The Problem with PC Gaming - One Example

PC gaming isn't dead but there is a perception problem with the platform that is being caused by a couple of factors. One factor that figures into this issue are the retailers. Do you really need to buy a new video card to play that new game? No, you don't.

[Gun_Senshi]

I was with GeForce 6600 GT until last year which I upgraded to GTX 280. Having to upgrade PC every year is a lie. And yes, I should had gotten a cheap 8000 series, except for crysis 8800 can play current games under max.

[Proxy]

1) Those with PC's and new GPU's who play with the best graphics.
2) Those with PC's and old GPU's who play with good graphics.
3) Those with consoles who play with good graphics.

Most people join group 3 to avoid being in group 2...

[MrJack]

Yes you can play on the minimum specs, but that is pointless as you can get better graphics on consoles for less money.

However, if you do decide to spend quite a bit more, you can play it at better than console graphics and with a whole host of mods and extra's open to you.

[mal_tez92]

It can run most games on max and others on high-medium. But for the performance I get out of it compared to the price total of all the components, I must say it was a bit of a rip off compared to my playstation.

The Playstation games always have good enough graphics to enjoy and they all run smoothly. When I play games like Uncharted and Killzone I really think my PC wasn't worth it.

My point is, Computers give performance, Consoles give good enough performance for a better price.
I prefer my playstation, but that's just me.

[Proxy]

a PC gamer buys a [legal and legit] 6 month old game for 20$.

Behind him in line is a console gamer buying the same game for 60$, and eager to get home and buy some DLC.

Later on...

The PC gamer is fighting with draconian DRM.
The console gamers is saying "I should have just rented this."

[El_Colombiano]

I'm in groups 2 and 3. My 8800GT is still pumping games out at max settings at 1080p folks. I love PC gaming.

[somekindofmike]

"the 10-year cycle for consoles hasn't been done yet and I don't think it will either because the pace of technology is so fast that they will be forced to release new consoles before they get close to 10 years."

umm PS2 was released in 2000 and is still selling! that's pretty damn close to a 10 year cycle! why don't writers understand 10-year cycle Sony promises is that the console will be supported for 10 years, doesn't mean sony won't release another console, while continuing support for the older console.

Oh and doesn't the gameboy count as a console? surely it's a handheld console that began selling in 1989, I don't know when they discontinued it, but i'm sure it was longer than 10 years, gameboy colour didn't come out until 1998 and gameboy advance, the proper next console wasn't until 2001, and it wouldn't surprise me if they continued selling gameboys for a little while after that!

[docsavage]

Your PS2 argument is not valid because they released the next-gen before 10 years.

[Serg]

Move your hand to the back of your head, locate the switch and turn your brain on, please.

Sony promises a ten year life cycle, go check at your local store to see if they have a PS2 on the shelves, right next to the PS3. What does that mean? It means the PS2 is still being supported by Sony, in it's 9th year, will you find an Xbox 1 or a Gamecube in the store? No you won't, because they have been discontinued.

And to clarify it further, it means you will have full 10 years of new game releases, there still are games coming to the PS2, what kind of games is not important, there are new games being released for the console after 9 years and that's exactly what Sony has promised. Watch Microsoft drop the 360 as soon as the next iteration arrives, because that's what they most likely will do. Also if you buy a new PS2 right now, you will have a new warranty for it, so Sony needs to have a lot of replacement consoles ready until the last warranty expires AFTER they officially drop the console, which they still haven't.

[Minimox16]

So true Serg....

PS2 its comming for his 10 years!

[docsavage]

How did this turn into a PS fanboy rant? Good job, I'm glad your PS emotion engine brain is on so we can see your bias shine through. What exactly is your point about the PlayStation as this item was not a PS article?

The item was about one aspect of the PC issue, namely the perception being driven by retailers that you need new hardware as alluded to by the Newegg email. This isn't about all of the PC issues either as stated in the beginning, just one problem that you will hear from people; namely, why should I buy that for PC when I would have to upgrade my machine to play it?

[Serg]

What bias? What fanboy rant? Informing a narrow minded intellectually challanged individual who fails on logic doesn't put me in a biased fanboy corner now does it?

I agree I made negative remarks about Microsoft, but they have given enough reasons throughout the companies history to make valid predictions on what they will do next. I guess it makes everybody who hates Microsoft for Windows 95/95.2(98)/95.5(ME) and Vista also a Sony fanboy.

Again, you said the point is not valid because the next gen console is already released. With an extra minute of thinking about the meaning of the words Sony used to describe the 10 year plan you wouldn't look like a moron. Too late.

