The Big Picture: PC Gaming Is Dead - Long Live PC Gaming!

[Roryomg]

I agree and disagree good sir. Should've just condensed that and said, "PC Gaming got borgified with consoles, get over it" and saved us six minutes. Ironically with steam I feel it's happening the other way around. At least until Steam goes console.

A day I can't wait for. Buy it on Steam and play it on your wii/360/ps3/pc/etc of your choice.

Edit: Oh, also I grew up with consoles. I own a 360/wii/ds/gaming pc. For the past six months I've played my wii/360 0%, my ds 15%, and my pc 85%. I use my 360 to watch netflix instant play. I haven't turned on my Wii since last June for Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Steam is coming to the PS3 this year, it's been confirmed by Valve at E3.

Yes, but not the same as the PC store.

Just because it's moving to ps3 doesn't mean the games will.

Prices will still be more and library tiny.

I can't see sony doing anything but trying to destroy steam.

 

[toquio3]

Many have said it, I'll say it again. Why have 10 different toys when you can just have one device, cheaper than all those toys together?

And besides, why the fuck would I want to play Battlefield or Mass Effect of Fallout on a bus, or the train, or just while walking down the street? Ridiculous.

MovieBob? Stick with movies. You dont know shit about gaming.

 

[JohnnyChimpo]

Some major points not observed by Bob:
1- Even thought we got several new toys like iphones, ipads, netbooks, laptops, etc, we keep accumulating formats, not throwing out out old ones, even desktop computers will always have a use for some users. Mouse + keyborad set ups will also be relevant for games in the future
2- PC game is wildly popular, but the major hits, like WoW or Starcraft exist only because they are more impervious to the big white elephant in the room, PIRACY. Console gamers are in general less technologically savvy, or less inclined to pirate their games, pc gamers however, might as well just wear an eyepatch everyday, trust me, I am one,... I love steam, but still...

 

[Bonecrusher]

I will be just a dust in this 25-paged topic.

But still, I wanted to express my feeling.

First of all, some people argues "PC gaming - dying since 1979" or something like that.
Ok ok, let's noy say pc gaming is dead or dying - it irritates some people.
But it is a fact that PC gaming is not concerned for US gamers. They are borned with Atari, NES, and grew with SNES, N64 and PSX.
This affects game reviewers, game vloggers, game companies and game magazines.
They _ARE_ American people and they mainly target their people.

There is a two different gaming generations.
One generation is Atari->NES->SNES->N64->PSX->PS2->XBOX360 players, as I mentioned above.
The other generation is Sinclair->Commodore 64->Amiga->PC gamers.
Opposite of America, I see many European gamers are from the second generation.

I watch, read and follow many game reviewers. Most of them are American. They talk about Xbox news, small details of new Mario game, patches for PS3 games, competition for console gaming, etc... But it is really hard to see news or discussion for PC gaming.
Look the Monkey Island video from Lisa Foiles (here in escapist). Even she uses visuals from Xbox edition. Monkey Island is one of the most favorite game of Amiga/PC gamers, and it deserved visuals from Amiga or PC versions.

I wish gaming websites were also mentioned PC games, PC gamers and PC competitions.
Whenever you open a game site, you see discussion about "8bit". Mario, Yoshi, Link, Donkey Kong, PacMan, Metroid, Metal Gear Solid, Halo, Gears Of War, MegaMan... are very famous.
But no one talks about Blood, Quake, Diablo, Dungeon Keeper, Superfrog, etc...
There are a lot of Starcraft, Warcraft 3, DotA, Counter-Strike tournaments around the world. Why these websites don't mention that kind of tournaments?
But they mention Halo as the best FPS ever, over and over.

Those kind of things frustrate me.

I think Gaming companies have the most guilt in this problem.
For example you can see many many Amiga/PC games remaked to iPhone and XBox.
Or sometimes they make sequels to them.
But, we don't have any remakes or sequels for PC games.
Why we don't have HD remakes for Stonekeep, Sacrifice, Diablo 2 or Planescape Torment? Why we don't have sequels for Gods, Superfrog, Dungeon Keeper or Blood?
May be Moviebob is right, companies like to switch over mobile platforms rather than Personal Computers.
Ah yes, It is also very easy to make a game for a specific configuration compared to very wide pc configurations.

By the way. I don't hate console gaming. I love SNES, I was a Gameboy geek back then. I have SNES, PS1-2-3, Gameboy, Sega Saturn as well as Amiga, Commodore 64 and PC.
I just can't accept the skippings of PC gaming this much.

Many have said it, I'll say it again. Why have 10 different toys when you can just have one device, cheaper than all those toys together?

And besides, why the fuck would I want to play Battlefield or Mass Effect of Fallout on a bus, or the train, or just while walking down the street? Ridiculous.

MovieBob? Stick with movies. You dont know shit about gaming.

Why people play FPS on consoles?

