Rein: PC gaming has "shot by" consoles [Archive]

PendragonUK

Jul 10 2011, 09:28

Epic's Mark Rein has talked up the importance of PC to the future of gaming, insisting: "We're at the stage in the life of the consoles where the PC has shot by them in terms of capabilities."

Echoing comments made by id Software's John Carmack at E3 (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-06-16-next-xbox-ps4-will-be-10x-as-powerful), who said current PC gaming tech was "ten times as powerful" as current consoles, Rein argued that PC was "always the most important leading edge platform". Speaking exclusively to Eurogamer TV, in the first part of a series of video features on PC gaming, Epic Games' VP said: "Don't forget every game that's ultimately built is built on a PC. PCs are always going to be the tools through which all games get made.

"With the PC you can simulate the future – you can put enough hardware in a PC to show you what a future console will look like."

Epic grabbed headlines at GDC earlier this year with its Samaritan Unreal demohttp://www.eurogamer.net/img/FrontPage/tv-feed-icon.gif (http://www.eurogamer.net/videos/epic-games-next-gen-samaritan-demo-2), created to showcase the near-future of high-end gaming, but running on ultra-high spec current PC tech. "It was kind of our love letter to hardware manufacturers," Rein explained. "The next-gen, we expect, will look like that. If you fast forward a year or two years that should be a fairly common gamer's spec.

"We hope the console manufactures look at that and go, jeez, if we aim for that in our next consoles we'll be competitive with what you'll be able to do on a PC in a year, year and half from now. A reasonably priced PC - obviously you can do it on an expensive PC already."

There's more from Mark Rein and others in The Future Of PC Gaming Pt.1, which you can watch below. Part 2 will be published next Friday.

4OOGbRfO1fI&

Zipper5

Jul 10 2011, 09:31

mrcash2009

Jul 10 2011, 10:09

Mr_Centipede

Jul 10 2011, 10:38

Will Porter.... that name ring a bell somewhere.... ???

colossus

Jul 10 2011, 11:26

There's only one reason any of these people are coming out and saying this now: digital downloads on the PC have proven extremely profitable. Nothing else. If they hadn't, they would still be claiming the PC was dying.
I agree, and I think Paradox Interactive would agree as well - Paradox sales are 90% digital, “we don’t really need retailers any more” says CEO (http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/07/06/paradox-sales-are-90-digital-we-don%e2%80%99t-really-need-retailers-any-more-says-ceo/?ns_campaign=article-feed&ns_mchannel=ref&ns_source=steam&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0). But personally I won't say no to a hard copy of a Bohemia Interactive games, and I do prefer hard copies if it's a game I deem very valuable. I also agree with the YouTube video that consoles are starting to show their age. Not long ago, Ubisoft stated that they were "extremely limited" by consoles (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-07-07-ubisoft-extremely-limited-by-ps3-360). Obviously THAT statement would change instantly the day Microsoft or Sony announces a new console, but it shows that the tide might be shifting towards a more friendly PC period for the time being.

I think PC will be a constant well in to the future, but it's going to be (probably already is) a very dynamic and shifting platform based on how the current console platform is performing. So best of luck to PC :)

walker

Jul 10 2011, 12:01

Hi all

Something I wrote earlier in the forum:

Death of Retail. No future for the High Street and the Mall?

Hi all

I refer you to the recent allusion by Marek about the decline in the number of PC Gaming outlets and that ArmA III's primary market is likely to be Digital Distribution; Sprocket, Steam, etc.
http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=119218&page=5

The move to web based distribution meaning out of town shops would decline over the long term as a result, is something I pointed out in 1996 to the head of Tesco distribution for SE England, at the time he poopoohed it and the rest of the people there laughed and said customers will never buy their shopping that way; Tesco is now one the biggest Internet shopping site in the UK, and is rolling out the model in China, the Czech Republic and Poland and this year.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Tesco-Plans-To-Expand-Its-Online-Shopping-In-China-Czech-Republic-And-Poland/Article/201009315737530

I buy the bulk of my shopping online from Tesco with visits to corner shops for essentials and then my local market for bits and pieces or deli counter type purchases.

I certainly buy all White Goods on line; as well as a recent electronic Piano, but I would buy a guitar or mechanical piano from a shop. TVs I went to see before buying. Computers I spec on line then buy in person.

But overall I am buying more and more online.

In the games market retail has been in decline for some time. The retail shops moved to the consoles in the vane hope of the physical security of the DVD/CD would reduce piracy but the reality is that the only long term security model is a dynamic one, which is why those that stuck with PC games like BIS release constant updates and DLC improvements. A security model that can react to piracy cracks and encourage users to constantly download new content, that stays ahead of the cracks, is the future.

A constant drip feed via subscribers is the most successful business model so far. Shown in the Eve Online/WWO/Steam business model.

That is why Sony and Microsoft and Nintendo have moved in that direction too.

It is not that the future is consoles. They were just a reaction by the developers to their constantly loosing Intellectual Property(IP) to an increasingly commercialised Piracy market.

Consequently I predict the death of the Retail Games Stores, Producers and the CURRENT wholesale business, with the last physical Retail outlets being unmanned kiosks, that pump out DVDs or USB files written at the time of purchase, and person who services it from a van filling it with writable DVDs, before it too disappears.

Surprisingly I think there will be a resurgence in the PC market, but with PCs that full fill a gaming standard. In fact I think the future is a black boxed virtual that sits in a PC or Linux or MAC or Android etc providing a standard game environment that developers can then slot their game into.

Anyway I throw this electronic missive in to the forum to start a debate.

I am sure some one will pop in to insult me soon. :D

Kind Regards walker

Kind Regards walker

Celery

Jul 10 2011, 12:11

Hasn't PC hardware "shot by" current gen consoles like 5 years ago?

jblackrupert

Jul 10 2011, 12:14

"We're at the stage in the life of the consoles where the PC has shot by them in terms of capabilities."

Computers were never behind in the first place.....

Consoles have always been behind by at least 6 months or more before they even left the factory floor.

The only lead consoles have ever had is affordabilty and thats because they are loss leaders and pretty much always have been
if sony, MS and Nintendo charged people the price it cost to make them plus a little profit consoles would have died years ago.

Hell, even these motion controllers that are being shown off now were being shown way back in the 80's but the processing power and other things just
wasn't there yet to make it feasible and built at a cost affordable by most people to make it profitable.

Those toys were limited to the Military and labs who had money to burn.

