picky. But none of the other games have had problems. 

Jason: When I said the technology gap was closing between consoles and PCs, I meant that, with every new generation of console, the differences between the two gaming mediums seems to be getting smaller. The PlayStation One couldn't come close to the PC's graphical capabilities back in 1996, but the difference between a PS3 game and a current PC game is more negligible. Like you said, though, the problem with consoles is that the technology remains stagnant for the duration of a console's lifespan, while PC technology is constantly improving.

And PC games can be much cheaper than consoles games -- I'll give you that. That's definitely alluring. And the whole process of buying/building a gaming-capable PC seems to have gotten easier over the years, so that's another plus.

I don't know -- I'm still not completely sold on PC gaming, but all of these comments are giving me something to think about.

Nick, I loved this article. Probably because I'm in the same boat as you. PC gaming just never seemed appealing to me -- except for the Steam sales that Jason mentioned. Also, you get a huge plus for posting a picture Kramer, accompanied by a classic quote.

I'll try not to tread the same ground others have already covered, but to your points:

1) You're missing half the control scheme. Analog sticks will never be as precise as a mouse, and certain genres (real-time strategies, for example) are unable to transition to consoles for this exact reason. And I still can't play first-person shooters as well on a console as I can on a PC. Circle-strafing doesn't work as well without a keyboard and mouse setup.

Furthermore, pretty much every single PC game allows the user to remap keybindings and customize the control scheme. You don't have to use WASD. Very few console games these days allow players to remap keys, and if they do, it's usually just a few preset schemes to choose from.

2) Many websites benchmark computer hardware using popular games, which gives you the critical information you're looking for. I usually visit Tom's Hardware.

Jason's right, too, that you don't need to upgrade constantly, especially so because this console generation has dragged out so long and most games are multiplatform these days. I'm running the same machine I put together four years ago, and I still play the latest games at top settings.

Additionally, every single PC game I've played allows the user to tweak the graphical settings. So even demanding games can be toned down and run on lower spec machines.

3) I don't really know what to say here other than get a new chair. You can find a reasonably comfortable one for less than $50. That's not breaking the bank, especially if you're accustomed to buying $60 console games.

----

I'll just reiterate a few things others hit on -- modding is a big deal to me, and it's something that consoles generally don't offer. I keep decade-old games installed on my computer because a mod community still exists somewhere making new content or reshaping the experience completely. Sometimes modders add functionality that the developer doesn't for some reason that makes the game more playable.

Because the PC is an open platform, PCs will always push the boundaries of the medium in ways that consoles generally won't. The barrier to entry is lower for independent developers, and as a result PCs have a more diverse and creative collection of games than any console could hope for.

Also, if you're concerned about price: PCs games are almost always cheaper than their console counterparts, and it's much easier to find old games for PC than it is for consoles.

Now that's what I'm talkin' about, Rob!

1. I didn't mention the mouse because I don't have a problem with it. The mouse is the advantage that PC controls have over console controls. The main issue I have with the WASD scheme -- that it feels clunky controlling a character using a keyboard -- would still be the same, no matter how I map the controls. I guess I'm just used to a regular controller.

2. Judging from these responses, it seems I greatly underestimated the lifespan of a PC. So that's a big plus. But I don't like the idea of playing a game at a low graphical capacity. I want a game to look, sound, and play as well as it can, which is one of the reasons I prefer the console gaming. I know that what I'm putting in my Xbox/PS3/Wii is going to look and sound the best it can.

3. OK, you got me: I could buy a new computer chair if I really wanted to. But I used that example to illustrate a point -- there are many more comfort options when it comes to console gaming. With consoles, I can sit farther away from the screen.

Also, compared to PCs, consoles are way more portable. If I'm playing Halo and I'm not digging the feel of my waterbed, I can move the Xbox 360 into the living room and sit on the couch. My main point is that consoles give you options, while PCs don't. But like you said, I could remedy my comfort situation for a relatively low price.

----

From these responses, I'm seeing that PCs do have advantages over consoles. The price of PC games, modding, the open nature of the PC, and rapidly advancing technology are some of computer gaming's strong points.

Thanks for all the responses, and I definitely welcome some more.

Oh, and Jordan -- that Kramer quote is the main reason I wrote this article. :)

I think I can give some insight on this. I have put in about 10 hours on TF2 on a Computer after logging about 400 over the 360 and PS3 versions. When I first started using the mouse and keyboard I felt handicapped. Yes, the mouse was precise, but moving with 4 keys is archaic no matter which way you look at it. And the keys did not seem as natural to use as buttons on a controller.

