Is the sim genre dead?

[THE_MASK]

So maybe computer components manufacturers should pick up where pc game companies are giving up on pc games .

[robbo180265]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

You know what ive been wondering, is how the decline of PC games will effect the computer industry in general. I don't think it's any sort of embellishment to say that gaming, has been the (edit: I should say, "A major" instead of "the ) driving force that has pushed technology standards and barriers. You don't need a bleeding edge video card and a quad core processor for word processors, spread sheets, web browsers, or power point presentations. I suppose its entirely possible that if PC games dies out completely the computer industry in general, while it won't disappear, it could experience a sharp decline, or stagnation.

Is right on the button. PC's will become nothing more than word processors without PC games.

[Arclight]

What, the whole "PC gaming is dying" thing? Again?

I think Ducimus nailed it, and that's exactly why it's here to stay. It's the PC gaming that drives the consoles, not the other way around.

Originally Posted by JU_88

Its no suprise the PC game market is dwindling in gerneral.
10 years ago.....
PC games had the visual edge over consoles
Online gameing was PC exclusive.

Now in 2010 Consoles offer online play and match the PC in terms of visuals, couple that with the fact that they are:
a) A 1000 times more user freindly,
b) far more affordable
c) less prone to piracy
-and its really a no brainer.

PC still holds the visual edge.

I can see the more user friendly point; that's pretty much the whole reason they are popular. Pop in a disc and play. But nowadays consoles deal with installations as well; they are moving closer and closer to becoming PCs.

Affordable? Only initially. Games are generally 33% more expensive, though Bobby Kotick is pushing really hard to screw PC gamers over in that regard.

Piracy is a bigger factor on PC because it's easier. If PC gaming would disappear, piracy would just become as big a problem on consoles.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by robbo180265

Is right on the button. PC's will become nothing more than word processors without PC games.

This presupposes that the only thing you can do on a PC is play games. There are thousands of real-world industries to which the personal computer is integral. If the PC gaming industry were to disappear overnight, the demand for big machines would remain.

[robbo180265]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

This presupposes that the only thing you can do on a PC is play games. There are thousands of real-world industries to which the personal computer is integral. If the PC gaming industry were to disappear overnight, the demand for big machines would remain.

Well yeah true - there's the IT industry I suppose they will still need top end machines, but other than that I can't see it. I work for Royal Mail and the kind of machine they use has a hamster powering it. I can't think of many industries that would need a high end machine apart from IT and possibly production lines (although I suspect not)

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by robbo180265

Well yeah true - there's the IT industry I suppose they will still need top end machines, but other than that I can't see it. I work for Royal Mail and the kind of machine they use has a hamster powering it. I can't think of many industries that would need a high end machine apart from IT and possibly production lines (although I suspect not)

Well, television, music and film come readily to mind. Not everyone uses a Mac.

[robbo180265]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

Well, television, music and film come readily to mind. Not everyone uses a Mac.

Most music is produced on Macs I'm led to believe (coming from Brighton, I know a few DJ's who mix their own work) obviously I don't know this 100% but the DJ's I know use cubase on the Mac.

I have no idea about studios mind you.

Television and films I have no idea about, but would imagine that they would be able to afford high end machines (assuming that PC gaming dies and PC prices soar)

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by robbo180265

Most music is produced on Macs I'm led to believe (coming from Brighton, I know a few DJ's who mix their own work) obviously I don't know this 100% but the DJ's I know use cubase on the Mac.

Not true. The music industry is split almost evenly between the two. And, I actually have Cubase 5 installed on this very PC. A lot of guys like the PC for the very reason that we all know: You can upgrade the hardware as new software is released. This is the major reason that most guys working with film scores prefer the PC over the Mac.

[robbo180265]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

Not true. The music industry is split almost evenly between the two. And, I actually have Cubase 5 installed on this very PC. A lot of guys like the PC for the very reason that we all know: You can upgrade the hardware as new software is released. This is the major reason that most guys working with film scores prefer the PC over the Mac.

That's pretty interesting - and makes a lot of sense too.

Bottom line is that I don't think the PC gaming industry will die as long as there is a demand for it. I do think however, that some developers will die or possibly move to consols only.

Who knows what the future holds eh?

[Frumpkis]

Originally Posted by Hartmann

And more

X plane (for flight sim)
Orbiter (space, upgraded to the 2010 version)
Arma (well is ground warfare , but is a sim)

Also, don't forget Microsoft Flight Simulator (2004 and FSX). The base product is officially dead, but there is a very healthy 3rd party market still active for planes and scenery. It's not a bad thing to have a 100% "dead" but stable and relatively bug-free platform for 3rd party developers to build on. MSFS probably has another 5 years or so of life, before a change in OS or GPU standards finally kills it off.

