Microsoft's (lack of) committment to PC gaming

Sonarman · 02-04-09, 04:28 PM

In the wake of last weeks news about the demise of Flight Sim & Rail Sim here is an interesting article from the Uk's Edge magazine on Microsoft's commitment or lack thereof to PC gaming.

SteamWake · 02-04-09, 04:30 PM

Its not just Micro$oft.

Zachstar · 02-04-09, 04:39 PM

It seems the whole gaming industry is interested in more outsourcing. Look at the cuts to the Xbox teams and such.

Frankly I think PC gaming is going to suffer alot over the next few years. These big companies have been salivating over the chance to drop US workforce to go to India or elsewhere where they can hire 2-3 workers for the cost of 1 over here.

This will mean less team members worried about the so called "quality" of the game and more people just getting it out as fast as possible.

It had to happen. These companies are stunned at the cost of making games these days.

Sonarman · 02-04-09, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Its not just Micro$oft.

No that's true, but for a company that set it's self up as the saviour of PC gaming with their "Games for Windows" initiative they seem to have turned tail & run pretty quickly.

Sonarman · 02-04-09, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zachstar

These big companies have been salivating over the chance to drop US workforce to go to India or elsewhere where they can hire 2-3 workers for the cost of 1 over here.

Sometimes it works, I'd take the Romanian produced SH3 over the US produced SH2 any day of the week!

nikimcbee · 02-04-09, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zachstar

It seems the whole gaming industry is interested in more outsourcing. Look at the cuts to the Xbox teams and such.

Frankly I think PC gaming is going to suffer alot over the next few years. These big companies have been salivating over the chance to drop US workforce to go to India or elsewhere where they can hire 2-3 workers for the cost of 1 over here.

This will mean less team members worried about the so called "quality" of the game and more people just getting it out as fast as possible.

It had to happen. These companies are stunned at the cost of making games these days.

Just look at all of the games coming out of Russian studios. Having been in the frontline trenches in the "gaming industry", I think it's pretty $#^$ed up place to work. I'm so glad I got out of it.

The big companies only worry about the deadline, quality be damned; and the small companies don't have the capitol to do much.

SteamWake · 02-04-09, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonarman

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Its not just Micro$oft.

No that's true, but for a company that set it's self up as the saviour of PC gaming with their "Games for Windows" initiative they seem to have turned tail & run pretty quickly.

Yep well remember "New Coke" :rotfl:

One of the biggest problems for PC games is after their release and it hits 10's of thousands of different platforms, many of which will 'fail to launch'. Hell just read SH4's forums for a bit to see some examples.

Game producers just dont want to have to deal with that. Espically with a (for the most part) wholy ungreatfull public. "Your crappy game wont run on my machine and its all YOUR fault !!!"

Sonarman · 02-04-09, 04:57 PM

Yes, In some way what we really need is just a console with a keyboard, that would bring back a level playing field as we had in the days of the Amiga, where games were almost guaranteed to work. But the last thing console manufacturers seem to want to do is add a keyboard for gameplay or allow the development of complex software like sims on their "oh so cool" platforms .

Enigma · 02-04-09, 05:25 PM

I'd actually read that 5 more FSX expansion packs would be released this year.

Which actually doesn't effect me, as I'm still using the far superior FS2004....

SteamWake · 02-04-09, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enigma

I'd actually read that 5 more FSX expansion packs would be released this year.

Which actually doesn't effect me, as I'm still using the far superior FS2004....

Here we go again....

Enigma · 02-04-09, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Here we go again....

Care to share?

longam · 02-04-09, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enigma

I'd actually read that 5 more FSX expansion packs would be released this year.

Which actually doesn't effect me, as I'm still using the far superior FS2004....

PFFFT try again. FSX rocks... on a system that rocks... steamwake

Enigma · 02-04-09, 06:46 PM

Oh, my system is more than up to the task. FSX was too much of a video game and not enough of a flight simulator for me. Sure, it's prettier. If that's what your going for, FSX is the way to go.....I use FS2004 for procedure, instrument approaches, training, etc....

