From laptop to console gaming...

So about five+ years ago I bought my first gaming laptop. This was with Alienware, before they were bought by Dell and were using some great Clevo chassis. That was when I was first introduced to gaming on a laptop and man, was I hooked. Gaming while relaxing on my couch, falling asleep in bed, or in the library when I was supposed to be studying was just awesome. I worked my off for months to buy that thing...

and then it got old. It couldn't run the latest games anymore, and neways I had just moved to university and school became more important and took more of my time. After I graduated though and got a job, I bought my next gaming laptop, a Sager NP8690 (but still a Clevo, and still the best). Thanks to Steam, I'm getting caught up on all the games I've missed and it's awesome.

But looking forward, I've realised that with these two laptops together, I've spend about $5000 (2500 each at the time of purchase, I'm Canadian so gaming laptops are generally more expensive, plus I want the best).

Realistically, even though my Sager will probably not be able to play the latest games after a couple of years, it will last for a good four+ years doing everything else - work, internet browsing, photo/video management etc...

With possibly a family on the way, I can't justify spending thousands on gaming laptops when currently a $300 xbox360 can play 99% of the games i enjoy (excluding CIV games and Total War games), especially when it seems to me that gaming is tipping ever more so to consoles rather than pcs...

So, are there any of me out there who can say that they've also made the (sad) leap from laptop gaming to consoles, and have survived?

 

Its all about game selection (as well as the fact that you need a decent monitor for a 360). If your fine giving up PC gaming then go for the 360 by all means but if you primarily play PC exclusives then you will probably regret it. Personally I went from consoles + laptop to just laptop. I just got a decent laptop that can do gaming and everything else, I have no need for a console. It is sad too miss out on the better game selection and better performance, but in the end It was worth it. Cheaper games, better controls, longer generation lifespan, portability, multi use, standardization, etc.

 

Most games seem geared towards consoles now anyways...obviously they look better on pc (but even that difference doesn't seem too great), but it seems like more games come out for console and then are 'allowed' out on pc. EA, Ubisoft, Bethesda, Activision...even indie developers (using PSN and XLBA) seem to be shifting much more to consoles...

 

Ever heard of desktop? I won't get into my feelings about FAILBox.

 

Yes I believe I have. And I don't need another computer, just a gaming machine....and I have to admit (I won't speak for everyone) a console that is five years old, still running todays games, and expected to run for at least another two-three years(I've heard new consoles won't be released until 2014), the PS3 and x360 seem like good value deals...

 

I think his point was that a gaming desktop would cost less than a gaming laptop for equal (likely better) performance.

 

Shooter, action, arcade games do well on consoles. RTS games are simply bad on console however so if you're a RTS fan, go with PC.

Other than that, i don't see why you couldn't get a console though my preference goes to the PS3 for exclusive titles and the fact that it's quiet. The new 360 is supposed to be quiet though and can't have the rrod (they removed the red leds so we'll have to find a new name for the general hardware failure problems ).

AND before i get called a PS3 or console fanboy, i own both the 360 and PS3 and like em both. Recently, i game more on my notebook and will even more when SC2 comes out.

My preference is in this order:

PC > PS3 > 360 > Wii

Bottom line is no matter which one you get notebook or console, you'll be missing on some great games so pick the one with the games you like the most.

 

How about low/mediium settings.

While it's true you might not always be able to play certain games, especially at high settings, PC's/laptops should be able to last much longer as long as you're ok with the visual trade offs.

Kinda in the same way we know the pro's and cons of choosing a laptop /desktop to do what we deem best.

Consoles OTOH lock in hardware for dev's for long periods of times. They're just forcefully doing what you could be doing yourself.

That said, I've gravitated to PS ownership for each of it's iterations because of it's 1st and 2nd party support. Typically Sony creates series that only are shown on their hardware, and they tend to be non FPS games to boot. I've found that if it's a 360 exclusive, you'll also find it for PC at the same time, if not too long after.

 

You will always need a computer or laptop. You can't switch to gaming on a console and completely remove the cost of a PC. Also, average price of games on a console are twice that of PC. Remove your ability to play games with mods, RTS's, and FPS's and you have a machine that doesn't even seem like a bargain at $250.