I remember playing with virtual reality gloves and goggles at the World Of Commodore shows in the 80's.

I still adore the C64
Cp-fox4dR2E

vT3hsLAVf10

.

Dysta

Jul 10 2011, 16:06

Consoles and Computers; Ants and Lions.

Innomadic

Jul 10 2011, 16:06

LOL @<hidden> Codemasters as a "leading multiplatform developer".

JdB

Jul 10 2011, 16:34

Not long ago, Ubisoft stated that they were "extremely limited" by consoles (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-07-07-ubisoft-extremely-limited-by-ps3-360).

Just look at LA Noire, one of those "cutting edge" games. Looks like a PC game from 2004 :D

custard~SPARTA~

Jul 10 2011, 17:21

I think Mark Rein is talking bollocks apart from BIS I cannot think of one Developer/Publisher priortising product for the PC over Console if they thought PC gaming was important they would prioritise product for it.

I haven't purchased a game from a shop in years but I only have 10% of my games from digital download most of mine have come via an online retailer.

NoRailgunner

Jul 10 2011, 17:30

Just look at it
http://www.eldojogamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/masterrace.jpg

ricbar89

Jul 10 2011, 18:57

Just look at LA Noire, one of those "cutting edge" games. Looks like a PC game from 2004 :D

Mafia 1 came out in 2002, i doubt a game that looked like LA Noire would have come out 2 years later...

JdB

Jul 10 2011, 19:12

Mafia 1 came out in 2002, i doubt a game that looked like LA Noire would have come out 2 years later...

Add loads of blur and overexpose every scene like it's the surface of the sun. That's most of the work done already. Developing for consoles really doesn't involve much more than taking subpar artwork and adding loads of blur and shine to disguise how bad it really looks. Consoles are filled with ancient hardware after all.

ricbar89

Jul 10 2011, 19:25

Add loads of blur and overexpose every scene like it's the surface of the sun. That's most of the work done already.

Nope. PC games do obviously look better but these kind of claims are usually nonsense.

Im yet to find a PC exclusive game that actually amazes me. Strangely the best examples seem to be by modders. I could understand if they were modding multiplat games but even PC benchmark games like Crysis looked "good" but nothing amazing until modders get their hands on them. Funnily enough usually the thing i notice most about them then is the fact their overexposed as hell by the people who mod them.

GTAIV being another example. Every amazing photorealistic screenshot i see seems to have been taken in Dubai rather then Liberty city. That or Niko seems to have died and gone to heaven.

Zipper5

Jul 10 2011, 19:44

Flash Thunder

Jul 10 2011, 19:47

Thats why they need to make modular consoles!

LOL

NOT!

PC from 2007 had already "shot by" consoles.

FPDR

ricbar89

Jul 10 2011, 19:53

STALKER does look like a really cool game but i cant say ive played it. Graphics wise its nothing special, and sometimes looks poor going from what ive seen. Gameplay wise i bet it could be on console if the devs wanted, and true to itself (i would say anyway, it has a lot of depth but doenst seem to have ARMA level of complexity).

Crysis like i said i dont get the fuss over the graphics. Going by how much PC gaming is "apparetly" ahead i would expect way more.

Minecraft, great game, dont know how its an example of PC gaming though. Doesnt look very great and could be done on console, and will be soon enough.

And Total War? Well ive played them all, hard to be amazed by something you've followed. Shogun looks fantastic but nothing breathtaking. Gameplay wise console games will never have something like it.

Still if PC gaming is so far ahead why is Cryisis still the best example? An why wasnt it that far ahead when it came out?

Zipper5

Jul 10 2011, 20:02

Crysis is not the best example of PC gaming. In my opinion, either BIS' games, the STALKER series or Minecraft are the 3 best examples of PC gaming at the moment and they're the ones I tell my friends/prospective gamers about before any others. I would include Half-Life 2, but The Orange Box went to consoles.

STALKER looks amazing in some areas and butt-ugly in others. The amazing parts come form a lot of the particle and post-processing effects, weather effects and some very cool DirectX 11 features in STALKER: Call of Pripyat like water-logged clothing or objects when it rains. However, it looks really ugly when you only look at the people and creatures as texture, model & animation quality are rather poor. Still, for the kind of game it is and the size of the studio behind it, it's a very big accomplishment in my eyes. The stories of the STALKER games are also quite intriguing and unique, but perhaps nothing overly original.

Before Crysis, however, nothing of that graphical capability had ever been made into a commercial game. It was a technological landmark if nothing else. It's development also created the technology we now know as Screen Space Ambient Occlusion, or SSAO, used in countless games since then. I believe OA even uses it on the higher post-processing settings. In every other aspect, Crysis was "okay".

Katipo66

Jul 10 2011, 20:25

A bit off topic but having both works, PC for some serious anti social gaming, console for some "more social type gaming", Sports titles like Madden have no need for the latest cutting edge graphics but provide pretty good entertainment with friends.

Flash Thunder

Jul 10 2011, 20:32

Ben_S

Jul 10 2011, 22:18

PC exclusives that have amazed me (to varying degrees, and not including BIS games as they are a given):

The STALKER series - despite the shortcomings, especially Clear Sky, they are some of the most atmospheric games I've ever played.
The Crysis series - mainly the step up in graphics that amazed me here, but Crysis: Warhead had a fun story and Crysis: Wars was enjoyable MP, even if it got old after a while. I couldn't really care less about Crysis 2. As Cole would rightly put it, it's nothing but console popamole bullshit.
Minecraft - simple concept that turned amazing. 'nuff said.
Total War: SHOGUN 2 - the first RTS I've actually had fun playing since the original Red Alert and Tiberian Sun.
Project Zomboid - showing immense potential and I can't wait to see the finish product.

I agree, The main reason for this whole escapade is Microsoft/Sony.

They do not make it easy for indie developers to get their games onto those platforms, they do not make it easy for people to innovate there.

That said, PC only games often come with a touch or feel that console versions do not. For instance, I had great fun playing Red Alert/Red Alert2, hell, I still have Sudden Strike laying about (been a while since I played that!)

ryguy

Jul 10 2011, 22:57

RangerPL

Jul 10 2011, 23:01

PCs superior to consoles? We've been reminded of this every day now

http://0.tqn.com/d/internetgames/1/0/V/g/arma2ca_box.jpg

Look at it. LOOK AT IT

Innomadic

Jul 11 2011, 04:07

I think many of you are forgetting that Crysis was released in 2007. Can anyone tell me what the biggest game on consoles was in 2007? Based on sales, Halo 3 and CoD4.

