PC or PS4?

[Venom 3135]

Ok, so basically I have to choose what I want for Christmas. A gaming PC or a PS4.

Normally, the choice would be very easy, but there are a couple of things that make this a hard decision to make.

1. Price. Gaming PC's are VERY expencive, but so are PS4 games.
2. Most of my friends will probably be going with a PS4
3. Persona 5. Perosna 5 (and a couple of other exclusives) are driving me towards ps4. I know Persona 5 hasn't been properly announced or anything yet, but if it does happen, I refuse to miss out on it.

As well as all of this, I spent the last generation on the PS3.

So what do you guys think?

 

[OneCatch]

I'd go with a PC for the flexibility in games and upgradeability, but then I am a PC gamer.

It's also worth noting that peripherals aside, you can get a reasonably decent PC for surprisingly cheap, especially if you self build.

That said, if you're familiar with consoles and have exclusive IPs that you want to follow, the console may be the better choice.

And if you already have a computer that you use for other stuff then the advantages of a gaming PC do start to wane. One of the main reasons I got my PC was that my laptop had died and it worked out better for me to buy a gaming PC that could fulfil both roles instead of buying a replacement computer and also a console. Plus strategy games don't come out on console.

I'd say that if you'd mostly be playing console games anyway (FPS, sports, AAA's) and already have a computer for other stuff then go for the console.
If you're also interested in PC oriented games (indie, strategy, f2p, MMO, emulating old consoles, etc), or are replacing or getting another computer anyway, go for the PC.

 

[Bertylicious]

The fact you are even asking this question confirms that you should get a ps4. PCs are a wonderful rigmarole that appeal to people who enjoy being tormented by problems.

 

[Bellvedere]

Well given that you've just listed reasons to get a PS4, it seems that you should get a PS4.

What are the reasons you are considering a gaming PC instead?

Do you plan to pick up the alternate option in the future anyway?

 

[Teoes]

The fact you are even asking this question confirms that you should get a ps4. PCs are a wonderful rigmarole that appeal to people who enjoy being tormented by problems.

..Whereas consoles come without the need to do firmware/game software updates, no installs, no DRM, never crash, never wear out and never brick?

Get a decent PC and it'll cause you no more or less problems than a console, whilst being a load more versatile to boot.

I'm a PC gamer, so I'm going to say go for the PC. It opens up the full back catalogue of PC games, so you've got decades of good games to choose from. The only thing for me that swings it in favour of the PS4 is the fact of your mates going for it.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Go with the PC. You don't have to get a PC that can match PS4 performance. There's a lot of cheap PC games that you can play, as well as great F2P games. By the time you're done with those, the PS4 will be even cheaper and it will have worthy exclusives.

 

[Venom 3135]

My reasons for PC is that I prefer playing games in general on the PC, better hardware and more games. Also, then I can have everything in one place. And unfortunately I can only have one or the other. Honestly, I think that if it wasn't for the exclusives, my mind would already be made up. So to summarize it, I'd much rather get a gaming PC but there are exclusives and friends that steer me the other way.

 

[TelHybrid]

The thing people often forget about the cost of a PC, is typically a household that indulges in games devices will have a PC, some that play games, some that don't.

If you build a PC, you can get a pretty decent spec PC for the same price as a low spec store bought pre-built PC.

People often compare the initial cost of a gaming PC against a console and are put off, forgetting that a PC is more than just a gaming platform.

For example as well as the typical stuff like browsing the internet, I use my computer for video editing, photoshop, web design (albeit at an amateur level but I'm learning), University assignments (some of which involve the aforementioned functions).

For video editing a fairly decent spec computer was kind of a need. The fact it runs games fairly well is a bonus. Sorry I went off topic there with my own experience, but my point is I justified my computer purchase with functions other than gaming. If gaming is the only thing you'd use your gaming PC for, then it's just a case of personal preference rather than function.

In regards to costs long term PC vs console, the PC will work out cheaper. Steam sales and green man gaming sales among other websites have lead to me having more games than I'll probably ever finish.

So yeah I think cost-wise a PC is a good investment as long as you build it yourself (or get a techie friend to help).

But ultimately it's your decision. I think you're already leaning more towards the PS4, and exclusives and your friends (who I'm guessing you'd play online games with) are good reasons for it. Just be careful with launch consoles. You don't want to end up with the equivalent of the Dreamcast (3 year lifespan), or the early 360 models (RROD).

