Unfun fact: PSN is always down. EVERY. DAMN. DAY.

[Black91CRX]

Just because you paid $350 for it, doesn't mean that something that is $400 isn't going to be any better.

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/y8WxNG

$412. No having to deal with PSN. Hook it up to your TV with a controller if you want to. And since its a PC, you can use it for anything else you would use a PC for.

Oh look, another PC suggestion where you have to BUILD it AND buy Windows. So chuck that $412 figure. Only something pre-built is a fair comparison.

[KitanaiKoneko]

Oh look, another PC suggestion where you have to BUILD it AND buy Windows. So chuck that $412 figure. Only something pre-built is a fair comparison.

Ok, we'll add in windows 7 for $100. Then we'll subtract $60 for every year of PS+. It takes 2-3 hours to put together a PC, maybe a little bit more if its your first time.

[Cutie_McSnuggles]

Ok, we'll add in windows 7 for $100. Then we'll subtract $60 for every year of PS+. It takes 2-3 hours to put together a PC, maybe a little bit more if its your first time.

You don't need PS+ to play FFXIV.

[KitanaiKoneko]

You don't need PS+ to play FFXIV.

But if you play other games that do require PS+ then you have to include that in the cost of the PS4.

[Kosmos992k]

Ok, we'll add in windows 7 for $100. Then we'll subtract $60 for every year of PS+. It takes 2-3 hours to put together a PC, maybe a little bit more if its your first time.

Can't subtract that PS+ unless you can state that the person will never play a PS4/PS3/PS Vita game online again.

Sure you can put together a semi decent PC to play FFXIV, hell, you could by just about any $400 econo-box, slap in a $100 low end video card (even today's low end cards are more than capable of running FFXIV 3.0) and play. but many people do play games on consoles, and not on PC. I have a laptop that is capable of playing FFXIV, but stick to the PS4 for the larger screen and controller support. Not to mention that the PS4' less powerful hardware (compared to my laptop) runs the game better because my laptop's GPU is a mobile one and can't quite match up to the more dedicated GPU hardware in the PS4's APU.

The biggest problem that PC gaming faces - in my mind - is that compared to consoles, playing games on a PC is a bit more involved since you may need to tune your set up, make sure that your drivers are updated, configure your controller, install software, update it, update windows, etc...

If I compare running games on my PC to running games on my PS3/PS4, the console is simply easier and more relaxed than the PC. And before anyone says anything they'll regret, I have built many PCs, upgraded and repaired PCs both personally and professionally. I've worked with PC hardware since about 1985...yes 1985, not 1995, not 2005...so I think I can honestly claim a wee bit of knowledge. I've played with PCs since they used 8086 CPUs and even the VESA local bus video was yes to be a twinkle in the eye of it's creator, PCI and descrete GPUs were not even on the horizon. Professionally I've worked on PC software/hardware, network infrastructure and every version of Windows (all the way back to Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 3, Windows 2, DOS and all the variations). I'm more than happy to work with PCs.

However, I'd still far rather game on a console for a variety of reasons not least of which, it's easier both on me, and on the wallet.

[raelgun]

The biggest problem that PC gaming faces - in my mind - is that compared to consoles, playing games on a PC is a bit more involved since you may need to tune your set up, make sure that your drivers are updated, configure your controller, install software, update it, update windows, etc...

on the wallet.

OK some glaring holes here, pretty much everything on the PC is automated, driver updates, install software has to be done on the PS4 as well dunno why you think this is only a PC thing, you also have to update on the PS4 as well.
Windows update is pretty much automated, it will do it for you when you shut down.

If you own a 360 controller, FF14 picks it up right away with no config other then rebinding keys just like on a PS4.

Tune your set up is only done after reccomended settings have taken affect and is one of the reason why you want a pc in the first place and its a given fact granted.

this quote
'Lots of people just don't want to deal with the PC hassle. '

The reason people must think this, is because they are told from uninformed people that pc is complicated and must be like this and that, and consoles are like this and that, thats fault of people, not the format, you really can just plug in and play with a pc, everything is pretty much automated and does it all for me if I wanted to.

