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> They're subsidised by the game prices. You still pay for it in the end. How much is a half-decent game PC ? €2000 ? Compare to a €500 console. For €1500 I ca

by Aaargh20318 5y ago

> They're subsidised by the game prices. You still pay for it in the end. How much is a half-decent game PC ? €2000 ? Compare to a €500 console. For €1500 I can buy a lot of 'overpriced' games.

zaarn 5y ago
A half decent PC is in the 800€ to 1000€ range. If you're willing to take some graphical downgrades you can do it for 600-800€ too. How many games can you buy for 500€ max? About 10 or so. Maybe.
- maccard 5y ago
  You're comparing full price console games to free PC games. There are numerous games on consoles that cost less than €50, and buying the latest AAA releases on PC will cost you more than €50 too
  - zaarn 5y ago
    How many free Console games are there? Much less than PC. It's entirely fair as there is more possibility of free PC games, or them being of negligible cost since you pay lower platform fees. This is in addition to the opportunity costs you incur of not buying a PC or having a lower powered PC as a PC can be used for other things (ie, office work, taxes, other productivity tasks).
    - Aaargh20318 5y ago
      >This is in addition to the opportunity costs you incur of not buying a PC or having a lower powered PC as a PC can be used for other things (ie, office work, taxes, other productivity tasks). Work related stuf I do on my work-provided MacBook Pro, that costs me €0. For browsing the web, e-mail and taxes I just use my iPad.
      - zaarn 5y ago
        An iPad costs non significant amounts of money and not everyone is privileged enough to get a MacBook Pro for personal work from their employer.
        Aaargh20318 5y ago
        > An iPad costs non significant amounts of money Less than a PC
    - maccard 5y ago
      In absolute numbers there are more free games on PC (see itch.io) yes but that kind of doesn't matter. If your game choices are purely driven by cost then a second hand laptop with f2p games is going to be the cheapest approach. If you exclusively want to play f2p games, then a cheap PC or a cheap console doesn't really matter. Buy if you're going to be buying a handful of new releases a year, the difference is more like €10 per game rather than €50 > since you pay lower platform fees The platform fees (not required by the way) are roughly the cost of one game per year, if not cheaper. Gamepass being a very different discussion (and is available on PC too) > This is in addition to the opportunity costs you incur of not buying a PC or having a lower powered PC as a PC can be used for other things (ie, office work, taxes, other productivity tasks). I don't know about you but I don't want my work PC to be where I relax in the evenings, and many people don't want their employers software or information on their personal devices. I also live in a country where I don't have to fill in my own taxes, and almost all of my personal computing needs are met by my phone.
      - zaarn 5y ago
        I didn't say you'd have to buy a workplace PC with gaming capabilities, there is plenty of opportunities for a PC to be productive outside work and gaming (such as commenting on HN).
        maccard 5y ago
        I can do all of those things on my phone (and I do!)
        zaarn 5y ago
        Not all things are quite possible on a phone or as comfortable as you could do them on a PC (I couldn't imagine coding on a phone).
        maccard 5y ago
        And things aren't always as comfortable on PC as they are on a console. I would much rather the streamlined experience and guaranteed compatibility of a console for playing games, in the same way you would rather a PC for coding over a phone.
- fabian2k 5y ago
  If you want to play the kind of games you'd play on a console in a similar quality, your figures will only pay for the GPU, and that just barely. The prices are completely insane right now, PC gaming is not very affordable today. And PC games also cost money, at least if we're talking about similar types of games as on the consoles.
  - zaarn 5y ago
    You can definitely get a GPU for affordable prices if you're willing to wait. The insane prices apply if you want a GPU now. Also keep in mind that consoles are subject to the very same price increase, it's nearly impossible to obtain a console for the advertised price.
    - fabian2k 5y ago
      I got a PS5 months ago for the regular price (400 EUR for the digital-only version), and I didn't put that much effort into getting it. A 3060 would be at least 700 EUR right now. And the GPU prices have been rather expensive, if not as outright insane as right now for years. So PC gaming in general has become less attractive from a financial point while console prices are pretty much the same (though with some difficulty in getting them, for sure).
