This is right on the money!

Gonna throw my hat in the ring for this rather heated debate, so here goes.....

I had contemplated going for a PC this generation round, because obviously they can provide a fantastic gaming experience, and there are many positives, but after a lot of thought I will be going for a PS4 to replace my beloved Xbox 360, and there are a number of reasons why.

I keep hearing about how PC gaming is cheaper in the long run, but realistically (at least for me ) this really isn't the case.

People keep going on about how you can build a comparable PC for the same price as a next gen console (although with the PS4 retailing at £350 here in the UK, you could be pushed to even do that), but for how long will that computer be comparable? A year, maybe 2 at a stretch.Then something will need upgraded, and this is one fact that keeps me away from PC gaming.

The Xbox 360 was released 8 years ago, and retailed for £280, if someone then had built a PC for even 3 times that price, would it be capable of running any of today's ( or actually the last few years) of 360 games? Obviously not, and the same goes for any PC built to compete with a console today. As well as that, look at exactly what developers are managing to do with 8 year old console hardware, it's quite frankly awesome!

I know PC games are cheaper at launch, but people seem to forget that with consoles there's a huge second hand game market. With the new consoles it'll take a year or so for that market to develop,but it will, and that's where I will end up getting most of my games, as I have done this generation round, and this combined with trading games in, means that it's not half as expensive as the angry PC gamers make it out to be. I picked up 3 games at GAME for £12 last week. Also I rarely buy games at release unless it's something that I'm particularly excited for, and then I'm willing to pay the premium.

Another factor is the simplicity that consoles provide. Now I love my tech, and I love to tinker and tweak things, so as much as that aspect of PC gaming actually appeals to me, with having a full time job, a wife and 3 young kids, my free time is extremely limited. What little time I get to spend gaming I want to actually spend it gaming, not having to worry about frame rates, detail levels, drivers etc. Also a game will run on a console exactly as it should without issues.

Essentially I will continue to game on a console over a PC for those reasons. If I had more free time and more money (ironically having kids seems to have a direct impact on t both those 2 things) I would game on both, with a kick ass gaming rig, and 3 consoles. As it is I have to make the choice that best suits me, and I'd rather drop £350 on a console I know will last 5+ years, than £800 on a PC that will last 3 at the most, it just doesn't make sense for me.

And although there are many PC gamers who get that it's about personal choice, I do think there are some who simply hate the fact that someone can have as much fun on a console as they do on their 'super fast ultra rig'

Anyway, rant over, I'm going to go and play a game that cost me £7 on an 8 year old console, i'll try to enjoy it if i can.....

I'd say to get a mid range PC you're talking about £800 or so. The problem is not the initial cost, rather how much the next round of upgrades will cost to keep the system relevent.

I'll echo what I said in another thread. The controller is certainly interesting, but the hardware does nothing to entice the console gamer. Its still a case of fragmentation being a major issue, IMO one of a consoles strengths is not having varied strengths and powers of system. A game on a console will play exactly as intended, with the Steambox you have the same issue as a normal PC, with regard to differing specs. Then the upgrading etc begins. I just see the Steambox as a completely pointless product.

Microsoft have lost me this time round ( and I've been a 360 gamer only this gen ). I don't want a media centre that plays games, I want a games console primarily, if it has extras then ok, but I want games to come first.

From the first announcement MS failed at this, and I've been watching closely and it seems that this time round Sony ( at least for me ) have hit the nail on the head. I've no doubt that the X1 will be successful, and for people who want it for what it is then it will be great, but for me, who wants to focus on the games Sony will be getting my cash this time round.

OK so the controller genuinely looks interesting, and it gets PC gaming away from behind the desk and onto the couch, but apart from that I really fail to see exactly what advantages steam box brings to the whole PC / console situation.

You still have fragmented hardware, will require hardware upgrades to remain on top of future games. Essentially one of the main reasons that keeps serious console gamers away from the PC market. Anyone who wants a small form PC will build one themselves. I really can't see who these are aimed at or who will buy one.