Budget gamer - What should I get next year? (Console or PC)

I'm a guy who does not want to spend much on gaming. When a game with high replaybailty like Battlefield 3 comes out, I would play it for a few months (at least 3). I would have my own lightweightlaptop with long battery life for university and work so the argument that a PC would benefit you with the other functions it does is moot. Good graphics are nice to have for me but certainly not to a level where I would chip out more than a grand for whatever system I get. On the face of it, consoles look better since their initial cost is lower and I would only buy a few games a year. I would probably get a system like a PS3 which has free internet multiplayer. So what do you think would be better for me to get when (and if) new consoles roll out next year?

A PC. If you're a budget gamer you can build a cheap rig to suit your needs and all the games would be less expensive. That alone in reality would allow you to buy a console after a short period of time.

Get the 360.

iPad. The future & present of computing and gaming.

... a clue. ;)

..If you're asking someone in the sw's for advice that is..

PC, so you can build a decent piece of hardware for about £400 which will be better than consoles, and you'll get cheap games all the way through. I think it's worth to note that consoles aren't reliable, so with the PC you'll be cruising off for longer without spending money repeatedly for new hardware.

Your choice. Left or right.

I'd wait and see, let the early adopters beta test the console hardware then get one later down the line (probably PS4). Much like myself, you rarely buy many games a year so I assume the ones you do want you get at full price or close to, consoles can provide re-sale value here if you end up not liking a game or just need the extra cash.

PC is the only thing I could recommend if someone is poor, but still wants to play modern video games.

So are you talking specifically about getting a next-gen console vs a PC? In that case it's hard to say since they havent come out

^Yeah I think I might not have been clear enough, I was asking what I should get once the next gen consoles are out, hopefully next year but whenever they are out. At that point I could get the latest PS4 or Xbox 720 or build a budget PC and upgrade it again 3 years down the line. Given that I will only be playing a few games a year and probably buying used games if they get a little old, the argument that PC games are cheaper doesnt really seem to hold. What I am more concerned about are things like hidden costs and stuff. Like the Xbox charges $50 a year for online game play which really really annoys me since that adds up to quite a hefty amount over the years.

PC is the only thing I could recommend if someone is poor, but still wants to play modern video games.

Ly_the_Fairy

How does that even make sense? The PC locks out two of the most budget friendly markets (used and trading) and doesn't allow for borrowing.

^Yeah I think I might not have been clear enough, I was asking what I should get once the next gen consoles are out, hopefully next year but whenever they are out. At that point I could get the latest PS4 or Xbox 720 or build a budget PC and upgrade it again 3 years down the line. Given that I will only be playing a few games a year and probably buying used games if they get a little old, the argument that PC games are cheaper doesnt really seem to hold. What I am more concerned about are things like hidden costs and stuff. Like the Xbox charges $50 a year for online game play which really really annoys me since that adds up to quite a hefty amount over the years.

greengloop

You are just going to have to wait and see, too many factors: cost of next gen consoles, cost of online, graphics/power of the consoles relatvive to PC hardware, and what will be the price of that equivalent PC hardware. PC generally doesnt have hidden fees outside of MMO subscriptions which you should know about anyways

Console easily. But I'd say the WiiU considering it's new and will get support for a long time. Ps3 and 360 will be irrelevant in a year or so

[QUOTE="Ly_the_Fairy"]

PC is the only thing I could recommend if someone is poor, but still wants to play modern video games.

GD1551

How does that even make sense? The PC locks out two of the most budget friendly markets (used and trading) and doesn't allow for borrowing.

Buy Crysis Collection

Includes 3 items:Crysis, Crysis Warhead®, Crysis 2 - Maximum Edition

Get a 360

consoles are sold at a loss, and you can sell your used games.

PCs are sold at a profit, and you are stuck with the games you buy.

for anyone even remotely budget conscious, console is the easy choice.

[QUOTE="Ly_the_Fairy"]

PC is the only thing I could recommend if someone is poor, but still wants to play modern video games.

GD1551

How does that even make sense? The PC locks out two of the most budget friendly markets (used and trading) and doesn't allow for borrowing.

Steam sales, free mods as opposed to $15 DLC, humble bundles, free 2 play + free games given by devs

That, and games are cheaper in general anyways.

I've bought/downloaded roughly 200 PC games this gen, and haven't spent more than $500 to get them all.

im gonna be different and say..get a ps2,xbox and gamecube..last gen was 1000000000000000x better than this sorry over priced,every game has a glitch to be patched, no splitscreen crap gen..on top of all the hardware issues..just a mess this gen..

[QUOTE="Ly_the_Fairy"]

PC is the only thing I could recommend if someone is poor, but still wants to play modern video games.

GD1551

How does that even make sense? The PC locks out two of the most budget friendly markets (used and trading) and doesn't allow for borrowing.

yet pc has the most budget friendly option. Free to play and with games like planetside and team fortress 2 you dont even have to pay a cent to play a good game

Also pc doesnt completely lock out trading. .There is greenmangaming that allows you to get credit for alot of the games the sell to spend on other games. Also there are services like gametap and metaboli which essentially are a rental service for pc gaming

Also you know what is the funniest think. Used game prices cant beat the sales from DD services such as Steam and greenmangaming

Find me a used copy of Fallout new vegas for less than 5 euros ( that what i got it off gamersgate )

Let alone free games some companies from time to time give ( THQ was giving metro 2033 free not long ago )

[QUOTE="Ly_the_Fairy"]

PC is the only thing I could recommend if someone is poor, but still wants to play modern video games.

