10 reasons why gaming on Windows XP rocks

Ok, I'm a little -- maybe a whole lot -- late and I know this can be a hot debate but I've never been a big fan of consoles. I still play all my games on the PC [Not that I play that many games] and I just love it for these ten reasons that come from someone who thinks like me.


[Excerpt from Microsoft.com]

10 Caveat emptor

Many console owners drop $50 on a new video game only to find that the gameplay didn't match the hype. Sound familiar? With Windows games, thousands of free demos and shareware titles exist in cyberspace. So you can try the games before you buy the full version. There are just as many freeware games to download, too.

9 More bang for your buck

Finish your favorite game? No sweat. More and more Windows games come with tools for you to create and share your custom levels, characters, weapons, maps, or new gameplay types known as "mods" (modifications). The original game developers often make bonus levels to download, as well. And they're all free to download. With such extras, you can play your Windows games into the future without ever getting bored.

8 Log on, Gamer

Consoles now support multiplayer gaming over the Internet, but Windows gamers have been playing online for more than a decade. And you don't have to run an Ethernet cord along the living room floor to do it.

7 Grow with Windows XP

If you're a serious gamer, one of the best reasons to use a PC running Windows XP is that you can upgrade components whenever you want. Got a great deal on a new video card? Put it in. Want to upgrade your audio technology from stereo sound to 5.1 surround? It's easy. With console machines, you're stuck with what's under the hood for good.

6 Portable powerhouses

You haven't really experienced Grand Theft Auto: Vice City until you've played it while kicking back on your bed, hanging out on a park bench, or flying at 30,000 feet. Try that with a console. With laptops and Windows XP, you can play virtually anywhere. And if you really do play on the plane, you might want to play something less mature than Vice City, in case you're sitting near someone under 17.

5 Return on investment

Some consoles may tout backwards compatibility, but Windows practically invented the phrase. Dig that old, favorite game out of your desk drawer or closet, and with a PC, you can go retro. After all, you've spent your hard-earned cash on those titles. You should be able to play them whenever you like, even eight years down the road.

4 Hands-on impressions

Numerous snazzy controllers are available for your gaming PC, such as:
• Flight sticks for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004
• Wireless game pads for Madden NFL 2005
• Steering wheels for Need for Speed Underground
• Golf peripherals for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005

And thanks to Windows XP and USB ports, it's all plug and play.

3 (Spell) casting call

It's a breeze to find someone to play with online. And the step-by-step networking wizards in Windows XP make it a cinch to set up your PC for multiplayer gaming under one roof, even over wireless connections. Wireless connections let gamers connect without the cables, wires, and cords. Imagine what this will do for dorm room or neighborhood Doom 3 death matches.

2 Cut the cards

Memory cards are big business for console game accessory manufacturers. Without memory cards, players can't save their games in progress (unless they do so on the Xbox hard drive) and they can't bring them to a friend's house. With PCs, it's a no-brainer to save games in progress. Just save your game file to a writeable disk or drag and drop the file onto a tiny USB memory thumbstick, and you're good to go.

1 More games

Windows XP has a greater variety of games than its console counterparts. Sure, there are some titles offered on both platforms, but typically you'll find that the variety offered in Windows games are usually deeper than mere "twitch" games and offer more replayability. There is a greater variety of kids' games for Windows, too.

In short, you can create a gaming experience that rocks when it’s done on a computer running Windows XP.