What's up with the PC gaming industry?

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?

Arclight · 09-01-11, 06:58 PM

And then some.

gimpy117 · 09-01-11, 08:04 PM

I however, am getting fed up with the DLC push. It seems you now need to buy a $50 dollar game and THEN spend more just to make it decent. I Love "Rise of Flight" but I have spent Loads on DLC planes because 777 Studios either refuses or "can't afford" (which is probably true) to make new planes for free.

Out of all the aircraft in the game you get 4 if you buy the game. and there are like 12 of them

Sailor Steve · 09-01-11, 08:59 PM

McBee, you confuse me. I thought you hated all things PC.

frau kaleun · 09-01-11, 09:07 PM

At this point I really prefer to download games, although I don't use Steam - I bought SH3 and 4 directly from the Ubi store. In the case of SH3, though, I liked it so much that I eventually bought a hard copy from Amazon just because. I may do the same with 4 if I ever get around to playing it and like it enough. Of course the fact that SH3, at least, can be had so cheap these days made the decision to buy a "backup" hard copy pretty easy even if I never use it.

OTOH I don't buy many games and play even fewer than I buy, so I'm not a good representation of the PC gamer market, lol.

nikimcbee · 09-02-11, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimpy117

I however, am getting fed up with the DLC push. It seems you now need to buy a $50 dollar game and THEN spend more just to make it decent. I Love "Rise of Flight" but I have spent Loads on DLC planes because 777 Studios either refuses or "can't afford" (which is probably true) to make new planes for free.

Out of all the aircraft in the game you get 4 if you buy the game. and there are like 12 of them

same here. I think it's their marketing strategy to keep the game bringing in money. I bought all of the planes I like for RoF. I wonder how many people have purchased all of the planes?

gimpy117 · 09-02-11, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

same here. I think it's their marketing strategy to keep the game bringing in money. I bought all of the planes I like for RoF. I wonder how many people have purchased all of the planes?

you play? no way. I've got all but the Breueaut ot whatever it's spelled. oh and the 0/400

i bet the old guard mostly has all of them

Catfish · 09-02-11, 02:00 PM

Hi,
it's not only steam, but most games can only be downloaded, as well the trend for those cheap shoot-'em-up games is heading for online gaming ..

I really miss the lackluster stores and look around whether the new sim has already hit the shelf .. and to carry it home and open the package .. and if god loves me there comes big printed manual with it.
*sigh*

09-01-11, 03:02 PM	#3
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, 03:04 PM	#4
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, 06:54 PM	#7
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	De Ja Vouz? __________________

09-01-11, 06:58 PM	#8
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	And then some. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

09-01-11, 08:04 PM	#9
gimpy117 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 3,243 Downloads: 108 Uploads: 0	I however, am getting fed up with the DLC push. It seems you now need to buy a $50 dollar game and THEN spend more just to make it decent. I Love "Rise of Flight" but I have spent Loads on DLC planes because 777 Studios either refuses or "can't afford" (which is probably true) to make new planes for free. Out of all the aircraft in the game you get 4 if you buy the game. and there are like 12 of them __________________ Member of the Subsim Zombie Army

09-01-11, 03:53 PM	#6
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, 08:59 PM	#10
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	McBee, you confuse me. I thought you hated all things PC. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

09-01-11, 09:07 PM	#11
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	At this point I really prefer to download games, although I don't use Steam - I bought SH3 and 4 directly from the Ubi store. In the case of SH3, though, I liked it so much that I eventually bought a hard copy from Amazon just because. I may do the same with 4 if I ever get around to playing it and like it enough. Of course the fact that SH3, at least, can be had so cheap these days made the decision to buy a "backup" hard copy pretty easy even if I never use it. OTOH I don't buy many games and play even fewer than I buy, so I'm not a good representation of the PC gamer market, lol.

09-02-11, 02:00 PM	#14
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,800 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Hi, it's not only steam, but most games can only be downloaded, as well the trend for those cheap shoot-'em-up games is heading for online gaming .. I really miss the lackluster stores and look around whether the new sim has already hit the shelf .. and to carry it home and open the package .. and if god loves me there comes big printed manual with it. sigh