PC gaming....could things be better?

[Vault101]

some people will say PC gaming is dying, some people say the oposite...(as far as im concerned WOW and famville dont= pc gaming being alive and well)

but this isnt about that really, just looking at the state of things, and given the choice what things would you do/add or remove to improve the state of PC gaming? how would you prevent it from "dying" if thats where you think its headed

Im thinking is it such a good thing that steam as a monopoly? that some people wouldnt even bother buying games if it wasnt on steam?

do publishers need to cut out DRM all together? do we need devs to focus more on the PC platform?

 

[BreakfastMan]

Personally, I would like it if most PC games could be purchased used. That would be nice. I also have a list of games that I want Steam or GOG to offer, but I suspect that everyone has a list like that...

Also, I wish there were more games coming out developed specifically for the PC that play to the strengths of the platform. Far too few of those games lately. Really, that is all that most PC gamers want. More games that play to the strengths of the system.

 

[Rawne1980]

PC gaming is far from dying. We still get games apart from the few that are console only.

We get games that are PC only (hello Witcher, yes i've heard about the "port" to console but it's on hold so doesn't count).

One of my problems, like someone said above, very few games are released that take advantage of the power of the PC. Besides games like Witcher 2 (which had issues no matter how powerful your PC was, great optimisation there) the graphics on a lot of newer games seem to be lacking on the PC.

But my biggest issue are companies who give us lazy ports. We've all had that with a new game, installed the bugger and it's riddled with so many bugs that pest control would shit themselves.

I'm going to use Mass Effect here. I had it for the 360 and had no issues. Got it for PC and as soon as I left Citadel the first time I couldn't save or use the Galaxy Map. I thought it was a problem with my PC or crap installation but nope, went all over the web and a lot of folk had the same issue to the port being half arsed. Fortunately someone had made a fix for it so it wasn't too much of a hardship. But it's the same with every port, it always has at least a handful of issues.

I'll also use KoTOR. Even now, years after it's release, it's riddled with issues. Constant CTD, movies freezing and the sound files causing crashes. It's a good game but i've never encountered as many problems with a game as I did with this one.

It seems companies are lazy as fuck when it comes to PC games. They release, what is in essence, an unfinished product full of glitches and bugs quite a lot of the time.

So no, I don't think it's dying yet but it is getting a severe kicking.

 

[Souplex]

The thing is, it fully dying would actually be beneficial to PC gamers, for the same reason Arcade gaming dying was beneficial to arcade gamers; consoles learned from them, and gained all their benefits with only a few of their drawbacks.
Just let it happen already.

 

[Vault101]

Personally, I would like it if most PC games could be purchased used. That would be nice. I also have a list of games that I want Steam or GOG to offer, but I suspect that everyone has a list like that...

Also, I wish there were more games coming out developed specifically for the PC that play to the strengths of the platform. Far too few of those games lately. Really, that is all that most PC gamers want. More games that play to the strengths of the system.

interesting, I did wonder why PC gaming wasnt as big in retail, I know part of it is because digital distribution really took off (same as piracy for the same reasons )

but I think it may have somthing to do with thease stores make more money off used game sales...and because of DRM...well you get the Idea

but Im not sure thats feasble on a techical level since you could probably get past having to use the disk each time...and...well its complex I guess

 

[Vault101]

The thing is, it fully dying would actually be beneficial to PC gamers, for the same reason Arcade gaming dying was beneficial to arcade gamers; consoles learned from them, and gained all their benefits with only a few of their drawbacks.
Just let it happen already.

It aint gonna happen..theres a market for it, mabye a niche one but its still there for alot of reasons

when consoles can do the things PC's can do sure but right now they cant it may take a few generations

 

[Keava]

I'm perfectly fine with how things are, but i also don't really give a damn about fighters, brawlers, shooters and platformers. I'm enjoying my strategies, RPGs, and MMOs. Those genres do well on PCs and really, don't see it changing anytime soon. I live in a happy world where consoles are not an issue for my gaming enjoyment.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

I don't think so.

I definately buy more console games than PC games. But I still really like my PC gaming and I don't see it stopping anytime soon.

