As long as there have been consoles to play games on, there have been PCs right on their heels trying to do the exact same thing, if not do it better. It has been a war of sorts, looking over the expanse to see what next innovation the other would bring. And then who could do it better.

And what about those games you say? Why should I limit myself to console or PC when I may miss out on playing my favorite game? Don't fret my friend. These days, the line between consoles and PCs is blurring. Consoles and PCs not only share the same games but they mirror each other right down to the code it seems; released at the same time and sometimes with no way to tell on first look if any one screenshot is captured from the console or PC version of the game. Its getting so that a person can make a single choice, console or PC, and walk away a winner.

Following in this vein, there are many games released on the console that you'll never see on your computer. And vice versa. Think of all the games you'll be missing out on by choosing one over the other. You just might be better off finding a proper balance of console and PC. Because if you're going to be a gamer of any considerable salt you have to vary your gaming experience as much as you can.

And something that both console and PC can do, though some may argue the point (I myself have experienced this on both console and PC) is that fine moment at 5am when you've had your head in your favorite game all night and just kind of wonder, "Wow, is it morning already?". It doesn't matter what your creature comfort or what kind of seating arrangement you possess, it can and will happen, if the interest is there.

Just how productive is one versus the other you might ask? Some prefer a balance, choosing to leave a computer to do work and be the source of information while the console is the entertainment in the household. The computer can do both, and while a little more expensive to maintain than consoles (never mind how expensive controllers and memory cards can get, something PC users will never need) can be money well spent as those upgrades assist not only your gaming savvy but your ability to get your work done quickly and efficiently.

While we're on the subject of hardware, PCs with all the latest lil' gadgets are nice if you have them, but they can cost a pretty penny. If you happen to fall into these things or have willing parental units then its not a real issue, but for most given the choice of grabbing a PC having even "average" hardware or picking up the latest and greatest console, it's a no brainer. Then again, not all of us are starting fresh with the computer gaming are we? Some of us are constantly working to upgrade and fiddle with the hardware and latest drivers for all of that precious silicon. So let's take a look. So you want to keep up with consoles rather than the hardware curve of a PC. How many console systems have been released in the last five years? Sega released the Dreamcast, Nintendo the GameBoy Color, GameBoy Advance and Gamecube, Sony has released the PS2, the PSOne, the PSP and PSX forthcoming along with the eventual entry of the PS3, Microsoft has released the Xbox and the forthcoming Xbox 2. Let's not forget the Nokia N-Gage of course. Sounds like if you want to be a dedicated console gamer, there's much to look forward to as far as what you're going to buy and when you're going to buy it, especially with the newer systems running $400 US to start I'm sure, once you're done paying for various attachments like controllers, memory cards and DVD remotes (something Xbox needs to even run a DVD in its console, despite its claims to play DVD's "out of the box").

Something else that consoles and PCs are bringing to the game these days is DVD content. Both the PS2 and the XBOX come with the ability to playback your favourite DVDs. And with the introduction of the PSX (not to be confused with the old moniker for the PS1) your PS2 is suddenly turned into a TiVo with DVD burning capabilities out of the box. All of these functions are of course available now on your PC, for about the price of a new PSX. And you don't really lose anything except maybe the size of your TV compared to your monitor (unless you're like me and have to have a 21" CRT just so your monitor can be bigger than your TV).

One thing that can give PCs an advantage over the console versions of their games though is the hardware you use to play the PC versions. If you have the muscle, you can make a PC version of a game look many times more detailed than any console version since the console is constantly limited by the hardware its been built with. Then again, having that extra power on the PC can make for some odd visuals in certain games, the possibility for an exaggerated difference between the drawn horizon and visual range of active objects in GTA3 being a prime example of this.

PC users on the other hand, will go through at least three different computers over the same time period. Having bought a brand new computer in '99, '01 and '03 myself, I know these growing pains. Put into all that the video card upgrades, the new bigger and faster memory, the various different sound cards you buy and the speakers you get for those sound cards to make your games sound just that good, the line between who's forking out more money becomes seriously blurred. That's of course if you're serious about gaming. And if you are, you'll be buying up all the good stuff for your system, or you'll be buying all the good consoles that come out, because there'll always be console specific exclusives (the recent release of Soul Calibur 2 on the three major consoles one prime example of this) that will have you wondering why you chose that Xbox over that PS2. Considering how much money you'd be spending if you had a PC instead of the consoles, buying up all the next generation consoles might not be a bad idea.

These days with the introduction of Internet access first realized, if far too early, by the DreamCast, both console and PC gamers can now interact with others across vast areas. And even now on the Xbox with the addition of the hard drive, players can receive updates and custom maps and add-ons to their favorite games. Do you have a USB keyboard for your computer? Good news - you can take the same keyboard and plug it into your PS2 and chat online with your gaming buddies just as easily as on a PC. In the future I'm sure there will be level builders and software development tools to help people build and share their work, just like they do on the Internet now via PC. Because of the need to make the world a "global village," there is nothing but a bright future for the interconnectivity of consoles, with PCs being the guinea pig for these endeavors. But as with all games, quality control is only as good as the company releasing the product. While console system companies have broad reach with how games work before they are released, there will always be games that are released incomplete (need I mention Grand Theft Auto 3?), just as with PC games though the standards for console games are much higher because of this broad reach.

About the only advantage that PCs can offer these days over the console is the ability to look up anything you need related to a game and have it at your fingertips instantly. Consoles, while able to go online to play games, usually go online to do only that. Access the GameFAQs or GameSpot websites (among others which I won't bother giving lip service to here (besides The New Gamer of course *wink*) and you have access to pages upon pages of info about your favorite games including walk-throughs, strategy guides, cheat codes and message boards. Sure you can walk into any video store and buy the guide for your game that would mirror any guide you might see online, but only online will it be available for free. Something that, if one wants to argue money, is what things really come down to. The ability to get the most out of your game is usually what drives a person to continue playing it for more than a three or seven day rental.

So I leave it to you, better armed and equipped to decide. This is about what type of gaming platform works best for you. And as we all know, only you can make that choice. So what's it going to be? Are you a console gamer or are you a PC gamer? Will a console really bring you everything you need in the way of being your one form or entertainment or will you need a PC, which while able to provide that entertainment can also make you more productive and knowledgeable than any console might provide. Can you truly be just one or the other, or will you be missing out on something if you do? I'm pretty sure I'll be a blended Frappuccino mocha type of gamer, picking and choosing from one or the other what types of things I want to do and want to play. My mid-range PC and collection of seven different consoles are a fine testament to my decision. Right now, I'm going to grab my keyboard and go play some Madden on the PS2. Sometimes you need to experience a little bit of both worlds to make you cherish what the other lacks.