The state of PC gaming
da newb
New York, New YorkRegistered User regular
New York, New YorkRegistered User regular
First off: I am new to PC gaming. Granted, I played a little Starcraft and WoW, but now I have taken the plunge. And I really like it. PC games seem to have a lot more depth to them, not to mention mod-ability. But on to my main point.
PC gaming had been decreasing in sales since 2000 which was around when the PS2 came out. It was just easier for people to play games on consoles (the setup was the problem). But it increased for the first time last year (granted, a lot of this was due to WoW). But it seems to me that it isn't just about that one game. It seems easier to get into PC gaming and now Microsoft has developed Games for Windows there is a system to work by. I think PC gaming is coming back.
But since I am new to the PC genre, my view could be jaded. Up until a little while ago I didn't really pay attention to PC games. This year it appears that there are a great number of AAA titles coming out; more than in a long time. But this could likely be because of my previous ignorance. What do you guys think? Is PC gaming making a comeback?
P.S. Sorry for starting a new one. I guess I didn't enter in the right search words.
PC gaming had been decreasing in sales since 2000 which was around when the PS2 came out. It was just easier for people to play games on consoles (the setup was the problem). But it increased for the first time last year (granted, a lot of this was due to WoW). But it seems to me that it isn't just about that one game. It seems easier to get into PC gaming and now Microsoft has developed Games for Windows there is a system to work by. I think PC gaming is coming back.
But since I am new to the PC genre, my view could be jaded. Up until a little while ago I didn't really pay attention to PC games. This year it appears that there are a great number of AAA titles coming out; more than in a long time. But this could likely be because of my previous ignorance. What do you guys think? Is PC gaming making a comeback?
P.S. Sorry for starting a new one. I guess I didn't enter in the right search words.
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It's never been "low", and thus does not need a "comeback".
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
A lot of the 'big' PC games lately have been 360 ports or cross platform releases with consoles that cost $500-1000 less than the equivilent PC required to play them. Bioshock, Gears of War, Halo 2, Call of Duty 4, GRAW2, Rainbow Six: Vegas. All would have been huge PC hits in the old days, but are now smash hit console games with some niche hardcore PC fans.
Do I think PC gaming is dying? No, but it's definitely taking a back seat to console gaming and being relegated to the MMORPG, RTS and hardcore FPS 'system'. When FPS shooters sell 4 million console versions compared to the couple 100k PC version when released at the same time, there's definitely something wrong.
I suppose. But there are some games that seem to be on both the PC and console but are geared more towards console gaming, which is a tad annoying. Not that bad though.
In my opinion, all shooters are best played with a mouse. Lots of shooters come out for the PC and console. Therefore, all shooters that come out for the PC and console are better played by the PC.
That's my argument, if you want to play the conjecture game.
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
Just so you know KVW that that's not what the "exception proves the rule" argument means at all.
Seriously, Bioshock was the very first game I flat out couldn't play, and I bought my PC almost 5 years ago.
Then again, some of the complaints I've seen are funny. "OMG, I ad to turn my resolution down to 1024x768 to play this game smoothly. OMG constant upgrade". And I'm sitting there thinking "O_o? I play at the resolution all the time".
The glory of PC gaming is that idiots are weened out by default. Maybe we are "elitists" but seriously, we know more than you. All of you!
Final Fantasy XI -> Carbuncle - Samash
WHAT?!?!!?
Excuse me? So apparently one must assume that the average Counter-Strike player is the pinnacle of intelligence, tolerance, and sportsmanship?
Excuse me, but since when did CS represent the PC community as a whole?
...maybe you couldn't read the sarcasm in my post. Don't get too offended now.
Final Fantasy XI -> Carbuncle - Samash
Plus, I think the Halo community showed us up. Their like "You call that a pack of gibbering racist assholes? Let us show you how it's done!".
...maybe you couldn't read the sarcasm in my post.
i can requote things too.
Final Fantasy XI -> Carbuncle - Samash
And if you bother to include flash based games or the like... then PC games are far FAR FAR more profitable.
Sorry
Well, regardless, us elitist bastards better return to sipping tea+playing pc games. :P
Oh and tweaking our machines. Overclocking. Modding.
PC gaming has nothing to worry about, its the poor sods who can't figure out a few things:
1. Alienwares cost a fortune. Saying that a new computer costs 1800+ dollars is just ridiculous. Do better shopping, stop buying from dell and voodoo and crap.
