PC Gaming on the Out?
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I took a look in the video game store in my local shopping mall today. The store was stocked 95% with games for XBox and Playstation, and had only two small shelving units to hold PC games. Furthermore, the PC games they had were all old, and marked down for quick sale. What's becoming of the PC gaming market? Is it really sinking into oblivion?
The days of buying PC games "off-the-shelf" are dying, not necessarily the games themselves. There's been a move to online stores that download the game content directly to you PC. For eaxample, Steam[^].
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Dave Kreskowiak Microsoft MVP Visual Developer - Visual Basic
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I took a look in the video game store in my local shopping mall today. The store was stocked 95% with games for XBox and Playstation, and had only two small shelving units to hold PC games. Furthermore, the PC games they had were all old, and marked down for quick sale. What's becoming of the PC gaming market? Is it really sinking into oblivion?
Steam
// Steve McLenithan
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I took a look in the video game store in my local shopping mall today. The store was stocked 95% with games for XBox and Playstation, and had only two small shelving units to hold PC games. Furthermore, the PC games they had were all old, and marked down for quick sale. What's becoming of the PC gaming market? Is it really sinking into oblivion?
From what I've seen, it appears that game-specific stores such as GameStop stock only a cursory selection of PC titles (if any at all) and fill their shelves with console games. Larger stores, such as Best-Buy and and the long-gone CompUSA, have a much better selection of PC games. I'm not sure why this is, but my guess would be a lame return policy that states you can only return a game for another copy of the same game once it's opened. Given the huge variety of hardware for Windows games, coupled with terrible copy-protection systems that will render games unplayable on some systems*, it's probably easier to simply not sell them in the first place. Personally, I hate playing games on a console for several reasons. I don't like hogging up the entire living room and TV, FPS games are a joke with a standard controller, and I've yet to find a console game with any real depth to it that made me want to pay it for more than an hour. PC games can provide an enormous depth of play, a simple "chat" interface via a keyboard that anyone can use without annoying people in the same room and being forced to listen to 12 year olds swearing and each player can have their own computer for LAN-play instead of split-screen. * In the last few years, I've had at least 2 games fail to work due to copy protection. Beyond Divinity and Rainbow Six Vegas 2, both of which failed to recognize the CD in the drive. A quick trip to GameCopyWorld sorted it out, but most casual buyers won't think to go there - and indeed, why should they?
The StartPage Randomizer - The Windows Cheerleader - Twitter
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From what I've seen, it appears that game-specific stores such as GameStop stock only a cursory selection of PC titles (if any at all) and fill their shelves with console games. Larger stores, such as Best-Buy and and the long-gone CompUSA, have a much better selection of PC games. I'm not sure why this is, but my guess would be a lame return policy that states you can only return a game for another copy of the same game once it's opened. Given the huge variety of hardware for Windows games, coupled with terrible copy-protection systems that will render games unplayable on some systems*, it's probably easier to simply not sell them in the first place. Personally, I hate playing games on a console for several reasons. I don't like hogging up the entire living room and TV, FPS games are a joke with a standard controller, and I've yet to find a console game with any real depth to it that made me want to pay it for more than an hour. PC games can provide an enormous depth of play, a simple "chat" interface via a keyboard that anyone can use without annoying people in the same room and being forced to listen to 12 year olds swearing and each player can have their own computer for LAN-play instead of split-screen. * In the last few years, I've had at least 2 games fail to work due to copy protection. Beyond Divinity and Rainbow Six Vegas 2, both of which failed to recognize the CD in the drive. A quick trip to GameCopyWorld sorted it out, but most casual buyers won't think to go there - and indeed, why should they?
The StartPage Randomizer - The Windows Cheerleader - Twitter
A word about copy protection: I can't play my favorite game, Command & Conquer, on my Vista-64 installation because their copy-protection rootkit only works on the 32-bit version. And they won't even make a 64-bit build of the rootkit, most likely because the 64-bit kernel doesn't allow patching.
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I took a look in the video game store in my local shopping mall today. The store was stocked 95% with games for XBox and Playstation, and had only two small shelving units to hold PC games. Furthermore, the PC games they had were all old, and marked down for quick sale. What's becoming of the PC gaming market? Is it really sinking into oblivion?
