PC Gaming is too expensive

[Baker]

The argument of a computer being a pointless solution to game on is completely mute due to the fact it can do so much more than play games. The reason its more expensive than a console is because not all computers are built for gaming. Most are build for general office tasks to 3d modeling. Each having its own set of price ranged parts. When you buy a computer your essentially buying a console that can play games and also write e-mails, make graphs, get on the internet, and abunch of other stuff.


And the add in argument that it costs more to go 'next gen' with pc is mute because of the same reasons.


And if you build a PC right in the beginning it will last about 2x longer than any console as far as graphical performance.

Um... last I checked.... PS3 (I don't own a X360) can also "write e-mails, get on the interenet "and a bunch of other stuff" ... upload images and movies, play BR movies, fold@home. USB keyboard and mouse can be used for web nav., and rumors of KB&M support for games like UT2K3.

As for your graphical performance theory... I would have to disagree. PS2 games actually look better now than when it first came out. PS2 has been around how long? And its still pumping out games. Games that can be played on an origonal PS2 w/o any kinda upgrades.... PC can't say the same.


Check the title of the thread again... it says PC GAMING is too expensive, no one was talking about making 3d models. I as other PC gamers may use such programs as those... but if your a PC gamer, and the whole purpose to the PC is to get down on some games... you can't say that its cheaper than a console... I don't think its supposed to be.

 

[Monkey_feces]

I don't have the time to read 4 pages of this thread. It has been discussed over and over across multiple threads. The big reason why a person on wellfare should choose a PC over a console is because of one thing that starts with a W and ends with a Z. Also, if you're an old elitist who's trying to rationalize their encroaching mortality by belittling young people, then you should feel right at home with online PC gaming (but not on counterstrike).

 

[SSlaytanic]

yes... i am starting to lose interest in PC gaming also. it's way too expensive, and there's barely any "soul" in most PC games.

 

[K600]

Well first of all, who says you need a $500 video card in order to play PC Games? You can still play games with reasonable FPS and detail with a $150 or even $100 video card.

Second, it depends on the kind/type of games you want to play. I'm an RTS man, and there aren't that many good console RTS games out there. So the PC is my preferred choice.

Third, you have to factor in that there are many games for the PC that won't work well on the consoles.

Most people don't like knowing they've settled for less and that is an ugly mentality to have in the PC gaming industry.

 

[Techx]

i have an xbox360 with a stack of unplayed games, collecting dust and all I do is game on my pc.. console gaming is pretty goddamn expensive too, with all of the accessories, and xbox live gold access, points, yadda yadda, in order for me to truly enjoy this console is to go buy a $1500-$2000 hdtv, so i'll stick with pc gaming as my primary platform, dont ever claim consoles arent expensive though

 

[Baker]

i have an xbox360 with a stack of unplayed games, collecting dust and all I do is game on my pc.. console gaming is pretty goddamn expensive too, with all of the accessories, and xbox live gold access, points, yadda yadda, in order for me to truly enjoy this console is to go buy a $1500-$2000 hdtv, so i'll stick with pc gaming as my primary platform, dont ever claim consoles arent expensive though

You don't have to spend that kinda mondy on a HDTV. You can use your consoles on PC moniters...

PC's have accessories too

 

[MrGuvernment]

you think thats expensive? try digital photography lol.

anyways, i stopped gaming and moved more into web design and graphic design (you know that little "hobby" where software costs as much as your proposed system upgrade...

yeah...

i know the feeling!!! i have stopped at just under $4k US so far for my set up..lol but my next lens is running around $1000USD

but at least i can make money back on this and lenses keep ther value alot better then computer parts.

 

[jzodda]

I agree that the prices on a bit high but having said that if you build a system yourself and plan to overlock you can keep it pretty high end for a few years. I usually build a system then get a new vid card and upgrade around the edges after 12-16 months and build a new system 30-36 monnths after the initial build.

If I spend $3000 on the parts over 3 years of major and small upgrades then that averages out to $1000 a year which is not that bad for a hobby imo. I have friends with more expensive hobbies then that.

There are too many things about the PC that console's don't have. If you are into overlocking as a hobby, then can't do it. If you do a lot of video editing you will need a good PC for that as well. My 360 is great now but in 3 years from now the PC will far outpace its graphic capabilities. The only way the consoles could keep up is to shorten the length of time between new models or start to upgrade exisiting models. Then it won't be so cheap anymore then either.

Not everything needs replacing at every upgrade in the PC either. I can recycle the case, wiring, speaker setup, soundcard, fans and powersupply, hard-drives, burners, etc. So I don't think its that bad at all and its FUN to build a computer. Thats the other part of the hobby thing for me. I look forward to doing an upgrade.

