PC gaming - is it doomed?

[{0}Salamander{0}]

I just wanted to have a theoretical chinwag about the state of PC gaming. I think its common knowledge now that for a lot of developers the PC either doesn't exist or recieves second class treatment when it comes to the "porting" of software from a console base to PC. The PC being the lead platform for games now appears to be drying up also, how many PC exclusives have their been this year compared to 3, 5, 10 years ago?

We have recently seen Infinity Ward stab PC gamers in the eye with their latest release "Modern Warfare 2", a game that has removed dedicated server and mod support. Again, 5 years ago, IW were doing PC exclusives, actual "made for PC" games, this is no longer the case.

So my point of topic is; will PC gaming continue to decline or do you think that the current "boom" of console interest will subside and we will be presented with a "bust" phase?

I for one am surprised that Intel, AMD/ATi and nVidia don't do more to promote PC gaming, since without games, their hardware wouldn't sell, ok perhaps not so much Intel, but certainly nV and ATi.

So where does Microsoft come in all this? Well, I have to say, I think its a massive shame that they are in the console race, because in many ways, Microsoft are a PC gamers worst enemy, when if the tables were turned, they could have been our most powerful ally. Sure, Microsoft has never totally relied upon PC gamers to shift OS's, but even if they re-directed 10% of their resources away from their XBOX business to PC gaming, I think it would be a good place to start. As it is, 99% of Microsoft's gaming weight is thrown behind the XBOX, with PC getting a few scraps - Games For Windows?

Just wanted to know what people think, all opinions welcome.

Cheers all,

Ben.

[plasmafish]

They used the PC gaming industry to launch the console industry to the height it is at. The name brand sells itself as long as the product looks pretty and works at product demos. It doesn't matter what system Microsoft or Sony had built. Their company name will sell the product to the masses.

The last PC game I bought in the store was Doom 3 (I know, long time ago). Loved the game, hated the online. With a game that I expected to have it all, for me it turned out to be a single player game. Play it through a couple times and put it on the shelf.

Bought a PS3 because I could not come to support Microsoft in their console. Their operating systems had given me enough grief that Microsoft would be the last place I would take my money for a gaming console. I was upset that the Wii was made a childs toy though, I was looking forward to a mature Nintendo gaming system.

I think the console industry will let the PC gaming industry hang to dry. There won't be much left for it if things keep going the console route. The "average joe" gamer who doesn't have a lot to spend on a gaming computer or learn how to troubleshoot regular computer gaming problems will most likely buy a console. It is the way the system has come to be and I personally disapprove. I wish it had stayed with PC gaming because we are losing all of special things that make PC gaming different from console gaming. It doesn't "seem" like they are trying to blend them together, they ARE blending them together.

[VVanks]

As long as Blizzard is around, PC Gaming will never be doomed. 20+ million players on B.net alone.

[Och]

I predict PC gaming will be making a huge come back by 2011. The current consoles simply no longer cut it, and Sony/MS don't have plans to replace them until 2012.

[vertual]

Until either ATI or Nvidia goes out of business, PC gaming is not dead.

[plasmafish]

Originally Posted by Och

I predict PC gaming will be making a huge come back by 2011. The current consoles simply no longer cut it, and Sony/MS don't have plans to replace them until 2012.

I hope this is true, PC gaming can be so much more than it is now.

[Nagorak]

In the long run we're all dead.

[theshadowcult]

Not myself, the is no reason to believe i am ever going to die... just because everyone else before me has, doesn't mean i will...

[CHIPS]

The thing about PC gaming right now is that there is no PC exclusive that makes it worthwhile. There are good titles on the PC yes but if it is also on PS3 or X360 then most players will just get the PS3 or X360 version. No need to drivers, no need to trouble shoot, no need to spend money on expensive hardware. etc.

I personally haven't brought a pc game since the GW series, C&C3 and Orange Box. GW I still play and I see no reason to replace it with another MMORPG. C&C3 sucked and I got tired of WC3, so on the RTS front I am waiting for Starcraft 2. FPS wise I used to love Keyboard + Mouse but now I perfer playing it with a controller on console. Controller have no friction and you never run out of desk space while aiming.

And this is coming from a die hard pc gamer from 2-3 years ago. The newest generation of consoles comes with full online support, equalizating the only advantage that pc gaming have over console.

