Games have come a long way
The first computer games could only harness the power of the simple machines they were played on. They usually resorted to text-based games, or used simple characters based on the shapes of the letters on the screen. Color and stereo sound added some depth to these early games, but they still remained quite primitive.
But games have now become a far more important factor in computer design. Some even suggest that video games themselves are responsible for much of the technological progress made in the last 15 years. This is not surprising, really, since many of the developments that arise directly improve the performance of these games. Much like the Chicken and Egg, new games then come along to push this new hardware to the edge. As new technology arrives to make these games run better, new games again come along and raise the bar. With this, we have what known as an upgrade cycle.
Game consoles, on the other hand, are devices that are essentially single-purpose computers that display images on a TV. Early consoles rapidly improved the graphics of electronic games. Magnavox started it all with the Odyssey. Atari and ColecoVision then ruled the early 80’s, while Nintendo and Sega dominated the late 80’s and most of the 90’s. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s Playstation 3
represent the current pinnacle of console gaming.
But consoles have four-to-five-year development times, while computers often get new performance advances twice a year. As a result, computers were catching up in terms of power and graphics. As the different consoles developed, many of the technologies found inside them made their way into the home computer.
The 1980’s classic Commodore 64 was a great example a computer the blended work and play. Other bands and types of computers also competed in the market, but most computers required games made just for them.
In the early 90’s though, the Windows-based PC became the dominant computer type. Microsoft developed its Direct X platform in 1995. It allows software writers to create games that work with Windows. Games made for Direct X will usually work on any computer with Direct X installed. With game makers now able to just write games for one type of platform, the game market exploded.
With the creation of three-dimensional (3D) graphics accelerator cards, games on the PC could finally look as good as on the consoles, if not better. PCs have the advantage of being upgraded easily. While a lot cheaper to buy, consoles are essentially a matter of ‘What you buy is what you get’. The console you buy cannot be upgraded in the same manner like a computer. With a PC, when a new video card comes out, you can often just replace the old card and proceed to play that new high-end game. The technology in the Xbox 360 is essentially similar to a PC. It has an AMD processor
, and an ATI video
chip similar to those found in PCs.
The experience between consoles and PCs is different, though. You control most PC games with a keyboard and mouse. While flexible and accurate, some prefer the use of a control pad like those found in consoles. PC games are usually played on a computer monitor. Yes, 21″ is a large size for a PC, but consoles can be displayed on large widescreen HDTVs. Some computers can also display games onto an HDTV, but these are not as common, and usually they are very expensive.
For many, there is no other choice … if you have the means, simply buy them both and enjoy the best of both worlds.