      - zaarn 5y ago
        You don't need a 3060, you can simply get a GPU from a few generations back. You can get a Vega 56 for about 300€ which will play most games in high quality settings without any issues. Same for all other components, it's no longer true that you need current-gen technology to be able to play with Graphics put on High.
        fabian2k 5y ago
        That's still 3/4 of the price of a new console for a used 4 year old GPU. And you still won't be able to match the graphics quality of a PS5 in new games.
y4mi 5y ago
2 yrs ago i would've said 800€. currently it would be 1.5k+€, but thats because of the silicon shortage and scalpers. and fwiw, a ps5 was going for 1.4k just a few month ago too.
ryanlol 5y ago
The real question is “how much is an equivalent game PC” because consoles do not perform anywhere near the level of half-decent game PCs.
- maccard 5y ago
  "it's complicated" - links below. Right now the GPU market is screwed so you would spend more on the equivalent GPU than the entire rest of the hardware, but a $400 GPU (3060Ti) theoretically, plus the rest of the components, (CPU, motherboard, ram) peripherals (you get a £50 gamepad free with your console), software licenses (a legit windows license is not free) [0] https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2021-call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-pc-vs-ps5 https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2021-call-... [1] https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2020-assassins-creed-valhalla-ps5-vs-pc https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2020-assas...
GhettoComputers 5y ago
Depends what matters to you. Do you care a lot for graphics? I can run nearly every game I care about on a laptop, since I care about gameplay like older emulator, indie games such as into the breach don't need good graphics, AoE II and SC are way more fun than ray traced shooters to me. For a cheap PC a 3400G APU can play GTA5 pretty well, and emulate PS3 games, nothing high spec just a CPU+GPU combo chip for $150 that will play older games, not lock games by console, and run PC software. Lots of great free games on PC like cave story exist too, not to mention the granular settings to games that don't exist on console, free mods to make games like Skyrim keep it modern, the existance of mods for games like Fallout or GTA5 make console games less full featured and unappealing unless you want to be locked to whatever they think is best for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0p5fbW5odY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0p5fbW5odY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yxPtHuyPJo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yxPtHuyPJo If you want the latest AAA games, consoles are cheaper unfront costs, more expensive in the long run, and you have less freedom to run cool stuff on the games.
- maccard 5y ago
  > I can run nearly every game I care about on a laptop, since I care about gameplay like older emulator, indie games such as into the breach don't need good graphics, If that's what you care about then buying a modern console is a terrible idea, however you can buy a "retro" console (xbox 360) with dozens of games ver practically nothing (The first match on gumtree near me was a 360, 2 controllers and 35 games for £60)
  - GhettoComputers 5y ago
    But my PC can run PC native games, console emulators and upscale the graphics to make them look better on top of running programs. A 360 is limited to 720p, slow discs, proprietary slow HDD, and RRoD (I killed 2 360s when I had them due to the poor quality heatsink). On PC they even have BotW DLC. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/03/introducing_second_wind_a_free_large-scale_dlc_expansion_mod_for_zelda_breath_of_the_wild https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/03/introducing_second... there’s no comparison for functionality. The new Xbox can emulate (very poorly, less than a weaker computer can, but it’ll get better) too, it’s why the xbone with dev mode for homebrew was never hacked. https://www.ggrecon.com/articles/emulate-playstation-2-xbox-series/ https://www.ggrecon.com/articles/emulate-playstation-2-xbox-... If I had to buy a console, form factor is the most important, I love my PSP. Could play NES, some SNES and very slow N64, perfect compatibility PS1 emulator, GB+GBC,GBA and of course PSP games. The homebrew on it for apps was amazing too with music players, ebook readers, cheats for every game, ability to change clock for battery life or performance, really a game changing device.

