Is there some kind of shift towards pc gaming?

[Ruzinus]

One of the attractions of console gaming is that you can just hit go and lie back on your couch with a controller...

and now you can plug your XBox controller into your computer and most of the time it'll just work, and if you have an HDMI cable around you can play anything you've got on it on your TV.

 

[Vault101]

More gamers just want short but intresting games at a low price, Steam is increasingly looking more attractive for those ppl and I can't see it changing until console devs stop thinking they're still in 2005 with regards to they type of games ppl want to play and start copying more from steam.
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I disagree

I think theres not enough purley single player full length games

 

[StBishop]

In addition, I personally baulk at the reinvention of consoles as 'media centres' or whatever; remember when video game consoles were, y'know, for GAMES? I'm certainly not the only one feeling a little resentment towards that, but these business will go where the money is, can't blame them for using good business sense, but those are the consequences.

I honestly don't remember a time when consoles were exclusively for games.

I was born in 1990 and my first console was a PSx and I used it to listen to my shitty music so that my parents wouldn't have to put up with my horrible taste in music coming through their stereo. (S Club Seven, Five, Bewitched, Pokemon the First Movie soundtrack, anyone? No? I'm alone then...)

Ah yeah, I forgot about that, PS2 being a DVD player and all that...

What I think I'm trying to say is that those other features weren't such a massive part of the marketing (although this was before Xbox Live/PSN, where constant marketing of the other features is possible), perhaps it's because of the broadening of the audience, pretty much trying to sell them to people who aren't particularly interested in video games; like the vast majority of Kinect-based titles, which is now where the money is, rather than in the actual games.

There's also the possibility that the consoles seem less media centres than gaming consoles to me because I'm Australian. Much of our functionality is shedded before the console reaches our shores.

I don't know about the UK, but in Australia there's no such thing as TiVO, Netflix, HULU, etc. I have a US gamertag as well as an Aussie gamertag and the US one has still got more functions in Australia than the Aussie one.

The only thing we get is a couple of "Apps" for video (for 2 of the free to air tv channels) and the option to run our pay TV through our xbox if we already have Pay TV.

Oh and we can watch DVD's and stream content from our windows PC (apparently. It doesn't work for me).

 

[malestrithe]

I never made the shift towards PC gaming, although I've had computers in my house since the early 80s. Apple 2E, Commodore 64, a early model mac, then 400 dollar Walmart Specials around the time of windows 98. To me, the PC has always been a tool. I've never used it for gaming and I have no interest in starting now. I'm just not that interested in modifying a computer for Gaming purposes, no matter how cheap or easy it actually is.

I'll be a console gamer until the last console generation. I've used a controller since 1982 and it feels natural to me. And PC Gamers, it's hypocritical of you to say in one breath how much easier a mouse and keyboard feels to you, then say in another that they make controllers for PC. You have a preference, I have mine. I let you have yours. Let me have mine.

 

[Vault101]

I don't think you're mistaken in your assessment that PC is on the rise. With the prominence of digital distribution, massive multiplayer, and free to play games the sheer amount of ways to access good game experiences at low cost is something you can't get with consoles. Combine that with the fact that PC platform is far more indie friendly we're experiencing a renaissance of sorts. A lot more of my friends have been buying and building pcs, and downloading many of hit indie games like Minecraft, Day Z, Terraria, Amnesia, etc. I've also introduced them to older games through distribution services like good old games, where you can buy masterpieces for 10 bucks, and download it immediately.

Its a good time to be a PC gamer.

eeeeeaaaahhhhhh...depends

I prefer PC..and would upgrade my PC if I had the money (or the menas)

the fact is though I look for a certain type of experience in my games...and its mostly AAA, if I cant get that Id rather go do somthing else...time is precious

so as amazing as minecraft, or other indie games probably are I'm not interested

and the PC does deliver that quite well, particually in the visuals department...however it also misses out on certain titles (well thankfully aside from exclusives I can only think of red dead) and is subject to bad ports...not to mention if your not a fan of digital distribution...yeah

 

[Vault101]

I'll be a console gamer until the last console generation. I've used a controller since 1982 and it feels natural to me. And PC Gamers, it's hypocritical of you to say in one breath how much easier a mouse and keyboard feels to you, then say in another that they make controllers for PC. You have a preference, I have mine. I let you have yours. Let me have mine.

eh?

they are jsut saying a controller is an option

unlike M/K being an option for a console..which it isnt

 

[DugMachine]

I was about 3/4 of a console player and now it's about 50/50 as I play on the PC waaaay more. When I get a proper gaming PC built then i'll probably go full PC. Cept for the occasional exclusive.

 

[FalloutJack]

Is there some kind of shift towards pc gaming?

No, not really.

Okay, are we done here? 'Cause I've got shit to do.

 

[LetalisK]

It's because of the technology. Sony and Microsoft want a 10 year console cycle, which is fine. the game devs are building for console, so while PC hardware advances, the stuff to run modern games is dirt cheap.

I would agree with that. I know quite a few people who got tired of this gen's tech so they spend £400-500 or so and got a sweet gaming PC which also doubles as a great media centre and all round PC.

They've all been happy with what they got from what I've seen.

Thrice agreed, the aging of the current generation of consoles and also considering the slow but steady growth of services like Steam and GOG that have made PC gaming far more affordable, there is probably a gradual shift towards PC.

Edit: Oh, and throw in the increased popularity of browser based casual games.

http://www.techi.com/2011/09/consoles-vs-pc-gaming/

 

[Starik20X6]

I can only speak for myself, but the last time I played a PC game beyond casual boredom-killing was probably around the turn of the century. Consoles are just way more convenient and appealing to me.

