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The Slow Death of PC Gaming?

  1. General Discussions Senior Member Homeworld Senior Member  #1
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    The Slow Death of PC Gaming?

    I've noticed over the last couple of months that PC gaming is on the decline. The last high profile game release for the PC that I can remember was Civ IV and that was a while ago. Compared with the PC gaming scene of a few years ago I think there has been a massive decline in the amount of PC games being released. Do you guys think so as well or am I just being delusional?

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  2. #2
    Is watching TheDeadlyShoe's Avatar
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    We just passed the Christmas rush. S'always a January doldrums. But there's a bunch of titles coming out this month.

    No, I don't think PC gaming is on the decline. The market is still expanding, and it's always been smaller than the console market, and indie games are really coming into their own.
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  3. #3
    Deathx
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    Well if games get more powerful and need more specs, people find it difficult to shell out for $1200 computer or £900 one etc or 300000yen one or something like that. Yes, i'm guessing figures her with $ and yen but what the heck.

    pc gameing just isn't that fun really :/ feel the wrathe of my console fanboy-dom.

  4. #4
    BACK TO THE GOOD PART! Atreides's Avatar
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    BF2, FEAR, The upcoming Star Wars game (though I didn't care for the demo) and others listed HERE that are coming soon.

    Just a slow couple of months.
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  5. General Discussions Senior Member Dawn of War Senior Member  #5
    Oppressive Forces of Titty n0z3k1ll3r's Avatar
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    The trend to force people into newer and faster is probably hurting the PC game industry, but it's probably becoming less of an influence now that consoles are basically doing the same thing (nothing comes out for the PSX anymore, you need a PS2, and before you know it you'll need a PS3).
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  6. #6
    Give me more, 64! hybris's Avatar
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    There's always ups and downs for games release, and it's natural that there's a slow period just after the pre-christmas releases.
    And after two really hectic years, with tons of huge games like Half-Life 2, Doom 3, Quake 4, Sims 2, BF2, FEAR, WoW, CS:S, Civ IV, CoD2.... It's only natural that there's a breath taking period of catching up for all the major producers.

    Here in Sweden, the PC Games are actually selling way more than console titles, because of all the major titles released for PC.

    Another reason I would never expect a death for PC Gaming, is the most fundamental part; Console games are being developed using PC.
    Consoles can't survive without PC.
    That, and consoles will always be outdated as soon as they reach the streets, since they're a static concept, and the concept machine has to be available to the devs before the release.

    Good luck trying to upgrade your PS2, Gamecube or Xbox with a new graphic card, to support Pixel Shader Model 3.0

    ...And since all new consoles (both Nintendo Revolution, Xbox360 and PS3) all use ATI and NVidia graphic solutions, you can be confident that that technology also reaches the PC market.

  7. #7
    Running Dog Scribble's Avatar
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    I've definitely noticed the dearth of quality releases lately. Check the gamespot reviews; painful. :rage:

    But as the son of Atreus says. Its a slow quarter, spring usually picks up a bit.

  8. #8
    BACK TO THE GOOD PART! Atreides's Avatar
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    I am waited with baited breath the new iteration of HL, the team teathmatch crap can go pound sand though.

  9. Child's Play Donor General Discussions Senior Member  #9
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    If i see any slow death regarding games it is certainly not in the amount released but rather in their quality. This is of course just the old 'back in the day' feeling everyone is subjected to sooner or later. In any case i'm getting a bit weary of the photorealism and constantly larger worlds, huge multiplayer universes and so on. In protest i play Heroes of might and magic 3, Civ 2 and Beneath a steel sky but i have no doubt future games will continue to devour my soul from time to time.


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  10. Child's Play Donor Company of Heroes Senior Member Dawn of War II Senior Member  #10
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    According to the german games magazine gamestar they indeed tested less games than in the years before 2005, 292 games.
    Before that it was 300+ games a year. However I don't think this is a significant reduce yet. And I certainly prefer less released games but higher classed ones.