[noko]

Console games are made, well using the PC and PC tools. I can't see PC games dying. The PC has and probably always have more potential and there will always be someone or some group that will make the next great game or experience on the PC.

Consoles are not bad, they are a simplier way of playing games which for many serves them well. PC's, especially the higher end ones pose a number of issues which allot of us can figure out. Most other folks don't have the time, interest or desire to keep their rig working good needless to say to upgrade and advance it to current generation technology.

PC's also pose a problem for developers due to the almost infinite configurations that are possible so only the best of the best can survive there. Meaning console games can be easier and faster to make with the constant or near constant hardware configuration which will result in general more console games being made in the end.

I don't see PC gaming dying, changing yes.

[crunchysuperman]

I think gaming as we know it - be it PC or console is doomed. The complexity & price tag of developing AAA titles will get to a point of diminished returns. It's already happened on PC, and is only a matter of time on consoles as well.

[centurie]

i have just recently given up on pc gameing,i sold my gameing machine and now own an xbox super elite and a ps3,i only keep a laptop for online shopping and browsing forums.
the reasons were numerous,online play was a joke with the pc..too many hackers,also most pc games were just bad console ports,messing with system settings and drivers to get a game to run was a pain in the arse.

i was a pc gamer for over 15 years,i hated consols,but since i decided to move over to xbox live it has given me a second life when it comes to online gameing,everyone on the console is equal as too the hardware they use,so you really do get a fair game...plus the graphics on the consols are pretty good when played on a 1080p HD tv...not as great as pc but graphics come second to gameplay.

it took me about 6 weeks to get used to using game pads,but now i am as fast as a was with a mouse and KB...plus its so much more realxing.

mt kill death ratio for modern warfare 2 is 2.10,which is pretty good,for people who say that FPS games should not be played with pads are talking out of there back sides, once you get used to it its as goos or better than a mouse........i will never return to pc gameing its a dying breed now, and given the fact that consols are only to get more powerfull why on earth would you put yourself through all the stress that pc gameing seems to give people.

[noko]

Originally Posted by centurie

. . .why on earth would you put yourself through all the stress that pc gameing seems to give people.

Because that is also part of the game .

Very fun in the end when you win

[plasmafish]

Originally Posted by noko

Because that is also part of the game .

Very fun in the end when you win

And rewarding

Originally Posted by centurie

it took me about 6 weeks to get used to using game pads,but now i am as fast as a was with a mouse and KB...plus its so much more realxing.

mt kill death ratio for modern warfare 2 is 2.10,which is pretty good,for people who say that FPS games should not be played with pads are talking out of there back sides, once you get used to it its as goos or better than a mouse

I believe that is very debatable. Joypad acceleration is almost nonexistent in console games while acceleration by mouse is just a hand gesture, not a complex mathematical algorithm. I find the mouse and keyboard more accurate if used properly but it takes a lot more time to get used to than a gamepad/controller.

I enjoy playing with a controller more than a mouse and keyboard, but if I had the option for the consoles I would use a USB mouse and Keyboard. I would use the mouse and keyboard for competitive purposes and the controller for fun games or relaxing. The thing is that USB mice and keyboards aren't natively supported for PS3 or gaming consoles in general. Most PC games natively support joypads/joysticks and I know that all the new ones support the Xbox controller, so why the step backwards?

[MadMartigan]

Originally Posted by {0}Salamander{0}

Again, 5 years ago, IW were doing PC exclusives, actual "made for PC" games, this is no longer the case..

true. But 5 years ago there were no more simulators. Wargames, adventure or 4X were all pretty much extict. Now those genres have all been reborn.

So I personaly hope PCgaming will continue it's "decline"

[Scart]

It's the console game that is dying. These machines are already at the end of their ropes - give it one more year and you will see AAA titles pushing fps numbers in the teens at best. If the current target of 2015 for new consoles is correct, this generation will become a laughing stock pretty quick.

[KickAssCop]

I own everything now except wii because wii is for retards...

I am in gaming bliss right now. Have about 25-30 titles to finish with an average of 200+ days of gaming time (assuming 2-3 hours per day) across 3 platforms so I don't have to think which to choose from.

I also believe that PC gaming as a standalone platform is doomed. I had that for quite a while now it seems (since Wolf 3d). I have had consoles almost each generation but it hasn't been this compelling since my Sega Mega Drive (Genesis for the US of A). And once I got these consoles, I had sufficient gaming to do during the PC gaming drought periods like between april and june and then during july-aug.