Now compare Crysis at its max to CoD4 and Halo 3 at their max, and i think we can all agree PC is indeed that far ahead.

ratoa

Jul 11 2011, 04:38

My 2 cents

For the price consoles works just fine

jblackrupert

Jul 11 2011, 05:45

But would you buy a console if they sold them at a profit?

MrBump

Jul 11 2011, 08:43

But would you buy a console if they sold them at a profit?

According to Nintendo the Wii hardware was never sold as a loss leader, also I remember reading a couple of years ago that the 360 was thought to be either zero loss, or making a (small) profit due to drops in manufacturing, economies of scale etc., don't know if that's still true with all the price reductions...

ratoa

Jul 11 2011, 12:25

MrBump is right nintendo never sold at loss and the other 2 been making small profit for 2 yrs now. We have to keep in mind that gaming went mainstream a few years ago and most people playing consoles games don't care about overclocking, drivers or Team Speak 3 they just want a PNP solution.

Innomadic

Jul 11 2011, 13:08

And the 360 had how many issues with RROD? The Wii pushed any sort of hardware limits?

DMarkwick

Jul 11 2011, 13:14

And the 360 had how many issues with RROD? The Wii pushed any sort of hardware limits?

The Wii wasn't about pushing HW limits, it was all about innovating gameplay.

Celery

Jul 11 2011, 13:53

The Wii wasn't about pushing HW limits, it was all about innovating gameplay.

Perhaps in its launch titles. After that, motion control (and the otherwise crappy Wiimote design) was more or less an obstacle for gameplay design that always had to be implemented in a viable way.

Mr. Charles

Jul 11 2011, 13:55

Not this flamebaiting topic of steaming sh*t again FPDR

ricbar89

Jul 11 2011, 14:11

ratoa

Jul 11 2011, 14:36

And the 360 had how many issues with RROD? The Wii pushed any sort of hardware limits?

I had the RROD once in 5 yrs but MS took care of me with their 3 yr warranty
the good thing about PC's is that you can replace a DVD player or the memory sticks if something goes wrong but for $250-400 your average Joe can buy himself a console and play away without any hassle

My wife does have a Wii and she also believe is crap,to me the only games worth are their 1st party titles

let's keep this thread civil, I consider myself a GAMER that's why I play
with both (consoles/PC's) and I have been switching between the 2 since the ATARI 2600/Apple 2+ era <-----you can guess my age now lol

ziiip

Jul 11 2011, 15:18

My 2 cents

For the price consoles works just fine

If you compare the price/performance ratio of a console to that of a fairly good gaming PC, the consoles fail very hard. The PC I have should be really cheap now and yet it spanks my Xbox really bad.

Dysta

Jul 11 2011, 15:40

I am an studying artist, not a console gamer, so the PC is a machine for let me work more than games, and drawing fan arts from games no matter PC or consoles.

Can you draw with console controller?

jblackrupert

Jul 11 2011, 20:19

A PC with the same specs as a console can be had for the same price or less.

Overclocking is not a requirement of having a PC, nor is VOIP apps for games
drivers..... unless you're a tinkerer they are a no brainer either.

---------- Post added at 01:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:16 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DMarkwick
The Wii wasn't about pushing HW limits, it was all about innovating gameplay.

Motion controllers, gloves, visors....etc appeared in the early 80's.

The lack of available processing power was pretty much the main reason they didn't
take off back then.

Mr. Charles

Jul 11 2011, 20:21

A PC with the same specs as a console can be had for the same price or less.

http://www.amazon.de/Xbox-360-Konsole-Slim-Black/dp/B003WF6CYS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310415592&sr=8-1

trololol

DMarkwick

Jul 11 2011, 20:22

The lack of available processing power was pretty much the main reason they didn't
take off back then.

That, and the fact that the simple fact of their existence doesn't constitute innovative gameplay :)

jblackrupert

Jul 11 2011, 20:33

http://www.amazon.de/Xbox-360-Konsole-Slim-Black/dp/B003WF6CYS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310415592&sr=8-1

trololol

English man...Dollars also

---------- Post added at 01:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 PM ----------

That, and the fact that the simple fact of their existence doesn't constitute innovative gameplay :)

There was stuff that was good but the price was too prohibitive.

I remember a few Virtual reality cafe's in Toronto way back
FPS style shooters, flying simulators.....etc.

but they were competing against regular 25 cent arcades
and they were charging something like $5 for just a few minutes.

Mr. Charles

Jul 11 2011, 20:46

English man...Dollars also

I wasn't aware that a big red EUR158,97 and Xbox 360 - Konsole Slim is so hard to understand :rolleyes: and i give a jackshit how much it is in $, as i do not pay via $

ratoa

Jul 11 2011, 20:51

Again the average Joe have a a cheap US $500.00 laptop for internet browsing facebook etc and a console for playing games and that's a fact. btw last weekend I went to CompUSA and Best Buy and I saw most average Joe's crowding around tablet PC's, nobody was paying attention to laptops or desktops at these 2 stores I guess that's the way of future for mainstream people.

Innomadic

Jul 12 2011, 01:45

Again the average Joe have a a cheap US $500.00 laptop for internet browsing facebook etc and a console for playing games and that's a fact.

Which adds up to be more expensive than buying a single PC that does both. If you want a PC that plays all mainstream games these days well (because they're console ports) you can do it cheaper than the overall expense of a Console (which includes extra expense of games, controllers and online).

DMarkwick

Jul 12 2011, 09:36

People still generally like a separation of their appliances. This is why fridges don't yet have a touchscreen PC built into the door. People, generally, like their gamey stuff to be separate from their filmy stuff, or their internetty stuff, etc.

This will change, but you have to realise that it will become somewhat dumber. Games left the PC, and now the internet, office, communications, films etc are coming to the console. I think the PC has a long life ahead of it yet, but in general it's separating out to PC flexibility vs console standardisation & ease of use. Each has their advantage & market.

ricbar89

Jul 12 2011, 11:54

English man...Dollars also[COLOR="Silver"]

I think he's pointing out youre talking nonsense. I could buy a new model 360 with a few games bundled for appox £180 (thats less then $300). I would like someone to find me a decent spec PC capible of playing PC counterparts for the same price...

Deadfast

Jul 12 2011, 12:21

MineCraft? If its an example of what PC can do then god help them. :p

Minecraft is a great example of how indie-friendly the platform is.

