3. Prices Are Still High, Especially Compared To PC
The economy still sucks and prices aren't getting much lower. At $400 to $500, consoles aren't cheap, and retail games still cost $60. Until the entire industry goes completely digital, prices probably won't get much better than that, at least for console gamers. The problem with console games available digitally however, is that they still cost ludicrous amounts of money. Triple 'A' titles still go for full price, and old software is rarely ever discounted, despite being several years old in some cases. Add the high cost of games, expensive entry fee just to get the console, and monthly fees all together, and you've got a hobby that's far expensive than it really needs to be. The tired myth that "PC gaming is too expensive" flies in opposition to this, with some gamers thinking that consoles are cheaper. This may be true in the short term, but at $60 a pop for new games and $60 a year for Xbox Live, you'll soon find yourself spending more money on a console than a decent gaming rig. If people are jumping ship on consoles, maybe it's because they're paying for a cruise line just to find themselves in a leaky sail boat.