Why is PC gaming not as big as it once was?

[phobias23]

Console or PC.. Ive played both.
From my point of view Pc gaming is more alike for people who love PC and the emotion of assembling your own rig .

Normal people prefer to buy a laptop or just a cell to use facebook, is almost the same here.
Lots of gamers or should I say new called gamers, bought a xbox360 or PS3 3/4 years ago and dont have any worry about getting a new videocard or Cpu etc... They have internet connection, no need of OS. buy the game and everything is solved.
This has helped that GOOD EPIC GAMES are no LONGER produced frecuently.

I enjoy fight games in consoles is more easier and fun but,

Shooters Games are made for PC, RPG G. are made for PC, Adventure G. are made for PC.

You can stop a creator imagination due to a forced release for console.
Good Games are made of dreams. PC is where those dreams can be realized.
I cant change my mouse and keyboard in a shooter game for a joystick, no way.
Console>
PC>

 

[gottistar]

I figured this would happen. The overzealous PC fanboys come along and instead of commenting on what the thread asks they have to start defending PC gaming.

Protip: This thread is about what people are doing, not what you think they should be doing.

(...couldn't even get off page 1)

Did you expect anything else?...

How did you expect this question/ discussion To turn out.. Now get back to your console..

 

[entropy13]

PC Gaming is still as big, if not bigger, as it once was.

I just played one hour in an Xbox 360 yesterday. The graphics of FIFA 11 and NBA 2K11 are just HORRIBLE.

I can at least tolerate the facts that they are ports when playing the PC version, but the visual differences are just drastic.

I'm relatively young (just turned 21), and the only console I really had was a PS1 (if you disregard my handhelds like Gameboy Color and my current PSPgo). Yet during that time I was playing games like Fallout, Fallout 2, Red Alert, Jane's Tactical Fighters - ATF: Gold, NBA LIVE 96-98 on the PC. While my PS1 games are usually the ones that are exclusive to it.

Also, I still don't get the "piracy is easier with the PC argument than in the console", because even during the era of PS1 and Windows 98, both are easily pirated anyway.

 

[f22a4bandit]

To be quite honest, I think PC gaming is bigger now than it was in the past. The problem is that it just gets overshadowed by the console market because they make more money. Services like Steam actually make PC games more accessible since you don't have to go to a physical store or buy discs. Look at the amount of indie games available, and you'll realize that PC gaming as a whole is nowhere near as dead as people think.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I think it's because of multiplayer. You buy one console ($200-400), a few controllers ($30-100 each), and one game ($50-60) then you can have 4+ players in the same room playing the same thing. It's also simple with no networking knowledge required so even kids can handle it.

Multiplayer on PC costs a fortune for multiple computers ($1000+ each) and copies of the games ($40-50 each). Not to mention, it takes up a lot of space. Networking can also be difficult to set up.

That's the one thing consoles have always had on PCs.

 

[Cja123]

I think it's because of multiplayer. You buy one console ($200-400), a few controllers ($30-100 each), and one game ($50-60 each) then you can have 4+ players in the same room playing the same thing. It's also simple with no networking knowledge required so even kids can handle it.

Multiplayer on PC costs a fortune for multiple computers ($1000+ each) and copies of the games ($40-50 each). Not to mention, it takes up a lot of space. Networking can also be difficult to set up.

That's the one thing consoles have always had on PCs.

I agree. You can also consider the cost to own a decent gaming PC compared to a console. A PS3 is $299.99 while a gaming computer can run you nearly double. The console pretty much sells itself. It used to be that PC gaming could offer networking but now consoles do as well. You can use a console for nearly everything a typical user would use a computer for; net browsing, streaming video, etc...

 

[Frizz]

I agree. You can also consider the cost to own a decent gaming PC compared to a console. A PS3 is $299.99 while a gaming computer can run you nearly double. The console pretty much sells itself. It used to be that PC gaming could offer networking but now consoles do as well. You can use a console for nearly everything a typical user would use a computer for; net browsing, streaming video, etc...