MadDogX

Jul 12 2011, 12:43

It is entirely possible to build a PC for about 300€ that will play pretty much any game out there today. You just need to lower the settings to the appropriate values. I know, because I've built several for friends and family, and Arma2 runs fine on my self-built HTPC in the living room.

The price of a PC is higher than a console because A: console makers subsidize their hardware (sell them below value) with the expectation to make it up with game sales, and B: a PC can do a hell of a lot more than just play games.

The question is simply whether or not you're more interested in a relatively hassle free gaming experience (consoles) or if you prefer to do more than just play games with your machine (PC). Neither is "better" in my opinion, it's just a matter of priorities.

ricbar89

Jul 12 2011, 12:59

It is entirely possible to build a PC for about 300€ that will play pretty much any game out there today. You just need to lower the settings to the appropriate values.

But why would anyone want to do that? Pay the same for a machine that will run a game like GTAIV like crap?

People make this claim about PC's being cheaper but its BS. They're not. For the same price as a console you'll be far worse off. Plus have a load of hastle like you pointed out too.

David Schofield

Jul 12 2011, 12:59

I only buy hard-copies. If that means ordering via internet, I do it. It's just a preference... :cool:

DMarkwick

Jul 12 2011, 13:18

But why would anyone want to do that? Pay the same for a machine that will run a game like GTAIV like crap?

People make this claim about PC's being cheaper but its BS. They're not. For the same price as a console you'll be far worse off. Plus have a load of hastle like you pointed out too.

On the other hand consoles will not handle many games for which we buy PCs for. But, a PC can play any game a console can handle.

For not much more cash.

Celery

Jul 12 2011, 13:19

People make this claim about PC's being cheaper but its BS. They're not. For the same price as a console you'll be far worse off. Plus have a load of hastle like you pointed out too.

Everyone has a PC regardless whether they play with it, and that's also true for console players. Buying a beefier PC is cheaper than buying a low range one for surfing and a console for playing. And when it comes to game pricing, PC beats consoles hands down.

Big Dawg KS

Jul 12 2011, 13:37

People still generally like a separation of their appliances. This is why fridges don't yet have a touchscreen PC built into the door.

Ehrm.. (http://archrecord.construction.com/innovation/4_Products/images/0310_10.jpg)

Anyway, consoles aren't something you can really invest in. PCs and PC parts get more mileage for the money you spend (seriously, I have hardware that's gotta be almost 10 or more years old that still gets good use) with the added benefit of filtering out the immature & super-pissed users. Seriously though, I laugh whenever I hear people who exclusively play consoles describe themselves as hardcore gamers.

ricbar89

Jul 12 2011, 14:02

jblackrupert

Jul 12 2011, 20:00

I think he's pointing out youre talking nonsense. I could buy a new model 360 with a few games bundled for appox £180 (thats less then $300). I would like someone to find me a decent spec PC capible of playing PC counterparts for the same price...

Unless you're living in some town out in the middle of nowhere it's very easy to get a PC for that price.

Has been for years and years.

---------- Post added at 01:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:58 PM ----------

But why would anyone want to do that? Pay the same for a machine that will run a game like GTAIV like crap?

People make this claim about PC's being cheaper but its BS. They're not. For the same price as a console you'll be far worse off. Plus have a load of hastle like you pointed out too.

Consoles are a loss leader.

Kinda like shopping with food stamps or having mommy and daddy give you some of the money to buy it.

ricbar89

Jul 12 2011, 21:37

Unless you're living in some town out in the middle of nowhere it's very easy to get a PC for that price.

Has been for years and years.

---------- Post added at 01:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:58 PM ----------

Consoles are a loss leader.

Kinda like shopping with food stamps or having mommy and daddy give you some of the money to buy it.

I live in the United Kingdom. I welcome you to find me a modern gaming PC for appox £180.

You've made a claim but you've yet to back it up.

Abs

Jul 12 2011, 21:56

I live in the United Kingdom. I welcome you to find me a modern gaming PC for appox £180.

You've made a claim but you've yet to back it up.

Define 'gaming'. If you're talking Alienware, your expectations will be disappointed. If you mean any PC that can play a game, then it's possible. :p

Abs

Mr. Charles

Jul 12 2011, 22:03

Imho it is not possible to buy a pc for approx. 160€ like the XBox in my example.

(OS and all peripherial thingys like mouse and keyboard must be included, too ;))

ricbar89

Jul 12 2011, 22:06

Define 'gaming'. If you're talking Alienware, your expectations will be disappointed. If you mean any PC that can play a game, then it's possible. :p

Abs

Pretty much any PC can run any game (OS willing). Whether it can run it at a acceptable framerate is another matter.

Imho it is not possible to buy a pc for approx. 160€ like the XBox in my example.

(OS and all peripherial thingys like mouse and keyboard must be included, too ;))

Even without them it is not possibe.

Abs

Jul 12 2011, 23:09

All I can say is:
http://www.picdrop.net/images/PC.jpg
Abs

NeMeSiS

Jul 13 2011, 00:21

Thats hilarious. Although i dont know why you would censor a dildo.

JdB

Jul 13 2011, 00:28

Thats hilarious. Although i dont know why you would censor a dildo.

Especially not when it's still so obvious :p

Celery

Jul 13 2011, 00:30

Have we arrived at the conclusion that console owners don't pay a cent for their internet/work PCs?

Katipo66

Jul 13 2011, 00:43

Have we arrived at the conclusion that console owners don't pay a cent for their internet/work PCs?
What do you mean by that?

Abs

Jul 13 2011, 01:32

Thats hilarious. Although i dont know why you would censor a dildo.

I censored it because of:

§6) No posting of explicit images :butbut:

Abs

ratoa

Jul 13 2011, 01:47

Ehrm.. (http://archrecord.construction.com/innovation/4_Products/images/0310_10.jpg)

Anyway, consoles aren't something you can really invest in. PCs and PC parts get more mileage for the money you spend (seriously, I have hardware that's gotta be almost 10 or more years old that still gets good use) with the added benefit of filtering out the immature & super-pissed users. Seriously though, I laugh whenever I hear people who exclusively play consoles describe themselves as hardcore gamers.

wrong my console is 5 yrs old and for U.S. $ 400 bucks is a hell of a deal

Keep in mind I play on PC too but you need to invest at least double of that money to get a up/mid range PC

PC gaming ain't dying at all is just that ATM is not as popular like it used to back in the late 90's early 00

btw I still have my old 2600, NES, SNES, PS1, COMMODORE 64, 66 486dx, 133MMX, PIII 800 so in your eyes I'm not a gamer? I'm sorry but.......... and the people I play with on PC or console are my real life friends at work or soldiers at my Army reserve unit I don't have to go with the "immature & super-pissed users" and last time I saw there are plenty of those in the PC word too you know

MrBump

Jul 13 2011, 06:25

If you play a game to hell, master it, put huge amount of time and effort in the platform is irrelevant.

