8 ms·

Consoles are now branded PCs with DRM lock-in. Makes way more sense to buy a PC.

by jrobn 7y ago

fulafel 7y ago
You could have said the same about PS1 or N64 (with s/PCs/workstations/) spec-wise. But the market for fixed function consoles is separate from GP computers if you're not a hardware collector interested in specs only. Cf Palm Pilot vs Game Boy.
- TrumpSucks 7y ago
  Nah, the landscape was vastly different then. These days every console game comes out on PC.
snvzz 7y ago
I'd go further and say they're expensive, very cost-inefficient PCs locked with DRM into only playing licensed games. PC Hardware is cheaper. PC games are also cheaper. And games are seldom console exclusives anymore. When they are, they're not for long. There's no value to be found in consoles anymore. They exploit the tech ignorance of the riffraff.
- city41 7y ago
  This is a similar argument between say your own server farm and AWS. Consoles are guaranteed to work correctly and always have 100% compatibility. You don't tinker or deal with any headaches, you just play. For many people, that is worth the extra cost.
- bhaak 7y ago
  > And games are seldom console exclusives anymore. When they are, they're not for long. That may be true for the Xbox but certainly not for PS4 or Nintendo games.
- Keverw 7y ago
  Why expensive? seems like a Xbox One S is a few hundred bucks 299 I see on the site. The One X seems 100 more. Could you buy or even build a comparable gaming PC for that much? Not really to up with all the hardware stuff... so curious. Guess you’d need to pick a case, motherboard and then find similar specs if comparing and compatible hardware combination. Then I thought consoles were some what subsidized since they also get a cut of game sales. Plus targeting the same hardware sounds like a way to be consistent.
  - snvzz 7y ago
    >Why expensive? seems like a Xbox One S is a few hundred bucks 299 I see on the site. The One X seems 100 more. Do look up release prices. These consoles are old now. And keep in mind they're not proper computers: They can only run a selection of programs, which are mostly games. Usefulness-wise, they aren't even comparable.
    - Keverw 7y ago
      Yeah. I know a new one is out now but still selling the older models... but I kinda like Microsoft's approach. since even the original Xbox One can still run new releases from my understanding. Instead of each new console requiring all new games and OS.
vernie 7y ago
No it doesn't
scott_s 7y ago
I like to play games on my couch, without having to hassle with settings or upgrades. I also like having a media center attached to my tv. Yes, one can hook up a PC to a tv. No, that is not without hassle and upgrades. I want a box to play games and watch shows and movies.
- omni 7y ago
  > I want a box to play games and watch shows and movies. The Nvidia Shield does exactly this. It has Android TV on it and can stream games either from your own PC or from Geforce Now.
- Avamander 7y ago
  Windows is indeed utterly overcomplicated and thus fragile for gaming use, indeed. I think the same applies to Linux distros, but there's ValveOS that has been an attempt to bring the console seamless experience to PC hardware. If only we'd have more game devs and Nvidia's attention on Linux.
rospaya 7y ago
I had a PS2, an Xbox 360 and now a PS4. Total hardware cost of playing the latest games with zero performance issues, hardware worries or upgrades in the last 20 years is around the price of a single gaming PC, which lasts what, 4-5 years tops? It's just not the same market.
- HenryKissinger 7y ago
  A Nvidia 2080Ti costs $1,199.99. A Xbox One X costs $499. And this one of the main reasons why consoles will continue to thrive. Because not everyone can afford to drop 3k on a gaming PC. Or 2k. Or even 1k.
- wishinghand 7y ago
  > the latest games with zero performance issues I don't know what you're playing, but it's a joke to imply that games on consoles run without performance issues.
  - gerland 7y ago
    I was switching between gaming PC and console for the last 15 years and to be honest I had much more trouble with PC games. Just after I buy a PC everything runs very smoothly, but the performance declines very fast with new games. It's always an internal struggle between "I want it to look better" and "I cannot play on this framerate anymore". Console games for the most part run on the same level. It's not great, but in this case I'm grateful that someone took the choice from me. Obviously there are games that are just slower than the average, but everyone knows very fast about them. I would not buy a 3/10 game and I would not buy a game that has performance problems. With PC it's always a bit of a gambit.
  - rospaya 7y ago
    I'll be honest and say that I don't play games that much anymore so any game I tried ran smoothly. Is QA failing or are Sony and Microsoft allowing shoddy games on their plaforms? Anyway, just graphics cards, CPU upgrades, noise and ventilation... It's expensive and it's a mess for anyone except hardcore gamers and people who need a desktop PC that costs $2000 anyway. For most folks a one time cost of $600 settles their gaming needs for years.
cactus2093 7y ago
It's kind of true, just like buying a Mac these days is getting worse specs for more money and more lock-in than a buying a PC. But some people just like the convenience of a simple, good-enough plug and play solution.
dyingkneepad 7y ago
I play fighting games and the PS4 versions are generally better than the PC ones. PC is usually a port made by another company (e.g., MK11, and Samsho is promising PC version since forever but nothing yet). Plus, I don't get to worry about updating drivers, checking system requirements, disabling cortana or all that other stuff. I can just sit and play. Maybe I have to plug the pad on the USB port to recharge it.
owaislone 7y ago
I still don't want to deal with maintaining a PC and managing Windows. Console are still way more convenient and so easy to own. You buy one and you are set for almost half a decade if not more. No need to constantly keep updating components, deal with drivers and software in general. I can just pick up the gamepad, press on button and dive right in. I guess in that sense console ARE PCs, just very specialized ones meant to only play games and some other entertainment apps which to me still makes a lot of sense. I like that thing in my living room instead of a big box that needs constant attention on my desk.
- ehsankia 7y ago
  Or even better, you don't deal with any hardware at all and buy into the Cloud gaming future :) It's really sad that Stadia has flopped so far and that xCloud isn't any closer to being a thing. Nvidia's solution looks better, though still requires a Windows/Mac computer. Maybe the Stadia announcement next week will have some interesting stuff, I'm excited to not have to worry about devices anymore and simply buy games I like.
  - owaislone 7y ago
    I'm all in for it but it unfortunately is not ready yet. The day I'll be able to play multiplayer FPS games with <90ms ping running in the cloud, I'll ditch the console.

