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 Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:06 Post subject: The future of PC gaming |
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Before I start, I'd like to adress that no, I am not a doomsayer, proclaiming the imminent death of PC gaming.
I seek opinions, about what you think will happen in a few years from now.
Let's be honest, worthwhile exclusive PC games are few and far between, what we mostly get these days are good to awful console ports.
The Wii has been out for a few years now and is the biggest selling current console by a very large margin, for its simple controls are reaching a broader public than the typical controller which may confuse or intimidate non-gamers.
It is easy to use, intuitive, simple and fun, for the casual crowd. The Wii rassembled even non-gamers, a lot of women and even the elderly because their games were accessible to them (read: easy and simple as shit)
Now, Microsoft and Sony try to make a buck on this gimmick by releasing Project Natal and a phalic shaped PSmote ripoff. Wii is making so much profit with its simple games and controls, and Microsoft and Sony sees the opportunity to cater to this new crowd of gamers with similar products.
What I fear, is the next generation of consoles, which shouldn't be too far now, will be all using a motion control gimmick to their console, alienating a big chunk of the gamer crowd to reap the profits from the new and very large casual/non-gamer player base.
What will happen to PC gaming if that hypothesis was to be true ? Would we be forced to buy a peripherical to play crappy motion control games on our PC ? Would... all the new games simply not be ported to the PC and leave us with a very thin library of upcoming games ?
Like I said, I'm not a doomsayer, I'm just concerned about the path the consoles could undertake, and ultimately drag, the PC games with them.
Any opinions, comments to add or refute my claims would be appreciated. 
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:09 Post subject: |
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Id be content if all came crashing down and we were all left playing quake 1 mp to be honest,, suits me fine..
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:35 Post subject: |
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PC is superior to consoles in so many ways. "PC Gaming is dead" is FUD from the console industries. Most market reports from the last years where PC loses so much do not cover online sales or the whole MMO market. PC gets easier and more accessible with each generation, which happens every 2 years - its 8-10 years on consoles. If there is demand - companies will offer, old rule. If the big players like EA create gaps in the gaming market because they focus on most profitable genres (casual gaming), smaller companies will appear to fill these gaps. Its no vision, it already happens -> http://www.indie-fund.com/
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LeoNatan
Banned
Posts: 73193
Location: Ramat Gan, Israel 🇮🇱
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:39 Post subject: |
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Gaming in general is dying. At least the gaming we love. Nowadays everything is mainstreamed, streamlined for accessibility, done so retards with 5 second attention spans can also play and not feel like what they really are - dumb ass morons.
The Future of Video Gaming®
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chiv
Posts: 27530
Location: Behind You...
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:44 Post subject: |
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pc gaming is superior YES, but so what?
i forsee, honestly, that pc gaming will be reduced over the next few years, to being a multiplayer focused platform. i suspect that mmos will continue to dominate on the pc above all else. SOME fps multiplayer games might survive, but i see that pretty much everything else will be console.
i would NOT be shocked when more and more games become console only, without even shoddy pc ports being bothered with..
its nothing to do with the pc being a superior gaming platform, which it is, its about the fact that gaming has become a casual passtime instead of a more 'hardcore' activity... and as such, to a cater for the drooling masses, the simplicity of the console will always beat the 'knowledge' required for pc gaming.
problem with pcs is that there is no 'standard' to build to. plus more gamers these days have the latest relatively cheaper consoles, than higher end pcs.
pc gaming WILL die for pretty much most genres (except mmos) unless some devs start championing it above consoles. we NEED this to happen.
my solution is this: stock up on pc games while you can. you WILL be revisiting them a couple of years from now... but so what? replaying grim fandango and undying is going to be far more rewarding than whatever watered down shit we'll be seeing in the future.
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Ankh
Posts: 23248
Location: Trelleborg
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:49 Post subject: |
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I think it would be a big blow to ATI/NVIDIA if pc gaming died tbh.
shitloads of new stuff in my pc. Cant keep track of it all.
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:55 Post subject: |
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First why not use one of the existing Omg pc gamez d00med threads ,i know it might feel like you are the only one contemplating this issue but a quick search reveals that this forum i packed with these sentiments.
On to the question at hand. I doubt your average gamer is going to embrace the whole motion control thing, as i don't see any "hardcore" or "normal" gamer jumping around like some fucking retaded bird-men/women in their rooms causing massive seismic events and raising their heart-rates for more than five minutes.
This is mostly aimed at the casual market.
So if your prophecy is true that everything will move to motion stuff then i say this is going to be the re-birth of pc games if you will, as most gamers still want games not exercise.
And the majority will emigrate to pc (good or bad you be the judge as pc games have already suffered the dumbing down of the console gen) for their fix and developers will have to acknowledge that. And continue to make games for the pc or ignore a big chunk of the market.