Someone who will pay the hell out of Skyrim on PC is no more "hardcore" then someone who will play it on xbox/ps3.

Also elitism in gaming is the lamest form of elitism around.

To me being a hardcore gamer isn't about some form of elitism, it's more a description of the time and effort many PC gamers put into getting the best experience possible out of their gaming. It's is similar to photography and the idea of an 'hardcore enthusiast' who uses a SLR with various lenses and settings, verses someone who simply uses a compact or a camera phone. The enthusiast cares about higher end hardware, and they spend time and effort researching to get the best out of what they do.

Hardcore PC gamers do the same, they spend on better hardware, but they also spend time in researching or even developing/adapting mods for games, Skyrim, which is coming with modding tools on the PC, will be a good example no doubt... I recently spent a chunk of time reading forums/sites and testing different mods to get Oblivion to look and play pretty sweet after buying it in the Steam sales for instance.

Celery

Jul 13 2011, 10:33

What do you mean by that?

Because everyone has a PC anyway, you don't save money by buying a seemingly cheap console instead of just upgrading the PC.

Katipo66

Jul 13 2011, 10:45

Oh, I don't get the whole hate on console or hate on pc thing!? I see the console as more than a gaming machine, especially when hooked up to a media box, and when gaming im chilled out on the couch, and the pc is workhorse and high end gaming!?

What's the point of it all? Guess I'm just old, last "fanboy" phase I went through was league over union but maybe not that's not hardcore enough for some here :)

Look mum, I'm a hardcore gamer... lulzz all day

ricbar89

Jul 13 2011, 12:28

To me being a hardcore gamer isn't about some form of elitism, it's more a description of the time and effort many PC gamers put into getting the best experience possible out of their gaming. It's is similar to photography and the idea of an 'hardcore enthusiast' who uses a SLR with various lenses and settings, verses someone who simply uses a compact or a camera phone. The enthusiast cares about higher end hardware, and they spend time and effort researching to get the best out of what they do.

Hardcore PC gamers do the same, they spend on better hardware, but they also spend time in researching or even developing/adapting mods for games, Skyrim, which is coming with modding tools on the PC, will be a good example no doubt... I recently spent a chunk of time reading forums/sites and testing different mods to get Oblivion to look and play pretty sweet after buying it in the Steam sales for instance.

Buying expensive hardware and spending time on forums doesnt make you a hardcore gamer.

I know a few keen mountain bikers, some of them have pretty average bikes they barley keep going but they love to ride the things and ride them to hell. I know some guys who have gone out and bought far more expensive bikes and twinkered with them all day, but they dont spend half as much time out on them.

So who's more hardcore?

Buying top hardware, tweaking, optimizing and modding doesnt make you a hardcore gamer. Gaming makes you a hardcore gamer. If you spend a lot of time on a game, you master it, you play it to hell you're more of a gamer then some guy with half as much playtime because he's been spending his time messing around with his PC and making mods. Just like the guy with the better bike he plays with but doesnt spend half as much time on.

Big Dawg KS

Jul 13 2011, 14:44

wrong my console is 5 yrs old and for U.S. $ 400 bucks is a hell of a deal

While the hardware might last, the systems will cease being supported at some point, and then you can only do one thing with them; play older games (not that that's necessarily bad, but PC hardware can be recycled into newer systems). Also, (in my experiences) the newer consoles don't last nearly as long as the older cartridge-based ones. Thankfully, there are emulators for the PC that allow me to continue to play some of my favorite PS classics.

Keep in mind I play on PC too but you need to invest at least double of that money to get a up/mid range PC

I'm not sure that's so true (you don't need to get really expensive hardware to enjoy PC gaming) but even if it is, it's money better spent IMO.

btw I still have my old 2600, NES, SNES, PS1, COMMODORE 64, 66 486dx, 133MMX, PIII 800 so in your eyes I'm not a gamer?

What? How could you get that from my post? I play a lot of older consoles too dude. I never said console players aren't gamers. You are fabricating things I haven't said.

What I said (or at least meant to say) was that I find it funny when people who only play Xbox/PS with their friends describe themselves as hardcore gamers. I would laugh just as much if someone who only plays a few casual PC games calls themsevles hardcore gamers too.

Celery

Jul 13 2011, 16:36

Zipper5

Jul 13 2011, 16:39

It depends on what parts you buy, how well you look after them, and when you buy them. If you do it right, PC gaming is a hell of a lot more cost effective than buying a new console every time one comes out. PC games can also be a hell of a lot cheaper and you can get most of them in downloadable form these days.

ratoa

Jul 13 2011, 17:15

What? How could you get that from my post? I play a lot of older consoles too dude. I never said console players aren't gamers. You are fabricating things I haven't said.

What I said (or at least meant to say) was that I find it funny when people who only play Xbox/PS with their friends describe themselves as hardcore gamers. I would laugh just as much if someone who only plays a few casual PC games calls themsevles hardcore gamers too.

Apologies.... I was in a hurry and misunderstood your post

Celery you can buy a brand new XBOX360 for US$ 199.00 prices dropped about year and a half, where I can get a netbook for the same price?

Zipper I agree with you PC gaming is cheaper but sadly I have my own reasons on why I don't like digital distribution

Celery

Jul 13 2011, 18:14

Celery you can buy a brand new XBOX360 for US$ 199.00 prices dropped about year and a half, where I can get a netbook for the same price?

Sigh. If you own a console, do you not have a PC in any case? Not buying a console and investing more in the quality of the PC would cost about the same or less.

jblackrupert

Jul 13 2011, 21:20

Celery you can buy a brand new XBOX360 for US$ 199.00 prices dropped about year and a half, where I can get a netbook for the same price

Best Buy
Futureshop
London Drugs
Walmart
Craigslist
Ebay

etc...etc....

And again. MS is selling Xbox's for $199 at a LOSS
They have to virtually give them away to get people to buy them.

It's like someone going to a store and buying a PC with foodstamps or mommy and daddy's money.

Mr. Charles

Jul 13 2011, 22:09

What does the consumer care about Microsoft selling consoles at a loss?

