@ Shyber
Oh dear - what's the matter with everyone here?!
I'll summarize my query and focus them to necro and Viper. Just tell me something, do you guys disagree that PC is on a downward curve these days?
Assalamoalikum,
Since you are the only person here being very nice and polite to everyone, I think I should answer your query. Ok... At first (couple of years back) when X360 released I also got depressed by looking at all those articles on google that PC gaming is going to die or it is not doing any good and so on... X360 also gained a lot of exclusives in the start as well.
But with time I realized that this is only hype/propaganda being created to dump PC gaming because serious business is happening here, PC only is being targeted most because the revenues generated by PC only go to the developers and not in the pockets of individual companies like Microsoft/Sony or say very less part of it goes in the pocket of Microsoft considering PC gamers buy Microsoft's OS. Most of the PC gamers are still using Win XP as their gamer OS so very small share of money goes to Microsoft's so they don't consider it much of a business now as they have bigger investment in console.
They are still working on OS and DirectX because they want to remain in PC platform as well because of the inherent nature of PC gaming as an open platform serves it well.
Regarding your query about down curve of PC gaming, I disagree because there are many major releases every year (despite of all the rumors and official stories), exclusives releases every year (RTS or other, not debating on that), more and more money is being spent on PC gamer gear/hardware every year which means more gamer PCs are being created and not everyone is a pirate like us. New technologies being invented for PC. MMOs generate tremendous amount of revenues like WoW, it has 11.5 million subscribers in Dec 2008. More and more digital distribution services are being made for PC and since Microsoft only poke their nose where there is money it is a prove that there is a lot of money in digital distribution service that is why Microsoft is making their way in that area by creating Games on Demand for Windows digital distribution service like steam. And who knows if Microsoft wants to make their DDS successful they throw Fable 2, Halo 3 and some other exclusive titles on their DDS only.
Looking at the above mentioned points I say PC gaming is doing just fine and in healthy state. It is no where near dying or so, occasional hits and back offs happen because it has no official support from anyone.
@ USUF
May be it is. But since i haven't played the game i can only base my argument over their opinions since they are the ones who represent the opinions of the masses (or atleast try to).
LOL !!! my advice is that you better not see Crysis running on a high end PC because after looking that you will realize how you consolers are behind a generation in terms of technology and better game play. And if you haven't played a game then you should not create self made claims about it. Like I have not played Forza 3 or GT5 (not even seen them) therefore I say I don't care about them but I don't say some thing like they are tech demo, they have Mediocre gameplay or something like that.
Not playing a good game when you have a chance too is being arrogant, and playing it much later than the masses is lagging behind.
Not taking advantage of superior gameplay, graphics and controls when you have a chance too is being arrogant too, playing it earlier with lesser quality is like a rat race, just wait for AC 2 for example and see how better it will be in terms of quality, graphics, textures, controls and game play, then you'll understand.
@ Ahsan
Think big picture. PC doesnt have a GOOD simulation racer of the scale of Forza or Gran Turismo. Try to prove me otherwise. Shift and Burnout Paradise (a late delayed title btw) and Dirt 2 have NOTHING over Forza or Gran Turismo. 500+ cars, loaaaads of tracks ... no comparision.
Again, if you are oaky with LESS, doesnt mean others dont want more. Those who do, get consoles ... like me, or necrokiller, or hasanJ ...
GTR is the most famous PC racing simulator from years, even its old I play and still enjoy that and eventually they make a new title too. Good games take time to develop.
Codemasters are famous for adopting new technologies as soon as they got released like they did that in Dirt, Grid and now with Dirt 2 so its a worthy title, I enjoy every bit of it even if there are lesser tracks or cars, I have life like textures on those few cars
that makes me very happy.
From the beginning I am saying its good "you have a console" you can play all the titles you like (I don't object) but your shift does not prove "PC gaming is doing bad" either and if you are thinking like that then.... what I say its a pity...
I say I am satisfied with what I have, PC games are shifting from traditional DRM ways to prevent piracy and adopting new creative ways of reducing piracy like C&C 4. To play this RTS you have to remain online always like you do in MMOs. Rather rejecting this new change I accept it and who knows maybe I buy this game from Steam rather than getting a console. It does not mean I have something against consoles or I hate them, no obviously not, but I have seen console games running on my friends consoles and I don't like them from any angle (their controls, their graphics, their textures and resolution) each and everything seems very limited or confined to hardware limits.
