Is PC gaming doomed? Apolyton 2008 edition

[Asher]

Yes, actually, that is spam. We all know that MMORPGs on the PC make a fortune. That is not news, nor is it actually GOOD news for the rest of the PC gaming industry. Most people with a clue in the market think World of Warcraft and its ilk are killing the rest of the PC gaming market.

For all of the talk about how digital downloads are leading the way and that's why NPDs stats are bad, Valve actually confirms that most of their games currently are still sold via retail. Steam is by far the largest digital download service for games.

This means that even if you double PC game revenues they still don't come close to holding a candle to that on the console.

And I believe I've already told you how immensely annoying it is to read articles full of blatant bull**** and spin. You seem to only find articles that just parrot comments from "analysts" or PC game companies. Analysts are always clueless and PC game companies are going to say what they're going to say to keep their shareholders and employees happy. Don't believe what you read from these sad sources.

BTW, the article also is factually wrong quite early -- which isn't a surprise with your sources. It's not true that "major games" are only available via disc on console. On the Playstation especially, you can download full-priced full-sized major titles. That analyst is also a supreme douche. I love his comment that it's not possible to store gigabytes of data on consoles, while it is on the PC.

I absolutely can't stand poorly written, poorly researched articles that do nothing but parrot talking heads from parties with issues to spin their own way. Sometimes I wonder if you hate me and that's why you do this kind of ****, but I genuinely think you're just so incredibly clueless that you're beyond any hope of understanding the basics of the PC or console gaming industries.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Mr Snuggles
Yes, actually, that is spam. We all know that MMORPGs on the PC make a fortune. That is not news, nor is it actually GOOD news for the rest of the PC gaming industry. Most people with a clue in the market think World of Warcraft and its ilk are killing the rest of the PC gaming market.

For all of the talk about how digital downloads are leading the way and that's why NPDs stats are bad, Valve actually confirms that most of their games currently are still sold via retail. Steam is by far the largest digital download service for games.

This means that even if you double PC game revenues they still don't come close to holding a candle to that on the console.

And I believe I've already told you how immensely annoying it is to read articles full of blatant bull**** and spin. You seem to only find articles that just parrot comments from "analysts" or PC game companies. Analysts are always clueless and PC game companies are going to say what they're going to say to keep their shareholders and employees happy. Don't believe what you read from these sad sources.

BTW, the article also is factually wrong quite early -- which isn't a surprise with your sources. It's not true that "major games" are only available via disc on console. On the Playstation especially, you can download full-priced full-sized major titles. That analyst is also a supreme douche. I love his comment that it's not possible to store gigabytes of data on consoles, while it is on the PC.

I absolutely can't stand poorly written, poorly researched articles that do nothing but parrot talking heads from parties with issues to spin their own way. Sometimes I wonder if you hate me and that's why you do this kind of ****, but I genuinely think you're just so incredibly clueless that you're beyond any hope of understanding the basics of the PC or console gaming industries.

I did not claim that these figures mean PC games sell as much overall as console games. PC game sales have been exceeded by console game sales for years. I think they do call into question the ability to deduce from the decline in NPD PC game sales that PC games sales in the US actually declined in 2007. To say PC gaming is 'dying' , which is what is at issue here, is rather different from saying it is as big as console sales. It implies a direction, and the statistical source for that continued direction is the US NPD numbers, which are obviously problemation. Earlier you said in effect, that those are the only numbers that exist. When I show you different numbers, the response is either to call anyone involved biased or an idiot, or to say the numbers are bad for the market, which is not whats at issue.

"You seem to only find articles that just parrot comments from "analysts" or PC game companies"

In this case one of the "PC Game companies" is Microsoft itself.

If you dont like the selection of what Ive quoted, post things yourself. Nowhere in the OP did I suggest this is only for me to post in. I am disappointed that others besides you and me arent posting more, but perhaps some peoples approach to netiquette, the repeated use of ad hominem, for example has driven folks away. Perhaps that was the intention of such netiquette. I will not be driven away, and will continue to post things I find interesting.

[lord of the mark]

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19113

An interview with the founder of Tilted Mill. While much of it is abou Children of the Nile, theres also some interesting stuff on the PC as a platform. Of course he is yet another biased person with a vested interest in the PC, so take it with as much salt as you wish.

[Asher]

In this case one of the "PC Game companies" is Microsoft itself.

YES. By the head of the WINDOWS GAMING DIVISION. It's his ass that will get fired if Windows gaming doesn't do well, he's just as must interest in pumping Windows gaming with PR bull**** than any other PC game company.

Christ, LOTM.

An interview with the founder of Tilted Mill. While much of it is abou Children of the Nile, theres also some interesting stuff on the PC as a platform. Of course he is yet another biased person with a vested interest in the PC, so take it with as much salt as you wish.

I've never heard of Tilted Mill nor Children of the Nile, so I'm not sure why his commentary is important. (EDIT: Tilted Mill is the studio responsible for the awful Sim City Societies. 'nuff said.)