Don't give up on PC gaming, just build yourself a cheap gaming desktop and stop buying super premium boutique builds. Have you ever played games on Xbox Live and listened to the chat??? That right there is a deal breaker for me.

 

You shouldn't have bought a laptop for gaming if money is a problem. I recently bought a desktop for around 800 dollars. I can play every single game at max graphics. In a year or two from now, I may upgrade my graphics card for, at the most, 300 bucks, and I will be able to continue playing most games at max graphics. Now I say thats a much better deal than a gaming laptop that lasts a year then is useless for playing the latest games at max graphics.

 

I own multiple platforms (desktop/laptop/PS3/Wii/PSP/DS) for one reason, games. Is it more budget friendly to just buy a PS360 instead of forking out the bundle of cash for a top-o-line laptop every couple years, you betcha! But my 2 year old M1530 is still doing me fine, albeit at lower resolutions and settings than a newer/better machine is capable of.

If you are looking to actually replace PC gaming than probably the 360 is your best choice. Most games are built around the 360 as opposed to the PS3 which can get the occasional poor port on multiplatform titles, and general consensus is the online gaming is better (if that's important to you) but PSN just launched a similar paid service so that may change.

If you want to add a new and fantastic library of exclusives into your life, than I would suggest the PS3. And really 98% of the time multiplatform titles on PS3 are just as good as 360. Each console bares it's own pros and cons in any game, I'll let the fanboys fight that out though (to no end), lol.

I might also add you could go the desktop route, I mean if you are thinking a console than a desktop, hooked up to your TV with a 360 controller would really kick butt over a 360.

 

Well said.
It is expensive to keep up with the latest and greatest for laptops but I will say gaming is better than consoles.
I have both a PS3 and 360 and both are really great but I'm mostly use the PS3 just for BluRay's.
I don't care much for trophies or online gaming.

 

It depends on the user's habits I think. If you are the kind of guy who likes having an extensive game collection, the costs can really add up, especially with steam being extremely competitive in pricing now. My game collection isn't even that large right now (35), and if you assume that each game on the console would cost $50, that's $1750! It's also $1750 worth of non-transferable games once the new console gen comes out if it were on anything but the PS3 (since MS and nintendo hate backwards compatibility). Those 35 games cost me... I dunno, $200 via steam packs and sales? Better say $300-500 to be safe, but whatever it is it's a heck of a lot less than console games go for.

And then you need to factor in some fairly essential add-ons when on a console: a decent TV, memory cards or proprietary HDD's, controllers and controller add-ons (the Wii is infamously horrible at gouging you on this), online subscription services. Heck some of the xbox's sold make you buy the connector cords seperately.

Don't get me wrong, I like consoles for gaming with friends, but you have to be aware how much they actually cost. I think the OP is also forgetting that instead of buying a more budget focused gaming lappy (G73..?) or a desktop, he's buying a top of the line boutique model.

 

I think the key word above is collection. If you're willing to part with games and don't mind slight waits, console gaming can be just as inexpensive.

Look up a trading service, specifically Goozex.

Once you build up and maintain a request queue, you need to do little else. Doesn't work great for day and date must have games, but it allows you to play more, relativly new games, for much cheaper.

Personally, I haven't bought a PS3 game since last October (Uncharted 2 was a "must have") yet have played quite a few new games. Hell, I got a good spot in a request queue and got Red Dead Redemption 2 weeks after release date.

So there are current alternatives then waiting for the bargin bin or shelling out full price.

And since the OP stated he needs to shift his finances (and probably attention) from his hobby to his family, that might be a way to lessen his gaming costs.

 

The days of used console games are numbered. Game makers see the hemorrhage of cash from used game sales and places like Game Stop/EB Games get to cash in.