Abs

Jul 13 2011, 22:27

What does the consumer care about Microsoft selling consoles at a loss?

Because in theory they would then sell games at a higher price, because they now have you by the balls.

What has happened instead is that the price of PC games has risen to match their console counterparts. PC games ten to fifteen years ago at $59.99 were unheard of, and console games were more expensive than PC games.

Abs

Tonci87

Jul 13 2011, 22:33

Lets agree on this:

someone who spends lots if cash for hardware and likes to tweak his game to get the most FPS=enthusiast

Someone who spends his time playing a game to really master it=gamer
someone whu succeds in becoming realy good at playing a game=hardcoregamer or pro gamer
someone who works on mods or in the Editor instead of playing the game=hardcore modder

ratoa

Jul 13 2011, 22:35

Best Buy
Futureshop
London Drugs
Walmart
Craigslist
Ebay

etc...etc....

And again. MS is selling Xbox's for $199 at a LOSS
They have to virtually give them away to get people to buy them.

It's like someone going to a store and buying a PC with foodstamps or mommy and daddy's money.

netbooks at $199???? and I can play games like BBC2 or DAO?? can you point me out where I can get one of those please? please? please?

jblackrupert

Jul 14 2011, 00:46

DMarkwick

Jul 14 2011, 10:16

Because in theory they would then sell games at a higher price, because they now have you by the balls.

What has happened instead is that the price of PC games has risen to match their console counterparts. PC games ten to fifteen years ago at $59.99 were unheard of, and console games were more expensive than PC games.

Abs

I'm not sure that PC games' prices are following any console trend, when I first got my Amiga some 25 years ago I was buying games at £25. Today I get brand new PC games at £30. Brand new console games sell at £40, and the PC variants are almost always superior in content, performance and ability.

I think what we get as PC users is a slightly cut down developer's version. The PC variant games are most probably viewed as minor top-up sales by publishers.

---------- Post added at 11:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 AM ----------

You asked about Netbooks for $199 Thats who sells them for $199.

Just because you can't get PC's that can play games at decent resolutions and FPS rates
for decent prices where YOU live doesn't mean they don't exist.

I think it's a bit disingenuous to post out-of-context information that doesn't have any bearing. What notebook at $199 can play a game at any kind of performance? You might as well have posted prices of calculators.

If you have to give your product away for free or below cost to get people to use it
means your product sucks.

Hmm, no it doesn't. Doesn't follow at all. I mean, we (almost) all dislike consoles generally, but they're not shitty products.

ricbar89

Jul 14 2011, 12:10

You asked about Netbooks for $199 Thats who sells them for $199.

Just because you can't get PC's that can play games at decent resolutions and FPS rates
for decent prices where YOU live doesn't mean they don't exist.

Again..... Xbox360, PS3 are sold BELOW the cost to manufacture, market and ship.

Also. MS is so desperate to get people buying their overpriced shitty console games
MS struck a deal with Best buy to give Xbox360's away for FREE with any purchase
of a Windows PC.

If you have to give your product away for free or below cost to get people to use it
means your product sucks.

The problem is YOU seem to be in the minority here. You've made a claim (the cost of PCs specifically) that few seem to agree with. You've not backed it up and now retreated behind more claims everyone else seems to be living in a land where computers cost much more.

Again i welcome you to find a PC that can run modern games at decent resolutions and FPS rates for less than $280 CAD. I would be really interested to see it.

jblackrupert

Jul 14 2011, 19:22

I think it's a bit disingenuous to post out-of-context information that doesn't have any bearing. What notebook at $199 can play a game at any kind of performance? You might as well have posted prices of calculators.

He brought up Netbooks, not me.
He asked where you could get them for $199. I posted a list.

PC's that can handle games like Arma at reasonable framerates
so long as you don't go crazy with the settings can be had for
$500 or less at REAL computer stores and if you dig around places like Craigslist or local used sites.

Even a lowly Sempron with a 8800GT can handle Arma 2/Arrowhead
One of my systems is just that and I use it to play MP quit a lot.

Heavy use of AI in SP batter the CPU into submission but framerates are fine.

If consoles were sold at the prices it cost to make, promote and ship them
+ a little bit of profit on top of that then they would be the same price or more and you would be getting a LOT LESS.

The price argument for consoles is bogus. they are loss leaders.

Hmm, no it doesn't. Doesn't follow at all. I mean, we (almost) all dislike consoles generally, but they're not shitty products

The Atari 2600 was a console.
The Nintendo Wii is a console.

The PS3 and Xbox360 are just stripped down, propriatory hardware PC's.
that don't use Intel or AMD chips.

Remove the charity price of them and they have nothing to offer.

By the time they reach the end of their life and burn out console owners will have spent just as much or more then the guy who bought a decent mid-range PC
unless of course the console owner rented all of his games and stuck to single player to avoid the online fees.

MadDogX

Jul 14 2011, 20:00

The price argument for consoles is bogus. they are loss leaders.
A loss which is made up for with overpriced games, one might add. :)

ricbar89

Jul 14 2011, 20:22

He brought up Netbooks, not me.
He asked where you could get them for $199. I posted a list.

PC's that can handle games like Arma at reasonable framerates
so long as you don't go crazy with the settings can be had for
$500 or less at REAL computer stores and if you dig around places like Craigslist or local used sites.

Even a lowly Sempron with a 8800GT can handle Arma 2/Arrowhead
One of my systems is just that and I use it to play MP quit a lot.

Heavy use of AI in SP batter the CPU into submission but framerates are fine.

If consoles were sold at the prices it cost to make, promote and ship them
+ a little bit of profit on top of that then they would be the same price or more and you would be getting a LOT LESS.

The price argument for consoles is bogus. they are loss leaders.

Well you've totally backtracked from your original post now.

So there you have it. You cant actually get a decent PC for the same price or cheaper then a console.

MadDogX

Jul 14 2011, 20:33

Well you've totally backtracked from your original post now.

So there you have it. You cant actually get a decent PC for the same price or cheaper then a console.
Total cost of ownership. (http://gaming.icrontic.com/article/forget-the-console-and-build-a-gaming-pc-a-value-comparison/)

JdB

Jul 14 2011, 20:37

Edit: Ninja'ed by MadDogX :mad:

Let's say I just had a fire, and the entire place burned down. I have nothing left. What I personally would be looking for in my system has been taken into account. I can either base my entertainment around a PC or a console. I want to play modern games. I also need to play movies in HD, watch tv, do office work, browse the internet, do graphics work (Photoshop, 3DS Max etc), and download ... "other" content etc. The commonalities between the two are the need for electricity (although I would assume all of the separate appliances for the console would give a higher electricity bill), a digital tv subscription and an internet connection.

