These qualities are the embodiment of the console experience – shallow and simplified. Consoles are just PCs that are limited to basic functionalities, like a Tamagotchi or travel-sized Etch-a-Sketch. These qualities are present in the cheaply mass-produced and quickly-outdated hardware, the control mechanisms of the gamepad versus a mouse and keyboard, and the unstoppable glut of cookie cutter games that have no problem passing Microsoft’s world renowned high watermark for consistent quality.

With few exceptions, console games are consolation games – games for the lowest common denominator who like pressing the win button. PC gaming has as low a price entry point as the cheapest console and can scale as high as you wish it to. Backward compatibility on PC is unrivalled by consoles. Bar none, the PC has always been the best platform for games, and there’s hundreds of millions of them in people’s homes all over the world. That’s why it’s been consistently successful for 3 decades.

If you want to settle for the Swansons microwave dinner of gaming then Xbox is absolutely the right way to go. When you are ready for gaming to become a hobby instead of a distraction, when you want to play the best versions of the best games, that’s when you upgrade to PC. If you like gaming you play on Xbox, but if you love gaming you play on PC.

P.s., the Unreal 3 engine makes everything look like it’s covered in shiny goo.

First of all: the characters to whom you refer in GoW are “wretches”, not “wrenches”. I’ve no idea why they’re called such, but it isn’t some cheap attempt to stick to a metaphor.

In regards to the rest of your rant: I grew up with classic EM games as well, sir. I know what a good gaming experience is, and a good gaming experience is NOT having to shell out $1200 – $2000 over the course of a couple of years just to keep a system up to spec. Console games have to work with the system, especially in XBox’s case, where Microsoft strictly watches over frame rates and won’t license a stuttery game. As a result, the games pull back on the graphics a little.

Usually.

Epic’s games (and most games I see based on the Unreal Engine, such as Mass Effect for example) are beyond amazing in terms of visuals. Even Xbox’s glorychild, Halo, looks sad in comparison to the crisp textures, excellent animations, and smooth play.

I could go on and on about how obviously biased you are against the 360 and everything that stands for it, but there’s no point. You sir, are a douchebag. Clam up.

….That felt good.