What's up with the PC gaming industry?

nikimcbee · 09-01-11, 12:37 PM

Where did all the games go? I went to Frys yesterday (they have the largest variety of pc games around) and half of their shelves are totally empty. Half of the games are RPG

, then a quarter were kids games (diner dash, etc), the rest of the games were everything else. They had tons of add-ons for Flight Sim X.
I was looking for Madden 12

, but they don't even make it for the PC (come to find out)

Five~ six years ago, those shelves would have been near full. Is it just me, or is the PC industry in decline?

Takeda Shingen · 09-01-11, 12:41 PM

Not to sound condescending, but I am kind of surprised that you are only realizing this now. The PC side of the gaming industry has been in steady decline for most of the last decade; a fact that has been discussed on these forums ad nauseum. While it is true that the past year has seen this fact become more physically observable on the store shelves, the writing has been on the wall for some time. Computer gaming has become the province of niche interests such as ourselves.

nikimcbee · 09-01-11, 12:53 PM

Just venting. I saw the craziest thing there. A keyboard for the PS... Isn't that a PC?

Skybird · 09-01-11, 12:54 PM

Niki,

if you are fixiated on wanting an American Footbal sim, I cannot help you, but if you happen to want a general team sports theme to play with, consider NBA 2K11 (or the upcoming 2K12). It is by a very huge margin the best sport sim I have ever played. Fan-tas-tic. Realistic, with unsurpassed atmosphere and great playability. Never have felt that much like being just one part of a team, and the need to fit in. PES looks and feels sterile, compared to this.

Takeda Shingen · 09-01-11, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Just venting. I saw the craziest thing there. A keyboard for the PS... Isn't that a PC?

I saw one of those too, and regarded it as bad news for those of us who love PC gaming. If they ever find a way to efficiently add user mods to console games, we'll all have to go out and buy Playstations, as that will be the final nail in the coffin for computer gaming.

Respenus · 09-01-11, 12:55 PM

This is probably also the reason why a service like GOG is actually capable of making money, as people remember that PC gaming used to be GOOD. Although doom isn't all that I see, there is still some spark left...if only the publishers allowed it to grow into a flame, which is not really likely. The wheel keeps turning, it was consoles, PC, consoles again... The PC time will come again.

Takeda Shingen · 09-01-11, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Respenus

This is probably also the reason why a service like GOG is actually capable of making money, as people remember that PC gaming used to be GOOD. Although doom isn't all that I see, there is still some spark left...if only the publishers allowed it to grow into a flame, which is not really likely. The wheel keeps turning, it was consoles, PC, consoles again... The PC time will come again.

I hope that you are right, and that I am just being my typical pessimistic self.

Dowly · 09-01-11, 01:23 PM

Oh for crying out loud, not this again.

Takeda Shingen · 09-01-11, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dowly

Oh for crying out loud, not this again.

Hey, I am thankful for the opportunity to discuss anything that isn't political.

razark · 09-01-11, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

Hey, I am thankful for the opportunity to discuss anything that isn't political.

If you give it enough time, someone will be along to explain how Obama is killing the PC gaming industry, with help from his friends in the Tea Party.

Arclight · 09-01-11, 03:02 PM

It's not in decline, it's thriving, more than it ever has. It's just that retailers have moved away from selling boxed copies. The main reason for that is the fact that digital distribution is becoming more and more dominant, along with console copies generally selling better.

They don't carry them because nobody buys them, a lot of people actually prefer digital copies nowadays.

mookiemookie · 09-01-11, 03:04 PM

What happened? This is what happened:

PC gaming is thriving.

Jimbuna · 09-01-11, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

Hey, I am thankful for the opportunity to discuss anything that isn't political.

Too right and all of your posts on this thread IMHO are pretty much how I see it as well as being informative

Oberon · 09-01-11, 03:53 PM

Hard copy PC games shops are indeed in decline, if not already almost extinct. However all of the custom has gone online, in fact I haven't brought a PC game from a shop since last year, primarily because a) I haven't been to my nearest games shop [which is about 20 miles away] in a while, and b) because the games shops are now composed primarily of console games. However I have brought several games online, including through Steam.

Now, how you view Steam and buying and downloading games is varied. I must admit, I do prefer to have a hard copy, but that usually costs more money these days, which is a bit daft but I guess it's all about shipping charges and so forth. However...and this is going to bite me on the arse now that I've said it, I have yet to have any problem with Steam, Gamersgate or Good Old Games. Obviously there will be people who do have problems with them, but they should still be able to get their hard-copy games from places like Amazon and perhaps even ebay if they are willing to take the gamble on the quality of the product when it arrives.

