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Differences between XBOX 360 and PC

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Herr Rogers

Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2005
What exactly are the differences? When I think about how much people spend on computers, then I think about how much an xbox360 costs, one cannot help but feel like they get ripped off. What does a computer have that an xbox 360 doesn't?
 
360 is made as a gaming platform.
A PC is a personal computer.

And yes i think the 360 and soon the PS3 are bargins compared to a PC of similar performance, im just waiting for 2nd generation games before i buy one.
 
jenko said:
360 is made as a gaming platform.
A PC is a personal computer.

Exactly, but the 360 can do everything a computer can... Which is why you feel like you got ripped off when buying a computer.
 
Transfer dvd's,music,Pics to my Ipod, burn cd's browse this forum. Store my entire music collection, make labels, make Holiday cards,Print photos, Help my daughter do her class projects ect. ect.
 
PC's are the best platform for RTS games, and untill that changes, I will always have a top of the line PC before a Xbox 360 or a PS3...
 
There aren't enough/any good games for the 360 yet anyway. Except DOA4 :drool: which just came out. Perfect Dark and Kameo did not deliver. The sports games all disappointed and so did the racing games. COD2 was good but I could play that on PC anyway.
 
PCs are good at browsing the internet, instant messaging somebody, typing emails, typing papers or reports, image editing, fiddiling with games (moding usually), and is arguably better at playing first person shooters (mouse aiming is easier than analog stick aiming). In general, you get work done on your computer and you can play games too there.

Now, a video game console PLAYS GAMES, and maybe other things (usually, the "other" things were possible from illegally diving into the console and modifing it to do things that it was never ment to do).

So, is the PC better, or the console? Here is the catch... the PC has to be upgraded for optimum gameplay. You are not guaranteed a certain framerate or responsiveness from the game. In general, you are not guaranteed to have a fun time at all playing the game. You would if you are up to spec... perhaps... A console has guaranteed framerates and responsiveness... if you buy that game, it WILL work as you think it should. Thus, a game console is your ticket to hassle free gaming...

There is a catch though... :) Burnout Revenge is a good example of this. This game was released for PS2 and Xbox (I have the PS2 version) and it was released a bit quickly, some might say. It has some major bugs in it (your car sinking through the track into oblivion, for instance) and unlike the PC games that you know, you CANNOT patch the game. You LIVE with the bugs. This is supposed to mean that the console games will be made with a higher quality... but I usually don't see that.

Some games (God of War) shipped with GAME STOPPING bugs. In other words, this bug prevents ANYBODY from being able to finish the game. In those cases you are sometimes permitted to swap your disk for another disk with an updated game version (in God of War's case, you could).

Why buy a console? I am a fan of PC gaming but I was really frustrated at how I couldn't play many good games because they were console only releases (Burnout series, Star Ocean Till the end of Time, Destroy All Humans, Halo 2 (they didn't want another Halo on the PC... they wanted console sales)). So, therefore, it might just be best to get both and upgrade (the computer, or get newer consoles) every now and again. No matter what the choice, there is entertaining options on both platforms.
 
I think that the main differences between the two in terms of games is the amount of open endedness you can get on pc games.
you will never see a baldurs gate (aside from the hack-n-slash diablo 2 killer "dark alliance") or a red alert on a console. I remember i got ghost recon 2 the day it came out for ps2 and i was highly dissapointed..the devs wanted to "consolize" it and as a result, the game lost all of its feel from the first title which is one of the best shooters for pc imo. all the levels on a console game are very linear (i.e. go from point a to point b and shoot everyone inbetween) unlike titles like far cry where u can go anywhere u want and face obstacles many different ways

thats just my take on things

cliffnotes version: "pc games are better"
 
Whats thwe difference?

Ask yourself a simple question... Which is trying to be like the other.

Is the PC trying to be a gaming console? No

Is the Xbox attempting to be "the new computer" yes.
Obviously the PC is better otherwise the xbox wouldn't be trying to emulate it and be as useful.

Would I use an xbox to burn and download music? no I got a PC for that.

PC is still better, has more options, better support, more customization and if you shop right you can build your own for less money..

With xbox you pay out the arse for something you cant do anythign with if part of it breaks other then send it back and hope it gets fixed.

PC > console
 
Herr Rogers said:
Exactly, but the 360 can do everything a computer can... Which is why you feel like you got ripped off when buying a computer.


What? Are you joking? :eh?:
 
Herr Rogers said:
What does a computer have that an xbox 360 doesn't?


Boinc.....And folding@home :D

Enough reason to say PC is better than console.

Well...enough reason for me at least.
 
Herr Rogers said:
Exactly, but the 360 can do everything a computer can... Which is why you feel like you got ripped off when buying a computer.

No not really a 360 isnt a personal computer is it.

@dfonda Upgrade ability?
It doesnt need upgrading for another 5 years, buy then the xbox 720 will be out and probly faster and cheaper then a current high end PC 3dcard.
 
jakers315 said:
<snip>
you will never see <snip> red alert on a console.
<snip>

You just had to mention that game... It IS on the console... but... well, the graphics and gameplay leave much to be desired. (at least, I think)

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/140860.asp (Red Alert, Playstation)

A major problem for the console that has not been adequately addressed is the limitations of the controller. On the PC, you can control your game using your keyboard, mouse, joystick, gamepad, or other exotic devices (DDR pad?) and the only thing you need to make them work is a driver. On the console, you have your gamepad... and that is about it. Yes, you can get keyboards and mice as well as driving wheels and DDR pads but they only work if the game supports them!! Also, you need the ONE specific supported brand of those items.

In general, if you think you would have a better time playing a console first person shooter with a keyboard and mouse then you are almost always out of luck beacuse the game cannot possibly support that item. Playstation 2 shows this problem off really well. That console has a hard drive as an optional accessory which games can use however they want. However, because it didn't come with the console by default, VERY few games actually used the hard drive at all thus the newer slim Playstation 2 finally eliminated support for this item.

PC games expect you to want to use them with strange new controllers and with strange new control configurations. Console games expect you to be running the exact machine as it came from the factory (for the most part). Future consoles may try to blur this line and only time will tell if this is successful or not.

One last thing, mentioned because of the success of this online gaming platform. The XBox series has an online service allowing you to play games online. Unlike the Playstation 2 online service, the XBox Live service has been considered a pretty solid success. However, there is one comparison that is easily made between the XBox and PC. The PC has, for the most part, FREE online gaming while the XBox has PAY online gaming. The PC can play with other PCs on an internal network for free while the XBox (and Playstation 2) cannot really do that (correct me if I am wrong). The console market might be a bit pricier than you think...

(It should be noted that the Playstation 2 has free online gaming, but no centralized service to corridinate it nor many games that support it. Also, I'm not sure what types of online services the Playstation 3 and Nintendo Revolution will have and only time will tell there)

There is one thing I believe though... The PC market is too diverse to have limitations in the games (other than sometimes high hardware requirements). The console market is very narrow though and the games can be limited due to this. Therefore, if one console starts getting an almost monopolistic market share against the others, the games will most likely become even more limited. Hopefully, the competition and wars between the console developers shall continue.
 
I would say post a similar question on a console forum. Then compare the responses for yourself. A computer enthusiast forum you might receive bias towards a computer.
 
Enablingwolf said:
I would say post a similar question on a console forum. Then compare the responses for yourself. A computer enthusiast forum you might receive bias towards a computer.


How could there be a bias when you are discussing straight factual differences? A PC can do many things a 360 cannot, this is a fact and is not arguable.
 
Not that I know about these things, but surely the xbox 360's OS won't be able to handle different hardware?
 
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