EA's Online Pass Targets Used Game Buyers | GamePolitics

 

I'm in the process of doing the opposite... I have been a console guy since Nintendo all the way up to my PS3(a lot in between even a Panasonic 3DO!). I have only played Civ on the computer. I just recently purchased an Asus G73(should be delivered tomorrow) first and foremost for the new Civilization V, and second that I am sick of console games. Do not get me wrong I love my PS3 for Sports games, but the action/adventure games are never as good as PC games. Most action games on the PS3 can be 'beat' in a day or two, which in turn leads to $60 down the drain. With my switch to the PC, I am hoping to find some deep, detailed and highly customizable games. I am looking for something I can really get into whether it being adventure, RPG, or strategy it needs a rich, interesting story and plot. Unfortunately I can't seem to find much of this on the PS3. But don't get me wrong, I love my sports games for the PS3 (NBA 2k series, MLB the Show, and Madden), but I am need of some in depth high detailed, more adult orientated games. Any ideas for my first few games for my new laptop?

By the way, good luck with the 'switch', I hope you like Sports games, because that is what the console games are great for.

 

Well I don't know about most people but I don't regularly buy $60+ games for my PS3 (or any other platform). Everything in my PS3 library was had for $40 or less. Many AAA for $20-$30 (brand new) actually. And most anything else in my entire library as well. I buy maybe 2 games/year at the full retail price. And this year I've experienced major buyer's remorse with Bioshock 2 so I am even more skeptical of launch prices now.

 

Is it more budget friendly to just buy a video card and upgrade your current desktop than forking out the bundle of cash for over-priced console games and proprietary platform fees? you betcha!

OP, console is not the answer. As others have said, if you can't afford mobile gaming, upgrade your desktop. If you can't afford an upgrade, you cannot afford a new console.

 

My first laptop (Toshiba 315CDT...not sure if you could call it a 'gaming' laptop, but that's how I primarily used it) was purchased for Navy deployments...you're not really allocated a whole lot of space for a TV-to-go-with-your-console or a monitor-to-go-with-your-desktop on a ship...it did migrate to the couch and bed when I was home for games, music and movies (VCDs from eastern Asia at the time since DVD drives were expensive)...

I have never paid over $2000 for a 'gaming' laptop, but I never buy top of the line either...I find that each laptop lasts me, on average, about five years before the newer game releases are unplayable even playing at low resolutions (eg, a few years ago, most games began requiring use of SM 3.0 which my -S119 didn't have...I suppose eventually most games will require DX11+ which my current m1710 can't do...)...

So, yes PC gaming on a laptop is more expensive for me than console gaming despite being a collector on both platforms (360 for me...Guitar Hero/Rock Band just wouldn't seem right on a PC)...but I will never part with my 'collection'...in fact, I may never give up my m1710 (until it gives up on me) due to being able to play most every game that I ever played from my C64 and NES days through Mass Effect 2 (graphics options severely scaled down there, but it still looks good on the 17" screen)...

And until the m11x, the days of couch/bed gaming were over...my m1710, even with a pad, was, ummm, uncomfortably warm...

Find a partner who enjoys your hobby as much as you do, and you'll have the money for it...if your partner prefers spending money in other ways then, yes, you'll probably have to make choices (eg, no gaming for me for the first two years of my marriage when I was enlisted in the Navy)...

If you find spending that much money on hardware (and the beauty of PC hardware is that there are few 'locks' placed on it...that's why I still hate 'I'm a Mac') has simply grown repulsive to you as you have matured, then by all means, enjoy console gaming...there's a lot of good gaming out there to be had for relatively cheap...

 

IMO, instead of a gaming laptop, why not invest in a cheap, powerful and easily scalable desktop? Best of both worlds then. You can play console exclusive games and still continue rocking on PC games.

I only own one console of the current generation, the xbox 360, bought one because of the lack of JRPGs on the PC. Even then, the JRPG library isn't as big as the collection that I have for my old PS2, sad really.Anyway, I enjoy both platforms, what I can play on the PC, I do stick to the PC, but for those exclusive ones and unoptimized PC games, Xbox 360 takes care of that.

 

I guess you missed the comment at the end of my post.

 

/shrug

I have both PS3 and a gaming laptop... I find it painful to game on a console save when playing a side-scrolling fighter like mortal kombat or playing Spongebob with little kids.