But then something happened - I played more and more and started getting used to the keyboard and mouse. I fucking LOVE the mouse now. I can actually play Sniper in TF2 and kick some ass because of it's superiority. The keyboard I am slowly getting used to. I have added tape and tags to the important keys, and I am starting to hit reload or a taunt button without looking...

My point is practice. I have only played with a keyboard/mouse for 10 hours, but I can already see how in the hands of a skilled player that set-up can be very, very good use. Everyone is different. Rob wrote above that circle-strafing is easier with a keyboard/mouse but I have never had a problem doing that with a controller! 

One thing I will end on, now that I am slowly mastering the keyboard/mouse set-up, flying a space shuttle will be a breeze!

Nick, I'll also point out that you should play games on a PC if graphical fidelity is important to you. PC versions will always look better than their console counterparts.

@Nick OK, you got me: I could buy a new computer chair if I really wanted to. But I used that example to illustrate a point -- there are many more comfort options when it comes to console gaming. With consoles, I can sit farther away from the screen.

If you have the right outputs -- and cards nowadays do -- just hook your PC up to your TV, get a little thing to hold a keyboard and mouse in your lap, and game in your living room from your couch. I would if my wife would let me. 

Oh, and if you really don't like using the keyboard for movement, you can try games other than first-person shooters.

X-Com only requires a mouse. Blizzard specifically designed Diablo so that you could play the entire game with the mouse only. Real-time strategies also rely heavily on the mouse, and they only use the keyboard for hotkey assignments like control groups and abilities.

Lance: Good insight! I'm glad someone agrees with me that using a keyboard for a controller is awkward. But it's also nice to see that you can become accustomed to it with enough practice.

Rob: PC games always looks better than their console counterparts, but how high-end of a PC do you have to have to get those kinds of graphics?

Not very. I'm running two 8800 GT cards in SLI (four years old) with a Core 2 Q6600 (three years old). I play Dawn of War 2 and Starcraft 2 at max settings.

That's cool that you can run a new game like Starcraft 2 at max settings with 3-4 year old technology. I guess I underestimated the lifespan of the average PC.

But then again, how do I know you're not making these terms up? 8800 GT cards in SLI? Core 2 Q6600? Sounds pretty bogus to me. :)

I'd say that I'm somewhere in the middle ground in regards to PC gaming, because on most cases, I'll grab a game for my 360 or Wii before my PC. Though, there are just certain games I have to have for PC.

1) One example of this is FPS games. Even though you're restricted to the flat direction of WASD and the mouse, I find it 10x more accurate and easier to aim with than any controller. Though, I may be slightly biased in this regard, when I play Modern Warfare 2 for example, I find it a lot easier to aim on my PC. Even games like Halo (which I have never played on a PC) would probably hold better ground for me on a PC, though the experience of it would be lost because it's clearly meant for consoles.

2) I'm actually with you on this one. If it wasn't for my friend who is very tech savvy, I'd probably be in the dark most of the time. Although, I have taken steps to try and at least learn the vital information needed to know if what I have is good enough. For something like video card specs, if I didn't have my friend, a simple check over at nVIDIA or Newegg might help me figure out where my video card ranks in regards to what is required for a game and how well I figure it might run whatever game I'm after.

3) I don't really know about this one to be honest. I've been using my computer chair for all of my gaming due to the proximity of my computer and TV. Not to mention that I now use my monitor for 360 gaming, so I'm always using the same uncomfortable chair, which I'm pretty sure I'm accustomed to now. To each their own in this regard I guess. :P

I'm a console gamer, but I don't feel like picking on PC gaming much, so here goes...

PC games have one feature that really makes it a platform to own. Even after all of the attempts to make consoles good for indie games, PC still has far lower barriers for entry. You have your pick of languages. You can slap something together in PyGame if you want. You can make a game with Flash. You can release a game without talking to or going through any authority with entirely free tools. The barriers to entry for making a PC game are practically nil.

PSN Mini games must be submitted to the ESRB. Xbox Live Indie games require a lengthy peer review process to get the game out for sale. You're also limited to just one or two languages that they must be developed in. You also have to spend at least $100 on the dev kit with console games, possibly 10-20x that much for some consoles. Huge barrier. 

The controls are MORE precise for exactly the reason you feel it not.  You use more fingers for movement.  Additionally, your mouse is probably one of the most precise tools in games.  It's only your familiarity (or infamiliarity) with the controls that make you so comfortable.