Last edited by John_Rembeu on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:57; edited 1 time in total
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LeoNatan
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:57 Post subject: |
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I bet there will be an influx of hot girls playing with these motion controllers. 
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chiv
Posts: 27530
Location: Behind You...
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 13:02 Post subject: |
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| Anthirs wrote: | | I think it would be a big blow to ATI/NVIDIA if pc gaming died tbh. |
nvidia is used for the ps3
ati is used for the 360
all thats happening is that business is shifting from one platform (pc) to another... and besides, pc GAMING will falter, but pc usage wont. pcs are still going to need graphics cards, so i doubt this is going to harm those companies in any way.
as always, its only us, the gamers, that lose out. not the companies. |
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Ankh
Posts: 23248
Location: Trelleborg
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 13:21 Post subject: |
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I know that - but I still think loosing the pc market would mean a huge loss in income for them. Just think of how many gfx cards are sold every day...and i don't think people will spend those cash on consoles just cos pc games arent released anymore
shitloads of new stuff in my pc. Cant keep track of it all.
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 13:51 Post subject: |
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I don't think it will die. As long as there is a market to be had, there will be developers. Sure, not everyone is EA and Activision - pump out easy shit for grand money. There are smaller devs, who like the PC and hardcore players.
So long as there are hardcore players, there will be hardcore games. And this is capitalism. New devs will rise up, and make the games happen. I bet they will even cost less, hardcore fans will keep it afloat, and sequels will be better and better.
Like I said, even my mates and I started making a game I made a thread about. We're already 5 people, 3 programmers 2 artists, all mostly fresh out of colleges. We will make a game and sell it for 6$-ish. Will be simple deep game. If we can manage to get a fanbase that buys our games, we will make better ones after the first. Hardcore fans are indeed loyal and supportive, especially in hard times. I have faith.
And there's another factor. Graphics for the consoles of this generation are already capped. Those pushing the bleeding edge need PC.
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chiv
Posts: 27530
Location: Behind You...
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 15:37 Post subject: |
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ugh.
those 'bleeding edge graphics' need 'bleeding edge pcs' that not everyone has. why cater to 50 people when you can cater to 5000.
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 16:00 Post subject: |
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Ah, this thread reminds me of why, although I am a hardcore PC gamer, I'm secretly pulling for the PC gaming industry to decline into non-existence.
At least most of the console crowd recognizes that the majority of old games were a steaming pile of shit just like the majority of current games.
Not to suggest that you guys don't have a point about the mainstreaming bullshit, but the non-stop whining is kind of sad, and it's way overblown.
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 16:04 Post subject: |
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| Yuuichi wrote: |
At least most of the console crowd recognizes that the majority of old games were a steaming pile of shit just like the majority of current games.
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Doubtful - it's more likely the drooling simpletons like the shit they're being offered.
Imo, PC gaming will always survive. And some genres can never be properly done on consoles so there will always be something to play.
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| Posted: Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 16:07 Post subject: |
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| inz wrote: |
Doubtful - it's more likely the drooling simpletons like the shit they're being offered.
Imo, PC gaming will always survive. And some genres can never be properly done on consoles so there will always be something to play. |
I agree that PC gaming is the best and will always survive, but I just think it's sad that PC gaming fans are as bitter as you are.
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proekaan
VIP Member
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Location: Finland
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| Posted: Thu, 4th Mar 2010 02:34 Post subject: |
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The more people that starts playing console games, the more hardcore gamers there will become given time. Look at console gamers as the farmer league for the PC. My thesis would be that hardcore gamers prefer the PC as a gaming platform because of customization, controls, superior visuals, always cutting edge-tech, user created contents and a shitload more. I believe that the main reason gamers doesn't play on the PC is because consoles are cheaper. It's sure as hell isn't because you need to manually set IRQ's or optimize DOS memory anymore. Games are easier than ever to get to work on a PC. There's a few myths still prevalent on the PC. For a hardcore gamer a gaming PC isn't particularly pricey either compared to the entertainment value. There's just nothing a console can do that a PC can't do much better. Nothing at all. Hardcore gamers wants to be a part of that.
Also consider when World of Warcraft came along. All the other MMO devs were crying bloody murder because WoW was draining the limited market of MMO gamers.Today most MMO devs are cheering for WoW and what it did to the genre. When people got fed up with WoW they started looking for other MMO's. Well a lot did anyway. It's the same with the PC as a platform. Hardcore gamers would want the best graphics, best physics, highest resolution, best this and fastest that.
Last point is accessibility of software. A lot of publishers are making good money on services like Steam, g2play and Impulse. The game industry has learned what the music industry haven't; that people will pay if it's a good product and it's easily accessible. They're even making good money on older software that would never get shelf life in a retail store with Steam special offers.