As hubby and I buy/sell video games online, I have to say that the major stores we shop at have little or no PC games. I think you have your die-hard fans who will only support PC, but it gets smaller and smaller every 5-7 years.
Back in the blog beatch! http://CraptasticNation.blogspot.com/[^]
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I took a look in the video game store in my local shopping mall today. The store was stocked 95% with games for XBox and Playstation, and had only two small shelving units to hold PC games. Furthermore, the PC games they had were all old, and marked down for quick sale. What's becoming of the PC gaming market? Is it really sinking into oblivion?
With the economy the way it is, kids are having to resort to actually playing with others. You know, outside; ball, tag, running, laughing, falling down. Perhaps they'll live longer...
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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I took a look in the video game store in my local shopping mall today. The store was stocked 95% with games for XBox and Playstation, and had only two small shelving units to hold PC games. Furthermore, the PC games they had were all old, and marked down for quick sale. What's becoming of the PC gaming market? Is it really sinking into oblivion?
Check out SteamPowered and their competitors like Direct2Drive and StarDock. The distribution model for PC games has shifted pretty much to an online system.
Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity. --Lazarus Long Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. --?
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With the economy the way it is, kids are having to resort to actually playing with others. You know, outside; ball, tag, running, laughing, falling down. Perhaps they'll live longer...
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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G-d forbid they find the cardboard box of a washing machine!
Back in the blog beatch! http://CraptasticNation.blogspot.com/[^]
:laugh: I've spent many a fine, sunny day defending my domain from a cardboard box. Just last week, in fact... :-D
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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I took a look in the video game store in my local shopping mall today. The store was stocked 95% with games for XBox and Playstation, and had only two small shelving units to hold PC games. Furthermore, the PC games they had were all old, and marked down for quick sale. What's becoming of the PC gaming market? Is it really sinking into oblivion?
I can't see that developers will ever stop creating games for PCs. Consoles have their advantages, but so does PCs.
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With the economy the way it is, kids are having to resort to actually playing with others. You know, outside; ball, tag, running, laughing, falling down. Perhaps they'll live longer...
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
I think its a matter of personal choice...some people want to get rid of all the fuss related to installations,security issues, and constant demand for hardware updates. No matter what VGA card you buy you'll still have to upgrade in two years or so,whereas PS2 lives on;) I am not big on console games at all, and I for one like the fuss behind installation and security stuff,changing my VGA and PC components are like pi**ing my ride:P. I like PC games more cause the experience is less of an event and is more involving. It also feels more convenient to use my laptop or PC whenever I have the time rather than set up a whole living room for it.I don't think PC games are dying,but consoles got more power than before so they've taken a bigger market share,PC gamers are techies by nature(mostly) so they would download online:)
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I took a look in the video game store in my local shopping mall today. The store was stocked 95% with games for XBox and Playstation, and had only two small shelving units to hold PC games. Furthermore, the PC games they had were all old, and marked down for quick sale. What's becoming of the PC gaming market? Is it really sinking into oblivion?
I went off PC games mostly because my PC that I used for it had a horrible slow death during my last year at uni when I gamed on PC most (BF2), since then a lot of my uni and old buddies from back home now have xboxs, so it's mostly COD4, Halo 3 and my copy of Halo Wars arrived today, w00t! :-D On that note, with games like Halo Wars built from the ground up, with the controls purpose built and working very well, it can't help now they've shown RTS on console is very do-able.
He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man
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I went off PC games mostly because my PC that I used for it had a horrible slow death during my last year at uni when I gamed on PC most (BF2), since then a lot of my uni and old buddies from back home now have xboxs, so it's mostly COD4, Halo 3 and my copy of Halo Wars arrived today, w00t! :-D On that note, with games like Halo Wars built from the ground up, with the controls purpose built and working very well, it can't help now they've shown RTS on console is very do-able.
