Microsoft neglects PC Gaming

[PeteRoy]

Microsoft and it's Xbox 360 is hurting Windows.

Recent news about Xbox 360 getting exclusive content such as Alan Wake release on Xbox 360 only when it was obvious it was being designed for the PC as you can see in this video of the developer demonstrating the game on the PC

Also there are news about Xbox 360 getting exclusive Ferrari pack for Need for Speed Shift on the Xbox 360 but not on the PC even though the game has a PC version.

There are many more examples like this and I want to point out the way I see it as a PC gamer.

In my opinion Microsoft is neglecting it's PC audience and forgets that huge part of it's success is thanks to the games that are running on the PC, look at games from companies like Blizzard which only have PC and Mac versions but no console versions and the huge sales they get.

If Microsoft wants it's Windows operating system to continue to be as successful in the future as it is today then it better start realizing that they are hurting the image of Windows as a gaming platform and it could hurt it as a home OS.


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Anandtech PC Gaming Moderator
KeithTalent

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Windows copies sold for pc gaming purposes are a drop in the ocean compared to everything else their OS gets bought for probably.

 

[VashHT]

Windows copies sold for pc gaming purposes are a drop in the ocean compared to everything else their OS gets bought for probably.

Even if they did make a good sum off of PC gamers they don't care. They know we can't move to linux or OSX to game on a PC and I'm sure they make far more money off of 360 gamers than they could hope to with PC gamers.

 

[MJinZ]

Microsoft and it's Xbox 360 is hurting Windows.

Recent news about Xbox 360 getting exclusive content such as Alan Wake release on Xbox 360 only when it was obvious it was being designed for the PC as you can see in this video of the developer demonstrating the game on the PC

Also there are news about Xbox 360 getting exclusive Ferrari pack for Need for Speed Shift on the Xbox 360 but not on the PC even though the game has a PC version.

There are many more examples like this and I want to point out the way I see it as a PC gamer.

In my opinion Microsoft is neglecting it's PC audience and forgets that huge part of it's success is thanks to the games that are running on the PC, look at games from companies like Blizzard which only have PC and Mac versions but no console versions and the huge sales they get.

If Microsoft wants it's Windows operating system to continue to be as successful in the future as it is today then it better start realizing that they are hurting the image of Windows as a gaming platform and it could hurt it as a home OS.

PC Gaming is dying. As much as I hate to admit it, my 5870s will be pushing Diablo 3 pixels that could be played on a GMA chip.

 

[Kabob]

PC Gaming is dying. As much as I hate to admit it, my 5870s will be pushing Diablo 3 pixels that could be played on a GMA chip.

I made the move to consoles a while ago and while currently there's alot of things I miss from PC gaming (KB/M, strategy/RPG games) there's also alot of stuff that makes it infinitely better for me as a non-wealthy consumer. Not having to upgrade my system to play new games, compatibility issues are non-existant, etc.

Then again I want to upgrade my PC for a few upcoming games so I guess there's still enough of a market for both.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

PC Gaming is dying. As much as I hate to admit it, my 5870s will be pushing Diablo 3 pixels that could be played on a GMA chip.

It'll never die. As long as there's money to be made someone will come in and fill the niche. With big companies more and more shoveling console crap onto PCs smaller companies will steal that revenue away with games more focused on the strengths of a PC.

 

[ussfletcher]

there's also alot of stuff that makes it infinitely better for me as a non-wealthy consumer. Not having to upgrade my system to play new games, compatibility issues are non-existant, etc.

Having to upgrade your PC is now becoming much more of a hobby than a necessity... Any mid-range from the last 3 years will still run any game at a playable level on the PC.

 

[ussfletcher]

... look at games from companies like Blizzard which only have PC and Mac versions but no console versions and the huge sales they get...

They do have console games, and even some console games that don't have a PC or Mac counterpart, such as Rock 'N Roll Racing, The Lost Vikings, And that one superhero fighting game.

There was also a Nintendo 64 Starcraft port. Blizzard is still in the game to make money, if it was feasible to have WoW on Xbox 360, you can rest assured it would be.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

They do have console games, and even some console games that don't have a PC or Mac counterpart, such as Rock 'N Roll Racing, The Lost Vikings, And that one superhero fighting game.

There was also a Nintendo 64 Starcraft port. Blizzard is still in the game to make money, if it was feasible to have WoW on Xbox 360, you can rest assured it would be.

They left seriously making console games many many years ago. Their latest attempt to revive their console game development side flopped horribly, and even for that attempt they felt the need to go to the third party to get it developed. The only console games they've released in any memorable time has been rereleases of NES/SNES era games.

 

[smackababy]

Microsoft is not neglecting PC gaming... You know who is? 90% of the world. PC gaming has always been expensive and was not for everyone. Still is...

The only thing PC gamers are bitching about is that here is a cheaper alternative to being a gamer. That is all.

PC gaming is as healthy as it has always been.

 

[Lotheron]

Microsoft is not neglecting PC gaming... You know who is? 90% of the world. PC gaming has always been expensive and was not for everyone. Still is...

The only thing PC gamers are bitching about is that here is a cheaper alternative to being a gamer. That is all.

PC gaming is as healthy as it has always been.