-I dislike the PS3/Xbox controllers with a passion... mouse is SO much better for shooters for me...

-I find console gaming communities even worse than the worst PC gaming communities. I prefer to know the kids I am babysitting thank you.

-Console games designed for consoles have limited hardware and thus must take shortcuts to accomplish what is easy on a PC. This will be in graphics, but also may be in game engine. Some games you shoot in the general vicinity of your enemy and you auto-hit. On some console (and even console-designed ports for PC) games, aiming is completely optional. Just fire when generally facing the opponent and you hit.

If the above is less important to you than ease-of-use and cost, then I guess a console makes sense.

Frankly, I can get used to a controller and can get used to the limitations of console hardware... the whole community thing is what just kills consoles IMHO.

 

^^ Exactly my point (in a way). It's all about the games. Shooters undoubtedly are better with KB/Mouse. But there are good examples of shooters on consoles and bad examples. Resistance and Borderlands have amazing crispness and accuracy on PS3. But the Orange Box feels like I'm on drugs that put me in another dimension 2 seconds ahead of the rest of the world which is on some other kind of drugs that make everything all wishy washy.

I also find most 3rd person action games (like AC, GTA, POP...) that come to PC are often poor ports, have other undesirable features (Read: DRM) and the controls are horrible. If you don't like these kinds of games than you will probably overlook what makes up most of the catalogue on consoles to start with so *shrugs*

I don't do much MP so the whole community thing is moot to me. But if it is important to the OP than it is something worth considering.

 

i also enjoy PC games much more than console games. i bought MW2 the week it came out and i only played it for perhaps 2 weeks. it just wasn't that fun to me, and it looked too much like cod4, which, for PC looked much better than the console version.

i just like the modding community and the PC type games that can constantly be updated with new features all the time. i enjoy having control over my settings and using ventrilo / chat boxes to talk versus the headsets. i am a "multi-tasker" gamer in that i run my games in windowed modes and i often browse the web while gaming.

i used to be strictly console back in halo 1/2 days as that is what i enjoyed the most, but now i'm 95% sticking to PC gaming as i just find it much more comfortable.

the only two games that i'll buy for console anymore are the LOZ series and the super mario series

 

I have a laptop and xbox360. Playing at 720p on a 40" screen on the couch is much more enjoyable then playing 720p on my 17" laptop screen. Also all the games I play are all better on the console (cod gow2 forza 3 and sports games like madden and fifa). However once Diablo 3 comes out, the xbox will be collecting dust.

 

Couldn't you just hook your laptop up to the TV? Most console games are NOT 720P native, on top of using much lower resolution textures, shaders, and AA.

And yes, if FPS are the bulk of the OP's gaming, a console is always a step down. But as I said, there's lots of non FPS games, many exclusive, that you just can't play anywhere else. And it seems all the big FPS tend to get a console port anyways.

Personally, I'm sick of the FPS genre anyways. We're luck to get 1-2 a year that are AAA titles in every category, and are original.

Anyways, wonder where the OP went?

 

You are aware that being superior hardware, computers can output to HDTV's right?
Most HDTV's have computer hookups and gaming laptops often have HDMI out.

If I'm at home I am using the 46" HDTV and gaming at up to 1080p with sound going through my 5.1 receiver.
(my laptop has HDMI out)

Frankly, the only time I use ONLY the 15" laptop screen for ANY purpose is when I am in a remote server room or on the road in a hotel room...

 

I have a nice desktop system for when I'm home, plus I have a G73 for when I'm NOT home. Can't exactly drag a PS3 with you into a car and play without serious setup.

I usually get an hour or 2 at the end of my shift for myself, so the G73 is great for that. Connect my inverter, plug in G73, adjust driver seat, play.

 

I could never replace my gaming laptop nor desktop for the consoles. I have both the 360 and PS3 but seldom game on them. Now of course there is games that never comes to PC like Gears of War 3 and I love the whole Gears of War series, sadly Gears of War 2 never came to the PC.

So for me consoles is a complement to gaming on my laptop or desktop. For instance Forza 3 is only on 360 and NHL is superior graphically on the consoles compared to the PC which still runs on the PS2 engine.