The rest of the complaints simply stem from not spending time/learning about what you're doing.  Of course if you don't have a good chair your ass is going to hurt.  Move your comfortable chair to your desk.  Of course if you don't know what you're doing you're not going to understand what makes a good computer.  Ask someone who DOES know what you need.

This is like me complaining about console gaming because I bought the wrong console for the game I wanted, and I don't like playing console games because I have a 10 year old tv that turns funny colors.

But if I were to say the one appeal of PC gaming, because I game both on the PC and the console, is that you can mod your games.

I am a console gamer at heart. I never played many PC games. A few like "Under a Killing Moon" and a few Star Wars titles come to mind. To me, being able to sit on my couch, lean back, and have everything I need resting in my hand is far superior than being hunched over a computer screen. Despite my distaste for PC gaming, I recently purchased a $1700 gaming laptop powerhouse. I wanted to always be able to play anything I wanted. Hence why I own every console, and now a PC.

I have been playing this new 17 inch full 1080p powerhouse for 3 months now, and this is what I have concluded.

A) Console controls are better. I would play a few matches with various FPS's against friends on my PC. They have been PC gamers forever, and are very, very skilled in the art of the ol' mouse and keyboard. After getting my ass handed to me for a few matches I decided to plug in the ol' Xbox 360 controller, and face them that way. I won every single match after that. Them with the "superior" mouse and keyboard, and me with the "inferior" controller. My reaction time was flawless, and proved my own point that controllers are better.

B) Damn that game looks good! What game you say? Well, every single one I installed on it, all running at max settings. Crysis, Crysis Warhead, Modern Warfare 2, Bad Company 2, Cryostasis, Resident Evil 5, Far Cry 2, Gears of War, etc. Say  what you will about the tedious task of making sure your PC can actually run a game, but when you install Crysis Warhead, and max out those setting, and pick your jaw up from the ground, and push your eyeballs back into your skull, and come out of your coma, you'll realise it was all worth it.

C) I'm saying what I will about the tedious act of making sure games will run. It can get annoying. I am not a tech guy. When I read the back of the box to see the requirements, the only thing I understand is if my OS is supported (Windows 7 64bit). This is way too confusing. I know there are websites out there that scan your computer and tell you if a specific game will work properly, but that too is a hassle because they never seem to have the game I am curious about. A unviersal website should be launched where all developers and publishers come together to make it easier for the PC noobs like me to know before we drop our money down if our computer can run their game.

D) Steam is awesome. It is beyond awesome. It takes Xbox Live and PSN and chews them up, digests them, and poops them out. I have already saved hundreds on Steam from their last sale, and I can't get enough of it. Steam is the sole reason why I put my credit card online, and being as I am so against digital distribution, it is amazing I bought anything from them.

The bottom line is that while I stiLl prefer the consoles, the PC is winning my heart slowly. Sure my hands get cramped up, and using a keyboard to control games is just not as easy or accurate as a controller, but the games look so damn good....I mean reall, really good. STEAM!

In response to Rob's gaming rig, those graphics cards were $200-$250 each at the time of release and the processor was $850.  Add in a motherboard, harddrive, memory, case, and power supply and you've got a $1500-$2000 machine.  Yes, you could pick up a comperable rig for possibly $500 now, but it's only going to last another couple years.  If you want a rig that's going to last you another 5-6 years, you're going to have to plunk down the cash.  Of course, you can counter that by saying that you've saved hundreds on the games through Steam sales and such over the past 5 years, but it's still a hefty investment.

That said, I'm a PC gamer through and through.  I enjoy playing consoles, but I always come back to the PC for the freedom, community, and mods.

I'm actually in the market for a new PC, myself. I'm actually going to have a friend help me build it. I've only recently discovered the miracle of steam. The thing I like about PCs is that you really get almost every single game that comes out-- the only real games you'd be missing out on are PS3 and Wii exclusives. Most, if not all, 360 "exclusives" make their way to the PC. Not only that, but there are tons of great old games on there. I picked up Chaos theory and Indigo Prophecy during the last sale.

As for the controller thing, I think some games work better with wasd, and others with a controller. Luckily I managed to hook my PS3 controller up for games like Splinter Cell where it just feels awkward to have to move the mousewheel to control speed. Granted, setting it up was a pain in the ass, but I hear the process is fairly simple with a 360 controller.

And of course MODS. You'll never see Solid Snake having a lightsaber battle with Agent 47 and Riku on consoles, ever.