While is is true it becomes a viscous circle where all the new games either aren't for PC or have great limitations compared to how PC gaming was before, such as no Private servers, etc.

I hope PC gaming doesn't go on life support.

 

[Acanthus]

PC Gaming is dying. As much as I hate to admit it, my 5870s will be pushing Diablo 3 pixels that could be played on a GMA chip.

Eh, the consoles are aging and PCs are becoming the graphics powerhouses again.

We will always have the edge, but it is less pronounced when the consoles 1st launch a new gen.

We still have a gigantic pile of titles that either look better on PC or are PC exclusive. I'm very happy to see simultaneous coding efforts from the CryEngine team that are trying to rectify the issue of coding for the different platforms.

 

[mindcycle]

Eh, the consoles are aging and PCs are becoming the graphics powerhouses again.

We will always have the edge, but it is less pronounced when the consoles 1st launch a new gen.

We still have a gigantic pile of titles that either look better on PC or are PC exclusive. I'm very happy to see simultaneous coding efforts from the CryEngine team that are trying to rectify the issue of coding for the different platforms.

This ^. I do agree that for the time being the PC is being neglected by large publishers because they can make far more money on consoles. Porting to the PC will make money, but may not be cost effective to them for whatever BS reason. I'd guess that in another year or two, once developers realize they will only be able to achieve state of the art graphics, physics, etc, on the PC, they will come back. After all, consoles are already outclasses by the latest PC graphics chips and CPU's by several generations.

In the meantime I buy the decent (well optimized) PC ports and play them on my 5 year old machine.. I used to build a new PC every 2 years or so but the current trend means I can take a break from doing that. I also play the abundance of indie titles that are being released, which seems to have come about in the absence of any major competition on the platform and people like me, who aren't upgrading the machines much anymore.

If you only look at one side of it, the sate of PC gaming seems pretty dire. But on the flipside it isn't so bad. PC gaming isn't going anywhere and I do see it making a revival, closer to the state it was in the early 2000's, at some point in the near future.

 

[MJinZ]

It'll never die. As long as there's money to be made someone will come in and fill the niche. With big companies more and more shoveling console crap onto PCs smaller companies will steal that revenue away with games more focused on the strengths of a PC.

I'm talking about the death of good games.

We had Baldurs Gate years ago. Today we get crap like Dragon Age.

 

[MJinZ]

Eh, the consoles are aging and PCs are becoming the graphics powerhouses again.

We will always have the edge, but it is less pronounced when the consoles 1st launch a new gen.

We still have a gigantic pile of titles that either look better on PC or are PC exclusive. I'm very happy to see simultaneous coding efforts from the CryEngine team that are trying to rectify the issue of coding for the different platforms.

There's no Final Fantasy 13, so there's no edge here.

The shining light at the end of the tunnel is Blizzard, and that's been pretty much it.

Even excellent games like Modern Warfare last 5 hours and has its balls chopped off.

 

[smackababy]

Big developers will be usurped by the small, unheard of companies eventually. It always happens. Once the "good" companies stale enough, the smaller guys will step up then become, or get absorbed by, big companies and it will all start over. It is just a cycle that will eventually repeat itself.

And as far as the OP, Microsoft ignores PC gaming much less than a bunch of other companies who deal with computers, operating systems, and software.

 

[solofly]

PC Gaming is dying.

And once it's dead we'll all be running consoles so there...

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Consoles are computers. In the next gen they will probably trumpet their improved browsers, flash, etc. PC gaming isn't going away, it's just being out-sourced to consoles...lol

 

[BladeVenom]

"Neglecting?" I think the term should be screwing over.

They've shutdown all their Window gaming studios, or converted them to console only studios. They buy out PC studios and make them console only studios. They force or pay game companies into canceling or delaying a Windows version.

So neglect just isn't a strong enough term. They are royally screwing over Windows gamers. They've locked people into a Windows monopoly and now they can stab them in the back without repercussions.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

The PC still has many advantages over consoles other than just better graphics:

Online Multiplayer. PCs thump consoles for online multiplayer and unless you're playing a MMORPG, you don't have to pay a fee to play nor get permission from your console-maker. You also get better access to Voice Comm, IRC, Discussion Forums, and other peripheral items.

Fan-made Custom Content. You can't design custom content on consoles, and the console companies want to charge money to download or restrict it anyway. Some games end up being completely transformed as a result of free custom content.

 

[Zargon]

was probably going to be shit anyways, its SUPER LATE.

and probably wasnt porting well so they just made up BS and canned it

 

[BladeVenom]

The PC still has many advantages over consoles other than just better graphics:

Online Multiplayer.

As long as your not using Games for Windows Live. Just as bad is Modern Warfare 2 with no dedicated servers, which may be an unfortunate trend making PC multiplayer as lame as consoles.

 

[MJinZ]

It'll never die. As long as there's money to be made someone will come in and fill the niche. With big companies more and more shoveling console crap onto PCs smaller companies will steal that revenue away with games more focused on the strengths of a PC.

You can say that when a good PC game comes out. We get one every what, 5 years now?

 

[AdamK47]

When was the last time Microsoft published a PC game?

 

[schneiderguy]

And once it's dead we'll all be running consoles so there...

If PC gaming "dies" I will stop gaming forever :thumbsdown: