Are PC games dying?

[0roo0roo]

only recent adventure game for pc, Syberia pretty good really. fsaa is wonderful u don't hear much about it though ever rare non console port. hate console ports with all their interface limitations and shoddy graphics, low res backgrounds etc

 

[Orsorum]

Play Medieval: Total War, and tell me that PC games are dying.

 

[Nemesis77]

PC-games are NOT dying! And besides, there will ALWAYS be games that are just better on a PC than on a console. Let's see:

Flight-sims: PC's all the way!

Strategy/tactics: PC's all the way!

FPS: PC's are way better. Can't beat that keyboard/mouse-combo

Platform-jumpers: Consoles, but there's nothing to prevent them to be in PC's as well

RTS: alot better on PC's

Sports & Driving: More common on consoles, but there's nothing to prevent the same games from working on PC's

RPG's: PC's

The way I see it, consoles are better suited for simpler games.

 

[WhiteKnight77]

PC games aren't dying, heck UbiSoft just release Splinter Cell for PC last month and is just released IL2: Forgotten Battles this past week and now R6 3: Raven Shield has just hit the shelves. Lock On: Modern Air Combat is set to be released in May. I had a PS1 prior to getting a PC in June 2000. I haven't used it since. Raing sims like NASCAR Racing 2003 Season can only be run on the PC due to the enormous set up options for the cars. It is nowhere like the NASCAR Thunder series for Playstation by EA Sports (there is a NSASCAR Thunder 2003 for the PC and the graphics look like they came right off my TV set instead of from a PC game. The Papyrus series of NASCAR games are the best and it shows.)

FPS while playable on a console allows for better control on the PC. Nothing can beat a mouse and a keyboard.

 

[NewSc2]

Three Words:

World Of Warcraft



man that game is gonna be soo good I can already tell I'm going to have to allot half of my free time/half of my social life playing it.

 

[Mavrick]

PC gaming is waaay too expansive for a lot of people to be truly enjoyable. When you can get a X-BOX for 300$ (in canada), I don't see why we should buy 600$ worth of video card/processor to be able to play on a 17 inches screen.

Gaming, for most people, is an activity that you do once or twice a week, not 4 hours a day. So, not many people are willing to spend so much money on a hobby like that. Plus, consoles are better for parties (with friends).

I personnally keeps playing on the PC since I don't have any console and the only game I play is Sim City 4, but I wouldn't consider upgrading my PC for any other games (although the graphics are much sweeter on the PC).

 

[Steve819]

I think the PC games market will always be around, I just don't see much growth for it. PC Games sales did decline last year - click here. There will always be a hardcore pc games market, but for now, there is little justification for paying out a $1000 for a new computer that can play the latest and greatest, when you can pay out $200 and play probably more good games. I don't see the PC market growing much more than it already is, due to the console's appeal to the casual gamer.

My girlfriend for example won't play anything on the computer except Snood. She will however play Sunshine Mario, Super Monkey Ball 2, possible Metroid Prime, and probably Mario Kart on the Gamecube. I recently bought the Gamecube because outside of DIII, I don't see any games that I want to play on the PC. Warcraft III didn't do much for me, and the FPS market has grown pretty stale - NOLF2 was alright, not mindblowingly good. Plus, the advantage of the Gamecube is you can play with many people in the same room, just plug in an extra controller! Online gaming is fun, but it is ultimately a solitary activity, as outside of a LAN party, you have no friends to share it with in the same room as you.

I think the casual gamer market is where the growth is, and that is firmly on the side of the consoles.

Just a new Gamecube owner's and former PC gamer thoughts.

Steve

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

Originally posted by: Mavrick
Plus, consoles are better for parties (with friends).

You, sir, obviously haven't attended one of my lan wars. (BTW, having another one April 4-6..PM for details.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

Originally posted by: Steve819
but for now, there is little justification for paying out a $1000 for a new computer that can play the latest and greatest, when you can pay out $200 and play probably more good games.

You can build a gameworthy pc for around $350-$400, and a pretty good one at that.

 

[Steve819]

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX

Originally posted by: Steve819
but for now, there is little justification for paying out a $1000 for a new computer that can play the latest and greatest, when you can pay out $200 and play probably more good games.

You can build a gameworthy pc for around $350-$400, and a pretty good one at that.

Yeah...but I would imagine you would have to upgrade (with a $150 vid card) within 2 years if you wanted to play the newest games..no? I expect my Gamecube to be good till the end of 2005 (with no upgrading needed - 2rd and 3rd generation games come with improved graphics and gameplay for free). Total cost of ownership no matter how you slice it is going to be lower on the console. Just picked up a Gamecube with 2 free games for $160. I can play stuff right now for that investment - with the PC, I have to put it together myself (if I wanted really good compenents and good prices) and deal with finicky drivers etc.

The console and the PC appeal very much to two different markets. The PC to a generally older crowd, with more sophisicated taste which means Flight sims, FPS, and strategy RTS. The PC has shown an inability to expand outside of those three types of games, while the console can play platformers, sports, FPS (decently), racing games, and various types. The console has shown the ability to expand outside of Mario Bros. for the NES to appeal to wider group of people, who don't want to deal with the hassle of installing games etc. They want 'Plug and Play' which is the console.

Steve

Edit: Forgot RPGs - in which both console and PC are about equal - Diablo II vs. Final Fantasy etc.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

yeah, you get the inevitable upgrade costs with the pc market...agreed.

I see it this way...just about everyone's got a pc, can't say that for consoles.

 

[Imaginer]

With the way I think its going, and with MS with their view (in my view)

They want all gaming to go to their XBox systems and their upcoming sequels. Its a matter of time before we find them convincing top gaming developers to jump with them.

As far as the PC goes, with intel's centrino, there will be no need for all of this so called upgrading and so forth. The PC will be nothing more than a terminal to the net, word processing, and some workstation stuff with graphics catered to CAD and other things of that sort instead of powerful gaming applications. (because MS wants all gaming for the Xbox IMO)

Which is why I still want to support PC gaming and not Xbox gaming.

(but looks to me the average joe will be pulled into the Xbox gaming though)

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX

Originally posted by: Steve819
but for now, there is little justification for paying out a $1000 for a new computer that can play the latest and greatest, when you can pay out $200 and play probably more good games.

You can build a gameworthy pc for around $350-$400, and a pretty good one at that.

Is that with monitor or without? Care to show me? Mine costed over $900 and I thought I went el cheapo on everything.

 

[0roo0roo]

xbox hehe, still waiting for halo for pc just a few months u peeps said eh?

u peeps know squat!

 

[Tung]

Originally posted by: Carbonyl
I saw a special on discovery channel (and that's the inspiration for my current sig) which say they are dying. They say Stealing the games combined with high poroduction costs is killing the industry. Anyone else see that recently?

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