Potentially beneficial results from the xbone going down in flames.

[Something Amyss]

PC gaming is never going to eclipse consoles because of all the headaches that come with it. The majority of games I've played on a PC only ran after tweaking settings, updating drivers, getting patches, making a blood sacrifice at the altar...you are never going to convince people who treat gaming as a casual hobby that it's worth slogging through all that just to play a game.

Console gaming is getting more complex and PC gaming more simple. Games are getting more standard on PC and consoles now require updates and registrations and online connections. And the blood sacrifices...Why do you think the 360 RED rings?

I'm not saying there will ever be parity, because I don't really know. But I'm far more likely to believe it than even half a console cycle ago.

 

[rob_simple]

PC gaming is never going to eclipse consoles because of all the headaches that come with it. The majority of games I've played on a PC only ran after tweaking settings, updating drivers, getting patches, making a blood sacrifice at the altar...you are never going to convince people who treat gaming as a casual hobby that it's worth slogging through all that just to play a game.

Console gaming is getting more complex and PC gaming more simple. Games are getting more standard on PC and consoles now require updates and registrations and online connections. And the blood sacrifices...Why do you think the 360 RED rings?

I'm not saying there will ever be parity, because I don't really know. But I'm far more likely to believe it than even half a console cycle ago.

So do you not have to still do the driver hunting and custom patches? I'm not being catty or anything, it's just that the last game I played on my PC was Half Life 2. Or Doom 3, whichever one came out later.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

The only thing I'm hoping will come out of such a failure is that these corporations will learn that they can't take their customers for granted. Although I'm not optimistic about that happening.

 

[shrekfan246]

So do you not have to still do the driver hunting and custom patches? I'm not being catty or anything, it's just that the last game I played on my PC was Half Life 2. Or Doom 3, whichever one came out later.

No, not really.

I haven't updated my drivers in a few months now, everything still works fine. Arguably I didn't really have to update my drivers for a good few months before the last time I did, too, though it does help. But they're mostly standardized now, so it's simple enough to go to your GPU manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers for your card.

As for patches, the last game I played that needed some sort of unofficial patch was Dark Souls, and that was only to unlock the silly restrictions the developers had placed on the PC version because they'd only developed one PC game before and it was every bit as poor a port as Dark Souls. Again, patches are fairly standardized now, and if your game is registered on Steam then it updates automatically with the newest official patches unless you tell them otherwise (though sometimes there are reports of them updating even when you do tell them otherwise).

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

I half expect Titanfall will go cross platform within a year, anyway. Things really don't look good for XBone from what I've seen. Only the most delusional Microsoft fanboys are really defending it.

Things look bad for the Xbox One? What universe are you living in?

http://www.wpcentral.com/amazon-thrilled-unprecedented-preorders-xbox-one
http://www.t3.com/news/xbox-one-breaks-pre-order-records-at-blockbusters
http://metro.co.uk/2013/06/03/asda-xbox-one-is-our-fastest-selling-pre-order-console-3826800/
http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/xbox-one-pre-order-stock-sold-out-at-certain-retailers
http://www.techdigest.tv/2013/06/xbox_one_curren.html

Half those articles are pre E3, though, and considering what happened there, I wouldn't rely on them too much.

 

[crimson sickle2]

If Microsoft pulls out of the console race, I'm going to guess a newcomer won't be able to come in unless they can create a system that Sony and Nintendo can't match on some aspect. The two would be able to push out any new competition unless that competition is something like the Oculus Rift, providing a service the other two don't.

OT: In the short-term, more games will go to the handhelds, PC, and other consoles. In the long-term, anti-consumer practices will decline and the industry might accept used-game sales a little more warmly, at least at surface level. Microsoft may or may not drop out of the console industry.

 

[Abomination]

PC gaming is never going to eclipse consoles because of all the headaches that come with it. The majority of games I've played on a PC only ran after tweaking settings, updating drivers, getting patches, making a blood sacrifice at the altar...you are never going to convince people who treat gaming as a casual hobby that it's worth slogging through all that just to play a game.

Console gaming is getting more complex and PC gaming more simple. Games are getting more standard on PC and consoles now require updates and registrations and online connections. And the blood sacrifices...Why do you think the 360 RED rings?

I'm not saying there will ever be parity, because I don't really know. But I'm far more likely to believe it than even half a console cycle ago.