I've been hearing about the death of PC gaming since the Amiga era. I'm still waiting. As long as the PC is the main tool for browsing internet, work and other e-leisure I can't see PC gaming dying anytime soon. There might be fluctuations though. Now we might have to wait a few years until all the major publishers re-learns that the PC platform generates good money. Time is on our side though as more gamers = more hardcore gamers.
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Saner
Posts: 6875
Location: Uk
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| Posted: Thu, 4th Mar 2010 15:34 Post subject: |
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PC has a ready made and easy to get pirate base too.
sure the 360 is hackable to run pirated games (the PS3 not as yet) but with a PC its just so damn easy to get hold of and run pirated games.
That would also lead to some devs turning their back on the PC (IMO)
| ragnarus wrote: |
I saw things like that in here and in other "woman problems" topics so...... Am I the only one that thinks some authorities needs to be alerted about Saner and him possibly being a rapist and/or kidnapper ? |
Saner is not being serious. Unless its the subject of Santa!
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Werelds
Special Little Man
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| Posted: Thu, 4th Mar 2010 16:04 Post subject: |
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I doubt it. We'll get less and less games worth the money, but there will be some developers that'll always stay true to their nature.
Mainly hinting at the older and more successful companies, who are the only ones who make games I give a damn about anyway. Valve won't be leaving PC gaming, nor will ID or even Blizzard. Just to give you three names that have probably made the most successful games in PC history, and who all focus on the PC.
So no, PC gaming won't be dying, we'll just be getting rid of the games that aren't worth our time anyway. Not saying that I like it, but I haven't bought a lot of games in the past few years. Not as many as before that anyway. I'd prefer to get 5 really good games a year, than the stream of steaming shit we get now
As for the NVIDIA/ATI thing: If PC gaming actually did come to a halt, neither company would be in much trouble. Most of their revenue comes from the cheap and shit cards anyway, and those will continue to be used in "consumer" systems.
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LeoNatan
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| Posted: Thu, 4th Mar 2010 16:10 Post subject: |
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| pwerelds wrote: | | As for the NVIDIA/ATI thing: If PC gaming actually did come to a halt, neither company would be in much trouble. Most of their revenue comes from the cheap and shit cards anyway, and those will continue to be used in "consumer" systems. |
I am not sure about that. Intel has been penetrating the low-end market with its onboard stuff, and I have to admit, it is decent enough for office tasks anyway.
The only "salvation" I see for nVidia and ATI if PC gaming dies is the hardware accelerated video playback on HTPCs. I know there is a big movement toward this in the last few years with the arrival of HD material, and with the nVidia ION it is quite viable to get a cheap system like this that plays hardware accelerated content easily. |
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Werelds
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| Posted: Thu, 4th Mar 2010 16:22 Post subject: |
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LeoNatan
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| Posted: Thu, 4th Mar 2010 16:26 Post subject: |
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Don't know which people you speak of  , maybe you have more intelligent people in the NL who care what they buy and can be arsed to do some research  , but most people here just want to buy everything cheap. They don't know what Intel, nVidia, ATI is, and for a seller that wants to sell a lot at a cheap price, going with an Intel onboard which is quite capapble is a lot cheaper and a big plus (or rather minus  ) for construction time.
But I agree, Intel has to hurry up and provide some kind of interface for hardware accelerated video playback. Even Flash is moving toward this with 10.1 (and is, I think, already available with Silverlight, or soon will be).
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| Posted: Thu, 4th Mar 2010 17:53 Post subject: |
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| pwerelds wrote: | | True, but NVIDIA still has the big name advantage there. If the average consumer sees "NVIDIA Geforce G210" or Intel GMA4500HD" they'll most likely pick the former, even though they're both pretty horrible and equal in what they can (not) do. |
If only that was true. Intel GMAs are pretty much garbage, while with G210 you can actually try some newer games, although at low detail and resolution (but it's still something).
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LeoNatan
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| Posted: Thu, 4th Mar 2010 17:55 Post subject: |
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We are talking about graphics devices which are not for gaming (we are discussing the hypothetical case of PC gaming dying). For that Intel GMA are more than sufficient.
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Werelds
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| Posted: Thu, 4th Mar 2010 19:18 Post subject: |
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@ Leo: I just gathered that from the people around me, although I've educated most of my relatives by now
They used to be all for Intel/NVIDIA regardless of how bad the CPU/GPU in question was compared to an equally priced AMD/ATI part, and that still holds true even now. A lot of people over here think of NVIDIA when they hear graphics, and of Intel when they hear processor.
@ Peter: 'try' newer games? The G210 struggles to get 25 FPS in HL2 @ 1280x1024 without AA on low details. Not quite what NVIDIA claim it can do, which is why I'm putting it on the same level as a GMA 4500HD. Probably is a tiny bit faster, but when we're talking sub-30 FPS in 6 year old games that are more CPU than GPU based, it doesn't really matter if it's 15 or 20 FPS - both is unplayable
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