 

[Souplex]

The thing is, it fully dying would actually be beneficial to PC gamers, for the same reason Arcade gaming dying was beneficial to arcade gamers; consoles learned from them, and gained all their benefits with only a few of their drawbacks.
Just let it happen already.

It aint gonna happen..theres a market for it, mabye a niche one but its still there for alot of reasons

when consoles can do the things PC's can do sure but right now they cant it may take a few generations

At this point the only things consoles can't do is mods, (Although some games include the ability to make content, so we're already on the way) and pirate effectively.
The consoles already include USB support, so a mouse/keyboard interface would be possible if the game designers accommodated it.
Basically it all comes down to the designers, and they won't do that stuff because PC gamers still cling to their antiquated ways.
If that market niche opened, consoles would fill it, giving you all the strengths of PC, and none of the weaknesses (Except the weaknesses that are inherent in it being an electronic device, and therefore smashable, able to run out of power etc.)
The move has already started. Look at the sales figures for series/developers who used to be PC exclusive, but started supporting consoles this generation.

 

[ZiggyE]

and given the choice what things would you do/add or remove to improve the state of PC gaming? how would you prevent it from "dying" if thats where you think its headed

Less console exclusives.
Less shitty console ports to PC.

Maybe I'm just bitter because I'll never get Catherine on PC, but they're still valid issues that need to be addressed. Not that PC gaming is anywhere near dying, it just irks me to no end the focus on the console demographic.

 

[Zhukov]

"Thou shalt not be completely half-arsed when porting a game from console to PC."

That's my only real complaint.

 

[Smooth Operator]

The thing is, it fully dying would actually be beneficial to PC gamers, for the same reason Arcade gaming dying was beneficial to arcade gamers; consoles learned from them, and gained all their benefits with only a few of their drawbacks.
Just let it happen already.

To learn from others they need to die first? Well I can't help but wonder what school you attended... or maybe it's best we don't know that.

The only thing I want to see is some brains being put into the games, there is somuch asinine stupidity going around it feels like the build up of everything developers figured out sofar is just being thrown away.
It's not like PC doesn't get enough games, they are just from the ever predominant ShitePort Studios.

 

[Souplex]

The thing is, it fully dying would actually be beneficial to PC gamers, for the same reason Arcade gaming dying was beneficial to arcade gamers; consoles learned from them, and gained all their benefits with only a few of their drawbacks.
Just let it happen already.

To learn from others they need to die first? Well I can't help but wonder what school you attended... or maybe it's best we don't know that.

The only thing I want to see is some brains being put into the games, there is somuch asinine stupidity going around it feels like the build up of everything developers figured out sofar is just being thrown away.
It's not like PC doesn't get enough games, they are just from the ever predominant ShitePort Studios.

No, I phrased that poorly. Arcades died because we learned from them, and surpassed them in every way, and now the same thing is happening to the PC.
Circle of life.

 

[Smooth Operator]

No, I phrased that poorly. Arcades died because we learned from them, and surpassed them in every way, and now the same thing is happening to the PC.
Circle of life.

Interesting phrasing again.
They all still exist, only the market is shifting in the casual direction where consoles indeed surpass the others, and we may soon see a new mobile/social gaming shift that covers the casual side even better.

 

[Vault101]

The thing is, it fully dying would actually be beneficial to PC gamers, for the same reason Arcade gaming dying was beneficial to arcade gamers; consoles learned from them, and gained all their benefits with only a few of their drawbacks.
Just let it happen already.

It aint gonna happen..theres a market for it, mabye a niche one but its still there for alot of reasons

when consoles can do the things PC's can do sure but right now they cant it may take a few generations

At this point the only things consoles can't do is mods, (Although some games include the ability to make content, so we're already on the way) and pirate effectively.
The consoles already include USB support, so a mouse/keyboard interface would be possible if the game designers accommodated it.
Basically it all comes down to the designers, and they won't do that stuff because PC gamers still cling to their antiquated ways.
If that market niche opened, consoles would fill it, giving you all the strengths of PC, and none of the weaknesses (Except the weaknesses that are inherent in it being an electronic device, and therefore smashable, able to run out of power etc.)
The move has already started. Look at the sales figures for series/developers who used to be PC exclusive, but started supporting consoles this generation.