[Destroy]

Consoles are becoming PCs. Look at all the added features and multiple menus options on the consoles now. Mouse/KB is on PS3 already. It will only be added to as time goes on until console is very much a PC. Heck even cell phones are becoming PCs.

[plasmafish]

Originally Posted by Destroy

...Mouse/KB is on PS3 already.....

There are very few if any games that can actually be played by a standard USB mouse and keyboard. Typing in the game does not count and controlling the XMB(PS3 menu) with the mouse does not count.

Native mouse and keyboard support for games means being able to move and aim with the mouse and keyboard without the use of the consoles controller. This also includes controlling all of the features of the game/console. There are things like the FragFX which allows you a hardware hacked mouse and joystick but this is not the same as a standard USB keyboard and mouse. From what I know Unreal Tournament is the only game that supports a standard USB combo.

[A2597]

Originally Posted by Destroy

Consoles are becoming PCs. Look at all the added features and multiple menus options on the consoles now. Mouse/KB is on PS3 already. It will only be added to as time goes on until console is very much a PC. Heck even cell phones are becoming PCs.

Pretty much true. They are just standardized PCs now. The next gen may see me make the change. (Basically, I want full 1080p on all games)
I enjoy the portability of my PS3, however I look at my consoles as same-room Multiplayer more than anything else. If it's available on the PC, that is my first choice. Better graphics, cheaper games.

If Dirt 2 had split screen, I'd get it on a console, it doesn't, so I'm getting it on the PC.

[Jet Black]

Do we really have to go through this all over again?

Is PC gaming doomed? Short answer, "No".

Long answer, "No, but..." it depend what it is you're talking about. Certainly the number of "PC Exclusives" in some sense is going down, but in another sense the number of "PC Exclusives" is actually dramatically increasing. The thing is, consoles get maybe one or two really good AAA exclusives a year. Exclusives are just as expensive to make as any other game, so they have to be subsidized heavily by the publisher to make a go since they're already focusing on a restricted market (ony one of a possible 3 or 4). If you're the type of person who has to be able to play every AAA game ever, then you'll need a console for the odd 'good' exclusive that doesn't make PC.

Personally, I've been an exclusive PC gamer since I was knee-high-to-a-knee and I've yet to be disappointed. We're seeing as many AAA titles come to PC as any other system, plus we're the launching ground for many up and comers. When I say above the number of PC exclusives is increasing, it's because there are loads of independent and smaller developers making great games that are only available on PC.

So as a PC gamer you have many options... you can play the 'Hollywood' rehashed sequel-after-sequel money making watered down crap that arrives on every system, plus you can play unique, and different games which will never grace a console. Plus, PCs don't get nearly as much 'shovelware' as consoles do - and those exclusives I can live without.

[The_KELRaTH]

I wonder how different the PC situation would be if it felt like a gaming unit rather than having the frontend of a clinical office.

XP with the UXthemes hack would mean my XP would have looked something like this:


The PC has needed a gaming environment OS for years but rather than improving the OS each revision has seen it become more clinical - in Win 7 even the games menu has been made virtually pointless now.

The Mac has more of a gamers PC look than today's Win 7 with it's powder blue and white folders and old 2D icons.


Now gamers could buy the Stardock kit but that won't attract the new gamer when he's in the store turning on the PS3, 360.. then the PC for the 1st time, there's no wow.. I really want that PC kit.

[Och]

Like I said before, the current consoles are simply not capable enough anymore. Most games don't look good on 1080p TV's, or suffer from poor framerates. PC gaming will make a big return in 2011, you watch.

However when the next gen consoles hit, capable of 60fps at 1080p with full AA and high res textures, you can kiss PC gaming goodbye.

However, the big question is whats next? After you got full 1080p with full AA, high res textures, high frame rate, and so on, where do you move next with graphics? I don't see us getting 2160p TV's any time soon, so the graphics will pretty much be topped out. Maybe they will introduce a few more fancy shaders and effects, but nothing much more than that.

[A2597]

Originally Posted by Destroy

Consoles are becoming PCs. Look at all the added features and multiple menus options on the consoles now. Mouse/KB is on PS3 already. It will only be added to as time goes on until console is very much a PC. Heck even cell phones are becoming PCs.