Similar to that, some people also like to play games on their Wii, iPhone or iPads...
He is not wrong, gaming slowly shifts into mobile platforms.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

http://images2.memegenerator.net/ImageMacro/6158339/Moviebob-get-down-from-there-Games-are-not-your-focus-You-are-Moviebob.jpg?imageSize=Medium&generatorName=Moviebob

Most of this is so easy to disagree with. Sorry, but the whole thing smacks of attempts at being edgy and an unwillingness to accept that just because you made a video, doesn't mean you're not demonstrably wrong.

 

[Bricky]

I can see how people can believe that PC Gaming is dying/dead and sometimes I even fear it as I have always played all my games on the PC, but then i see the steam stats page where it shows the greatest amount of gamers on at 1 time being above the 3,000,000 mark (Today it has a peak of 3,190,705 online at once) and 11 year old games like Counter-Strike 1.6 still reaching over 70,000 ingame at a single moment (Today it has peaked at 73,775) and I realise that hardcore PC gaming still has a few years left in it and it is still worth it for the developers to port/design games for it. I actually heard a stat somewhere that PC Gaming was becoming more popular again after a slouch for years.

Source on steams stats - http://store.steampowered.com/stats/

 

[e.wlmo4]

Another great episode on your part for showing that the pc gaming that has been the status quo since the 80s is coming to an end as the gamer evolves from twenty-somethings who have all the time in the world to figure out how to make pc gaming work is grow to thirty-somethings that have a family and other responsibilities who do not have the time to get a top end pc running and when you can get an xbox for $250 a solid netbook for $300 and by the end of the year it will probably be the same story for a tablet by year's end, and smartphones are often available for free on a contract that comes to $850 with it all running out of the box for nine out of ten people (myself included) the option that gives you access to your music, a camera, and your files at any time is the better choice.

 

[eytrvnbmgkhjiuty]

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[snakeakaossi]

@Bob: great movie as always.

@haters: Don't worry, you'll first loose interest in your PC before in order for PC gaming to really die. By that time you won't care.

It was a good episode, I agree, but I still don't agree with its assessment.

Also, why do we always have to seperate every discussion into "Haters" and "Fanboys"?



So what's your problem? Neither platform will go away. If anything, they will move closer together with digital distribution and matchmaking platforms.

I'm sorry, dear sir, this wasn't meant as fanboy vs. haters post, but more as a "Hey, it is possible that the PC wil morph and you'll probably enjoy it". Alas, I used the wrong wording

I too own both PC and consoles and use the PC most, but I am getting tired of having to have a huge, noisy box when I'm enjoying Hi-Fi sound and graphics. I'd like to trade the PC in for a something that isn't as big and noisy, which will probably be the next thing the PC morphs into.

So, please don't be offended, I'm on your side.

 

[iamthe1]

I think that this is something that Hitler should rant about!

 

[Orekoya]

Should've just condensed that and said, "PC Gaming got borgified with consoles, get over it" and saved us six minutes.

Please do not use this as a criticism i COULD condense the entirety of Descartes meditations into "you exist" and save you reading it, but that would be silly.
It's the journey through knowledge that gives you understanding of a concept, only once you listen to another argument, with the background and reasoning behind it that lead them to their conclusion, that you can make an informed and reasoned reply.
In short, don't do that.

I realize this may come across as childish nitpicking, but i hear this kind of argument allot and it frustrates me. You are by no means the worst offender, but debunking a videos topic through summary seems a little silly.

A journey through knowledge? Is that what you called this video? I could understand if he said something impressive or enriching related to the topic but he didn't. He said things already said before in forum flame wars for years then something about PC dying off in 30 years while simultaneously saying laptops in his example, repeatedly, which I can only assume was included to further invalidate his argument and show he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Also why are you comparing him to Descartes?

 

[Cap'n Moe]

I usually think about the titles of 'The Big Picture', or 'Extra Credits' before I press play. Normally, my conclusions are admittedley on sided, short sighted and dumb. I am normally pre-loaded with arguments, ideas, solutions etc. Afterwhich, the video has hit an argument I had prior, and boom, my eyes are opened. Moviebob, you have once again crushed my prior thought you were nothing more than a movie critic, and a viable media personality. I respect and applaud you for your expansive nature.

 

[Roxor]

Sheesh, Bob, couldn't you have come up with a decent title? "X is dead, long live X" is one of the most nonsensical phrases I've seen thrown around. Saying "long live X" only makes sense if X is currently alive. If X is dead, then you have a contradiction on your hands. Contradictions are a pain for the brain. Incidentally, they're also the reason why every attempt by religious people to convert me has failed miserably.

 

[The Hungry Samurai]

As I write this on an iPad 2 I bought in lieu of upgrading my pc, I'm going to have to agree with bob. The tech isn't all there yet but we're approaching a point where the pc is becoming a developers tool. The user friendly and tech simple world of tablets, smartphones, and web browsing tvs and game consoles make it way to easy for the average consumer to find all the computing power he needs with out having to worry about tech specs and the tiny writing where a games requirements are listed. It's only a matter of time before this new generation of computing we don't have to think about becomes the industry standard for what developers make there games for, because thats where all the people will be.

The world is one apple console, and a steam tablet port away from throwing pc gaming a funeral.

 

[Crazy_Man_42]

Are you guys really sure you should attack Bob here because it's confirming what he has said in the video and reaffirms his point and makes it clear that PC gaming is dying.