Consoles are now branded PCs with DRM lock-in. Makes way more sense to buy a PC.

by jrobn 7y ago

Consoles are now branded PCs with DRM lock-in. Makes way more sense to buy a PC.

You could have said the same about PS1 or N64 (with s/PCs/workstations/) spec-wise. But the market for fixed function consoles is separate from GP computers if you're not a hardware collector interested in specs only. Cf Palm Pilot vs Game Boy.

TrumpSucks 7y ago
Nah, the landscape was vastly different then. These days every console game comes out on PC.

snvzz 7y ago

I'd go further and say they're expensive, very cost-inefficient PCs locked with DRM into only playing licensed games. PC Hardware is cheaper. PC games are also cheaper. And games are seldom console exclusives anymore. When they are, they're not for long. There's no value to be found in consoles anymore. They exploit the tech ignorance of the riffraff.

city41 7y ago
This is a similar argument between say your own server farm and AWS. Consoles are guaranteed to work correctly and always have 100% compatibility. You don't tinker or deal with any headaches, you just play. For many people, that is worth the extra cost.
bhaak 7y ago
> And games are seldom console exclusives anymore. When they are, they're not for long. That may be true for the Xbox but certainly not for PS4 or Nintendo games.
Keverw 7y ago
Why expensive? seems like a Xbox One S is a few hundred bucks 299 I see on the site. The One X seems 100 more. Could you buy or even build a comparable gaming PC for that much? Not really to up with all the hardware stuff... so curious. Guess you’d need to pick a case, motherboard and then find similar specs if comparing and compatible hardware combination. Then I thought consoles were some what subsidized since they also get a cut of game sales. Plus targeting the same hardware sounds like a way to be consistent.
- snvzz 7y ago
  >Why expensive? seems like a Xbox One S is a few hundred bucks 299 I see on the site. The One X seems 100 more. Do look up release prices. These consoles are old now. And keep in mind they're not proper computers: They can only run a selection of programs, which are mostly games. Usefulness-wise, they aren't even comparable.
  - Keverw 7y ago
    Yeah. I know a new one is out now but still selling the older models... but I kinda like Microsoft's approach. since even the original Xbox One can still run new releases from my understanding. Instead of each new console requiring all new games and OS.