Dewan: I used the dilapidated chair example to show that your comfort options for the PC are limited because of its unportability. Of course I could get a new chair. I just wanted to highlight the fact that -- compared to consoles -- desktops don't give me options.

You're right: I don't know what makes a good computer...and that's the problem. PC gaming isn't as accessible as console gaming because it is a lot more technologically involved. I want playing video games to be a simple process. I don't want to play guessing games or go to a website that will check to see if my PC is properly equipped to play a certain game. I just want to tear off the cellphane, pop the game into the system, and play. It's a bit easier to identify games that will play on your console than figuring out if your CPU has the right graphics card and enough RAM to run a game well.

I can see how the keyboard/mouse combo can be an effective control combo for some, but I've never gotten used to it. I prefer the simplicity and feel of console controllers. But I agree with you that consoles can't touch the mouse in terms of accuracy. I suppose it's a matter of preference.

Oh, and thanks for responding!

Consoles are just dumbed down PCs. All video games are created on computers. This is a moot point. Consoles will be dead soon. This or the next gen will be the last. Don't believe me? How about the CEO of Square Enix? Google it. Better get used to that keyboard!

The bottom line seems to be: MODS!

Contrary to what you may think, I do want to give PC gaming another whirl. I've always wanted to try WoW, but two things have scared me away: 1. the monthly fee, and 2. its addictiveness. Does anyone want to name some PC games that will ease me into the PC medium, preferably games that you don't need a high-end system to run?

Erhan: Haha, interesting thought. But I can't see consoles vanishing within the next 10-15 years. Perhaps consoles won't look and play anything like they do today, but I think they'll be around in some form. Everything will probably mesh into one big, mega-system eventually, anyway. Call it the globalization of gaming.

@Erhan. Consoles aren't going anywhere because one guy at Square Enix says so. The truth is that companies make the huge majority of their money from console games. Hence why PC exclusives that matter are harder and harder to find. The statistics are there for anyone to read online. Consoles are the majority choice for gamers. PC gaming isn't dead or anything, but it will be very hard to make a comback with the hardcore audience again. Farmville, for instance, is not a hardcore game, yet I always see people defending the PC's by saying "but look at how well Farmville is doing!!" At that point I usually name about 30 console exclusives in the past 4 years that have sold amazingly well, and that usually shuts them up, lol.

This new generation is all about getting everyone to game. PC's are too complicated for too many people. Consoles are as easy as plugging in a game and starting to play. I am willing to bet my life that consoles will be around for generations to come. The only thing I see that PC's are doing to keep relevant is playing games directly in your browser. Now if they were able to get the biggest and best looking games running in your browser, without the need for expensive hardware, we might see PC's make a BIG comeback. Yet it still won't get rid of consoles. Just like no matter how popular consoles become, it still won't get rid of PC's.

I would have to admit that most of my problems from playing on pc comes from my lack of skill tweaking with settings, but I have found almost every recent excursion with pc gaming to be unreliable and more frustrating than fun. I won't knock you if you are a pc gamer, but I hate the platform for gaming. I hate it with a burning passion.

A lot of good points brought up here, though this has need debated for years. I used to be a nay sayer when people told me that the keyboard and mouse offers superior control and accuracy vs a controller. I sure you that it does beyond a shadow of a doubt. With the recent launch of Starcraft 2 I'm surprised that no one mentioned how it is virtually impossible to play an RTS on a console. They do exist, but are pretty laughable.

1. A good gamepad like a 360 controller is key to keeping your ergonomic controls. A mouse is more precise and better for more precise movements when compared to a traditional controller. That doesn't mean that controllers are inherently bad since they aren't the preferred method of play for rts's and fps's on pc. I'd like to contend that a decent game controller that uses a trackball instead of the right analog stick would make things a lot better on that front. You can also be bold on pc and connect a Wii controller via bluetooth. With those last two options, you can actually compete with people. You'd just need to be a bit better than them overall to be equal if that makes any sense to you.

2. Specs can be a mixed bag. I'd say take a bit of time out to learn the basics for pc specs. Either that or spend enough time to make a chart that you can follow. Personally, I always stay one generation behind on graphics cards. The prices are low, drivers are mature, problems are mostly gone, and it's more likely for forum dwellers to be your free testers on games and pc specs. Even on day 1 of a new game release. I use an ATI 4850 with 1 GB of ram 256 bits).

