PS4 and next gen discussions

[brainerdrainer]

I'm more excited about the SNES. This new stuff is weird

[Gamerforlife]

Question: Now that ps4 is on x86 , its more of a PC than a console I guess since it does so much more than play games, I am guessing the next xbox will do the same, how much different is it from just buying a PC and hooking it up to your HDTV ?

The PC will be more capable since it will run ANY application , ANY emulator , not to mention online gaming store like Steam . As a matter of fact it could be better because on a PC you could use ps or 360 controller or any controller you like it. It is also upgradable , so future proof.

I was going to buy a PC and hook it up as my next gen. console but I am confused now as the lines between consoles and PCs are diminishing . As I see it , the only reason you might want to by ps4 or next Xbox are exclusive games , which are not too many last I checked ... especially on the Xbox

It's weird to me to see a post like this on a retro-gaming forum.
I used to be really into retro PC gaming, that is DOS-era games, and I remember having to set up a PC specifically geared towards the time period of games that I would most likely be playing. The compatibility issues were insane, and some games were an absolute bitch to get working.
Not so with consoles. You buy the console, you buy the cartridge, and boom—you're playing.

The answer to your question is also the answer to "why do consoles exist?": It's because they're convenient and cheaper than PCs. It's because they're dedicated gaming machines, with all the advantages (and drawbacks) that this brings with it. As long as there are people who want a dedicated box for gaming (and now video+audio content as well), consoles will be around, and they'll be better suited for these things than anything else.

Yup, those are the facts. I got a new gaming capable PC recently and have been using it quite a bit. I've certainly enjoyed some of the great games that having a gaming PC has allowed me to play, but I've certainly encountered more "issues" starting and running games than I ever do on console. I hear PC gamers say that's not true, but in my experience consoles games are certainly more reliable in the sense that you simply put in a disc, turn on the power, and play your game hassle free. Operating system compatibility issues alone have been a head ache for me with PC games

Eventually, I can get anything to run properly on my PC and I love the thing, but to say that it's as user friendly as a console is a lie.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Once you get things running just fine they tend to stay that way however. They definitely still aren't as easy as consoles though. The minor headaches are infinitely worth it in the end, in my opinion.

[SamuraiMegas]

I just found out about the PS4 announcement from the forum

Wow! Eighth generation! I still remember playing games on my Atari 2600. What are games gonna be like when I'm eighty years old?

I hope Sony snags up lots of exclusives. That's one of the few things that made having a PS3 worth it. They need more franchises like God of War or Uncharted to help them stand out since the next Microsoft console will likely still be tons of shooters, western rpgs and other games that you can already play on PC. And they should give us lots of quality Japanese games and quirky, arty games. Sony needs to establish some sort of identity for itself with its software.

Give us what Microsoft WON'T be giving us

Wii U is eighth gen, its been here.

[ZenErik]

Debatably.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Debatably.

We shouldn't really divide consoles into generations by their power. I wouldn't call the 3DO part of the same gen as the Genesis and Super Nintendo for example.

Frankly, the whole generations thing is a bit silly, but we've had this discussion before.

[RCBH928]

I am not exactly a PC gamer, but with GOG and Steam most games seem to be working well. I could be wrong as I am not experienced on the issue. I installed Win7 on my Mac (double OS ) I could run all GOG games happily. Steam works ok on Mac so I am guessing the Windows version is great .

I currently have WDTV, Xbox, DVD player , and maybe a soon coming ps3 . I thought if I get a gaming PC I could combine all in one device with 1 HDMI connection. Of course I will lose on the PS3 exclusives like God of War .

but if PC gaming still have issues... I am having second thoughts...

[ZenErik]

Debatably.

We shouldn't really divide consoles into generations by their power. I wouldn't call the 3DO part of the same gen as the Genesis and Super Nintendo for example.

Frankly, the whole generations thing is a bit silly, but we've had this discussion before.

I was just being silly. For all we know, the next Xbox could be 3x more powerful than the PS4. Or it could be as powerful as a Wii U. Who knows?