In Canada? Don't think so. That's a touch under $700 USD. That's pretty good for a laptop from what I've seen.

I'm the opposite. When I was younger I pirated a lot of games so PC was the way to go. One time investment, tons of games and plenty time to try everything out and find the best settings.

Nowadays I have plenty disposable income, $70 games don't bother me at all, yet my time is now the limiting factor. It's till easier / faster to turn a console game on than managing a PC game. I love FS2020 and wouldn't want to play that on Series X, but it takes a lot of time to get it started / updated, lot of time wasted on trouble shooting, managing cpu/gpu temps, updating mods etc.

So I simply fire up Series X or PS5 and am playing in under 30 seconds, not worrying about settings or whether drivers are up to date etc.

Plus I still prefer physical games, and for PC it's very hard to find those nowadays.

I haven't read the entire thread so the point I'll try to make may already be adressed, but here's my take:

A trend in PC gaming that started before this thread was created was that PC games started to become more accessible (or consolified if you like). Further back in time one of the major differences (outside of computing power) between consoles and PC games where that console games in general where more accessible/causal and PC games where more complex.

One factor was that PCs simply had a lot more input options just by having an entire keyboard worth of buttons and a mouse for very precise inputs.

Game design in general also differed where consoles games where much more casual in the entire design compared to similar games on PC. Console ports of games that started on PC generally where actually dumbed down/casualized when they ended up on consoles.

But as I said, a while back (before this thread was created) at least most big games even on PC started to get the same casualization treatment as the console counterparts from start. There simply stopped being that big of a difference between the platforms outside of stuff that requires a lot of computational power (in other words graphics).

Steam / Origin / Uplay / EGS / GOG / Windows Store...

1. select interesting game
2. buy game
3. download game (automatic install once the download is finished, patches get installed automatic)
4. start game

PSStore / Xbox Marketplace / Nintendo eShop:

1. select interesting game
2. buy game
3. download game (automatic install once the download is finished, patches get installed automatic)
4. start game

PS / Xbox / Switch retail game:

1. select interesting game
2. buy game
3. open package
4. insert disc or module (automatic install, patches get installed automatic)
5. start game

• the base game of MS Flight Simulator gets patched automatically once a patch is available (both on PC and Xbox)
• additional content (f.e.  the free world updates) has to be manually selected in the install manager of MS FS (both on PC and Xbox)
• the installation of the additional content can take a lot of time... on PC it can be done in the background while you play a different game; on Xbox you can't play a different game while MS Flight Simulator installs additional content
• most PC games don't need trouble shooting or the newest graphic drivers... updating them once or twice a year is enough
• managing cpu/gpu temps ain't necessary on most PCs
• updating mods is of course only necessary if you use mods

I play on a gaming laptop though (GTX1060), so managing temps is a big part of getting it to run efficiently without thermo throttling.

FS2020 installer is in game and keeps the GPU very busy (been a long time complaint), so no playing another (intensive) game while patching.
The mandatory updates (before downloading the data) already introduce the new bugs with no option to decline updates or revert.
It is a great game, but it takes effort to keep it running and find new work arounds each month.
And mods are pretty much essential as those workarounds but get broken with nearly each update requiring a few days wait until the mods have been updated.

Downloading on console is faster for me since my console is wired, laptop is on wifi :/

So in my personal situation, consoles are superior for gaming. Less hassle, faster, more stable.
Plus with discs you can start playing before the game is even fully copied (on ps5 at least), same with downloads.

Also no email alerts on console or other distractions! :)

But one thing that consoles can't do, play an indie game while doing a long flight in FS2020, or watch/listen to you tube while flying. In flight entertainment.

I buy my games in advance usually, great games at release for full price and sometimes second hand like Forza 7 steelbook edition for CAD 20 when I bought the Series X. Games are not the issue, I have enough unplayed games laying around to play for the next decade :/ But I do like my physical games collection. Don't care the general population prefers digital nowadays. Digital has nothing to show for it.

I wouldn’t want to be associated with anything that dubs itself a “master race.” If you’re comfortable with that, have at it.

ah the plebs speak

But you seem to want to be associated with a race superior to the etecoon species. If you're comfortable with that, have at it.

Loading the essential files with the download manager (before it starts the graphic engine of MS FS):

• around 5% of my CPU ressources for MS FS + 5% for the rest of my system
• less than 1% of my GPU ressources
• still 7 GB VRAM available
• absolutely no problem to play (intensive games) with 90% CPU, 99% GPU and 85% VRAM ressources

Loading the "world update 10" within the game (after it starts the graphic engine of MS FS):

• around 10 - 15% of my CPU ressources for MS FS + 7% for the rest of my system
• less than 30% of my GPU ressources
• still 5 GB VRAM available
• still no problem to play (intensive games) with 80% CPU, 70% GPU and 60% VRAM ressources

But why? It's working perfectly fine for me and I can't erase decades of stress working on PCs for work, which will forever be associated with Windows in my mind. Unless you have a way to erase my memory, consoles will always be the more relaxing experience!

How am I limiting myself? I can play any PC game or console game I want. Got access to PC, PS5, Switch, Series X and all the older consoles. The ones limiting themselves are those ignoring console exclusives which still exist. I guess I'm limiting myself by ignoring Stadia, but streaming will always be inferior compared to local gaming.

Part of gaming for me is collecting and sharing those games now with my kids. It was awesome to get the ps2 out again when they were growing up and play things like Baldur's gate alliance again. Plus with buying (and selling less games) I have my physical collection to browse through, relive the games while deciding on the next one to play. I simply don't get that feeling from my Steam library or ps+ collection. Same with GameCube and PS3, great machines. (360 sadly died, got a replacement but afraid to use it lol)

I don't have an attachment to any companies, I do have a great appreciation for craftmanship. Hence I didn't hesitate to put CAD 150 down to pre-order FS2020 digital deluxe edition (physical was only available in Europe and only on DVD ffs) or pay CAD 90 for Ratchet and Clank day one.

PC was my main platform from the 90s to about 2008 when 360 and ps3 took over. More relaxing, no work association and that's still the case. My PC Master Race days are definitely over. By PC is still part of my diet. I played Halo Infinite, FH5 and Psychonauts 2 on my laptop before I bought the Series X. Kinda regretting that now since it was on GP and Psychonauts 2 would have definitely earned a spot in my collection. (Halo Infinite came with the Series X Halo edition so will play that again when co-op arrives)

Actually atm I'm playing ps4 pro the most or rather GT Sport for the ease of jump in online racing. (GT7 has issues)

Why limit yourself to PC? :p