ATI has a simple naming structure. I won't go into all of the details, but basically X8XX and above are the cards for gamers. I'd recommend getting a card with at least 512 MB of ram to stay in the game. That's where I normally hovered. Gotta say the 1 GB is doing me a lot of good. I can have more of the world GTA 4 alive at one time now. Games like Assassin's Creed that would give me random bouts of slow down or small graphics related issues are no longer a problem.

I was like you until the middle of 2009. I made a nice rig and I loved doing it. It does appeal to me in the same way that building cars appeal to other people. I also get to play my games at the actual resolution that I want to. GTA 4 and many other games don't even scratch 720p on consoles. They're often at a custom resolution that the machine can handle. The tv and the console together will upscale the image. That doesn't mean too much when speaking about it, but I noticed a very nice difference in graphical clarity and ability when playing pc games that are also on the console. I can play GTA 4 at 1920x1200 (higher than mainstream HD!) with all of the settings maxed out. I have tons of people and vehicles moving around, buildings are using textures that don't look muddy close up. I can drive in first person, look behind my car and not see textures dropping or buildings disappearing.

 

Everything is smooth and lovely. Even if my pc wasn't able to hit everything at max, I can drop the settings to get it to an acceptable play level. You can't do that with console games that have bad or extremely erratic frame rates. On a console you are locked at whatever the developer decided would be the best compromise for their game. I'm not a huge "everything must run at 60 fps" person, but when i played True Crime: Streets of NY, I was appalled at the game becoming a clip show on my gamecube. That game is very buggy, but when you drove at a moderate level of speed, the game would literally become a powerpoint presentation with bad music. On the pc, you check the specs, then tailor the game to fit you in the best way possible. Maybe my machine can only have 100 people on screen moving fluidly if I allow a small area of the world to load. Maybe I'd like to load more of the world and sacrifice some of the people? That's my choice most of the time and I love it.

 

Imagine Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a pc game. People could make more accessible mods and we could turn the settings to max to allow for more on-screen mayhem. I still mainly play games for my Wii since that gets some very wonderful exclusives, but I get most multiplatform games for my pc. I also love not having to get up to swap game discs. I buy most games through steam. For some of my other beauties, like Grandia II for pc, I have a virtual drive so that I can be lazy. Heck, I have enough dvd drives on my pc to have at least one disc from every pc game I have the requires it to be inserted. The 360 at best can do 2 with the hd-dvd add-on (at least I believe it can).

Don't get a pc for same system multiplayer. The companies don't believe that the demand is there, they don't have enough of us begging for it. I still don't have Sega All-Stars Racing because I refuse to get it for any system but the PC. They promised us same machine multi-player then reneged on it. Rockband is never going to hit the pc because enough people don't know how to connect their pc's to their tv's. It's simple enough to do, and a major game like rockband could come with a tv kit that would help most people out. They won't do it, no one will. Everyone refuses to use peripherals as a trojan horse to help expand the pc market to more living room dwellers. There is money to be made, but everyone's afraid to jump in and find out exactly how much is available.

3. That leads us to point number 3. You may not want to, but you can relocate your pc to any tv with component or hdmi input. VGA-to-component adapters exist for those that need them. You can even connect via composite and s-video. If you have a HDTV then connect it quickly. Surfing the web on a huge tv or large monitor is a great experience. I have 28" monitor and 23" HDTV that I use as a second screen. It's an odd combo, but it works. I can connect with either lcd alone if I'd like to do so. I go between a Wii+nunchuck and 360 controller for my gaming on the pc. I sit at any distance and can enjoy it nicely. If you can't change the text on a game, or would like to make things larger then dropping the resolution can help. I "can" play most of my games at 1920x1200, but I can drop to as low as 1280x1024 and still get a nice image and better performance. Heck, with some games it doesn't matter. I have Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved for my pc. It detects the 360 controller automatically. It works great. I have Steam instead of Xbox Live. Other than that, there's not a huge difference there. I also have World of Goo and many of the Digital Console stores games for pc. The ones that make the jump anyway. Braid is a beautiful game on either system. Dark Void is still wonderful. I can lay in my bed and play a lesser known game like Crash Time II and enjoy the experience as well as any 360 player playing Burnout or Halo. I love playing Team Fortress 2, Portal and Half-Life 2 with a Wii controller. My pc is mostly a games machine. I develop on it with a wireless keyboard and mouse. I just upped my dpi settings to 150 to compensate for my distance. A PS3 with Fedora installed still would not ever be able to compete with this. Hacking a Wii and running Linux wouldn't even be worthy of the title "pale imitation". Jump in man, you're missing true gaming freedom. Don't abandon your consoles, just use them for their exclusives. I don't just mean exclusive games either. Some console games still come with exclusive features that a PC game may not have. Like Assassin's Creed II not requiring a constantly, uninterrupted internet connection. Some games will hit pc, but never release their sequel on it. The Gears of War series did this. PC Gaming is a mixed bag, but it has way more good than bad going for it. 

