Soo, why do console version of computer games cost more?

[Jamesfox849]

See title, it's a basic question.

I don't think most people are going to argue that console games are anything but inferior versions of computer games, in most cases. So why then, do console games cost atleast $10 more, and always have a higherprice for longer, then computer games, when it's an obviously inferior version?

Because my laptop can't handle alot of more modern games (Dragon's age, for example) I have to buy these games for console, and spend an extra $10.

Now thats not alot of money, but it adds up, and I must've wasted atleast a hundred dollars, buying games that my computer can't run.

The only reason I can think of is stability (I.E. A Console game should never, EVER, have anything but the best graphics avaliable, and the framerate shouldn't drop noticibly, it just shouldn't happen) But I don't think that thats reason enough to charge more.

Any ideas?

 

[Lukeje]

Ermm... why is the console version `obviously inferior'?

Edit: Forgot to answer the question. The capitalistic answer would be `because people are willing to pay it.'

 

[SoloStoffe]

Now thats not alot of money, but it adds up, and I must've wasted atleast a hundred dollars, buying games that my computer can't run.

Sorry for being off-topic, but why didn't you check te system requierments before buying?

 

[MrEnigami]

Ermm... why is the console version `obviously inferior'?

Computers have more "oomph". Consoles just aren't as powerful.

And I'm not sure. Gaming PCs cost more?

 

[Lukeje]

Now thats not alot of money, but it adds up, and I must've wasted atleast a hundred dollars, buying games that my computer can't run.

Sorry for being off-topic, but why didn't you check te system requierments before buying?

He means that he feels that he was forced to buy these games on console because his computer doesn't meet the hardware requirements.

Ermm... why is the console version `obviously inferior'?

Computers have more "oomph". Consoles just aren't as powerful.

And I'm not sure. Gaming PCs cost more?

Having more `oomph' does not make the games better,

 

[Ewyx]

Because us PC users tend to be stuck with shitty ports.

 

[MrEnigami]

Now thats not alot of money, but it adds up, and I must've wasted atleast a hundred dollars, buying games that my computer can't run.

Sorry for being off-topic, but why didn't you check te system requierments before buying?

He means that he feels that he was forced to buy these games on console because his computer doesn't meet the hardware requirements.

Ermm... why is the console version `obviously inferior'?

Computers have more "oomph". Consoles just aren't as powerful.

And I'm not sure. Gaming PCs cost more?

Having more `oomph' does not make the games better,

Meh, I'm sure that's what OP was getting at anyway. You can also mod a PC game, something that in my mind makes them better. ^^

 

[Jamesfox849]

Ermm... why is the console version `obviously inferior'?

Less modding support, worse community, less support in general.

It varies on the company, but on the whole, computer games just tend to be better.

valve console games are a good example of little support (Especially Tf2)

 

[MrCollins]

The more easy access to pirated copy, I know a fair amount of people who pirated PC games but none who did console ones.
So I guess fear of pirates, maybe. Oh and doesn't 10$ of each game go to microsoft/sony/nintendo for licensing fees but none go to PCs?

 

[Danny Ocean]

Because us PC users tend to be stuck with shitty ports.

That doesn't make sense. Ports require more costs after the action. That should surely drive the price up?

 

[deathbydeath]

ummm, on a disk you don't have to pay a console royalty, and on steam you don't have to pay for a disk. and steam sales.

 

[Zannah]

publishing a console game, you need to pay the manufacturer of the console. And since Game publishers are run by greed as much as all big companies, they don't pay that fee themselves, but just take it from the consumers.

 

[batterj2]

First, remember time = money

For each console:
* you must become a licensed developer
* therefore you must meet their QA standards
* passing QA takes time, especially since neither console owner wants to be seen as supporting buggy software and probably takes quite a few attempts to get through
* sometimes the console isn't fast/powerful enough meaning you need to have REALLY lean code (one up from the 1s and 0s)

For the PC:
* there's no such thing as licensed PC developer
* therefore the only QA you can do is your own
* many software packages now work on multiple platforms thanks to well designed APIs
* some PCs are faster and more stable. Sometimes (hopefully not too often) developers say, "well, they should have better PCs" e.g. when someone tries to run Crysis on a 286
* its probably easier to update PC games therefore easier to release patches

 

[Jarcin]

Why not spend those extra hundreds of dollars on upgrading your computer?

 

[Jamesfox849]

Why not spend those extra hundreds of dollars on upgrading your computer?

Right, I'll save up $10 at a time not buying games,

but I see what your getting at, it's just doesn't work that way.

 

[Jarcin]

How about just not buying so many games? That way your saving 40-50 dollars a piece

 

[Lukeje]

Ermm... why is the console version `obviously inferior'?

Less modding support, worse community, less support in general.

It varies on the company, but on the whole, computer games just tend to be better.

valve console games are a good example of little support (Especially Tf2)

For every example like TF2 I'm pretty sure I could come up with a shitty PC port (e.g. Resident Evil 4, or GTA 4).

 

[Seabutcher]

Supply and demand, basics of running a business. Console games are usually in higher demand, so retailers can get away with charging more for as long as there are still customers willing to pay that higher price.