The future of PC gaming - 2009 edition

El_Cid · February 23, 2009, 13:50

more like get bored to death by it

And it is quiet on the PC front, i'm happy to admit it. Bad DRM decision's, poor console ports, piracy problems, hardware issues, rushed releases("it's ok we will patch it later" syndrome), and a big industry push to get people on consoles all have a part to play. Thats just the way it is.

hmmm ok this is more a piece(from gamasutra of course!) on historic games, the games that shaped the industry. In truth it could go in the console war thread, but it also fits here as at the time the arcades were the most likely place you would first play this game, and many versions were made for all the home computers of the day(hobbiest and industry releases), as well as the consoles of the day(the atari vcs etc). It's a good read

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/featur...ier.php?page=1

I did try to code my own in Z80 basic back in 1985, but you really hit a wall with the hardware using basic very quickly, and i was never a good enough coder to get past those kind of problems. You needed machine code(to my mind).

DrSpike · February 23, 2009, 16:05

Originally Posted by MrFun

I'm confused. Is this thread about the torrid love affair between Asher and Nikolai or is this thread suppose to be about the topic stated in the thread title?

I fear that this discussion will never truly be over, given Asher's clear unrequited love for young Nikolai.

Asher · February 23, 2009, 16:10

Nikolai's not young.

DrSpike · February 23, 2009, 16:13

A-ha! So you admit you had unrequited love for him when he was young. And now your animosity towards him stems, quite heart-breakingly, from the knowledge that you missed your chance and those years are gone forever.

It all makes sense now.

snoopy369 · February 23, 2009, 17:34

Nikolai is absolutely young*. As are you, Asher...

*This is based on the 'anyone younger than I must be young, as I am definitely young', standard.

Nikolai · February 23, 2009, 18:34

I'm 22 and I at least try to tell myself I'm young.

As it is now revealed, Asher and I are deeply, madly in love, as deeply in love as only a stockholmish hate/love syndrom can make one. We have shared many intimate chats throughout the nights lately, it's amazing what a great, sexy guy he is. Deep inside, he's all cuddly and soft, he's adorable.

One day, I hope to marry him and adopt lots of big eyed children. Love you sweetie! Send me another of those sexy ass pics please! I wet myself last night when I saw the new one you sent.

Love, Nikolai.

PS! Man, how great it is to finally have our secret out of the closet.

Asher · February 23, 2009, 19:14

Originally Posted by snoopy369

Nikolai is absolutely young*. As are you, Asher...

*This is based on the 'anyone younger than I must be young, as I am definitely young', standard.

I'm not young, but you are definitely old as ****.

Asher · February 23, 2009, 19:20

Originally Posted by Nikolai

I'm 22 and I at least try to tell myself I'm young.

As it is now revealed, Asher and I are deeply, madly in love, as deeply in love as only a stockholmish hate/love syndrom can make one. We have shared many intimate chats throughout the nights lately, it's amazing what a great, sexy guy he is. Deep inside, he's all cuddly and soft, he's adorable.

One day, I hope to marry him and adopt lots of big eyed children. Love you sweetie! Send me another of those sexy ass pics please! I wet myself last night when I saw the new one you sent.

Love, Nikolai.

PS! Man, how great it is to finally have our secret out of the closet.

Don't **** with me Nikolai, I remember your racist tirade not too long ago. You don't like me cause I'm black, I don't like you because you're European. Get over it.

Nikolai · February 23, 2009, 19:24

I have nothing against blacks. You are all very sexy. Grrrr.....

Asher · February 23, 2009, 19:34

Now you're making animal noises? Because I'm black?

Nikolai · February 24, 2009, 10:41

Because of that lovely, sexy rage of yours.

El_Cid · February 24, 2009, 10:47

guys...please.....get a room! this is for discussing PC games! ........oh....i....see..

but not that kind of 'PC game' ok!! dammit!

El_Cid · February 24, 2009, 13:52

Quake via a browser - interesting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7907530.stm

DrSpike · February 24, 2009, 14:56

Originally Posted by Nikolai

I'm 22 and I at least try to tell myself I'm young.

As it is now revealed, Asher and I are deeply, madly in love, as deeply in love as only a stockholmish hate/love syndrom can make one. We have shared many intimate chats throughout the nights lately, it's amazing what a great, sexy guy he is. Deep inside, he's all cuddly and soft, he's adorable.

One day, I hope to marry him and adopt lots of big eyed children. Love you sweetie! Send me another of those sexy ass pics please! I wet myself last night when I saw the new one you sent.

Love, Nikolai.

PS! Man, how great it is to finally have our secret out of the closet.

Sarxis · February 24, 2009, 22:00

Originally Posted by El_Cid

Quake via a browser - interesting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7907530.stm

Browser games are all the rage now.. well, I don't know how much of a rage exactly, but there does seem to be a push in that direction.

I recent tried out an FPS online game that is hosted exclusively through browser gaming: I was impressed by the graphical performance.

El_Cid · February 25, 2009, 05:14

yeah it does sound like it's come on leaps and bounds to be able to run fps type games. what game did you try, do you have a link?

Nikolai · February 25, 2009, 07:27

This one is interesting. It's a sneak peak for an interview with the lead programmer at Paradox Interactive, Johan Andersson. Paradox is owner of GamersGate.

http://www.strategyinformer.com/news...e-based-titles

In an interview to be published soon on Strategy Informer, Johan Andersson, lead programmer on the Hearts of Iron and Europa Universalis series, said that PC games are still selling by an insane amount, making it difficult for the company to consider developing console based games.

“It’s been fifteen years since I last made a console game so I don’t know exactly what the hardware limitations would be. I haven’t thought about it, but I don’t know. PC games still sell insane amounts and considering how much online distribution is increasing sales; it’s easier to continue making PC games.” said Andersson.

