Should I Go PC or Console This Gen?

[Deep Delver]

I'm a bit torn over whether to get a new PC or a console for the 8th Generation (can we please stop calling it "next-gen" since the systems are already out?). The general opinion seems to be in favor of PCs but I'm not sure if I can justify the large investment of time and money necessary to be a "PC Gamer" or if said investment would actually be worth it. I could buy a PS4 for roughly $400 at retail, bring it home, plug it in and play it, process complete. Over its 5-8 year lifespan I will never have to upgrade its hardware or worry about whether it can run the latest game or not, sure I may not have the best possible graphics, but graphics have never been of great concern to me. A Gaming PC on the other hand will likely cost between $1500-$9000 at retail, to even come close to the price of a console requires that you scout the internet for the right deals on the right parts (and hope that none of the parts are DOA) and then assemble the machine yourself. Over the course of the same 5-8 years you'll also need to keep that hardware up-to-date, which potentially means having to buy a $70 video card (or more if you intend to future-proof) to play a $20 game. Still, the high price and maintenance required might be worth it if PC was the unequivally best way to play games. Trouble is, at least in my case, I'm not sure if that's true. As I stated above, graphics are not of prime concern to me, I also couldn't care less about mods (heresy, I know). I suppose being able to play online for free beats needing a $50 yearly Gold/PS+ subscription, but that's almost a moot point since I don't care much for online multiplayer anyway. Another sticking point would be exclusives, even Valve doesn't develop exclusiely for PCs anymore but I can think of several talented developers (Nintendo, Retro Studios, Level-5, Naughty Dog, thatgamecompany, Ready at Dawn, Mistwalker, Bungie, and From Software to name a few) that develop almost exclusively for consoles.

However, I did not come here to criticize PCs, nor do I intend to start a system war. After all, PCs must be the preferred choice for a reason, right? So tell me, would a PC really be a better choice than a console despite all the reasons I listed above? Are the higher resolutions really worth the extra price and maintenance? Am I the only person who thinks mods are overrated? Is PC gaming worth giving up the console exclusives? I suppose I should reiterate that this is not a troll thread, I'm trying to make a decision that will potentially require a large investment of time and money so I want as much information, including opinions, as I can get.

-Optional-
Not All Like That (Achievement 1 of 57)
Respond to thread without insulting the OP's intelligence or economic status.

(P.S. Not sure if this is the right place to post this, if not please let me know)

[_I_]

your prices are a little off

consoles are around $400

you can build a cheap gaming pc for $700-1000
a good gpu will be around $200-300+

if you want a cpu/gpu closer to console speeds it can be less

pc isnt just for gaming, can be use for many other things

consoles cannot be upgraded, but a good pc will last much longer

[Air]

Judging how the PS4 and Xbox One are doing this console generation, I'd suggest going mainly for PC gaming at this time.
Also, $9000 USD is more than pretty much any practical gaming PC could ever reach in cost. You can actually build a very powerful gaming PC for $2000 USD.

[SHON]

After I made the mistake of going console last gen(still have my 360), I just can't bring myself to buy another console. They will get really good games to start with, but PC's can be used to do so many more things then just gaming/streaming. You buy a console to game, you buy a PC to do everything else plus gaming.

[Beowulf]

If you go in for console, it is more expensive than PC.
PS4 = $400
PSN LIVE = $50 x6 = $300
Four Games at retail price = $200

That is already $900, you'll only need $750 for a good computer to run games for the next 3 years. Also, PC games are hella' cheap, so you drop $750 on a PC and then $150 for countless of games (More than 50+ games)

[PilotShmeat]

get an hdmi cable and a xbox one controller and play computer games on the tv. Sure, it is really easy to spend mad money on a pc, but you can build a pc that can play all the titles that will come out for the new gen consoles at equal or better settings for about $500.
buy a console for $400 and you can't upgrade and you still need a computer for work or browsing or whatever.

If you do decide to go console, make it the PS4. The xbox you have to pay for live which is $50 a year. You could save that $50 bucks a year with a pc and a new game console comes out you have $300 + operating system saved up for a new 5-600 dollar computer.

I have both a ps3 and a pc. I have no interest in getting a new console because my pc blows them both away.

[TwoTimingTim]

i have an 360 xbox one and a pc... i barely touched the one and i only play one game on 360... other than that i only use them as a chat device to talk to my friends while they are building pcs of their own... pc is life... its an honest mistake if you pass it up... sorry not sorry

[Deep Delver]

Originally posted by aospade:

If you go in for console, it is more expensive than PC.
PS4 = $400
PSN LIVE = $50 x6 = $300
Four Games at retail price = $200

That is already $900, you'll only need $750 for a good computer to run games for the next 3 years. Also, PC games are hella' cheap, so you drop $750 on a PC and then $150 for countless of games (More than 50+ games)

I don't have a LIVE subscription

I rarely buy games at retail price

PC games are only "hella cheap" if you get them on a cutthroat Steam sale. Last time I checked Watch Dogs was still $60 on Steam but I could get the console version for as low as $28 online.

[TwoTimingTim]

nevermind... if we have to justify it... you are not worthy to give money to thy lord gaben

[shiel]

It sounds like tc already has his mind made up and more or less made this thread to rant about the supposed huge costs of pc gaming.

[ArcticBlaze]

Honestly it would depend on your preference. I have a friend that has a crap pc because he is a console only gamer. I am the opposite, but I am also on my computer all day. You can get a cheap rig thats decent and buy your ps4 or whatever. Why not have your cake and eat it too. Maybe you dont even need a new pc right now? And if you must choose, there are lot of games that are on all 3 or multiple platforms. If you game with friends, which is most often used? What ever you end up choosing just have fun gaming. =)

[Deep Delver]

Originally posted by shiel:

It sounds like tc already has his mind made up and more or less made this thread to rant about the supposed huge costs of pc gaming.

I didn't make this thread to rant. People say games are cheaper on PC but I haven't seen any evidence to support that. Yes indie games are cheaper, games from a year ago are cheaper, and 10-20 year old classics are cheaper. But that's also true of consoles. If someone can offer actual evidence that games are cheaper on PC then I will gladly change my opinion. I'm not trying to bash PCs here I'm just trying to figure out how they could possibly be the be-all-and-end-all of gaming that people claim them to be.

[Rumpelcrutchskin]

$1500-9000 for gaming PC...
You can build gaming PC for $900 that runs everything maxed out on 1080p.

[Deep Delver]

Originally posted by Rumpelcrutchskin:

$1500-9000 for gaming PC...
You can build gaming PC for $900 that runs everything maxed out on 1080p.

I guess I should clarify. I said $1500-9000 AT RETAIL. I am well aware that you can build a PC for much cheaper. Though $600-750 is still more than a current-gen console.

[MrMcSwifty]

Originally posted by Lord Rogan:

I guess I should clarify. I said $1500-9000 AT RETAIL. I am well aware that you can build a PC for much cheaper. Though $600-750 is still more than a current-gen console.

If someone paid $9000 for their PC... I don't care who the manufacturer is or what the specs... they've been had. Just saying. That's an outrageous number.

There are so many ways that PC is the superior, more cost-effective choice, but it's really hard to get into that without going all Mustard Race on you. And as others have said you seem like you've pretty much already made your choice anyway so I'm not sure anyone here can sway you.

[Deep Delver]

Believe it or not I haven't made up my mind already, if I had why would I be here? I'm not trying to rail on the PC, I want to make the best choice I can when it comes to upgrading for the 8th Gen, if PC is the best choice then I'll wholeheartedly go PC, I just want to be absolutely sure that it IS the best choice.