> They're subsidised by the game prices. You still pay for it in the end. How much is a half-decent game PC ? €2000 ? Compare to a €500 console. For €1500 I can buy a lot of 'overpriced' games.

zaarn 5y ago

A half decent PC is in the 800€ to 1000€ range. If you're willing to take some graphical downgrades you can do it for 600-800€ too. How many games can you buy for 500€ max? About 10 or so. Maybe.

maccard 5y ago
You're comparing full price console games to free PC games. There are numerous games on consoles that cost less than €50, and buying the latest AAA releases on PC will cost you more than €50 too
- zaarn 5y ago
  How many free Console games are there? Much less than PC. It's entirely fair as there is more possibility of free PC games, or them being of negligible cost since you pay lower platform fees. This is in addition to the opportunity costs you incur of not buying a PC or having a lower powered PC as a PC can be used for other things (ie, office work, taxes, other productivity tasks).
  - Aaargh20318 5y ago
    >This is in addition to the opportunity costs you incur of not buying a PC or having a lower powered PC as a PC can be used for other things (ie, office work, taxes, other productivity tasks). Work related stuf I do on my work-provided MacBook Pro, that costs me €0. For browsing the web, e-mail and taxes I just use my iPad.
    - zaarn 5y ago
      An iPad costs non significant amounts of money and not everyone is privileged enough to get a MacBook Pro for personal work from their employer.
      - Aaargh20318 5y ago
        > An iPad costs non significant amounts of money Less than a PC
  - maccard 5y ago
    In absolute numbers there are more free games on PC (see itch.io) yes but that kind of doesn't matter. If your game choices are purely driven by cost then a second hand laptop with f2p games is going to be the cheapest approach. If you exclusively want to play f2p games, then a cheap PC or a cheap console doesn't really matter. Buy if you're going to be buying a handful of new releases a year, the difference is more like €10 per game rather than €50 > since you pay lower platform fees The platform fees (not required by the way) are roughly the cost of one game per year, if not cheaper. Gamepass being a very different discussion (and is available on PC too) > This is in addition to the opportunity costs you incur of not buying a PC or having a lower powered PC as a PC can be used for other things (ie, office work, taxes, other productivity tasks). I don't know about you but I don't want my work PC to be where I relax in the evenings, and many people don't want their employers software or information on their personal devices. I also live in a country where I don't have to fill in my own taxes, and almost all of my personal computing needs are met by my phone.
    - zaarn 5y ago
      I didn't say you'd have to buy a workplace PC with gaming capabilities, there is plenty of opportunities for a PC to be productive outside work and gaming (such as commenting on HN).
      - maccard 5y ago
        I can do all of those things on my phone (and I do!)
        zaarn 5y ago
        Not all things are quite possible on a phone or as comfortable as you could do them on a PC (I couldn't imagine coding on a phone).
        maccard 5y ago
        And things aren't always as comfortable on PC as they are on a console. I would much rather the streamlined experience and guaranteed compatibility of a console for playing games, in the same way you would rather a PC for coding over a phone.
fabian2k 5y ago
If you want to play the kind of games you'd play on a console in a similar quality, your figures will only pay for the GPU, and that just barely. The prices are completely insane right now, PC gaming is not very affordable today. And PC games also cost money, at least if we're talking about similar types of games as on the consoles.
- zaarn 5y ago
  You can definitely get a GPU for affordable prices if you're willing to wait. The insane prices apply if you want a GPU now. Also keep in mind that consoles are subject to the very same price increase, it's nearly impossible to obtain a console for the advertised price.
  - fabian2k 5y ago
    I got a PS5 months ago for the regular price (400 EUR for the digital-only version), and I didn't put that much effort into getting it. A 3060 would be at least 700 EUR right now. And the GPU prices have been rather expensive, if not as outright insane as right now for years. So PC gaming in general has become less attractive from a financial point while console prices are pretty much the same (though with some difficulty in getting them, for sure).
    - zaarn 5y ago
      You don't need a 3060, you can simply get a GPU from a few generations back. You can get a Vega 56 for about 300€ which will play most games in high quality settings without any issues. Same for all other components, it's no longer true that you need current-gen technology to be able to play with Graphics put on High.
      - fabian2k 5y ago
        That's still 3/4 of the price of a new console for a used 4 year old GPU. And you still won't be able to match the graphics quality of a PS5 in new games.