So, the PC gaming is doing just fine. Even the niche industry is doing nicely with the Flightsim section seeing things like Rise of Flight, MS Flight, DCS and so forth being released. Then there's Indie producers like Mojang with Minecraft, and you still have the big hitters with Mass Effect 3, Deus Ex: HR (Human Resources?) and the inevitable Sims series which continues to be a top seller. If anything the PC gaming industry is doing better now than it ever has, because of the internet developers no longer need to look around so hard and pay stupid prices to Publishing companies, when they can just release it on the internet. Sure it will get a bit further with a big name behind it...but it will still be out there for people to play, whereas before the internet it would just go as far as a few friends who you can copy the disk to, or perhaps a bit further if a PC gaming magazine picked up on it.

TLDR? Rumours of the death of PC gaming have been greatly exaggerated

Herr-Berbunch · 09-01-11, 06:54 PM

De Ja Vouz?

09-01-11, 12:37 PM	#1
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	What's up with the PC gaming industry? Where did all the games go? I went to Frys yesterday (they have the largest variety of pc games around) and half of their shelves are totally empty. Half of the games are RPG, then a quarter were kids games (diner dash, etc), the rest of the games were everything else. They had tons of add-ons for Flight Sim X. I was looking for Madden 12, but they don't even make it for the PC (come to find out) Five~ six years ago, those shelves would have been near full. Is it just me, or is the PC industry in decline? __________________

09-01-11, 12:53 PM	#3
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Just venting. I saw the craziest thing there. A keyboard for the PS... Isn't that a PC? __________________

09-01-11, 12:54 PM	#4
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,654 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Niki, if you are fixiated on wanting an American Footbal sim, I cannot help you, but if you happen to want a general team sports theme to play with, consider NBA 2K11 (or the upcoming 2K12). It is by a very huge margin the best sport sim I have ever played. Fan-tas-tic. Realistic, with unsurpassed atmosphere and great playability. Never have felt that much like being just one part of a team, and the need to fit in. PES looks and feels sterile, compared to this. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

09-01-11, 12:55 PM	#6
Respenus Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,169 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	This is probably also the reason why a service like GOG is actually capable of making money, as people remember that PC gaming used to be GOOD. Although doom isn't all that I see, there is still some spark left...if only the publishers allowed it to grow into a flame, which is not really likely. The wheel keeps turning, it was consoles, PC, consoles again... The PC time will come again. __________________

09-01-11, 03:02 PM	#11
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	It's not in decline, it's thriving, more than it ever has. It's just that retailers have moved away from selling boxed copies. The main reason for that is the fact that digital distribution is becoming more and more dominant, along with console copies generally selling better. They don't carry them because nobody buys them, a lot of people actually prefer digital copies nowadays. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

09-01-11, 12:41 PM	#2
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Not to sound condescending, but I am kind of surprised that you are only realizing this now. The PC side of the gaming industry has been in steady decline for most of the last decade; a fact that has been discussed on these forums ad nauseum. While it is true that the past year has seen this fact become more physically observable on the store shelves, the writing has been on the wall for some time. Computer gaming has become the province of niche interests such as ourselves.

09-01-11, 01:23 PM	#8
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,054 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Oh for crying out loud, not this again.

09-01-11, 03:04 PM	#12
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	What happened? This is what happened: PC gaming is thriving. __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

09-01-11, 03:53 PM	#14
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Hard copy PC games shops are indeed in decline, if not already almost extinct. However all of the custom has gone online, in fact I haven't brought a PC game from a shop since last year, primarily because a) I haven't been to my nearest games shop [which is about 20 miles away] in a while, and b) because the games shops are now composed primarily of console games. However I have brought several games online, including through Steam. Now, how you view Steam and buying and downloading games is varied. I must admit, I do prefer to have a hard copy, but that usually costs more money these days, which is a bit daft but I guess it's all about shipping charges and so forth. However...and this is going to bite me on the arse now that I've said it, I have yet to have any problem with Steam, Gamersgate or Good Old Games. Obviously there will be people who do have problems with them, but they should still be able to get their hard-copy games from places like Amazon and perhaps even ebay if they are willing to take the gamble on the quality of the product when it arrives. So, the PC gaming is doing just fine. Even the niche industry is doing nicely with the Flightsim section seeing things like Rise of Flight, MS Flight, DCS and so forth being released. Then there's Indie producers like Mojang with Minecraft, and you still have the big hitters with Mass Effect 3, Deus Ex: HR (Human Resources?) and the inevitable Sims series which continues to be a top seller. If anything the PC gaming industry is doing better now than it ever has, because of the internet developers no longer need to look around so hard and pay stupid prices to Publishing companies, when they can just release it on the internet. Sure it will get a bit further with a big name behind it...but it will still be out there for people to play, whereas before the internet it would just go as far as a few friends who you can copy the disk to, or perhaps a bit further if a PC gaming magazine picked up on it. TLDR? Rumours of the death of PC gaming have been greatly exaggerated

09-01-11, 06:54 PM	#15
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	De Ja Vouz? __________________