It is entering some strange reflection of how things were 15 years ago when consoles were plug and play and PCs were...
dir/w
cd games
cd battlechess
dir.exe
bcrun
(what? No sound?)
*exit game*
dir.exe
config
Sound Effects
Select Soundblaster Compatiable
Test
Channel 1
Channel 2
Apply
OK
Music Settings
Select Soundblaster Compatiable
Test
Channel 1
Channel 2
Apply
OK
Save settings
Exit
dir.exe
bcrun
(Hooray! I have sound and it works!)

Now PC seems to be
Open Steam
Select Game
"This is your first time playing, FarCry III will now attempt to auto-detect your optimal settings"
"Are acceptable?"
Yes.
Loading...
New Game.

PLUS all the other things a PC can do from web browsing, modding, being a work station and still a better social networking tool.

 

[Terminate421]

Since I am dedicating songs, this goes out to the XBone Day One supporters, help it fuel your fears, see you in the return lines Day 2.

At no point did I clarify that I was in support of the Xbox One. hell, look at my comment history, I hate the fucking thing.

What I've been talking about is the concept and market for consoles. We need those.

And now I think you're deliberately trying to insult me. Seriously, I ain't even mad bro.

 

[Amir Kondori]

Microsoft does not want developers developing games for Windows over the Xbox unless its for the Windows 8 app store. They get a cut of all sales for all Xbox games, while they get no cut of sales on Windows games, because Windows is a general purpose OS. They do get a 30% cut of all sales on their new Window 8/mobile app store.

So Microsoft will not want to have games released on Windows.

 

[TrevHead]

I can see bigger benefits to Microsoft bowing out of the console game.

The Xbox 360 changed the gaming landscape, and some might argue for the worse. It appealed to the "dudebro" fraternity type of demographic, emphasizing online multiplayer, the FPS genre and overly-serious games.

As a result of its massive commercial success, what did we get this generation? All the FPSs and forced online components anyone could possibly ask for, and then some.

I would hope that in this generation (not necessarily due to Microsoft imploding) we step away from that, and go back to the software landscape of the 5th and 6th generation, where open-world platformers, third-person action-adventures and true survival horror games (to name a few) were much more abundant. Just more variety in general (like the handheld scene has been enjoying recently).

While MS pisses me off to no end with how much of a "dude bro" (no offence to the bros)console the 360 has become, I would rather have MS continue to court them in a big way that way they will all buy it and leave Sony to attract a different type of gamer just like Ninty and PC does and some of the more niche games like arcade games might be all the better for it. I got sick of dead servers on the 360 and failed games because multiplats we're streading their playerbase too thinly.

I guess crossplay would help MP games but I can't see that happening.

 

[Strelok]

~SNIP~

Actually that wasn't directed at you it's not possible for me to care less if you support the XBone or not, not everything is about you friend, also the meme for every reply? Getting old.

Consoles outlived their usefulness long ago, it's time they went away permanently the future has no place for stagnating hardware. They only perpetuate this need for yet another Halo, another CoD, endless Gears of Wars, AAA gaming needs to die and consoles need to go with it.

 

[Zetatrain]

PC gaming is never going to eclipse consoles because of all the headaches that come with it. The majority of games I've played on a PC only ran after tweaking settings, updating drivers, getting patches, making a blood sacrifice at the altar...you are never going to convince people who treat gaming as a casual hobby that it's worth slogging through all that just to play a game.

Console gaming is getting more complex and PC gaming more simple. Games are getting more standard on PC and consoles now require updates and registrations and online connections. And the blood sacrifices...Why do you think the 360 RED rings?

I'm not saying there will ever be parity, because I don't really know. But I'm far more likely to believe it than even half a console cycle ago.

SNIP

I'd still say PC gaming is still more complex than console gaming, however you are right its not nearly as complex as it used to be. However here is the problem, the former of what you wrote is, IMO, how the casual and mainstream crowd view PC gaming and I highly doubt that mindset will change.

Some people just don't like the idea of having to update/change their hardware just to make sure they can run the latest games.
Consoles may not be as simple as they once were but I'd still wouldn't say they are as complex as PCs

 

[Abomination]

PC gaming is never going to eclipse consoles because of all the headaches that come with it. The majority of games I've played on a PC only ran after tweaking settings, updating drivers, getting patches, making a blood sacrifice at the altar...you are never going to convince people who treat gaming as a casual hobby that it's worth slogging through all that just to play a game.

