Word from the Street: Consoles suck.

I just left a Gamestop after spending twenty minutes scanning the shelves for decent console games and came up empty-handed. The closest I could find was Tekken 6, and that was a stretch.

For some reason I really want to get a console. I don't count my Wii for reasons I've gone into in earlier posts.

I justify this by telling myself that at some point in the reasonably near future I'm going to buy an HD television and will need--I use the term rather loosely--a Blu-Ray player. Since consoles are now both Blu-Ray players AND consoles, it makes clear financial sense to buy one.

This is pretty typical of my decision making process and explains several questionable choices I've made with my life.

Nevertheless, I want one. Or, more accurately, I want to want one. And I'm trying, but I just can't come to any other conclusion than that consoles are a waste of money.

Here's my reasoning. Let's say for the sake of argument that I own an HD tv and intend to purchase Blu-Ray discs. Let's also say that the cost of either console is about $350, since both are in that neighborhood for the middle-of-the-road packages.

My options would be to hook a PC to the tv and play games (and watch movies) that way, or to buy a console. I already own a PC that I use for games. For $350, I could pick up more memory and/or a better video card. In order for a console to be worth it, it would have to offer games that I either could not play on PC or could not play as well on PC.

As it stands, there is Tekken 6, any potential Gran Turismo game that might be released, and that's about it. Maybe Red Dead Redemption, but, like most big releases these days, it'll probably be on both consoles and PC.

Games that are coming out to consoles are either better and cheaper on PC, or not worth the bother. Personal opinion, of course, but if you've got a PC you know I'm right.

And don't even get me started on the goddamned Wii...
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