A PC of, let's say €800 is good enough to run most modern games on medium to high specs (depends a bit on the type of game obviously). I can also do all of the other things I need on it. It does require the purchase of a screen as well, and a basic keyboard and mouse. Let's say €250. Add a basic surround sound set of another €250.

Now I'm going to buy the latest, most advanced X-Box 360. It costs €250, and €350 if I want the Kinect as well. I also need to pay an additional fee besides my normal internet connection to access X-Box Live to be able to play online, it's €37,95 each year. Now I can play games, even online with my friends. Or can I? I still need a tv. I wouldn't buy the most expensive tv out there, €500 (including decent quality cables). Done? Nope. Right now I can't do office work, browse the internet or download "other" content. So I need a laptop, one with decent specs and screensize is €500. Oh, the X-Box 360 doesn't have a BluRay drive, so I need to buy a standalone BD player as well. I'm just getting a basic one, €125.

PC:
€1275

Console:
€1412-€1512 (and I haven't even got a home theater system for that money)

And consider that even if I already had a tv (-€500), or a good enough monitor and surround sound set (-€475), the games for the console would still cost slightly more, and the cost of X-Box Live also adds to the growing cost each year. Consoles are easier to operate, but not cheaper if you're looking at it as your one-appliance-fix for all your entertainment needs (and especially not if you want to do work and hobbies as well).

ricbar89

Jul 14 2011, 20:57

Yeah the problem with all this "total cost" it assumes you buy every game new and want all the crap equal to a PC, which maybe i would just buy a PC if i did. In fact its all based on assumptions. 99.8% (ok thats a guess) of people buying this stuff havent had their house burnt down. Who doesnt already own a TV? Or a PC that can do everything they need. Or even want a blueray. Or need the "most advanced xbox" (they're all about the same apart from HD which is barely an issue for most people).

I have an xbox. I never buy games at full price anyway, just like loads of people i know.

If i was to buy a PC, i would have to be spending more money on upgrades long before i ever recouped my savings from game prices. And more often then upgrading to a new console. So no JDB youre going to have to reduce the cost for consoles a lot more then just the cost of a TV.

The fact is you cant get a PC for the same price as a console or less. And you arent saving anywhere near as much on games unless you're running to the shops and buying every game brand new or buying more games then you healthily should.

MadDogX

Jul 14 2011, 21:05

I have an xbox. I never buy games at full price anyway, just like loads of people i know.
Just out of curiosity, what are the newest games that you have? Do you only buy old ones or something?

ricbar89

Jul 14 2011, 21:26

Just out of curiosity, what are the newest games that you have? Do you only buy old ones or something?

Whats old on a console? Ive got "older" games then ive got never ones. I often get games a few months after they’re out as im rarely in a rush to play them, and im not spending £45 on them.

Plus consoles answer to directdownload services like steam is preowned. You can get games extremely cheaply at the cost of a potentially crappy box (or get lucky and have a perfect condition game) for half price.

Innomadic

Jul 14 2011, 21:35

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo Q6600 2.4GHz
GPU: Nvidia GTS250
RAM: 3.8GB
HDD: 2x500GB
PSU: 800W
Motherboard: Something from 2008
Case: Nothing major, something small, probably under $50AU

That will play all new release multi-platform games equal to or better than any console (BFBC, SC, R6, GR, etc). That is also a 2008 Dell Inspiron with $200AU worth of upgrades (PSU/GPU). Right now that computer today is worth around $500AU or less (Cnet rated it at $525US in 2008), $100AU more than a 360s, cheaper games, no online fees and a better game experience in general. I can play Arma on this on medium to high settings between 20fps-30fps, Crysis on high with a solid 30fps with a few dips to 20fps. I can do all my general computing, video editing, image editing etc. The only thing i don't have is a 64bit version of windows, so i can't play DCS, but thats easy fixed, buy 64bit. I am currently using 32bit Windows XP.

My Console experience has wasted at least $700AU alone in terms of repairing my dodgy 20GB 1st gen 360, buying a slim because i wasn't prepared to take the risk of another RROD, XBL Gold payments and Microsoft points payments for DLC, the extra cost of console games in total when taking into account having to buy the online part of the game through XBL Gold, extra "DLC" that Arma 2 modders provide for free (don't think i don't appreciate it though, you guys are legendary).

Don't even try and convince me the Console option is cheaper. I have NOT got my moneys worth from console, i have from PC, and i don't give a damn of what you say. I spent more money on console and thats final.

-HOWEVER-

I still keep my console for the simple fact that not all games make their way to PC, Devil May Cry, Acecombat and Vanquish to name a few. Therefore my spending on individual games has decreased dramatically.

edit: Not all pre-owned games are cheap. I still see pre-owned 360 copies of OFP: DR for $70AU, almost as much as RR ffs. That is NOT a reliable way of getting cheap games.

ricbar89

Jul 14 2011, 21:40

In fairness as an Australian you're probably one of the few who can make that claim. Prices down under are not in line with most countries though, put simply you get screwed...

Innomadic

Jul 14 2011, 21:44

Then it should be even cheaper to get those parts elsewhere. Old PC tech that rivals old console tech is vastly superior and cheaper, and that is a fact.

ricbar89

Jul 14 2011, 21:49

PC's are not particularly more expensive in Aus/NZ while consoles and games on the other hand are renown there for their over the top prices due to export costs and a fairly small market in comparison in other parts of the world.

Katipo66

Jul 14 2011, 22:19

Am I hating on consoles if I say that consoles aren't as cheap compared to PC gaming as some might think?
It was just a general observation from this thread and not directed at your comment, so just took the opportunity to comment with my 5c :)

JdB

Jul 14 2011, 22:26

99.8% (ok thats a guess) of people buying this stuff havent had their house burnt down. Who doesnt already own a TV? Or a PC that can do everything they need. Or even want a blueray. Or need the "most advanced xbox" (they're all about the same apart from HD which is barely an issue for most people).