  11. #11
    I guess with the spate of takeovers in recent years, it has reduced the number of developers in the market, thus a decline in the number of games.
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  12. #12
    That and making something new and neat can be risky to the money side of things. As such, many publishers push for the games that use tried and true methods to make games, the end result is fewer good/great games, and fewer games in general.

  13. #13
    You want to count the millions that are on WOW, EvE online, etc? PC gaming is not on the decline, rather the reverse I think.

  14. #14
    I am a sun God Ammon Ra's Avatar
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    mmorpgs will ensure that the pc remains as a gaming platform. That's one thing that wow is actually god at imo, keeping players, and interesting in pcs.

    bleh, stripe got it before me, even posted in the same minute
    *mildly disgusted with negative price discrimination*

  15. #15
    MMOs saved PC gaming. But PC gaming also excels in other areas, in games that are considered a bit too complex for console fare.

    These include games of strategy, such as various RTS, grand strategy games like Civilization, as well as complex sims like various flgiht sims (the IL2 series). Right now I am playing a complex space sim/strategy/trading game called X3 Reunion.

  16. #16
    I am a sun God Ammon Ra's Avatar
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    X3 is buggy, outdated gameplay, and a graphics whore imo. X5 might just actually be interesting.

  17. #17
    heraldo
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    A friend of mine came round my house the other night with Resident Evil 4 for PS2. I was soon cursing about not being able to strafe, crouch, peep round corners, how annoying it was to look around etc. Once you have tried pc gaming, there is no going back to consoles apart from the odd beat-em-up or driving game IMO.

    The appearance of episodic gaming may also give huge popularity to pc gaming. And MMOs keep on attracting HUGE ammounts of gamers.

    Personally I can't see pc gaming dieing.
    Last edited by heraldo; 6th Feb 06 at 12:52 PM.

  18. #18
    omega the end
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    PC gaming will always be around but if its slowing down then the only reson I can think of is the new consoles are coming out(one already out) and people are using their money on new games and consule. I'm surprised no one else has thought of this......

  19. #19
    Reignfire
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    Doesn't this topic come up like every six months or so?

  20. #20
    I am a sun God Ammon Ra's Avatar
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    It, or similar discussions do actually... last one was about the SP vs MP arean [in pc games only]

  21. #21
    Drivers, fighters, and exclusive games are the only ones I would care to buy for a console...

    everything else, I would prefer for the PC. My comp is good enough that I don't really have to worry about upgrading for a couple years.
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  22. #22
    omega the end
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    The only games I play on my console are racing games and the ocasional shooter like golden eye. Everything else is for my comp, and my future comp that i'll be getting in a few weeks.

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Heraldo
    A friend of mine came round my house the other night with Resident Evil for PS2. I was soon cursing about not being able to strafe, crouch, peep round corners, how annoying it was to look around etc. Once you have tried pc gaming, there is no going back to consoles apart from the odd beat-em-up or driving game IMO.
    Yeah, some games were only meant to be on the PC, like first-person shooters or similar. I only support PC games at the moment-- I don't have consoles anymore. And I don't feel that PC gaming is declining any faster than console gaming. Unless someone wants to correct me on that.

  24. #24
    Member Busby's Avatar
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    PC gaming will never die as long as companies keep making Strategy games, FPS, Sims, and MMOs.

  25. #25
    I am a sun God Ammon Ra's Avatar
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    The sims 6. Oh boy...

  26. #26
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  27. Dawn of War II Senior Member Dawn of War Senior Member  #27
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    that's on the 360 too :P

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  28. #28
    Is watching TheDeadlyShoe's Avatar
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    well sure. 360 and PC architecture is the same damn thing. it owuld be nonsensical to release on just one if you can help it.

  29. #29
    Banned Erikjust's Avatar
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    The problem is as I see it that most games are just too short and lack anything even close to original thinking.