Console gaming is getting more complex and PC gaming more simple. Games are getting more standard on PC and consoles now require updates and registrations and online connections. And the blood sacrifices...Why do you think the 360 RED rings?

I'm not saying there will ever be parity, because I don't really know. But I'm far more likely to believe it than even half a console cycle ago.

SNIP

I'd still say PC gaming is still more complex than console gaming, however you are right its not nearly as complex as it used to be. However here is the problem, the former of what you wrote is, IMO, how the casual and mainstream crowd view PC gaming and I highly doubt that mindset will change.

Some people just don't like the idea of having to update/change their hardware just to make sure they can run the latest games.
Consoles may not be as simple as they once were but I'd still wouldn't say they are as complex as PCs

The problem for consoles is they're introducing more and more obstacles between what their primary advantage over PCs was and PCs are tearing down those obstacles... at this rate the pros and cons of PC vs. Console is making consoles appear less and less desirable.

The less desirable they become the less likely a company will be willing to launch exclusives on them. The less exclusives are launched on a console AGAIN the less desirable it becomes. We start to see a domino effect and a company might decide to simply leave the console industry entirely allowing the other consoles to pick up that market share...

At the moment the XBone is looking to be the console that might bite the dust first.

 

[Dirge Eterna]

When consoles die (yes when, not if) PC and other mobile forms of gaming should be for everyone

Consoles aren't doing their best. We get it. But the world you're talking about is literally a canyon of gaming. PC and Mobile only would be more harmful to this industry than anything I could imagine. Consoles are needed, whether one likes it or not, they are the bridge which holds everything together.

How do we introduce people into this industry? Consoles. I have never met an individual who went form owning an ipad or DS and then immediately jumping ship onto the PC crowd. Consoles are what bring people to PC gaming in the first place.

PC is VERY helpful and is VERY good, I know, I have one, I use it all the time for games. But even I know that consoles are needed. And it stays at an "if" because people aren't exactly buying consoles right now so they can move onto the PS4 or Xbone if they were kicked in the head by a horse.

Actually I never had a console until last christmas when my Sister in law bought a 360 for my son. And I have been playing PC games since 93. I had dabbled with consoles a few times but got bored with them quickly and I much prefer gaming on my PC as to a console.

 

[Dirge Eterna]

PC gaming is never going to eclipse consoles because of all the headaches that come with it. The majority of games I've played on a PC only ran after tweaking settings, updating drivers, getting patches, making a blood sacrifice at the altar...you are never going to convince people who treat gaming as a casual hobby that it's worth slogging through all that just to play a game.

Console gaming is getting more complex and PC gaming more simple. Games are getting more standard on PC and consoles now require updates and registrations and online connections. And the blood sacrifices...Why do you think the 360 RED rings?

I'm not saying there will ever be parity, because I don't really know. But I'm far more likely to believe it than even half a console cycle ago.

SNIP

I'd still say PC gaming is still more complex than console gaming, however you are right its not nearly as complex as it used to be. However here is the problem, the former of what you wrote is, IMO, how the casual and mainstream crowd view PC gaming and I highly doubt that mindset will change.

Some people just don't like the idea of having to update/change their hardware just to make sure they can run the latest games.
Consoles may not be as simple as they once were but I'd still wouldn't say they are as complex as PCs

I can't even remember the last time I had to go search for an update or patch for a PC game. Do we have to download updates yes, but so does my sons 360. I built my current PC in 2010 and I did not buy the most expensive components at the time. I am still playing everything that's out there at max settings. When I started PC gaming in 93 yes there was some headaches but seriously I think that modern PC games don't have the same issues and are 100% better in terms of them working at the click of a mouse. I prefer PC over console because I can do many more things with it than just games. Yes it might be more than a console but it can do a lot more for that money.

 

[Zetatrain]

The problem for consoles is they're introducing more and more obstacles between what their primary advantage over PCs was and PCs are tearing down those obstacles... at this rate the pros and cons of PC vs. Console is making consoles appear less and less desirable.

True, although what one considers a pro or con is entirely subjective. XBOX 1's DRM may be a major obstacle for the hardcore gamer, but for the casual/mainstream player its a minor inconvenience. Having to check and change your PC hardware may be a walk in the park for the PC gamer, but for someone else it's a technical nightmare.

And while the XBOX 1 certainly doesn't paint a pretty picture, the PS4 seems like it will do things right(assuming Sony doesn't royally fuck up).

