The PC is Dead: True or False?

By canana, Posted 01 Sep 2010
A console is created so that people can have fun with a gadget dedicated exclusively - rather, especially - to play virtual games. In a way, the PC has always been considered as a device to the world of video games. Machines like the Super Nintendo, the PlayStation 2 and Xbox show that quality can be offered through devices focused on games. However, the architectures between consoles and PCs have become increasingly similar. Nothing better than the devices known as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 to exemplify this. The truth is that these two consoles are much more powerful than existing computers on the market. The PS3, for example, is capable of running Blu-ray, access the Internet via a web browser, copy and store a variety of reasonably media files ... Finally, the uses are diverse and go beyond "mere" playing games of last generation. The special features really make the difference in time of an acquisition of a platform.
 
 
Multiple Functions consist of one of several factors that highlight the reduction in demand for computers as a source  to entertainment. The strong piracy has caused many companies to begin to scratch the PC from the list of targets for new products. It's amazing how many people who do not values the fruit of arduous efforts through legal ways to purchase games. As console makers have taken stronger measures to fight illegal sources, PC games distributors also decided to enter the fray with the famous DRM (Digital Rights Management). Thus, there were limitations in the use of games distributed digitally via services like Steam, Valve,etc. Still, piracy is a problem ... Not all companies that focus on the online distribution of games, much as the number of titles available through Steam, has grown so scary. Anyway, times have changed, and the consoles gradually began to take the reign previously occupied by the impetuous PC.
 
 
 
 
 
There's a sort of barrier. After all, it's worth to develop a computer game or not? Peter Molyneux, in an interview with Switche found that the games are popping up in computers. Check out some of the words uttered by the head of Lionhead Studios (Fable franchise developer):
 
"It seems that I was born on the PC. I felt that this thing was quite open and it was great. When I went to the console, I felt I was almost stuck in a box. But know I realize it is solidified - like ' this is the case, that's it, you will have more or less than that. 'It was a good experience. But now they are giving us new pieces of hardware. Kinect, Move. The surprising aspect of the PC, which is not today, is that the gaming experience is reborn on that platform. It seems that everything comes to 'gaming' is radically changing ... And I do not know why all the others, as AAA, can not incorporate this type of interaction. Just imagine: A character on screen able to meet with you, spend time with you, see you, and empathize with you. This changes everything, because there is no art of narrative or character development that is being defined in the film industry - we will be something new and completely different. I really believe that when we get those experiences when you're noticed as a player, we'll have things that are not even in our dreams. "
 
 
Many indicate that even the kinect Project - also compatible with computers - will be interesting for the resurgence of the PC as a platform for games. Indeed, several critics and developers suggest that, after this slight decline the computer will gain strength again. The inventor of the first personal computer (Henry Edward Roberts) died at 68 years on 1st April 2010, but the machine remains firmly in the technological universe. Analysis of even powerful notebooks like Dell Alienware M11x, indicate that users of different lifestyles are entitled to have fun  with big games. Franchises like Grand Theft Auto had a more impressive start on the PC and then began to make success on consoles. Today, action third-person perspective is a very intense kind outside the PC. Well, the actual GTA IV was only released for PC after a few months after the release of consoles. Darksiders is another example. What kept the computer on active duty during that time in the world of games? Digital distribution, hardware modification, compatibility with more than perfect MMOs (World of Warcraft and its more than 11 million subscribers) ... Finally, the PC is still the best option for many gamers.
 
 
 
 
 
 John Clark, SEGA's technical director in UK, says: "The PC market is the third in relation to annual performance. There is a decline of 26%, but that does not really reflect the true picture. Trade Digital PC is a viable industry at the moment, but somehow does not appear to Chart-Track (the company responsible for monitoring sales in the area). The block of computers in general, is currently having a much better performance than has been declared and is still a strong and vital area for embarking. Last month shows SEGA's position within that sector. Napoleon: Total War, Football Manager 2010 and Aliens vs. Predator are three different titles in three different genres. All they can lead a strong fan community with the ability to consistently offer several hours of fun. Coincidentally, all are developed in the UK. In 2009, SEGA was the second largest distributor in the computer market. So far in 2010 we are again in second place. "


Yeah, 2009 was quite a year for the PC. The financial crisis hit the world economy in full, for sure, but the market for computer games was not that bad. The organization known as the PC Gaming Alliance showed that worldwide revenues in this sector - including digital sales, subscriptions, micro-transactions and online advertising - was $ 13.1 billion (about U.S. $ 23.1 billion at the current exchange rate), which indicates an increase of 3% compared to 2008. Not bad, huh?
 
 
 
 
The analyst at Wedbush Morgan, Michael Pachter told GameTrailers that the industry is in decline in the PC and the main reason is the constant improvement of the consoles over time, while the PS3 and Xbox 360 are more powerful than the least eight out of ten computers. "If you take into account only the products sold physically in the PC market - and not only World of Warcraft - this represents only 6% or 7% of total sales. This is an industry in decline, because you can have an experience close to PC in a console. "

The analyst says that the PlayStation 3 is a very powerful equipment, and is probably more powerful than 90% of PCs out there. Meanwhile, the Xbox 360 is technically superior to about 85% of home computers. Pachter also says that the audience for consoles is wider and makes the video game table may be more attractive to developers and distributors.
 
