Gaming - Console or a PC?

I think about what the best gaming platform is from time to time, and the conclusion I come to is that all platforms have their strengths and weaknesses. Specifically, I'm referring to gaming consoles and computers.

Console Strengths

1. Portability - it's really easy to take one over to a friend's house and plug into their TV.
2. The platform - it's a set system that developers create the game for, so they have a big advantage knowing exactly what hardware the game will be run on.
3. Simplicity - you just pop a disc in and go. With digital downloads, you can just start the game without a disc. It doesn't get any easier than that. The only hiccup is the occasional patch.
4. Cool controllers - consoles do have really cool controls, though the Xbox controller can also be used on a PC.
5. Services - consoles today are media centers as much as game consoles. Netflix and Hulu are just as at home there as Halo and Uncharted. Select a service from the screen, sign in, and you're watching shows.
6.  Popularity - there are a lot of console gamers, so it's easy to find multiplayer matches in popular games, and there is a lot of diversity.
7. Price - consoles are almost always cheaper initially than a gaming PC. Depending on the PC, even after putting a couple years of money into services, they can still be cheaper.
8. Everyone has the same hardware - everyone is more even in multiplayer matches because they are basically using the same hardware that everyone else is, even if they buy aftermarket controllers.
9. Game styles - some games are just better on console than PC. In my opinion, Diablo 3 is much more fun to play on the console than the PC. I miss the mouse when it comes time to look in the inventory, but other than that, I'd much rather play it with the gamepad.

Gaming PC Strengths

1. DIY - you can build it how you want it. You can spend $500 or $3500.
2. Windows OS - some might see this as a con, but you can do anything with it because of the OS. You're not only using the proprietary console OS and stuck with its limitations.
3. Multi tasking - you can do more than just play a game at once on the PC. You can have multiple monitors and have a video going on one while you game on the other. That's pretty cool!
4. Voice chat - you have a plethora of options for voice chat, where the consoles limit users to their service. Also the voice chat services on PC are basically all free and high quality. The voice quality on Xbox Live and the PSN don't sound as good. This of course depends on your internet connection, too.
5.  Precision - this is just my opinion, but a mouse is more precise than a joystick. For me, it's much easier to play an FPS on a PC than a console.
6. Game types - some games just can't be played on a console because of the controller limitations. For example, Starcraft II, or most any point-and-click style of game.
7. Downloadable content - with stuff like Steam and Origin around, there is practically no need at all anymore to purchase a physical game disc. I kind of miss that, really. But in reality it's a strength. While consoles allow this as well, they are just now getting up to speed with day 1 downloads for popular games. Also, console hard drive space is much more limited than a computer's, though you can upgrade a PS3 and PS4 hard drive. As far as I know the Xbox 360 and Xbox One do not have this capability.
8. Power - PCs just plain have more power, unless you build a super cheap gaming rig ($500 range). Even then, they are typically more powerful than the current gen console that's out. Keep in mind they have to power Windows and background processes as well, though.
9. Graphics - if you can build a decent PC, let's say $600+, then you will most likely be seeing better graphics than what's on a console. Also, if you're playing on a monitor instead of a TV, you'll be seeing a sharper image, too. 1080p TVs are nice, but unless you have a really high quality TV, it's not going to be as sharp as a good monitor. You will typically give up size when using a monitor vs a TV, though.

I won't really go into cons. I think it's self-evident when looking at the strengths of each what the cons of the other are.

For me, it comes down to what games you want to play and how you want to play them. Lately, I'm really leaning towards consoles more because it's great to just turn on the console and the TV and start playing. Plus if you like that relaxed environment on the couch or Lazy Boy while gaming, that's really the way to go.

However, don't discount the ability to use the PC just like a console. If you use Steam as your major download platform, it has Big Picture mode that basically makes your PC function as a game console. I've tried it on my TV and it works great. You can basically build a dedicated game console for yourself by combining it with the Steam Big Picture mode. For the most part, you won't really need to use a keyboard and mouse, though there are some instances where it is still required. You can however shut down or restart your PC from the Steam Big Picture mode, which is really cool (and do it all with a controller).

In the end, while you can build a "Steam Box" and make it very console-like, it still feels somewhat hacked together and it isn't 100% controllable with a gamepad. This takes some of the fun out of it for me, as I'd really like to ditch the keyboard and mouse all together on a living room setup. Also, ditching the kb+mouse setup throws multi-tasking out the window as well, so it all depends on why you want to build a gaming PC in the first place - just for games, or to multi-task as well.

If anyone's on the fence about what to do, hopefully seeing the strengths of each setup will help someone make a decision.

-Xplaced