"The Death of PC Gaming"

[the Chase]

Link to overclockers.com story- http://www.overclockers.com/articles1375/

This is exactly whats been going through my mind as I try to come up with a clear upgrade path with dual cores,2-4 gigs of memory for Vista, Vista itself, G80/R600, all vying for my dollars and all seeming to be almost mandatory upgrades for future games.(With a fair amount of eye candy).

I'm really looking at not upgrading at all and just not buying any games that won't run on 1 gig, DX 9, and Windows XP. And quiting gaming I guess when most or all games have Vista as mandatory.(Unless the prices on the OS and all this hardware become incredibly cheap.....

Anyone else feel this way? Any ideas on how to keep gaming without spending over $1000 on new OS and hardware?

Edit- combine this with bf 2142 having spyware and advertisments in it and I think I'll take up fishing or actually go outside once and awhile.

 

[Lonyo]

Games will still run on DX9.
Hell, we''ve only started getting games which require DX8 or above.
DX9 will be around for a long time, don't be so stupid.

PC gaming dies probably at least once a year. In 1~2 years when Vista has been out a decent amount of time, we are on 2nd or 3rd gen of DX10 cards, Quad core is affordable and RAM may have gone down in price, so all the hardware and software is affordable at a $1000 price point we might see games that have a LOT of extras done by DX10. But for now anyone worrying is, IMO, an idiot.

 

[Genx87]

Sounds like an overreation. This is probably the type of person who plays a MMORPG for 4 hours a week and whines he cant compete with people who play 20.

OpenGL is slow to move. Their functionality doesnt progress as fast as DX. Thus they got left behind in the gaming world. Nobody is forcing DX10 down your throat now. I will be surprised if DX 10 is adopted faster than DX9 which took about 3 years. I expect it to much slow adption rate due to the numbers of WinXP machines out there.

And you dont need a DX10 card to run Vista. Does this guy throw his arms up in the air and whine when a new game comes out that requires a new version of DX?

Upgrading has been a part of PC gaming since its inception. It is the way of teh beast.

 

[tuteja1986]

That dude is an idiot :! He plays WoW and he will be happy to know WOW works great on Vista

 

[jiffylube1024]

The "2 installations per copy of Vista" thing, which I read about earlier is ridiculous. I'm convinced that they will change their mind and go with telephone activation after that just like XP. Otherwise they can kiss having enthusiast support goodbye.

It's almost like they want piracy. They're tempting the fates by tightening the leash so much. If it wasn't for DX10, gamers/enthusiasts really have no major reason to go to Vista for a long while. Especially since gaming performance is bad right now.

-------

Regarding "death of PC gaming" - the thing is, 2 years from now, when GPU's are way more powerful than what's inside PS3/Xbox360, developers will inevitably drawn to develop for PC. The usual suspects of Valve, id, etc. PC gaming was on relative life support a few years ago before the rush of MMORPG's and Doom3/HL2/Far Cry came out. There will be a similar "renaissance" when the next wave of games come out.

Unreal Engine 2007 license games anyone?

 

[tuteja1986]

dude this was the same thing with xp you could only change it 2 times but if you weren't stupid to say "Hi , i bought a new computer and i am installing windows xp on it and it says my cd key isn't valid" MS rep "Sir , is this your 3rd time your transferring your Microsoft OS" ... you could just say "hi , installing windows xp and it says my cd key isn't valid" MS rep : "Give your CD key , i will see if its orginal one and if it is , i will give you the activation code".

Now if you do an upgrade or you change your dead motherboard you can reinstall your vista copy and activate it unlimited time.

 

[BobDaMenkey]

I agree with him to a point. That's just to stay on the bleeing edge, which looks like it will be of no bennift for quite some time. Heck, I'm still gaming on 'antiquated' hardware (s754 3400+/6800GT or my 1.73ghz P-M/6800 Go) and I'm quite happy with it. There's no need to rush out and buy all the new shinies every time one comes out. Especially not until there are several GOOD games that take advantage of them all.

