Especially as the PS5 Pro just released yesterday with a 700 price tag.

As someone who collects games and consoles, I will literally buy anything with a button and a stick.

Even with a price that high

I meant it as in graphics don't concern me when buying consoles. I'll always buy the basic model of consoles as long as they have a disc drive (I'm looking at you, Xbox Series S)

To be fair, the PS5 Pro doesn't have a disc drive also.

No.

So you think graphics are overrated?

No. I buy consoles because certain games I want are only on that console. Although exclusively seems to happen less with xbox and playstation. I bought the xbox one because I was used to playing xboxes, and then a series x since I already had so many xbox games. I want a Playstation 3 for other games I missed when I had one, and a switch for pokemon games.

I care a lot about graphics when buying a pc though. And there's a lot of pc games I want I can't get on console.

And about the ps5 pro, youtubers have shown the difference in graphics and its barely different. Not worth the price tag, might as well get a pc for a bit more at that price.

Fuck no. Library and processing power is the sole factor. Nice graphics don't mean shit if the games all have pop-in, 30 second loading screens everywhere, and framedips. Even less so if there's only a baker's dozen exclusives.

• interesting exclusive games
• cool controller

that's all i care about. although i'm a PC gamer nowadays so take that as you will.

Like with Concord vs Astrobot

Nope.

I often find myself playing indies or older games more so than newer games with more realistic graphics. I've found in the past near 20 years that it's been best to have whatever new console Nintendo has released plus whichever you prefer of PlayStation and Xbox. I don't think I've bought a game or console purely on graphics in a very long time.

Personally, no - I'm not one for buying consoles myself, and raw visuals never really grabbed me.

As an extended aside, I feel we're past the point where raw graphical power can really sell a console, for a few main reasons:

1. Generation-to-generation improvements have massively slowed down over the years. The difference between the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64 and GameCube, or the PS1, PS2 and PS3 are night-and-day in terms of graphical fidelity. Compare that to the PS5/PS5 Pro comparisons we've seen floating about, and its clear those kinds of generational leaps are nowhere to be found with this console gen. The closest kinda thing I've seen is the advent of real-time ray tracing with Nvidia's RTX series of cards, and that's been more-or-less relegated to the realm of high-end PC gaming, effectively a nice-to-have for people with more money than sense.
2. Photorealism as a style has faced significant backlash throughout this decade. Whether its that one eye comparison which got relentlessly memed, or open calls to lay off the hyperfocus on fidelity, it seems clear that photorealistic/hyperrealistic visuals have lost a lot of their charm in the eyes of the public. Where they once inspired awe, they now inspire groans. Where photorealism was once seen as a symbol of gaming's progress as a medium, its now seen as a symbol of the AAA industry's excess.

Looking at the landscape of today, I suspect we're far from alone - if the runaway successes of Friday Night Funkin' (whose artstyle hearkens back to Flash games of old) and Skibidi Toilet (which is very clearly made using assets from mid-'00s Valve games, such as Half-Life 2), especially among Gen Alpha, are any indication, I suspect this active push for photorealism will die out within my lifetime.

if the games aren't shit then sure i'll buy it

another thing is being overpriced

ps5 pro is 700 bucks for no disc drive and 60-70 games

ps2 fat is 100 bucks for disc drive, ps1 playing and cheap games that still hold up today as some of the best games of all time.

Not really, but at the same time I can't pretend to ignore that aspect. As I said before, the PS5 pro is largely marketed toward the fanboys and the whales who can shell out the cash like water. (Obviously that's not an ideal strategy long term, but merely as a stopgap between the next generation of consoles, it's tolerable)

Personally, I grow weary over the whole "photorealism" or high-end graphics bitchfit, mostly because it feels like a one-sided red herring argument that seems to pop up with folks who still believe that nothing had really evolved since 2006 or so.

There is a kernel of truth of the photorealistic graphics being unwieldy, but that seems to be more based on circumstance when a big budget game flopping than anything else, especially when similar games of their ilk tend to lean towards success than failure.

Well, here's a collection of my most recently played games:

So, no. I don't think my buying habits are driving the industry. The most I've ever spent on a game in my entire life is $22. You know what I do when I want to see realistic graphics? I go outside. Or watch a movie.

This is such a strong-ass take I genuinely feel like you just ended the discourse with a single statement.

Thanks, wizard. I always felt I was more a maths/STEM person than a writing/humanities person, but it seems I've got more of a golden pen than I realise.

