When the announcement was made earlier this year that the next-gen consoles were finally heading to market, I was stoked. You see, I’ve always been a console gamer at heart. Sure, I played PC games growing up, but ever since my grandparents gave me a N64 for my eighth birthday way back when, I’ve preferred the convenience of firing up a console and vegging on the sofa as opposed to getting my game on in front of a computer. So it was without reservation that I signed-up for my system preorder on Amazon back in June.
Although I own an Xbox 360, I jumped ship and signed up for a PlayStation 4 after Microsoft self-imploded at E3 this year. Quite frankly, the company’s outrageous decision to ban used games really made me angry. Even though Microsoft has since reversed their asinine stance, the damage was done. With an almost perverse pleasure, I was excited to have made the switch to PlayStation where at least it appeared Sony cared about gamers more than profits.
Gaming Dilema
A few weeks after placing my pre-order for the PlayStation 4, I started having doubts; not about the Xbox One, mind you, but whether or not I should give up console gaming altogether. If I could switch from Xbox to PlayStation (something that seemed impossible prior to E3), why couldn’t I go one step further and switch from console to PC gaming? After all, I’d always been interested in learning how to mod Skyrim, and the PlayStation game I was looking forward to the most was Elder Scrolls Online. Despite the fact that ESO will play on consoles (and maybe even on a PlayStation Vita) MMORPGs are just more naturally suited to a PC environment. If I was ever going to make the leap into PC gaming, now was the time to do so.
Why I Sold My PlayStation 4
For months I agonized over the decision. I asked friends’ opinions, and I did research on the internet. I tossed and turned. I hemmed and hawed. Finally, I decided that it was time to join the ranks of PC gamers. Here was my thinking leading up to my decision:
Pros of PC Gaming
- Ability to mod games like Skyrim and Fallout
- Generally lower cost for games on Steam
- Ability to upgrade PC components without having to wait for release of new game consoles
- No more monthly subscription fees for Xbox Live (and now PlayStation Network)
- Ability to use PC for more than just games (Photoshop, MS Office, etc.)
Cons of PC Gaming
- Greater upfront cost for gaming rig
- Not as convenient as console gaming when chilling on sofa
For me, the pros of PC gaming outweighed the cons. I was OK with having to shell out more money for a gaming PC if it resulted in a better gaming experience. I also learned that I could hook up a gaming rig to my 55 inch Samsung via an HDMI cable to play on the big screen. With the addition of a wireless receiver, I could even use my wireless Xbox controller as I lounged on the couch to play Skyrim. Looking at things in this light, the cons of PC gaming really didn’t seem to have much merit.
Conclusion
As promised, Amazon delivered my PlayStation 4 on Friday’s release date. Within two hours I sold it on eBay. I thought I’d have some regrets, but I honestly didn’t. I’m eager to start PC gaming, and even purchased a new rig from Digital Storm that blows away the next-gen consoles. I sold my Playstation 4 and bought a gaming PC, and man it feels good.
As Logan would say [Tek Syndicate] – Welcome to the club.
I used to be a console gamer too. It was hard for me to convert initially, but once I got my gaming rig and tried to go back to playing games on consoles again, I realized why I stopped playing on them to beginning with.
Video game consoles just use very outdated technology to power them. I honestly can’t see why, in the year 2013 going on 2014 now, we still see HD games being made that can’t even be outputted at 1080p without seeing a huge frame drop for consoles (and in the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One’s case, we’re STILL not seeing native 1080p in games yet).
With a PC, WYSIWYG, to put it simply. If you have a powerful gaming rig setup like mine, then you’re absolutely set for YEARS. Steam is what really makes the PC such an amazing platform, though. I can’t imagine PC gaming anymore without hearing Steam and Skyrim used in the same context—both are synonymous with each other for me. I even found myself returning to old games that I had on my consoles by buying them through Steam and playing them on the PC instead—games like Sonic Generations, for instance—and was floored when I saw how fucking jawdropping those games’ visuals were when they were all being rendered in native 1080p at 60 fps or more.
Maybe it’s just because I’m older now and have grown out of consoles. I used to love Nintendo games, for instance, but now I just dread hearing about Nintendo because they’ve gone so downhill ever since the GameCube’s life cycle finished in my eyes. As said, it’s most likely because I’m just older now—things come and go for all of us, and I think it’s the same for you too. Nothing is really meant to last forever.
I’m absolutely enthralled by Skyrim right now because I never had the chance to play it before (yes, I’m two years late to the ballgame, but it was so fucking worth it)…needless to say, I already amassed 200 hours of gameplay in just three weeks and still feel like I have barely even touched the surface of everything this game has to offer. I’m officially addicted to everything this game. It’s such an amazing game, and I really hope that Bethesda blow our minds even more with the next installment, and not that half-assed Elder Scrolls Online game that is in development by one of their affiliates (thank god Bethesda Game Studios is focusing on the next Elder Scrolls game and not that ESO abomination to the franchise).
I’m hoping that this next Elder Scrolls game is being made solely for PC, though. I’m sick of consoles holding back games like Skyrim, and seeing the next Elder Scrolls VI using the brilliant UE4 engine would be enough to make my day, personally. Hopefully, we can get more info about the game at the next E3.
Awesome comment, Jonathan. Did you build your own gaming PC? What kind of graphics card do you have? I’m in the process of building my first PC (too many problems with my old one). Trying to make it as future-proof as possible, but I know things are constantly changing.
It does not have to be a case of one or the other. I have been gaming for many years having worked in IT I have always had a good gaming pc. However I also have a ps3 and will get a ps4 but not first edition.
While my pc is more powerful both platforms have exclusive titles which will eitjer never be ported or ported poorly. Nothing beats a console for fight games when a friend visits. On the other hand the pc reigns supreme with 1st person shooters and mmos. I enjoy buying cheap 2nd hand console games and also hiring them.
Either platform is good but having both is win-win. This was especially true with the ps3 as it doubles as my blueray and media machine.