Originally Posted by Och

Like I said before, the current consoles are simply not capable enough anymore. Most games don't look good on 1080p TV's, or suffer from poor framerates. PC gaming will make a big return in 2011, you watch.

However when the next gen consoles hit, capable of 60fps at 1080p with full AA and high res textures, you can kiss PC gaming goodbye.

However, the big question is whats next? After you got full 1080p with full AA, high res textures, high frame rate, and so on, where do you move next with graphics? I don't see us getting 2160p TV's any time soon, so the graphics will pretty much be topped out. Maybe they will introduce a few more fancy shaders and effects, but nothing much more than that.

you start working on stories and ideas, rather than graphics. We'll actually get better games once people can stop bragging about graphics.

Oh, and more "Graphics to meet a visual style" ala Borderlands, Team Fortress 2, etc.

[shoman24v]

Having a console for your gaming needs only cheats yourself out of a "true gaming experience". That experience can only achieved with a PC.

There is no such thing as a gaming enthusiast who only owns consoles.

[Cartigan]

Originally Posted by The_KELRaTH

I wonder how different the PC situation would be if it felt like a gaming unit rather than having the frontend of a clinical office.

XP with the UXthemes hack would mean my XP would have looked something like this:


The PC has needed a gaming environment OS for years but rather than improving the OS each revision has seen it become more clinical - in Win 7 even the games menu has been made virtually pointless now.

The Mac has more of a gamers PC look than today's Win 7 with it's powder blue and white folders and old 2D icons.


Now gamers could buy the Stardock kit but that won't attract the new gamer when he's in the store turning on the PS3, 360.. then the PC for the 1st time, there's no wow.. I really want that PC kit.

Your argument is the epitome of asinine. "It doesn't look like a gaming platform!" Whatever the **** that means given that you are referring to the GUI and not the box itself. Do the new generation of consoles have some sort of fancy ass interface? The newest console I have is a PS2 and it still works on the principle of "put a game in the slot and it plays the god damn game." There are no menus to navigate or folders to peruse. Maybe Cpt Aesthetics here would prefer the ultimate gamer UI (which I have seen many a time) - a desktop populated utterly and entirely by installed game shortcuts.

[plasmafish]

Originally Posted by The_KELRaTH

I wonder how different the PC situation would be if it felt like a gaming unit rather than having the frontend of a clinical office.

XP with the UXthemes hack would mean my XP would have looked something like this:


The PC has needed a gaming environment OS for years but rather than improving the OS each revision has seen it become more clinical - in Win 7 even the games menu has been made virtually pointless now.

The Mac has more of a gamers PC look than today's Win 7 with it's powder blue and white folders and old 2D icons.


Now gamers could buy the Stardock kit but that won't attract the new gamer when he's in the store turning on the PS3, 360.. then the PC for the 1st time, there's no wow.. I really want that PC kit.

I wholly agree with the gaming environment ideal.



I had experimented with that idea a while ago but there were major stability issues while running games with the OS environment and background processes. It lasted for around 6 months until fatally corrupting something in XP and was the best gaming interface I ever put together. I wish Win 7 included some sort of gaming mode where the GUI could be changed for gaming.

[KingRoLo]

Originally Posted by {0}Salamander{0}

I for one am surprised that Intel, AMD/ATi and nVidia don't do more to promote PC gaming, since without games, their hardware wouldn't sell, ok perhaps not so much Intel, but certainly nV and ATi.

They will always be in business because they sell their technology to console manufacturers as well and console manufactures will always look towards them because they are the leading edge developers of graphics. I suspect SONY might even go down the route of using either nvidia or ati hardware next time round as im sure its far more expensive to research, test and implement their own architecture.

[junglist1996]

I'd say if there're still people who (i) can appreciate the difference in IQ; (ii) don't mind dealing with drivers / patches to get games to work properly; and (iii) don't mind paying more for PC hardware and the never ending upgrades, PC gaming is not doomed.

Sorry, I can't deal with these low rez textures and inferior IQ. I'm not sure how prevelant are games rendered at 600p but that is IMO too low of a resolution to be used for something like a 46" TV.

[Mahjik]

PC gaming - is it doomed?

If you are calling "PC Gaming" meaning "PC exclusive releases" then yes I believe that will be less and less going forward. There is far too much money in console gaming for companies to ignore. For most companies it's too expensive to have widely different implementations of games for different platforms. So, they code for the least common denominator.