Is the PC as a Gaming Platform Dying?

[Dioxide20]

It seems to me that my Xbox 360 is getting more exclusive games in a few months then PC my gets in a whole year, and most of the games that are also released on console are ported to the PC as more of an afterthought. I have always preferred PC games because of all the additional community made content, and the majority of the mature gamer audience.

Is it just me or has the PC been nearly eclipsed by the consoles, having only a few genres, like MMO's, RTS's, and the Modding Community, holding it back from extinction.

 

[Hazy]

The PC will NEVER be overshadowed by a console. I can assure you that.
Mainly because they can operate at a much faster rate when upgraded.

And like you said before, Modding plays a huge role in plenty of games. GMOD, Counter-Strike 1.6 and source, the list goes on. The only other title on consoles where I experienced modding was.. Unreal Tournament 3 on the PS3.

 

[RobotNinja]

I hope not, I do most of my gaming on the PC. It took me a year to save up the money for all the parts.

 

[Ciarang]

Urrr, try doing some research before you post =P

 

[superbleeder12]

"Music, movies and drink recipes - non-game talk"

Now where did I read that?

 

[ZeroMachine]

I believe you have your PC and XBox mixed up, my friend. For every XBox game that's realease that isn't exclusive, there are ten or so for the PC, whether they be proffesional hardcore games, casual games, browser-based, flash-based, or whatever.

And yes, they all count.

 

[ActionDan]

No. Just no. What made you even say that?

 

[Iron Mal]

The PC may not be dying out but it has certainly been sidelined in favor of we, the console playing masses.

Ok, you can have better graphics than us when your PC is fully customised etc. but a) consoles are quickly catching up in terms of graphics and b) consoles are simpler, cheaper and more conveinient.

That is the reason why you could easily be forgiven for thinking the PC is dying out as a gaming platform.

 

[carnefex42]

the pc shall keep thriving with its games, mostly because you can enjoy games on the pc far longer than on console. ive play counter strike source since it came out and have never tired of it. gmod is still one of the best games on there too. its because of the steam network that the pc gaming industry will keep on going.

 

[Link Kadeshi]

PC will reign supreme! RAWR! Not sure why people think the PC is dead or dieing. The most potent contributer to our ranks are the MMO biggies, especially WoW.

 

[Christemo]

it wont. the PC is the 2nd most powerful gaming platform (only completely pwned by the ps3) and im talking power. not anything else. you can mod a pcs graphics card and such to exceed some 360 games, but the ps3 power chip is 23 times better than the best supercomputers available.

also, theres WoW, CS and tons of other great exclusives that people will keep on playing for a really long.

 

[HobbesMkii]

Firstly, the gerund for "die" is "dying," not "dieing." It was a good guess, I suppose, if you'd been from another country.

Secondly, there's no reason for a PC game to be exclusive, considering the XBox 360 is made by the same company that makes Windows (the OS that most PC games are developed for). In fact, people program console games on PCs (because consoles don't have keyboards). So, if you measure "success" by how many games are PC-exclusive, you're digging a hole in the sand for your head to go into. It effectively blinds you to cross platform releases.

Thirdly, the popularity of MMORPGs and so-called Casual Games is on the rise. Ironic, considering what I just stated, but these games are mostly PC-exclusives. Not because it's too complicated to code for a console, but because even console gamers own computers that can play them. There's no reason to attempt to open up a new market if that market already has access to the game.

And finally, fourthly, this is the perennial question that everyone seems to ask, even columnists on the Escapist. It's like clockwork. We get a whole bunch new games, they sell well, their PC counterparts come three to six months later and everyone goes "welp, time to start hammering some nails into the coffin of PC gaming!" except they apparently forgot to find the cadaver of PC gaming first. It's like PC gaming is standing in the corner at it's own funeral going "Hey, um... I'm not dead..." and everyone else is going "it's so sad... You know, if I listen close, it's like I can almost hear his voice..."

 

[Rednog]

there will always be emulators!

btw, where the fuck is my 360 emulator?!

I hope you realize that there probably will never be a 360 or PS3 emulator. Emulators take a significant amount more power to work on a PC. I think some rough calculations showed that an emulator would take roughly five times more power than the current generation of PCs have. Thus making a purchase of a system more worth it, unless you feel like waiting a few years.

 

[Dioxide20]

[a href="http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/7.102036"]Evidently not...[/a]

But that's also proving my point, look at what the article is talking about, MMO's. I don't want the PC to die, but the majority of companies making games for the PC are making MMO's, the only genre to beat piracy. However, that huge amount of revenue mostly comes from the subscription to the MMO's, at 15 USD a month and over 1 million people playing, World of Warcraft is making HUGE money.

 

[BertTheNerd]

I refuse to believe so...
should it ever happen, I´ll quit gaming in favor of...

I don´t know, maybe I´ll give fishing a try

 

[Hazy]

I refuse to believe so...
should it ever happen, I´ll quit gaming in favor of...

I don´t know, maybe I´ll give fishing a try

The day I start fishing, is the day they replace firearms with rods. The ONLY way to fish.
[small](Kidding kids, Animal Cruelty is not cool.)[/small]

 

[iggyus]

Firstly, the gerund for "die" is "dying," not "dieing." It was a good guess, I suppose, if you'd been from another country.

Secondly, there's no reason for a PC game to be exclusive, considering the XBox 360 is made by the same company that makes Windows (the OS that most PC games are developed for). In fact, people program console games on PCs (because consoles don't have keyboards). So, if you measure "success" by how many games are PC-exclusive, you're digging a hole in the sand for your head to go into. It effectively blinds you to cross platform releases.

Thirdly, the popularity of MMORPGs and so-called Casual Games is on the rise. Ironic, considering what I just stated, but these games are mostly PC-exclusives. Not because it's too complicated to code for a console, but because even console gamers own computers that can play them. There's no reason to attempt to open up a new market if that market already has access to the game.

And finally, fourthly, this is the perennial question that everyone seems to ask, even columnists on the Escapist. It's like clockwork. We get a whole bunch new games, they sell well, their PC counterparts come three to six months later and everyone goes "welp, time to start hammering some nails into the coffin of PC gaming!" except they apparently forgot to find the cadaver of PC gaming first. It's like PC gaming is standing in the corner at it's own funeral going "Hey, um... I'm not dead..." and everyone else is going "it's so sad... You know, if I listen close, it's like I can almost hear his voice..."

HAHA, the Grammar Nazi strikes again. Heil Grammatik. OT: Nope as long as there are massive 800 pound gorrilas like Wow PC will never die. I personally find PC gaming a lot more enjoyable than any console. PC foreva!!!