[Crimsontide27]

I have played console and PC games since around the time I learned to walk.

I was slightly too young to care about the odyesse and a few other systems , but mainly grew up with the NES generation . Got one for Christmas the year they were launched and never looked back. My PC gaming goes all the way back to Lode Runner , Demon Attack, and Touchdown Football for the Tandy 1000.

Having said that, I have my own thoughts on why PC gaming is going down hill.

Arcade machines used to be the cream of the crop, so everyone went to the arcade to play the latest hot title. As technology improved, you saw a huge shift from the arcades to the home console markets. Arcades are virtually dead due to the fact you can have a similar experience on your couch.

With big screen HDTVs, home surround sound systems, consoles that push the envelope on graphics capabilities....why would you really need to PC game anymore?

PCs used to have superior graphics, and for the most part still can...however at a huge price.

For about $400 you can have a PS3 or 360 that is jsut as capable of pumping out graphics as a $2000 computer. Then comes hardware conflicts. Soon as your computer is up to date, here comes a new game that requires some form of new technology that must be used in order to play the game on the highest settings....or you could just buy it for the console you purchased 2-3 years ago and not have to worry about it.

Graphics capabilites??? 8600GT, 8800GT, 8800Gt-s, 8800 GTX, 8800 GTX OC, ..then add in all the memory styles...256, 512, 640, 728 , blah blach.....and you dont know what the hell you are buying. There is no clear cut progression. 99% of people would have no clue what to shop for, and be jsut as disappointed when theygot home and learned they just spent $300 on a card that isnt any better than a $200 card. Want a nice new shiney card?? OMG..whats that? You have an AGP motherboard...well, time to go buy a new motherboard...to buy a new video card....omg..RAM is not compatible...time to by new RAM...whats that?? power supply isnt enough...time to buy another one of those....

and so on and so forth...

Then factor in pirating. Pirating is on game consoles too, but no where near like they are on the PC. Download a torrent, and have the game for free a week earlier than everyone else.

The ability to mod games ....is not a selling point.

Its so easy to mod games on the PC that if EA released 09 and it was trash, the community wouldnt buy it and just keep updating 08. Since community mods are so popular on sports games on the PC, its hard for companies to sell its sports games if they havent innovated anything. Time and time again you see the PC mod community put together better games with the tools given to them, than the developers and publishers that are paid to make the games....and they are made for free! Ever heard of Half Life Counterstrike?

Even though I enjoyed my PC gaming for decades, and still enjoy the PC MMO games, there is just no way for companies to spend millions on games that will be pirated #1, and 95% of most computers wouldnt be able to run them as well as the consoles #2.