Different gaming platforms support different features, and with as many different game types as types of gamers, it’s difficult to choose an outright winner. Video games come in different categories of course, from first-person shooters to city-building simulations, but then there are also puzzle games like Candy Crush Saga and online versions of popular card games such as poker. Choosing the most entertaining gaming platform for you should also reflect your personal taste, preferences, circumstances and lifestyle.
Games consoles
The console is the piece of technology most associated with gaming, and the current brand leaders are undoubtedly Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation Four. Choosing between these two platforms is the subject of much fierce debate. In terms of specs, the PS4 has 50% more GPU compute units, giving it better parallel processing power for increased fidelity and better effects. The PS4’s simpler memory system is also more effective. The Xbox’s CPU and GPU have improved, but the PS4 is still very much in the lead. The average multi-platform games run at a resolution of 1600 x 900 on the Xbox One, compared to 1920 x 1080 on the PS4.
Gaming on your PC
The PC has made a huge comeback over the past decade in terms of gaming. A computer is certainly more expensive than a console, but you probably need a PC in your home anyway, and it’s now possible to upgrade it to play the latest games at full resolution for less money than buying a console as well. Plus PCs don’t need to be replaced with a new generation model every few years; you can generally just upgrade the software or buy extra memory.
While consoles tend to be best for shooters, action and sports games, PCs are best for strategy-based role-playing games and any multi-player online games. Other forms of gaming, such as online gambling, are also best played on a PC, where you can browse the net to find the best casino sites.
The future
Exciting developments may well be afoot to make the console vs. PC platform debate obsolete anyway. With Windows 10, Microsoft has added an Xbox app that enables you to link your PC and your Xbox together into one integrated platform, with the potential for cross-play between the two and the streaming of games from Xbox to PC or tablet, to compete with Sony’s PlayStation TV streaming.
Overall then it seems which platform you go for is a matter of personal choice. If you just want great gameplay, then the PS4 is currently the most powerful choice with the best graphics, especially for shooters and action games. The Xbox, however, is more of a multimedia device, and its increasing integration with Microsoft’s PC operating systems may make it the better choice for those who want a wider range of options. But for a genuinely wide range of choice, Caerphilly’s gamers may be best off with a gaming-optimised PC with access to an ever-increasing range of possibilities.