Do you always wank over commentary from business owners and PR guys, or do you ever consider looking at serious facts and figures. I'm just curious, because it seems like you live in a world of PR spin and bull**** and you love every minute of it.

[El_Cid]

Originally posted by Mr Snuggles
.....
I've never heard of Tilted Mill nor Children of the Nile, so I'm not sure why his commentary is important. (EDIT: Tilted Mill is the studio responsible for the awful Sim City Societies. 'nuff said.)

Tilted Mill is made up of former members of Impressions Games, they became famous for the incredibly successful city building series of games that I suppose you could say started with 'Lords of the Realm' and 'Caesar'. Probably their best all round effort was 'Pharaoh'.

http://www.mobygames.com/company/impressions-games

Asher, you are such a blinkered console-boy it is painful sometimes

You are correct that their recent efforts have not hit the mark - still I suspect part of the problem is due to what console gaming has meant for the majority of devs - if it ain't 'dumbed down'(most people will know what I mean by this) enough it won't get the funding, which is a shame if you're speciality is a deep complex simulation series?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by El_Cid


Tilted Mill is made up of former members of Impressions Games, they became famous for the incredibly successful city building series of games that I suppose you could say started with 'Lords of the Realm' and 'Caesar'. Probably their best all round effort was 'Pharaoh'.

http://www.mobygames.com/company/impressions-games

Asher, you are such a blinkered console-boy it is painful sometimes

You are correct that their recent efforts have not hit the mark - still I suspect part of the problem is due to what console gaming has meant for the majority of devs - if it ain't 'dumbed down'(most people will know what I mean by this) enough it won't get the funding, which is a shame if you're speciality is a deep complex simulation series?

Actually from what Ive heard Sim City Societies isnt all bad on its own, its just that they took the Sim City name for a game that isn't Sim City. But I presume that decision was up to the suits at EA.

[lord of the mark]

as for the reliance on fluff, Id love if we had good data on PC gaming to analyze, data as complete and as useful as the console gaming data. But we don't, not yet, and thats a fact.

Perhaps in the absence of such data it would be better to end this conversation.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by Felch


Madden buyers are retarded. "Oh look, it's the same game as last year, except with updated stats! Certainly this is a worthy way of spending $60."

Unless you're buying last year's Madden for five bucks, you're getting scammed.

That being said, why would anybody play in on PC? It's all about sitting on a couch and playing with friends, like Soul Caliber or Halo.

The only reason I buy Madden for PC is because i couldnt save the 360 mid game.

If I am playing and something comes up, i may need to save

I do agree that each year is pretty much a ripoff though, not a lot more to add.

I would love to be able to play many years in a row with the same created team

Gramps

[Vanguard]

All video games suck now. PC games really aren't any worse. They just come out later.

I can't believe people are actually willing to pay $60 for Wii Mario Kart. More kart racing? I didn't like it all that much in 1995. I'm supposed to buy it again in 2008? No thanks.

Mass Effect is just about the best reviewed game on the 360 and, judging from the superior PC version, it must be fairly to moderately lame. A c-grade shooter combined with an weak driving game and a lot of unskippable cut scenes. It looks great and the animation and voice acting are superb---- but where's the game I paid for?

GTA is supposed to be terrific, but it will eventually get to the PC in a version better than the consoles.

Other than that, who gives a damn? I'm supposed to cry because I can't buy Raving Rabbits for the PC? Or Super Paper Mario?

The consoles can keep 'em.

[Asher]

Yet another who closes himself off from good games and doesn't even know it.

[DrSpike]

Alas yes.

Just for reference Mass Effect, whilst good, is far from the best game on the 360, or indeed the best reviewed (check metacritic maybe?).

Forza 2 & Halo 3 (360 exclusives)
Mass Effect & Gears of War (came to PC but much later)
GTA (on PS3 but not PC yet)
Bioshock, Call of Duty 2 & 4, Orange Box, Guitar hero games, Rock Band (multi-platform games)

A bunch of good games coming out between now and Christmas too, with some exclusives.

[DarkCloud]

DrSpike... what's actually coming? I recall doing some research in May on what was coming out... and I didn't see any franchises until Nov/Dec? They seemed to have used up all their talent in 4Q 2007. (when just about every good game in the world was released for consoles )

[Felch]

Vanguard, what do you like? There's probably a console game out there for you. Unless what you like is griping on forums about how much everything sucks, in which case, you're already where you need to be.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Felch
Vanguard, what do you like? There's probably a console game out there for you. Unless what you like is griping on forums about how much everything sucks

Got it in one I'd say.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by DarkCloud
DrSpike... what's actually coming? I recall doing some research in May on what was coming out... and I didn't see any franchises until Nov/Dec? They seemed to have used up all their talent in 4Q 2007. (when just about every good game in the world was released for consoles )

Soul Calibur 4: August 08
Too Human: Aug 08
Rock Band 2: Oct 08
Fable 2: Oct 08
Fallout 3: Oct 08
Gear of War 2: Nov 08
Guitar Hero: World Tour: Nov 08

There are a couple of other RPGs that look decent, as well as the usual small updates to sports titles if you're into those.