Poll: What primarily influences you to buy a NEW console?

[aozgolo]

So with the impending new generation of consoles arriving, and in light of a multitude of threads discussing everything from game exclusivity, customer support, and even backwards compatibility (self pat on the back) I thought it would be interesting to discuss not so much what (if any) console you will buy but what is the primary reason that you choose a particular console over another. A nice little poll is included for your convenience.

Ever since the 5th Generation of consoles we've had at least 3 major contenders in the console race (Though the Saturn arguably stumbled right from the starting block). Each time, console gamers ended up needing to make a choice between them, sometimes an easy choice, sometimes it took a lot of research and comparison to come to a final decision, but what is it that you feel has been the one key influence that has impacted your buying choices the MOST?

 

[MysticSlayer]

Hardware hardly influences my decision, as the quality of the games is not dictated by the hardware, and game quality is more important than being able to take claim to having the most powerful system on the market.

Price and backwards compatibility are sort of important. I'm not going to buy something I can't afford or if I can get a comparable or better product for cheaper, and backwards compatibility is a nice add-on so I don't have to keep changing which console is connected to the TV. However, it still isn't that important overall.

What is important are the exclusives. Why would I buy one console over the other if they have the exact same games or if I only intend to play games equal between the two consoles? It is essentially brand loyalty and a popularity contest at that point, and that has to be the most pointless reason I can think of to buy a console (well, outside of being a paperweight and fuel for a fire). However, if a console can get good exclusives that I am interested in, then I'll buy the console to play those games, and the multi-platform games are just extra.

 

[Able Seacat]

Price and games is what it comes down to for me. I won't be moving to next gen for at least a year after launch. So my decision will be made on price, other peoples reviews and most importantly what games are available.

 

[Launcelot111]

Games I like. End of discussion. Any online features are a moot point since I don't have good enough internet for that, and price is less important because I usually trail console releases by three or four years.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Convenience of usage and (theoretically) lower cost of entry.

If I'm using a computer that is specialized to play games (and media, to a lesser extent), I'm had better put up with less bullshit and work than doing it on, say, my home computer (or laptop).

Game availability is equally important; notice that I didn't say "exclusives", but what it can play altogether.
If the same game can be played on another system, it doesn't matter unless that version is better for some reason.

Thus, I skipped the last generation, save for the handhelds since I wanted something I could use on the go but had more/better controls than smartphone touch screens. Sadly, my PSP and 3DS have been woefully under-utilized.

 

[krazykidd]

The games . You know when they stop making games for last gen consoles and you want a new game to play.

Silly question is silly.

 

[Miss G.]

Games I like (JRPGs), which means 'exclusives' in the sense that they're basically only on consoles produced by Japanese companies, meaning brand loyalty to Sony and Nintendo, the latter of which has backwards compatibility which means I can upgrade right away and still play any of my older games before I trade them in for new ones.

 

[Ghostface2206]

I look at my launch day Wii U, then I look at the 3 games I own for it (not counting Wii games and downloaded games) and wonder "Why...?". If I remember correctly, I wanted to play all the Nintendo games I might want for the next 6 years or so, in HD. Also, before the launch, in the midst of hype, it really did seem like 3rd party devs loved the system, so I assumed that I could finally have a games console that has all the games I want to play, but then, you know...

I guess the features also won me over, the Miiverse is actually one of the best ideas from Nintendo in the last couple of years and I don't care what anyone else says, I love the Gamepad. I can only hope that the Christmas season can make a difference and I wou-HOLD ON A SEC! PS4! FUCK YEAH, LAUNCH DAY FOR SURE!

(I mention Wii U because that's the only console I've ever got at launch)

 

[Sixcess]

The only reason I never moved on from the PS1 to the PS2 was that Fear Effect 3 (which was due for a PS2 release) got cancelled late in development and there were no other titles I wanted to play enough to justify the outlay on a new console. I did have an Xbox, but never really took to it in the same way, and after that I ascended to the lofty heights of the PC Gaming Master Race, so now it would still take an exclusive, most likely a sequel in a series I already love, to bring me back to consoles.

