A very basic Xbox One vs. PC Question

sub3marathonman · Jun 14, 2016

I have tried to research this, as my children want an Xbox One, but hopefully some of the experts here will clarify. What makes the Xbox One so special vs. a PC I could build? Is it the hardware or the software? And why can't I use an Xbox Controller with a regular PC?

Mark RM · Jun 14, 2016

consoles are closed ecosystems that are very easy to manage, especially for kids. BUT you could easily build a small gaming PC that outshines a console. I think the budget build on the Toms site talks to all this.

You can connect your Xbox One Controller to a Windows PC, it's a non issue of that's what you want to do.

iXeon · Jun 14, 2016

Well, Xbox has it's own advantages in games , for example that controller you said + Xbox Kinect + exclusive games like quantum break , but other way around there's the price for games and online multiplayer games that's going to cost money. and it's 6 year short life time. but it's been made exclusively for gaming at a medium-high level , another thing is that building a PC with Xbox specs could cost a little bit more, any way I'd go with PC if i were you because there are more things you can do with a PC than just gaming.

sub3marathonman · Jun 14, 2016

Thank you both for the quick replies. So is it also possible to use the Xbox Kinect with a PC? What has to be done for the PC to use the Xbox controller and Kinect? Can drivers be downloaded somewhere?

I have such limited knowledge that I'm unsure what makes an "Xbox exclusive game" exclusive.

I just see the Xbox as Mark RM says, "closed," while I already have an "open" PC which should be able to do everything the Xbox can and more. Why do I need to buy another computer, the Xbox One, if the PC I already have is as powerful (or more, or if not can be) than the Xbox One?

iXeon · Jun 14, 2016

sub3marathonman :

What makes the Xbox exclusive is games ,some games are exclusively made for Xbox which means you cannot play them on a PC or a PS4 and some games like GTA V will take one or two years to release a PC version , that's what makes them exclusive.

about the kinect you can try this:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Connect-a-Kinect/

and yes a PC is capable of doing so much more , but as MarkRM said a game console is a lot easier to manage for kids.

Mark RM · Jun 14, 2016

We are essentially in a transition period for XBOX where they are moving to a shared platform with Windows 10 PC. Games that are XBOX only are their exclusive games and that's how it is.

Kinect for Windows PC is a thing too.

What you are addressing is a basic console vs PC discussion that has gone on ...well forever.

Personally I'm a Dad with kids. Mine started out with a Wii and then graduated to gaming PC's. I think at the time they had Core 2 Quads with 6870's and now have i5 quads with 960s (basic 1080 gaming). I don't like consoles, but with little kids it made a lot of sense because they were easy to handle and use.

Maarsch · Jun 14, 2016

There are a number of good reasons to choose a console over a PC.
The enclosed eco system
Having friends on there
Harder to f*$% up

There's also a number of poor reasons to choose a console over a PC.
One of them is branding and fashion. As a kid I rated McDonalds over actual hamburgers because of this. The McDonald hamburger is mediocre at best, but it was on TV and COOL.
I don't know if Xbone/PS4 are cool the way McD was cool to me, but there are better hamburgers and better PCs out there.
You should check with your kid whether he just saw too many xbox commercials.
Extra warning, they announced the next two consoles in this xbox one generation yesterday, so if this is a major driver, expect to get bugged to upgrade soon.

There's reasons that are switching columns.
The exclusivity is one of those. Microsoft is saying (not completely walking the walk yet) that they're implementing cross platform play. What you can play on the xbox, you can play on windows 10. This didn't use to be the case and there's still exclusives out there (although the example used earlier, quantum break did come out on W10 on the same day as xbox) but not as many.

There's also the place the system has in the house. Most PCs are in a corner somewhere, whereas a console hooks up to the TV and can generally be found in the center of the living room.
This effect can also easily be achieved with a PC, wireless controllers and a smart TV

The controller can just plug into a USB port, no worries.
The kinect . . . . I don't know.