Pulling this back on topic, the glut of remasters and re-releases we've seen over the years has likely also helped along photorealism's decline. The easy apples-to-apples comparisons they provide make make the lack of generational leaps I mentioned before very easy to recognise.

That was a great analysis you put there BlueMonday1984.

Not really. My next planned purchase is a Nintendo DS. I'm just videogaming for fun and nostalgia purposes, not for the 'latest games'.

Graphics are overhyped and don't matter in the long run. Psychonauts is a game I play at least once every year, and. it definitely has early 2000s muddy graphics, but I love that. It has charm (which might be why PN2's extremely clean graphics creeps me out sometimes lol).

the last console i bought was the revision switch (2019, iirc), and before that it was an xbox one simply bc i already had a decent library of 360 games built up, so i'd have to say no lol

mostly on pc now anyways

Do I look I have the kind of money?

To me, it is exclusively the titles. It's why I laugh at the Xbox side of things, and most of the PS5's lifespan. Also the PS5 is too expensive, PS+ Is just insanely expensive. As someone who has a switch, psvita, new3DS, and Steam Deck. I have those systems due to the games. The PSVita offered me JRPG games, region-free, and good indie titles. The 3DS has games that I wanted and to experience. The Switch... Splatoon 2 and 3, mario bros wonder, and more. Also it being the cheapest system with pretty good games under its belt if do cough up 20 dollars for the year for Nintendo Switch online. Doesn't mean Switch Online is good.

From someone who has a PC and those systems. No? The PS4 I joked about during 2015 for being underpowered as. Basic PC games at the time. If you want good graphics or cheap games. A PC Can do it, offer me can my PC can't do or play... Legally. To me the PS5 is an interactive movie player outside of Astro Bot. Where's my Jak and Daxter, Where's my less Marvel and more Ratchet? I am not talking about PS3 and PS4 era Ratchet, but something that is based upon the PS2 SERIES in tone and feel. Where's the sly series?

Personally, I am not interested in graphics as a system/platform is made or broken by its games. If Triple A games must take 3 ~ 5 years, a modern double A game is closer to a Triple A on PS2 or PS3, even Indie Titles can hit closer. A smaller game is to me, something I prefer. As what does $50+ dollars of content mean when you game is unfinishable?

I just want more stylized games, as I miss the voxel look of FPS games that did attempt it in the early to mid 2010's. Graphics have plateau'd. What is left now is just development time. I had a ps2 and ps3 when growing up. I was late life PS2 primarily. I didn't even the ps2's graphics were obsolete in 2010.

It feels like a previous milestone if had the money in the 2000's then jump to 2006's PS3,then compare to ps4 in 2014. Each console gen before Ps2 or Dreamcast. You could see a timeline of improved graphics that were noticeable, but now it is a joke. I never notice graphical improvements as I was caring " Does this play / run well? " As 2011 is when I did get a ps3. I notice the graphics, but I jumped back to gameplay again like in Little Big Planet 2, Borderlands 2, and Borderlands 1. I was impressed with their graphics THEN...

The PS4 Era is when I couldn't as I had a gaming rig that was decent for the time it lasted me till 2018. Why did I need to pay 50 dollars per year just so I can play online? When my PC played online games for free?

The console doesn't make me want to care about graphics, but... How the switch advertised itself was " Like games? COOL! " The PS4 and PS5 caring about graphics... Makes me sick as my reason to have them like exclusives failed.

Let's add insult to injury. Rumors of a PS6? Also, a PC would be cheaper for the same graphics in the long term as... No one is forced to live with a "Hey, you must pay for multiplayer". That disgusts me with the Switch and it's simply 20, It's only worth less than 5 for a year. A PS3 gave me a better experience in 2012~2016.

Let's point and laugh at Concord. What a failure. Also Astrobot's graphics I would say looked nicer, more colorful, and just expressive. While Concord was lifeless and soulless.

TF2's graphics I would say are... That's how you make a game age like fine wine. If your game is talked about over 10 years, and more ( not for positive reasons ) yet the visual design is clear and great. Then you done a great job making a pretty game then and now.

TF2's visuals are perfect as. If ever want to make a shooter, use its visual design to be easy and clear. Looking at every Overwatch Clone here.

To me, I am sick of playing emulations of DS Games, I recently played DS games on the 3DS. I was surprised. My buying purchases for retro to just old hardware... Comes down to games. Some of my hatred for digital games on consoles comes from the ps3 era due to not being able to have them physically anymore. People play on console for games, but not the graphics compared to then.