 
You believe that the PC is in decline, has never been weak or has always been the most significant platform for gaming?
 
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  • The fact that World of Warcraft alone can almost compete with Xbox Live (considering that WoW is a game compared to a service that lets you play many games), not to mention the millions of other games.  Basically, Blizzard has kept the modern PC gaming alive (Starcraft, WoW, Diablo, etc).


    Posted Sep 01, 2010
  • The PC is alive and ready, bro.
    Posted Sep 01, 2010

  • PC isn't dead. I could of thought so before, but ever since I embarked myself in PC gaming, I can definitely say that PC gaming is well alive. There's really only the PC fanboys who think consoles are the devil, these are the people to blame for the rumor of PC gaming being dead, because they tend to spread it around like a disease.



    Consoles are just much more accessible to most people, as you don't have to worry about as many things as when you game on PC, even simple things like  "Will my PC be able to run this game?". With a console, you just take the disc, put it in and it works. Can't have any easier than that.. Since they're easy to use and accessible to anyone, it isn't a surprise that they got more popular or talked about than PC gaming over the years.



    But in terms of power, consoles will never match a good PC, the only thing it lacks is optimization.


    Posted Sep 02, 2010

  • PC gaming is alive,IT'S ALIVE. :p Before I had a PC to game on perhaps I thought it wasn't, that it was a dying thing. But then my view started to change once I found out about Steam,once I found out so many people were using their PCs, so many people were building PCs just for the gaming purpose. I don't know if it has ever been weak as I wasn't always intune with the PC gaming world. But I know that for now and the forseeable future I will be gaming on my computer.


    Posted Sep 02, 2010

  • PC isn't dead, never will be. The PS3 and 360 are some power machines but do we really need all that processing power to have a good time?


    Posted Sep 02, 2010

  • Neah, the PC isn't dead at all and it won't become for years to come because it offers a key factor "the freedom of choice". What I mean is that you can make your own build that suits your needs be it for gaming or other activities, to stuff it full with tons of programs that may change your overall gaming experience or keep it nice and simple. It offers the ability to make hardware and software optimizations that will give your rig a big advantage and on the same time it offers multitasking, allowing you to do lots of  other things while you are playing a game.



    Besides, the PC isn't generarily viewed as a gaming console because of the millions of things that you can do on it and diversity is undoubtably it's prime perk. Considering the tons of things you can do on a PC that you can't on a console(or not to the same degree) and at the same time offering the possibility to play the games that you are willing to invest for, will certainly assure it's success for years to come.


    Posted Sep 02, 2010

  • Can't agree with Michael Pachter. PC isn't not less than any console. In fact a good gaming PC is better than any console. I realized it when I moved from my Xbox360 to PC. I miss the exclusives but the fun remains the same.


    Posted Sep 02, 2010

  • Michael Pachter is just a statistician and I dont know whether he plays games that much. As far as PC games is concerned some of the games that are exclusives to PC really stands out. What about Starcraft II? Its an awesome game. Also in future we will see Witcher II and Diablo III. Diablo II has been popular for at least 10 years and still the game does not show its age. What developers need to do is to create games that make similar impact what Diablo II did. Think about DoTA. Although it was meant to be addon, it created a revolution in pc gaming. What PC needs is innovative games enough to create revolution.


    Posted Sep 03, 2010

  • Except for few exclusive games, a gaming PC is as good as any console imo.


    Posted Sep 03, 2010

  • the PC is not dead, or even on life suppport, it is as strong as ever.


    Posted Sep 03, 2010

  • The PC is not dead... or will be for a very long time...



    I have not seen very enjoyable RTS games on the PS3, XBox 360, etc...



    and I have not seen CoH on the PS3 nor the 360... only on the PC...


    Posted Sep 04, 2010

  • Singapore wouldn't have existed if PC were dead. That's all I will say.


    Posted Sep 04, 2010

  • There is still a lot PCs can do that consoles can not.


    Posted Sep 07, 2010

  • Very interesting discussion topic here, especially for PC gamers like me. This has occupied my mind for a couple of years now and I would say PC gaming is in Coma. It has become really hard to be a PC gamer these days. First of all, to name a few problems, we have to wait much longer for the PC version of popular games. Some of the best games around for example Uncharted or Heavy Rain are console exclusives titles. The games are becoming so big and they always need upgrades software like dual core, top graphic cards, Rams etc. Also where I live, there are a lot of faulty PC copies around but xbox and PS3 gamers can play all top games without any problem and......


    Posted Sep 11, 2010

  • No, it's not dead. Because at the very least, I'm still playing PC games. :)


    Posted Sep 15, 2010

  • about the piracy, i must say that b4 steam... i used to buy games but than it really broke my heart to find that i buy games n just because i dont have an internet connection i could not play the games("as i leave in africa a place where an internet connection wuld be like a link to heaven"). im not much into consoles n the last console i played was a ps2 n hated it so just to suggets that the pc is dead feels like a spear through my heart n as for piracy i think developers shuld find a better way to protect games coz there is no way ill spend my money on a game tht need an internet connection to play.


    Posted Sep 18, 2010

  • I don't think PC gaming is declining. It just that consoles fan base are now larger than before. Right where I live, the most popular games are PCs like WoW, DoTA and Counter Strike.



    I love how Pachter remove WoW out of the equation to prove his point. Brilliant douchebaggery!

    Posted Sep 26, 2010

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