While that's true the console is still bottlenecked by it's own technology eg. less players online due to FPS lag etc. and surfing the web on a console is not very practical at all, at least for my PS3 it is a nightmare I would rather surf the web on my smart phone. The only positive point for consoles are in the aspects of gaming, the other features are close to a gimmick as I am sure most if not all people who own a current gen console have a personal computer to net browse, steam video etc. at home.

 

[gottistar]

I think it's because of multiplayer. You buy one console ($200-400), a few controllers ($30-100 each), and one game ($50-60) then you can have 4+ players in the same room playing the same thing. It's also simple with no networking knowledge required so even kids can handle it.

Multiplayer on PC costs a fortune for multiple computers ($1000+ each) and copies of the games ($40-50 each). Not to mention, it takes up a lot of space. Networking can also be difficult to set up.

That's the one thing consoles have always had on PCs.

It would be fair to say that 90% of people on these forums do not have " the regular" computer, hence the price tags, people like myself consider the "the computer" more of a hobby as well , upgrading/OC,ing.. blah blah blah....

Anyway back to pc gaming...i still think pc gaming isnt dead...there are ALOT of games that are far better on PC....but there's nothing like like playing Mortal kombat 9 on my ps3/projector rig either......

 

[Easy Rhino]

because in the end people do not care about graphics. they just want to have fun. that is why the wii was so successful. and for those who do care about graphics, go outside. the graphics are much better there.

 

[Shihab]

because in the end people do not care about graphics. they just want to have fun. that is why the wii was so successful. and for those who do care about graphics, go outside. the graphics are much better there.

quoting google+: "+1"

 

[Jetster]

Because people are trolls

 

[KainXS]

because in the end people do not care about graphics. they just want to have fun. that is why the wii was so successful. and for those who do care about graphics, go outside. the graphics are much better there.

really, alot of people with consoles usually think their consoles the best and many still buy games just because they look good(at low res on their crap tv, most don't know any better), I think its the opposite, and many developers know that if they make a game that looks decent people will but it no matter how shitty it is. rewind to about 12 years ago the psx's time, everyone knew the characters looked like boxes but I have to say the games from then and before were better because developers could focus more on a story instead of effects.

The wii did try to pull back and go to the lets make fun games but only slightly.

 

[Mussels]

multi platform games are making them fit the lowest denominator (CPU, GPU, controls), and excessive DRM on the PC platform.


really, thats all it boils down to.

 

[MatTheCat]

I figured this would happen. The overzealous PC fanboys come along and instead of commenting on what the thread asks they have to start defending PC gaming.

Protip: This thread is about what people are doing, not what you think they should be doing.

(...couldn't even get off page 1)

Naturally.

But it is such an obvious question that the OP is probably an overzealous PC fanboy looking to stir up controversy.

Consoles are:

Cheaper, Easy to operate, and a games console fits easily and inobtrusively into any lounge or bedroom, a PC does not oftening requiring much more space and expensive furniture being bought to compliment it. Consoles are also uniform in the sense that everyone is singing from same hymn sheet. No compatibility issues, no headaches of any kind. Simply turn the thing on and play.

 

[HookeyStreet]

Consoles & piracy.

 

[InnocentCriminal]

Community - PC, Support - PC, Graphics -PC, Sound -PC, FPS Control (most AAA titles) - PC, Price per game - PC.

Why are consoles more popular? Because people as a whole are stupid.


Thread.

Hmmm... kinda just summed it up in a couple of sentences. I think El_Mayo would like people to expand on that a little bit. Still, food for thought.

Like TMM said, people are stupid. I'll rephrase that; consoles are more accessible to a much bigger target audience than (desktop) PCs. A lot of it is consumer ignorance. They don't understand IT, it scares them. A console is simple plug & play and with developers making GFX 'fantastic' for them then they don't see any need to spend their hard earn bucks on something that could possible be more expensive if they do something wrong.

Then you have the other factors people have mentioned, eg: features of the games and piracy.