I agree about the Vista activation being crazy though. That'll keep me from wanting to get one. I'll probably just buy a Dell that'll suit my gaming needs if that ends up being the case, so it'll be less of a hastle than wanting and trying to keep the PC up to date on my own.

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

i play WoW, CS:S, WC3...and i dont have to upgrade cuz my old turion@dfi250gb&gf4 440mx and 1gig of Ram is still doin fine, silent and cool. another reason i dont upgrade is my empty wallet...so if i had the money i certainly would upgrade but then again i wouldnt have to complain about the costs of upgrading, so what was the question? lol If u got the money: upgrade, if not come again later. Pc parts have never been cheap.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Not this crap again.

Every time a new wave of consoles comes out, it's supposed to herald the "End of PC Gaming" - and every time, it's horseshit.

Please, don't give these morons any more press.

- M4H

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

"The death of PC gaming" is one of the most nonsensical thing I've ever heard of. PC gaming will always exist as long as PCs (or whatever computers evolve into) exist. It's the consoles that will die because consoles will eventually become PCs (e.g.: Sony is already trying to push the PS3 as a PC; Nintendo isn't far from doing that either)

 

[NoStateofMind]

Besides, PC gaming is better hands down.

 

[RajunCajun]

I think the big problem will be when, like some companies are doing now, they stop making PC games. I don't think all games will be like this, but many will! Call of Duty 3 will only be available for consoles - PC version won't be seen (unless something changes). Face it, game developers can make A WHOLE LOT MORE $$$ of console games than PC games, and it is a business afterall and bottom line still means a bunch. Lets hope some developers keep making PC games.

I believe the DX9/DX10/Vista thing will not come to pass. Microsoft may want to push us to Vista, but other companies will see the LARGE database of users still using XP. It wasn't till fairly recently unusual to find most games still supported Win98/SE.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Everyone seems to forget even the most powerful console available today isnt any better than a conroe 6300 with a x1950xtx

 

[the Chase]

Oh boy- where to start. Yes PC gaming is (for me) better than console gaming. I LOVE PC gaming. This is not about consoles. I will never buy one. This is about the hardware requirements of PC games - especially under the Vista OS - increasing exponentially in the last year and into the next 2 or more years.

And yes Windows XP will be around for a couple of years yet with games still coming out to run on it. But where is SP3 for Windows XP?? Nowhere in sight. But Vista will be here. I suppose MS will get around to supporting XP after Vista has all the bugs out of it.

You will soon be hearing about the better game performance with 4 GIGS of memory under Vista. That's right. 4 Gigs will soon be the new "standard". Checked out ram prices lately? They will go back down, but still.

Games (Alan Wake) that won't run on less than a dual core CPU.(And still run crappy unless you have a Quad core).

Then you have Vista to repurchase after you buy your SLI mobo and 2 G80's and then later a new mobo to go Quad core. Or I could buy pole, line, license and bait for $150.

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: the Chase
Oh boy- where to start. Yes PC gaming is (for me) better than console gaming. I LOVE PC gaming. This is not about consoles. I will never buy one. This is about the hardware requirements of PC games - especially under the Vista OS - increasing exponentially in the last year and into the next 2 or more years.

And yes Windows XP will be around for a couple of years yet with games still coming out to run on it. But where is SP3 for Windows XP?? Nowhere in sight. But Vista will be here. I suppose MS will get around to supporting XP after Vista has all the bugs out of it.

You will soon be hearing about the better game performance with 4 GIGS of memory under Vista. That's right. 4 Gigs will soon be the new "standard". Checked out ram prices lately? They will go back down, but still.

Games (Alan Wake) that won't run on less than a dual core CPU.(And still run crappy unless you have a Quad core).