    I blame EA and most people talked whit these days do to, EA buy up all the great companies and spread there people for the wind.

    This wouldn’t be a problem if EA could keep the standard of there games just as high as the companies they buy did.

    Problem is they don’t EA know absolutely NOTHING about making anything else then ordinary sport games.

    They spit out one game after another one just as bad as the previous one if not worse, if somebody is killing the PC game market it is EA games.

    My advise to them it is alright if you buy up companies but keep things as creating games to people who actually knows what they are doing, because it is painfully obviously that you don’t.

  30. #30
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    I used to get a computer gaming magazine a few years ago. They would periodically lament the death of the PC industry.

    Here's the state of the industry: It's fine. Enough already, this is something that's been brought up over and over and over, and you know what? PC gaming is not going anywhere, so quit running around screaming that the sky is falling.
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  31. #31
    Suddenly Dapper Martians! Trizzdog's Avatar
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    PC gaming will die only when games like chess and D&D die too.

  32. #32
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  33. #33
    Console gaming will evolve to where PC gaming is in a few years. PC gaming will evolve to 3D immersion games. I have been playing computer games stereoscopically without goggles/glasses for about 5 years now. That technology is in its infancy in PC's. I am now playing games at 2560x1600 resolution. PC gaming is the front of the wave, console gaming is the back of the wave.

  34. #34
    One Wheeled Robot Vijil's Avatar
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    Erikjust, some people like really long games, others don't

    I hate them. I like short 10-15 hour games that have good gameplay, not drawn out filler with hours of walking around trying to find stuff and getting experience thrown in for absolutely no good reason.

    BF2 is great, EA can support good games. Not that it was their idea anyway... but yeah.

    heh... imagine playing hw2 on a console :yech:

  35. #35
    find confession in your dreams boolybooly's Avatar
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    no PC games will not die because PC sales are driven by other factors, so PC games are cashing in on an existing (huge) market. rather I would say the console is becoming a PC to improve its attraction.

    what you may be seeing is a cylical aspect to PC game development because there is a long delay phase between design and delivery.

    actually this year is looking very interesting for 4X with Spore and Sword of the Stars, not to mention Space Empires v and also RTS Supreme Commander, while last year was a bit thin.

    another element of your perception may be that you are actually getting bored of games and find them less compelling than the real world, which is only natural, there are other things more worth doing. in a balanced existence gaming is properly a recreation, something you do when relaxing from the other things you have done, not an unhealthy obsession that prevents you from doing what you need to with the rest of your life.

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  36. #36
    Banned timotheus's Avatar
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    Thing is that there are whloe genres of gaming on PC that do not exist on consoles.
    Consoles to me were always about brainless entertainment, whereas PC had that going as well as RTS, strategy war games (seen Steel Panthers on PSP yet?), war games, etc.

  37. #37
    Wanna get a mint? General Blaze's Avatar
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    Consoles to me were always about brainless entertainment
    That IS a very broad generalising. If people followed your logic, then you might as well say "PCs are for cheating dumbarse smacktards"

    There's room for intelligent games in consoles because it sounds like you never touched console games like the Advance Wars series. You should try them sometimes.

    As for PC gaming dying out, I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon, what with MMORPGs and a new wave of RTSs and etc. I wish they'd bring Adventure games (Like Monkey Island or Day of the Tentacle) back into PC haven.
    Last edited by General Blaze; 5th Feb 06 at 6:59 AM.

  38. #38
    Banned timotheus's Avatar
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    You are quite correct - I never touched consoles in my life. Ever...I am not kidding...well maybe in store I played Star Fox...a bit...
    I shall google that Advance Wars thing now

  39. #39
    Member Benjamin's Avatar
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    I went to a game shop not long ago, and I have to say there wassn't that many PC games that interested me, but none on consoles at all.