I mean come on people the fps shooters have left you and all you really have in the way of major games are starcraft and WoW, and one is just a major cash cow that will die once the new Blizzard mmo comes out and kills it and becomes the new cash cow. Starcraft has been the only major game release in what.... years for PC's because I haven't seen much for any other game that isn't a mmo for the PC. Blizzard is becoming the last and only developer that's making games only for the PC lately.

 

[Raioken18]

Wow... I think maybe it's been too long since Movie Bob had a real job.

I used to work as a statistics analyst and now work for a psycho-linguistics firm (and am below 25 years of age), the thing is that none of these portable devices can match the pc in terms of efficient input and utility. Also there are specialised programs designed specifically to be used on the PC that really are painful to use with any other kind of design system. So really those people who still find having PC's at home useful for doing work include anyone that works in a bank and anyone that is interested in the economic communication of information and statistics.

Now I know that laptops or notebooks are meant to be this ultimate solution for taking work home with you, but they are a pain in the ass to carry around, are often stolen, are more of a pain in the ass to use than a regular pc. Tablets are even worse, it takes a lot to get fired as a trainee, but we let 5 go last year because there was this apparently groundbreaking program to use tablets for data input and every second freaking number was wrong, the officer that instigated the program wasn't fired but he should have been.

And "Cloud" as far as larger corporations go, we've already had our own private servers for over a decade, it's meant to be a resource management program for smaller business.

You know what works really well, that you don't need to carry home on the train? That doesn't have an integrated motherboard, cpu, cooling system, hard drive? That doesn't require the use of stupid touchpads or touch keyboards, or flimsey controls? That's right a PC, and what's better is that they are relatively cheaper and easier to upgrade than ever before.

Last time I tried to repair a freaking notepad I discovered the entire thing was welded together, screw that.

Also... are you going to totally dodge that FPS on PC is still waaay better than on Consoles...
Seriously xbox 360 uses that stupid "snap to" aiming even online, ugh it's pathetic, I remember playing it and trying to line up shots with that stupid analogue stick. Oh and those aim with the conroller things, they sucked even more...

As if anyone would choose to type their assessments or work or even do their taxes on a console. Would you even record a Youtube or Escapist clip from an Ipad or whatever, upload it through your Iphone... doubt it.

 

[thom_cat_]

I am getting tired of having to have a huge, noisy box when I'm enjoying Hi-Fi sound and graphics. I'd like to trade the PC in for a something that isn't as big and noisy, which will probably be the next thing the PC morphs into.

Get a better fan set. Or even a better case. Get a case to suit your needs!
My case has 5 fans in it and both of my gfx cards do too and it's whisper quiet.

 

[Roxor]

I can understand Bob's arguments, but I think that rather than going for specialisation in devices, the trend will be more towards more general ones. I think in the future you'll technically be able to do any computing task on any device, but different interfaces will bias people towards giving certain devices certain roles. Even if you're poor and can only afford to keep your tablet up to date, that's not going to stop you from playing games, coding software or making digital paintings. The future tablets will technically be capable of doing all that, but their user interfaces will likely result in them being used as replacements for books, newspapers, and clipboards.

I think we'll still have desktop PCs, games consoles, smart phones, laptop PCs and tablet computers in 2025, although the operating system base and hardware architecture across them will be more standardised than it is now.

 

[jonnosferatu]

Are you guys really sure you should attack Bob here because it's confirming what he has said in the video and reaffirms his point and makes it clear that PC gaming is dying.

Attacking him doesn't prove his point in the slightest. It demonstrates that he was right in his prediction that he'd be attacked.

 

[munx13]

I disagree. The parts that separate PC from most other electronic devices is personalization (many variations in hardware) and being an open platform.
You can find both of those traits in a laptop or a netbook, there are even Windows 7 tablets now. Both tablets and laptops can be used for gaming these days, I'm using a laptop for gaming right now (not some facebook games, but things that actually take time and much skill to make - Bulletstorm or W40K2:Retribution)

IMO, PC gaming is not dieing, it's just slowly changing it's shell.

I think that is kinda what Bob was saying, but just not very well. Unusual for him.

There is a concept called, convergence, and it is happening. The day you can hook up a keyboard and mouse to a 360 and use MS apps is the day there is little reason to not call it a PC (I think the PS3 went through some trouble in Europe over an argument as to what it was: toy or computer).

His most relevent point today was simply: will we still, 5 years from now, be buying a big honkin desk to hold computer/monitor and printer. Actually, yes. At a minimum, it's called an entertainment center. BTW: for $400, I built an AMD quadcore with 5670 card that plays games reasonably well at 30 FPS and does all those PC apps too on my 55" TV. Not the best computer, but on par with consoles + PC functionality.

If he really did mean that the PC box + monitor + mouse and keyboard combo will decline in a decade or two then yes, I would fully agree with that - tech moves fast, size is decreasing (in fact, many of my friends game on laptops like me just for the comfort, portability and the versatility of it).
However, I cant understand why he thinks that playing TF2 on a laptop or a tablet with a hooked up keyboard and mouse is not PC gaming.