The war is on

Gaming enthusiasts take sides on the PC vs console debate.

It's all about Ps and an X. Is it the PC, the PS3, PSP or the Xbox that rules gamers' hearts in the UAE? With the recent launch of the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles e+ thought it would be a good time to find out what comes up tops.

All gaming consoles launched in the UAE have been much appreciated.

They are fast, they are smart and they are glam. But what would you go for? Sony has come a long way since its original PlayStation and now on offer is the new Play Station 3 with a hard drive of 60GB.

Microsoft has moved up from their Xbox to the new Xbox 360 with outstanding graphics. And Nintendo, one of the founders of consoles, has broken game playing barriers with their latest, the Wii. With all that, would you still settle for the humble PC game?

At one of the dedicated computer game shops in Dubai, it seems the console war is quite evenly matched. "There is a lot of choice right now," says Karim, a shop assistant. "I guess it just depends on what the customer is going for."

Nintendo's graphics are not exactly at par when one talks shop, but its game play is known to be a lot more fun than the other consoles.

"Now the Wii is out, gaming has become a lot more fun," says Ken, a gamer. "The graphics are not very good, but you really get into the games because Nintendo like to makes games that are suitable for all ages. My whole family plays with the Wii."

With Nintendo not really in the running for serious gamers, the two in the competition are the Xbox 360 and the PS3. And Xbox 360 seems to be winning. "The PS3 is way too expensive for what it is, and the graphics are not much better than the PS2," says Jamie. "Most of the games out at the moment are available on both the Xbox 360 and the PS3, so I think I mainly look at the price and the game play, and both are better with the Xbox."

But what about those that don't play games in front of the TV and still stick to the conventional method of playing on their home PCs?

"I still love playing on my computer at home," says Ahmad. "I feel comfortable sitting in front of my monitor and I am so used to the keyboard. There is also a lot more interaction if you are connected to the Net, because you can network with people around the world."

Around Dubai you can still find plenty of network gaming joints and they still seem to bring in the gamers. "I enjoy joining network games," says Khalil. "It's cool because you get to see your friends, and you get in to teams and have competitions." But it does not seem that PC games are popular enough anymore to be in league with the big boys. The graphics for PC games are basic and unless you have a top-of- the-range PC, they can be slow and messy. "It is true that PC games are not very good quality," says Ahmad. "But you can't really compare them to console games. One thing to be compared though is the price; PC games are a lot cheaper than games for a console."

Gamers speak

Ryan
"PC games are dated now with all the technology that has come about in consoles. With the launch of gaming consoles such as the Xbox 360, PC games don't stand a chance. Their graphics lack lustre and don't have life."

Cat
"The Xbox 360 is going to be hard to beat when it comes to consoles. However, PC games are alluring because they are cheaper and the controls are not are as complex. Keyboard controls for PC games are still cool, you know."