Reasons why PC Gaming isn’t dead in 2011 – Part 2

Simon from NAGF writes: "Wow, I’ve been slacking with this feature! Over a month ago, I wrote part one, detailing why I feel PC gaming refuses to lay down and die. Oh, how things have changed… Piracy in PC Gaming is at a record low (source MCVUK), and my addiction to Starcraft 2 and Minecraft has slowly surpassed my internal ‘casual mode’, replacing it with a sullen ‘I now never leave the house’ mode.

"From the feedback I received after my last article, I want to point out I do not think PC gaming is dying, nor will it ever evaporate into thin air. I just felt, when writing it, that part one’s title had a bit more kick to it than ‘Why PC gaming will OWN in 2011. Maybe I’ll turn this into a monthly piece about my love of the medium – depends pn how much i want to milk this!

"Anyway, lets cut to the chase. I am going to present two concepts that have driven PC gaming further and further forward in the past decade or so."

[ComboBreaker]

So... PC gaming will be undead in 2011 then?

[imvix]

It certainly will out live any current console:P Its already outlived many Console gens and is by far the longest living gaming machine in history.

[FarEastOrient]

Shogun 2 Total War
Star Wars The Old Republic
Terra

Those are the 3 on my list, everything else is basically on my consoles.

[ChrisW]

PC gaming will die when people stop buying PCs.

Hmmm... I think that'll happen when we get neural implants that allows us to run programs in our head. But wait! Wouldn't such a neural implant technically be called a PC? It sends the mind reeling.

[NotAGF]

Just to add to this. A North American StarCraft League was announced last night after a $1500 show match between two top StarCraft 2 players.

With $400,000 over three seasons this is a significant tournament and the highest paying outside of korea. Really fantastic news for the scene and e-sports in general.

Lets hope it doesn't end up like the CGS(Championship Gaming Series) did.

For more information check out. http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed...

[ChrisW]

"I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Steam has categorically stopped me pirating any game ever again."

This is very true for me! Living in Japan makes it hard to get certain games in English, especially regional restricted ones. I used to hit the alt.binaries to find the latest cracked game, but that was almost 2 years ago. Of course STEAM has regional restrictions, but that's nothing that a VPN can't get around. Personally, I don't think using a VPN matters as long as I've paid for the game I'm playing.

To emphasize things a bit more, I have actually purchased games that I originally pirated back in the day. Why? Well for example, just yesterday I purchased the 4 most recent Tomb Raider games for just $20!!! Two of them I had originally pirated because of being unable to purchase an English version.

For those who hate STEAM... We'll it isn't with out it's issues. But concerning my situation, it's awesome! Especially with it's occasional 75% deals, like with those Tomb Raider games. And because of deals like those, I now have almost 50 games on STEAM.

[NotAGF]

+1

I think it very much ties in with valve making such great games and other games now forcing users to use steam.

Football manager for instance. So many of my friends wouldn't consider themselves PC gamers but they enjoy football manager. Having to use the steam platform to play it meant they where exposed to the amazing deals which have led them to purchase games they would never have thought of if they didn't require that platform.

Personally I hail Steam and Valve as a massive reason why PC gaming is great. They epitomise how it should be done and that the old stagnant developers needed to evolve to stay on top (not make game breaking drms). They may be seen as goliaths now but I remember 05 when it was in it's infancy and I am happy they have grown to where they are now.

[toaster]

Well.. I still download games but use them as a sort of demo before I purchase. I don't live in the US and there is a region block for Steam in my country so I use a VPN as well to get around this.

Hey, join our Steam group btw.
http://forums.n4g.com/Steam...