 

[RoutedScripter]

They grew up being fathers and employees and the religion of fat macdonalds&ibox of dumbed down console kids and steam fanboys replaced them.

Just days ago is saw people talking at bethesda when watching the RAGE trailer - while the trailer clearly shown "from the makers of doom and quake" ... ignorant, or just plain stupid ?

---------------------------------------- but that's one part. That's actually the consequence that doesn't help much either.


- The PC has much higher standards that most of the industry is experienced to deliver.
- The Microsoft console conspiracy is an obvious note (DirectX, free tools for X360 devs (MS Analyze for debugging) - no regular patch support whatsoever for windows to optimize for gaming)
... i could go on but i don't recall all at this moment

Positives coming and it's only a matter of time:
- ATVI-IW Clusterfuck ... Respawn will release great games for PC in future (dedis already confirmed )
- M$-Bungie Splitup ... Bungie will probably release PC games in future, and expect much better quality than the last Halos.
- ID Software finally done with their data-creation systems and has a big underlayer in place ready to make 2-3 games in the near future - Rage comes in 2 months.
- Metro 2033 Last Light is not going to get dumbed down - it's going to get improved for PC.

From the Carmack Keynote:
Doom4 will be using Super-Script language. A subset of C++ with features like scheduling, type safe, full performance.
RAGE will have modding tools, developer console. (already know that but he mentioned it too)
Doom 4 will have dedicated servers.
RAGE will get "super quality texture pack" on PC
RAGE will get a special "2GB super quality" level DLC (normal levels are 300-500 MB in size)

In my view ... X360 is the primary cause, it spawned all these camps of immature unexperienced media-reliant consumers. Most of it it's parents buying the games - and they won't listen to Carmack's Keynote before deciding what game to buy for presents, for example.

Microsof has the biggest and roughtest media-push.

Particularly in america - as usual. (im not sure if i know any online nor real friends with X360 around here where i live, it's mostly nintendos and sonys)
Sony and Nintendo is much less to blame - they wouldn't influence them selfs without MS ...

PS2 sold +100 million and still the PC was getting bigger and bigger in the old days .... you guys forgot that ?

And there were all those great games on GCN and N64 and PC was still going up til 2005-2006.


It's the COMBINED cause of Wii and X360 that did that TREND going on - and the worst part of the industry is - that A LOT OF OTHERS FOLLOW SUIT - but they wouldn't have to.

Now look what's happening, blizzard, idsoftware,relic, petroglyph(i really hope their MMORTS succeeds),dice, bethesda ...etc all kept going normally ... and the other unexperienced smartasses that had "oh now it's the age of consoles we must do this and that"... are going to get eaten in the hardcore department ofcourse ... no real chance of returning back.


The funny thing is ... Carmack might look at the indsutry and say "oh MS made all our competitiors switch markets - clearing way for us"

But still this might be good for these few companies ... but it isn't healthy for the PC industry at large and especially hardware industry.

In my opinion I feel very sorry for hardware manufacturers (GPU-CPU-COOLING-PSU-MOBO) because they really kept pushing it no matter what happened in the PC gaming and kind of shame Crysis benchmark is the last real benchmark ...

Just break it up - it's mostly the unexperienced devs that blamed piracy in PC - and ofcourse the capitalist publishers.

And this is a real happy success story for FINALLY this big PC slates coming now and USING THAT HARDWARE !!! ... BF3, RAGE, Doom 4, PREY 2, SC2 expansions, Diablo 3 (CRYSIS2 a little yeah but a disappoint in gameplay)

 

[pantherx12]

Start convincing people to buy a graphics card for their pc.

If they've got a 720 p monitor ( or around that) they could play games at console settings with a small investment)

Convince them damnit!

 

[Mussels]

Start convincing people to buy a graphics card for their pc.

