So, what should I get? Construct 2, or 3?

Judging from what I've read (and I still haven't gotten either, since work is keeping me from really doing the things I want), Construct 3 seems very limited due to being browser based. But I'm keeping an open mind.

What do you guys prefer? And what is a better investment in the long run?

I've been using Construct 2 casually for years and recently upgraded to Construct 3 (so I could work on a Facebook Instant game). I'm not a power user, but I haven't noticed it being limited at all. Though, I guess it may not have as many addons as C2.

To be honest, I thought the whole "runs in the browser" thing was kind of gimmicky but the work Scirra has done on this is damn impressive. And the other night I was doing some work before bed and right after I climbed under the covers I thought, "Oh, wait. I think I know how to fix that problem I was working on!" I pulled out my iPad, launched Construct 3, fixed the bug, and saved it. Worked like a charm!

My only real concern about Construct 3 was the yearly fee. I tend to use these kinds of tools for a few months and then not at all for half a year or more. But I got a C2 discount on the first year so I decided to give it a try. So far so good. And the new faster runtime Ashley is working on should be great! (That's a C3 exclusive, I believe.)

I don't think Construct 3 is any more limited, but as John Cutter said there will be less addons (some of which are very useful). A lot of people can't transition over to C3 due to being mid way through large C2 projects with dependencies on such addons, or don't want to because of the rental system. There isn't really a right answer. If you don't mind software rental then I'd say go for C3 as it's where Scirra are focusing their energies and it will only continue to improve. There are some workflow enhancements, and of course it will run on tablets if that's your thing, but there's nothing really that new or interesting feature wise added to C3 yet. That said though C2 is pretty feature complete for a lot of things and will probably be relevant for a while to come - if you design your game without using too many additional plugins there's nothing stopping you building it in C2 and then continuing it in C3 if you ever wanted to - that would probably be the 'safest' route as you will have a perpetual C2 license and the luxury of developing at your leisure but also knowing that you can jump onto the newer platform if you need to at a later date.

I *only* have C3, but I do confess that I'm considering going back for C2.

The primary reason is the addons mentioned above, there are several I could really do with, but they aren't on C3, and the authors are not converting them. For that I have no work around. I actually want to write business apps not games, so I need some web page hookins.

I like C3, but the browsers tend to crash from time to time, eating my work with them I've had the best luck with Chrome, and the worst with Safari. (I'm on Mac).

C2 would be a struggle as I'll have to run it in a PC window on Parallels on the Mac, but it does work.

If just doing games, C3 will get the job done, but I feel it is behind C2, and I'd be happier to feel it was moving in front.

but they aren't on C3, and the authors are not converting them. For that I have no work around.

Yes you do :

From the How do I FAQ for C3:

[quote:gtin2f6r]How to use Construct 2 addons in Construct 3 ? - LINK

Also 98% of addons can be done in events so are not critical to a project.

If just doing games, C3 will get the job done, but I feel it is behind C2, and I'd be happier to feel it was moving in front.

On my end I feel the opposite. C3 is firmly in front of Construct 2 and getting back to C2 is almost a hassle.

I'd add that if you're interested in long-term support and new features development, C3 has a much longer life ahead of it than C2 at this point.

Does C3 allow you to export projects as a non-browser game on people's PCs, and allow players to add their custom graphics into the game?

Yes. It can do so, so much more, too. Take a look at the Features page!

Also 98% of addons can be done in events so are not critical to a project.

Where are you getting this figure from?

From 7 years of experience with Construct.

From 7 years of experience with Construct.

Would you say, for instance, the majority of rexrainbow's addons can be replicated with events?

From 7 years of experience with Construct.

Still keen to know how you could recreate r0j0s or Rex's plugins with events?

Buy Construct 2 and learn it, then move to C3, the knowledge transfers and if you take 3+ years to get to a level where you're ready to make full games with it then you've already saved a years' worth of subscription costs training yourself. You would still be able to release games / etc. made in C2 of course, even on consoles thanks to the Chowdren exporter (not free)

*this advice is only valid for personal licenses and while C2 is $199.99 USD and C3 is $99 USD per year, if C3 drops in price or C2 rises in price again then ignore it

You have given a really useful advice here...

However, some C3 advocates will soon jump in to cut you out

C3 is too expensive if you are not professional game developer. And free version is too limited for anything useful.

Typical usage for me is to make games for private use, like a greeting card for kids birthday, fool around with some game mechanic, or recently when I made a game for World Cup final (that became surprisingly popular). I did publish few game made with C2 on Google Play Store but nothing very successful or even polished enough to make impact, after all I am not full time game developer and don't kid myself that I am very lucky.

Maybe one of those game I publish will be profitable some day, but until then it is too expensive to give so much money regularly.

It's not just C3, but any "cloud" software these days, my opinion is that if you want receive money from me regularly then prove to me that you worth it for my perceived usage and that I will use it regularly. Right now C3 have two modes of usage, pro or free, neither looks suitable to me. If this pricing plan was active from my first use, I would have paid 600$ up until now for few games that don't return any money.

Second problem with assurance to pay aka Cloud approach is being locked out of your own work. Recently my niece wanted to see how I made one game birthday greeting card from 5 years ago, and then wanted to change a picture to a new one. If I had C3, and didn't pay, it wouldn't be possible, and I don't want to be locked out of my memories.

I understand how expensive development is (being developer for 20+ years) and Construct developers made a great product that deserve to be praised (and paid) but rental approach of C3 is forcing me to calculate how profitable acquiring C3 license is, meaning, I won't pay C3 until I know I have return of investment through some product made in it.

That said, C3 is the future and (will) have better features, C2 will slowly fade out, but nevertheless I agree with Jayjay and would advise to start with C2.