 

[Baker]

I agree that the prices on a bit high but having said that if you build a system yourself and plan to overlock you can keep it pretty high end for a few years. I usually build a system then get a new vid card and upgrade around the edges after 12-16 months and build a new system 30-36 monnths after the initial build.

If I spend $3000 on the parts over 3 years of major and small upgrades then that averages out to $1000 a year which is not that bad for a hobby imo. I have friends with more expensive hobbies then that.

There are too many things about the PC that console's don't have. If you are into overlocking as a hobby, then can't do it. If you do a lot of video editing you will need a good PC for that as well. My 360 is great now but in 3 years from now the PC will far outpace its graphic capabilities. The only way the consoles could keep up is to shorten the length of time between new models or start to upgrade exisiting models. Then it won't be so cheap anymore then either.

Not everything needs replacing at every upgrade in the PC either. I can recycle the case, wiring, speaker setup, soundcard, fans and powersupply, hard-drives, burners, etc. So I don't think its that bad at all and its FUN to build a computer. Thats the other part of the hobby thing for me. I look forward to doing an upgrade.

The whole point your trying to make doesn't apply to those who just want to use their platform for gaming. There are those, like me, that just want to game. I don't want to do digital or video editing and I don't enjoy trying to overclock all of my hardware... I'm not a big fan of taking a chance on blowing stuff out.

I've built my last 2 computers, and I enjoy the building aspect, but its still expensive. I built this computer about a year ago, and its already feeling old age. I have a 7800 GT thats starting to get some FPS drop in newier games... and won't hit the age of 3 by time DX10 games come out...which means I have to upgrade... again, to play the most current games..... That means that I have to build basically a new computer, because from what I understand... DX10 gfx cards don't work in my current mobo.

The fact still remains, PC gaming is still expensive.

 

[Frosteh]

Another thread about how much cheaper consoles are, sigh.

This entirely depends on how many games you're purchase. The console business model sells hardware at a loss so it's cheap to Mr Joe Average, the games then have a large markup on them.

If you only ever buy 1 single game then yes consoles are cheaper, if you buy lot of games, maybe 10 per year you'll find that the difference between the cost of the games covers the cost difference between a console and a mid range PC, more games like 20 a year and the cost difference is between a console and a high end PC.

In the UK the average game price for brand new PC games tends to be 29.99 or 34.99, for consoles it can be upto 49.99, with a £10-20 difference between most new titles, 20 titles is a saving of upto £400, thats the price of a 8800GTX in one year...

Again, entirely depends on how many games you plan on playing, Im SICK of reading this rubbish about how much cheaper consoles are, it's just not an accurate statement for all of us.

 

[Baker]

Another thread about how much cheaper consoles are, sigh.

This entirely depends on how many games you're purchase. The console business model sells hardware at a loss so it's cheap to Mr Joe Average, the games then have a large markup on them.

If you only ever buy 1 single game then yes consoles are cheaper, if you buy lot of games, maybe 10 per year you'll find that the difference between the cost of the games covers the cost difference between a console and a mid range PC, more games like 20 a year and the cost difference is between a console and a high end PC.

In the UK the average game price for brand new PC games tends to be 29.99 or 34.99, for consoles it can be upto 49.99, with a £10-20 difference between most new titles, 20 titles is a saving of upto £400, thats the price of a 8800GTX in one year...

Again, entirely depends on how many games you plan on playing, Im SICK of reading this rubbish about how much cheaper consoles are, it's just not an accurate statement for all of us.

So your saying...

More games (console) OR for the same price get a new GFX card and then start working on your game collection?

I'll go with more games...

 

[MrGuvernment]

PC Gaming may be expensive, but think about your alternatives.

Do you really want to be playing Final Fantasy and Halo for the rest of your life?

I didn't think so. The decision is clear, and the choice is yours.

Complexion at a high price, or simplicity at an even higher one.

Name me on genre of gaming you can get on PC but cant get on console ?

 

[Baker]

Name me on genre of gaming you can get on PC but cant get on console ?

They will say "FPS and RTS". Then they will say that PC has a KB&M to make those genre of gaming better on the PC platform. What they don't know is that future titles on consoles will also support KB&M. Then their only fight is that the PC is upgradable (back to the cost debate) puts out "better graphics" (graphics don't matter to me, and quite frankly the games I've seen on the PS3 so far look amazing on a HDTV.... much better than what my PS2 or DreamCast was doing. I think its all about gameplay.) and can do video/image editing, building graphs or 3d models.

But you see, some of us didn't build a PC to do half of the other crap. I built my PC to game... just like I bought my console to game.