He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man
what we mustn't forget is a PC is a multi-purpose machine whereas most gaming consoles are designed for one purpose: gaming. sure you can put your music and videos on your PS3 and whatever, but the core reason the system is bought is for its gaming capabilities. personally I believe graphics are killing and making the games. you're getting games that are pushing the limits in terms of graphics (requiring you to get that GTX 280 :sigh: ), and are pushing into a more submersive storyline. of course, you also get the games with a pathetic storyline not worthy of the poop you fling at it, that have the unholiest of awesome graphics, explosions, limbs flying everywhere, etc,etc,etc. The only "console" I have is my PSP. it's easy to go anywhere and play, has good enough graphics, can be hooked up to a TV if you really want, and a few good titles. I used to loath consoles simply because their controls were retarded. now I loath them because of all the unique titles that come out ;P console gaming is picking up, but PC gaming is never going to quit pushing the limits of the latest hardware, and is not going to die any time soon.
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what we mustn't forget is a PC is a multi-purpose machine whereas most gaming consoles are designed for one purpose: gaming. sure you can put your music and videos on your PS3 and whatever, but the core reason the system is bought is for its gaming capabilities. personally I believe graphics are killing and making the games. you're getting games that are pushing the limits in terms of graphics (requiring you to get that GTX 280 :sigh: ), and are pushing into a more submersive storyline. of course, you also get the games with a pathetic storyline not worthy of the poop you fling at it, that have the unholiest of awesome graphics, explosions, limbs flying everywhere, etc,etc,etc. The only "console" I have is my PSP. it's easy to go anywhere and play, has good enough graphics, can be hooked up to a TV if you really want, and a few good titles. I used to loath consoles simply because their controls were retarded. now I loath them because of all the unique titles that come out ;P console gaming is picking up, but PC gaming is never going to quit pushing the limits of the latest hardware, and is not going to die any time soon.
twinscythe12332 wrote:
I believe graphics are killing and making the games. you're getting games that are pushing the limits in terms of graphics
QFT. PC people tend to make the argument of paying £300 for a new console every 5 years or so, gfx/ram upgrades easily match that cost over the same period. Going back to Halo Wars again on this point (sorry lol) the graphics were not the focus, although it's visually pleasing (not amazing) the gameplay/controls and story were key in it's development. In fact the controls were already set before they'd decided on what game it would be :) I had a original PSP-1000 for about 2 months before I got bored with it, traded for a DS which I've had much more fun with.
He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man
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I took a look in the video game store in my local shopping mall today. The store was stocked 95% with games for XBox and Playstation, and had only two small shelving units to hold PC games. Furthermore, the PC games they had were all old, and marked down for quick sale. What's becoming of the PC gaming market? Is it really sinking into oblivion?
I am developing a game as a hobby effort here: Iron Infantry[^] Meanwhile I'm making utilities etc. to help both seasoned and budding game authors/developers in between work, family, etc. Its slow going but it is usually just as fun making game related software as it is playing it - sometimes more! Here is my latest release for game making tools: Jegas Game Classes Library v3.0[^] I don't think PC games are will ever go away... but things are always changing and money does drive industry generally - always. Above someone said that the PC technology keeps changing (hardware, OS etc.) but the PlayStation lives on. Well... this would be more true if Microsoft didn't consistantly alienate their customers and developers - for example: DirectX-9, like XP Pro, is slated for "antiquity", however the xBox and literally TONS of games use it and its a GREAT Graphics API. So, as part of this march, they replace the DirectX9 (dx9)with DirectX10 (dx10) , dx10 stinks so they come out DirectX 11 (dx11) - in a very short period of time. So... as a developer - what should I develop for? The tried and true dx9 that Microsft wants to DROP but runs on every X-Box in the world or something new that Microsoft could very well outdate like they did with dx9 and dx10? dx9 at least was around for many years! What about audience? Tons of people can run dx9 - and not so many people like vista and can run DirectX10 and DirectX11... Also you REALLY need to "Pimp your Ride" because you need a NEWER video card to run dx10 and 11 but not all the newer cards support dx9?!?!? What happens when Windows 7 comes out? No dx7, dx8, dx9? AHHHHHH GEESH! PC games aren't going away because people don't like them - companies who basically FORCE PEOPLE to keep changing all their technologies are sabotaging the PC gaming industry and already perfectly working and tested business software, Pirating doesn't help, and neither do cheapskates not willing to pay developers a fair price for great art and fun. Well... I have tons of games - and I just wish someone (M$ hint hint) would get a clue an
