Ken Levine: The Future of Gaming Is In the PC

[Xanadu84]

I think he did an excellent job of presenting the strengths of PC gaming without falling prey to Fanboyism or flame baiting. He doesn't even really seem to be saying that PCs will win the big war, just that PCs are the platform that drives innovation. And honestly, I don't think that that's an unfair assessment. In the same way a sane person who plays entirely on a 360 can admit that the PS3 has more power, a console player can admit that the PC is the best place to test and invent new ideas.

 

[Xanadu84]

but i cant afford the 10s of thousands of dollars required to be a pc gamer and always be up-to-date with the latest games :'(

fucking elitists...

...Yeah, that's pretty much flameing.

If you arn't an obsessive compulsive gadget freak, PC Gaming is only slightly more expensive on the hardware front, and that's pretty much canceled out by cheaper games. Not to mention that most people need a Computer for other things.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

but i cant afford the 10s of thousands of dollars required to be a pc gamer and always be up-to-date with the latest games :'(

fucking elitists...

...Yeah, that's pretty much flameing.

If you arn't an obsessive compulsive gadget freak, PC Gaming is only slightly more expensive on the hardware front, and that's pretty much canceled out by cheaper games. Not to mention that most people need a Computer for other things.

i did buy a computer in June, and apparently it has 2+ gig memory and Intel Dual-Core processor, but i tried to play Alien Swarm (a valve game) awhile back and got stonewalled by lag (when playing offline)

seriously, this computer was about 1000 dollars (from a store) and it lags when playing a game that supposedly has a minimum requirement of 512 MB of RAM?

i could buy a console for 350 dollars and none of my games will lag or if they do, then that's because its a HUGE game with a LOT of shit going on.

why can't i just buy a computer for about the same price as a console and get the same quality from whatever game i want to play? that would make PC gaming a hell of a lot easier for a hell of a lot more people

 

[ObsessiveSketch]

What's so great about this is that the Bioshock 2 PC port SUCKED. Not to mention less DLC, and a canceled patch. Ohhhh yeah, we PC gamers really "won" on that one e_e

why can't i just buy a computer for about the same price as a console and get the same quality from whatever game i want to play?

Because computers can do stuff other than gaming. They do more stuff, so they cost more. Whats that? Make a PC that ONLY does gaming? Congratulations, my friend, you've invented the console.

 

[Lordmarkus]

The answer is very simple: where does games on consoles are made from? PC's !

What's the only platform that delivers Mods for FREE: PC's !

i don't need to go further...

What's the only platform that you can sit on the couch and play..... Consoles.

What's the only platform that can be operated by a monkey...... Consoles.

Wait, so you're saying you can be a drewling retard and still play games on a console?

Way to go, reinforcing those stigmas about consolegamers being idiots relieved of any and all intelligence.

OT: Ken Levine, I love your games but public statements? Not your thing.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Jesus Christ, YOUR taking it seriously too? God damn, I was joking.

I think you people need to stop being so quick to insult me, since you are the ones who can't see the sarcasm behind "A monkey can do it."

Text: Two Dimensional. Can't see sarcasm.

I was curious to why a console owner would say he was a monkey though.

 

[Triangulon]

I have to agree (well I would ) that innovation is most likely on the PC. Much easier to work with and for indie devs to get things out. However, consoles are where the money is for many devs. Thats why we PC users often get no ports, or shoddy ones. Some of the biggest titles still remain with PC though eg. MMOs, SC2 etc. I do think the console industry will always (or will be for a long time) bigger in terms of revenue, however, PC users are able to be on the cutting edge of new technology and innovation. It all comes down to whether you prefer accessibility or innovation (in my opinion).

 

[xX OpTiic inSaNiTy Xx FtW]

one thing pc not made for gaming
another system specifications
these are the reason that consoles are more popular because people know that if they buy a game for a ps3 wii or xbox that they will definately be able to play it.
oh and console owners aren't idiots but neither are pc gamers.if it wasn't for the small few that ruin pc gaming by acting like elitists maybe i could see where pc gamers are coming from.

 

[Patton662]

There can be no games without PCs. You can't outsource the computer...

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

The answer is very simple: where does games on consoles are made from? PC's !

What's the only platform that delivers Mods for FREE: PC's !

i don't need to go further...

What's the only platform that you can sit on the couch and play..... Consoles.

What's the only platform that can be operated by a monkey...... Consoles.

OP: Wasn't BioShock only on 360?

monkey operational quality of a pc is questionable though not impossible... as pcs support a vastly wide array of control interface options...

I've sat on a couch and played on a PC that was hooked up to a big ass TV... had wireless keyboard wireless mouse... and a wireless gamepad hooked up to it... easily done...

also my copy of bioshock for the PC that i have on my desk says otherwise to that one, along with bioshock 2 through steam...

I have also seen people using Wii-motes on PCs before... and there are other even more unique motion control systems for the PC... the P5 game controller... uses hand location and every finger position can be programmed to a different command... and i think gestures too... overall PC has the widest range of controller options the widest selection of games, the biggest indipendant developer influence, and the most overall versatility for what you can use it for... I see no contest... also if you know even a little about hardware assembly which is easier than making food(which pretty much everybody does) and less messy... since your computer will generally only fit the way it's supposed to and if you read the descriptions of each part you can figure what is compatible with what fairly simply... and with a little research you can get a pc built for a decent level of gaming for like $500, then hook it up to your tv... and if you have a home theatre style sound system... hook it up to that too... and then you can do everything a pc can do and everything a console can do... put a bluray drive and a dvd drive in that sucker and you got full home entertainment package...

/end rant

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

In a way, I do have to agree. If a console dies or becomes out of date, you buy a full new console. If a PC breaks, you replace the part in no time. PC its more fluent in terms of creating and especially Modding games. As a modder (not a very good one mind you), I find a PC a shit-ton flexible compared to say a Wii.

 

[satua]

wow... why is everyone so worked up about this, we all play games for fun. So we use what we like the best console or pc. Isn't everyone entitled to an opinion???

 

[SonofSeth]

Well I'm glad I recently bought a nice new gaming pc then.

Nice, me too.

 

[Sheinen]

My opinion on the matter (wanted or not, tough, you're getting it) is that he's half right.

In terms of the innovation, freedom and flexibility that the PC system offers to up and coming developers it's a no-brainer. The great console games of the future will likely be born through a PC, but would they become great if it weren't for the consoles they can sell them on?

The area that Mr Levine's argument falls down is really obvious. The cost of entry and to a greater extent, keeping up with the PC gaming world is extreme and no longer justifiable for a lot of consumers. It's been said time and time again that developing HUGE games on the PC is a pain because of the near infinite variations of hardware, drivers, software and firmware. So instead of the Dev's keeping up, we're expected to:

a) Go out and spend 6 months worth of hard savings on a top-notch gaming PC
b) Spend every subsequent months savings on a new hardware/firmware update
c) Not have any money to buy actual games

When you buy a console you pay a 5th of the initial investment and...well then you start buying games.

PC's may be easier for indie developers, because they can just make it work for them and anyone with a similar system. These guys may then take this experience to produce amazing PC and Console games in the years to come. But if Tarantino can turn a career in a movie rental shop into an astonishing set of films, why not expect the same from that guy at gamestation? You know the guy I mean, he's got too much hair and always smells of armpit...