Guest article by Chris Wright from Dadding on the Road. This article is part of our Gameschooling with Video Games series.
It used to be the only way to play games was in an arcade. Then home computer pioneers started programming their own games.. The 1980s saw the mainstream introduction of video game consoles. Since then, the availability of gaming devices and hardware has only grown. Today, you can boil gaming hardware down into 3 broad categories: personal computer (or PC), console, and mobile.
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PC Gaming
PC gaming is my personal favorite. There are many companies now that make affordable “out of the box” gaming PCs and gaming laptop PCs. This, and their flexibility, make PCs an excellent choice.
Pros
- PCs are usable for more than just gaming; you can do homework, watch movies, or write blogs.
- Laptops are portable and can be used in many places.
- Hundreds of thousands of titles are available online.
- There are very few compatibility issues with older titles.
Cons
- Hardware can be expensive.
- It’s often cheaper to build your own PC, but this takes special knowledge.
- Getting games online requires a lot of local storage.
- Getting games online also requires a good internet connection.
Virtual Tabletop
It is also possible to play physical board games virtually. These tabletop simulators include Board Game Arena and Roll 20, as well as several others. Roll 20 is specific to virtual Dungeons and Dragons games, while other platforms have a wide variety of board, card, and dice games.
Tabletop simulators are great for when you want to try a game before you invest, if you have limited space to store large games, or if you are playing with friends that are physically far away from you.
In addition, many physical games offer digital versions. Wingspan, Pandemic, Ticket to Ride, and Love Letter are just some examples. While these games are also available on virtual tabletops, they’re much easier to play on their dedicated digital versions. If there is a physical game you want to play, see if you can find a digital version!
Console Gaming
Console gaming requires getting a specific machine to play games. Console gaming can be split into two subcategories: handheld and home. As of writing this article, the biggest consoles on the market are the Nintendo Switch, a hybrid home/handheld console; Sony’s Playstation 5; Microsoft’s Xbox S and X series home consoles; and Valve’s Steamdeck handheld console.
Pros
- No issues with consoles not meeting the performance requirements of games.
- Some home consoles double as DVD/Blu-ray players, or can run streaming services like Hulu or Netflix.
- Titles are often contained on a disk or cartridge with no extra storage requirements.
Cons
- Limited game libraries. You can only play Xbox Games on Xbox, PlayStation on PlayStation, etc.
- New consoles come out every few years and production stops for games on older systems. There typically isn’t reverse compatibility. So new games won’t play on old systems, and old games won’t work on the new systems.
- Typically use the main TV in a home.
Mobile Gaming
Mobile gaming has really taken off in the last 5 years with the growing popularity and processing power of smartphones and tablet computers.
Pros
- Ubiquitous; almost everyone has a smartphone or tablet.
- Huge libraries of games and apps.
- Uses the phone’s cellular network, so doesn’t require Wifi.
- Some games use ‘augmented reality’ which encourages users to move around in the real world for objectives, getting more exercise.
Cons
- A lot of low-quality “ad farm” games. Meant to maximize users’ exposure to ads.
- A lot of “pay to win” games that are very hard/impossible to progress in without buying “perks.”
- Can take up a lot of internal storage space, limiting storage for other apps and pictures.
- Can use up a lot of battery.
On our bus, we have several video gaming vectors from my gaming laptop and library of computer games. The kids’ Chromebook laptop can access web-based games. We have a small library of older, handheld Nintendo DS consoles. Additionally, my wife has been learning Spanish with games on her smartphone.
Tune in next week to find out where to buy educational video games!