You have to factor in that all of the appliances you use for your console to function like the PC cost money, saying not everyone has had their home burned down is just grasping at straws since you know perfectly well that I was using it as an example to refer to the situation where every piece of hardware has to be paid for. Whether you already have that tv (or any other part) or not, it has to be paid for at some point, and while using it, you are shortening the time until it breaks down.

ricbar89

Jul 14 2011, 22:40

You have to factor in that all of the appliances you use for your console to function like the PC cost money, saying not everyone has had their home burned down is just grasping at straws since you know perfectly well that I was using it as an example to refer to the situation where every piece of hardware has to be paid for. Whether you already have that tv (or any other part) or not, it has to be paid for at some point, and while using it, you are shortening the time until it breaks down.

Firstly like i already said why do i want my console to function like a PC? I have a PC for that. I just want it to play games.

Secondly ill buy a TV and use it whether i have a console or not, so no matter what or which way you look at it its got to be paid for anyway. You'll pick up appliances like these anyway so its not a real factor. Im not not going to buy a blueray because my PC can play them, nore am i going to have to buy one if i get a console...

Yeah and not thinking the house burnt down is a good example is grasping at straws? We Can disagree but i wouldnt call it grasping at straws.

ratoa

Jul 14 2011, 22:47

Even PC games retail prices are above the normal in AU

Anyway in my case I buy new releases maybe 2 months down the road for multiplatform games, amazon usually drop their prices from 10 to 20 bucks for a few days also I know console gaming is not perfect because I have to pay for online and I think that's BS but if you look around (just like PC gamers look through STEAM and buy those crappy and shitty giving away games for 7 bucks because they made a deal with VALVE so PC gaming stays alive) you can find a good deal, my last xbox live subscription cost me 30 bucks a few months ago

MadogX in my case I been slowing down my PC and console game purchases, the last 6 months I been using my mail gaming rental service for console releases I usually go through them in one weekend anyway but I usually get triple A releases 1 or 2 months down the road so I can play MP with my friends......on the PC side of the house I haven't bought anything since VBS2 last year and as you know that cost me quite a penny

btw my STEAM comment above was meant to be a joke but is not far from the true

Celery

Jul 14 2011, 22:48

Secondly ill buy a TV and use it whether i have a console or not, so no matter what or which way you look at it its got to be paid for anyway. You'll pick up appliances like these anyway so its not a real factor. Im not not going to buy a blueray because my PC can play them, nore am i going to have to buy one if i get a console...
You also have a PC no matter if you play with it or not. Buying a PC for €300 when you could've gotten a gaming PC for €200 more doesn't ring any bells?

ricbar89

Jul 14 2011, 22:56

You also have a PC no matter if you play with it or not. Buying a PC for €300 when you could've gotten a gaming PC for €200 more doesn't ring any bells?

Well i may just do that when i want a new PC but when will that be? And if i did do it i wouldnt spend as little as £300 odd quid for a PC that can barely run anything now let alone new stuff.

Baff1

Jul 15 2011, 02:55

You can build a decent gaming PC for £300.
It will be able to run all the new stuff oin max I expect at that price.

Especially if oyu are willing to cannibalise some old parts form your existing PC like the keyboard, mouse, OS, screen, DVD drive and case.

£50 for a cpu £40 fo a Motherboard, £30 for RAM, £40 for HDD £190 for a nvidia 570 gtx with 1.5GB of ddr5 .

£350, runs Crysis2 on ultra max settings.

Or you could buy a Nvidia 460 and come in at under £300 and still play Crysis2 on ultra max settings.

At that price you can expect to play anything new on max settings for at least a year.

ratoa

Jul 15 2011, 04:13

Do I have to take into account my recently bought italian leather recliner couch because I play my console games sitting on it??? anyway

Again you may not like it, you think those devices are crap, consoles have no value to you, but reality is those devices are selling by the 1000's monthly (either at lost or profit) and the worse thing is there are people out there willing to pay US $60 dollars at release to play games at lower gfx resolutions, over that they are paying US $60 yearly to play online on a p2p network on the XBOX,if you are out of warranty good luck but even with all that those crappy devices still selling like there is no tomorrow...console gaming is like facebook (is the cool thing to do ATM)

I love my simulators and those are on the PC and I'm fine with it also I'm glad there are developers like Bohemia Interactive around but simulations/tac shooters are the only genre I play on PC anything else I play on console since 2006

I'm not blind and like I said above there are some things that do suck on the console world but PC gaming isn't a paradise either, out of the 2 consoles are more convenient to the masses and for US $199/299 those devices do their primary job just fine, I have my own reasons on why I like consoles more lately and is not the price of PC parts but to say you can build a computer for US $300 from scratch with decent new parts let's say 3 years ago to present day that can play the latest I really want to see that, I realistic price is US$ 800 with the monitor included that's cheap compared to equally PC parts 8 years ago but consoles are still cheaper and some houses have no 1 but 2 of those devices, most average Joe's just want to push the power button, open the tray, put their recently bought game and fire away.

Baff1

Jul 15 2011, 14:43

Mate, PC components are even cheaper in the U.S. than they are in the U.K. You can knock an average of 30% off the price right there.
If you want to pay $800 for an off the shelf package you can. But you don't have to.

I would suggest to you that a $400 spend would convert whatever computer you are typing this on into a spanking gaming rig. $300 would still significanlty outstrip any console... but you might as well spend a little more for some longevity in my opinion.

That said, PC longevity has been greatly extended by the recent gen of consoles. Games software is predominantly programmed to be compatible with them, so the PC software isn't demanding advances in hardware as fast as it used to. Almost all titles run maximised on 5 year old technology. (Geforce 8800). And can be expected to continue on this trend for some time to come.

When these consoles first launched, they were not cheaper than making yourself a gaming PC.
Clearly their hardware prices have come down now.
The software prics however are still much higher.

Console gaming is a false economy. It's not the cheapest way to do it.

I don't think people buy consoles for their prices especially. Not if they are smart anyway. I think they have other priorities, like convenience for example. Ease of use and game titles they wish to play.

jblackrupert

Jul 16 2011, 04:16

Well you've totally backtracked from your original post now.

So there you have it. You cant actually get a decent PC for the same price or cheaper then a console.

Unless your a pirate, rent, buy 1 or 2 games and only play SP. the overall cost of a console is greater over it's life.

and a $200 used computer bought on Craigslist will still run circles and do more then a console..... + you can upgrade it.

As for the cost of games. Hell, I could waste an entire lifetime playing the literally thousands of free games available on the PC including Arma 2 Free.

- Rise of Flight now free
- Simbins RaceRoom and other sponsored versions of their game Race 07.
- Battlefield play 4 free..
- Lord of the rings online.....
- Live for Speed

Among some of the high quality games available for free.