Why PC gaming died in many eyes.

I can remember being in 3rd grade and playing Oregon Trail on the classroom's new Apple IIe. Run [enter] catalog/oregontrail or some command similar to this. For a game with green graphics and few animations it was probably the best green colored game of its time.

Fast forward a few years and I finally get my own PC (thanks to Mom) A 50mhz, 100MBS HDD, 64 MB ram PC running windows 3.1. For its time, its was a pretty good PC, playing games like Megarace or even solitaire was a blast. Then I picked up NHL '95. I read the bottom of the box. Minimum Specifications. 60mhz, 5 MBS on harddrive, 32MB of ram, windows 6.0.

Wait what!?! Windows 6.0, All I had was 3.1, would it make a difference!?!, lets buy it anyways. came home installed it and it ran okay, but a little slow. What could I do, thankfully Windows 95 hype bit my dad (even though he did not know anything about computers), We got Win95 installed it re-installed NHL '95 all of sudden the game ran like butter, WOW! but now I ran into the problem that Megarace and other programs I got that were meant to run on 3.1 no longer ran or ran with severe issues.

It took about another 3-4 years until I realized why that was, thanks to my good friends at ZDTV (The best channel to ever exist).

Now we're at the stage where Windows 98 hits the market and progression of computers and its parts (CPU, HDDs, RAM) started progressing at a faster rate. Now within months the computer you just bought would not be all that great, never mind years later. Same goes for any components you might have bought for an upgrade.

And the ultimate dagger to the hearts for many was the introduction of a little slot called AGP (accelerated Graphics Port). Now, not only did we need to worry about our main specs when playing a game, we needed to worry whether or not the game needed a much coveted AGP card in order to look like the back of box.

And to top that off with some salt did we need a banshee card or a voodoo card, would it run in openGL or Direct3D or both?

At the same time as this was going on, there was a little system called the Playstation that could deliver really good graphics for a third of the cost as trying to max out your PC, that would only be "trash" in about 6 months.

Now lets fast-forward to present day.....you know what has changed? Nothing! Consoles are still being seen as the best way to game while PCs are known as either the elite way to play or a leper among the gaming community.

The PC community also does not do itself many favors by either its players, manufactures and media. whenever a war of words breaks out between the console/PC players it always comes down to "Why waste your money every 6 months to play the latest and greatest when a console can do it for at least 5 years." vs. "Shut-up you stupid little child, a man has money and can afford to buy the best"

Then you have the media that reviews a $200 videocard and makes statements "This card will run Battlefield 3 on med to low settings, if you want the greatest experience you're better off spending $300+ for a better card"

Are you SH!TTING ME!. This does not go well for PC gaming, Why would you spend $300 (the price of a console) to experience a game? Then if you are so inclined to view a videocard review you see the "standard" test setting for many games. 2160x1200 with everything set to high with AAx4 and the $200 videocard only manages 15FPS in games like Crysis (not 2, but 1) Metro 2033 or even less spectacular games like Deus EX:HR.

And there my friends is the 15+ year old problem that has all but killed PC gaming as a mainstream platform. Everybody in the PC community makes it seem that if you are not willing to spend $1500+ on a PC you are not going to enjoy your gaming experience. When this is that furthest thing from the truth. If you are willing to invest the price of a PS3 launch console ($600) you can get something that can very well take care of your gaming needs. But the media and its community would rather hold their noses to the sky than educate their fellow gamers on how to enjoy a PC.

Also Companies like Alienware, cyberpowerpc and other custom PC shops don't do the market any favors buy pumping their chest when offering the ultimate experience for a mere $4000.

If PC gaming wants to make a surge to a more promising future they need to educate and reassure potential customers that a PC does not need to break the bank in order to play great looking games.

That is where Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have come out on top, they offer a great experience to the masses at a very good price with the investment lasting at least 3-5 years (depends when the system is bought). Why can't PC do the same?

PC manufactures and its media outlets need to let it be known that dollar for dollar a PC can compete, if not outplay their console rivals. Then and only then can the PC be in the mix when deciding what gaming platform is best for you.

P.S. Just as a point of reference I listed my personal specs below with price per components and games I have played at a high setting.

CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition Callisto 3.2GHz
-Was able to unlock and overclock to a quadcore running @3.5GHz
Bought on Sale for $70

Motherboard: Biostar mATX 890GXB HD
-Onsale for $85 and sent away for a $15 rebate. So $70

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320GB. $50

RAM: Kingston HyperX 1600 DDR3 8GB dual-channel kit (2x4GB)
-paid $80 but came with $40 rebate. $40

Videocard: Sapphire AMD HD6850 (overclock from stock)
-$180 + $20 rebate. $160

PowerSupply: Corsair CX 600.
-$70 + 15 rebate. $55

Grand Total:$445.

Granted I have omitted a few things. I got Window 7 pro. 64-bit from a friend but that would add $100.

Monitor - my TV is my monitor via HDMI so no need to add the price, since it is also used for my PS3.

Keyboard and Mouse - This all comes down to personal taste one can spend $20 on both or go for a $200+ gaming kits so it personal preference at that point.

PC tower/Case: Again personal preference can be as low as $30 or as high as $200.

So if we added the price of an OS and a inexpensive Tower we're talking about $585 + tax.

And for around $600 I am able to play the following.

Deus Ex:HR, 1680x1050 high setting, low shadows with 4xAA doing at least 30fps.

Starcraft 2: 1680x1050 ultimate setting, low shadows with 4xAA doing at least 55fps dipping into the 30's when maxed out armies battle.

Crysis 2 demo: 1680x1050 high preset setting with no hitches, so at least 30fps.

Vitura Tennis 4: 1680x1050 all maxed out with no hitches.