As a dedicated PC gamer with years of experience in crappy chairs, all I have to say is throw a pillow on that thing! And if you don't have a spare, I'm sure you're aware they're a lot cheaper than a whole new chair.

@Drew.

You should play Halo Wars on the 360. Pretty much proves console RTS's are completely possible when done by developers who actually take the time to do it right. It is a great game to boot.

They said FPS's could never be done on consoles. Goldeneye and Halo proved that wrong.

They said Adventure games couldn't be done on consoles. Well, do I need to list them all?

They said consoles couldn't do graphics like PC's. Yet no one seems to care that console games aren't as sharp. They are nearly identical to the untrained eye.

They said MMO's couldn't be done on consoles. The 360 has two at the moment, and Sony has a bunch currently in development for the PS3.

They said consoles would never replace the PC. They did, and they grow bigger every day. I am surprised to see you say RTS's couldn't be done on consoles. Every time people say a console can't do something, it does and it does it well. Even FPS controls, which I currently destroy people with on my laptop while using a 360 controller against others who use a mouse and keyboard. It's all in the skill. And I am up for proving that too.

@Ed Consoles can't do mods, and the major publishers and consoleholders, I doubt, will ever let that happen. No takeover mods of games reskinning Call of Duty with Star Wars. No independent RTS maps. No brighter smiles for Dragon Age (not all mods are *useful*, but they can be fun). And when the multiplayer servers are shut down, the multiplayer components of consoles games dependent on those servers is done. PC folk just set up their own when the servers die. 

Well, I'm a Mac gamer, and that's pretty much sucked since Bungie left the scene ten years ago. And it will continue to suck so long as Apple remains apathetic and no-one makes Mac exclusives (besides Spiderweb Software, which occupies a very small niche, and releases PC ports within 6 months).

The result is that I alternate between playing PC games with no chance of upgrading my aging graphics card, playing Mac games that I missed during the 90s (there are still lots I haven't played), and playing console games, with all three being typically done in the same place (so no comfort issue).

So for me, it depends. If a game is available on the console or PC and is a recent release, I'll probably pick up the console version - it's just easier than worrying whether my Mac's feeble gaming muscle can handle it. Otherwise, I'll choose the PC version, because I can run older games at high resolution. If a Mac version exists, I almost always go for that.

I sometimes feel like I'm the only person in the world that is equally comfortable with a controller as with keyboard and mouse -- I've always adapted quickly and easily either way.

I've always enjoyed both but now my PC is seven years old and I won't be able to run Civilization V which is very disappointing. Although a lot of people like to modify their games, that's one thing I do not like. I still play Tribes 2 and I can play it straight out of the box. There are players who first need to install a pile of scripts before they can play and to me that often feels like cheating. Then there are plenty of people who do cheat. I've not done much online gaming over the past five years so I don't know if things are any better but cheating always felt like more of an issue on a PC than a console. However, I've never competed in leagues on a console game so I really haven't paid attention to issues with console cheating. I seem to mostly play solo games these days.

Back to Civilization, that's a great game that works much better on a PC I would think. While I've tried Civilization Revolution and had fun with it, it's no where near as in-depth as the PC games. I know they released the original on SNES and Civ II on the PlayStation but I never tried those so I don't know how they compare. In my mind the PC is typically best for FPS, strategy, role-playing and simulation games while consoles are best for fighting, sports, racing, and third-person action games.

I have actually tried to give up one for the other just to save money but it never works. It was probably when I built my last PC seven years ago that I was ready to put the consoles away. I was never able to completely walk away though. Over the past few years I've hardly gamed on my PC. However, I now have the dilemna of Civilization V. I know, I can't stop mentioning that game but it only takes one game to pull you back to the PC. I think I've rambled more than I've answered any questions. I'm sure everyone here realizes each platform has their own strong points and in an ideal world we should all play on every platform :)

Ed, Halo Wars doesn't prove that real-time strategies work on consoles. From Tom Chick's review:

But this is still very much an RTS in the PC tradition. It's based on drag-selecting units without drag-selecting, moving around the map quickly without being able to use the mini-map, and pinpoint-clicking without a pinpoint-accuracy pointer. In other words, the curse of mouse-less real-time strategy gaming.

