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?
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.
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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
John Tiller, who I believe came from TalonSoft went to HPS and that is why you see the same style incoporated in the games with his name on it. Scott Hamilton, the owner, concentrates more on the high level simulations and those they sell to the military.
Steve Naidamast Black Falcon Software, Inc. blackfalconsoftware@ix.netcom.com
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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.
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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.
Figmo2 wrote:
I don't own a console system (XBox, PS, etc). I prefer PC games. Those funky controllers freak me out.
Every gamepad from the original Nintendo to the PS1 cramped my hands painfully within an hour of playing. I haven't touched a console since. Besides you can't play turn based strategy with a gamepad and that's most of my gaming.
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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John Tiller, who I believe came from TalonSoft went to HPS and that is why you see the same style incoporated in the games with his name on it. Scott Hamilton, the owner, concentrates more on the high level simulations and those they sell to the military.
Steve Naidamast Black Falcon Software, Inc. blackfalconsoftware@ix.netcom.com
I knew the person who did talonsofts amrev/napoleon/acw games went to HPS; those never were my forte though. Norm Koger (TOAWs author) wasn't paranoid enough to keep the rights to the his engine when he signed with Talonsoft. :doh: When they were shutdown and he lost the rights to it he started doing something completely different, a russo-japanese war naval game. Matrix's done some minor bugfix/updates to the TOAW engine but unless something's changed since i stopped playing it's surviving on the back of its scenario editor.
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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Figmo2 wrote:
I don't own a console system (XBox, PS, etc). I prefer PC games. Those funky controllers freak me out.
Every gamepad from the original Nintendo to the PS1 cramped my hands painfully within an hour of playing. I haven't touched a console since. Besides you can't play turn based strategy with a gamepad and that's most of my gaming.
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
You can't? :omg: I have a large number of turn-based strategy games for the PlayStation series -- the Disgaea series on the PS2 and PS3; La Pucille Tactics, Suikoden Tactics, Phantom Brave and other Nippon Ichi strategy games on the PS2; Civiliation 2 on the PS1; Civilization Revolution on the PS3 and Nintendo DS; Generation of Chaos, Final Fantasy Tactics and Jenne D'Arc on the PSP. Granted, most are fantasy themed, but turn-based strategy is quite playable on the gamepads. :-\ Edit: Real-time strategy is a bit rare on the consoles, though. I know Red Alert 3 just came out for the PS3, and there was a version of X-Com and Warcraft for the PS1. Flynn
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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?
Haven't finished reading the thread yet, but another great online source for games is Great Old Games[^]. They take older games and patch/configure them to work on modern systems (using DosBox, for example). They expand their collection at least once a month. They just released Duke Nukem 3D, for example. There are a couple of point and click adventures available for free to try out the service -- Lure of the Temptress[^] and Beneath a Steel Sky[^]. Both come with PDF copies of the manual, and Beneath a Steel Sky also has a few other downloadable extras as well. :-\ Flynn
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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.
I love my PSP. A lot of good games for that system (I have almost twice as many games for my PSP as I do my DS). Just picked up a game from the PlayStation Network called Field Commander about a month ago. Great near-clone of Advance Wars, complete with a map editor and online play. :-\ Grand Theft Auto IV was the last PC game I bought, and I can barely play it. What I thought were the recommended specs on the back of the box turned out to be the minimum specs. So, $50 spent on a game my system will barely play at 1024x768 resolution, can't return it because it's opened, and just a sour taste in my mouth from the experience. By the time I'll have a system capable of playing it, the game will likely be a $10 jewel-case buy at Wal-Mart, heh. Flynn
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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
Phannon wrote:
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.
