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PS Plus price hike: We'll all pay for a subscription-based future | Opinion (www.gamesindustry.biz)
submitted 3 years ago by [M] to c/gaming@beehaw.org
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[–] 8 points 3 years ago* (13 children)

Ok. Logitech G203 for $20 and a Redragon K552 for $45 - a tiny bit cheaper than a PS5 controller which retails at $70 before tax.

Windows you can literally get for free from Microsoft directly. You’re basically paying a license to get rid of the “Activate Windows” bit and to be able to change wallpapers, but functionally you can play games and do computer things with an unactivated Windows license. You can also opt to play on Linux instead since Steam offers Proton with their Linux version, and you can also use WINE for games that won’t run on Proton. Linux is also free.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (12 children)

    Those are not in the same quality tier at all, at least include a wireless rechargeable mouse.

    Consoles don’t have licensing issues with their OS. You can’t run every PC game issue free on steam OS or Linux.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    You know, you see thus argument every so often online. I've had an excellent and subscription free Linux gaming experience over the last three years. If you enjoy console gaming and getting nickel and dimed for increasingly shitty online services then power to you

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago (3 children)

    Now you’re just arguing in bad faith lol.

    If you want a mouse with a good sensor for competitive games and a linear switch mechanical keyboard with NKRO, those are generally the two best entry-level options. Rechargeable wireless mice can be a bit pricey, which is why I’m assuming you used a vague descriptor of “quality” and specifically mentioned it just for the sake of being arbitrarily on par with what a PS5 offers. But if you want a good budget option for a wireless gaming mouse, you can with a Logitch G305 for around $50.

    As for the OS stuff, that’s a good point, and it’s true - if you’re talking about 5 or so years ago. Once Steam said “hey, we’re integrating Proton into our Linux version of Steam”, it’s been leaps and bounds in improvements for Linux gaming. By the way, fun fact: the PS4 used FreeBSD for the system’s OS which is based off Unix - and surprise, Linux is also based off Unix. Wouldn’t be surprised if the PS5 OS is also based on FreeBSD.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    How is that a bad faith argument? The PS5 Controller is not entry level quality. It's not my problem equivalent PC peripherals are expensive. My Razer Viper Wireless cost $150 and the build quality is just slightly worse than a Dual Sense. It's built to be lighter weight so that's understandable. But it's twice the cost, and that doesn't include a keyboard. I tried the G305 and didn't care for the build quality personally. Equivalent wireless keyboards with the quality control of Sony are $80-$100 too. I'd probably cheap out on the keyboard before the mouse, but every keyboard I've used under $85 had Quality control issues from switches stop functioning to buggy software (Anne Pro II), and Wireless was terrible on all of them.

    I've heard issues dealing with multiplayer and anti-cheat as recently as this summer, so it's nice to see it's better, but until games are officially supported with no third party patches or workarounds, I don't count it.

    PS5 is FreeBSD based, so yes it's Unix-like. But that doesn't mean anything. MacOS is also Unix-Like and it's terrible for gaming. It all comes down to support. At the end of the day I don't want to have to deal with drivers, or configurations to play a game. I want to press a button, and start gaming. For me personally Consoles are going to win that war 95% of the time. But I'm dumb. I spent almost 3 times the cost of a PS5 on a Graphics card last year for some reason.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Last time I’ll engage with you on this topic.

    The PS5 Controller is not entry level quality. It’s not my problem equivalent PC peripherals are expensive.

    You’re right - it’s the only entry in at that price point. If you just want a wireless PS5 controller, you either pay Sony $70… or you pay an approved 3rd-party retailer $150+ at minimum for a non-Sony controller. So it’s comes out the same as the Viper Wireless you mentioned.

    My Razer Viper Wireless cost $150 and the build quality is just slightly worse than a Dual Sense. It’s built to be lighter weight so that’s understandable. But it’s twice the cost, and that doesn’t include a keyboard. I tried the G305 and didn’t care for the build quality personally.

    How the fuck can you compare build qualities between a controller and a mouse?? Like, how do you actually do that? You’re comparing apples to oranges here at best, and at worst you’re doing a strawman argument by cherry-picking things that support your point. You also prove that enjoying build quality is subjective - I personally loved the G305 mouse and how it felt in my hand, and I have used stuff like the Viper Wireless and Glorious Model O. But you what the best mouse I have used to date is? The CoolerMaster MM720, which is a $30 wired mouse. The consumer have choices at different price points when it comes to gaming peripherals, and you are right that they can be crazy expensive at the top end - but don’t pretend $180 controllers don’t exist, either, and don’t try to conflate high-price point items as being good, because you can easily get a good quality mouse with bells and whistles in the $60-$80 space.