 

[Irridium]

Well, I have, at least. Mainly because I'm tired of dealing with constant firmware updates, game patches, game installations, hardware issues, and needing to upgrade hard drives. I got a console so I wouldn't have to deal with all that crap. If I gotta deal with it, I may as well do it on the platform it was meant for. At least then I can get the perks out of PC games to balance out the negatives. I remember a time when consoles just worked. No hassle, no bullshit, you just put in a game and it worked. Now, you'd be lucky get into a game that simply.

Plus, there's no way I'd find anything like E.Y.E Divine Cybermancy, STALKER, Recettear, or Mount and Blade (or hell, any Paradox title) on consoles.

Also, I can actually play old games thanks to GoG, which is nice.

 

[Hollow_Knight]

Moving to the PC was the best gaming decision I ever made (until I finally make the decision to quit...).

If you're prepared to spend a bit of money on it (not much more than the current consoles) and shop around for your components, you can build a machine that will run all the games you can play on the consoles. What's more, it comes with less lag, a reduced proportion of screaming adolescents, modding (which is awesome), and a whole tonne of titles you can't get on the consoles (although this DOES work both ways).

I think recently, more and more people have been moving to the PC because the consoles are starting to buckle under the weight of the newest games. Skyrim can drive the Xbox's frame-rate into the floor at times, and the console version of Battlefield 3 doesn't allow for the hilarious 64 player matches you can enjoy on the PC. The PC has been running 1080 since before the current generation of consoles was released, and now (if you really drop some cash) you can play BF3 in face-melting 2560x1440.

Lots of people cite the relative ease of consoles when compared to the PC, but with publishers stapling DRM onto console titles now, the gap is closing. Installations will usually happen smoothly as gaming software is some of the most adaptive in existence, thanks to the sheer range of hardware on which it has to be able to run.

If you're willing to make the jump, I promise you the PC is worth it

The Jimquisition did a good episode on this a while back:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/6014-Xbox-360-and-PS3-Are-Just-Very-Crap-PCs

 

[legendp]

I play PC mostly now because of the higher frame-rates and customization. another great thing is the longevity of games on PC is much longer, I may end up playing a 2004 pc game like farcry or doom 3, But I would be unlikely to go back and play a console game from 2004. also I have a laptop which is of course portable, so I can play my games wherever I want if necessary. but I still have a 360 for halo and other game like enslaved oddesay to the west that just don't come to PC.

I have always played both PC and PS1 (I am 18 now). so I am use to both, but the majority of the time my preference is PC. However about games running on old hardware I managed to get games Like H.A.W.X, Crysis 1 and cod4 to run on an old dell inpiron 6000 with a 64mb Graphics card (x300)

 

[Windcaler]

In my case I began gaming on the NES back in the 80s. Then the SNES years later. I had fun with both consoles and I still play games on them from time to time. They're just that good. However when I was 17 I think I started taking classes at my high school for computer programming and web page design (this was back before the internet really became popular). One day my teacher said lets just have a gaming night where everyone stays after and plays whatever they want. Thats when I got introduced to PC gaming. I remember playing death matches on Descent, Jedi Knight, and heavy gear rather fondly. I saw a new style of gaming where everyone could play anywhere and the games worked better and looked better then the console ones I was playing

Now as I grew up there were no console wars per say where I was. Everyone had a Nintendo. I dont recall one classmate or friend who didnt have one and instead had a sega. So I cant say I was really into the console wars, we all just played games we liked. So when I got into PC gaming there was no annimosity toward it or anything like that. It was just my future of gaming. Thats how I shifted over and I dont care to go back really. There will always be great games on consoles and I will always play consoles but the fact is I prefer things on my PC. Im happy where I am as a PC gamer

That is the only shift I can comment on. Most of my friends from high school and I drifted apart after I joined the army so if theyre still gamers I cant say what they prefer.

 

[Mouse One]

I'm a PC gamer because I do 3D modeling. Any decent rig for that can run games just fine. Buying a console would just be an expense I could spend on useful stuff I need. Like more games Joking aside, there's a lot of titles I wish I could play at home, or annoyed that I have to wait to play, but on the other hand, I dislike console controls (WASD 4EVR!!11) and probably would get irritated at the lower end graphics most titles have.

 

[Rheinmetall]

Is there some kind of shift towards pc gaming?

No, not really.

Okay, are we done here? 'Cause I've got shit to do.

Surely, from me you are free to do your shit.

 

[Rheinmetall]

Well, I have, at least. Mainly because I'm tired of dealing with constant firmware updates, game patches, game installations, hardware issues, and needing to upgrade hard drives. I got a console so I wouldn't have to deal with all that crap. If I gotta deal with it, I may as well do it on the platform it was meant for. At least then I can get the perks out of PC games to balance out the negatives. I remember a time when consoles just worked. No hassle, no bullshit, you just put in a game and it worked. Now, you'd be lucky get into a game that simply.

Plus, there's no way I'd find anything like E.Y.E Divine Cybermancy, STALKER, Recettear, or Mount and Blade (or hell, any Paradox title) on consoles.

Also, I can actually play old games thanks to GoG, which is nice.

The PS3 in particular, not so much the Xbox 360, or the Wii, is made as a hybrid console-pc machine, with all the hassles of pc-gaming, that you described very well and as a "bonus" the frequent firmware updates, which is the number one risk that can lead to YLOD (Yellow Light of Death). When and if consoles return to the previous status, where you put the disk into the tray and play, I might consider getting back.

 

[Fasckira]

Growing up I was a PC elitist all the way. Now in my dotted old age of 28, I prefer console however.

I think the main reason is the pick up and play mentality behind a console for when I was PC exclusive I quite often spent time ensuring a game was set up perfectly with regards to graphic optimisation. Its kind of refreshing to skip all that and just whack a game into the console and play it.