Comment by lifetimerubyist

Comment by lifetimerubyist 2 days ago

13 replies

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Gamers generally game on PC because they like building their system. Otherwise they would use a PS5 Pro or whatever.

The PC is an “open” platform in that you can buy and choose your own hardware. Intel vs AMD vs Nvidia, Seagate vs Western Digital, etc….

Using open software isn’t really more than a few steps from that. Being able to pick how your system works and customizing it to your liking is basically the software version of picking your PC parts. Gamers also like to run all sorts of software to rice there Windows desktops and will install all sorts of abominations tha mess with the Windows desktop shell. Much easier and fun to rice a Linux desktop.

Linux enthusiasts need to just learn how to appeal to their sensibilities. Valve knows, and they are very effective at getting people excited for a Linux based gaming platform. They’ve also proven they can walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

Sure, they won’t give a crap about the source code but there is more to libre software than just being able to change the source code if you want.

We’re also at an inflection point where people are getting really really really annoyed with companies like Microsoft treating them like lab rats and shoving Copilot down their throat when they don’t want it. There is a chink in the armor; people are opening up to the idea of alternative platforms where you don’t have to worry about any of that garbage.

> making Linux unusable by using EEE or any other tactic

This will never happen because projects will just be forked.

deaux 2 days ago

> Gamers generally game on PC because they like building their system. Otherwise they would use a PS5 Pro or whatever.

You're making a huge assumption here. I think that's a really small percentage. Most people game on PC because certain games they like to play are only on PC, or are much better suited to PC, or because their friends are on PC, or because they want to play on the go (Steam Deck is very recent and still not widely used), or because they need to have a PC anyway. Or because they grew up with it at home/in the neighborhood because there was no money for a console. Or because "Because they like building their system", I'm going to peg at <10%.

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  • keyringlight 2 days ago

    It's a bit on a tangent because it's about hardware rather than OS choice, but the next few years are going to be a stress test on how much people value PC versus the cash-value of components increases, and what happens to the numbers of people entering the market, staying with older systems or upgrading (or replacing/complimenting with a console). Someone saying they think it's worth a lot is different to opening their wallet.

    One aspect I think will be interesting is to compare what happens to attitudes with prices changes in more affluent markets like North America or Western Europe compare to how PC has been approached in other markets like Asia or South America.

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  • tombert 2 days ago

    I got into PC gaming in ~2009 primarily because it is so much cheaper than console. Steam sales and Humble Bundle allowed me to buy so many more games for less money.

    The initial cost upfront was higher than a console but if you want a lot of games it ends up being worth it.

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    • pluralmonad 2 days ago

      And those games do not die with each or every other generation of hardware. Almost my entire Steam library still runs on my latest machine.

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      • tombert 2 days ago

        Yeah, I was happily surprised to be reminded of that when I set up my NixOS Jovian box that I “consolified” by having it boot into Gamescope and the SteamOS interface.

        It’s plugged into my TV, with a wireless controller, and I have direct access to around 800 games immediately.

        There are consoles that don’t even have 800 games in their entire library and I have 800 I can play whenever I want, some of which I purchased almost two decades ago.

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seethishat 2 days ago

Many game mods and community maps, etc. are only available on PC. You can play the vanilla version on console, but not the mods you watch Twitch streamers playing. So, it's not b/c they like building PCs, it's because they want to play the mods with their friends.

I am speaking as an old gamer. I no longer play.

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  • calgoo 2 days ago

    I would not worry too much about the mod community! They are the one persistant group of people who will hack the software to their liking. Yes you can't play full FiveM GTA V right now, but it will get there eventually. There is nothing technical that is limiting the mods from working on Proton, just time from some annoyed mod dev that has had enough with windows, and it will be migrated over.

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orbital-decay 2 days ago

>This will never happen because projects will just be forked.

There's a chasm of difference between a technical fork and a meaningful fork. The entire point of EEE is relying on usefulness and convenience combined with network effects to make the entire system restricted and control it. Sure, you can go and fork anything you want - nobody stops you, technically. But you're getting the rug pulled from under your feet in any case.

You can witness the early stage of subversion with very useful software (without any hint of irony) made by people who "left" Microsoft: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46784572

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newsoftheday 2 days ago

> Gamers generally game on PC because they like building their system. Otherwise they would use a PS5 Pro or whatever.

I haven't built a PC in over 2 decades and I can't stand trying to game on a console or on a phone. I buy a stock machine like AlienWare, overwrite Windows with Kubuntu and go to town gaming.

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haunter 2 days ago

I'd rather say

1, because multiplayer is free. Still baffling to me that you actually have to pay to play with others on consoles

2, piracy is much much easier

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pjmlp 2 days ago

Forgeting the part that all those parts bring in Windows drivers with them for easy installation.

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mr-ron 2 days ago

I love gaming on pc because of the wealth of games, keyboard mouse setup, and less $ overall.

I hate building it and messing w hardware. Its a a necessity pain for me

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