Top Five Reasons to Invest in a Computer Over a Console

In my last article I discussed the top five reasons to invest in a gaming console instead of a computer. In this article we will play devil’s advocate, and take a look at what makes a PC a more worthwhile investment than a video game system. So without further ado, let us jump right in:

Number 5: Software Modification and Hacking
Yea, I know, WTF?!? Hacking is a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, you can really devalue a game experience by cheating. Plus you can also piss a lot of gamers off by cheating online. But on the other hand, users can employ their skills and intelligence to create customized skins, maps, and other content for popular games. You can even dig inside the gaming code and change things around to simply make a better experience for yourself. PC gaming allows you an open gate to access these things, whereas the console–while possible–is much trickier.

Number 4: Hardware Modification, Customization and Easy Repairs
When it comes to customizing your PC, a lot of gamers don’t have much of a problem. Nowadays, modifying your computer is rather simple–building one usually only takes a couple hours, and upgrading could be as simple as plugging in a card. And even if you are technologically incompetent, you could hire someone to construct or upgrade your machine for a moderate fee. Also, if your computer is suffering technical symptoms, it’s no sweat to crack that baby open and replace parts if necessary. As for consoles, you usually cannot even open them without voiding the warranty. So if yours does crap out, you probably have to send it in to the manufacturer, which could take weeks.

Number 3: Graphics and Sound
Consoles make graphical and audio leaps with each generation. But where we might see a new console every few years, computer hardware makes graphical and audio leaps almost every day. It is no stretch to say that PC graphics and sound have always been a step ahead of gaming systems. Also, as stated above, computers can be easily customized. If one were so inclined, and had adequate funding, they could upgrade their video and sound cards everyday.
Number 2: Online Play
Online play has gotten bigger and easier in console gaming, but computers still top the charts with their internet capabilities. For those of you that long to play online multiplayer, the PC might be the choice for you. Computer design these days means being connected to the internet 24/7, which makes connecting to game servers a snap. Mostly every game built for the computer has a form of online play, and if it does not, then it usually gets passed over. Meanwhile, for most internet games you can choose your own server and game types or modes; for many console games, matches are made automatically, without much chance to play customized games.

Number 1: Functionality
Let’s face it: in our current time, owning a PC (or a Mac) is necessary. We rely on computers to do a lot of work for us. Most people use the Internet everyday for research, reading, writing, buying, selling, and more. Investing in a good computer rewards you more than just the ability to play games, but functionality on the basic everyday level. Consoles are built pretty much for one reason only–to play games. And while they succeed at that level, there’s not much more they offer.

So there you have it: five reasons to invest in a computer. Remember, this list, along with my other one, is really meant to help you see the biggest selling points of each gaming machine. As I said before, there are PC advocates, there are console crusaders and there people that just want to game. What camp do you belong to?