PC right now is still better than console in theory if only alot of games werent crappy ports or at least better utalized

its not about PC gamers clinging to their antiquated ways...its about piracy DRM and shitty ports...

some people prefer the desk aproach and damned If Im gonna play a FPS on gamepad

anyway Im talking about a future where our current Ideas of "PC and console" dont apply...it could happen

in the meantime we cant say where things will go

 

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

I think its good that steam has a monopoly in the pc digital distribution
service, valve actually care about pc gaming, so they know what their target market wants.

And actually pc games got loads of honourable mentions, and they were said to provide a better gaming expierence than consoles at e3.
Also, due to cloud gaming becoming very popular very quick, pcs might only be the, last true gaming platform left, because gaming only devices would become obsolete due to services like gaikai and onlive.

In short pc gaming is the future.

 

[Zipa]

Its funny how people are still claiming the PC is dieing as a platform despite it still growing and more than one developer saying they are shifting their focus back to the PC market.

Plus like it or not the console platform needs the PC platform, where do you think the technology comes from for the new console generation? Most of it is heavily modified PC tech.
Like it or not the PC is always ahead technology wise and right now as we are nearing the end of the current console generation the PC is way out in front. (speaking strictly about hardware here and not that elitist crap people are so fond of)
Plus overall PCs provide a better gaming experience, smoother gameplay bigger maps and more players per maps in games like battlefield bc2 and pretty much any cod game for example.

Plus it will be very interesting in the future, with processors getting more advanced and more powerful they may well eliminate the need for a graphics card in the future which will cut quite a large expense out of a gaming PC , and making the platform more accessible is never a bad thing.

 

[Continuity]

some people will say PC gaming is dying, some people say the oposite...(as far as im concerned WOW and famville dont= pc gaming being alive and well)

but this isnt about that really, just looking at the state of things, and given the choice what things would you do/add or remove to improve the state of PC gaming? how would you prevent it from "dying" if thats where you think its headed

Im thinking is it such a good thing that steam as a monopoly? that some people wouldnt even bother buying games if it wasnt on steam?

do publishers need to cut out DRM all together? do we need devs to focus more on the PC platform?

PC gaming is doing OK but it could be doing a lot better. We could revolutionise PC gaming and gaming as we know it (for the better) by simply enacting these following steps:

1) Ban all consoles and production of console games.

2) Make all forms of DRM bar simple key codes illegal.

3) Make all unmonitored P2P on the internet illegal and block the protocols.

And thats it.. We would see a new golden age of gaming, taking full advantage of the hardware and capabilities of the PC whilst not having to pander to console-casual players (regen health no thanks).

 

[ZiggyE]

The thing is, it fully dying would actually be beneficial to PC gamers, for the same reason Arcade gaming dying was beneficial to arcade gamers; consoles learned from them, and gained all their benefits with only a few of their drawbacks.
Just let it happen already.

To learn from others they need to die first? Well I can't help but wonder what school you attended... or maybe it's best we don't know that.

The only thing I want to see is some brains being put into the games, there is somuch asinine stupidity going around it feels like the build up of everything developers figured out sofar is just being thrown away.
It's not like PC doesn't get enough games, they are just from the ever predominant ShitePort Studios.

No, I phrased that poorly. Arcades died because we learned from them, and surpassed them in every way, and now the same thing is happening to the PC.
Circle of life.

PC hasn't been surpassed. Console controls are far more clunky (with notable exceptions when a controller is superior), more expensive (that's the truth, don't deny it console guys, the expense of upgrading your PC is over exaggerated) and more graphically restricted.

The only way console gaming surpasses PC gaming is in it's actual library, which is superior due to the amount of crappy PC games which come from console ports, or even worse, console exclusives, which is an issue developers will have to tackle or risk losing a substantial part of their audience.

 

[SmilingWorlock]

I don't think i will buy a console. Mouse and keyboard is far better to control strategy and FPS, and I barely play anythink else. Plus, if I really want a gamepad, I can alsways buy one. It's not like they're console only.
Also, my laptop is way easier to carry around than a TV and a console. ^^

What we really need is getting rid of DirectX. It has become slow and more of an obstacle to developers.