What can save PC Gaming?

[Reckoner]

How about some original games for a change? Instead of making eleventy billion sequels that don't add much of anything to a prequel (Hello, Quake4)

 

[EpsiIon]

Originally posted by: electricJ

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: kami

According to Gamespy, 2004 was a record breaking year for game sales of both PC and consoles

PC and Consoles combined.

Originally posted by: EpsiIon


False.

XBox 360 (just an example): ~$400 + $90 for extra controllers + $20 per memory card + $xx per month to play online (on top of broadband costs).

That's a $500+ entry fee to enjoy ONE console (if you want to own a PS3 and a Revolution, too, start thinking about $1000+).

In contrast, I've spent ~$600 in the past four years and I'm STILL enjoying my PC AND playing the newest games.

The price difference really isn't a huge factor anymore. Consoles are popular because they're faster and simpler. It's nice for people who know nothing about technology to be able to simply "plug and play." In the meantime, notice that the most involved and interesting games have been released on the PC. PC gaming wasn't dead 5 years ago. It's not dead now. It won't die any time in the near future.

No, people play consoles because theres more games, more variety, and like you said its effortless. Console games never need patches and rarely have problems. I enjoy PC and consoles, I don't force myself to choose. Tell Xbox modders that they "know nothing about technology"

I used to be strictly PC as well but it changed with the Xbox. Xbox 360 is narrowing the gap even more. The main difference used to be resolution and multiplayer. Well both of those are gone now with the next consoles. Yeah you gotta pay about $7.50 a month to play online but it works for every game. It's not that bad. Hell I pay 15/month to play WoW. The other complaint is controls for FPS games. Well first of all once you get used to the controller it works very well. Also what do you think the USB ports are for? Keyboards and mice should work.

The console itself will probably be cheaper than an equivalent graphics card (if its available by then from ATI) when it comes out in November.

xbox live is $50/yr ~= $4.25/mo, not $7.50/mo.

and to that other guy who knows nothing about xbox360, why would you buy a memory card when you already have the $400 system that has the 20gb HD with it, and where the hell are you buying controllers that cost almost $100 a piece?

yeah, his numbers show his bias towards pc gaming. You wouldn't have a need to buy the memory card with the harddrive. Also, he's adding $90 for extra controllers... the wireless controllers are to be priced at $49.99 based on the sites I've seen. If you do multiplayer PC gaming at the same unit, you'd still have to buy controllers for that situation. I'd imagine each wireless PC controller being the same cost as these 360 controllers (assuming you don't go with the extremely cheap manufacturers).

Its really more like:
$400 - console premium package
$50 - extra wireless controller
$4.25/month for the best online gaming service out there

Also, don't forget the cost of everything else you'd need when building a computer... fans, heatsinks, cables, harddrive, cd drive, power supply, case, etc. Starting from scratch, its more like a $1k investment unless you're recycling old parts.

Whoops Forgot to change the memory card. I think I started with a generic console idea and then switched to XBox 360-specific. Whatever.

But that doesn't really matter, as you've made my point a bit stronger by pointing out that it will be $50 per extra controller. That $90 was for three additional controllers (working under the assumption that the 360 will support up to four controllers, as seems to be standard these days). Revised:

~$400 + $150 for extra controllers + $50/year for XBox live. So that's about a $600 entry fee for a single console (and a year of XBox Live). I'm going to guess that it's a similar price for the PS2 and probably around $350 for a revolution with the works. So we're at about $1500 every four years to play all the newest console games (considerably less if you think console x sucks).

My point is not that PC gaming is cheaper (because it clearly isn't when you consider the enormous initial cost of entering the PC gaming field). For me, though, the periodic costs are comparable and I enjoy gaming on my PC much more than I enjoy gaming on a console (other than the occasional round of original Smash Bros or Soul Calibur II). Don't get me wrong. I'll probably purchase a next-gen console at some point. I just think it's silly talk about them as the killers of PC gaming.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: Kalbi

Originally posted by: ssvegeta1010

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
I'd like to see more games that actually work released. You know, games I can play before the 1.9 patch is released two and a half years later.

Exactly.

CS:S/HL2 still had some pretty decent even a few months after it is out.

More games need an engine like the Source engine though. I dont want to buy a new PC for every game I buy. I want to be able to play it decently on a crappy system, then have it able to scale and look great on a better system.

dude the source engine is lame

please explain.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Games needing a 7800GTX just to run at 55FPS in 1024x768, with no AA/AF isn't going help the industry much.

 

[Powermoloch]

cheap video cards....

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Remember though when looking at downloading stats, that most people who download a game probably wouldn't purchase it if stealing wasn't an option.

Where do you get that from?

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Vaerilis
Why can't they produce games like Fallout, X-Com, Freespace or Worms any longer?

Fallout...the fun and innovative unofficial sequel to WASTELAND.
X-Com...countless similar strategy games.
Worms? A jazzed up version of the scorched earth/tank battle game that has been in existence for as long as computers that are capable of making the not-so-complex equations have...

Although, the Descent series was pretty innovative.

I'll tell you what's kept me away from PC gaming - ease of use. I buy a console, I buy a console game, I pop the disc/cart in the console and I play. I buy a PC Game, I pop the disc in, install, try to play, troubleshoot, download patches, try to play, troubleshoot, update drivers, try to play, troubleshoot, roll back drivers, wash, rinse, repeat, by the time I've got the game working I'm so frustrated I don't even want to play it.

 

[JME Fidelity]

op your such a fvcking moron

just leave

 

[0roo0roo]

even those who don't pirate arent very good customers after a while. last game i bought is hl2. i mostly play cs source when i do play games. much of what i see is more of the same with better graphics. so why bother anymore. played for x type for game many times already. its no longer fresh and new.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: TallBill
Remember though when looking at downloading stats, that most people who download a game probably wouldn't purchase it if stealing wasn't an option.

Where do you get that from?

It's a common pirating argument.

"I wouldn't buy this CD/movie/game, but since it's free I'll download it and try it out."