5 developers who still love PC gamers

[Renegade227]

Hey all,

I am completely astounded that not a single person has mentioned id software- the company responsible for inventing the first person shooter genre. Let's not forget that id is also responsible for popularizing online gaming with Quake back in 1997 (QuakeWorld anyone?).

More importantly, id develops all of its games specifically for the PC, and it always shows. id titles consistently spoil gamers with all the crucial elements that establish a PC game- console commands, dedicated server support, seamless mod support, full access to config files, high-end graphics, proper keyboard & mouse control, and most importantly- optimized code. Time and again, id provides games that are capable of running well on even the weakest systems (within reason, of course).

id games are ALWAYS lavished with the proper qualities of a PC game. They're a relatively small company run by PC gamers just like us (who are also brilliant artists and software engineers) that still understand the fundamentals of a PC game- at least within the FPS realm- better than most developers, aside from perhaps Valve.

I'm a huge sucker for the FPS genre, and I can honestly say that id have never settled for console standards in its games.

In short, this is why id Software totally needs to replace DICE. Who's with me?

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

There's no reason to be astounded. The topic is 'still love PC gamers'. Their most recent foray in the form of Doom 3 was uninspiring, and they've been very upfront about the reality that in their upcoming title Rage, PC is a second class citizen.

 

[Lonyo]

Hey all,

I am completely astounded that not a single person has mentioned id software- the company responsible for inventing the first person shooter genre. Let's not forget that id is also responsible for popularizing online gaming with Quake back in 1997 (QuakeWorld anyone?).

More importantly, id develops all of its games specifically for the PC, and it always shows. id titles consistently spoil gamers with all the crucial elements that establish a PC game- console commands, dedicated server support, seamless mod support, full access to config files, high-end graphics, proper keyboard & mouse control, and most importantly- optimized code. Time and again, id provides games that are capable of running well on even the weakest systems (within reason, of course).

id games are ALWAYS lavished with the proper qualities of a PC game. They're a relatively small company run by PC gamers just like us (who are also brilliant artists and software engineers) that still understand the fundamentals of a PC game- at least within the FPS realm- better than most developers, aside from perhaps Valve.

I'm a huge sucker for the FPS genre, and I can honestly say that id have never settled for console standards in its games.

In short, this is why id Software totally needs to replace DICE. Who's with me?

BF BC2: Dedicated servers.
Rage: no dedicated servers. Matchmaking instead.

I'm fairly sure I've read Carmack stating his support for consoles fairly recently, and that they are focusing more on consoles than PC.

Never is the shift from PC to console more abundantly clear than when Carmack asserts, “We still think the PC is a market worth supporting, but we’re not making decision around the PC. It’s probably more of the junior partner in the cross-platform strategy, although obviously, our day-to-day development is predominately on the PC.”

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/john-carmack-rage,6074.html

 

[zerocool84]

Hey all,

I am completely astounded that not a single person has mentioned id software- the company responsible for inventing the first person shooter genre. Let's not forget that id is also responsible for popularizing online gaming with Quake back in 1997 (QuakeWorld anyone?).

More importantly, id develops all of its games specifically for the PC, and it always shows. id titles consistently spoil gamers with all the crucial elements that establish a PC game- console commands, dedicated server support, seamless mod support, full access to config files, high-end graphics, proper keyboard & mouse control, and most importantly- optimized code. Time and again, id provides games that are capable of running well on even the weakest systems (within reason, of course).

id games are ALWAYS lavished with the proper qualities of a PC game. They're a relatively small company run by PC gamers just like us (who are also brilliant artists and software engineers) that still understand the fundamentals of a PC game- at least within the FPS realm- better than most developers, aside from perhaps Valve.

I'm a huge sucker for the FPS genre, and I can honestly say that id have never settled for console standards in its games.

In short, this is why id Software totally needs to replace DICE. Who's with me?

Cus if you've read about id recently you'd know they don't give a crap about PC any more.

 

[Renegade227]

BF BC2: Dedicated servers.
Rage: no dedicated servers. Matchmaking instead.

