Other than the difference in size and devices, mobile, PC, and console gaming seem to be more or less the same, right? Well, there’s actually more to it than you think.
Graphical Performance
Essentially, graphical performance is one of the most prominent differences in gaming on these platforms. For mobile phones, it is distinctly clear that the graphical input of gaming has become higher than expected, with smartphone screens getting bigger and storage spaces gradually increasing in size. Smartphones are now equipped with Double Data Rate 4 (DDR4), the fourth generation of DDR RAM, where it is normally used in laptops and desktops, as it is more power-efficient. This automatically levels up the possibilities for mobile gaming.
Now when it comes to gaming PCs, they are now able to run games at 4K resolution anywhere from 60 frames-per-second (fps) to 100 fps. With powerful CPUs and more raw power from DDR4 RAMs, graphic processors (GPU) as well as high drive storage, you can only expect PC gaming to get bigger and better.
During February 2020, there was news that Microsoft confirmed the next game console, the Xbox Series X will feature a 12 teraflops (refers to the capability of a processor to calculate one trillion floating-point operations per second) graphics processor, which is 8 times more powerful than the graphics on Xbox One’s chipset. This clearly shows that console gaming has drastically improved in graphical impact over the years.
Pricing of Devices
Pricing on smartphones and androids really differ according to brand as well as the specifics of the phone. Prices will come as low as MYR 500 to a whopping MYR 12,000 in the Malaysian digital market.
If you are more of a casual gamer and use gaming as just a pastime, an average laptop or desktop with 8 GB of RAM and HD resolution will do the trick for you. But if your competitiveness strikes and you would like to up your game, higher-end PCs with more powerful graphic cards are available, but it all comes with a price.
Basic PCs can range from MYR 1,700 to MYR 3,000, while higher-end PCs could price up to MYR 8,500.
Games consoles, on the other hand, can be inexpensive and consistent in pricing. The pricing for consoles, specifically for an XBOX ONE, in Malaysia can range from MYR 700 to MYR 2,500 in the current market.
Game Options
Games for mobile phones are now in the drive with plenty of varieties from traditional arcade-style games like Asphalt 9: Legends to the current trend of multiplayer battle games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). Mobile game pricings are also not costly as some are free of charge and only require an internal download into the phone.
With PCs and mobiles cross-playing, both PCs and mobile games have increased in variety. For instance, with a Steam account, you have access to 30,000 games and even though you will need to pay for a lot of them, there are also free games allowed for installation and downloading. And of course, there are other gaming sites like GOG Galaxy 2.0.
However, gaming options in consoles are quite limited as compared to PC and mobile games, but there are roughly 1,100 of XBOX ONE games, as well as PlayStation 4 games. The exclusivity of console games is one of its charms. Furthermore, backward compatibility, which is the ability to play old games on new consoles, is becoming more common and hence, the reason why many are still enjoying console games.
Durability and Flexibility of Devices
With mobile phones getting more advanced by the minute, phones are no doubt getting more storage capacity and compound features that will better the gaming experience at the tip of your fingers. With phones like the iPhone 11 Pro Max and the OnePlus 8 Pro, gaming experiences are amplified with bigger screens and better quality.
Detachable keyboards, mice, and joysticks are now also available to phones in order to further upgrade gaming precision. The current craze on VR is also a boost in the mobile gaming industry.
Gaming on PCs can take a toll on your laptop and desktop if the hardware is continuously being used, but with plenty of salvaged parts in the digital market, it is common to find people switching parts in and out of their laptops and desktops to further elevate their gaming performance. Other controllers like keyboards and joysticks are options for gamers to amplify the entire PC gaming experience.
Consoles are quite durable. A game console could last a decade if well maintained. However, it is common to see how fast the relevance of game consoles change when a new one enters the market.
It is no doubt that all these platforms are still relevant in today’s era, and with E-Sports getting bigger and gaining more emphasis each year, the gaming industry will continue to thrive as we know it. Each of us has our own preference in what type of gaming platform is the most comfortable but in terms of comparing which is better, it is entirely up to your own depiction.