CHA CHING. Steam machines are the perfect sweet spot for noobies. Though I do like ps4. You get planet side 2 (though not as populous at PC, and clans on console arent as big). You get no mans sky a bit sooner than PC. Then you get destiny which is not on PC. I know a lot of people hate on destiny but i think its a really great game.

HOWEVER.... when the new halo games get released.... going to be xbox one only. So when the halo hype drops...out of luck there.

So this is a problem. Why not all of them? Its something to work for eh? The new Microsoft surface pro 4 is coming out on October 6th. Which will be a treat for PC gamers but if you got that kinda cash might as well get Alienware eh. New alienware laptops can have full on desktop graphics cards with this new thing they invented :) buuuut if you are technically savvy just build your own (400$ can get u a decent rig as long as you dont aim for a gtx 980/970 and run at non HD resolutions eg 1360x768 which is just fine) and use the money u save to buy a shit ton of games on steam/humble bundle, gog, etc.. but if 400-500$ is your maximum budget. eh.. idk. you would save money in the long term. A console would give you the instant satisfaction however the downside is that games would cost more than a PC long term. Most PC gamers wait for sales or go on g2a/gog etc..

another point is that PC, you cant exactly sell your games on craigslist when you are in a bind for cash. Nor can you buy newly release games for 30-35$ on craiglist a month later. example, gta5 was 60$ for console right? a month later you could pick it up on craiglist for 35 bux. On PC its STILL 60$ well this month barely u can get 20% off on gog which is still like 45$ waay after the PC release date. So IDK.... The margins of saving money are slim but still you would save more on PC minus games like GTA 5 etc.. lots of choices i put out there for you. just got to choose your own path wisely.