    Equivalent wireless keyboards with the quality control of Sony are $80-$100 too. I’d probably cheap out on the keyboard before the mouse, but every keyboard I’ve used under $85 had Quality control issues from switches stop functioning to buggy software (Anne Pro II), and Wireless was terrible on all of them.

    That I will give you, but you’re also deliberately shopping in the $40 range for stuff like the Anne Pro II Keyboard you mentioned. I can say every PS5 controller I used under $70 was awful, but that doesn’t mean much once I mention I was buying $20 controllers.

    I’ve heard issues dealing with multiplayer and anti-cheat as recently as this summer, so it’s nice to see it’s better, but until games are officially supported with no third party patches or workarounds, I don’t count it.

    Anti-cheat has also been on consoles for decades now - not as bad as PC to your point, but once again don’t act like consoles don’t experience the issue either, especially when stuff like Xim exists.

    PS5 is FreeBSD based, so yes it’s Unix-like. But that doesn’t mean anything. MacOS is also Unix-Like and it’s terrible for gaming. It all comes down to support.

    Good point, forgot Macs exist tbh lol. It is also only one OS that doesn’t have good gaming support, but honestly it’s a toss-up. Linux has gotten some really good support though.

    At the end of the day I don’t want to have to deal with drivers, or configurations to play a game. I want to press a button, and start gaming. For me personally Consoles are going to win that war 95% of the time.

    Which is a completely valid point - but that’s not the point you were making initially. Since you said right off that bat:

    Need to add a good quality mouse and keyboard to your numbers at minimum. Consoles come with controllers. Should also add a $99 Windows license too.

    You made it a point to talk about the price of the computer versus a console, not the ease of use of it.

    I spent almost 3 times the cost of a PS5 on a Graphics card last year for some reason.

    Because you deliberately chose to spend that much on a GPU that outperforms a PS5 in graphical power? I bought a $400 GPU that slightly beats the PS5 out a couple of years back, so that’s moot.

    How is that a bad faith argument?

    Because I’m dumb and I just learned what “bad faith” actually means lol. My apologies on that, it was the wrong usage - “cherry-picking” is literally the word I should have used.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago

    So it’s comes out the same as the Viper Wireless you mentioned.

    No, it comes with the console. So to be fair, just subtract $70 from the cost of the PS5 = $330 for the Digital Version

    How the fuck can you compare build qualities between a controller and a mouse

    Easy, the Plastic and Switches on the Razer feel cheaper / more brittle. There is more flex to it when squeezed. The charging dock connectors are less reliable. To be fair, the mouse did come with a dock with my model, I think it may be a bit cheaper without it.

    you can easily get a good quality mouse with bells and whistles in the $60-$80 space.

    You absolutely can, but you didn't include anything originally and that's why I made a point of bringing it up.

    you’re also deliberately shopping in the $40 range for stuff like the Anne Pro II Keyboard

    I paid $90 for in in late 2019. Assuming that's not a counterfeit listing (Official site lists it for $90 with $10 off but OOO). The macros and software customization is incredible... when it works. Bluetooth was worthless, I had repeated key presses from time to time, and the config kept getting erased randomly when I would unplug it.

    Anti-cheat has also been on consoles for decades now

    I meant anti-cheat preventing the game from working. I stopped playing competitive a long time ago.

    Linux has gotten some really good support though.

    Subjective I guess. ProtonDB still lists a lot of games with issues. Not a lot are natively supported by the devs.

    You made it a point to talk about the price of the computer versus a console, not the ease of use of it.

    Yea I did, and the Ease of use is tied to the cost through the Windows license or lack there of. In all of these comparisons the PC side neglects to include the cost of Keyboards, Mice, and Windows.

    Because you deliberately chose to spend that much on a GPU that outperforms a PS5 in graphical power? I bought a $400 GPU that slightly beats the PS5 out a couple of years back, so that’s moot.

    That's the entire cost of a PS5, and a few years back an equivalent SSD was $200.

    cherry picking

    That's basically my original point. You can't leave out a mouse and keyboard.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (3 children)

    Who needs a wireless mouse when you're sitting right in front of the computer it's plugged into?

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    Not everyone plays at a desk. It's crazy easy to play PC games in your living on your giant TV.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    With a console controller? Being barely able to aim isn't my idea of easy. Mouse and keyboard, please.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago)

    I used an Xbox controller for years yes. Now I use an 8bitdo with gyros. I don't play fps games. But yes I do have a wireless m+kb for games that are better with them.

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