So I've always been an Xbox gamer, and I was considering buying an Xbox One just because that's what I'm most comfortable with. A pathetic reason, I know, but that's the way it is. However, I'm getting pretty tired of the console wars and the lack of compatibility between gens. Also the Steam OS is sounding fairly promising. But I'm still having some reservations about going from console to PC, so if anyone would like to share their thoughts on some of my concerns I'd really appreciate it.
My concerns are:
-Price. I'm not rich, and I'd prefer something below $700. Which would be fine if I wasn't concerned about the graphic quality, but I am. Would there be any affordable gaming PCs that can still manage current-gen graphics?
-Reliability. I spent $1,500 on an Alienware gaming laptop five years ago, and all it gave me was problems. It didn't matter how often I did virus scans, how many performance programs I tried, or how clean I kept the registry. It can barely manage 20 fps on Guild Wars 2.
-Simplicity. This is my biggest gripe. I just want to play games, that's it. I don't want to agonize over graphics settings, virus scans, background programs, faulty installs, nothing. Just games. Could there be a PC that just lets me play my games without hassle? Would that be something the Steam OS can do? Or should I just stick with Xbox? (I'm waiting several months for the bugs in it to be worked out. Never buy a new console on launch day.)
Regarding the price - for 700 you can get a PC with decent hardware, but you might want to invest a bit more. Console hardware may be slower, but console optimization is better. Most games are developed for consoles first and when they are ported to PC they lose a lot of performance. So a PC that has hardware just as good as a console will perform much worse than a console.
My recommendation is a Haswell Xenon CPU with 4 cores, 8 threads and about 3ghz. Add a medium priced graphics card, 4gb of RAM, cheap motherboard, cheap hard drive etc. That shouldn't be too expensive but play all current games with good (if not extreme) quality settings.
As for reliability - don't buy gaming laptops. You need a lot of money to make that work. And even then I wouldn't recommend it.
Simplicity - you need to invest some time once to set up the PC correctly (if you don't know how there are tons of guides and youtube tutorials out there and you can always ask here), after that it is fairly simple, especially if you use Steam. It is important to use a current version of windows (7 or 8) and let it autoupdate.
What can you expect from PCs? They aren't just for gaming - chances are that you'll need a PC for education or work at some point anyway. If you do like gaming you get a wider range of games (strategy games, simulations, more independet games), better input devices (choice of gamepad, mouse + keyboard, joystick) and you'll pay less for each game and won't be forced into subscription plans for multiplayer. You also have the option of higher quality graphics and, in some cases, mods that will extend the fun you can have with games considerably.
Sense I don't pull in 10k a month to upgraded my computer to the newest and coolest hardware I tend to stick to consoles myself it's a one time payment and I am happy with it.
Thanks for the input, guys! Sounds like my biggest mistake was getting a laptop...I'm still kind of on the fence though.
There is no clearly superior platform, it depends on what you like more. If you like the exclusive titles for one of the consoles or if all your friends play on consoles then that are pretty good reasons to get one of those. If, as you mentioned earlier, ease of use is your top priority then a console will make you happier.
If you like the type of games that you can only get on PCs or if you dislike the hidden costs you get with consoles a PC might be better. PCs are also a good option if you like to tinker.
My problem is I'm a sucker for peer pressure, and hearing everyone say PC is far superior in every way admittedly ruffles my feathers. So I appreciate your broad understanding, and you hit the nail on the head with that "friends" statement, because the ultimate deciding factor for me will likely be my best friend who I play games with all the time and is planning on getting an Xbox One for simplicity's sake.
My problem is I'm a sucker for peer pressure, and hearing everyone say PC is far superior in every way admittedly ruffles my feathers. So I appreciate your broad understanding, and you hit the nail on the head with that "friends" statement, because the ultimate deciding factor for me will likely be my best friend who I play games with all the time and is planning on getting an Xbox One for simplicity's sake.
In my opinion the PS4 is a better deal as it is cheaper and seems to have slightly better hardware than the Xbox One. Not sure which console will have the better selection of exclusive titles in the long run.
Sense I don't pull in 10k a month to upgraded my computer to the newest and coolest hardware I tend to stick to consoles myself it's a one time payment and I am happy with it.
-shrug- You don't need to, computers tend to outperform consoles fairly quickly and since most games are developed for multiple platforms it's fairly easy to get a computer and have it be good for years.
Sense I don't pull in 10k a month to upgraded my computer to the newest and coolest hardware I tend to stick to consoles myself it's a one time payment and I am happy with it.
And then you realize that you have to pay a monthly fee if you want to unlock 100% of your console's potential unless you get a Wii U.
To be objective, there are pros and cons for both consoles and PCs.
PCs:
-Pros:
-Most games.
-Cheaper games (usually).
-No fee for general online play.
-Free to upgrade your software and hardware without voiding a warranty or having your machine banned by the manufacturer(s).
-Free to put whatever you want on your PC without having your machine banned by the manufacturer(s).
-Cons:
-Usually more expensive, especially if you want top-of-the-line everything in your games.
-Less intuitive to use than a console.
-No used games (though this could also be a pro, and PC gamers don't miss used games).
-Have to do maintenance on a PC (Optional, but better if you want to keep your PC free of viruses and keep your HD from fragmenting).
-Have fun with DRM (though that exists on consoles as well to a lesser degree)
-Many AAA titles are ports, and some are lazily or badly-done.
Consoles:
-Pros:
-Easier to use than a PC (even today).
-Cheaper than a good PC.
-Consoles today have as much functionality as a PC.
-Cons:
-Extra fees for services (Especially on the Xbox One. 90% of its functionality is behind a subscription paywall. Wii U is an exception).
-Little to no say over what hardware or software you can put on your PC.
-Manufacturer has a degree of control over the device post-purchase. This means corporate parenting and online functionality bans for undesirable behavior.
-Console games are generally more expensive than PC games (more of a push for AAA than indie). AAA games are generally marred by unethical publisher business practices (enjoy your retailer-exclusive DLC and online passes).
-Consoles are less powerful than PCs (even the new gen).
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