I'm fairly sure I've read Carmack stating his support for consoles fairly recently, and that they are focusing more on consoles than PC.


http://www.tomshardware.com/news/john-carmack-rage,6074.html

Great...Carmack used to be my hero until I read that. I guess I've still been living in the past.

Regarding Doom 3, I agree the plot came off as weak. But in my experience, id games are never about plot or story- they're about gameplay, and atmosphere. Who didn't jump in their chair a few times playing Doom 3 in the dark? Battling Imps and Hell Knights in Doom 3 are still some of the most memorable fights I've ever had in a FPS. Even today, the Doom 3 engines looks gorgeous and perfectly simulates the dreariness and terror of Mars City.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

Id hates the PC: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6207773.html?tag=latestheadlines;title;1

 

[WhipperSnapper]

id games are ALWAYS lavished with the proper qualities of a PC game. They're a relatively small company run by PC gamers just like us (who are also brilliant artists and software engineers) that still understand the fundamentals of a PC game- at least within the FPS realm- better than most developers, aside from perhaps Valve.

If so, why haven't they released a real online multiplayer sequel to Quake III yet (or at least have it in the works)? Something that would become the next Unreal Tournament (having similar game types, I mean and being an arena shooter)? The market is wide open right now.

 

[GullyFoyle]

You're confusing BF3 with BFBC2. BF3 is going to be a true, pc exclusive, sequel to BF2. It will have modding tools, dedicated servers, and everything a proper PC game should have.

BF3 may be the spiritual sequel to BF2, but I don't think it will be a PC exclusive. I recall the SIGGRAPH slides for DICE's repi on the Frostbite engine states Frostbite 2.0 (the engine for BF3) is being developed for DirectX, Xbox, and the PS3.

I also recall them saying several times recently that they think console players are ready to move on to the PC "hard core" experience. BF3 would likely be their proof of concept for this.

 

[dguy6789]

If BF3 comes out on consoles as well, it's going to be really dumbed down. The 360 and PS3 aren't powerful enough to handle the PC version of Battlefield 2, yet they want to put the next generation Battlefield on them? I imagine PC gamers are expecting a pretty big leap from BF2 to BF3, similar to the 1942 -> BF2 leap. It won't happen if they make the game small enough to fit on the consoles.

 

[Zebo]

Hey all,

I am completely astounded that not a single person has mentioned id software- the company responsible for inventing the first person shooter genre. Let's not forget that id is also responsible for popularizing online gaming with Quake back in 1997 (QuakeWorld anyone?).

More importantly, id develops all of its games specifically for the PC, and it always shows. id titles consistently spoil gamers with all the crucial elements that establish a PC game- console commands, dedicated server support, seamless mod support, full access to config files, high-end graphics, proper keyboard & mouse control, and most importantly- optimized code. Time and again, id provides games that are capable of running well on even the weakest systems (within reason, of course).

id games are ALWAYS lavished with the proper qualities of a PC game. They're a relatively small company run by PC gamers just like us (who are also brilliant artists and software engineers) that still understand the fundamentals of a PC game- at least within the FPS realm- better than most developers, aside from perhaps Valve.

I'm a huge sucker for the FPS genre, and I can honestly say that id have never settled for console standards in its games.

In short, this is why id Software totally needs to replace DICE. Who's with me?

id is bethesda now and bethesda is a console whore despite what this article says. Not that I blame any of these makers - we all gravitate to work that pays more - consoles pay a lot more. Blizzard would be 100% consoles in a New York second of their game play supported it. Instead they nickle and dime PC player all to hell and will with SC2 and DIII too.

 

[Zebo]

Id hates the PC: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6207773.html?tag=latestheadlines;title;1

LOL - What funny is I remember way back when John hated MS, hated what they did with DirectX and raved on openGL's superiority. How times change and now John's in bed with them. As usual money talks - how much was John given? And other developers given backdoor by MS while were on the subject to make 360 top dog at expense of everything else...