The less desirable they become the less likely a company will be willing to launch exclusives on them. The less exclusives are launched on a console AGAIN the less desirable it becomes. We start to see a domino effect and a company might decide to simply leave the console industry entirely allowing the other consoles to pick up that market share...

At the moment the XBone is looking to be the console that might bite the dust first.

Even if consoles were to lose all their exclusives I'd still be willing to bet that people will stay with consoles as long as they don't have to upgrade the hardware. And as long as there are people who will buy consoles developers will still crank out games (exclusive or not) for the consoles.

I'm not saying consoles will always have a majority hold on the gaming market, just that I seriously doubt they will become completely obsolete and die out.

 

[Abomination]

Even if consoles were to lose all their exclusives I'd still be willing to bet that people will stay with consoles as long as they don't to have upgrade the hardware. And as long as there are people who will buy consoles developers will still crank out games (exclusive or not) for the consoles.

I'm not saying consoles will always have a majority hold on the gaming market, just that I seriously doubt they will become completely obsolete and die out.

I can't see consoles dying out either but I suspect we will see one company leave the marketplace soon - which in turn will empower the other consoles by virtue of that market share being open.

 

[Roxor]

dir/w
cd games
cd battlechess
dir.exe
bcrun
(what? No sound?)
*exit game*
dir.exe
config
Sound Effects
Select Soundblaster Compatiable
Test
Channel 1
Channel 2
Apply
OK
Music Settings
Select Soundblaster Compatiable
Test
Channel 1
Channel 2
Apply
OK
Save settings
Exit
dir.exe
bcrun
(Hooray! I have sound and it works!)

Damn, you've got me all nostalgic for twenty years ago. Or two weeks ago with DOSBox.

 

[Roxor]

dir/w
cd games
cd battlechess
dir.exe
bcrun
(what? No sound?)
*exit game*
dir.exe
config
Sound Effects
Select Soundblaster Compatiable
Test
Channel 1
Channel 2
Apply
OK
Music Settings
Select Soundblaster Compatiable
Test
Channel 1
Channel 2
Apply
OK
Save settings
Exit
dir.exe
bcrun
(Hooray! I have sound and it works!)

Damn, you've got me all nostalgic for twenty years ago. Or two weeks ago with DOSBox.

 

[Zetatrain]

I can't even remember the last time I had to go search for an update or patch for a PC game. Do we have to download updates yes, but so does my sons 360. I built my current PC in 2010 and I did not buy the most expensive components at the time. I am still playing everything that's out there at max settings. When I started PC gaming in 93 yes there was some headaches but seriously I think that modern PC games don't have the same issues and are 100% better in terms of them working at the click of a mouse. I prefer PC over console because I can do many more things with it than just games. Yes it might be more than a console but it can do a lot more for that money.

As someone who also primarily played on the PC around that time I agree. After repeated software and hardware problems, along with the fact that my parents weren't upgrading the computer anymore, I switched to the console.

Up until like 4-5 years ago I actually still believed gaming on the PC was like the way it was back then and that the prices for the hardware upgrades were not worth it. However, during college, I got a laptop that could run some current gen games on low settings and decide to dabble in PC gaming again. Thanks to Steam, the internet, and a friend of mine I discovered that PC gaming is not nearly as much of a headache as it used to be.

Two weeks I ago I got my first gaming PC and while I'll still be using consoles for exclusives, I'm switching back to the PC as my primary platform (assuming all goes well). For me its not that consoles have gotten worse so much as PCs have gotten better to the point that their Pros outweigh the Cons.

However, I still maintain the stance that consoles, as far as the hardware issues are concerned, are more convenient. Even after reading and watching multiple tutorials on how to build a PC I still opted to buy one from retail simply because I don't feel confident enough to build one.

The truth is that I feel I'll make some stupid mistake like short out one of the components or crack the motherboard. Even those good with computers aren't immune to novice mistakes. I have a friend who is a PC enthusiast and a few years ago he made two very stupid mistakes. He wanted to upgrade the RAM on his Desktop, simple enough right? Well apparently his first mistake was that he bought RAM for a laptop. Now instead of exchanging it at the store he decide to just give the RAM to me since my laptop could use it (I guess he just had money to burn). However after installing it my laptop would not boot up. Apparently, the second mistake he made was that he forgot to take out the laptop battery and ended up shorting out the RAM when he installed it (at least I think that's what happened).

I feel like I can upgrade the components, but building one from scratch just still seems overwhelming.