8th gen console (xboxone and ps4) exclusive games:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_game_exclusives_(eighth_generation)
vs
complete list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Xbox_One_games

guanyu210379 · Jun 14, 2016

Consoles are easier to use for kids ( I have a gaming PC and PS4 btw.)...ummm...
I do not really think XBOX One and PS4 are really meant for kids.
Nintendo is more kids-friendly.
I would recommend getting WiiU or Wii for kids.
XBOX One, PS4 and PC are more for the older kids.

James Mason · Jun 14, 2016

guanyu210379 :

easier only because you didn't bother to teach them how. Kids are extremely smart with things that are difficult for "adults."

jaguarskx · Jun 14, 2016

An Xbox One is a closed system that, generally speaking, will not change until the next generation Xbox is released *. All games released for the Xbox One will be able to run on an Xbox One. That applies to Xbox One games released this year and any games released in 2020 (if the Xbox One is still around). Because the hardware does not change game developers cannot push the hardware requirements for an Xbox One for the sake of better eye candy.

PCs are basically open systems and new PC hardware is released every 9 months to 12 months. Because of this, big budget games developed for the PC tends to push the performance envelop. A PC game released in 2020 would generally not perform as well on a high end PC built in 2016 as compared to a high end PC built in 2020. However, you can still play a 2020 game on a PC built in 2016, but you may need to turn down some of the eye candy to get "acceptable performance".

* I generally do not follow consoles, however, I do know that Sony has decided to release a more powerful version of the PS4 called the PS4 Neo with a more powerful processor and GPU. Not sure if MS is going to do the same thing with the Xbox One. I heard there was talk about an upgraded version of the Xbox One a couple of months ago, but I do not know if it was a serious consideration.

sub3marathonman · Jun 15, 2016

jaguarskx :

iXeon :

I think between jaguarkx and the others who've replied, I'm understanding much better, and I greatly appreciate the help and patience!

Essentially it is a fixed hardware system that won't change, somewhat as a virtual machine is to software, and as such people can design for that, even though, as time goes on, there are machines with hardware that will surpass it, such as there are computers superior to the virtual machines.

The one thing that I'm a slow learner on is the actual Xbox One game vs. the same game for the computer. I do understand that they are modified for that hardware version, but essentially, could I buy an "Xbox One game" and somehow run it on a computer with the same basic hardware and using the Xbox One controller?

And conversely, I'm guessing that a computer game could not be run on the Xbox One, because the Xbox One does not have a mouse? Or could a mouse somehow be hooked up and then be able to play the computer version?

Mark RM · Jun 15, 2016

Xbox ONLY games are only for XBox, if there is a PC version you can run that on a PC and many games support the use of an XBOX controller on a PC. You can also stream a game TO your PC from your XBOX...
https://support.xbox.com/en-CA/xbox-on-windows/gaming-on-windows/how-to-use-game-streaming

and they are actively working on streaming PC TO your Xbox
http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/29/9061467/microsoft-windows-10-pc-game-streaming-to-xbox-one

PC games won't install on an XBOX, but like I said, this system is in flux and it's planned to make them into interchangeable gaming platforms so these things will be possible, they just aren't right now.

James Mason · Jun 15, 2016

the xbox game vs pc game is the same as the pc software vs Mac/Apple software.
The Xbox has it's own operating system, different from PC, so the software doesn't work unless they make a special version.
Xbox games will always have the xbox logo on them. and probably be green around the edges.

guanyu210379 · Jun 17, 2016

James Mason :

It is not about easy or hard, kids learn faster.
It is about the content.
Which one you prefer?
-A) an 8 years old playing Zelda, Mario, etc. <--Nintendo
or
-B) an 8 years old playing Witcher 3, Battlefield 4, etc. <--PS4

hang-the-9 · Jun 17, 2016

The solution is to have both, it's like picking a regular car or an SUV, there are good points to both.

If someone likes to play games that run on a console controller and are made as console first games, console is the way to go.

If they like MMORPGs like WOW or many FPS games that are PC specific like CS GO, then computer. If both, then both.

It's like asking if you should get your wife chocolates or flowers for a gift, who knows, it all depends on what she likes, both have benefits. One smells nice and won't make you fat, the other does not taste as good.