Check back soon to find out why Britain’s his favourite nation to play as in Hearts of Iron and why there might not be any expansion packs for Hearts of Iron III.

Nikolai · February 25, 2009, 07:34

Woah, going fast here. While I was posting the sneak peak, they've already relesed the interview. The statement about no XPs was just the journalist's creative interpretation of Johan's "we're focusing 100% on the release of vanilla HoI3 right now".

http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/h...interview.html

El_Cid · February 25, 2009, 08:51

good PC related read

lol at your remark about the expansions pack thing. So have you heard/know something different then?

I honestly think the myth about no money in PC games is exactly that. Sure your not going to be making a half million seller everytime, but with development costs starting from zero(at the extreme end!), you really dont need that in PC games.
AAA publishers have the most to lose, but probably only have themselves to blame, if they were to look at the whole picture objectively(spiraling dev costs - why?/increasing piracy - why? etc).

I like paradox, even if their games have not quite hit the super sweet spot for me yet(CK is my favourite so far).

Nikolai · February 25, 2009, 11:21

Regarding the XP remark: Johan said it himself.

snoopy369 · February 25, 2009, 11:50

I don't think anyone's suggesting there is NO money in PC games. Simply that many (especially large) publishers find it EASIER to make money in console games for a variety of reasons. Paradox would be the opposite - between their familiarity with PC games and the tools to design such, and the style of game they produce (strategy) being both hard to do on a console and not generally aimed at the console's core audience, there's no reason for them to switch to consoles. Similarly, there's little reason for EA to put out Tony Hawk on the PC.

El_Cid · February 25, 2009, 13:56

Originally Posted by snoopy369

I don't think anyone's suggesting there is NO money in PC games.

Well it has become a self fullfilling prophecy in some ways, AAA publishers(many of them atleast) do actualy talk as if PC gaming is d00med, ergo so it is etc.

....Simply that many (especially large) publishers find it EASIER to make money in console games for a variety of reasons.

Sometimes it is easier to shovel sh*t to a less discerning audience?(not actualy my words, i'm paraphrasing something an industry luminary said at one of the old GDC's), but i kind of understood the sentiment

....Paradox would be the opposite - between their familiarity with PC games and the tools to design such, and the style of game they produce (strategy) being both hard to do on a console and not generally aimed at the console's core audience, there's no reason for them to switch to consoles.

Indeed, and why it's especialy galling to see good PC franchises swim the console way(often at the cost of the gameplay/experience) just becuase thats the popular crowd to hang out with currently.

Similarly, there's little reason for EA to put out Tony Hawk on the PC.

phew! lucky PC. But yeah i agree each platform has its strong points and from much experience at trying both, i find for me i prefer PC and strat games over most console offerings. Like hollywood in the 90's flashy special effects get in the way of my entertainment much of the time, the same kind of thing has been happening(over a good few years) to my gaming expereinces, especialy on console. But i can see why people like them as a platform.

[PC snob off]

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=22464

a short article from John Carmack about that web browser based Quake thing.

Felch · February 25, 2009, 20:41

All right, I've figured out how to save PC gaming.

Asher, you're soon to have more free time, right? You make the games. I'll guard the door with a big bag of weed and a shotgun to keep people from saying stupid things around you. I'll say stupid things, but you'll just have to let it slide because I've got a gun to back my retarded mouth up.

Then you just work your mojo and make some kick-ass games at minimal cost, and we sell them.

To summarize:

1)Asher is locked in a room to make games, Felch smokes weed and strokes his Mossberg in a vaguely masturbatory fashion.
2)Magic **** happens. More weed is smoked.
3)Profit!

Grandpa Troll · February 25, 2009, 20:55

Originally Posted by Felch

All right, I've figured out how to save PC gaming.

Asher, you're soon to have more free time, right? You make the games. I'll guard the door with a big bag of weed and a shotgun to keep people from saying stupid things around you. I'll say stupid things, but you'll just have to let it slide because I've got a gun to back my retarded mouth up.

Then you just work your mojo and make some kick-ass games at minimal cost, and we sell them.

To summarize:

1)Asher is locked in a room to make games, Felch smokes weed and strokes his Mossberg in a vaguely masturbatory fashion.
2)Magic **** happens. More weed is smoked.
3)Profit!

Charlie Manson tried this and it didnt produce very good results during the beta release

Felch · February 25, 2009, 22:06

Didn't he jam with the Beach Boys?

Grandpa Troll · February 25, 2009, 22:17

Originally Posted by Felch

Didn't he jam with the Beach Boys?

Actually he jammed with some Hollywood exec's family

DrSpike · February 26, 2009, 18:45

Originally Posted by Felch

All right, I've figured out how to save PC gaming.

Asher, you're soon to have more free time, right? You make the games. I'll guard the door with a big bag of weed and a shotgun to keep people from saying stupid things around you. I'll say stupid things, but you'll just have to let it slide because I've got a gun to back my retarded mouth up.

Then you just work your mojo and make some kick-ass games at minimal cost, and we sell them.

To summarize:

1)Asher is locked in a room to make games, Felch smokes weed and strokes his Mossberg in a vaguely masturbatory fashion.
2)Magic **** happens. More weed is smoked.
3)Profit!

Asher's skillset demonstrably does not lie in making games. So I fear your scheme is flawed.

Asher · February 26, 2009, 19:30

The skillset does, the pay grade does not...

DrSpike · February 27, 2009, 13:37

That should be less of an issue given your current circumstances, if the first bit is true.

El_Cid · February 27, 2009, 13:50

Another selection of indie games to try from gamasutra's latest 'Best of Indie' article:

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=22472

And a great articel on game design

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/featur...ciples_of_.php

All PC games related i might add