Splinter Cell:convictions, 1680x1050 maxed out, low shadows, no hitches.

These are just a few games that I think cover a board spectrum, and all of them ran really well on a PC I build for around $600.

Of course improvements can always be had, when I lowered the resolution to 1280x720 (or 720p) all these games ran like butter looking great.

So next time you think you want a PC, but think you can't spend $1000, you don't need to. Do your research and realize the PC media at this time is wrong about needing a fortune. I built my PC at the start of the year and its still going strong. I may upgrade it next year when my taxes come. I already have an extra 8GB of ram coming for free and I plan on dropping a 6-core AMD1100t when it will most likely be at a great price.

If you read this thanks for you patience and what do you feel is the biggest flaw in PC gaming?

[zeal0us]

Nice article

I actually made a desktop through cyberpower for $400-500 numerous times and a laptop recently for only $600. But you can build one with better hardware for the same price.
-
If your college part of the msdn alliance or w/e its called, you can go up there(msdn site) and download a bunch M$ software(excluding office, windows basic,home,ultimate). I got a copy Win7pro 64bit off there. I gave my cousin the 32bit copy and I know he manage to put it on at least 5 different laptops before getting hit with a serial key message.

[danthebios]

piracy or is it pirate games.

[StayStatic]

PC gaming never died , console gaming just took off. Now we have more types of gaming

mobile , console , PC etc

& don't even pull the piracy or price card cos its bollox =D

viva la gaming !

[Speed-Racer]

PC Gaming died?

[Godmars290]

Its no longer going to be the leading general consumer gaming platform. Not that it ever really was.

[Speed-Racer]

But that doesn't mean it's dead.

[kornbeaner]

I never said it was dead per say, but it might as well be in this new market. The new market of consumers think consoles, handhelds and I(whatever) for their gaming fix well before they think of a PC. I enjoy PC gaming but the way it is marketed and handled by the media makes it seem like its out of the reach of many when dollar for dollar it is probably the most inexpensive way to get entertainment.

Also I feel that PC gamers should really stop throwing around specs in the face of console gamers as it does not do the platform any favors. If I was a typical consumer and somebody said $1500 is what is needed for said game's ultimate experience vs $300 on console. Just based on that im going console, there is so much more id rather do with that extra $1200 than to try and achieve the ultimate 1 game experience.

[Brownghost]

i spent $400 on a custom pc and can run almost all games on high. Im fine with my pc and no ones forcing you to buy one if its too expensive than dont but a pc is not just a gaming system its WAY more like a home business, the place to do homework, or whatever you want to do with so many features than a console

[kornbeaner]

I totally agree with you. But that is not the way it is marketed. I recently saw a videocard review a for mid-level videocard that concluded with the reviewer saying "this card will handle battlefield 3 on low maybe med. Setting" I almost cussed him out through my screen. I have a card which would technically be the next step down and im more than confident with a little tweaking I can get battlefield 3 to run on high if not a very high med. Setting.

But it is bold misinformed statements like this that have turned PCs into a gaming island that many don't want to journey to. I would hope at this point many PC manufactures would be happy with providing a dollar for dollar slightly better experience instead of alway trying to market their "ultimate" experience for as much a 1000% markup, for as you pointed out a PC, for about the price of a console will not only play games but help with homework and more. I believe not reminding the consumer just how great a PC can be overall is what has turned many off to the notion of a PC for gaming in general.

[Brownghost]

Yes my computer cant run BF3 on high but I'm fine with it a computer gaming can be a huge cost but it's fun with the amount of things you can play and do. I also was hesitant about buying a gaming computer but they can really good and i feel people shouldnt just buy a pc for bf3 only or upgrade for one game. I'm gonna keep my pc and enjoy until I really need to upgrade

[WrAiTh Sp3cTr3]

The topic is about PC gaming.

[Brownghost]

did you read. its about the expense of a gaming pc mostly and how it drives people to consoles, with huge costs gamers would rather spend $250 on a ps3. Read the whole thing

[bub16]

most people dont know about computer specs. its easier to pick up a game saying PS3 or XBOX360 on the front cover. you just turn it on and play, try explaing computer specs to someone who works all the time and just wants to kick back infront of the tv

[Letros]

PC gamers don't work?

Maybe you meant "try explaining computer specs to someone who knows nothing about computers"

[kornbeaner]

I don't think that is true. Whenever a console is first announced, besides the name what is the first thing that is presented? The Specs. Console and PC derive from the same idea that building a more powerful machine will grant the best experience possible. Only problem is that PC specs change all the time, to a point where I think most people just give up trying to remember code names & series numbers for said CPU, GPU generation.

When the PS3 was announced what was the only thing most people threw around? THE CELL!! OMG the most powerful machine ever!!! with X360 IBM powerPC or Xenon. Same thing. But at least in consoles you can learn what these specs mean for the most part because they are not going to change for at least 5 years.

While Nvidia has been through 13 different brandings for their GPUs and AMD has been through a similar number of branding not including absorbing and replacing the ATi brand. That is too many for the average consumer to know about much less be able to keep up with.

That is another underlying problem with the PC manufactures. They tend to confuse mass consumers with all these numbers even though most of these cards are the same as the last generation only slightly tweaked. With recent cards in mind Nvidia's GT platform from 200s - 400s were basically the same cards only more refined, yet as time went on each series was pronounced to be miles better than the last. Same goes for Ati/AMD their 3000 - 4000 series were just more refined versions of the last but were marketed as the next greatest thing. I get it, its marketing but its that marketing that turns most people off.

It makes it seem almost wasteful to invest in a PC, when dollar for dollar a PC is no more expensive than a console.

[LeShin]

A great and well written article...and I fully agree with your point of view!