PC Games Will Outsell Consoles by 2014

[GeorgW]

I'm wondering what stats they're using. If it's counting specific, multi-platform release games, then consoles will probably always win. If they're counting all games, then of course PC will win, they have many, many more.

 

[major_chaos]

Until the next generation of consoles arrives at least. Unfortunately. How long until people realize that consoles are actually more expensive than PC's. They die more often. And once they die you have to buy a complete console. Games are more expensive, on Xbox you have to pay to play online and you have a limited controller option. You can play PC games with a wireless controller and you can connect your PC to a large TV. PC does EVERYTHING.

my XBOX 360: $250 has never died or had any issues and the only money I've spent on it besides games has been for stuff I just wanted not needed

my PC: $750 right off the bat plus $300 of upgrades to keep the performance from dipping into the -30FPS range, I've also had several RAM chips and an HDD fail on me that then need replacing, plus if I want good performance on the late 2011 early 2012 crop of games I'm probably going to need another $200 graphics card upgrade, and it should also be noted that all upgrades and repairs on PC take much more effort than replacing a console, and to top it off despite multiple attempts several different TVs and much research nothing I do can get my PC to work (well) with a TV leaving me stuck playing on a tiny monitor (which was still far from cheap)
don't get me wrong, I don't hate pc gaming if I did I wouldn't spend so much money on it
but PCs cheaper than consoles? ya no

 

[ecoho]

PC games will not outsell consoles but they may mach them in the end the only reason i say PC games wont outsell consoles is there are simply more consoles in house then game ready PCs.

 

[JeanLuc761]

They want to feel better then others. It's like when the PC Elitists tell others that their comp can run a game on higher Graphics and better everything then your console. They just want to feel better.

I wonder if they factored in new console releases which increase the capabilities of consoles above high end computers. 2014 is awhile away.

I was with you up until that last line. While developers have gotten increasingly better at squeezing every last drop of performance out of the antiquated hardware in each console (which is why Uncharted 2 looks so gobsmackingly beautiful), there's no getting past the restrictions of the hardware itself.

A new console release will not increase the capability of a console at all. It may, however, be better at utilizing what already exists.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Is there any particular reason two platforms are always pitted against one?

Because when its estimated that the majority of sales on the PC are now through digital downloads, which aren't specifically tracked, and you then pit two platforms against another solely on retail sales, its all a bit... retarded.

They want to feel better then others. It's like when the PC Elitists tell others that their comp can run a game on higher Graphics and better everything then your console. They just want to feel better.

I wonder if they factored in new console releases which increase the capabilities of consoles above high end computers. 2014 is awhile away.

There is currently no console in development which is more powerful than my gaming rig. Just fyi, and all. by 2014, Soon to be released chips like Intel's Ivy bridge will have been superceded. Consoles are like mammoths. Slow moving, unable to adapt to demand. The incredibly quick development time of PC internals however, allows the PC industry to adapt far faster and to innovate more than your precious consoles.



Oh and just so we're clear about this, jumping up and down in your living room waving your arms isn't gaming, it's grounds for being put into a lunatic asylum.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

Oh really?

A company that exclusively makes stuff for computers thinks computers are going to dominate everything. What a shock.

Oops, wrong can't expect a console gamer to know much about technology though so it's ok:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSX_%27Reality_Synthesizer%27
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10198809-64.html
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/playstation-three2.htm

Well that was........ Uncalled for.

Alright, I was wrong to say "Exclusively", but computers are still their primary focus.

EDIT: *looks at your profile*
Oh I get it now. Nevermind. Forget I said anything. PC gaming is God. Halo is the Devil. etc.

 

[grigjd3]

PC gaming has always been where the most innovation has been shown if only because of the ease of access that people, players and developers alike, have with it. The downside to PC gaming is that the platform is not consistent between users and so there is a great deal of hassle when making polished final products for it. That said, internet related gaming is on the rise and the controlled environment of consoles are being severely tested against that.

 

[adamtm]

Oh really?

A company that exclusively makes stuff for computers thinks computers are going to dominate everything. What a shock.

Oops, wrong can't expect a console gamer to know much about technology though so it's ok:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSX_%27Reality_Synthesizer%27
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10198809-64.html
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/playstation-three2.htm

Well that was........ Uncalled for.

Alright, I was wrong to say "Exclusively", but computers are still their primary focus.