 

whats the point? In order to hook up my laptop to tv i have to move everything and set it all up. I dont want to set it up to my tv every time i wanna have a quick 20 min game of fifa. Also, my laptop is about a year newer than my xbox 360 and cost much much more and can not play games as good as my xbox. On a small budget, a console is a much better choice. Again, Diablo 3 is the only game I am looking forward to on the pc.

If I had a pc that could max everything out then my opinion probably would be different. It all comes down to price vs performance and currently I cant justify spending more money on a gaming pc just to play the same games that my xbox runs perfectly fine. Diablo 3 is the only pc exclusive I can think of that will actually be worth buying a new pc for.

 

I just felt it was incumbent to point that out first, since it is the better solution for OP.

Really this is the problem with the consumer today. It runs better because everyone buys into that self-fulfilling fallacy. If everyone started buying SUVs, then despite them being objectively less cost-effective and unoptimized for daily use, they would eventually appear to be more cost-effective when manufacturers change fuel, parts, tires, etc to tailor to them.

So when's it going to stop? Whose going to buy the first electric car? When are they going to get rid of the horridly expensive and outdated shuttle program? Which console gamer is going to finally wake up and realize the superior platform has been there all along?

Well, the consumer cannot be blamed for the first because electric cars are not readily available, and the US government has finally realized its err and ended the second. When will console gamers realize theirs?

 

You receiver doesn't have an HDMI port on the front, or your TV doesn't have one on the side? Wouldn't you just move your laptop somewhat close to the TV and run the A/V cable (hopefully, HDMI if your laptop is expensive, but composite if it's not) to the TV? Then you usually just hit Fn+F?. You might have to play with some nVidia/ATI settings for the external view the first time. And then, the beauty of laptop gaming: Remove the power cord and the A/V cable, and as someone mentioned, into the car it goes.

"much much" is a very relative statement as is "as good as my xbox". But I understand your point...your supporting arguments just lack some objectivity.

And a pack of playing cards is much cheaper than either a laptop or console for gaming...although I hear setting up a multiplayer game can be a bit time consuming. You have to make calls (or e-mails), someone has to bring the drinks, someone the chips and someone the dip. All very time consuming. Phase 10 almost cost me my marriage...much worse for marital bliss than my PC gaming habit.

Huh? *scratching head* (And no, please don't explain...I understand, I think, where you're coming from just not why you're coming from there...)

 

Does this really need to devolve to another PC vs Console debate? *sighs*

I am not sure console gamers need to "wake up" and migrate to the superior platform at all. As superior in raw power that PCs are there are ways in which consoles are superior, in particular convenience. And if convenience isn't important than really computers should have gone the way of the Dodo instead of embedding into every aspect of our lives.

Some people don't want to build a PC to get the best bang/buck gaming machine. They have a hard enough time mantaining the family PC as is never mind updating drivers, adding a new GPU or troubleshooting an error by reading through threads upon threads on forums. In general PCs can intimidate the less tech savvy and for good reason.

Overall, consoles have a much quicker insert disc --> play time ratio than PCs. God the first game I bought a game with GFWL (DoW 2 I think) I almost threw my PC out the window. What kind of pointless garbage is that? PC gaming superior... ya not with that tripe.

Don't get me wrong I LOVE my PCs and PC gaming. But just because it's got MO POWA, doesn't mean it's the right choice for everyone. Why is having a choice a bad thing? Isn't this what freedom is all about? McDonald's is frickin fast and easy food, doesn't mean raw veggies and a nice selection of meat cuts aren't around for those who want to cook a nice meal that is in every way superior to McD's (except in convenience).

 

my laptop in 2007 = 1500 dollars
my xbox in 2006 = 400

This laptop cant run current games unless set to all low and sub hd res. My laptop has an AVI output not hdmi. Avi doesn't transfer sound so that means i need to hook up some wireless headphones or speakers to the laptop just to get decent sound. And why would I do this when I can just push a button and start playing immediately.

