It is a decision that has always been there and is now back with force. When it comes to playing, are you on PC or console?
When the time comes to invest in leisure, at least with regard to electronic leisure and by this we understand that dedicated to videogames, many wonder if opt for a video game console or invest the money in a personal computer A debate that has always been open but perhaps now with the new generation of consoles it gains more importance.
And of course, it is an issue with multiple edges and very different solutions that meet the user profile, tastes, needs ( exclusive games) and of course, the economic capacity of each one to invest in one or another system.So in this article and from the point of view of another user I will try to give a personal opinion of my point of view on this matter.
Leaving subjective factors aside such as sympathy for one brand or another or prioritization for a system depending on which prevails among our circle of friends, the truth is that if we can only opt for one of the two platforms, the decision is difficult, especially due to the maturity that the current generation of video consoles has already reached and especially due to the threat of the new already looming.
Watching the pocket
"The truth is that it will always be cheaper to buy a state-of-the-art console, even on its launch day (I still remember the 600 euros of the PS3 the day it went on sale) than opting for a PC, at least if what we are looking for is to customize it by adding the most powerful components.This can mean that if the user is looking for multiplatform games, they can see a better option on the console, especially for the price."
And it is that a console does not offer distractions, since they are devices focused almost entirely on playing (now it begins to represent an option as a multimedia center) and above all they have an advantage: they do not require hardware updates to continue using them like the first day or even better.
With the release of a console come the first titles but it will not be until a few years have passed when the games in the catalog begin to really exploit their potentialof the machine. And if we take into account that the console can last about seven years, we have a long period of time without having to invest more than in new video games.
Possibility of continuous improvement… on the PC
This however has a tradeoff. And yes, it is true that they are cheaper, but we must take into account two factors. On the one hand they will always offer less power than a PC and on the other hand in the life of a console the PC will evolve while the console will be stuck with the _hardware_ of the first day, so at the end of a machine's life the difference between the two platforms will be more than evident.
We have also said that the PC is more expensive when it comes to keeping it up to date, it is true… but it allows us that possibility. Another thing is whether we want to use it or not. In the case of a console that is impossible Thus the PC allows us a greater degree of customization that will also allow us to obtain better graphics in the form of better textures , better resolution or greater fluidity.
To do this, it can be enough to expand the RAM memory, improve the processor or the graphics card, and in this sense, the economy of each one plays an important role. However, it must be said that you can improve a desktop computer without having to opt for the latest and therefore bleed your pocket excessively.
In a PC nobody imposes anything on you: you choose what you want to spend and what you are going to need
We must also assess the importance that we are going to give to the multiplayer mode A modality that in the case of Microsoft and Sony is payment, being able to access fictitious advantages in the form of cheaper or free games (they are not true because when we stop paying for example PlayStation Plus we stop having access to those games).
These are two ways to play _online_ that will have more or less interest depending on the games on each platform, if we like them and we plan to squeeze them both in individual and multiplayer mode.If, on the contrary, playing _online_ is not our thing, on the PC we can avoid this payment, because it is not an almost mandatory service as it is on consoles
Where are the games I like the most
It is the key decision. We must look for the platform that has the games that are most attractive to us. The ones we like the most and this... is a very subjective and personal section.
It is clear that if our thing is the exclusive titles of a machine, the computer is not the best option. So if we want the latest Mario on duty or the most recent Uncharted, all we have to do is go through the Nintendo or Sony box And I'm not naming Microsoft since with the Play Anywhere platform leaves the door open for some exclusive titles to also be usable on Windows 10.
The truth is that on consoles and in the same way on PC, we find titles difficult to transfer to the other platform No A sports game is the same, in the case of NBA 2K17 on console and on PC, in the same way that if we want the best graphics in a PFS type game we will almost always have to resort to a PC.
In addition, on PC we have an addition that can be applied to almost all games. We are talking about improvement through mods and add-ons created by the community so that a game can be significantly improved with one of these tools and in this way See how its quality improves, not only with respect to the original version, but also with respect to its console namesake (if it exists).
Options to play
Toca look again pocket but this time looking for the price of video games.These are significantly more expensive in the case of consoles, with prices of 60 euros on average at least for the new products (I still remember when 10,000 pesetas for Virtua Racing Mega Drive were crazy) but it is also true that after a short time they drop in price with special editions (even with added DLC) or they can be purchased at a discount if we use the payment system on the consoles.
In the case of PC the titles are somewhat cheaper on the way out, but we can also opt for a platform such as Steam with which to make use of the digital download and sometimes save a few euros. And this is something that must be seen more specifically.
I can't conceive how a game in digital download that is over a year old can cost the same or more than one in more recent physical format. This is the case of NBA 2K16 on Steam that for 49.99 euros is more expensive than NBA 2K17 that for 34.90 is for sale on Amazon.Without distribution costs, parcels... how can it cost more?
The fact is that leaving aside this nuance, which is convenient to study when buying a game, the truth is that if we have to opt for one platform or another, we are facing a complicated decision that we must take it based on tangible values but also on other much more subjective values
In my case I am a user of videogames, although I do not consider myself an advanced user by any means. A person who likes to spend some leisure time in front of his machine and in my case the most practical and fastest is a console. Now and at the point we want to ask you the question of rigor. What is your favorite platform to play _Windows PC or game console?_
In Xataka | Neither mobiles nor consoles: the PC continues to be the protagonist in the video game industry
NBA 2K17 - Standard Edition
Today on amazon for €27.95