[General Discussion] True Cost to Own

Originally Posted by speculative

With portables, I guess you could factor in the speed at which Nintendo release various GB/DS iterations vs. Sony's PSP updates.

Why would these things be a consideration in the cost to own? Just because there's a new PSP model doesn't mean I'm going to go out and buy it. Sure it'd be nice to have the newer version rather than the older one sometimes, but there's no reason why you'd just chuck the old model for the new because it's there. It's an idiotic argument to make.

As for the whole car analogy you've got going on here guys, sure you can compare a console to a car and the games to petrol, but one game can last you as long you like. You can replay it over and over, especially in the case of titles like Tetris, Animal Crossing, Warhawk and pretty much anything with a decent online multiplayer mode. So games are more like roads. Owning a game gives you a bit of road to go back and forwards on for as long as you wish to travel that route. Some roads are longer than others, and some are more interesting drives, but you can use them as long you have access to them.

So yes, games are mandatory in as much as you need roads to be able to go anywhere in your shiny car, but you only need one bit of road (if that, you could just sit in the car making brum brum noises and listen to the stereo).

Also, don't get needs and wants mixed up. You can argue that accessories are needed, but most of the time they're not, they're something you want. You need a 360 to play 360 games, sure, but you don't need to play a game with two players, so you don't need a second pad. You may want to play with a mate so you will want a second controller for that purpose, but that's not a need.

At the end of the day, trying to work out a true cost of owning is the pursuit of fools, as it's always going to be down to the individual and what sort of requirements and gaming habits you have, and what sort of disposable income you have access to.

How ya doing, buddy?