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[Layell]

The more I think about it the more amazed I am at how amazing PC gaming it right now. At a time when the tech upgrade for consoles was very underwhelming I decided no to X1 or PS4 and built a PC with the specs that made it feel like a true next gen. I've been on a high ever since. But some of the upcoming stuff just seems even better. A lot of this of course is thanks to Steam and everything happening there, a few things I can think of are:

-DX12 and the push it will give the struggling AMD
-Steam reaching newest high of consecutive users
-Steam controller making previously unplayable games possible on a controller setup
-Japanese games getting PC ports in higher numbers
-Overall growth of PC hardware sales
-Refunds on Steam burning shit ports, no major dev is going to try something crappy after how badly WB got hammered for Arkham Knight
-Prices often under the console standard, frequent sales


I've been playing PC games before of course (TF2, Minecraft, etc), but considering the point where people thought PC gaming was "dying" or "too expensive" things seem to be better than ever, am I wrong?

(please no PCMR crap of course)

 

[Durante]

No, we already entered the current PC gaming golden age around the end of 2013 and beginning of 2014

And the most important point of it for me is one you don't mention:
- A return to form for classic PC genres such as (above all) CRPGs, but also P&C adventures, space sims, building games, 4x, etc.

 

[low-G]

Nowhere near Golden Age. If you had lived through 90's PC gaming, where there were TONS of unique amazing games filling HALF of games retail stores in the U.S., and practically every PC game was doing stuff no console game could do. That was a golden age.

Companies like Origin, id, Epic Megagames, Maxis, LucasArts, etc at their absolute PEAK.

 

[Knurek]

No, we already entered the current PC gaming golden age around the end of 2013 and beginning of 2014

I thought we entered the PC gaming golden age around 1995-6 (with small, insignificant decline at around the time lastgen consoles launched).

I mean, as soon as you didn't have to manually set up IRQ/DMI during game installation or play with LH MOUSE and HIMEM.SYS to boot the game.

 

[Cloud21]

There is no 3dfx, so no...

 

[dgrdsv]

PC gaming was never dying and the age we are in currently began almost a decade ago with the rise of indie developers on all platforms. Not much has changed on PC since then.

 

[vio]

Not with the current GPU prices.

 

[Guerrillas in the Mist]

Nowhere near Golden Age. If you had lived through 90's PC gaming, where there were TONS of unique amazing games filling HALF of games retail stores in the U.S., and practically every PC game was doing stuff no console game could do. That was a golden age.

Companies like Origin, id, Epic Megagames, Maxis, LucasArts, etc at their absolute PEAK.

I'd argue we're entering a different kind of Golden Age. While it doesn't get the kind of mainstream marketshare it used to, PC is getting games and support from quarters it would never dreamed of getting them from in the 90s.

Add to that other things like the CRPG Renaissance, not to mention the current generation of consoles trying to emulate aspects of PC gaming (DLC = Expansion Packs, digital distribution, integration of applications like Twitch).

 

[Caronte]

I haven't been so satisfied with PC gaming since the late 90's, so yes.

 

[AlanOC91]

I think so.
I remember a few years ago browsing the steam store wishing it had simple games like Final Fantasy VII and VIII.

We ended up getting games like that and much much more. I've been thrilled with the way things have been going over the last 3 years.

 

[Durante]

Nowhere near Golden Age. If you had lived through 90's PC gaming

I did. Both the quality and quantity of games in pretty much every single genre (except RTS) is greatly improved now, and so is the comfort in playing them. And all that while the price of entry decreased sharply.

 

[0.1.1.2.3.5.8.13.21.34.55]

No, we already entered the current PC gaming golden age around the end of 2013 and beginning of 2014

And the most important point of it for me is one you don't mention:
- A return to form for classic PC genres such as (above all) CRPGs, but also P&C adventures, space sims, building games, 4x, etc.

...I'm waiting for the return of RTS before declaring victory, though, space sims certainly are a step in the right direction.

 

[Anno]

Works for me, though I think it's something that came about a couple years back and continues to grow. Couldn't be much more satisfied than I have been the last few years.

 

[RandomSeed]

My PS4 has a nice layer of dust going on, yes.