EDIT: *looks at your profile*
Oh I get it now. Nevermind. Forget I said anything. PC gaming is God. Halo is the Devil. etc.

The point still stands that every nextgen console in existence is running either straight PC hardware or modified PC hardware.

The 360 runs IBM 3 core powerpc processors and a ATI graphics card, so does the Wii.
The PS3 has a proprietary Sony/IBM 6 core powerpc processor and a nvidia card.
The WiiU features another undisclosed powerpc processor and a -retail- AMD card based on 2 year old generation R700 chipset (from 2008) running DX10.
The original Xbox ran a Pentium 3 733mhz and an early modified nvidia GeForce.

Long gone are the times of proprietary console tech like in the PS2 or Gamecube.
All "PC companies" are interested in console tech as well as PC tech, because BOTH ARE THE SAME.

There are no companies that are "primarily focused" on consoles, there aren't even companies "primarily focused" on cellphones anymore.
Nvidia provides graphics systems for cellphones, and Intel the processors. iPhones and iPads run Intel graphics, Macs run intel processors and nvidia cards.

Nvidia is no more a "PC company" than Sony is a "console company".

People need to realize that consoles, cellphones and PCs are essentially the same hardware-wise, except one system is optimized for specific functions like gaming or whatever and the other is -not-

Of course Nvidia thinks that "computers are going to dominate everything", THEY ALREADY DO.

PC games will not outsell consoles but they may mach them in the end the only reason i say PC games wont outsell consoles is there are simply more consoles in house then game ready PCs.

Except this is not true. By todays standard a laptop from 2007 matches a xbox360 (theres slightly more power in the ps3). I have one sitting right here, a core2duo 2gb ram and a nvidia gt8600, runs MassEffect2, Fallout 3, New Vegas, Darksiders or even Witcher like a charm on high settings (Witcher 2 on low, which is 360 graphics).
You can now get one new for around 200$.

Point is everyone has a PC, if its bought this year, its going to run all console-ports smooth like a river. If its bought in 2014, the onboard graphics on the mainboard/CPU are going to be able to handle the graphics.
Core Ivybridge onboard GPU already handles DX11 natively, theres nothing more to add.

At some point if there is no new console generation, the PC is going to become so powerful that your Tablet will run Crisis 2 with not so much as a hickup.

 

[ND]

PC Games Will Outsell Consoles by 2014

With a clear horse in the race, nVidia think current trends will place PC games software sales atop consoles.

In my heart, I am a PC gamer. My hands and arse are much more comfortable sitting in an office chair and tickling a mouse and keyboard versus a sweaty game controller. Watching the decline of the PC as the chief gaming platform among the young has been disappointing. Recent analysis of sales data by PC graphics processor manufacturer nVidia, however, seems to point to a heartening trend. If current growth continues, PC games are set to outsell their console brethren by fiscal year 2014 and nVidia cites ever-expanding GPU capability and the further growth of downloadable markets like Steam, Impulse and GOG.

[gallery=490]

In 2008, despite huge hits like WoW dominating the PC market, the picture was quite bleak. Console games earned nearly 50 percent more revenue than PC game titles did and PC software sales only made a modest climb in 2009. In 2010 though, PC games sales skyrocketed by almost $4 billion and independent research group DFC Intelligence predicts that growth will continue.

nVidia think that its GPUs are big reason why PCs are the platform of choice for so many of us. Granted, I like the idea of beefing up my system incrementally instead of waiting for the next console cycle, but I don't think that's the major strength that's driving growth.

Freedom is what PC gamers love. On your PC, you can purchase a game from anywhere you like, whether from a downloadable source or from the brick-and-mortar store. You are also free to communicate however you like with your gaming partners, whether by running Skype or Ventrilo in the background or using your chosen peripheral. On the console, you have to use their system and pay a premium price for their proprietary stuff.

But the real freedom comes from the open platform of the PC, allowing the customer to freely mod and adapt software or hardware to their liking. That kind of freedom drives innovation - how many times have you heard a game designer say that they learned their craft from modding? When you try to mod your console though, you end up getting sued [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108693-UPDATE-PS3-Hacker-GeoHot-Claims-Hes-on-Vacation].

