Why is PC gaming "dead"?

[Dansrage]

Console games are currently at their peak, they use the maximum power their consoles can supply, they are pretty much at maximum graphical capability. While this is great news for Xbox and PS3 gamers, it's a knife through the heart for PC gamers.
PCs are constantly advancing and becoming more and more powerfull, but due to the popularity of consoles, devellopers are making games primarily for the consoles because they will get more sales, which limits the graphical power when they get released on PC.
So while consoles stagnate because they can't be upgraded easily, PCs rush ahead but with no games that can use their full potential.
The only way to remedy the situation would be for Microsoft and Sony to release new consoles every 2 years, which just isn't possible financially.

 

[metalcore42]

I wondering how all the people that keep saying that PC gaming is dead or dying are able to post here, since they obviously don't own a PC.
I just find it funny how "console gaming" is trying to be PC gaming. Considering the path consoles have been taking they are not moving away from PC's but towards them in terms of UI.

 

[Super Toast]

It isn't dead, just slowing down.

 

[mrF00bar]

Someone get the picture!

You know the one.

It's not dead, but it is smaller than console gaming. Big whoop. So consoles are the main focus of developers and publishers now. PC gaming is alive & well. Just not the primary market.

Eh, I think it will change soon, it did with the first PlayStation. Eventually the PC gets the Glory it deserves no matter how much the console fan boys whine.

 

[SextusMaximus]

It's not.

Simple answer, PC gaming is far from dead; stop worrying over nothing.

EDIT: Anyone who says PC gaming is dying in any way is a flaming idiot. It's shadowed by consoles at this specific point in time; but it's not dying.

 

[spartandude]

while PC gaming has been dieing it's strength increases with no sign of getting weaker, what a way to die

 

[Zixinus]

Because the consoles owner jerks that spent a great deal of money on high-end PCs back in the day and laugh at console owners grew dissapointed with their machines and now do the same from the other end of the spectrum. They squeel at PC gamers at not being "cool" as PC gamers did at console owners.

That's all I can figure out.

I am sick of this kind of stuff. No one really puts on arguments or numbers, they just insists that it's DYING! or something like that in a smug expression.

Games are still made. Steam is doing well. WoW just got a mayor upgrade.
Is it growing? Not much. It is smaller compared to the console portion? Yes. Are the fewer game releases per months than before? Yes. Does that mean its dead or dying? No.

It would be dying if no mayor publisher makes any PC release for months and the next year is devoid of them, as no PC game has ANY profit. Starcraft 2, IIRC, made enough of return to pay the initial investment.

Still, pirates are making many devs feel less willing to produce for the PC, so they're generally being jerks and ruining everything for the rest of us.

This is the excuse of unsuccessful developers usually. Pirates are people that could not pay if they wanted to. People who can buy the game, will.

 

[Vibhor]

PC gaming has the Minecraft and much better indie games than Xbawks....AND Minecraft and Dwarf Fortress AND Minecraft,It also has RTS's AND Minecraft and Newgrounds AND Minecraft and WOW AND Minecraft too.

 

[L4hlborg]

I'm actually shifting from consoles to PC at the moment. So either I'm an idiot for planning to get an actually working gaming pc, the platform dieing and all, or PC still has potential to get people to play it. That sounded a bit stupid (something is off about the last sentence, somebody please point out what).

 

[Vorocano]

PC Gaming is more focused than it used to be. It used to be, especially after Half-Life came out, that the best games all around were on the PC. Best graphics, best gameplay, best stories.

Then, when the PS2 and original Xbox came out, console gaming took a major leap forward, especially in the sports gaming and shooter genres, which are the most popular genres right now. So if you want to play any of the "big name" shooters, you pretty much need a console.

The PC is still king when it comes to genres like RTS and most RPGs, and of course, MMOs. Any attempts to make RTS (which is my personal favourite genre) games on consoles have either been laughably difficult to control or horribly watered down.

The biggest problems with PC gaming as it stands today are things like:

1) DRM. Piracy is so much easier on a PC than on current-gen consoles, so the PC versions of games are shipped with stuff like online activation, background programs, etc. The majority of console games don't have DRM, simply because it's a lot tougher to pirate them.

2) Technical issues. It was mentioned above, but it bears repeating. If I shell out the fifty bucks for a game for my Xbox, when I put the disc in the console I'm about 95% sure it's gonna work. Xbox game = works on Xbox. With a PC game, I have to check the back of the box. Well I meet the minimum system reqs, but not the recommended, how will the game run? I have an Nvidia graphics card, the game recommends a Radeon, will that be an issue? How will some of my other programs conflict with this one? I bought Starcraft II on release day, but due to a problem with my home network, it couldn't access the internet to do its authentication, meaning that I've paid good money for what amounts to a manual and a coaster. When you buy a game, you want to know that it will work. Having to spend your evening doing troubleshooting before the game will run can put a major damper on your desire to buy PC games.

3) Complexity. This goes along with "Technical Issues." When I bought my Xbox, I went into the store, said "I want an Xbox," and walked out with a fully functional game system that just needed to be plugged in. If I want a gaming computer, I or the guy I'm buying it from have to know the intimate details of each component, especially if you're not able to pay top dollar. Just look at the myriad options out there for graphics cards. Someone who's not very technically adept would be hopelessly lost trying to make a decision on what to buy.

If the PC manufacturers and game developers could figure out some of these issues, instead of making things harder on the fans, I think you'd see a Renaissance in PC gaming. The platform lends itself to better graphics and deeper/more complex gameplay than any console on the market today. But as it stands right now, the "Big Name" PC games do very well (Civ V, Starcraft II, WoW, etc) while the smaller names get more play on consoles than they ever will on PC.

