I'm going to ask any of you: Have any of you even tried to play some of the total simulator racing games recently? I've not seen much outta PCs in terms of racing games, but I have seen lots of well done physics on console racers. No matter what, a console has better control on the racers than a PC.

(X360) controller vs keyboard and mouse

Controller always has ability to have a full gas and brake control, along with pretty high control in steering

Keyboard and mouse are only able to have superior control in steering, if you don't run off the mouse pad (if you need one like my mouse), and lack severely in gas/brake control, unless you might also use a mouse to do that (but that same mouse pad problem occurs...)

Controller is better in this type of use.

console steering wheel vs PC steering wheel

Just perfectly even. Neither has the advantage here, obviously. Maybe the console will have a few more buttons, but the PC one might have the same amount depending on the console you go for (PS2's Logitech Driving Force Pro anyone?).

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While obviously PCs control using FPS games and the such, consoles very easily control the accessability in racing games and the similar. All of the things involved, only one or two games hold up to the current racers on the PC vs console: FIA GT and FIA GT2 (something like that at least) (PC) vs. Forza Motorsport, FM2 (X360), Gran Turismo 4 (PS2)

Obviously, the real battle then goes down to FIA GT2 and Forza 2, but then we get a pretty close battle, but I think FM2 does better due to both having the tuning levels of FIA GT2, but also has the ability to create your own racing cars from normal production cars and even add in stickers and vinyls to make it look like a race car (and perform like one).

I won't fight that FPS's are so much better in control with PCs, but I do have to say where my favorite games lay (racing), consoles control the markets.

They even work better when you rip them apart, drop a mod chip in and go rent the games a dump them to the built in hard drive.

Replace 'better' with 'cheaper' and I'll agree.

I wonder when there will be another "Depression" in the gaming industry like the 80's when E.T was release and administered a massive blow to the gaming industry because it sucked so badly

What are you guys talking about with consoles being shit?

They provide a consistent platform for developers so they don't have to fool around with different hardware configurations. It's also a helluva lot cheaper than PC gaming today (although the PS3's price is ♥♥♥♥♥ horrendous).

PC gaming isn't expensive unless you are insane enough to buy the best hardware. Not long ago I upgraded for $300 and it lasted me for 2 years before I gave my PC a total overhaul.

Remember, upgrading and total overhaul are two very different things.

It gets expensive with Dell or Alienware

I think what Kaboodles means is that it is cheaper for game developers.

Time = Money, and cranking a game out on a console is alot easier for devs.

For the customer, the console isnt always cheaper for a wise PC technician can avoid most financial hurdles with the PC.

i just prefer computer gaming with FPS's..... mouse and keyboard are much more fun when it comes to that. and btw i ordered Win XP yesterday(90$) if it installs when i get it im going to buy Half Life2 for a start(i already downloaded War Rock and F.E.A.R. multiplayer so im ready!)

No kidding, Alienware is the most expensive pile of crap you can buy.

A total overhaul to the current generation of consoles will set you back $250 (Wii) to $600 (60 GB PS3) and will last you at least 4 years. And really, to get the same performance as a console out of a PC you're going to have to spend a good chunk of cash.

I don't think that the PC will ever reach its end just of some consoles. There's no console out there which can keep up with a high end pc and the game crysis will just be avaliable for PC. The Pc will keep alive, thats for shure!

No, buying a console will last you for as long as the console lives and games are developed for it.
And the latter isn't true either, unless the console is very new on the market. Nowdays you can buy hardware for only a few hundred and get super-fast hardware that gives consoles a run for their money. And if you are a smart person you can even make batch files in the PC that turn off the OS GUI before the game is launched.

Money buys you performance, but so does clever thinking.

Add to that with a little work, you can make a pc emulate most other gaming platforms , and play thier games. The folks that post in the maker blogs are always working on this and Ill bet in time you are going to see after market gizmos that do this.

Emulation is a heavy process. Emulated XBox games are gonna take a toll on your hardware, then imagine 360 game emulation.

emulators dont run natively so it has to process all of the code then display all of the graphics, run sounds, etc(monster cpu eater...). 360 or PS3 emulation probably isnt possible on even the highest end of a pc yet.....

Probably? NASA's supercomputers are unlikely to keep framerate above the single digits if they tried to emulate XBox 360/PS3 games in PC supported form.

Wish I had a nasa supercomputer say goodbye to lag!

i guess i should've made my point even stronger then

It doesn't hurt to use strong words & metaphors when appropriate.

I don't see any of the 3 current gen consoles being abandoned any time soon. Sure, the PS3 is in rough waters but I don't think it's totally dead. It's in a console developer's best interest to keep its console in the market as long as possible. Those things cost a hell of a lot to develop.

Consoles are also a helluvalot easier to use than PCs. No batch files necessary. No need to install games onto your hard-drive (Although the PS3 and 360 seem to be moving towards that end)
And yes, PCs always catch up to consoles performance-wise eventually, but they're still going to cost a helluva lot more.

Emulation is illegal!

Heh the PS3 in my view is totally dead it would take a miracle to bring it back and I don't think Metal Gear Solid is that miracle

No it isn't.

apparently you have to own the console for it to not be illegal...... but theres really now way for them to find out if you have ownership of the/a actual console or not.

Emulation is not illegal, period. DOSBox is a dos emulator, and it is not illegal now is it?

You are probably confusing emulation with roms. Downloading and using roms is illegal, but the process of emulating is as far away from being illegal as it gets.

Actually, from what I read, downloading roms is legal provided you have a copy of the original game on cartridge or whatever medium the console uses. Its basically letting you have a backup copy.

I could be wrong about this though.

Yes, it's legal as long as you have a real copy of whatever it is you're emulating. If not, you have to delete it within 24 hours or something. I once downloaded a rom from that Zero Wing game (of ALL YOUR BASE fame). It didn't even last 24 hours it was so boring :/

I just seriously doubt that it would be perfectly fine and legal to create a software Xbox or PS2 on your computer, seeing as it would infringe on MS/Sony's profits.

MS and Sony can't change the law system. So if they are getting financially hurt, they can't do anything about it if the act is legal.

And why do you have to delete illegal roms within 24 hours? You expect FBI to bust up your front door if that expires?

Hah yea I'm pretty sure the FBI has better things to do then worry about people with roms