• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

PC Games Face Their Own 'Doom'

Enigma said:
Well I built my current PC for well under 1000, 18 months ago, and it probably has another good 18 months left in it. (It's not till the next generation console ports come that'll be out of it's league. And I know Xenon is coming sooner than that, but a couple console ports are not gonna spur me to action. The couple games that won't run well: Elder Scrolls 4, etc, can wait an extra 6 months (And drop to the bargain bin in the mean time). A lot of people use really anitquated arguements when they're trashing PCs. I've not been a huge PC supporter, but the PC was the best platform this generation. And as for reliability, don't use crap parts and today's PC is probably more reliable than this generations consoles.
Click to expand...
You're missing the point. I can build a good, cheap gaming pc that kicks 3dmarks' ass too, woohoo! The point is this: ease of use vs ultimate experience. I simply can't agree that the PC was the best platform in this generation in the slightest. I've seen more PC guys go multi-platform (ie, buy multiple consoles) in this generation than any other point in the last decade.

It's not about PC bashing. Why can't PC purists understand that?
 
Che, what you say is true as far as the general unpopularity of PC gaming compared to consoles, but I don't think it has anything to do with the current decline of PC gaming.

The only thing that has changed in the last few years is 1) PC developers either porting, or developing their games exclusively for consoles, and 2) console gamers are finally warming up to those PC-style games. PC games are alive and well, just not on the PC.
 
I don't know how someone can even suggest the PC is the best platform this generation. It has been getting big name titles less often than the gamecube plus a horribly lack of variety. The glory days of pc gaming are far behind it now, and I'm not sure what caused this. Maybe a mass exodus of developers going to console development, or the increasing selective tastes of pc gamers (only wanting multiplayer FPS and RTS).
 
While I love the graphics my shiny new video card can pump out (and it's a "lowly" 9600XT), for me, PC gaming is not that big... I upgraded so I could play two games: Pirates! and The Movies (and so I could have a TV tuner and capture video and stuff). I haven't bought either game yet, and in the meantime, I'm revisiting my older games.

But outside those two games, and a couple of slooow, old-fashioned strategy games (that don't need the big 3D card), there's not a whole lot on the PC that excites me... especially when I've got consoles in the other room hooked up to my TV. The fight over the bleeding edge is the battle that seems to dictate the computer games industry, but I think its real advantage isn't in $450 graphic cards and the lovely pictures they produce, it's in the depth of detail the PC can offer through a non-controller interface, and through its "unlimited" storage and superior patchability and so on.

Until PC gamers aren't driven to upgrade every year, I think the market will continue to decline.
 
I dunno if you could even say that. The only PC game segment really making the splash on consoles is the FPS and Adventure games like Morrowind. The other step children RTS, online rpg, simulator games, mmorpgs really arent making a dent in the console market. Just like fighting games, and sports games really arent high volume on pc.
 
Yusaku said:
Che, what you say is true as far as the general unpopularity of PC gaming compared to consoles, but I don't think it has anything to do with the current decline of PC gaming.

The only thing that has changed in the last few years is 1) PC developers either porting, or developing their games exclusively for consoles, and 2) console gamers are finally warming up to those PC-style games. PC games are alive and well, just not on the PC.
Click to expand...

Well Yus, sadly, developers have to go where the grass is green so point number 1 is not surprising. As for point number 2... doesn't say much for the platform when its best games sell better on consoles, does it? :)
 
chespace said:
Here's why consoles are more popular: Nobody wants to build a PC to take advantage of cheap prices.
Click to expand...


That must be why all the Fry's and PC Club's out there are always empty when I go in them. [/sarcasm]
 
Consoles are closing the gap, but PCs are still offering more flexibility and genres that are more difficult to pull off on a console. The day RTS and MMORPGs have all the bells and whistles on consoles that they do on PC, people will still play them on PC. But with MS totally opposed to the mere option of keyboard chat and a mouse on Live and Sony abandoning the HDD concept after years of hype, I doubt that day is soon to come.

FFXI proved MMOs could be done exceptionally well on consoles, but PS2 players are still the large minority of that userbase and Sony's made it known they don't really care to support those users in the future provided the PS2 hardware fails. The latter tells me I should have been on PC from the start.

So even when consoles can do it, it just gets fucked over some other way. To that end, PCs will remain the the only way we can truely enjoy these genres, well, unless consoles will incorporte keyboard, mouse, touchscreen and VGA support out of the box.
 
Trakball said:
That must be why all the Fry's and PC Club's out there are always empty when I go in them. [/sarcasm]
Click to expand...

Yeah, and you must think the GAF is some reflection of mainstream reality too. Here, I have a Legendary Wings petition for you to sign.
 