I have both. There are more turn-based RPGs for the DS, but (for now at least) more turn-based strategy games for the PSP. Flynn
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You can't? :omg: I have a large number of turn-based strategy games for the PlayStation series -- the Disgaea series on the PS2 and PS3; La Pucille Tactics, Suikoden Tactics, Phantom Brave and other Nippon Ichi strategy games on the PS2; Civiliation 2 on the PS1; Civilization Revolution on the PS3 and Nintendo DS; Generation of Chaos, Final Fantasy Tactics and Jenne D'Arc on the PSP. Granted, most are fantasy themed, but turn-based strategy is quite playable on the gamepads. :-\ Edit: Real-time strategy is a bit rare on the consoles, though. I know Red Alert 3 just came out for the PS3, and there was a version of X-Com and Warcraft for the PS1. Flynn
Of the games I recognize I'd consider all of them on the light side of the TBS strategy market. Edit in the case of Civ, I'm referrring to the UI complexity not all the behind the scenes stuff.
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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Of the games I recognize I'd consider all of them on the light side of the TBS strategy market. Edit in the case of Civ, I'm referrring to the UI complexity not all the behind the scenes stuff.
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
Civilization Revolution was designed from the ground up to be a more casual version the games, but it is heavily based on Civilization II. Whereas, aside from the necessary interface change, Civ II plays exactly like the PC version (minus some of the deeper customization options). In the case of Civ Rev (especially the DS version) the world maps are pretty small. The biggest issue I have is running up against rival civs way too quickly. Forces you to change you game style, that's for sure. AI diplomacy hasn't changed much from Civ II, unfortunately. The computer players actually seem to be more aggressive, breaking treaties on a whim. The other night, Ghandi declared war on my civ simply because we were "too advanced", heh. But no, none of these games are hardcore military or fantasy sims. None of the Warhammer games are anything like the board game, and even some of the military strategy games for the PlayStation 2 are very complex. Of course, we are talking about different marketing demographics. :-\ Flynn
_If we can't corrupt the youth of today,
the adults of tomorrow will be no fun...
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Of the games I recognize I'd consider all of them on the light side of the TBS strategy market. Edit in the case of Civ, I'm referrring to the UI complexity not all the behind the scenes stuff.
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
Civilization Revolution was designed from the ground up to be a more casual version the games, but it is heavily based on Civilization II. Whereas, aside from the necessary interface change, Civ II plays exactly like the PC version (minus some of the deeper customization options). In the case of Civ Rev (especially the DS version) the world maps are pretty small. The biggest issue I have is running up against rival civs way too quickly. Forces you to change you game style, that's for sure. AI diplomacy hasn't changed much from Civ II, unfortunately. The computer players actually seem to be more aggressive, breaking treaties on a whim. The other night, Ghandi declared war on my civ simply because we were "too advanced", heh. But no, none of these games are hardcore military or fantasy sims. None of the Warhammer games are anything like the board game, and even some of the military strategy games for the PlayStation 2 aren't very complex. Of course, we are talking about different marketing demographics. :-\ Flynn
_If we can't corrupt the youth of today,
the adults of tomorrow will be no fun...
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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.
Unfortunately the PC gaming market is shrinking. And no porting to all 3 platforms is NOT a no brainer. It's seriously hard to bridge the gap. Between PC and console! - no vram - slower drives - more access to the hw so more owness on the programmer to use the hardware to get decent performance. - limited control of what you can dowload display etc (3rd party approval) Still, a lot of companies are making the jump. Just because it's do or die.
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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?
No surprise really, PC games are heavily digitally distributed now by services like Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/[^]) and ImpluseDriven (http://www.impulsedriven.com/[^]). PC Gaming Industry is dead, lol not even close... World of Warcraft hits 11.5 million subscribers.. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/world-of-warcraft-hits-11-5-million-subscribers[^] Yes that's 11.5 million active subscribers paying ~$15 USD per month. How about: Steam's 50% off Left 4 Dead sale recently... http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/20/steams-left-4-dead-sale-increased-purchase-infection-by-3000/[^]
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Figmo2 wrote:
I don't own a console system (XBox, PS, etc). I prefer PC games. Those funky controllers freak me out.
Every gamepad from the original Nintendo to the PS1 cramped my hands painfully within an hour of playing. I haven't touched a console since. Besides you can't play turn based strategy with a gamepad and that's most of my gaming.
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
I agree. My hands start cramping after an hour playing with my daughter's PS2. I feel sorry that I can't play against her very long. Its hell getting old. Also, I've heard that some people are getting sores on their hands from holding the game pads too tightly.