 

[Jackben]

"No guys you're all wrong, the golden age is actually: [insert contrary opinion]"

...I'm waiting for the return of RTS before declaring victory, though, space sims certainly are a step in the right direction.

XCOM 2 (Technically not real time but just as good IMO). Also where have you been for Starcraft 2

 

[shintoki]

Nowhere near Golden Age. If you had lived through 90's PC gaming, where there were TONS of unique amazing games filling HALF of games retail stores in the U.S., and practically every PC game was doing stuff no console game could do. That was a golden age.

Companies like Origin, id, Epic Megagames, Maxis, LucasArts, etc at their absolute PEAK.

We are in a better age now, but you can't see it. PC gaming has shed the fat of being limited by retail. PC gaming has far more games now, greater diversity, better pricing, hardware is better and easier to build a PC, easier access to content, and almost every major publisher now working with PC(Including Japanese).

Don't let nostalgia cloud your judgement.

Editing in, Getting games to work on a PC has never been easier too. Same with Patching and updating a title. Same with connecting online to other plays.

 

[Nzyme32]

Nowhere near Golden Age. If you had lived through 90's PC gaming, where there were TONS of unique amazing games filling HALF of games retail stores in the U.S., and practically every PC game was doing stuff no console game could do. That was a golden age.

Companies like Origin, id, Epic Megagames, Maxis, LucasArts, etc at their absolute PEAK.

This is wrong. I'm sure someone could actually get stats together but having lived through that, I'd say there are more games and at better quality now more than ever. Of course there have been a lot of changes and losses / gains of great developers / studios / publishers

 

[chronic_archaic]

It never died, it just became less niche over the last few years.

 

[Hrothgar]

XCOM 2

is not an RTS.

 

[Corpekata]

Not until I can download a comfy couch through Steam.

 

[The Llama]

I think we've been in one since about 2010, due to the huge growth of Steam and the last console gen being way too long. The inevitable VR wars may end the golden age though.

 

[Durante]

XCOM 2

That's a TBS, which are generally in a really good spot right now.

I agree with the other poster on RTS, the only genre I can think of off the top of my head that was really in better shape in the 90s than now.

 

[Nzyme32]

"No guys you're all wrong, the golden age is actually: [insert contrary opinion]"
XCOM 2

That's not an RTS - that is a turn based strategy game

 

[Jackben]

is not an RTS.

check the edit, It's not real time

Edit: Jesus Christ, post something that is slightly incorrect and you people rush to correct it

Talk about attack of the nerds

 

[0.1.1.2.3.5.8.13.21.34.55]

XCOM 2

Nah, I'm talking RTS with epic scale like Total Annihilation / Supreme Commander... They got their balls snipped by consoles, as evident by Supreme Commander II.

 

[Kezen]

I don't think PC gaming has ever been better than it is now. But I didn't game on PC until 2004.

DX12 will also allow entry level gaming systems to be much more competitive with consoles, good stuff to come for sure.

 

[Nzyme32]

Not until I can download a comfy couch through Steam.

If it is true what Gabe was saying about doing a hardware workshop, eventually they might be able to do that

 

[Durante]

I don't think PC gaming has ever been better than it is now. But I didn't game on PC until 2004.

DX12 will also allow entry level gaming systems to be much more competitive with consoles, good stuff to come for sure.

You poor soul, what a time to start. 2004-2010 was the dark ages really.

I mean, PC gaming was still good, but nowhere near what it was before that or is now.

 

[Jackben]

Nah, I'm talking RTS with epic scale like Total Annihilation / Supreme Commander... They got their balls snipped by consoles, as evident by Supreme Commander II.

I hear you. Age of empires and command and conquer and Warcraft were too amazing

 

[Nzyme32]

Nah, I'm talking RTS with epic scale like Total Annihilation / Supreme Commander... They got their balls snipped by consoles, as evident by Supreme Commander II.

Sup Com 1 is still pretty amazing but it doesn't quite capture the glory of TA. Planetary Annihilation was the shot at bring the TA quality RTS back and it failed, although I have no idea about the new edition, Titans. Mobas have replaced traditional RTS for a whole bunch of reasons.