 

[go-10]

your friends are going PS4 what's there to think about? GET A PS4 DUDE!
also Persona 5 will be announced eventually we all know that and if it's not a VITA exclusive it'll be a PS4 exclusive so don't think about it too much and get yourself a PS4

 

[Teoes]

My reasons for PC is that I prefer playing games in general on the PC, better hardware and more games. Also, then I can have everything in one place. And unfortunately I can only have one or the other. Honestly, I think that if it wasn't for the exclusives, my mind would already be made up. So to summarize it, I'd much rather get a gaming PC but there are exclusives and friends that steer me the other way.

I know you specifically mentioned Persona in your OP, but when you talk here about exclusives are you referring to anything in particular, or just in general? If you're not looking out for particular PS4 exclusives and are just thinking about exclusives in general, then numerically (yay potential quality over quantity!) the PC wins that fight in its sleep.

Also, Adam Jensen made a good point above. You say you can only have one or the other but what about 2/3/4+ years down the line? Consider a PC now, then a PS4 later once prices drop, launch consoles are out of the way so reliability has increased and more games are available.

 

[Caiphus]

Are your parents paying for this?

How much money do you think you can squeeze out of them, OP?

 

[Venom 3135]

My reasons for PC is that I prefer playing games in general on the PC, better hardware and more games. Also, then I can have everything in one place. And unfortunately I can only have one or the other. Honestly, I think that if it wasn't for the exclusives, my mind would already be made up. So to summarize it, I'd much rather get a gaming PC but there are exclusives and friends that steer me the other way.

I know you specifically mentioned Persona in your OP, but when you talk here about exclusives are you referring to anything in particular, or just in general? If you're not looking out for particular PS4 exclusives and are just thinking about exclusives in general, then numerically (yay potential quality over quantity!) the PC wins that fight in its sleep.

Also, Adam Jensen made a good point above. You say you can only have one or the other but what about 2/3/4+ years down the line? Consider a PC now, then a PS4 later once prices drop, launch consoles are out of the way so reliability has increased and more games are available.

More specifically it's Persona and Uncharted.

Are your parents paying for this?

How much money do you think you can squeeze out of them, OP?

Yes they are. I don't really know how much I could get, but with some luck, I might not come out too badly.

 

[Clowndoe]

I've been PC-exclusive all my life so take that for what's it's worth.

What I'm thinking is that if you go PS4 you're paying the early adopter's fee as well as taking a risk for it. If you get a PC now, you can still (I assume) get a PS4 one or two years from now, when we know if the games are good, when there are more games, when the hardware is better and possibly cheaper. Also, the games you may be excited about now will have time to receive price drops and have used markets by then.

Everything else being equal, assuming you know/are willing to learn how to put together a good PC for a good price, I'd say that has better value. And yes, I'm biased as shit. But if there are game you want to be playing with your friends, I think that trumps all.

 

[Hero of Lime]

I would go with PS4, just because I am a console gamer. I'm sure a PC would be nice to get too, it sounds like you are already leaning towards a PS4 anyway, go with what you like.

 

[Venom 3135]

I think I'm gonna go for a gaming PC and then get a PS4 later on next year when I know what I'm getting into and when Persona 5 is out.

Thanks for your help guys, It's much appreciated.

 

[Uriain]

Ok, so basically I have to choose what I want for Christmas. A gaming PC or a PS4.

Normally, the choice would be very easy, but there are a couple of things that make this a hard decision to make.

1. Price. Gaming PC's are VERY expencive, but so are PS4 games.
2. Most of my friends will probably be going with a PS4
3. Persona 5. Perosna 5 (and a couple of other exclusives) are driving me towards ps4. I know Persona 5 hasn't been properly announced or anything yet, but if it does happen, I refuse to miss out on it.

As well as all of this, I spent the last generation on the PS3.

So what do you guys think?

I would ask you these three questions (even though you seem to have made your choice already)

1) What games are you looking forward too
2) What TYPE of games do you enjoy the most
3) Do the exclusives of the Playstation brand matter to you

Once those questions were answered we could go from there.

 

[Jodah]

The fact you are even asking this question confirms that you should get a ps4. PCs are a wonderful rigmarole that appeal to people who enjoy being tormented by problems.

What problems do you speak of? The only time anything can be tricky is if I want to play games from the 90s, which you can't do at all on console. The vast majority of drivers are self updating now and unless you download terabytes of shady porn, viruses are a non-issue.

 

[Weaver]

To me this isn't really a hard problem: go with the gaming PC.

I say this due simply each systems cost. A PS4 is $400, a gaming PC will be about $700 - $1500.
If I were to get one for free, I'd obviously pick the more expensive one.
Also, persona 5 isn't a launch title. You may be able to save up the cost of a PS4 before it's launch.

The PC, on the other hand has 20ish years of amazing back catalogue for you to chew on.
Some of the greatest games of all time are available to you at rock bottom prices, if they aren't already freeware.