Crossing to the Dark Side

-or- confessions of an ex-PC gamer

Published on November 3, 2006 By BlueDev In Gaming

For years I considered myself a gamer. No, that is not quite right. I considered myself a PC gamer. An important distinction.

For while there are certainly those who game on both consoles and PCs, there is often a rift, a division between the two groups. With the current trends in consoles, I believe the division is closing some, but in the past there was a distinct separation of what type of game you played on a PC and what type you played on a console.

For many years I was firmly in the camp of those who thought the PC was just an inherently superior platform for gaming. Much of that came from the fact that the RTS was my genre of choice. But overall, I prefered PC gaming. I tried to be levelheaded enough to not get into console vs. PC threads, but I secretly cheered on those going to bat for the PC.

Then I stepped away.

Time was a factor, cost was another, but most importantly I just didn't enjoy it anymore. And it really pissed me off that my 2-3 year old hardware (that was absolutely top of the line when I purchased it) could barely manage lots of the new games.

With the gift of my 360, I was reintroduced to gaming as a hobby. But no from the other side. The Dark Side.

And I am converted. There are many reasons, and now, I finally see the appeal of console gaming. I would even go so far as to say I see the many advantages of console gaming.

-I never have to update my drivers on my 360. Every once in a while MS may send out a general update, but it is no work for me. Turn the console on, let it update, done.

-I buy the game, take it home, put it in the drive and immediately play. I don't have to sit through the installation, I don't have problems with driver/hardware conflicts. I just load and play.

-Heck, I don't even have to buy the game. I can rent it too.

-I don't have to tweak the settings to get the often thin line of graphics goodness vs. frame rate.

-It doesn't matter how old my console is, if the game is made for a 360, I can play it. Now, a year, two, even 5.

-With Xbox Live, multiplayer is a snap. Much faster, easier and cleaner than most games on a computer.

-My console cost about the same (perhaps a little more) than a top of the line video card for a PC. Just the video card.

Granted, there are many things I sacrifice too. I am well aware of those. But at this stage in my life, the advantages of console gaming far outweigh the advantages of PC gaming. Something I never thought would happen, I have crossed to the Dark Side. And I ain't looking back.

Comments (Page 1)

Ravenblack

on Nov 03, 2006

Welcome to the dark side, BlueDev. As they say, we always have more fun. I stopped being a PC gamer about two years ago and I haven't been missing much. Yeah there had been some titles that I wish I can have a gaming pc to play but the hassle isn't worth it.

I've also found that my computer doesn't go kaput as quickly as when it was used as a gaming pc.

BlueDev

on Nov 03, 2006

Thanks for the welcome Raven. I have to admit, the Dark Side is very seductive. The hassle free-ness is definately worth the sacrifices.

SanChonino

on Nov 03, 2006

You fell to the Dark Side . . . I knew it was only a matter of time. Now . . . I'm still just not a gamer at all. I used to be, but . . . oh well. Whatever.

Zoologist03

on Nov 03, 2006

*rasping wheezing* Behold, the dark side holds many pleasures.

Now where's my inhaler?

(I really don't have asthma in case anyone's wondering...it's all for show)

~Zoo

Spectarofdeath

on Nov 03, 2006

I've always been a console gamer, part of growing up in a household without a pc untill I was about 15. Then I was lucky enough to get a PC, of course being a family PC wasn't that great, so I was still heavily into consoles. But years went by, now I have my OWN PC...Got to tell you it's great, being able to play some pretty kick ass RTS and TBS games and high end games. I still am a console gamer though, I love the ease of everything. I think *WE* as gamers should all just unite and be one and overthrow the stupid ass politicians trying to get games banned. "OMFG, THOSE COLOMBINE KIDS PLAYED GTA, THAT MUST BE WHAT DROVE THEM TO DO THAT!!!!" Yep, I bet thats what the amish are saying about the milkman who went insane too.....he must have played GTA or Halo and got the idea from that....

Scott Emery

on Nov 03, 2006

Actually, on average, the Amish are praying for him.

Spectarofdeath

on Nov 03, 2006

Tell that to the politicians who (if there not already) are saying his problems are games, any kind of music other then country, or drugs.

Island Dog

on Nov 03, 2006

I'm glad you are enjoying the 360. I bought one a few months ago and I am still loving it. I also plan to buy a Wii as soon as I can get my hands on one. I was the same as I considered myself a PC gamer, but now I just opened up another door. I still enjoy playing games on the PC, I just like to use the advantages of both platforms. For instance, I always had trouble with multi-player on my PC whether it was connection issues, or any other problems. However, XBL makes multi-player fun and simple again. I have been playing BF2 on the 360 and really enjoy it. Be sure to add me to your friends list. My gamertag is the same as my user name here.

Xythe

on Nov 03, 2006

-I never have to update my drivers on my 360. Every once in a while MS may send out a general update, but it is no work for me. Turn the console on, let it update, done.

I never have to update my drivers on my PC either. I have the talent to configure my PC for what I use it for, and I'm cool. If it works, it dont need fixing.

-I buy the game, take it home, put it in the drive and immediately play. I don't have to sit through the installation, I don't have problems with driver/hardware conflicts. I just load and play.

I dont mind sitting a few mins through an installation. After all, my PC does a lot more than any console would ever dream of doing. Since I know what I'm doing with my PC, I never worry about hardware conflicts. If I did, I might consider a console.

-Heck, I don't even have to buy the game. I can rent it too.

I'm not sure where you live, but in the civilized world they rent PC games as well.

-I don't have to tweak the settings to get the often thin line of graphics goodness vs. frame rate.

Me neither. Buy good hardware, and this is a worry of the past. It comes down to how cheap one is.

-It doesn't matter how old my console is, if the game is made for a 360, I can play it. Now, a year, two, even 5.

Same with a PC game. If a game plays well on my PC now, it will play the same in 1,5,10,20 years from now on the same PC or better.

-With Xbox Live, multiplayer is a snap. Much faster, easier and cleaner than most games on a computer.

Pretty simple for me on a PC as well. I never notice all that much difference. I suppose this one comes down to skill as well.

-My console cost about the same (perhaps a little more) than a top of the line video card for a PC. Just the video card.

And you will be doing the same with your x-box in a couple of years. Except that youll be tossing your x-box vs upgrading your PC (which does a hell of a lot more than your x-box)

This goes without mentioning the things you sacrifice. It sounds like you got an x-box for a gift. Either that or you dont have the $$ to keep your PC upgraded to the level of your gaming.

Glad you found a cheaper way out...for today.

Spectarofdeath

on Nov 03, 2006

Wow....conceited much?

BlueDev

on Nov 03, 2006

My reply was too harsh, I will rescind it in an effort to keep the peace and not contribute to the current drama.

BlueDev

on Nov 03, 2006

Edited.

BlueDev

on Nov 03, 2006

For the record, I removed a post by Xythe that contained language I didn't want on my blog.

shadesofgrey

on Nov 03, 2006

Wow, Blue--it's like there's a competition here to see who can enamour themselves to the JU community the least by attacking well respected members of the community. Incredible. I'm glad you didn't put up with it.

I'd comment on the content of your article, but I'm not fluent in "gamer" and so didn't understand a word of it.

BlueDev

on Nov 03, 2006

Thanks shades. No time for the trash.

And gamer is a very geeky language. You should see the way my wife's eyes glaze over when I start speaking gamer.

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