Christmas is virtually upon us so it is a great opportunity to focus on the current generation of consoles that are out there. Even though Xbox One and PS4 have been available since November 2013 it has taken a couple of years for the older 360 and PS3 user base to emigrate to the new platforms – it always takes time. Does Nintendo provide real competition or has its might diminished since it was phased out by Wii U in Winter 2012. Maybe a switch to PC gaming is a wise choice especially due to the explosion in eSports gaming.
Let us start with Nintendo – the Wii was a massive massive success but it’s no secret that the Wii U has really struggled to replicate its success. This is due to several factors such as sticking with the name Wii and that the console simply looks like a larger Wii. Also the large game-pad seems completely at odds with the motion control which was so key to the success of the Wii, you can use it as a tablet but compared to the latest Android and iPads it’s really poor. Apart from the superb Mario Kart 8 and Zelda the console is really defunct – a cheap Wii U bundle with Mario Kart would be brilliant for Christmas and the new year but for a longer term investment – don’t bother.
The Xbox One and PS4 have really become established over the course of 2015 and there is still an age old debate over which is best. The whole ‘or platform is best’ argument has been around since the MegaDrive and SNES days and can be rather childish- it really depends on your personal preferences as a gamer. You now have to pay a subscription to play online for both consoles and some feel this is unfair but there are many who feel that this fee encourages players to take online seriously as opposed to something which is only done occasionally. This subscription for both consoles has really contributed to the notable growth of pro gaming and eSports games.
PC gaming is now a real fourth choice after Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. The PC movement has been aided by Call of Duty and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. This movement has even triggered the interest of large businesses who are not founded in gaming. Now the popularity of GSGO betting is increasing firms like Betway are now adding fuel onto the fire of the pursuit. This has increased the prize money for Pro events and this has attracted hardcore gamers who have improved their skill in traditional platforms like Playstation and XBox.
For this Christmas if you want a fantastic family game maybe go for Mario Kart 8 and the Wii U, for a longer term investment go for PS or Xbox. For the more serious gamer why not take the plunge with PC gaming and test your skills with the best. The decision is yours but time is against you!