Consoles are pretty easy to deal with, no need for checking for drivers, dealing with MS messing with Windows every other week that breaks game performance, but your options for games are limited when it comes to mods and community contributions. For example you can get a computer game and then go online and find new skins for the textures, new maps, heck even a full new game more of less built on the core of the old one.

jaguarskx · Jun 17, 2016

It seems Microsoft announced two new Xbox Consoles at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) a couple of days ago. The Xbox One S was expected. The "S" stands for slim; so basically it is the same as the original Xbox One, but in a smaller case.

The other is a new XBox One that is currently being referred to as Scorpio that will be released in 2017. It will be a more powerful version of the Xbox One similar to how the PS4 Neo will be a more powerful version of the original PS4. Both consoles will be compatible with current titles released for those consoles.

The are basically being released because when the PS4 and Xbox One was announced 1080p HDTVs were pretty much standard and 4k resolution HDTVs were pretty really not that expensive. Most games released for the PS4 are rendered at 1080p, but the Xbox One has less powerful hardware so more than half the games released for the Xbox One are actually only rendered at 720p resolution, then upscaled (stretched) to be displayed on a 1080p screen.

New games to be released will basically support both the "standard" Xbox One / PS4 and also the more powerful versions of those consoles which would get better graphic quality settings and the games should be rendered at 1080p rather than upscaled from a lower resolution. I doubt either the "Scorpio" or the PS4 Neo will actually be able to render games at 4k resolution. Rather they will likely upscale 1080p to 4k on a 4k HDTV.

1080p = 1920x1080 = About 8.3 million pixels
4k = 3840x2160 = About 2.1 million pixels

Right now to play games at 4k resolution with good, but not excellent performance (40+ FPS) you basically need a nVidia GTX 1080 which is nVidia's flagship desktop GPU selling for around $699. I really doubt MS and Sony can afford to have GPU with that level of performance in a console that will probably be selling for something like $500. They would be taking too much of a loss since the consoles are sold below cost.

jsgrant31 · Jun 17, 2016

jaguarskx :

Don't mean to nitpick but just to avoid confusion these are inverted. 4k has the larger number of pixels.

sub3marathonman · Jun 30, 2016

hang-the-9 :

I really don't want both though, if I can have one that is excellent, somewhat like a Corvette or two Impalas, yes if you've got to transport 8 people but if it is only yourself, I'd have to choose the Corvette.

I have done a bit more research though and have come up with a follow-up question.

For a "PC game" version of an Xbox game, is it possible to use the Xbox Controller with the PC for that game?

(I wasn't sure if I should post a new question or just ask here. Thanks for the help.)

Mark RM · Jul 2, 2016

sub3marathonman :

Most games allow you to use alternate inputs , including but not limited to controllers, alternate game pads, specialized keyboards and things of that nature. It usually involves mapping a few functions in the game setup. However, support is by game. Most decent games support xlinput since it's already there, it's not like something they have to create from scratch.

Here's one list, if your favorite game isn't on it, check with that game's other users on a forum.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_games_with_XInput_support

sub3marathonman · Jul 4, 2016

Mark RM :

Wow, thank you Mark RM for that link! I guess I should say luckily the Xbox game they wanted wasn't on the list, so it was actually necessary to get the Xbox One. As a side benefit, it is a Blu-ray player too once we figured out to get the app!!

Maybe I should be doing more research, so please forgive if I'm turning this into a Q & A about how to use the Xbox One, but when a person purchases the CD version of the Xbox game, is it always necessary to put the CD into the Xbox One to play the game? Apparently with a downloaded version, you don't need the CD, but then if the Xbox is destroyed by lightning all your games are gone too.

Mark RM · Jul 4, 2016

Your games are tied to your account, not you machine. So if you get a new machine because of disaster, you still have your games.

PTOWN GAMER · Jul 22, 2016

Mark RM :

so?? on xbox you can still have the CD even if you xbox breaks down.
Same with the digital games on xbox, tied to ur account.

A very basic Xbox One vs. PC Question

Distinguished

Admirable

Honorable

Distinguished

Honorable

Admirable

Distinguished

Illustrious

Titan

Titan

Distinguished

Admirable

Titan

Illustrious

Titan

Titan

Honorable

Distinguished

Admirable

Distinguished

Admirable

Reputable

Share this page