TL;DR - PC gaming isn't dead, just focused. If they can fix some issues, it would get better.

 

[Partezan]

I wish I never spent money on my X360 because all the games I play are on PC

 

[fix-the-spade]

I don't quite understand why people have been proclaiming the PC gaming is "dead"

Shh, stop telling them we're not dead, they migh start taking shovelware away from the consoles again...
PC gaming was, is and will continue to be considerably larger than Console gaming.
MMOs, flash games, browser gaming, Strategy/rts even shooters. All bigger on PC assuming they exist on consoles at all.

Console manufacturers (and publishers) have been loudly proclaiming the death of PC games for a good twenty years now. That they feel the need to do so tells you how big PC gaming really is. If it were dead nobody would feel the need to constantly tell you so to keep your attention on their console/console based product. It's just part of the advertising.

More importantly, outside of America, Japan and some of Western Europe PC games vastly out sell console titles pretty much world wide. But, currently the western developers see more profit for their triple A titles on consoles, so the big, marketing heavy names are mostly there at the moment. This is cyclical, it'll come back to PCs over time as the cost of console development spirals up and away.

Also, the sales numbers/revenue of consoles are a bad measure of the health of PC gaming, like saying that because 2009/10 saw several revenue records for cinema get broken, no one must be watching TV anymore. Not completely impossible, but a huge jump in logic to make.

 

[Jax87]

Its not dead but its no doubt limited to a more narrow section of gaming like MMO's and web based broswer stuff. The PC main issue is keeping up with hardware and its much more common to have problems when playing on the PC than a console, which is basically plug n play. Also publishers generate more revenue from consoles so they care about that more than PC's.

 

[kannibus]

I've walked into a bunch of EB Games' and have found only one thing on the shelves that has anything to do with PC Gaming and that is WOW. This is a sad state of affairs.

However, I totally do not care as all my PC Gaming purchases are done via stuff like Steam and Direct 2 Drive. Yes, I have moved closer to the ultimate incarnation of humanity, a guy that doesn't have to get his fat ass away from the computer for anything.

Now if only I could build a toilet chair....

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

pc gaming is not, and will not, be anywhere near dead. its just not the main market,especially in advertising.

 

[Ken_J]

Not dead just expensive

 

[Suicideking]

I don't quite understand why people have been proclaiming the PC gaming is "dead" for so long I mean I go to the store and there's still a big selection of games..and many games coming out this year

also I know to do it properly you have to buy/build som monstrosity of a machine...but I have my laptop which works reasonably well graphics wise and runs most things on High (though I wouldnt trust it to run Crysis) ok I'm probably not doing it "properly" but anthing that can run far cry 2 on high is good enough for me

2 Things:

1. It's a misconception that you need some monstrosity of a machine. A gaming rig these days, with a good sized monitor, can easily be gotten for under $1000. I saw a great PC at walmart (yes walmart) about a year ago for like $600 that only needed a video card and it would shred through pc games.

And, since others have given good real answers, I'll go all conspiracy nut for number two.

2. Only big companies are saying PC gaming is dying or dead, man. See, big companies like Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, EA, Activision. See, man, these companies make more money off the console version of the games. Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft all get a bit of the money sold for any game on their system, but no hardware manufacturers get a cut of the pie for a pc game that's sold. So they are forcing the general population aka the sheep to think PC gaming is dying and that all they need is consoles. And the 3-D man, don't buy into it. That system is set up to push advertising thoughts directly into our brains. Before you know it, you'll be drinking mountain dew and eating dorito's while playing your xbox 360. or drinking Coke and eating hot pockets while playing your playstation. tin foil man, it stops it. But they know that, man, and are working on ways around it. Keep your head down man, once they know you aren't part of the herd they'll come for you.

 

[viranimus]

No its not dead.

The notion comes from its evolution.

Someone can argue its dead based on exclusivity.

If you look at PC gaming and remove all MMO titles and titles that are ports of console titles you can see your left with only a handful of top shelf releases per year and a shit ton of smaller more indie titles and casual gaming efforts. Now with PSN & XBL breaking more and more into the indie/casual realm its taking a huge chunk out of what little was left on the PC plate.

This year what did PCs get as exclusive titles? Starcraft 2, Civ 5 and arguably the leader of the pack in Indie/casual was Amnesia the dark descent. Beyond that name 10 other non MMO exclusive and notable titles this year. If you cant then you see why people think PC gaming is dying, when you compare to any console and see how many games are released per console per year.

 

[Gyrefalcon]

I wondering how all the people that keep saying that PC gaming is dead or dying are able to post here, since they obviously don't own a PC.
I just find it funny how "console gaming" is trying to be PC gaming. Considering the path consoles have been taking they are not moving away from PC's but towards them in terms of UI.

I don't say it is dying, I own a PC, but it is for work so games are not much of an option.
Until consoles can actually capture the depth of computer games, the computer gaming genre is in no danger of dying. Given the cut down stuff they send to the consoles, that won't be fore some time.

 

[LunaSocks]

It isn't neccesarily dead or dying, it's just reached it's peak number of users and that number is slowly dwindling. The PC market is also dwindling becuase all of the consoles have almost the exact same game line-up, and with less lag. Also, on the console end, there's less a worry of hackers. We just need some more exclusives, and better made machines. Unfortunately, better machines equals more money. But that is the cost to save PC gaming, alas.