vernie 7y ago

No it doesn't

scott_s 7y ago

I like to play games on my couch, without having to hassle with settings or upgrades. I also like having a media center attached to my tv. Yes, one can hook up a PC to a tv. No, that is not without hassle and upgrades. I want a box to play games and watch shows and movies.

omni 7y ago
> I want a box to play games and watch shows and movies. The Nvidia Shield does exactly this. It has Android TV on it and can stream games either from your own PC or from Geforce Now.
Avamander 7y ago
Windows is indeed utterly overcomplicated and thus fragile for gaming use, indeed. I think the same applies to Linux distros, but there's ValveOS that has been an attempt to bring the console seamless experience to PC hardware. If only we'd have more game devs and Nvidia's attention on Linux.

rospaya 7y ago

I had a PS2, an Xbox 360 and now a PS4. Total hardware cost of playing the latest games with zero performance issues, hardware worries or upgrades in the last 20 years is around the price of a single gaming PC, which lasts what, 4-5 years tops? It's just not the same market.

HenryKissinger 7y ago
A Nvidia 2080Ti costs $1,199.99. A Xbox One X costs $499. And this one of the main reasons why consoles will continue to thrive. Because not everyone can afford to drop 3k on a gaming PC. Or 2k. Or even 1k.
wishinghand 7y ago
> the latest games with zero performance issues I don't know what you're playing, but it's a joke to imply that games on consoles run without performance issues.
- gerland 7y ago
  I was switching between gaming PC and console for the last 15 years and to be honest I had much more trouble with PC games. Just after I buy a PC everything runs very smoothly, but the performance declines very fast with new games. It's always an internal struggle between "I want it to look better" and "I cannot play on this framerate anymore". Console games for the most part run on the same level. It's not great, but in this case I'm grateful that someone took the choice from me. Obviously there are games that are just slower than the average, but everyone knows very fast about them. I would not buy a 3/10 game and I would not buy a game that has performance problems. With PC it's always a bit of a gambit.
- rospaya 7y ago
  I'll be honest and say that I don't play games that much anymore so any game I tried ran smoothly. Is QA failing or are Sony and Microsoft allowing shoddy games on their plaforms? Anyway, just graphics cards, CPU upgrades, noise and ventilation... It's expensive and it's a mess for anyone except hardcore gamers and people who need a desktop PC that costs $2000 anyway. For most folks a one time cost of $600 settles their gaming needs for years.

cactus2093 7y ago

It's kind of true, just like buying a Mac these days is getting worse specs for more money and more lock-in than a buying a PC. But some people just like the convenience of a simple, good-enough plug and play solution.

dyingkneepad 7y ago

I play fighting games and the PS4 versions are generally better than the PC ones. PC is usually a port made by another company (e.g., MK11, and Samsho is promising PC version since forever but nothing yet). Plus, I don't get to worry about updating drivers, checking system requirements, disabling cortana or all that other stuff. I can just sit and play. Maybe I have to plug the pad on the USB port to recharge it.

owaislone 7y ago

I still don't want to deal with maintaining a PC and managing Windows. Console are still way more convenient and so easy to own. You buy one and you are set for almost half a decade if not more. No need to constantly keep updating components, deal with drivers and software in general. I can just pick up the gamepad, press on button and dive right in. I guess in that sense console ARE PCs, just very specialized ones meant to only play games and some other entertainment apps which to me still makes a lot of sense. I like that thing in my living room instead of a big box that needs constant attention on my desk.

ehsankia 7y ago
Or even better, you don't deal with any hardware at all and buy into the Cloud gaming future :) It's really sad that Stadia has flopped so far and that xCloud isn't any closer to being a thing. Nvidia's solution looks better, though still requires a Windows/Mac computer. Maybe the Stadia announcement next week will have some interesting stuff, I'm excited to not have to worry about devices anymore and simply buy games I like.
- owaislone 7y ago
  I'm all in for it but it unfortunately is not ready yet. The day I'll be able to play multiplayer FPS games with <90ms ping running in the cloud, I'll ditch the console.