Or maybe you can say I am spoiled by PC's superior quality, your call.
Hahahah ... mate.
LOL! Rotflmao! I just sold my PC like couple of months ago at max. Ive been gaming on the PC since the age of the original Voodoo cards. I just got a console, after seeing the need for one since quite a few months (mid 2009) ... and was a PC gamer before (and im a techie too, Im the lead moderator of Hardware Section you know) ... Ive been through EVERY delay that has happened on the PC as of yet ... I KNOW what a PC gamer likes or not likes. Lol.
Then you should also know that a PC gamer prefers superior quality and game play above all otherwise why the crapped version of Resident Evil 4 didn't succeeded on PC.... because it was a crap console port with console like graphics and controls.
These 'hand-picked' titles are some of the BIGGEST titles in the gaming industry ... the whole of the gaming industry, some of these titles have sold consoles. I can name hundreds of titles, but these are those that are REALLY REALLY big.
I can name a whole lota names, but im not going to bother going on google and giving lists upon lists ... because I know what are the big titles for people. I can name a lot more, but if you dont even find the best stuff, 9/10+ rated, console-selling exclusives any good and dont even admit you are missing out on some of the best titles in gaming industry ... whats the use of other names ? Quality over Quantity ... and Im sure games like KillZone 2 (A PS3 exclusive) are much better quality wise than ArmA 2 (Not a big improvment over the original Operation Flashpoint, and I know that game thru and thru ... I worked for a mod on it)
Most of them just released a while back, like:
1, UC 2
2, KillZone 2
and you are already calling them the biggest titles... And if they are the biggest, they are so from console perspective not from PCs. PC have its own biggest titles and they are much older and famous than these.
HAHAHAHAH! OMG OMG OMG!
Dude seriously ... living in such a denial is not good! There aer stuff that rules on the PC ... like mutliplayer, graphics, controllers, RTS and MMORPG genre ... I even say that. Consoles graphics are shitty, controls not nearly as good as a gaming mouse and online is pathetic ... ive said that before, and I say that again.
But seriously SALES ? Do you even KNOW sales numbers of the overall industry to compare this ?
51.7m is the sales of Nov for PC, all games included right ? Lets double that for the sake of digital sales. Approx 100 million. Big number ? HELL NO!
Do you know the amount of sales of MW2 (consoles, the other market you know) ? 6 MILLION+ copies ... that results in well over 360 million US$ from ONE frigging game!
Considering how PC november sales would have Modern Warfare 2 as well, we can clearly see where developers are getting money. And LOTS of it!
Also, Dragon Age Origins alone got over 21 million (350k+ copies sold) on X360 in November. Considering that number compared to overall game sales on PC ... im pretty damn sure console copies sold more than PCs, which got pirated ... by like ... everybody.
Assassins Creed 2 alone matched the number of PC media sales of November (51.7m) ... single game alone.
Seriously, developers are getting NOTHING from the PC, because of piracy, which is why they are abandoning it. Its not a Microsoft conspiracy, or something else ... its just pirates going at it like crazy, as proved above.
*these figures are NPD sale numbers for November, multiplied by price and rounded off pretty leniently*
Here we are talking about PC only not consoles I should remind you. And how convenient of you (sarcasm) to judge the online digital sales by just thinking that they are going to make total sales 100 million. Those sale numbers are not released so don't make false claims.
Dragon Age Origins is a big seller for PC too, don't know the exact number of sales because they are not released and I am no false claimer like you but if you look at steam's website its still in the top seller list.
Infinity Ward already said that MW2 sold very well on PC (despite the messed up multi player according to you) and in the first week of release it surpassed the first week sales of COD 4, should I post you the link...
Assassins Creed 2 is coming on PC, this alone is enough to justify good sales of first one.
And if you just want to ignore Microsoft's doing blindly then do so... after all you have Microsoft's console... you'll support it no doubt. But I already posted a link that its paying developers to make exclusives or purchasing studios like Lionhead to do the same. Which means it is purposely dumping PC gaming or going against it that is why I used the word "afraid of PC gaming".