Ken Levine on the future of PC Gaming

I thought this was a very cool comment/article by Ken Levine about the future of PC Gaming on Kotaku.

The Future of PC Gaming, According To The Lead Creator Of BioShock

"... Then, I boot something up. Today, it's Civ 5. Yesterday, it was the Cataclysm beta. The day before, Minecraft, or Torchlight.

Later on in the evening, I'll boot up the 360, or the PS3. And at bedtime, it's the iPad, which I read until I fall asleep. Maybe I'll pass out playing 100 Rogues or Sword & Poker.

But when it comes down to it, as a gamer, I'm a PC. I like the kind of games you can play on it. I like that designers know they have your full attention, so they feel comfortable EXPECTING your full attention. I like the ergonomics of the thing, the mouse and keyboard, the effortless transition from gaming to browsing to typing. I'm an alt-tab kind of guy.

What's the future of the PC? Social games? MMOs? Freemium?

if I know. But I know this: The PC will always be the place that drives innovation. The PC is the place where great game developers are born, even—and maybe especially—where great console game developers are born. Halo, Mass Effect, Call of Duty…PC developers first. And it's on the PC where the leading-edge ideas form, primarily because the barrier of entry is low and you can have an idea that goes like this:

"Hey, I've got an idea!"

"Cool! Who do we need to approve this idea?"

"Umm…nobody?"

And then the idea gets done. Because magic can happen when there are no middle men, no marketers, and no naysayers.

Sometimes it's a disaster. In fact, usually it is. Most ideas are terrible.

But sometimes it's Steam.

And sometimes it's modding.

And sometimes it's Minecraft.

And then we all, gamers and developers, get to high-five the universe and think about how lucky we are."

I don't like the values that his games try to profess, but i greatly respect him as a game developer. He's one of the best. And that comment about game developers having your full attention on PC is exactly the reason i don't game on consoles very much. I just feel detached from the experience, unlike on the PC.

He makes some good points. The system is much more open to newer developers and indie developers, and allows for some pretty awesome ideas to come about.

Console devs are limited to an extent by their manufacturers or publishers, but it doesn't mean cool stuff isn;t born on the consoles either.

Then why is he making dumbed down, consolised garbage for PC?

Then why is he making dumbed down, consolised garbage for PC?

Baranga

What exactly is "conosolised" and how does it affect the game ??

[QUOTE="Baranga"]

Then why is he making dumbed down, consolised garbage for PC?

CSM_Rampage

What exactly is "conosolised" and how does it affect the game ??

Same here. What consolized games is he talking about?

[QUOTE="Baranga"]

Then why is he making dumbed down, consolised garbage for PC?

CSM_Rampage

What exactly is "conosolised" and how does it affect the game ??

X-Com. One of the greatest strategy games of all time is now becoming a shooter

[QUOTE="CSM_Rampage"]

[QUOTE="Baranga"]

Then why is he making dumbed down, consolised garbage for PC?

jun_aka_pekto

What exactly is "conosolised" and how does it affect the game ??

Same here. What consolized games is he talking about?

$50 says that this thread is going to be ignored8) Too much truth for SW

I find this odd coming from the guy who sacrificed depth of gameplay for console audience appeal.

The PC will always be the place that drives innovation. The PC is the place where great game developers are born, even—and maybe especially—where great console game developers are born. Halo, Mass Effect, Call of Duty…PC developers first. And it's on the PC where the leading-edge ideas form, primarily because the barrier of entry is low and you can have an idea that goes like this

Very well put!

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

[QUOTE="jun_aka_pekto"]

[QUOTE="CSM_Rampage"]

What exactly is "conosolised" and how does it affect the game ??

Arach666

Same here. What consolized games is he talking about?

In what ways is System Shock better ?? As for the new X-Com it would probably suck even if it was a RTS. Look at Command and Conquer 4.

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

VanDammFan

Hehe, You maaaaaaaad!

[QUOTE="Arach666"][QUOTE="jun_aka_pekto"]

Same here. What consolized games is he talking about?

