Factions of Gaming

On my blog post a few weeks ago, someone mentioned they liked the way that I was able to simplify and explain various aspects of gaming. Basically, I made it easier to understand for someone who has never held a controller before. So I figured I would make another post like that. This time, I am going to explain the various “factions” of gaming so to speak, and why someone would or would not pick that particular aspect of gaming.

To start, there are 4 main factions of games. I am going to start by saying that just because someone aligns themselves with one faction, doesn’t mean there are no cross platform gamers. But now we go back to the topic at hand. The four big groups of gamers are Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and finally, the PC gamers. However, these are probably not the terms you have heard for each group. The Sony crowd are those who play the PlayStation consoles. The current generation are the PS4 guys. Opposed to them are the Microsoft guys, also known as the Xbox gamers. They are currently playing the Xbox One.

Of all the factions, these two are the most bitter rivals. As one comedian Christian Finnegan once said, “Xbox and PlayStation people hate each other, they are like Bloods and Crips, but there is a respect there. Just so long as you’re not one of those Wii douchebags”. I will get to the Wii later. But for the most part, that little quote is pretty accurate. The Xbox and PS guys are generally the more hardcore console gamers, and each will defend why their choice is better. And there is some truth to each side of the argument.

As far as Xbox goes, I would say this console is built more for the social gamer. While the online gaming services is more expensive, it is, to a degree, better. Because Microsoft has been charging for online play for years, they were able to establish more servers, and more reliable servers because it was directly funded by the online fee, or Xbox Live Gold. It generally runs $8 a month, or you could also do $25 for three months, or $60 for the year. Some of the more popular exclusives, such as the Halo franchise, stress the multiplayer aspect. Another fine example is Titanfall. However, there are a good number of single player exclusives as well. For example, Microsoft has exclusive rights to a fantasy role playing franchise called Fable.

PlayStation is generally played more for exclusives in many cases. While the online is not as well established or reliable as Xbox, it does still see a good number of online players. Some of the single player exclusives are games like God of War, Metal Gear Solid, and Infamous. These three franchises all cover different genres, but are all single player, and are all only available on Sony format consoles.

However, both consoles see a good number of cross console franchises. For the story driven single player experience, one incredibly popular franchise is Assassin’s Creed. If it is an online shooter you want, both Xbox and PlayStation support games like Battlefield and Call of Duty. So in the end, both consoles are actually pretty similar. Sure one boasts slightly better hardware, but in the end it really all comes down to personal preference.

So now we address the Wii comment from the stand up line. Nintendo doesn’t really try to compete with Sony and Microsoft as much. For the most part, they have been trying to do their own thing, and quite frankly, they are doing it pretty well. Because it is often more family oriented, it doesn’t attract the hardcore gamers as much as the other two main consoles. As such, it is often teased for being too childish and gimmicky. However, Nintendo has the handheld gaming market cornered. While Sony has the PlayStation Vita, its lack of content and notable titles prevents it from even coming close to the Nintendo 3DS. As far as handheld gaming goes, Nintendo is unmatched by all. Microsoft has not even attempted to venture into that market, as it would undoubtedly fail in comparison.

Last, but most certainly not least, is the PC gamer. Based on my experience, these are without a doubt the most fanatical of all the gamer types. In fact, I know several people that own several consoles, all from different companies, (PS4, Xbox One, and Pc) and claim their PC overall. Ask anyone one of them and they will say PC reigns over all others, even going to the point of claiming PC Master Race. That is the tag they proudly attach to themselves. But honestly, they make a strong argument as to their supremacy. There is actually a ton of reasons why PC is considered the best gaming medium. To start, they have much better connection for online play, and the servers are much more reliable than any console based online play. There are always online sales going on for games, and if you don’t feel like playing, well, there are ways around that too. Just as many people will download tv shows, music, and movies, there are thousands of gamers who will torrent and pirate PC games as well. The graphics are, and always will be, far FAR better than any console.

But the most fascinating thing about PC gaming is how it can keep one game relevant for years after its release. Somewhere out there in the vast expanse of the interwebs are beautiful people known as modders. These highly skilled programmers and game designers will take existing games, and build on the foundation already laid by the developers. For example, modders will take a game that has been out for a year and design a mod that ups the graphics. Or say for example they feel that a certain game could have had a better intro level. There are mods that let you play missions that were never there in the first place. Using what already exists, these magnificent strangers take these already fantastic games and make them better. Despite having come out almost 3 years ago, there are people who have still not stopped playing Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim because of all the mods that exist. These mods contain everything from bonus missions, extra maps, Spider-Man costumes, or even retextured torches. It is that fact that drives so many gamers to PC.

However, the one downside is, unlike consoles, you may have to upgrade occasionally. If you buy a PS4 or Xbox One, that console will be good for 5 years or more, and you won’t have to upgrade the internal hardware. Because computers are constantly evolving, you may have to upgrade your graphics card or processors every so often to keep up with the constantly evolving computer world. However, it is these upgrades that allow PC gaming to continually outshine console. It just requires a little more dedication.

In all, there are pros and cons to each, but it all comes down to personal preference at the end of the day. One easy way to decide is to find out what consoles your friends are most likely to play. That is how I ended up on Xbox, and I will be honest, I have yet to regret that choice. XBONE FTW.