 

[spotpuff]

Wow lots of unexpected replies. In terms of the PC vs console debate, personally I feel like gaming is really stagnant. Nintendo is doing neat things with the DS and the Wii. While FPS games on PC are great, since QWTF I haven't played anything that was really all that fun (never really enjoyed CS). Everything seems to be a rehash. An FPS is an FPS; all that changes seemingly are the graphics, while everything else remains the same. True games like Half Life or Max Payne have great stories but my desire to fire up yet another FPS game is low.

I guess my original statement shouldn't have been that PC gaming is too expensive, but rather, the design of PCs nowadays has gotten to the point whereby the modular component and "upgrade as you please" factor is nullified by constantly changing standards, be it sockets, memory, storage interfaces, peripheral interfaces, heatsink mounting, or case standards (though BTX died thankfully). It's frustrating that if you have 1 part go on you, instead of being able to readily replace it you end up having to replace a lot of things. I understand there are technological reasons for this but that doesn't make it any less irritating.

I didn't mean to get people in an argument about this stuff, just express my irritation at the state of hardware and costs. Yes it's supply and demand but I mean we are living in the age of $700 video cards, which seems a bit much, and even a decent mid-range card is going to cost you at least $300. I guess it's good that PC game companies are pushing the envelope of graphics, but on consoles you have a common platform that developers try to squeeze every ounce of performance out of to capture sales from consumers and make their product look better than a competitor's at no additional cost.

As an example, look at God of War 2 for the PS2. People didn't have to buy a PS3 to play that game (maybe the sequel?) and it looks great and has sold a lot of copies. If God of War 2 had come out for the PC most likely you'd have to upgrade a video card and, depending on technology transitions (AGP --> PCIE), and because of that perhaps a motherboard, CPU, RAM and optical drive as well. Something seems at issue with that.

 

[Frosteh]

So your saying...

More games (console) OR for the same price get a new GFX card and then start working on your game collection?

I'll go with more games...

LOL no...learn to read.

I'm saying for the same amount of games with a PC you have money left over to buy additional things because PC games are cheaper.

PC's require a large initial investment of all the hardware, but then have cheaper games. Consoles require a far smaller initial investment in the hardware but cost more over the years you own it.

Games are to PCs/Consoles what petrol is to cars, the car is useless without spending regular money to fuel it, smart buyers look at the miles per galon at a car to see how much its going to cost them to run it after you've bought it. Sometimes it's better to invest in a car which is more efficient although usualy these require a greater initial investment (the car costs more)

PC's and consoles are no different, they require games purchasing for them at fairly regular intervals otherwise people just get bored and the kit goes unused (although PC's do have a far greater range of uses than a console does) A smart buyer looks at the cost over time rather than just an initial cost.

If I was buying consoles games at 20+ a year and its costing me £400+a year then over 2-3 years the console is going to work out more expensive.

Other costs include a TV for a the console, I don't have a TV so for me personally thats a massive extra cost, I'd argue that most people now a days who own a TV probably also own a PC to begin with so if you're going to ignore the cost of a TV for a console you could probably ignore a large part of the costs for a gaming PC being that you can slap a good video card and some more RAM into a modern desktop and get a good gaming rig.

 

[Frosteh]

I guess my original statement shouldn't have been that PC gaming is too expensive, but rather, the design of PCs nowadays has gotten to the point whereby the modular component and "upgrade as you please" factor is nullified by constantly changing standards, be it sockets, memory, storage interfaces, peripheral interfaces, heatsink mounting, or case standards (though BTX died thankfully). It's frustrating that if you have 1 part go on you, instead of being able to readily replace it you end up having to replace a lot of things. I understand there are technological reasons for this but that doesn't make it any less irritating.

The litteral cost and the cost of having changing standards is just the cost of having something better, with a console you're stuck with the same hardware for like 4-5 years and in 4-5 years time games on the whole wont look a lot better than those which it was released with, with a PC everything is scaleable, that includes the power/price.

You don't have to buy a top of the range video card, you can chose to run older games or use lower settings.

You cannot get "better" and "more" without spending cash, its that simple.

You can go ahead and spend less money on a console compared to a PC, but be prepared that in 1-2 years your games are going to look like utter tripe in comparison.

 

[saan44]

*snip*
As an example, look at God of War 2 for the PS2. People didn't have to buy a PS3 to play that game (maybe the sequel?) and it looks great and has sold a lot of copies. If God of War 2 had come out for the PC most likely you'd have to upgrade a video card and, depending on technology transitions (AGP --> PCIE), and because of that perhaps a motherboard, CPU, RAM and optical drive as well. Something seems at issue with that.

Again, this goes back to the whole "how good do you want it to look" argument. If you want a newly released game to play at 100fps with everything maxed at 1920x1200 then yeah, you're going to pay out the nose to do it. But to use your analogy, my guess is that for a computer to run a new game and looks like God of War 2 does on the PS2 at the same resolution, it's not going to take much to do it, if any upgrading at all.