If they've got a 720 p monitor ( or around that) they could play games at console settings with a small investment)

Convince them damnit!

i cant even convince my girlfriend that .avi files direct to her TV/DVD player via USB flash drives is better than her spending hours burning them to DVD. some people are just not interested in anything other than what they already know - they're too scared to try new things and risk looking foolish, so they stay very narrow minded in what they're willing to try, ESPECIALLY if it costs them money.

 

[entropy13]

i cant even convince my girlfriend that .avi files direct to her TV/DVD player via USB flash drives is better than her spending hours burning them to DVD. some people are just not interested in anything other than what they already know - they're too scared to try new things and risk looking foolish, so they stay very narrow minded in what they're willing to try, ESPECIALLY if it costs them money.

Let Ford and twilyth deal with her on GN.

 

[AsRock]

The simplicity and marketing Consoles have is a huge advantage, if most people just want to play games they just watch to pop in the disc and go. This alone makes those platform more appealing to developers because more people using=more money in it.

PC gaming tends to be more complicated, because there is no standard set of hardware, it both limits and enhances the experience. It limits because since not everyone is on the same playing field hardware wise, the experience changes and since the majority aren't into PC hardware they won't drop any cash on it. But it enhances by making it a much more flexible platform since there is no hardware standard, the quality shoots up, as there isn't much of a limit to stop them from making beautiful and creative games.

People see computers as a chore they don't want to deal with, and Consoles solve that problem. PC is more for us that actually care about the insides of our systems.(i personally enjoy both platforms though)

Sure simplicity.

vinyl record \ players v's CD and i am sure Developer's like to make games for consoles as they don't have t think about other configurations + later in the consoles life there is no extra work for a game 2-3 or even longer were with PC the Developer as new hardware is always coming out. Which to me has made them all idle\lazy when making a good PC.game.

And i like them both too even vinyl but like Vinyl i like PC more.

 

[IlluminAce]

PC gaming is as big if not bigger then it ever was....and as ALWAYS its superior to console gaming in anyway imaginable.

Regarding the superiority of PC gaming, I agree fullheartedly - I own a grand total of zero consoles, which is as many as I've ever owned!

That aside, I think the question has a lot to do with console vs PC gaming. Whether the entire PC gaming market has increased/decreased over X time period or not, looking at the statistics for console game sales vs PC game sales, we can get a picture that focus has become skewed towards games consoles, simply because that's where the sales growth is. I think some of the reasons for this are indicated in my previous post.

For example, the ESA's essential facts about the gaming market for 2011 show that total consumer spend growth for 2010 (in the US) was 0.7bn USD for PC games, and 9.4bn USD for video (console) games. Or, on unit sales stats (which works out better for PC games, since console games are more expensive on average), growth for PC games was less than 10% that of growth for console games.

Based on total sales, I think it's relatively even between PCs and consoles at the moment, so the growth stats should be somewhat comparable.

That said, some industry figures are predicting greater growth in the PC market in coming years at the expense of consoles, so the tables may turn yet... Can the rigidity of console platform frameworks keep pace with the innovation of the online gaming market and free-to-play, pay-to-enhance gaming models?

 

[CDdude55]

People are stupid and they don't want to learn about this stuff, and they don't want to have to learn how to build their own pc.

I don't see whats wrong with that though, people who are into fashion will say ''You're stupid, you can get better clothes then that if you pay more''. But that's just it, i don't want to pay more for clothes because i don't care about hot new clothes.

You can't blame people for not being interested in something that you are, it doesn't make them stupid, they just don't care.

 

[Horrux]

I think it has to do with laziness. Sitting on the couch in the living room equals relaxing, whereas sitting in front of the computer equals working, in the minds of many people. Keyboards are "complicated" whereas a console controller is "simple".

Many times I have asked console gamers why they didn't game on their PCs and often got the response that "when I want to relax, I sit on my couch, not in an office chair"...

 

[techtard]

It's simple. The greedy, un-imaginative shitheads who killed the music and movie industries are now major shareholders in the gaming business too.

They don't understand that gaming is about fun, and innovation.
All they want to do is make maximum profit, and that usually means cloning what is already making money.