Then you have Vista to repurchase after you buy your SLI mobo and 2 G80's and then later a new mobo to go Quad core. Or I could buy pole, line, license and bait for $150.

You are completely overblowing the situation. Even Alan Wake will run on a HT-enabled P4.

2GB of RAM is just now becoming a reasonable amount for a high-end gamer to have and 4GB won't hit that spot until prices come down and 64 bit penetration increases. There isn't much point in running 4GB on a gaming system if none of your games can use more than 2GB.

Vista and Dx10 are a non-issue at the moment. PC gaming isn't dead because you might have to run Crysis in Dx9 mode for a year or so and lose the 2 or 3 slightly prettier graphical features.

The Vista licensing thing really isn't as big a deal as you are claiming. XP has a similarly restrictive EULA and you were still able to reactivate it with at worst case a telephone call. It would be nice if they loosened it up for the Ultimate edition to make it more attractive for us enthusiasts, though.

 

[zephyrprime]

If only there were a cheap wireless way to connect the computer to a large screen tv. Then pc gaming would be more popular.

 

[TheRyuu]

Half of his info might be false.

It's all speculation.

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Not this crap again.

Every time a new wave of consoles comes out, it's supposed to herald the "End of PC Gaming" - and every time, it's horseshit.

Please, don't give these morons any more press.

:thumbsup:

 

[the Chase]

Originally posted by: aka1nas

Originally posted by: the Chase
Oh boy- where to start. Yes PC gaming is (for me) better than console gaming. I LOVE PC gaming. This is not about consoles. I will never buy one. This is about the hardware requirements of PC games - especially under the Vista OS - increasing exponentially in the last year and into the next 2 or more years.

And yes Windows XP will be around for a couple of years yet with games still coming out to run on it. But where is SP3 for Windows XP?? Nowhere in sight. But Vista will be here. I suppose MS will get around to supporting XP after Vista has all the bugs out of it.

You will soon be hearing about the better game performance with 4 GIGS of memory under Vista. That's right. 4 Gigs will soon be the new "standard". Checked out ram prices lately? They will go back down, but still.

Games (Alan Wake) that won't run on less than a dual core CPU.(And still run crappy unless you have a Quad core).

Then you have Vista to repurchase after you buy your SLI mobo and 2 G80's and then later a new mobo to go Quad core. Or I could buy pole, line, license and bait for $150.

You are completely overblowing the situation. Even Alan Wake will run on a HT-enabled P4.

2GB of RAM is just now becoming a reasonable amount for a high-end gamer to have and 4GB won't hit that spot until prices come down and 64 bit penetration increases. There isn't much point in running 4GB on a gaming system if none of your games can use more than 2GB.

Vista and Dx10 are a non-issue at the moment. PC gaming isn't dead because you might have to run Crysis in Dx9 mode for a year or so and lose the 2 or 3 slightly prettier graphical features.

The Vista licensing thing really isn't as big a deal as you are claiming. XP has a similarly restrictive EULA and you were still able to reactivate it with at worst case a telephone call. It would be nice if they loosened it up for the Ultimate edition to make it more attractive for us enthusiasts, though.

I don't have a HT-enabled P4. Would have to buy a new CPU.

You will see the hardware sites start to do 4 gig to 2 gig comparisons in Vista with a general consensus on "4 gigs is the way to go" for Vista gaming. Will try to find the link that had 4 gigs getting more than a 10% fps increase over 2 gigs in Vista in various games. It wil come quicker than you think.

You're right. DX 9 is OK for the next year or 2. I'm just looking ahead at what's coming and trying to decide if it makes sense to continue down the ever increasing upgrade path.

Reread and compare the 2 different OS EULA's. Windows XP Retail copy unlimited upgrades allowed. Window's Vista Retail only 1 major upgrade allowed. This is what really brought this whole issue to a head for me.