2. Seriously, just learn to build and tweak your own computer. It's not like us power users are genius' made of uber IQ's. This shits not rocket science.
I'm not out to piss off any console gamers, I play consoles myself. Just saying don't whine that PC gaming costs you mad grands of cash. Right now theres a transition from old hardware to this next gen of hardware. Its like crying that your ps2 won't play motorstorm.
As far as the state of software goes, its obvious PC gamers are getting a gold mine of stuff soon.
Final Fantasy XI -> Carbuncle - Samash
Those old Lego Technic sets are what used to get me. Damn you space shuttle, I'll never finish.
Final Fantasy XI -> Carbuncle - Samash
I got nostaligic the other day and went back and read an old PC Gamer from 1996, and they had an article about how 3Dfx was in hot water because the Rage pushed only 28FPS at 800x600 as opposed to the VooDoo's 35 FPS in Quake.
35 FPS at 800x600 was absolutely godly a mere ten years ago. Now think about whether or not having 140fps in 16:9 on a 28" screen is really necessary to enjoy games.
Because it is a flat out lie.
No?
Gross! I like to play games at their maximum potential of the developer's vision.
But then I don't complain about purchasing new hardware all the time to do so.
Final Fantasy XI -> Carbuncle - Samash
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=85531
"People have been saying for years that the PC market is declining; yet we've seen massive growth and success in our niched PC segment instead."
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7559&Itemid=2
"PCs are the most-used gaming platform for kids of all age groups, according to a new report from NPD Group"
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7839&Itemid=2
"He also said that the PC is a “growing” market, and Ubisoft will be delivering Far Cry 2 on PC first, as well as launching casual MMOs at the end of next year and in 2009. “We are looking at [PC] to create more brands that will also be on console, but we’ll also create specific brands just for PC.”"
And there's a glut of people pushing out console titles onto PC.
Call of Duty 4 on PC. Assassin's Creed on PC. Devil May Cry 4 on PC. Even Turok is coming to PC
The only thing I think that's really hurting PC at the moment is Xbox Live Arcade! and PSNetwork. Both groups are taking what are fairly low spec/high concept titles and using them in the console war. These are the sort of titles that would make great PC releases and we are missing out on (although there are plenty of freeware games... lets hope that Indie PC developers can start monetising their developments.)
CoD 4 is not a console game on the PC
It is a PC game on consoles
CoD 3 was the shittier console game that was not IW developed
Of course it's not constant upgrading but goddammit you are not playing Crysis on your 3 year old $400 computer.
Hence why it demoed at e3 on consoles, all previews have been of the console version as well as the bulk of the marketing.
Infinity Ward certainly are PC devs and I have the PC version of COD4 and it is awesome.
But to say it is a PC game on consoles is a little misleading, in that it has little to no distinguishing features which would imply this, whereas it does have a lot of parts about it that indicate it is designed around consoles.
The focus has definitely shifted. Games for Windows isn't helping shit at all either. Can anyone truly deny that most if not all these dual release games that have come out lately have clearly been meant for the consoles first and PC second? No one wants to make complex space sims that pretty much require joysticks anymore.
I mean I'm as shocked as anyone. I absolutely could not stand shooters on consoles one bit, but games like GoW have changed my mind and made me turn my nose up at the PC version.
Smashism is exactly right, PC gaming is not exactly rocket science, but I think we're seeing the transition of gaming going from some obscure geek hobby to something a lot more mainstream. I'm going to be real insensitive and pull out some stereotypes, but the average Walmart junkie doesn't want to learn the finer points of how to troubleshoot Windows and your driver versions and etc.
But shit, the problem is this perception by the neophytes that you HAVE to have the 800 dollar quad SLI uber card just even be considered a gamer. Fuck that noise! So you have these lay people who only have computers for internet/email and maybe some digital photograhy, something even the most basic, super cheap computer can do. Then little Billy comes along and says, "But Moooooooom! I won't be cool at school unless I have some overpriced Alienware rig, and thats where the shit breaks down and people get fed up and buy the convenience of a 350 dollar Xbox360, despite how even now thats considered high end for a console.
But also, going back to the original point. Yes consoles have expanded, they've become more PC-like too. So depending on how you look at it, PC gaming isn't really dying, its just becoming way more streamlined.
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