Moving on to next gen - PS4, Xbox One, Steam Machine?

[Sarge]

Heck, given all the rumors about an upgraded version, you might even want to hold off on a PS4/XB1 for a bit.

At some point, I'm getting another gaming rig, my laptop is pretty much only good for indies now. But I'm in no rush on that, either.

This generation has online that feels even more intrusive, and the PS4 feels almost just like playing on a PC these days. Complete with 50GB installs and 20+ GB patches in some cases. Ugh. Sucks for those of us with less-than-fast Internet connections.

[fastbilly1]

This generation has online that feels even more intrusive, and the PS4 feels almost just like playing on a PC these days. Complete with 50GB installs and 20+ GB patches in some cases. Ugh. Sucks for those of us with less-than-fast Internet connections.

I have yet to have a PC game* with a 50 gig install or a patch larger than 2gigs. Granted I havent played Titanfall yet.

*Xplane isnt a game, it is a way of life.

[isiolia]

From what I've seen, games that have a large install like that on consoles are going to be as big or bigger on PC. GTAV is something like 50GB on PS4 if I recall, and the system requirements on PC say 65GB.

PC games do seem to be better about pulling down updates ahead of time, or being able to stay unpatched (outside of online ones). On the other hand, the Xbox One seems to be particularly egregious about it. At least with PS4 (and Wii U), you can play the game anyway and just not go online. Maybe it's not having Gold, but, the frequency that the Xbox was coming up with very large updates to the few games I have for it made me just not bother trying to play most of them.

Either way, PC platforms aren't trying to get you to pay extra for things like automatic updates or cloud saves. That can make the updates a lot less bothersome, even if they're still happening. I think they do push them out faster/more efficiently too, since they don't need as much of an approval process.

[jp1]

I figured it would become cost prohibitive pretty fast going the custom route. I'll have to investigate.

It really depends on what you want to play and at what resolution/settings. If you can find a case you like, parts suggestions can be made. For this kind of build, the case is the the hardest part to pick.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811119299

I could live with the dimensions of this one. The 120mm fan support is important to me so it can run quietly. The case itself not so much, as long as it is shallow like this one. My media stand is only around 12" deep. I don't have too much room left, so I need something that is close to the above dimensions.

I'm game. $700 or less (including windows 7 license), I want to run 1080p at reasonable settings on newer games. I have no immediate interest at any higher resolutions. I'd appreciate any suggestions, since I don't really game on the PC I'm out of the loop on requirements.

[Exhuminator]

There are also a decent number of JRPGs arriving on Steam these days.

Well you might be surprised how many exclusives the PS4 already has, and not just in the realm of RPGs:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_v ... eration%29

All the same, if you're only going to have ONE modern video game format, it should be a Windows PC. I won't argue that's the best bang for your buck given today's gaming climate.

[isiolia]

Also keep in mind when scrolling down that list that all those yellow boxes for "console exclusive"...meaning they're on PC as well. There are unique things for all of 'em though.

Main point was more that we're seeing a fair number of niche JRPGs, visual novels, and so on with official Western PC releases. Not just PS4 stuff, but things that were previously just on portables only like Corpse Party and Danganronpa. 'course, console have also gotten stuff like Wasteland 2. Still, it's probably a newer trend to be seeing the Japanese games on PC here.

[Exhuminator]

Still, it's probably a newer trend to be seeing the Japanese games on PC here.

It is a newer trend to see smaller Japanese developers porting their stuff to PC. It's like Japan finally realized that despite Japanese gamers not caring about playing PC games, the rest of the whole world loves PC gaming and it's a huge market. It kinda miffs me that some of the Vita exclusives I bought are no longer Vita exclusives, but on the whole I'd rather the maximum amount of people get to play them regardless.

That said, there are some big budget PS4 JRPG exclusives (released and in the works) that I would be surprised to see ever be ported to PC. It's not outside the realm of possibility sure, but there are still a good many high budget PS3 JRPGs that never got ported. But again, we are in a different age now, and more developers are using third party game engines that make porting a lot easier than before. That coupled with unified x86 architectures in modern consoles is gonna make a huge difference this go around.

[Xeogred]

Frankly kind of shocking on such a forum, that one person (Exhuminator) is like one of the only ones defending consoles here.

[Fragems]

Really there are some pros to consoles.

1. Games retain value. Their is a used market so you can make a few bucks back if you aren't the type to hold onto stuff after beating it.
2. PC ports at times are lazy as shit and/or rushed and can on occasion be so broken that the publishers take them down in shame. (Arkham Knight )
3. Less hackers if you are into MP. Consoles still have hacking issues but at least more people are afraid of having their accounts bricked.
4. If you like to collect physical games then consoles are great. A lot of PC stuff is digital only and even if physical copies are available they are usually pretty bland since most activate through a digital distributor anyways so publishers don't add any bells or whistles outside of a dvd case, an inserts with the activation code, and a single disc which maybe has a 1/3rd or less of the install files on it . Plus physical pc games are usually overpriced in comparison to their digital counter parts.

Cons:
1. Sadly while you do have physical copies which retain resell value most aren't going to be functional forever. I'd say a good chunk of my XB1/PS4 libraries have mandatory downloads before they can be played in their entirety and/or they require an online connection to play even the single player so down the road there will come a day when my PS4/XB1 libraries essentially become paper weights unless there is some big push for backwards compatibility next gen or some form of legacy system is created. PC is kind of in the same boat as far as DRM goes on a lot of the newer games, but your digital library is much safer there as long as the larger distributors like Valve, EA, and Ubisoft don't go under.
2. Xbox Live and PS+ are required for quite a few games so you are going to be paying another $40-50 a year extra for those services. At least they give you a few games each month to make up for it but it is still an added expense.

[TSTR]

something something pc master race