For the sake of being concise...
There seems to be a (very general) consensus that PC game sales have declined due to;
Ease of Use factor
Diversification of platforms (several strong platforms all competing with each other for marketshare)
Developer migration to consoles
Cost

Console > PC or vice versa, is not the point. It's trying to understand why the marketshare has changed. Yeah, I left out the computer piracy angle, 'cause that's one loaded gun I don't feel like dealing with.
 
chespace said:
Yeah, and you must think the GAF is some reflection of mainstream reality too. Here, I have a Legendary Wings petition for you to sign.
Click to expand...



I'm not talking about GAF though, sir, I'm talking about what I see every time I walk into a Fry's or any type of PC-part place. You're the one that said "nobody wants to build a PC", right?
 
Tre said:
Until a console gets a game the caliber of Grim Fandango or BG2 or Planescape: Torment, this entire thread is moot. PC > Console.
Click to expand...

you know this whole thread is going to turn into GameFAQs thanks to you.
 
Tre said:
Until a console gets a game the caliber of Grim Fandango or BG2 or Planescape: Torment, this entire thread is moot. PC > Console.
Click to expand...

Come on Psychonauts and Jade Empire! IF YOU CAN'T MELT TRE'S FROZEN BITTER PC HEART NO ONE CAN!
 
Trakball said:
I'm not talking about GAF though, sir, I'm talking about what I see every time I walk into a Fry's or any type of PC-part place. You're the one that said "nobody wants to build a PC", right?
Click to expand...

Which is my point about GAF... just because you see 10 guys lined up at Fry's shopping for computer parts doesn't mean it's not a super niche hobby, which, upgrading your PC piecemeal certainly is. When I said "nobody," I guess I should have known someone would take that statement literally. Oh well, my bad.
 
Tre said:
Until a console gets a game the caliber of Grim Fandango or BG2 or Planescape: Torment, this entire thread is moot. PC > Console.
Click to expand...


So, I guess consoles need more poor selling niche titles (with the exception of BG2)?
 
"I purchased a $3000.00 gaming pc back in 2002 (when the 9700Pro first launched)"

That's terrible even by prebuilt standards. What did you do, buy Alienware? :lol
 
chespace said:
When I said "nobody," I guess I should have known someone would take that statement literally. Oh well, my bad.
Click to expand...


I keep forgetting that game reviewers are prone to hyperbole. My bad as well.
 
Trakball said:
I keep forgetting that game reviewers are prone to hyperbole. My bad as well.
Click to expand...

That's alright. Seems I forget that forumites can be real assholes so I guess we're both a little forgetful.
 
teh_pwn said:
"I purchased a $3000.00 gaming pc back in 2002 (when the 9700Pro first launched)"

That's terrible even by prebuilt standards. What did you do, buy Alienware? :lol
Click to expand...


A Voodoo PC, actually. :) You should see the fucking wiring job in this thing. It's a great PC, and it's still serving me quite well (now that I've thrown a 6800 Ultra in it).
 
chespace said:
That's alright. Seems I forget that forumites can be real assholes so I guess we're both a little forgetful.
Click to expand...



Jesus. I disagree with you, and I'm labeled an "asshole"? Get some persepective, dude.
 
Trakball said:
I keep forgetting that game reviewers are prone to hyperbole. My bad as well.
Click to expand...

^^ Guess you're also forgetful of what comes out of your virtual mouth, dude.
 
seismologist said:
I was just thinking about this while looking at the rows of returned 6800 graphics cards at Fry's. PC gaming is doomed.
Click to expand...


I've heard many horror stories about buying PC hardware at Fry's. All I can say is, I bought a V-Tech phone from them that broke, in the same exact fashion, three goddamn times. Once the manufacturer even sent me one, though, so it's not all Fry's fault (or likely, theirs at all, but I digress; I'm lit)
 
Trakball said:
If I mistook a holier-than-thou attitude from that statement, putting me on the defensive, then I apologize.
Click to expand...

Nah, sorry on my part as well. Wasn't on a high horse, just said it straight like "oh well, next time I'll be more specific." Because it really was my bad. :)
 
chespace said:
Nah, sorry on my part as well. Wasn't on a high horse, just said it straight like "oh well, next time I'll be more specific." Because it really was my bad. :)
Click to expand...

And I was more of a dick than I needed to be. *tips hat*
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Hypothetical: Nintendo releases games on PC, but exclusive to own launcher with DRM and no modding. Would you still buy their games?
2
86
2K
tusharngf replied
  • Locked
Jez Corden: Playstation Pulling Back From Releasing Their Tentpole Single Player Games on PC
5 6 7 8 9
405
2K
SNG32 replied
  • Poll
PC Gamer: Top 100 PC Games of 2025
2
54
5K
johnysands replied
Video Game Esoterica: Doom 3 Phobos is Out! The Best Doom Game in Forever
Opinion Analysis Trailer 
1
234
Judge Magister replied
  • Poll
Doom 2016 vs Doom Eternal vs Doom: The Dark Ages
2 3 4 5
202
5K
Alex11 replied
Top Bottom