X-Plane is growing steadily too, from attrition of MSFS users, or people just looking for something new. I fly X-Plane frequently, and I've probably spent $150 in the last year just on payware plane models and scenery.

Also, Aerosoft (MSFS scenery and plane developer) is working on their own new civilian flight sim, due for initial in 2011 or 2012.

There will always be a civilian PC flight sim market. People like to fly for entertainment, and real-world pilots use it to keep their skills sharp (the pro version of X-Plane is even FAA-certified). It's a niche market, but the people in that niche spend lots of money.

[Frumpkis]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

You know what ive been wondering, is how the decline of PC games will effect the computer industry in general. I don't think it's any sort of embellishment to say that gaming, has been the (edit: I should say, "A major" instead of "the ) driving force that has pushed technology standards and barriers. You don't need a bleeding edge video card and a quad core processor for word processors, spread sheets, web browsers, or power point presentations. I suppose its entirely possible that if PC games dies out completely the computer industry in general, while it won't disappear, it could experience a sharp decline, or stagnation.

I don't think so. We're in the middle of a transition from traditional ways of delivering passive entertainment like music, video, and movies to computer-based ways of delivering this media. We have satellite TV in the house, but my family is already spending half its TV-watching time on streaming Netflix via computer. As soon as the selection improves enough, we'll probably ditch the Sat TV and go online-only.

Another thing... people now shoot camera stills and video on digital media, which is stored, edited, and displayed on PC's. Have you ever tried to edit an hour of HDTV-res digital video? I couldn't do it on my last PC. I can only do it on my new, much faster box with a blazing-fast GPU (which is also a great gaming machine).

As long as people want to view, store, and process HD-quality digital media on their computers, we'll have healthy platforms for running games. The main restriction on games developed for PC's will remain what they are now -- the ease-of-use in running games on consoles (no configuration hassles), and the built-in DRM advantage with console games.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by Frumpkis

I don't think so. We're in the middle of a transition from traditional ways of delivering passive entertainment like music, video, and movies to computer-based ways of delivering this media. We have satellite TV in the house, but my family is already spending half its TV-watching time on streaming Netflix via computer. As soon as the selection improves enough, we'll probably ditch the Sat TV and go online-only.

Another thing... people now shoot camera stills and video on digital media, which is stored, edited, and displayed on PC's. Have you ever tried to edit an hour of HDTV-res digital video? I couldn't do it on my last PC. I can only do it on my new, much faster box with a blazing-fast GPU (which is also a great gaming machine).

As long as people want to view, store, and process HD-quality digital media on their computers, we'll have healthy platforms for running games. The main restriction on games developed for PC's will remain what they are now -- the ease-of-use in running games on consoles (no configuration hassles), and the built-in DRM advantage with console games.

I agree, and for the simple reason that the PC has become a fixture of daily modern life. You aren't going to email work from your Playstation. Because of that, everyone is going to continue to own and buy PCs. And so long as people continue to buy them, companies will continue to make games for them.

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I agree, and for the simple reason that the PC has become a fixture of daily modern life. You aren't going to email work from your Playstation. Because of that, everyone is going to continue to own and buy PCs. And so long as people continue to buy them, companies will continue to make games for them.

I wasn't saying people wouldn't continue to buy PC's. I think what will happen however, is people upgrading or replacing their current PC's, A LOT less often. Personally, I have NEVER upgraded a PC unless it fell behind the games i was trying to run. I have never heard of anyone else, not family, nor friends of family, nor cowokers who have ever upgraded or replaced a PC for any other reason.

And yeah, i suppose someone will be making some PC games, but i strongly suspect it will be very crappy software not worth buying. Existing in a similar vain as the "token minority" on a sitcom. A stroll into any major electronic retail outlet (like the best buy down the street from my apartment), the writing is on the wall. 5 to 7 years ago, the PC game sections for that retailer, at any store, covered both sides of two isles. Today the PC game section is ONE side, of ONE isle, of any store. The console section, each major system has two isles devoted to it. The selection for PC games is crap, and it gets crappier every year.

ON the plus side, i save money i suppose.

[longam]

I currently purchase quad core and medium level video cards systems for workstations. We want everyone to be as productive as possible and not have to wait for software to load.

The new Office programs are getting heavy as more power is available for development. The sales personnel usually run multiple apps at once to track and make calls, some run locally some browser based, and CAD. Fast multitasking is a must. There loading PDF's for quotes and emailing, faxing, printing at a fast pace.

So the office isn't what you think it is anymore, power PC's have a huge market. We upgrade about every 4 years.

[MGR1]

Originally Posted by robbo180265

I work for Royal Mail and the kind of machine they use has a hamster powering it.

Sounds like Sainsbury's as well. The computers in the store I work in were only upgraded to XP last year!!

As for sims being dead? Enough people do virtual flying to keep the genre going.

Mike.