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: the Chase

Originally posted by: aka1nas

Originally posted by: the Chase
Oh boy- where to start. Yes PC gaming is (for me) better than console gaming. I LOVE PC gaming. This is not about consoles. I will never buy one. This is about the hardware requirements of PC games - especially under the Vista OS - increasing exponentially in the last year and into the next 2 or more years.

And yes Windows XP will be around for a couple of years yet with games still coming out to run on it. But where is SP3 for Windows XP?? Nowhere in sight. But Vista will be here. I suppose MS will get around to supporting XP after Vista has all the bugs out of it.

You will soon be hearing about the better game performance with 4 GIGS of memory under Vista. That's right. 4 Gigs will soon be the new "standard". Checked out ram prices lately? They will go back down, but still.

Games (Alan Wake) that won't run on less than a dual core CPU.(And still run crappy unless you have a Quad core).

Then you have Vista to repurchase after you buy your SLI mobo and 2 G80's and then later a new mobo to go Quad core. Or I could buy pole, line, license and bait for $150.

You are completely overblowing the situation. Even Alan Wake will run on a HT-enabled P4.

2GB of RAM is just now becoming a reasonable amount for a high-end gamer to have and 4GB won't hit that spot until prices come down and 64 bit penetration increases. There isn't much point in running 4GB on a gaming system if none of your games can use more than 2GB.

Vista and Dx10 are a non-issue at the moment. PC gaming isn't dead because you might have to run Crysis in Dx9 mode for a year or so and lose the 2 or 3 slightly prettier graphical features.

The Vista licensing thing really isn't as big a deal as you are claiming. XP has a similarly restrictive EULA and you were still able to reactivate it with at worst case a telephone call. It would be nice if they loosened it up for the Ultimate edition to make it more attractive for us enthusiasts, though.

I don't have a HT-enabled P4. Would have to buy a new CPU.

You will see the hardware sites start to do 4 gig to 2 gig comparisons in Vista with a general consensus on "4 gigs is the way to go" for Vista gaming. Will try to find the link that had 4 gigs getting more than a 10% fps increase over 2 gigs in Vista in various games. It wil come quicker than you think.

You're right. DX 9 is OK for the next year or 2. I'm just looking ahead at what's coming and trying to decide if it makes sense to continue down the ever increasing upgrade path.

Reread and compare the 2 different OS EULA's. Windows XP Retail copy unlimited upgrades allowed. Window's Vista Retail only 1 major upgrade allowed. This is what really brought this whole issue to a head for me.

they just can't do that though. its completely unrealistic. i agree, a phone call is all it will take.

 

[the Chase]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Not this crap again.

Every time a new wave of consoles comes out, it's supposed to herald the "End of PC Gaming" - and every time, it's horseshit.

Please, don't give these morons any more press.

- M4H

.

Again, this has nothing to do with consoles or for that matter, PC gaming really dying. It's about a large percentage of people that might start to look at the ever increasing monetary investment needed to game in "luxury"(actually enjoy it) and say "yea I've had enough of this horsexxxx - I'm out"

 

[the Chase]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: the Chase

Originally posted by: aka1nas

Originally posted by: the Chase
Oh boy- where to start. Yes PC gaming is (for me) better than console gaming. I LOVE PC gaming. This is not about consoles. I will never buy one. This is about the hardware requirements of PC games - especially under the Vista OS - increasing exponentially in the last year and into the next 2 or more years.

And yes Windows XP will be around for a couple of years yet with games still coming out to run on it. But where is SP3 for Windows XP?? Nowhere in sight. But Vista will be here. I suppose MS will get around to supporting XP after Vista has all the bugs out of it.

You will soon be hearing about the better game performance with 4 GIGS of memory under Vista. That's right. 4 Gigs will soon be the new "standard". Checked out ram prices lately? They will go back down, but still.

Games (Alan Wake) that won't run on less than a dual core CPU.(And still run crappy unless you have a Quad core).