GD1551

How does that even make sense? The PC locks out two of the most budget friendly markets (used and trading) and doesn't allow for borrowing.

Consoles = cheaper initial investment, PC = cheaper games.Timstuff

PC games usually arent much if at all cheaper at launch, and you can resell console games.

borderlands 2, i bought for 60 bucks... got a $20 gift card... and after i beat the game i sold it for $40 on ebay. Basically was free to play and beat a release day console game.

Cant beat free.

the only correct answer is console

all you have to do is buy a console 1 time (unless it breaks of course) to play every game out for it for the next 7-8 years

pc can't do that ... you need to spend spend spend upgrade upgrade upgrade

[QUOTE="Timstuff"]Consoles = cheaper initial investment, PC = cheaper games.BeardMaster

PC games usually arent much if at all cheaper at launch, and you can resell console games.

borderlands 2, i bought for 60 bucks... got a $20 gift card... and after i beat the game i sold it for $40 on ebay. Basically was free to play and beat a release day console game.

Cant beat free.

Just get a PS3. Where i live you can buy them for 199 now... very cheap... best exclusives... and like you said free online. And you can play the last of us ^_^

get gameboy for 25 bucks

play awesome games

PC is incredibly pricey at the start, but you save a ton on deals, but you'd have to buy quite a bulk of Steam games during the Winter sale to catch up. In the long run though, if you spend more on a good PC, it lasts longer and affords you more chances to buy games, and even when it grows old you can still enjoy many older titles from previous generations. Even on my APU with my 560 Ti removed I can play a crap ton of my Steam games while waiting to put my 560 Ti back in.

On the other hand, a console like a PS3, 360 or Wii you can grab a bunch of older games and get a console for a very low price (around $250 compared to the price of a gaming PC at around $1500 for a good one), but new games don't go down to Steam deal level prices for years, and if you want a game for around $5 then you'll have to shop online and put a little more effort in, but if you don't want an engorged bulk of games and are willing to use Amazon and Ebay frequently for good deals on older used games, then that would be the cheaper option.

Depemds pm what you want, I'd suggest all really, but I'd think wisely and really consult your friends since ti is best to choose the system your buddies use most if you enjoy multiplayer.

For all those people saying get a PS3 or Xbox, I already have both. I am asking about the next generation of gaming consoles whenever it comes out. My bet is that consoles wont have physical media anymore the games will be download only so reselling used games will be impossible. Or if they do come with physical media you will still be able to attach a game with only one account, again making used games impossible.

I'm a guy who does not want to spend much on gaming. When a game with high replaybailty like Battlefield 3 comes out, I would play it for a few months (at least 3). I would have my own lightweightlaptop with long battery life for university and work so the argument that a PC would benefit you with the other functions it does is moot. Good graphics are nice to have for me but certainly not to a level where I would chip out more than a grand for whatever system I get. On the face of it, consoles look better since their initial cost is lower and I would only buy a few games a year. I would probably get a system like a PS3 which has free internet multiplayer. So what do you think would be better for me to get when (and if) new consoles roll out next year?

greengloop

PC, so you can build a decent piece of hardware for about £400 which will be better than consoles, and you'll get cheap games all the way through. I think it's worth to note that consoles aren't reliable, so with the PC you'll be cruising off for longer without spending money repeatedly for new hardware.

GamerwillzPS

I don't get why people are still suggesting PS3s and Xboxs. Oh well.

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

PC, so you can build a decent piece of hardware for about £400 which will be better than consoles, and you'll get cheap games all the way through. I think it's worth to note that consoles aren't reliable, so with the PC you'll be cruising off for longer without spending money repeatedly for new hardware.

blackace

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

PC, so you can build a decent piece of hardware for about £400 which will be better than consoles, and you'll get cheap games all the way through. I think it's worth to note that consoles aren't reliable, so with the PC you'll be cruising off for longer without spending money repeatedly for new hardware.

blackace

Viruses and OS issues are easily avoidable if you're a computer literate. I wouldn't categorise them as "hardware" problems. It's down to the user's competence.

I'm on my 3rd PS3 over the course of 5 years now. That's extremely unreliable compared with my previous gaming PC which lasted as long, now I've given it to my mother and it's still working. I've never had any problems with the PC hardware in my life. I think the console problems are due to insufficient airflow in them, hence they keep breaking down.

Consoles are, in fact, terribly unreliable. Old consoles such as NES and N64 are probably better built.

Get a Snes

Wait for next gen consoles and THEN buy a PC. Hardware will be even cheaper than it is now, youll get more for your money in more ways than one with a PC.

[QUOTE="GamerwillzPS"]

PC, so you can build a decent piece of hardware for about £400 which will be better than consoles, and you'll get cheap games all the way through. I think it's worth to note that consoles aren't reliable, so with the PC you'll be cruising off for longer without spending money repeatedly for new hardware.

blackace

get a ps3 -tons of awesome games and free online plus bluray player

then save up for ps4 for even more awesomeness