I will game on pc when one of these things happen. When some good exclusives come out on pc or a gaming pc becomes comparable in price with the most recent consoles.

 

@ Op

8690 is good, I assume you got the 5870m? A lot of games I can still turn up the AA/AF on, pretty much max it out. Also Sony and Microsoft don't plan to release new consoles any time soon...and since developers make games primarily for consoles you won't be hurting for a very long time.

 

There are obvious counterpoints to each of those, but for another thread. In the context of this one, OP seems capable or willing to learn to build a PC and claims to enjoy PC gaming, so I think we can all agree building a PC is the best solution for him.

 

Counters yes, but these would all be based on preference. And anything else will probably just sound elitist. As for what's best for the OP, that's up to the OP. All we can do is offer our opinions.

 

Hi guys i have always loved pc gaming i suppose its down to the keyboard and mouse plain and simple.Every fps i have played that is ported to the pc i have enjoyed more on my laptop.Take halo 3 as great as it is on a game pad i would love to play it again with keyboard and mouse.I played halo 1 and 2 alot on my xbox360 but when i played it on pc it was so much better.

There is a gizmo "http://xim360.com/ i have had my eye on for some time which if it does what it says on the tin will save me thousands of pounds on a new gaming laptop.All the big titles ie crysis 2 gears or war 3,and halo reach i can play as if on a pc.

Sure given the money i would get an i7 sli 480m gtx laptop in a heart beat but in the current economic climate the xim360 wins hands down.

flame away.....

 

You could build a stripped-down desktop for $500 that would murder a Xbox or PS3 in terms of graphics.

Most Xbox or PS3 games run at 720p or below (1024x600 often) and that is not impressive at all. If a desktop gamer was running at 1024x600 I would say he probably has a very old or very cheap graphics card.

 

/Sigh

You are gonna do what you are gonna do... my point was that you are not making a fair comparison.

I am not sure how hard you think plugging in an HDMI cable is, but I can assure you gaming on a laptop on an HDTV is not much harder/longer than setting up/powering on a console.

For my setup, I simply set the laptop down on the shelf below the TV, plug in the HDMI cable, and the AC adapter, and grab the wireless keyboard/mouse.
Frankly, it might take almost 5 seconds longer due to plugging AC adapter/HDMI in than turning on the PS3.

 

I have made the switch but I don't consider it a "sad leap". When I was younger I was much more focused on getting paid to play video games. Laptop/PCs were the direction towards a better cheque. Plus a computer was capable of more than gaming. Now that technology is evolving and the video game industry is stressing consoles I have embraced it. I can watch movies on my xbox, play a plethora of games and even change my facebook status. It is also a more inviting experience and a possible social outlet for friends or family. With computer gaming you can chat with players via a voice protocol but playing beside someone has more benefits. I still avidly use my computers but my usage has become more professionally based.

P.S. Once in a while I do load up CS 1.6 and get banned from servers for "cheating".

 

Wrong most 360 games runs at 1280x720, there is a lot more games running at 720p than running lower resolutions. Yes the PS3 has for instance GTA IV and Red Dead Redemtpion running at 1024x600. Impressive at all, you can´t compare a PC to a console anyway.

There is impressive looking games for both PS3 and 360, Gears of War 2 and Red Dead Redemption for 360 meanwhile Killzone 2 and Uncharted 2 and God of War III for PS3. The foremost good thing about consoles is that you can just insert the DVD or BluRay and start playing without messing around with drivers etc etc and harddisk installations, sure PS3 has harddrive installations. This comes from a primary PC gamer, but some games just can´t be played in the PC, for instance the NHL and Fifa games looks far far better on the 360 and PS3 than the PC counterpart. I can´t play Gears of War 2 nor Uncharted on the PC either.

So I would advise, do not replace the laptop with a 360 instead complement like I have done. I have both PS3 and 360 along with my desktop computer and gaming laptop. Can´t be better.

 

The operative word is "fun".

If you cannot wait 5 seconds to plug in an HDMI cable I wonder if you have the energy or patience to turn on the 5.1 receiver (or change the input channel) to get better sound...
I also tend to adjust the temperature in the room, start music appropriate to the game and lighting so that my gaming experience is the best it can be for me.