When you add the extras such as a big TV, the price difference becomes meh, however PC users with a powerful system dont help themselves using a TN panel screen instead of IPS.

Basic 22-24 inch TN monitors are hugely cheap, but if you also have a TV which can be used with said PS4, well then its only the unit then.

[Kosmos992k]

OK some glaring holes here, pretty much everything on the PC is automated, driver updates, install software has to be done on the PS4 as well dunno why you think this is only a PC thing, you also have to update on the PS4 as well.
Windows update is pretty much automated, it will do it for you when you shut down.

If you own a 360 controller, FF14 picks it up right away with no config other then rebinding keys just like on a PS4.

Tune your set up is only done after reccomended settings have taken affect and is one of the reason why you want a pc in the first place and its a given fact granted.

There are no glaring holes my friend. Everything on a PC is automated right up to the point where something doesn't work as expected, something screws up the registry, or whatever the cause. For someone who knows their stuff a PC is no more complex than a console, both get updates and both use keyboard, mouse, controller. However, as someone who spends about 60 % of their waking/working hours working on a PC in one way or another, I have to say that the console is easier. It just is.

I do have games on my PC as well, I have a foot on both sides of the discussion. I do think that the folks proposing PCs are the 'solution' are ignoring the many small annoyances that make PC gaming just not as easy as console gaming. To you, me and anyone else familiar with PCs, such things go almost un-noticed. But for people not familiar with PCs, they represent problems and obstacles that simply are not there on a console.

You can argue your opinion passionately and accurately, but you're coming from the point of view that "PC is best" for gaming. That's fine, and for you it's the right answer. Just please accept that it's not the right answer for everyone else, and no amount of you saying it's easy, or inexpensive or whatever will change that.

We're just saying that once you get a PC setup and ready to go, don't browse fishy websites or open weird emails and you'll have a perfectly flawless gaming machine...

You guys want something easy where all you do is pop in a disc and go? You gotta deal with your overhead from Sony Bureaucrats.

And I never get viruses, worms, trojans. What kind of websites are you visiting? Do you have the proper protection installed on your PC?

Uh-huh, given the amount of malware (including key-loggers) that is pushed out via compromised advertizing on legitimate sites each year, you might want to tone down your superior rhetoric. Oh, and take a look at this article;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...-computer.html

The "overhead from Sony Bureaucrats" means what exactly? Paying for PS Plus? Not being able to hack the console and play pirated software? Seriously, how is paying for a supported network service much different than paying for a VPN proxy, paying the Windows tax (MS) or dealing with the anti-virus software and it's updates. Unless you're referring to some philosophical problem you have with Sony of course.

I dont' experience problems with malware, viruses etc either. My PC sits behind a firewall, has it's own firewall, the browser blocks 99% of all ads (if not more) and blocks javascript from sites not on a whitelist, cookies and other temp files are deleted when the browser exits, etc... it runs up to date anti-virus software. I won't bother to address your implication about browsing habits since there's really nothing to answer.

The point that was being made still stands, PC gaming is not for everyone, and your positive opinion and experience with it does not miraculously make it that way for everyone else.

[raelgun]

However, as someone who spends about 60 % of their waking/working hours working on a PC in one way or another, I have to say that the console is easier. It just is.

The problem with this statement is, you look for the problems as part of your working hours, as opposed to casually using it in spare time, this is the difference, you will find the same issue with people who have to sort out consoles, they can say the same thing that it is more problematic prone cos their job is to look for it.

Negligence is rarely admitted to but this is the common case, this doesnt mean pc is easier to break, it just means people are more harsh and look after consoles more despite sometimes the budget difference.

[Kosmos992k]

Negligence is rarely admitted to but this is the common case, this doesnt mean pc is easier to break, it just means people are more harsh and look after consoles more despite sometimes the budget difference.

A PC is a far more open system compared to a console, there is far more scope for user action to result in problems on a PC than on a console.

This is a pointless argument, for you a PC is the right solution, it's not the right solution for others. If you choose to believe otherwise and that your solution is the 'right' one for all, so be it. No matter the merits of the discussion, you'll stick to that position making further discussion pointless.