y4mi 5y ago

2 yrs ago i would've said 800€. currently it would be 1.5k+€, but thats because of the silicon shortage and scalpers. and fwiw, a ps5 was going for 1.4k just a few month ago too.

ryanlol 5y ago

The real question is “how much is an equivalent game PC” because consoles do not perform anywhere near the level of half-decent game PCs.

maccard 5y ago
"it's complicated" - links below. Right now the GPU market is screwed so you would spend more on the equivalent GPU than the entire rest of the hardware, but a $400 GPU (3060Ti) theoretically, plus the rest of the components, (CPU, motherboard, ram) peripherals (you get a £50 gamepad free with your console), software licenses (a legit windows license is not free) [0] https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2021-call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-pc-vs-ps5 https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2021-call-... [1] https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2020-assassins-creed-valhalla-ps5-vs-pc https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2020-assas...

GhettoComputers 5y ago

Depends what matters to you. Do you care a lot for graphics? I can run nearly every game I care about on a laptop, since I care about gameplay like older emulator, indie games such as into the breach don't need good graphics, AoE II and SC are way more fun than ray traced shooters to me. For a cheap PC a 3400G APU can play GTA5 pretty well, and emulate PS3 games, nothing high spec just a CPU+GPU combo chip for $150 that will play older games, not lock games by console, and run PC software. Lots of great free games on PC like cave story exist too, not to mention the granular settings to games that don't exist on console, free mods to make games like Skyrim keep it modern, the existance of mods for games like Fallout or GTA5 make console games less full featured and unappealing unless you want to be locked to whatever they think is best for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0p5fbW5odY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0p5fbW5odY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yxPtHuyPJo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yxPtHuyPJo If you want the latest AAA games, consoles are cheaper unfront costs, more expensive in the long run, and you have less freedom to run cool stuff on the games.

maccard 5y ago
> I can run nearly every game I care about on a laptop, since I care about gameplay like older emulator, indie games such as into the breach don't need good graphics, If that's what you care about then buying a modern console is a terrible idea, however you can buy a "retro" console (xbox 360) with dozens of games ver practically nothing (The first match on gumtree near me was a 360, 2 controllers and 35 games for £60)
- GhettoComputers 5y ago
  But my PC can run PC native games, console emulators and upscale the graphics to make them look better on top of running programs. A 360 is limited to 720p, slow discs, proprietary slow HDD, and RRoD (I killed 2 360s when I had them due to the poor quality heatsink). On PC they even have BotW DLC. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/03/introducing_second_wind_a_free_large-scale_dlc_expansion_mod_for_zelda_breath_of_the_wild https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/03/introducing_second... there’s no comparison for functionality. The new Xbox can emulate (very poorly, less than a weaker computer can, but it’ll get better) too, it’s why the xbone with dev mode for homebrew was never hacked. https://www.ggrecon.com/articles/emulate-playstation-2-xbox-series/ https://www.ggrecon.com/articles/emulate-playstation-2-xbox-... If I had to buy a console, form factor is the most important, I love my PSP. Could play NES, some SNES and very slow N64, perfect compatibility PS1 emulator, GB+GBC,GBA and of course PSP games. The homebrew on it for apps was amazing too with music players, ebook readers, cheats for every game, ability to change clock for battery life or performance, really a game changing device.