I don't necessarily believe that the growth of PC game sales will continue rising quite so high, but I welcome the emergence of the so-called middle class of PC game publishers out there. Publishers like Paradox who know how to leverage the benefits of the platform into making games that utilize it best will hopefully drive the industry into a new Golden Age of PC Gaming.

Source: Techgage

Permalink

...u mad console gamers?

 

[Beautiful End]

I've never bee a big fan of PC gaming. Moving my character around is easier for me if I use the analog stick and point in the direction my character wants me to rather than using keys and then accidentally pressing Insert or 0 while trying to run away from someone.
Also, I would require a decent computer for PC gaming. Which I don't have. And I won't get.

I'm not hating on PC gaming; I think gamers are gamers whether they play on the PC or the Wii or whatever. But it is my belief PC gaming is still popular mostly because of those monster MMOs that only specific people can join, people with A) A credit card, B) Plenty of time to spare and C) A well paying job? On the other hand, gaming consoles are available for anyone, they have a wider and perhaps more appealing line of games regardless of who you are, and they're more user friendly: Pop the disk in, park your ass on the couch, play.

Yes, there's plenty of good PC exclusives: WoW, KOTOR, Rift, Diablo, etc. But you gotta admit consoles are pretty much rulers of gaming (?). I'm not taking into consideration graphics or plot or whatever; that's irrelevant, truly (If you're of those people who buy a game merely based on its graphics, then to each its own, I guess). I'm just saying this: When a parent is looking for a console for his kid, he's definitely gonna choose a Wii over a PC, even if he loves PC gaming. It doesn't matter if he has 20 computers at home capable of doing this: The kid needs something simple. The kid WANTS something simple. Simple as that.

Sorry, but I think PC games won't outsell console games. it's not a bad thing, though. :/

 

[Waaghpowa]

.. No way. Is that.. real? Well now I know what I am putting on my Christmas List. *checks it onto there.*

Also, thank you for providing all that information. I've learned a lot just by reading the charts. Thus, am surprised all those consoles combined did not match the rating of PC sells. Mm, I am indeed impressed. Also I am literally surprised as well that website games are the highest, but then again Facebook games count and I know a whole load of people are obsessed with those Farmvill or Zombie Lane games.

Good that you know that now, the whole "Because I can use a controller" argument with console games always bewilders me since I can adapt literally any controller for use on my computer. Even games that don't directly support a controller, of which there is few, there's usually software that will allow you to do it anyway.

 

[dantoddd]

Oh really?

A company that exclusively makes stuff for computers thinks computers are going to dominate everything. What a shock.

Who do you think makes the GPUs of consoles? What do you think powers the ps3?

 

[Strazdas]

Is there any particular reason two platforms are always pitted against one?

Because both are rivaling for same costumer?


On topic: i think nvidia is right, on miltiple levels. PC games are beating consoles, as graphics are now much more higher for pc games than consoles. Pc has overcome consoles, like it always does. Sure new consoles will be released, but so will new computers. Atm PC is in the lead. You just cant beat the modability of PC either.

Also, i noticed there were talks about "diableis better with controller". what crack were you smoking?

 

[dantoddd]

Personally i don't care if PCs don't outsell consoles. In the entertainment industry you rarely see a much correlation between quality & popularity. After all Mozart died broke. What i want is for enough devs to take PC gaming seriously.

 

[Souplex]

So somehow in three years they'll rise from 7%-ish of the market to 51+% of the market?
In other news: Typewriters will outsell laptop computers by 2015.

 

[Jadak]

Can't we all just get along and accept our mutual love of games no matter what platform they're on?

No, shame.

Of course no. If we grow complacent and allow the consoles to thrive, those of us who love our PC games more will pay the price. Developers go where they money is, and if they money in the field that you love is in a decline, so will be the products available to you.

Nothing saying you can't love games regardless of platform, but you should absolutely fight for the dominance of the one you love most.

 

[veloper]

So somehow in three years they'll rise from 7%-ish of the market to 51+% of the market?
In other news: Typewriters will outsell laptop computers by 2015.

where did you get that 7% figure from?

 

[Souplex]

So somehow in three years they'll rise from 7%-ish of the market to 51+% of the market?
In other news: Typewriters will outsell laptop computers by 2015.

where did you get that 7% figure from?

Michael Pachter. The big cheese of video game financial analysis.
Granted it's like 6 months to a year old, hence the "-Ish" part.