 

[Mifec]

"No guys you're all wrong, the golden age is actually: [insert contrary opinion]"
XCOM 2 (Technically not real time but just as good IMO). Also where have you been for Starcraft 2

SC2 failed pretty hard due to Blizzard not caring about it. Failed in the long run is what I mean, it's pretty dead.

 

[SneakyStephan]

I did. Both the quality and quantity of games in pretty much every single genre (except RTS) is greatly improved now, and so is the comfort in playing them. And all that while the price of entry decreased sharply.

Agreed on everything except touting the price...
yeah in the 90s it was more expensive but as early as 2002 pc gaming cost about as much as it does today.
Then it got WAY cheaper in 2008-2009 and now it got a lot more expensive again.

Wouldn't recommend anyone buy anything less than an i5 (nor anything above lol because price/performance goes down the drain ) for gaming if they can afford it so that's 200-250 euros right there...

Gpus... entry level ones are about 130 dollars and have kinda poor performance/dollar, the performance/dollar 'sweet spot' is now much higher than it used to be at 350 ish euros.

My i5 4690k and gtx 970 is distinctly midrange yet the upgrade cost me 850 euros in total (mobo+ram+cooler+gpu).

In 2009 (my last performance/dollar and very midrange build) I only spent 400 euros on these parts.

Lack of competition in the cpu market and the willingness of consumers to pay more and more and more for gpus every year has put prices back at 2002 levels.
If amd ends up going under things 'll get a lot worse too. Soon we might be back at 90s prices for pc gaming.

 

[neoemonk]

I am really looking forward to the Steam Link/Controller in a few months. I have a PS4 but it's pretty much a Destiny/Bloodborne machine at this point, which is fine for me because I've put a lot of time into those games, and I'm sure there will be a few more titles that come out in the console's lifespan. Other than that I get everything on PC, and being able to go comfy couch/big screen with that collection is the icing on the cake.

 

[epmode]

Nowhere near Golden Age. If you had lived through 90's PC gaming, where there were TONS of unique amazing games filling HALF of games retail stores in the U.S., and practically every PC game was doing stuff no console game could do. That was a golden age.

I was around back then and I still think the last two years or so have been incredible. Right up there with the best years.

 

[Fractal]

I can't tell you since I haven't been around in the 90's, a time with a huge importance in PC gaming... but I can say this is a great time to be a gamer, and even a better time to be a PC gamer.

 

[Boombox On]

The term "golden age" refers to the meeting point between high quality content and a high quantity of that quality content.

Right now isn't just the golden age for PC gaming, it's the golden age for gaming as a whole. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if this era started to end soon.

 

[rhayader]

...I'm waiting for the return of RTS before declaring victory, though, space sims certainly are a step in the right direction.

Speaking of which, have you seen Act of Agression ?

And about the Golden Age, definitely, except we've been there for a good couple years now. PC is getting an incredible amount of content, including a throng of interesting indies, modern CRPGs and even games from genres we were traditionally excluded from such as fighters, japanese games or controler-friendly action games.

I lived the 1990's as well, and while the CRPG, RPG and strategy genres were king and the reason I gamed on PC, a whole lot of titles were only available on consoles at the time. Playstation and Nintendo had their place and purpose... not so true today.

 

[JordanN]

Nowhere near Golden Age. If you had lived through 90's PC gaming, where there were TONS of unique amazing games filling HALF of games retail stores in the U.S., and practically every PC game was doing stuff no console game could do. That was a golden age.

Companies like Origin, id, Epic Megagames, Maxis, LucasArts, etc at their absolute PEAK.

This.

It doesn't matter to me if PC has gotten more games if the games in question are still available on console or are now Indie.

As you said, PC games in the past were literally built for the hardware and it showed.

 

[Hektor]

check the edit, It's not real time

Edit: Jesus Christ, post something that is slightly incorrect and you people rush to correct it

Talk about attack of the nerds

"Slightly incorrect" lmfao.