@ed and rob not like it would matter, the studio that made Halo Wars is long gone. Sad ending to multi unit selling developer team.

I've read through te above comments and might rehash some of them but here goes.

Graphics: PC graphics are hands down better than console no questions asked. You do not need up to date hardware to accomplish this either. When a new console comes out its graphics card is already 2-3 years old. Therefore if you are building in the same year the console is released then even if you buy a 1 year old card which will already be heavily discounted you will be well ahead of consoles on the graphics front.

Running new games on older machines: In most cases turning down settings will remedy any problems you might have. These games with low quality settiings are still superior (especially graphically) to console versions.

Oh noes I hate keyboards!: As said above you can use console controllers with minimal effort on your pc. However in doing so you lose a lot of the versatility and control that comes with the many buttons etc. that come on a keyboard. But wait there is a solution to this! There are several devices out there that bridge the gap between controller and keyboard. Personally I use the N52 te a coproduction of Belkin and Razer. This particular item is a little more expensive but there are a variety of other less expensive options as well. I can't speak for the other ones but the N52 has a dpad as well with a thumb stick attachment so if you like that it's available. These devices fit your hand well and offer a lot more customization and control than console controllers.

My computer chair/general computer gaming setup sucks!: Computers these days can easily be connected to any relatively new tv. Depending on what tv you have your graphics may suffer but they can't be any worse than what the console does on the same tv and will almost certainly be better. This along with a few inexpensive extension usb cables or wireless keyboard and mouse and a tv dinner tray or lap table (whatever) allow you to game in comfort in the same position you would play consoles.

Keeping up with the hardware advancements is sooooooo expensive!: Building a new computer with up to date parts can be expensive sure, especially if you are going to buy off the shelf rather than build your own (which by the way is way easier than you think, though still understandably outside what many of you would want to deal with). However lets look at our current situation in 2010. The PS3 (which I understand is the strongest console hardware/graphics wise) came out what something like 5 years ago? Tack onto that the fact that the hardware in it (specifically the graphics card) is thus 7-8 years behind current hardware. That means all you need to beat the everliving snot out of a console is a 3-5 year old setup (sure a hunk of junk by todays standards but still enough to run all but the most graphically intense games). The cost of such a system is extremely low compared to a new one and best of all in a year or two you can always save $20 a week for a few weeks to upgrade one part or another bringing it closer to current powerhouses and leaving consoles further behind in the dust.

I am so awesome with a controller I suck with keyboard (or N52 te) and mouse: You're used to one and not the other, sack up and play a few hours you will be performing on a whole new level within a month and will laugh at that silly person who used to play with children's controls. @Ed I don't believe you for a second. If what you say is true, congratulations you are the exception, don't think otherwise.

Mods, user created content, updates by developers, communities etc: Everything consoles have pale in comparison to what is available on PC you can't even begin to argue this so don't try.

OMG look at market share consoles are obviously superior: How many people do you know who own a regular run of the mill car and how many own italian supercars or modded up honda's etc. Just because more people drive the easy cheap stuff doesn't mean those things are better. (just a quick little rant that doesn't fully adress this issue but gets the basic point across I hope).

Consoles will always be here so they are better!: Sure consoles will always be there so will go karts but if you are serious about your gaming then like with any hobby you should be putting the extra effort (and it is way less than you think) into learning about the superior tools of your hobby. If you just like to play a few games and don't care about performance or graphics then you shouldn't even be involved in this conversation, consoles are obviously the way to go for you and I wish you well with them. I own consoles in addition to my pc for similar reasons, when I have a party or girls around who want to game (as opposed to girl gamers who are every bit as good and knowledgable as boy gamers) then the consoles are great and super easy for them to use.

Consoles are just dumbed down PCs quoting Erhan: This is truth there is no getting around it, he may not be right about consoles dying (I'm farily certain he isn't) but there is no getting around this. Again doesn't matter if you just want to play a game, matters if you want to be a gamer.

I've gone on too long forgotten to touch on some things and probably hit others too much, such are the perils of writing something long in a text box thats only 5 lines big. Have at it.

Whoa...such long, detailed responses. It'll take me awhile to read through these, but I'll definitely look at all your responses since you took the time to write them.

Someone should write a counter-argument to my article and submit it to the Mobfeed. You could say, "Look, that Nick guy is totally wrong -- PCs are better for gaming. Here's why..."

Just a thought.

I think that the great divide between the two markets, PC gaming and console gaming is not just defined by the hardware and software of each, but I think that they also show a divide in the typical types of personalities each system has that causes people with like-minded personalities to gravitate towards them, and I think this can be reflected in the marketing used for each system as well.

