Alright, I think it is the time for me to bring this debate to this very blog. Which is better, console gaming or PC gaming?
Short answer: none.
Long answer:
Grab some snacks, this will be a long post.
Let’s see now, where to start…
Nowadays, the price of next-generation consoles has declined a bit, putting them from expensive to slightly expensive. The cheapest 40GB PS3, for example, can be yours after you shelled out no less than IDR 4.800.000 (436 USD), including a free game. Similarly, a 20GB Xbox 360 will cost you IDR 4.250.000 (386 USD), including a two-in-one Game DVD (and also 10 pirated games, but don’t mind that) . There is a cheaper Xbox 360 version, but it has no harddrive, so I won’t recommend it as it probably won’t offer the same playing experience. And somehow, Nintendo Wii will cost you pretty steep, too. You need to pay IDR 3.800.000 for one (345 USD).
Now, with those prices, you can get a pretty decent PC. I tinkered with this PC configurator (Indonesian, though it should) a bit and came up with this:
Athlon64 X2 5000+ Dual Core
Kingston 1Gb PC 6400
WDC 160Gb SATA-II 8Mb
Asus M2N-MX SE Plus
Acbel Pure 420watt oem
Power Logic Futura 220/250
LG 22x (box) Sata
Digital Alliance 9600GSO
Logitech KB + Ms
for a grand total of IDR 4.307.000 (391 USD). Add another hundred bucks for a windows OS, if you need it. You can also throw in some games to put the price equal to the PS3.
Okay, with those price points settled, We can see that the price difference is rather small (at least here in Indonesia). Now let’s start categorizing. I’ll list every options with their potential consumers.
First, we have the behemoth of a console, the PS3. This console is populated with all-rounder games. For example, we have GTA4, Killzone 2 (not released yet), LittleBigPlanet, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Metal Gear Solid 4, and so on. Additionally, there are some interesting PS3-exclusive games to be released (FFXIII, anyone?). So, I think it should be appropriate for those who just love MGS4 and Final Fantasy series. As for other aspects, like controller preference, are for each person to consider.
Next, the XBox 360. I actually rather reluctant to recommend it whenever my friends are asking me which console he/she should buy. That is because I heard about the Rrod problem that arised in a lot of 360s. But I think they ironed the problem already, I’m not betting on it, though. With that warning aside, I see that 360’s games somewhat resembles those of PS3’s, excluding the exclusives, so I think it depends on your game and controller preferences. If this helps, I personally prefer 360’s curvy controller, not because it was more comfortable or something, I think it is just cute 
.
Wii is an interesting one, its strong points are not graphical prettiness, it is more of how you play games on it. The Wii-mote becomes the main attraction of Wii. This is supported by the facts that Wii games are more into fun games than serious games. Yes, you can play Call of Duty in Wii, but it just won’t feel right. Therefore, I recommend Wii to those of you who are looking for a console to play with your family, even including your grandma.
Now, the one I’m using to type this, PC. This is not a gaming platform per se, but since it can play games, and there are a lot of games for this platform, it is worth mentioning. PC have the largest game library compared to any of the console I mentioned in this article, not to mention you can do other things on PC. Working? check. Multimedia Applications? check. Jukebox? check. If you need all-in one media center, PC is the best option, not to mention there are some games best played in PC. That PC specification above should handle any task you throw at it nicely, even including some heavy gaming.
Which to choose, then? Like I always said, it depends on what you need. If, for example, you already have a PC and want a console to play your games on, by all means get one of them, what you get depends on your preferences. I can only say this: If you’re buying console for yourself, get a PS3 or a 360. If you’re buying it for your family, get a Wii. If you want all of your entertainment in one box, get a PC.