So, I stuck to FS2004. I felt it a much better simulation. And, I get to compare it to the real world, being a pilot and all. There's no right or wrong, only preference...

Maybe one day I'll PFFFt try again. Whatever that means....

SteamWake · 02-04-09, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enigma

Quote:

Here we go again....

Care to share?

The old 'which version is better' debate.

Ive seen it turn ugly on other forums.

All the features you mention specifically ILS, approaches, procedure turns... Does FS2004 have a 'procedures' page in its GPS? No ? /shrug.

I really dont see a hell of a lot of difference between the two other than graphics and steep system requirements. Sometimes you just prefer what your used to.

Its akin to sayin SH3 is better than SH4.... meh there both good play the one YOU like.

surf_ten · 02-04-09, 07:48 PM

The only thing that keeps me playing PC games are the ease of which PC games can be modded and the keyboard/Mouse interface. Okay, I guess PC games I tend to play don't appeal to today's twitchy, attention deficit generation.

02-04-09, 04:28 PM	#1
Sonarman The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ayr,Scotland,UK Posts: 1,392 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 0	Microsoft's (lack of) committment to PC gaming In the wake of last weeks news about the demise of Flight Sim & Rail Sim here is an interesting article from the Uk's Edge magazine on Microsoft's commitment or lack thereof to PC gaming. __________________ "The action is simulated...the excitement is real!" Microprose Simulation Software.

02-04-09, 04:39 PM	#3
Zachstar Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Posts: 1,956 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	It seems the whole gaming industry is interested in more outsourcing. Look at the cuts to the Xbox teams and such. Frankly I think PC gaming is going to suffer alot over the next few years. These big companies have been salivating over the chance to drop US workforce to go to India or elsewhere where they can hire 2-3 workers for the cost of 1 over here. This will mean less team members worried about the so called "quality" of the game and more people just getting it out as fast as possible. It had to happen. These companies are stunned at the cost of making games these days. __________________

02-04-09, 04:57 PM	#8
Sonarman The Old Man Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ayr,Scotland,UK Posts: 1,392 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 0	Yes, In some way what we really need is just a console with a keyboard, that would bring back a level playing field as we had in the days of the Amiga, where games were almost guaranteed to work. But the last thing console manufacturers seem to want to do is add a keyboard for gameplay or allow the development of complex software like sims on their "oh so cool" platforms . __________________ "The action is simulated...the excitement is real!" Microprose Simulation Software.

02-04-09, 05:25 PM	#9
Enigma The Old Man Join Date: May 2005 Location: At comms depth, obviously. Posts: 1,476 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	I'd actually read that 5 more FSX expansion packs would be released this year. Which actually doesn't effect me, as I'm still using the far superior FS2004.... __________________ "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." -Mark Twain

02-04-09, 06:46 PM	#13
Enigma The Old Man Join Date: May 2005 Location: At comms depth, obviously. Posts: 1,476 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Oh, my system is more than up to the task. FSX was too much of a video game and not enough of a flight simulator for me. Sure, it's prettier. If that's what your going for, FSX is the way to go.....I use FS2004 for procedure, instrument approaches, training, etc.... So, I stuck to FS2004. I felt it a much better simulation. And, I get to compare it to the real world, being a pilot and all. There's no right or wrong, only preference... Maybe one day I'll PFFFt try again. Whatever that means.... __________________ "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." -Mark Twain

02-04-09, 04:30 PM	#2
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Its not just Micro$oft.

02-04-09, 07:48 PM	#15
surf_ten Loader Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 90 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	The only thing that keeps me playing PC games are the ease of which PC games can be modded and the keyboard/Mouse interface. Okay, I guess PC games I tend to play don't appeal to today's twitchy, attention deficit generation.