Typically PC gamers have always been more individualist (perhaps even radicalist) and more willing to put effort into maximising the experience that they seek from their gaming. This is reflected in the history of PC multiplayer gaming, which by no means was very easy in the days of dial-up connections in the days of Quake 1, and had to be optimised through the use of programming or modding.

As a result of this people who grew up using PC's as their platforms needed a comparatively large amount of technical knowledge in order to game enjoyable, and were paid in kind for the time they put into learning.

This inaccessibility meant that to those outside of the PC world labelled them "computer nerds" and such. This also meant that those within PC gaming felt elated to be in a select group, and this pride was used as a defence against those who weren't able to join their ranks. This has now translated into the modern day as the idea that PC gamers are "elitist"

 

The very concept of consoles was so that gaming would be accessible to those who did not have the patience, time or money to weave through the jungle that was the origin of PC gaming, and give them the opportunity to have their own fun.

Since the beginning consoles have come very far, and the original concept of console gaming is now fully supported by the market share of people who game. Cheap, fun and easy to use, but ultimately chained down by the limitations of producers of consoles that centralise the organisation of all the required technicalities of gaming.

To say it simply;

PCs are suited to those who like or don't mind the associated costs of such gaming and because they are able to they take great pride in being so, they are independent and often arrogant, resulting in their historic labelling of both "nerds" and "elitists"

Consoles are for those that simply want to be able to access games for the least amount of effort. A pretentious person might say "the mainstream masses" consists of this

In my opinion most arguments stem from this. Comparisons between the two (e.g. games, price, hardware, controls) are valid in the same way that weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of spoons over forks (or vice versa) is valid; which is say that are completely valid, but perpetual.

@Richie Sporks are the answer. 

Most of the ground here has already been covered which basically comes down to whether you want flexibility and control over your games or you're willing to give that up for accessibility. Not everyone likes to tune their cars to get the best performance out of them, but a few dedicated people do.

I'll also say that PC gaming has generally paved the way for consoles over the years. A lot of the stuff consoles are doing now in terms of online capabilities and hardware, the PC was already doing almost 10 years ago. It provides a bleeding edge for the super hardcore to stay on while the masses follow at a leisurely pace.

Lastly I wanna talk about the chair vs couch thing. I think that really depends on the game. Most of the time I can chill on a couch and play a console game like Halo or Street Fighter. For some reason though I cannot play Fallout or Dragon Age on a couch. StarCraft and the like are also pretty unworkable from a couch.

1. The comfort factor of a peripheral controller is a preference and differs between person-to-person. You asked if I though the keyboard and mouse is more accurate and comfortable than the controller. My answer is yes, the K&M is more accurate because controllers has sight but notice latency due to the wireless link between console. A gaming mouse provides unrivaled level of accuracy because of its point n click nature. As for comfort factor the controller is superior in my mind, especially the xbox 360. Thing was made to fit on your hands. I even plug in a 360 controller to play games like splinter cell conviction and GTA IV. Thats right, I can play PC games on a controller and everything works like what you'd expect from a console. All "Games for Window" and Multiplats has 360 controller support and is plug n play which solves and answers your first challenge. 

2. The Specs and system recommendation: All systems runs games differently but how do you know if yours is up to the performance? Compare and Contrast other cards of similar performance and look for benchmarks. Or if you wanna be lazy, try this site: http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri. It certainly not as accurate as benchmarks but you can have some clue. 

3. Couch vs desk chair, 20 feet or 3 feet away from your screen? You don't need to choose because a PC can pluged into an HDTV and be played from any distance you want, provided you have a wireless controller w/ adapter or one with a long enough cord. Any more challenges?

My argument is very simple... PC for work, consoles for fun.

I absolutely despise playing on a keyboard. Just as playing on a stand up arcade, holding down buttons on a keyboard will cramp the top of my hand in a few minutes. Not fun. 

The only game I play on my PC is the arcade version of Killer Instinct. Its one of my all time favorites and it seems like it will never make it to a console. And I use a 360 controller. PC gaming is like owning a mac, you spend so much money, just to keep up with the other guys, i.e. consoles.

Other than that, I use my PC for 3D work in Maya, and all my consoles for gaming fun.

I'd like to apologize about the Sega comment, my memory ruined what actually happened. Controls aren't customizable in Sega All stars for pc. There's also no online multiplayer. Nope, not even a an official p2p solution is available.