Weekend Open Forum: Is PC gaming really dying?

[Ranger12]

It is hard to find hard statistics on this topic. For instance, what percentage of gamers (people who play mainstream or indie titles for a specified time per week, solitaire and minesweeper do not count) have actually cut back their pc gaming in favor of gaming on a phone or tablet. My guess would be almost none have but without any numbers it's hard to say.
Another factor would be the economic outlook of the nation and world as a whole. PC games and gaming specific hardware is largely a luxury and when the economy takes a turn for the worse (the past several years) luxuries are the first to go. So you might be able to make an argument that it's not dying its just following the dip of the economy and will come back as economies recover.

 

[yRaz]

Are you guys forgetting about the 2 biggest PC gaming genres? 1) strategy games 2) MMO's. These styles of games cannot be effectively played with a controller. It's no different than trying to play an fps on a smartphone. We've already pushed the limits of what controllers can do. On top of that, a voip service like the one in Xbox live would be useless for going on raids. Setting up macros and customizing keys would also be impossible.

 

[Guest]

PC gaming will not die since it is actually cheaper if you already need a platform for productivity compared to consoles.

The PS4 and Xbox720 will likely launch around $500 which is enough to buy a nice up-gradable PC gaming rig [no OS ]
pcpartpicker.com/p/QjWL

 

[Guest]

With the expected prices of ps4 and the new xbox, im going back to the pc as my main gaming platform. at least until the prices come down a lot.

 

[Guest]

It doesn't mean that PC gaming era is on the verge of breaking down just because Lucas Arts signed off. A famous man once said, " To travel is better than to arrive" .

 

[m4a4]

No. Even if it's not growing fast, it doesn't mean it's dying.

 

[psycros]

PC gaming isn't dying - PC gaming *publishers* and their most tightly controlled studios are dying. They brought it upon themselves, despite fans begging them not to commit suicide.

 

[Guest]

With the new consoles moving towards more PC-like components, I think PC gaming will only get better in the future. At least they will be easier to port to PC. Just up to the developers to want to do it properly.

 

[Guest]

Yeah haha I agree. IMO, the first major company to go down under in the PC manufacturing area will be HP. Their PCs are low quality, (I hear their printers are decent, but I've never tried one), and when I read that they're going to be focussing on tablets. Lets just say that if I was working for them and I heard that announcement, I'd be looking for a new job.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

With the next gen consoles being x64 based I can only see pc gaming going from strength to strength. PC gaming isn't dying, it's not even critical.

 

[Guest]

"You're all going to die. The only question is how you check out. Do you wanna go on your feet? Or down on your ****in' knees... beggin'? Well I ain't much for begging! Nobody ever gave me nothing! So I say **** that thing! Let's fight it."

Unless always-online for single player becomes the norm, I'd fight for PC gaming - even then I'd still get my games from gog.com

 

[Twixtea]

Personally I'm just about to upgrade my PC in the summer, and also most probably buying the PS4 early next year.
I can't imagine PC gaming dying, it will always have a graphical edge over the competition and for some people that's very important.

 

[Twixtea]

Install steam and rewrite this article

haha

 

[Guest]

Another fact is that PC gaming hardware will support most of the new and old games for years to come once you got a decent PC (which most gamers builds themself .....cheaper)
But a habit of PC gamers or its just me always looking to upgrade the rig as new stuff is released even the original is good enough LOL

 

[vkmarketing]

PC gaming will never end till you get something more competitive as far as controls and visibility are concerned. So don't worry man...........

 

[Mister_K]

There is nothing a mobile device or a console can do that my machine can't (apart from being lightweight but that can be fixed with mini cases).

The beauty of PC gaming is that you have options. Put up surround, hook up 3 screens, maximize graphics and enjoy the ultra-entertainment.

Dying, not yet. On decline? Well, money is an issue and poor games that have let people down another.

 

[Tekkaraiden]

Not dying, just changing.

 

[Guest]

I currently do not see any console as being a replacement for my PC. It's not even close.

 

[GunsAblazin]

All those other devices are just mobile PCs, some of which can run full fledged PC games. This only means mobile PCs are becoming more powerful. The fact is some people have to chose between a desktop, laptop (ultrabooks etc.), or a Tablet PC as their primary computing device because they can't afford it, and they probably already have a conventional PC in their home. Nowadays you can game on any device; they may just be casual games, but still games. Trying to differentiate them is ridiculous, because they are all PCs, and in a few years even cell phones will be able to run "PC" games. The market for PC games has grown exponentially if you include mobile devices, so no, PC gaming isn't dying, it's just evolving.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Wrong Question.

I think the right one is, "When will the developers create a game engine which crosses and thoroughly transcends all platforms?"

There has been significant progress in programming languages and structures, so we may be nearing the point that a game is created as a game and then is modified to fit this or that platform. In the beginning, the platform dictated. Early experiments in console to another console and console to pc have been disappointing for the secondary versions because they are being played by folks who expect "primary" version virtuosity. This can be reduced with a game to platform approach. Controller vs mouse/keyboard can be overcome now by insightful design.

It is on its way!

As a direct consequence, any platform which nearly attains the current level of hardware capability will be viable. Wii, Xbox, PC - and even capable tablets - will continue to receive market acceptance.

 

[GunsAblazin]

The only real draw to buy games on consoles are the exclusive games. multiplatform games are still far superior on PCs.

 

[Guest]

PC gaming is dying? of course not! IMHO the sales of PC dropping by 14% might says that some consumer only use their PC for simple task such as email, browsing, social media, etc that can be done by tablet, that's why they change from PC to tablet, in result, the sales of PC dropping 14%

PC gaming is dead when ARM based tablet can run Crysis..

 

[cliffordcooley]

Wrong Question.

I think the right one is, "When will the developers create a game engine which crosses and thoroughly transcends all platforms?"

Console makers want to stay proprietary, why else do you think they have remained proprietary all these years? A game engine that would play across all platforms, would be a slap in the face to console maker. They would no longer have the advantage of saying, some games only play on our console.

 

[Duskywolf50]

Hell No! PC will not dying, It's evolution. PC spread in different ways also getting smaller. They are trying work on powerful graphic and processor use less power plus get small so fit in tablet, HTPC, Small PC.

Remember, Console are limit freedom than PC. Now, seem like next generation console will reduce the freedom.

My answer for PC is still Alive! Just Evolution.......

 

[hahahanoobs]

"We've been hearing for years that PC gaming is on its deathbed."

And each year it's proven to be bullcaca. Moving on...