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From what I've seen, it appears that game-specific stores such as GameStop stock only a cursory selection of PC titles (if any at all) and fill their shelves with console games. Larger stores, such as Best-Buy and and the long-gone CompUSA, have a much better selection of PC games. I'm not sure why this is, but my guess would be a lame return policy that states you can only return a game for another copy of the same game once it's opened. Given the huge variety of hardware for Windows games, coupled with terrible copy-protection systems that will render games unplayable on some systems*, it's probably easier to simply not sell them in the first place. Personally, I hate playing games on a console for several reasons. I don't like hogging up the entire living room and TV, FPS games are a joke with a standard controller, and I've yet to find a console game with any real depth to it that made me want to pay it for more than an hour. PC games can provide an enormous depth of play, a simple "chat" interface via a keyboard that anyone can use without annoying people in the same room and being forced to listen to 12 year olds swearing and each player can have their own computer for LAN-play instead of split-screen. * In the last few years, I've had at least 2 games fail to work due to copy protection. Beyond Divinity and Rainbow Six Vegas 2, both of which failed to recognize the CD in the drive. A quick trip to GameCopyWorld sorted it out, but most casual buyers won't think to go there - and indeed, why should they?
The StartPage Randomizer - The Windows Cheerleader - Twitter
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A word about copy protection: I can't play my favorite game, Command & Conquer, on my Vista-64 installation because their copy-protection rootkit only works on the 32-bit version. And they won't even make a 64-bit build of the rootkit, most likely because the 64-bit kernel doesn't allow patching.
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I took a look in the video game store in my local shopping mall today. The store was stocked 95% with games for XBox and Playstation, and had only two small shelving units to hold PC games. Furthermore, the PC games they had were all old, and marked down for quick sale. What's becoming of the PC gaming market? Is it really sinking into oblivion?
I agree with the poster who said that most PC games are purchased online and not in gaming stores. I also agree with the poster that PPC games have far greater depth than the console games which often seemed to be just new avenues for "gratuitous" violence. Also with the PC game you can create so many more thoughtful games such as true strategic simulations and flight simulators. Unfortunately, such games seem to be waning in public popularity, though are still favorites among true gamers. If you are interested in historical simulations you should go to http://www.hpssims.com/ and take a look. HPS still sells the best war games around which include the style made famous by TalonSoft, a game company that should never have died...
Steve Naidamast Black Falcon Software, Inc. blackfalconsoftware@ix.netcom.com
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I agree with the poster who said that most PC games are purchased online and not in gaming stores. I also agree with the poster that PPC games have far greater depth than the console games which often seemed to be just new avenues for "gratuitous" violence. Also with the PC game you can create so many more thoughtful games such as true strategic simulations and flight simulators. Unfortunately, such games seem to be waning in public popularity, though are still favorites among true gamers. If you are interested in historical simulations you should go to http://www.hpssims.com/ and take a look. HPS still sells the best war games around which include the style made famous by TalonSoft, a game company that should never have died...
Steve Naidamast Black Falcon Software, Inc. blackfalconsoftware@ix.netcom.com
Matrix games bought the talonsoft IP about 4 years ago. At the time they intended to release the entire inventory on their store; I know TOAW was released (I beta tested their release) but don't if they've finished the reissue or not.
Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall
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I don't know if this is a valid explanation. I don't own a console system (XBox, PS, etc). I prefer PC games. Those funky controllers freak me out. Give me a keyboard and mouse any day. I am considered an anachronism among my circle of friends. However - just about EVERYBODY I know has one of these systems and loves them. And just about EVERYBODY I know has pirated games for these systems at least once (or more). I agree that it is easier to pirate a PC game than a console game, but it doesn't take long for a new XBox owner to do a little research on the internet and get up to speed on what it takes to pirate games pretty quickly.
