"Steam Is The Only Good Monopoly" – The Danger of a Digital-Only Future for Gaming

[BraLoD]

Chrkeller said:

BraLoD said:

Generally yes, finding a new PC part would be much quicker than finding an old console part. But what if what you want to replace is an old PC part too? A specific soundcard you love to use on an old PC?

You are comparing finding a new PC part with an old console part, not a new PC part and a new console part, those are also everywhere. Or an old PC part with a old console part.

Also, there are substitutes for old console parts, also, I could simply buy another used console for way cheaper than some PC parts just as well, at least the consoles I like are still readily available, not even the Master System is a problem as it was popular around here so even something that was doa in the USA could still be imported from here.

I also agree emulation is by far the most comfortable way, I would even say anyone that has no problem with not playing in the original hardware would actually only benefit from emulation, I personally have no problem with emulation but choose to not use it anymore myself, both because I like seeing how games worked when they were released, and as a principle, as if I can buy a game I would rather buy it, but again, zero problem with anyone else using it.

Honestly, I don't know.  I only got into PC 3 years ago.  But I would guess a giant PITA.  

I think that is my point.  Steam excels at keeping games compatible with new hardware, which means replacements are easy.  Given Steam BC, odds are I will update my computer before anything breaks. 

I love the idea of having the real legit hardware, there is something nice about playing old school, it was just a hassle.  Possible I had bad luck. 

Original hardware wins for experience, while emulation is just for convenience, especially in unique situations.  Like Shining Force III Scenario 2 and 3 having english roms.  I don't know how else to play scenario 2 and 3. 

Edit

As for cost, I think PC is way cheaper than building a collection of old games.  Shining Force III is $300 on Ebay, that is a GPU.  Skies of Arcadia on the DC is $150, that is hard drive.  Retro gaming is super expensive for games.  Canon Spike is $300, there is my CPU.  Luigi's Mansion on GC is $50, there is my PSU.  

I could easily build a computer far cheaper than collecting retro games/hardware.  

The later part you are involving physical media vs digital media, I don't think it merits that kind of comparison at least for me, as to me physical media is by far superior to digital media so the price comparison has very little weight.

Even if a game is $300, which I clearly won't buy it, because that's ridiculous, I would still only consider the digital version if it's like $5, at most $10, as I really not value it much at all, most digital games I bought were between $1 to $5.

A great example, I just bought some NeoGeo Metal Slug games on PS4 for $4 each, where the NeoGeo physical version price could go beyond $10000 for some, so yeah, no brainer, but still needs to go as low as it was for me to consider it, as I never bothered buying them for $9 they usually sell for.

I think that having digital as an option is great, it also helps A LOT with preservation, but I really simply don't hold anywhere near the same kind of value between purchasing a physical or a digital game for them to hold any actual weight when compared to eachother.

But that's just me, and I know is not really the cheapest way to be involved with gaming.