SimHQ.com - 2008: Double Aught and Almost Naught

The console became a lot bigger here at SimHQ this past year. We're still looked upon by our community as playing children’s games, but that’s usually in ignorance. With a console we get great graphics and sounds, very little in tech issues and bugs, built-in communications, friends list, and no hassle multiplay. Sure the games still tend to be dumbed down some for the younger crowd, but the support and love from developers for their games far exceeds the PC counterpart.

For example, GRAW2 for the Xbox 360 is still the best and most played tactical shooter with 4 map packs released, making it over 50 great looking maps, tons of multiplayer modes including the much hailed cooperative play, and ease of getting in to play with friends compared to the great potential but highly neglected PC version by the developers. The console is the future, or at least near future of gaming. Trouble free gaming without the headaches of organizing game times, setting up comms, or dealing with router issues. 2009 will be even a better year for the console with what promises to be "true simulations" arriving like IL-2 Birds of Prey and Race Pro.

IL-2 Birds of Prey

Race PRO

However, while the console has lots of great features, all that comes at a cost. Console games cost 33% more than PC games and add-on map packs and weapons, cost extra. The yearly Xbox Live dues, well worth it, but didn’t we pay enough when we bought the game? Then public servers, the console has such great potential for quick and easy team multiplayer but you have a lot of idiots, kids, troublemakers (did I mention idiots?) ruining the games. They talk more crap and threaten to kick each other’s ass more than they actually game. If it wasn’t for the ability to have parties (groups of players together) that you invite from your friends list, the goofballs would make a quick death of most games. Wish there was a way to make sure your only playing with your own age group by setting options only play on servers with confirmed adults. Besides the kids always kick my ass. I can come up behind a 12 year old playing Call of Duty, empty a mag in the back of his head and miss. He then turns around and takes me out between the eyes with one shot. Then I get to hear in his little Mickey Mouse voice, “My God Magnum you suck, you're such a F’in, piece of S —, loser” then it's repeated 5 more times within one minute.

Kiddies and idiots aside, the future of the console looks bright. In the Xbox 360 we’re really pleased to see games supporting in-game screenshots and some games even provide video clip capture features. These create a want and a desire to play and share more screens and videos in forums like ours. That in return spawns interest and creates more buyers and more players for games that support it. For me, if it’s a major title or a huge multiplayer experience then the console is the way to go. No port or firewall issues. If it’s a simulation or a single player game only, then the PC version gets my money.

And the Consoles Category Winners Are...

Best Console Shooter
Gears of War 2

Best Console Shooter Add-on / Mod / Pack
Conquest for Battlefield Bad Company

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