[Darkseider]

see the flaw in this article? He uses the minimum system requirements needed to RUN the game. As we all know being able to run the application versus being able to USE the application is quite a different story. The minimum system requirements for Aion from the article:

"Here's the minimum system requirement for the game:

* CPU : Pentium 4 2.0GHz
* RAM :1GB
* VGA :GeForec FX 5600(128MB), DirectX 9 or higher
* OS :Windows XP

Hmm, seems like any computer made now would meet these requirements. Actually, it seems like any computer made in the past couple of years would meet this. So, do you need all the new PC parts to play Aion? The answer is decidedly no."

Now Windows Vista OR XP barely runs itself well with 1 Gig let alone a game as hungry as this. ANYONE who has ever used a PC let alone game on one knows this but the author tries to use this to his advantage. Before ANYONE argues and says I'm wrong take this into account. The MINIMUM system requirements for Crysis directly from EA are:

OS - Windows XP or Windows Vista
Processor - 2.8 GHz or faster (XP) or 3.2 GHz or faster* (Vista)
Memory - 1.0 GB RAM (XP) or 1.5 GB RAM (Vista)
Video Card -256 MB**
Hard Drive - 12GB
Sound Card - DirectX 9.0c compatible

Myself like many others know that the above mentioned minimum requirements mean the game will start and load. In order to play it and look half decent though the above system will absolutely choke and turn into a slideshow.

[yippie1234y]

as a matter of fact low end 256mb video cards that are being made today struggle with counter-strike 1.6 if playing on max settings. Counter-strike has been out more then 10 years now.

you get what u pay for. and while PC gaming may be the most competitive for shooters since perfect aim can be obtained. (from a mouse) PC gaming is also very expensive and only will fair play be achieved at LAN centers since everyone will have the same specs.

If your gonna go PC you have to go All Out

[Nihilism]

this article is hyperbole at it's best, they reference a 5 year old card and talk about it not running next gens games, i will be keeping my gtx280 for a long time, and although i could get a gt300 series card to replace it there won;t be many more graphically intensive games by that time, and i doubt anything more so than crysis,

and with windows 7 and direct x 11, overall game performance will be improved plus dx10 effects will be run more efficiently with dx11

the fact that more significant gains weren't seen with quad core etc also at the beginning of their life was due to poorly optimised software, software is catching up, and programmers are making ai in games that doesn't destroy cpu's as much, so older dual and quad cores will remain extremely beneficial for along time

[paul0388]

I recently upgraded to a Radeon 4890 and it runs every game on Max settings except for ARMA 2, and Crysis runs on max like it's nothing. I'm good for 3 years probably, and in that time, I'll be more than willing to spend another $200 on a nice card.

[Marty8370]

Major problem is piracy.

[docsavage]

Yes piracy is a problem but that is really more a publisher problem than a gamer's unless you are using it to show that less games are being developed because of piracy.

[-Mezzo-]

I agree with MARTY, the biggest problem with PC is piracy, well thats also a problem with WII & Xbox 360.;

[Marty8370]

So true, makes ya wonder why devs support the 360/Wii so much knowing there wares will be pirated so often. It's like putting your cash down the drain.

PS3 on the other hand has'nt been pirated yet. It's the safe bet, yet devs can't see it just yet.

[DiffusionE]

Marty, you just hit the nail on the head. Why do devs still support(or should i say 'prefer') 360, Wii & PC even after all those times where piracy has been blamed for losses? Because the simple truth is, it's still damn profitable. The devs(and publishers) are businessmen and cunning ones at that. Why else would they invest on something unless they know they can benefit from it?

See, they make a game for one or all of the aforementioned platforms and if it tanks, they blame piracy. Yes, piracy is one of the reasons but definitely NOT THE ONLY REASON. Devs simply refuse to publicly admit that they had produced a s**tty & underdeveloped game, so they target the next big culprit, piracy.

[DiffusionE]

Er...what happened? I thought he was gonna list the various cons of PC gaming, but instead he ended up with a "Long live PC gaming" quote. I'm mainly a PC gamer, but even i admit there are many flaws with the platform, apart from the ones he listed. Although, i still love and cherish PC gaming.

[Ocelot525]

quote :
"CPU : Pentium 4 2.0GHz
RAM :1GB
VGA :GeForec FX 5600(128MB), DirectX 9 or higher
OS :Windows XP
Hmm, seems like any computer made now would meet these requirements"

the writer probably never worked with a intel media accelerator as GPU

and I still see PC's with a geforce 7050 in stores, and those GPU are much weaker than a Geforce 5600.

[TABSF]

the reason why developers stay with PC even when their games sell less than pirate, is because its the best platform

[kaveti6616]

If you're a fan of free community mods and love free DLC, and love playing free multiplayer, then using a PC is worth any trouble. I looked at the image, and I imagine other people think it's a really tedious and confusing process, but it's not that bad.

[Dogswithguns]

I wont upgrade my PC anymore, Im done upgrading, and Im happy with my 8600gtxxx.... say whatever you want, make fun of me, I dont care.