Online Consoles Marginalizing PC Gaming?

MattW writes "The gist of this AP/Miami Herald article seems to be that consoles going online will mutate the MMORPG space. Already, there is word that PC game development is withering, even though as a preferential PC gamer I see the best games ever. Is the console destined for superiority, or will the ubiquitous need and superior user input of the PC keep it as a viable game platform?"

Re:Are there MMOGs that allow consoles AND PCs?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes there is at least one. Its called Final Fantasy XI, available on both PC and PS2

Re:Console vs. PC

[Acidic_Diarrhea]

Mouse and keyboard combinations are available for the PS2 that I know of and I believe that there are keyboards for the Gamecube.

Re:Old School

[aborchers]

OK, I'm really not trying to flamebait here, but when was the last time you played a console game? The assumption that consoles only support twitchers and FPSs is seriously flawed. There are plenty of complex strategy titles available for consoles.

Or are you talking about things like Adventure and Zork? I don't think those have been ported to the PS2. ;-)

Re:Are there MMOGs that allow consoles AND PCs?

[Maestro4k]

• I love to be able to play against my console-loving nephews with a mouse-keyboard setup. Maybe I'd finally stop giving them the boundless amusement of slapping around Uncle Jim!

Once FF XI is released here for the PS2 it's one that is playable by both PS2 and PC games. Currently it's only available for the PC since Sony is delaying the PS2 hard drive launch (required by FF XI) for some reason. The hard drive's been out in Japan for at least a year now, so I'm not sure what the issues are.

Re:I hope not ...

[adept256]

So true. My AGP card alone costs as much as an Xbox. And I don't mind paying for that, because the graphics on my PC totally cream Xbox graphics on the same games.

Excepting games ported from the xbox, which always have terrible low-res textures, but run at much crisper resolutions anyhow.

Those looking for a premium gaming experience will always choose a PC.

Re:Disposable Income?

[ajs]

Recessions are classically a gold-mine for entertainment. Just look at the boom in hollywood during the great depression.

Re:Console vs. PC

[gaijin99]

See, that was true for me until I got Alpha Centauri for Linux, and started using WineX. Now I can play several games on my Linux partition and my work is starting to suffer for it....

I still have to reboot for some games (Homeworld 2, StarTopia, Dungeon Keeper, etc) but I can play several others (StarCraft, WC3, etc) without having to reboot, its kind of a classic good news, bad news situation :)

Re:No Killer PC Apps Lately

[bigman2003]

Well, the next Starcraft will be a console game [blizzard.com].

Do you prefer watching movies on the PC too?

[Optic7]

That is the simplest answer to the "consoles/TVs have low resolution" arguments. Who prefers to watch movies on the PC? Except for RTS games, I believe resolution is a non-factor in this debate.

So, most of the same reasons that make people prefer watching movies on their TVs should apply to games: screen size, (usually) better sound system, access for more people/players, comfortable sitting/laying/standing on head/whatever positions, etc.

Add to that: convenience/ease of use (throw the CD in, hit the power button, be ready to play in 10 seconds) and less technical troubles (how about never having to call/email/look on the web for technical support?).

I used to be a PC gamer only, but now mainly prefer gaming on the console (PS2). Funny thing is that what converted me was none of the reasons above - they were all just gravy. What did it was actually giving a console a fair try with some of the best games it had to offer (at the time, Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, Silent Hill, Driver, etc). I was blown away by how fun, entertaining, cheap, and free of headaches gaming could actually be. There was simply nothing like those games on the PC. Now the only games I still play on the PC are FPS games, mainly because of control and network play - and network play on console is on its way to being (or has been already?) resolved.