CSM_Rampage

In what ways is System Shock better ?? As for the new X-Com it would probably suck even if it was a RTS. Look at Command and Conquer 4.

Story wise,Bioshock is almost a complete rip off of it as well.

X-Com RTS would not suck if given to a good strategy developer,and there are many of those. EA(C&C4)is not one of them.

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

VanDammFan

[QUOTE="VanDammFan"]

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

xXDrPainXx

YEP..and I got a headache too..:(

In what ways is System Shock better ??

CSM_Rampage

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

VanDammFan

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

VanDammFan

[QUOTE="VanDammFan"]

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

TheMistique

You act like consoles are something new bro? Umm...they been around longer than you.lol..If they havent "held" back PC gaming in the past why you think they will now? Is it because developers realize that there is more money to be made on consoles over the last 15 years? OR that there are more bugs to work out on PC programing so they choose to stick with something that has the same "build" and easier to develope for? Dont hate consoles gaming as IM sure you grew up on it just like most people have. OH except the "cool" kids here that swear they were playing and building their pcs from age 3.

One day we will all be playing games on ONE single platform. Its going to happen...so then everyone can quit crying about everything.."yearight"

[QUOTE="CSM_Rampage"]

In what ways is System Shock better ??

foxhound_fox

True. I was a Bioshock fan until I played some old game the haters were always talking about. I never looked back at Bioshock the same way.

SS2 is an action adventure, survival horror/RPG. Bioshock basically is a FPS with some remnants of a RPG system and adventuring.

[QUOTE="VanDammFan"]

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

TheMistique

The casual gamers are not the problem. I'm sure the PC is still the king of casual gamers. The problem is more the focus of the gameplay and it's usual limits we can encounter on consoles. Gameplay on consoles usually gets stuck in a lower range than in PC.

[QUOTE="xXDrPainXx"][QUOTE="VanDammFan"]

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

VanDammFan

YEP..and I got a headache too..:(

[QUOTE="jun_aka_pekto"]

[QUOTE="CSM_Rampage"]

What exactly is "conosolised" and how does it affect the game ??

Arach666

Same here. What consolized games is he talking about?

[QUOTE="Arach666"][QUOTE="jun_aka_pekto"]

Same here. What consolized games is he talking about?

YuriSH

[QUOTE="TheMistique"][QUOTE="VanDammFan"]

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

VanDammFan

You act like consoles are something new bro? Umm...they been around longer than you.lol..If they havent "held" back PC gaming in the past why you think they will now? Is it because developers realize that there is more money to be made on consoles over the last 15 years? OR that there are more bugs to work out on PC programing so they choose to stick with something that has the same "build" and easier to develope for? Dont hate consoles gaming as IM sure you grew up on it just like most people have. OH except the "cool" kids here that swear they were playing and building their pcs from age 3.

One day we will all be playing games on ONE single platform. Its going to happen...so then everyone can quit crying about everything.."yearight"

[QUOTE="VanDammFan"]

[QUOTE="TheMistique"] sorry but not everyone wants to sit back and watch as the gaming industry get's ruined by consoles and their casual gamers. maybe what everyone is saying wont help but at least it's the truth.Iantheone

You act like consoles are something new bro? Umm...they been around longer than you.lol..If they havent "held" back PC gaming in the past why you think they will now? Is it because developers realize that there is more money to be made on consoles over the last 15 years? OR that there are more bugs to work out on PC programing so they choose to stick with something that has the same "build" and easier to develope for? Dont hate consoles gaming as IM sure you grew up on it just like most people have. OH except the "cool" kids here that swear they were playing and building their pcs from age 3.

One day we will all be playing games on ONE single platform. Its going to happen...so then everyone can quit crying about everything.."yearight"

[QUOTE="Iantheone"][QUOTE="VanDammFan"]

You act like consoles are something new bro? Umm...they been around longer than you.lol..If they havent "held" back PC gaming in the past why you think they will now? Is it because developers realize that there is more money to be made on consoles over the last 15 years? OR that there are more bugs to work out on PC programing so they choose to stick with something that has the same "build" and easier to develope for? Dont hate consoles gaming as IM sure you grew up on it just like most people have. OH except the "cool" kids here that swear they were playing and building their pcs from age 3.

