The PS4 is a cheaper gaming alternative to a gaming PC? No, and here's why.

[Zoo]

With it's $400 pricetag, the upcoming sony system sounds like a great deal. You'll get your HD games and battlefield fours, for only $400. So then you wonder: why should I spend $600-800 or more on a gaming PC when I could get this new console that will last me throughout the 8th generation of games?

Well, because it isn't a good deal.

Here's some maths.

PS4 is $400.

A gaming PC (that is much more powerful) could easily be built for $800, or even $600 if you shop around.

So, then you're like, wow, I could save $200 by getting the PS4. WRONG.

The PS4 is going to have a subscription fee for playing online. Though there will be some exceptions, you can bet that the next Call of Duty and whatnot will need a PS+ membership to be worth how much they cost.

I believe that PS+ is $5 a month.

A console generation is supposed to last over 5 years, but people have been saying this one will last around ten.

But I digress.

$5 a month for 5 years equals $300.

Another thing to consider is that a PC does everything a PC can do. You can reasonably buy a PC to work on, or to use for schoolwork, or anything else besides gaming that a computer does. PCs have better indie game support (which matters immensely to me) and the games are (for the most part)  cheaper. I got the Humble Origin bundle, which included a PC exclusive (the Sims 3) as well as several high end FPS games (Battlefield 3, Medal of Honor, Crysis 2) and two Dead Space games. And Mirror's Edge. Combine that with more peripheral support, modding communities, and Steam sales, and you've got a better gaming experience for less money.

But now here comes the console fanboy's most commonly used excuse: What about the exclusive titles?

Well, yeah. You can't play the newest Halo or Uncharted game on your brand new, top of the line PC. But there are more PC exclusives than any other console, particularly if you get into indie gaming (which is well worth your time, as many of the best games that aren't first person shooters are indie.) You've got Minecraft, Terraria, Starbound (soon), all of which are PC exclusives (because console ports that are a few versions behind don't count.)

Also, certain genres such as RTS and Simulation games don't typically do well on the console market because of the control limitations.

Combine that with backwards compatibility for every PC game ever made, and emulation of most consoles two generations old or older, and you've got yourself the greatest, most affordable gaming console.

Controller support? YES!
Affordable? DEFINITELY!
Backwards compatible? 40 years!
Excusives? More than you can possibly imagine.

Is PC gaming for rich kids and people who dedicate way too much time to gaming? No. Nowadays, PC gaming can be done by anyone. It's affordable, and just as easy to get into as console gaming. Steam has big picture mode, and quite a few games have local multiplayer. Build your own console if you want to and put a PC in your living room. I appreciate consoles for what they used to be, but this generation they are just living room PCs with a dumbed down operating system and a few exclusives. Save yourself some money and buy a PC for gaming.

This opinionated rant was brought to you by Mass Effect. The only game that won't run on Windows 8. Buy your useless copy today on Origin or Steam.

[Connors]

Personally, I've been able to find enough ways to occupy my time with just my 2009 MacBook. I could care less about consoles! I still can't seem to emulate a Gamecube real well though. Good thing I have one. But yeah, now I'm older and in college and doing things; a new console really isn't worth the money or the time spent anymore. I was talking with a friend once and he was all amazed and he's saying "Woah, you're a Mac Steam gamer?" like that was so weird. But I'm actually surprised at how many Steam games are available to me.

I also have an old desktop computer running Windows 98 that the neighbors were getting rid of which is fine for retro games.


Random thought of the day: If I was stupid rich and it made less difference to me, I might get consoles, and there's one game in particular which I tried out once at a friend's house and I think it is extremely underrated: Banjo Kazooie Nuts n' Bolts. I really like physics games and the sheer amount of nonsense that's possible with custom built lego vehicles is practically irresistable to me. However, possibly the strangest thing about this game is that apparently it did not appeal to the original fan-base because it lacks the original style of exploring and platforming in the old Banjo Kazooie games. Go figure.

[Zoo]

Mac works surprisingly well for Steam gaming. I'm really surprised by the amount of indie (and even a few bigger budget titles) are available on Steam for Mac. Sure, it's not ideal, especially given the fact that none of the mid range Macs have very powerful video cards, but there's more than enough on Mac to make it a viable gaming platform.

[Gan]

Agreed