 

[Vic20]

Absolutely! Because:

1.) The number of Steam members keeps rising
2.) The diversity of game titles coming to the platform is simply mind boggling
3.) Games can usually be found for 25-50% less than their console versions
4.) UHD on a single GPU will be possible next year
6.) Aside from GPUs, PC parts can be had for cheap
7.) Kickstarter games and the like almost always make PC their first platform
8.) You can still buy a crazy range of hardware and form factors
9.) the same goes for peripherals
10.) that "free" online play along with free mods

 

[Kudo]

I think gaming as whole has been on good stride for a while now.
Exclusives are better than ever on each platform, and lots of dream come true games announced.
It's very good times to be a gamer, after having Bloodborne blow my mind out I have high hopes for this gen, first generation for me that started with new goat.

 

[Teppic]

PC gaming has never been as good as it is right now.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Yea we definitely are. I barely ever use my ps4.

PC gaming has never been as good as it is right now.

Well that's debatable. 90s were pretty great. Original starcraft, diablo 2, doom, quake, half life, etc.

Playing Doom for the first time was an experience. Kind of like the first time I tried SM64.

 

[0.1.1.2.3.5.8.13.21.34.55]

Sup Com 1 is still pretty amazing but it doesn't quite capture the glory of TA.

Yeah, its. Ice to finally be able to play those 64x64 maps, though honestly, I haven't had Sup Com installed for 2 or 2 years.

Speaking of which, have you seen Act of Agression ?

I had not, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Koutsoubas]

For people with money. We have to be clear about that. As long as you need a new 300 euros GPU every 2 years to play medium-high settings(console settings in other words), then it's a no-go for millions of people.

 

[Usobuko]

Yes and the Eastern world don't simply consist of Japan.

 

[alexandros]

yeah in the 90s it was more expensive but as early as 2002 pc gaming cost about as much as it does today.
Then it got WAY cheaper in 2008-2009 and now it got a lot more expensive again.

You are partly right because system requirements for multiplatform games were bumped up when the new consoles were released. However, for a significant part of the core PC gamer market the only thing needed for a better-than-console experience is a GPU upgrade, while for some even that is unnecessary. I agree that the price for the 1080p+/60fps/max settings experience has gone up a bit, due of course to the new consoles bumping up specs, but I would argue that everything else has gotten cheaper. Even if you're now getting into PC gaming for the first time, stuff like the Alienware Alpha offer a surprisingly capable experience while building a better-than-console PC gaming rig really is quite cheap.

 

[low-G]

I'm not talking JUST retail, I'm talking about the _games_.

Wing Commander (which INNOVATED) vs Star Citizen
Doom 1 vs the new upcoming Doom (?)
Sim City 2000 vs Cities Skylines (which while great, apes SC2000)
Lemmings vs ????
Warcraft vs ????
Quake Team Fortress vs Team Fortress 2 as it is now
Tie Fighter vs ????
Dark Forces vs Star Wars Battlefront 3 (?)

There are definitely a bunch of things that are better today, but I can't look past the innovation of those groundbreaking games, but I think the same is true for console games.

Some of those old games have not yet been matched in gameplay. At least racing and fighting games are better than ever before...

Not to mention that EVERY PC game looked worlds better than EVERY console game (not that it NEEDS to be better to be good, but I think incredible actual superiority has to count towards a golden age)

 

[pa22word]

I'd say we're more on the peak of a new silver age like thing that's on the verge of blossoming into a golden age if the growth we've seen in the last 5 years keeps pace.

I just wish amd would get competitive enough to put another fire under the ass of intel so we could start seeing real cpu gains again...

Absolutely! Because:

1.) The number of Steam members keeps rising
2.) The diversity of game titles coming to the platform is simply mind boggling
3.) Games can usually be found for 25-50% less than their console versions
4.) UHD on a single GPU will be possible next year
6.) Aside from GPUs, PC parts can be had for cheap
7.) Kickstarter games and the like almost always make PC their first platform
8.) You can still buy a crazy range of hardware and form factors
9.) the same goes for peripherals
10.) that "free" online play along with free mods

Is there a game today that isnt playable at 4k on a 980 or 980ti, though?

 

[Hektor]

For people with money. We have to be clear about that. As long as you need a new 300 euros GPU every 2 years to play medium-high settings(console settings in other words), then it's a no-go for millions of people.

Why do PC-Gaming thread always attract such people?