Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

[Jistic]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

a lot of times that's due to the lack of a keyboard, and therefore more keys/buttons to use

That's part of it. But people also complain if a game takes too long to finish. Also now the trend is "Action RPG's" that take 10-15 hours to finish. They place an emphasis on the action with 'dice rolls' being handled in the backround. But minimize the micromanagement that Johnny 13 yr old doesn't want to do. He'd rather jump around and button mash.

For a truer RPG fan, there is no substiture for the PC

[Rodster]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

directx10 made me a believer of what next gen pc gaming holds.

One word, "Crysis"

[Misfit]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

For a truer RPG fan, there is no substiture for the PC

If you only like American RPG's. No true RPG fan could go without the RPG's on the SNES and PSOne.

PC gaming never went away, at least thats how I have seen it. Consoles will always be marketed more heavily causing people to sometimes forget about the PC. Plus, as most said, the cost to upgrade your PC to keep it current keeps the masses away. The other problem is that the big games are being ported to consoles now and the graphics are so good across the board that the PC is losing its edge in the visuals department. PC gaming also comes across as being more limited. There are mostly just FPS, RTS, RPG's, and select sports titles for the PC. And of coure flight simulators.

I'm just happy Blizzard takes forever to develop their games. It means I can buy a machine now and be able to play their newest games when they come out 3 years from now.

[Graphik]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

Good topic

I cant really say yet. I think PC gaming will always be around but its definitely taken a backseat to consoles since PS1. There have always been great PC titles out there, its just sad that consoles usually get them within a year period. Taking away the incentive of building a high-end PC.

Speaking of high end, upgrades are the only reason why I doubt I'll do much PC gaming in the future. I love my combination of systems(360, XBOX, PS2, PC and soon Wii and maybe PS3) The PC will always be there for a MMO or old school RPG fix. Besides that, I rather go to consoles. Less hassle is the main reason. I cant stand to get a game, spend an hour installing it and having it not start due to dozens of technical problems. Do I have the latest version of Direct X? Do I have the latest patch for my graphics card? And the various "error" messages you can get on any given day.

[dieselboy]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

NFL HC will be the first PC game I bought since like, Madden 2001 or Sim City 3000...maybe 2000.

[cjkool69]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

You cant beat the mouse and keyboard combo for first person shooters on a PC.

[Dallasin2K3]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

PC's would be a much more viable option if they a) didn't need to be upgraded constantly - a video card alone can run $300 (although if you buy that, you are good for a LONG while) b) didn't catch viruses and c) didn't have all kinds of individual quirks that sometimes make running the game a hassle. Anyone who has ever played PC games regularly certainly has a story of one that didn't work quite right or at all and you had to go through and make all kinds of changes to your system, doing all kinds of crap you find on message boards that you don't really understand.. With the console, it's easy. Put the CD in. Play. They all work the same.

I don't think it's a fair comparison to compare console online to PC online because online gaming for consoles is comparatively new. It's only been around since the XBOX a few years ago. As time goes on, console game developers and the people who manufacture services like XBOX live will figure out better ways to run things and we'll see the consoles continue to take a bigger chunk out of PC online gaming. Remember, just 5 or 6 years ago, online gaming was 100% PC. Today, online gaming is closer to 60% PC and 40% console.

I would doubt, however, that either one ever dies out due to demand, there is room for the both of them.

[Jistic]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

The thing is, I built my PC from scratch in late 2002. I have only added ram and a second HDD since. And there's NO game I can't play. I haven't had to upgrade anything.

Plus these days most games are 30-40 bucks instead of 50-60 too so after a while you make up the difference if you have to upgrade a video card.

Plus you don't have to buy all the high priced accessories etc.

[Knight165]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

To me PC gaming is the King.
Number 1 reason. Mods. Look at games like F1, Grand Prix Legends, High Heat(okay I'm going old school with that one) MVP2005...even newer games like Oblivion. Check out some Half Life Mods...they will astound you. The flexibility and ability to change almost everything in a PC game is totally amazing and for those who are "console only" players are missing a TON.
Yes it costs way more...but you gotta pay for better play.
I have a VERY nice Alienware. I also have an awesome ECC wheel and pedal setup for racing sims. You absolutely cannot compare playing on any console to playing Nascar or F1 on my machine. Silent Hunter III is like being in a sub. You get the idea.
Sorry, but there is no comparing a console to a high end PC for gaming.
I have all the consoles and love them, but my PC is far above them on the play list.