Then you have Vista to repurchase after you buy your SLI mobo and 2 G80's and then later a new mobo to go Quad core. Or I could buy pole, line, license and bait for $150.

You are completely overblowing the situation. Even Alan Wake will run on a HT-enabled P4.

2GB of RAM is just now becoming a reasonable amount for a high-end gamer to have and 4GB won't hit that spot until prices come down and 64 bit penetration increases. There isn't much point in running 4GB on a gaming system if none of your games can use more than 2GB.

Vista and Dx10 are a non-issue at the moment. PC gaming isn't dead because you might have to run Crysis in Dx9 mode for a year or so and lose the 2 or 3 slightly prettier graphical features.

The Vista licensing thing really isn't as big a deal as you are claiming. XP has a similarly restrictive EULA and you were still able to reactivate it with at worst case a telephone call. It would be nice if they loosened it up for the Ultimate edition to make it more attractive for us enthusiasts, though.

I don't have a HT-enabled P4. Would have to buy a new CPU.

You will see the hardware sites start to do 4 gig to 2 gig comparisons in Vista with a general consensus on "4 gigs is the way to go" for Vista gaming. Will try to find the link that had 4 gigs getting more than a 10% fps increase over 2 gigs in Vista in various games. It wil come quicker than you think.

You're right. DX 9 is OK for the next year or 2. I'm just looking ahead at what's coming and trying to decide if it makes sense to continue down the ever increasing upgrade path.

Reread and compare the 2 different OS EULA's. Windows XP Retail copy unlimited upgrades allowed. Window's Vista Retail only 1 major upgrade allowed. This is what really brought this whole issue to a head for me.

they just can't do that though. its completely unrealistic. i agree, a phone call is all it will take.

But they can and have done just that.

 

[hoorah]

I think this truly is the end of PC gaming, its just a little late.

I mean, it was the end of PC gaming when windows 95 came, and DOS games weren't going to work properly. And it was the end of PC gaming (again) when windows 98 came, and you needed 32 megs of ram (that was DOUBLE what 95 required). Then came Windows ME, and 2000, and XP, and EVERY TIME you tardlings ran around preaching doom.

I'm pretty sure though that game makers are going to make the requirements of games so high that no one will be able to buy them. They wil take no statistical data on what the average home computer is, they have NO IDEA how much money someone would spend on computer upgrades, and Microsoft's Vista will not run unless you have 47 gigs of ram. I've heard all of this before, but where....?

As Brian (from family guy) would say: "Do you listen to yourself talk?"

Shame on anyone that takes the person that wrote that article seriously. Do you know how that article made me feel? Old. It made me feel old to know this is the 3rd or 4th time I've heard this garbage.

I do agree with one thing though: If you think you need the kind of hardware discussed just to get by, mabye you DO need to go outside and take up fishing.

"No, I don't have a World of Warcraft account!" "Why not?" "Oh, I have a life!"

 

[m21s]

To people that bitch so much about PC specs and gaming.

Go buy a damn console because you will never be happy!

Consoles were meant for people like you.
Its a cheap alternative that requires no upgrading, and you can get plenty of eye candy with the next gen consoles.

If you need to start a thread like this and talk so much about it and how its going to be "dead" then your not a true PC gamer, i dont care what you say.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: the Chase

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Not this crap again.

Every time a new wave of consoles comes out, it's supposed to herald the "End of PC Gaming" - and every time, it's horseshit.

Please, don't give these morons any more press.

- M4H

.

Again, this has nothing to do with consoles or for that matter, PC gaming really dying. It's about a large percentage of people that might start to look at the ever increasing monetary investment needed to game in "luxury"(actually enjoy it) and say "yea I've had enough of this horsexxxx - I'm out"

I guarantee you that I'd get a lot more "enjoyment" out of stomping you a new mudhole in BF2 at 800x600 than you'd get from being my bitch in high definition.

- M4H