Pc Gamers...the master race
By mrhankey 23 Comments
(I apologize for the long post and have sincere gratitude for people that read the whole thing)
I in no way condone the above, this is in reference to a post I recently saw on our lovely Giantbomb
@Dany
said:The above is a statement I've seen from a lot of people, his logic is also the justificationf or why so many console gamers despise us hardcore Pc gamers. Let me explain something:" Why do people complain when games are 60 instead of 50? Or that they have to pay for DLC? I've never understood that, I've had my xbox then followed by my 360 and never touched game on the PC. Why all the special treatment for the PC and their audience? "
The 360 and PS3 came out about five years ago and with them brought two things that changed how games are sold: $60 games and $10-$5 DLC. These are two things that had never been heard of before in either the console or pc gaming market. These are two things perpetuated by by Microsoft and Sony; they are the cost of licensing fees so that a game company may get their game published on the Microsoft or Sony platform. DLC is a way to monetize game development, make more money for more content....justified by the amount of money it takes to make games now.
With that said let's look at something:
PC GAMERS have ALWAYS received their games for $50 or less and always got content for free. THERE IS NO LICENSING FEE to publish a game on the PC, hell, you don't even have to go through STEAM or an actual publisher, you can use the power of the internet (not effective). We do not like paying more money for games that are digitally distributed because that model gets rid of various middle mans that otherwise would need to be compensated. We do not like paying for more content for two reason 1) before this year we had always gotten it for free and 2)generally they are overpriced and not worth $10...maybe $5, and certainly not $15 (I'm looking at you Infinity Ward).
What could be argued in the case for making PC GAMERS quit bitching and suffer the same economic model as their console bretheren:
$60 games secures the following: Top payment to the developer, and compensation for dealing with piracy (only if they don't have draconian DRM, I'm looking at you UBISOFT)
$5, maybe $10 for DLC if the company actually needs to make more money to afford their next big product. Otherwise it's just silver lining in their pockets..
The sentiment:
Most PC GAMERS I would argue are very utilitarian and only do things if they see it as necessary or useful...neither of which can be deduced for a $10 price hike and the rip off that is the pricing model of DLC.
To put it in better terms:
PC Gamers, until very recently....always paid $50 per game, or $30 if it was an expansion.
PC Gamers, until very recently....got new content (not new games), for free. (making DLC paid also rips the online community apart, if its an online game)
PC Gamers do not like price hikes or charging for content that is maybe only 20mb big....
So ask you....what if Giantbomb started charged an initial fee to use their website and then charged you money for "DLC"? How would you feel. Currently you get Giantbomb for free. Currently you get all of their content for free. Do not claim PC GAMERS are entitled...we are consumerist and don't like being ripped off as much as the next guy. Console gamers....just quit bitching at us for bitching...you act like we shouldn't complain because you all are fine with the current economic practices...we aren't, so we are allowed to voice our opinion, however; do not say we're entitled.
1) I've never paid for DLC on my PC or XBOX 360.
2) I do not play online games on my XBOX 360 because I think its wrong to charge for that service when the PC AND PS3 do not.
3) I do not play MMOs that charge monthly because I think it's wrong.
You either have ideals and live by them or you don't.
We aren't entitled, we're annoyed consumerist.