 

[Maximum Bert]

How much money I have, the games, features of consoles (positive and negative) and price are the main ones. I usually try and get them all eventually though.

This time I am mainly looking at the PS4 and WiiU when they get some games I want but the Xbox One has priced itself right out of the market for me atm.

 

[Tuesday Night Fever]

Definitely exclusive games for me. The console in question is going to need at least a couple of interesting-looking games that I can't play anywhere else before I drop the money to buy it.

The other options in the poll really just don't apply much to me. I don't usually care much about multiplayer, backwards compatibility is nice but not really a selling point since I keep all of my old consoles and games, I have no real brand loyalty since I don't think they deserve it (they need to earn my money), the hardware is typically going to be a significant step down from my PC, etc.

So yeah, I generally don't buy brand new consoles. It usually takes me at least a year to decide on one, if any. Admittedly, I'm pretty unimpressed with all of the options this generation at this time.

 

[SummerOtaku]

For me the longevity and overall quality of the console is what makes the difference. I can't afford to buy a lot of games so the life of the console needs to be a long one where a large range of quality games can come to market and respectively go on sale.

 

[The White Hunter]

"What can it do that my PC cannot do, and are there enough exclusive titles to justify that expense?"

The above question is pretty much my way of choosing whether to partake of a console, neither the X1 or the PS4 have anything much that my PC cannot do better, bar a few choice exclusives, but 2 games are not enough to make me go out and spend £400 on a console, I coiuld spend that on games! Or car insurance!

 

[MrHide-Patten]

Sony for me has always had the better games (unless that game is made by Bethesda), and they put their money behind some good franchises and new Intellectual properties.

I also like the dualshock, the xbox controller feels like some cheap knockoff and every gaking experience I've had with it have felt like I was treking into the uncanny valley of controls. So for me it will always be 'press X to not die'.

In all honesty if it was Sony doing the back flipping I'd still buy their console.

Captcha: 'I love lamp'
How I feel talking about a PS3 on the Escapist (a primarily Xbox and PC centered site)

 

[Evonisia]

I chose to get a next gen console because of the games. I mean sure it's possible that the online will entice me but it's pretty much equal for all three of the consoles. Well:

*Exclusives for the Xbox One.
**3rd party games which will be on the Xbox One.
**Xbox 360 games which I can buy on the Xbox One (Titanfall, Batman: Arkham Origins and Assassin's Creed IV for example).

I also ask myself whether or not it will have longevity which, considering the fact that it's one of the two consoles which will have next gen games three years from now, is a definite yes.

 

[Zeckt]

I guess I have to go with exclusives, as games like Disgaea and the Last of us kill any motivation to hook up my 360 or even look at an xbone.

 

[Someone Depressing]

The games not sucking.

I don't see why every isn't saying this.

Because video game consoles are ment to play games. If they don't play good game, then ultimately, what is their existence? Their purpose? They are merely a husking shell of plastic and wasted resources.

Good games >> Constant HD, Blue-ray support, and a media server.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Exclusives. Pretty much the reason I'm getting the Xbox One before the PS4. Dead Rising 3, Killer Instinct, Forza, Ryse, Crimson Dragon all easily have my attention over Killzone: Shadowfall and Knack.

 

[DanielBrown]

Exclusive games.
For this gen I first bought a 360 because a friend of mine had one. Tried some games at his place and was blown away by the graphics(pretty much only played WoW back then). Later on, when I had done some research on games and exclusives I got extremely disappointed I didn't get a PS3 instead. So I did.
Won't be bothering with a new console for a few years though, unless I really feel I can waste the money. Recently bought a gaming PC, so I should make more use of it.

 

[The_Echo]

A mix between brand loyalty and exclusive games.

I find myself loyal to the PlayStation brand because of its exclusive titles.