M.K.
Knight165

[skydog71]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

I don't think keeping a PC upgraded is that expensive. I've been using the same 19" monitor for like 6 years, and only need to dump ~$500 every 2-3 years to keep my memory / cpu / graphics card updated. And when you upgrade your computer for gaming, you are also upgrading it for all other apps you may have installed.

As far as quality goes... consoles can't get close to the depth of PC gaming. It will remain that way until consoles start coming standard with some sort of keyboard. On PC's, you can map hundreds of commands to various hotkeys (standard, alt, ctrl, alt+ctrl, alt+ctr+shift), but you're stuck with ~10 for console controllers. You can string together combinations with a PC that would never be possible on a console.

There's really only one reason I buy consoles, and that is sports games. You absolutely need a controller for those, and consoles handle that best. Action games are also best on consoles, but I don't play many of those... and even then, a console can't compete with a PC when it comes to FPS action titles. I remember first playing Halo, and thinking, "You know, this is kind of nifty, but it's nothing compared to Battlefield 1942." Besides FPS's, the primary strength of PC gaming is strategy and simulation type games, and those are the ones that eat up most of my time.

I guess it really comes down to what type of games you prefer.

[jfsolo]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

Its strange, unless its a football or basketball game, I can only play about an hour or two at a time on a console game before I get tired, but I can play 6, 7 sometimes 10, 12 hours(planescape, ultima 7, BG 2) straight on a PC game effortlessly.

Games like Mass Effect and other second or third generation titles for the 360 and PS3 will be the litmus test. Can those games create the kind of lasting impression that many of the older PC's games did.

Others have mentioned it, depth, flexibility, modding, expansions, all still favor the PC. Installing and incompatibility are a pain in the *** though.

As of now I still feel that a great or even a very good PC game trumps a great console game.

[goh]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

I hate it.

Cost more than the PS3 to run any good games.

I bought mine last year,I have 3 games for it,2 of them don't work properly and don't even have very high requirements,the one that does work worked on my old comp I got in 98. It couldn't even run the demo of Kelly Slaters Pro Surfer. It cost more than the 360 and can't run a 2nd gen PS2 game?

Trying to play NFS Hot Pursuit 2 with a keyboard and mouse,yea that didn't work out so well.(Tryed this before getting my 360 so didn't have a controller.)

I do like all the free demos though. I got Postal 2,Longest Journey,Heavy Metal and the Skittles game. Had Madden 2003 before too,that was actually pretty cool,played much different than the console games.

[koolbubbaice]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

I could never get into PC gaming. The cost is what always killed it for me. You seemingly have to upgrade everytime the newest game comes out. Crysis will need a monster upgrade for about every machine to run it, this after people spent a grand to play Half Life 2 a year ago. I'll stick with my consoles.

If you buy top of the line you are good for at least 5 yrs..Seriously, you won't need to upgrade a N7800 graphics card for a long time.. Yes you do have to upgrade every yr or 2 if you make minimal upgrades..

[TJdaSportsGuy]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

If you buy top of the line you are good for at least 5 yrs..Seriously, you won't need to upgrade a N7800 graphics card for a long time.. Yes you do have to upgrade every yr or 2 if you make minimal upgrades..

Yeah, but still. $2500 for a new gaming rig every 5 years or....



Hmm...tough call there.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Do you think PC gaming is making a comeback?

If you buy top of the line you are good for at least 5 yrs..Seriously, you won't need to upgrade a N7800 graphics card for a long time.. Yes you do have to upgrade every yr or 2 if you make minimal upgrades..

5 Years? yeah right. Try running your same rig from 2 years ago that you ran Half Life 2 on, and run Crysis or the new Flight Simulator on the highest settings, not gonna happen.