Aardvaarkman said:
Crimsonmonkeywar said:
Aardvaarkman said:
Well, that's certainly a logical conclusion to draw from the new consoles having record launch sales, while PC sales are continuing to decline. Sure.
Declining? Please do link me to your quote, because last I checked it was a multi-billion dollar platform with Steam alone reporting more concurrent users than consoles as well as an online userbase only surpassed by Sony, but please. Do show.
Here you go:
http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS24065413
What about "PC Sales are declining" is not true? Just because it's a multi-billion dollar industry does not mean it isn't in decline. The Roman Empire was once the most powerful on Earth - that didn't stop it from falling.
I'm not saying it from any kind of bias - these are just the facts - console sales are increasing, while PC sales are decreasing. There's no getting around that. Yet, for some reason people around here aren't aware of these facts and keep declaring consoles dead, when it just isn't true.
Interesting, I wasn't aware of this. However, and feel free to disregard my interpretations of this data, I don't feel this well reflects trends in, what we're calling, "PC Gaming". I have come to this conclusion, for a couple of reasons.
First and foremost, this analysis broadly describes the current climate of manufacturer pre-built PC's, from the largest manufacturers and exporters of PC's, in the world. I argue, without data to back it up, though I feel we will agree, most computers sold worldwide aren't intended for gaming, often only boasting rudimentary graphics processing, for HD movies. Furthermore, the majority of these sales won't likely be retail sales, to individuals; the substantial volume going to businesses, government bodies, etc... in bulk (possibly with the exception of Apple, who're uniquely manufacturers of what I'd consider Veblen goods, but that's ultimately inconsequential). The combination of these, I believe, probable prepositions, indicate that data from such a broad review of pre-built computer sales, would reflect much more about, possibly, the current economic climate, the transitioning away from PC's for tablets and smartphones where possible, current technology trends and developments, such as mentioned in the article, Windows 8, and a myriad of factors that can't reasonably be deduced from the limited data set.
Gaming PC's are a small niche of total worldwide PC sales, that are ill represented by any analysis of global sales trends on PC's as a whole, especially when delivering a focused review of the shipments of the largest PC manufacturers. A niche that, I'm sure you are aware, isn't primarily filled by the likes of HP or Toshiba. Most Gaming PC's are creations of a number of avenues, that would be missed in this data set; custom computer builders, such as DinoPC, are a common means of purchasing a gaming PC; as you're aware, building your own PC, a very often explored avenue by most gamers who prefer PC as their primary platform, due to it's cost effectiveness, and more recent relative ease; adding to a pre-built PC you already own, to make it a capable gaming platform, easier now due to a conserved nature interfaces across the component world today (PCI-E, for example).
The purchasing of components, and the capacity for older PC's to become gaming systems, again suggests particularly that, new PC shipment figures, in response to sales figures, would poorly represent these people.Given that there is no central body distributing and tracking "PC sales" around the world, in the way Sony is capable of doing with PS4, there may not be any easy way to gauge trends in people's acquisition of new PCs, or in upgrading the ones they have. Today we have only estimates on the number of computers in the world, and can only speculate how many are sold privately, built and simply retained, or recycled. Indeed, because there is no "Computer Company", and the ubiquity of computers and their critical nature in present society is undoubted, I suggest, any data that discusses PC sales as a whole, reflects better the current private economic environment, than whether PC's are "in danger of being obsoleted". (Which I personally believe they are, but in so much as technology as we know it, will be. Besides the point.) They're protected from this, in a way consoles are not.
If someone were to set out to get an idea of how well computer game sales, as opposed to gaming computer sales, were doing in relation to the wider gaming industry, it would, I believe, result in more representative figures of the "health" of this branch of the industry, if data were drawn from software distributors, such as digital distribution services and online retailers. Since, while previously I suggested most of the PC's shipped, from the data in that Press Release, weren't intended for gaming primarily, a significant percent will be used for some gaming. Be it Flash games or a vast Steam library.
It's getting late here, so I'll conclude by saying, whichever way the industry shifts it's weight, and influence, my only hope is that it is toward progress; which puts the pressure on us, the consumers, to spend out money thoughtfully, and invest in whichever direction is best driving both technology, and our personal interests.
OT: I'll likely get a PS4 sometime down the line. I'm anxious to get my hands on Destiny, before Sony get impatient and top it. Then all I'll have left is MGS and Ratchet and Clank!
Edit: 708 words in the main body!? Apologies, and thank you for taking the time, anyone who got this far!