  40. #40
    I am a sun God Ammon Ra's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by stripe
    2560x1600 resolution
    :wow:

    your 21"+ crt must take up a hell of a lot of your tabletop area.
    My experience with consoles is nintendo. Mario, Luigi, donkey kong, Etc. Loved the games, but i always moved the controler where i wanted your character to go. It just seems so natural, and it was frustrating that moving the controler had no effect on the actual character. Which is why nintendo wins imo.

  41. #41
    BETA Noir's Avatar
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    Certain genres would have to die out before PC gaming dies out. CRPGs(NOT JRPGs), FPS, RTS, turned-based strat and sims would have to die out first to get anywhere near the death of PC gaming. Many of these have been weakened considerably by consoles, but I don't expect them to go away for a long time

    Ace Combat 5 and hopefully the upcoming Zero is fun though

  42. #42
    Sabin
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    The PC Gaming Industry has been on an intermittent decline for years, well, and it’s a fact based on market sells (i.e. retail sales dropped almost 25% or more in the last few years alone). The PC Gaming Industry was at its near peak back in the late 1998-2000 period, and it hasn’t been the same since.

    The PC Gaming Industry is facing hard situations of trying to make quality titles with ever increasing development costs to compete, higher costs on the consumer to run those titles, and an ever decreasing demand for those titles.

    Also, you have the console platforms, which mind you has been on a rocket shooting to the market heavens for years. You are going to see PC Gaming companies jump ship, head into multi-platform games to make even from the usual PC exclusive titles, and-or make more cost efficient games (smaller more qualified/competent development teams, etc.).

    Note: MMORPG titles are one of the few exceptions for PC Gaming, but that is already appearing on other console platforms. The RTS (PC) titles are already expected to appear on consoles in this generation or at least the next (pending on who takes the risks and how succesful those are).

    Edit: I got no idea if that means PC Gaming will die or something eventful will change current PC Gaming Industry trends.

  43. #43
    One step away
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    PC gaming isin't dying. Its on the increase and its going to be for many many years.

  44. #44
    Give me more, 64! hybris's Avatar
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    They got a neat list on GameSpot;
    http://www.gamespot.com/forums/show_...ic_id=24145969

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  45. #45
    Reignfire
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    A little off topic:
    I prefer PC over console, but there's one thing I have to give consoles credit for, even though it's forced. Optimization. With unchanging hardware specs which go on for several years, developers are forced to make improvements on their side of things. Just compare first generation games of any console with its last generation. With PC games, as soon as a new videocard with new features is announced, everyone jumps on board without making full use of already existing hardware.

  46. #46
    Otherworldly Invader Gyokuran's Avatar
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    People have been claiming PC gaming has been dying since 1985.

    Quote Originally Posted by heraldo
    A friend of mine came round my house the other night with Resident Evil for PS2. I was soon cursing about not being able to strafe, crouch, peep round corners, how annoying it was to look around etc. Once you have tried pc gaming, there is no going back to consoles apart from the odd beat-em-up or driving game IMO.
    Never played the PS2 version, but the origonal GC versionw as great. Theres a PC port coming out but to be honest I'd rather play it on the GC then the PC.

  47. #47
    At the behest of a friend who knows my penchant for scary games, I purchased Silent Hill 4 for PC, originally developed on who cares.

    The game is about an inch from being totally unplayable compared to almost any PC FPS. I could go into hideous detail, but the gist of it is the game was built for a joystick, but needed a mouse.

    Case in point. Combat is in third person. Rather than follow the usual PC standard of having the camera mounted behind the player, the mouse turning and the A and D buttons sidestep, the game uses W,S,A,D for turning and moving forward and backward, and a floating camera that continually gets stuck on every corner and doorway. Why? Dunno.

    Strafing is built in, luckily. When you want to hit something, you first have to "ready" your weapon, which just so happens to disable the forward movement key and replaces the left and right turn keys with strafing ones. That's right. You can swing your pipe all you want, but you can't move forward or turn.

    I recall hearing someone say there was a good reason X-Box Halo players weren't allowed to connect to PC Halo players. I think I know why.

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