For me, "fun" is the best experience I can get from a game...
Some people value "easy" over experience.
Whatever is fun for you.

 

Do you also make a sacrifice to the gods, stand on one foot, be sure to wear your blue t-shirt (the one with the whole in the crew neck seem) and await planetary alignment for optimum experience? LOL

Whether it be PC, PS3 or other; I turn it on, maybe get a drink, get comfy and go. For me fun is just fun. Whether it's 30c or 20c, light or dark, winter or summer music or none... if the game is fun to play, than I guess I am having fun?

 

the way I see it, while PC gaming can be a hassle, computers are becoming more and more part of our world, and I think people will get used to drivers and crap more as they use the PC more.

Sure console games are easy to load up and play, but IMO, PC gaming is the way to go.
With a normal PC, buying a $200 video card will let you play most if not all the new games at decent settings on at least 1280x720, which is what the PS3 and 360 give. Only people who want the max graphics on the max resolutions need to update their PCs every year. WIth a video card like ATI Radeon HD5750, I'm pretty sure it'll last you a while if you don't want the best settings.

That said, it really depends on the type of video games you like. If you like frat games like GoW or Halo, get a console.

As for me, PC gaming will always be the way to go. RTS, MMORPGs, and FPS's. Perfect for me.

 

Wow, you really seem to think plugging in an HDMI cable is difficult and tedious.

I really hope this is just you being needlessly argumentative and not a medical condition.
(having an attention span < 5 seconds is pretty severe)

 

If you think it's a hassle now, you should have been on the scene circa-1994. Console gaming was hands down easier then. Someone could probably buy (or rent from Blockbuster) a Genesis game, put the cartridge in and actually finish the game before a PC gamer could finish making his/her 3.5" boot disk with heavily customized autoexec.bat and config.sys files along with a memory manager (himem.sys) so various hardware could find a spot to reside in extended memory and still have some RAM left over for use as expanded memory by the game program...not to mention having to remember your sound card's stupid address and IRQ or re-configuring it everytime...(there's a reason that sentence was so long...)...and *shudder* don't even mention network (multiplayer) gaming...once you got two or three PCs linked on Doom, you immediately told everyone to stop messing around and not touch anything...

Very few people could get high end PC games to run...and Windows has opened it to the masses...even though the number of PC gamers has probably dramatically increased over the last decade, we now say PC gaming is failing (and it might be) despite more users than ever...

But alas, we have strayed...the original poster, I believe, just wanted some consoling (???) or reassuring words to help him cope with the demands of a household budget...be strong and work hard, my friend, and after a while, you will find yourself playing Halo 3 on a console with your son, and then Battlefield 2 on a laptop with him...your income will go up as will the demands on your time...you will find that you will be more time limited than money limited...

 

NOwadays you can easily build a gaming desktop, far more powerful than a x360 for $500. And it is also good for work, internet, etc.

 

I game on a desktop that cost me all of $368 to build (yes that includes some eBay/used parts, but it works), connected to a HDTV and using a wireless 360 controller when I don't feel like using a keyboard/mouse. I guess you could say that's the best of both worlds.

 

Man that was just half the fun, I had custom boot disk for nearly every game. I remember the days of tweaking boot disks to get the best performance out of Wing Commander. That was fun, getting all nostalgic now. XD I remember tweaking the memory manager so I could see the pilots hand... lol Even when I finally got an actually sound card installed and set it up. Remember I had to send away for the speech pack for Wing Commander. Couldn't believe it when I finally heard it I couldn't believe I ever played with beeps and honks before that. I had a sticky note with my sound card IRQ just to setup those blue and gray screen settings that look like DOS Shell before playing games like Blood and Duke Nukem 3D... Those were the days where you had to work for PC games. XD People complain about having to patch stuff now, remember when every Bethesda release was a disaster and they wouldn't patch anything, hell you had to buy the gold release to get the damn game to work. Or find some BBS hosting the fix and download over a week or two and hope it worked. XD I miss Doom/Duke Nukem/Blood LAN parties... :'(