One day we will all be playing games on ONE single platform. Its going to happen...so then everyone can quit crying about everything.."yearight"

alexside1

Cause I never bothered to change it. Also I love Zelda, and Im sorry but when I was saying "consoles" I was leaving out the Wii. It doesnt belong in discussions like these cause its off doing its own thing, and doing it very very well.

[QUOTE="alexside1"][QUOTE="Iantheone"] I started on consoles, and the only reason why I switched to PC gaming was because I moved countries and had to leave my consoles behind. No matter what way you look at it, consoles are dumbing down the industry. The games are made to please a huge audience, but have very little artistic or even technological value. The consoles hardware and such are limiting the growth of pc gaming since devs make games to sell, not to be played and those sorts of games sell best on consoles. The reason why they didnt hold back PC gaming before is because they WERE a seperate system. There werent as many multiplats as there are now. Look at the 360, MS is trying so hard to make it into a PC. They tried to blur the lines between its games and their PC games (Live, anyone?).Iantheone

Cause I never bothered to change it. Also I love Zelda, and Im sorry but when I was saying "consoles" I was leaving out the Wii. It doesnt belong in discussions like these cause its off doing its own thing, and doing it very very well.

2 bad piracy is killing PC gaming.

2 bad piracy is killing PC gaming.

crusadernm

2 bad piracy is killing PC gaming.

crusadernm

[QUOTE="VanDammFan"]

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

TheMistique

2 bad piracy is killing PC gaming.

crusadernm

Killing it in what way exactly? It still has the most developer support... Oddly enough :?

[QUOTE="CSM_Rampage"]

[QUOTE="Baranga"]

Then why is he making dumbed down, consolised garbage for PC?

What exactly is "conosolised" and how does it affect the game ??

X-Com. One of the greatest strategy games of all time is now becoming a shooter

[QUOTE="crusadernm"]

2 bad piracy is killing PC gaming.

alexside1

[QUOTE="Iantheone"]

[QUOTE="alexside1"] Then why in the world do you still have zelda in your avatar?alexside1

Cause I never bothered to change it. Also I love Zelda, and Im sorry but when I was saying "consoles" I was leaving out the Wii. It doesnt belong in discussions like these cause its off doing its own thing, and doing it very very well.

[QUOTE="TheMistique"][QUOTE="VanDammFan"]

Really getting tired of all this ignorant PC fanboy hate on consoles over every little thing that goes on in the gaming world. You will soon have to realize that games are more important to the general public on console then a PC. I dont care how important a PC is to the making of games. I dont care how many lan parties are out there. I dont care how awesome your 1080+ graphics are..It dont matter.

SRS...get over the bashing cause its getting extremely old now..

lazerface216

^^^that's the dumbest thing i've ever read on here, and that's saying something. if anything, console are helping keep gaming alive...

[QUOTE="lazerface216"]

[QUOTE="TheMistique"] sorry but not everyone wants to sit back and watch as the gaming industry get's ruined by consoles and their casual gamers. maybe what everyone is saying wont help but at least it's the truth.DragonfireXZ95

^^^that's the dumbest thing i've ever read on here, and that's saying something. if anything, console are helping keep gaming alive...

consoles have always been mainstream for the past 25+ years actually. yet amazing games are still being released year after year after year...

i don't see the problem. were you *****ing to your friends 20 years ago when platformers were dominating the industry?

[QUOTE="DragonfireXZ95"][QUOTE="lazerface216"]

^^^that's the dumbest thing i've ever read on here, and that's saying something. if anything, console are helping keep gaming alive...

lazerface216

consoles have always been mainstream for the past 25+ years actually. yet amazing games are still being released year after year after year...

i don't see the problem. were you *****ing to your friends 20 years ago when platformers were dominating the industry?

Consoles were much less mainstream then they are now. This gen is considered the most popular in terms of gaming ever. We've had huge explosions with all the ads, call of duty rehashes, rock band, guitar hero games, etc.

It's never been this popular ever, and now gaming is suffering because of it, imo.