Computer video games vs. console video games
Computer video games have been around nearly as long as computing itself. Even in the early days of mainframes, whimsical punch-card arrangements played everything from Hangman to Checkers. The truth is that programmers and coders have long relished the chance to play with their inventions, and many of the rule-based systems we now use for software have analogs in real-world games. The legacy continued all the way up through the home computing revolution, which was driven nearly as much by these new recreations as by the promise of newfangled “word processors” and “electronic calendars.”
Some of the earliest creations remain popular to this day. One of the first stealth games, Castle Wolfenstein, continues to be remade by each new generation of coders loyal to the franchise. Other concepts like Dark Castle for the new Macintosh and Winter Olympics for the Commodore 64 proved that gaming could be dynamic, fun and outlandishly entertaining. For a time, it seemed PCs would forever dominate the landscape for video games in the home.
Then consoles came roaring back with the Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES. Instead of staying wedded to the keyboard, this innovative system introduced a joystick design that had no stick at all – an essential ancestor of the double-thumbed layouts of today. Massive hits like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros changed everything about the way gaming worked, and foretold many of the essential differences in design that continues to this day. If you’re trying to decide between PC gaming and console gaming, this history tells much of the essential story.
Today the differences have grown subtler, but they are important nonetheless. PC games, despite the fact that the hardware wasn’t necessarily designed for them, continue to outstrip consoles in terms of speed and graphics. Although the latest offerings from Sony and Microsoft give PCs a run for their money, there remains nothing quite as versatile, powerful or complete as a personal computer. Get yourself a “gaming” PC or laptop and the specs improve further, offering dedicated video memory and overclocked CPUs that leave other consumer electronics in the dust.
That doesn’t mean consoles can’t rock the numbers, however. Dedicated hardware is often designed expressly for rendering pixels and polygons, so efficient software can result in some of the most dazzling graphics available anywhere. Add in fast RAM and quick-spinning hard drives and it’s no wonder the latest HDTV consoles are often hailed as offering the first photorealistic titles in the industry. More to the point, gaming platforms are designed for gaming, meaning you get joysticks, pads and other accessories that were created in harmony with the games themselves. A more immersive experience doesn’t exist.
The last chapter has yet to be written in computer versus console, and some people believe the question will eventually be moot. As consoles grow ever more computer-like, many analysts believe all homes will eventually include convergent media hubs that are all things to all people. Until then, be sure and sample the goods to zero in on what you like the most.