What is the state of PC gaming?

Back in the 90s PC gaming was insanely popular, consoles couldn't even compete. But now things are a bit different. Consoles are looking more and more like cheep gaming PCs and the price to have an actual state-of-the-art gaming PC keeps getting higher. So what is the popularity of PC gaming today?

I think some genres are overly represented while others are neglected to varying degress.

That can be said for the consoles as well though.

It's sad to say, but it's not quite as big as it was back in the 90's. Back then, gaming stores had huge sections devoted to PC games. Now, there's usually just a small area or a single shelf.

It's dieing actually, gonna die in '10.

As was just said, PC gaming is hardly getting more and more expensive. On the contrary, getting a PC that runs most games on highest settings (excluding highest AA/AF) and high resolutions is probably cheaper than ever. Where does this myth that PC gaming is so prohibitly expensive come from?

Popularity of PC gaming may have declined somewhat, but if you take a look outside North America, PC gaming is still huge. Last time I checked, PC gaming was still bigger here than console gaming is (I live in Sweden).

It's sad to say, but it's not quite as big as it was back in the 90's. Back then, gaming stores had huge sections devoted to PC games. Now, there's usually just a small area or a single shelf.

sonicare

It's dieing actually, gonna die in '10.

-PuLse

PC to the more casual market has 2 "big games" and that is WOW and The Sims. Anything out of those 2 games you will find a more PC hardcore gamer auidence. With games such as CnC out for consoles etc the average consumer will go to the Console. PC gaming will not be killed off by consoles if the trends follow just dont expect block buster games to be coming out to the PC. :(

As was just said, PC gaming is hardly getting more and more expensive. On the contrary, getting a PC that runs most games on highest settings (excluding highest AA/AF) and high resolutions is probably cheaper than ever. Where does this myth that PC gaming is so prohibitly expensive come from?

Popularity of PC gaming may have declined somewhat, but if you take a look outside North America, PC gaming is still huge. Last time I checked, PC gaming was still bigger here than console gaming is (I live in Sweden).

It's dieing actually, gonna die in '10.

-PuLse

It was also supposed to die in '08, '07. '06, '05, '03, '02, '01 etc

It's sad to say, but it's not quite as big as it was back in the 90's. Back then, gaming stores had huge sections devoted to PC games. Now, there's usually just a small area or a single shelf.

sonicare

PC to the more casual market has 2 "big games" and that is WOW and The Sims. Anything out of those 2 games you will find a more PC hardcore gamer auidence. With games such as CnC out for consoles etc the average consumer will go to the Console. PC gaming will not be killed off by consoles if the trends follow just dont expect block buster games to be coming out to the PC. :(

o0squishy0o

[QUOTE="-PuLse"]

It's dieing actually, gonna die in '10.

swazidoughman

It was also supposed to die in '08, '07. '06, '05, '03, '02, '01 etc

The fact that you get alot more out of a gaming PC than a console is enough of a reason for me to say its in a great state.

[QUOTE="swazidoughman"]

[QUOTE="-PuLse"]

It's dieing actually, gonna die in '10.

adamosmaki

It was also supposed to die in '08, '07. '06, '05, '03, '02, '01 etc

PC gaming is doing just fine. It's actually more popular wordwide now then it has ever been. Graphics card sales alone account for more then all console sales combined. And having a state of the art gaming rig is actually cheaper now then it was back in the 90's.Buying 16-32 mb's of system ram and a 8 mb videocard would have set you back a $1000 back in the day.

Nowadays you can get 4 Gb's of ram for less then $100 and a very powerful graphics card for under $250... PC gaming isnt that expensive unless you have to build a ridiculously expensive machine just for bragging rights.

Consoles are the ones with an unforseen future. They dont know what they're suppsed to be. Are they watered down gaming PCs? (360) An all in one entertainment hubs? (PS3) Simplified gaming machines? (Wii) Until they fix their identitiy crisis and become what they were back in the past (a cheap gaming machine and nothing more) I would worry more about consoles then PC's.

PC gaming is doing just fine. It's actually more popular wordwide now then it has ever been. Graphics card sales alone account for more then all console sales combined. And having a state of the art gmaing rig is actually cheaper now then it was back in the 90's. Having 16-32 mb's of system ram and a 8 mb videocard would have set you back a $1000 back in the day.

Nowadays you can get 4 Gb's of ram for less then $100 and a very powerful graphics card for under $250... PC gaming isnt that expensive uless you have to build a ridiculously expensive machine just for bragging rights.

Consoles are the ones with an unforseen future. They dont know what they're suppsed to be. Are they watered down gaming PCs? (360) An all in one entertainment hubs? (PS3) Simplified gaming machines? (Wii) Until they fix their identitiy crisis and become what they were back in the past (a cheap gaming machine and nothing more) I would worry more about consoles then PC's.

PC gaming is doing just fine. It's actually more popular wordwide now then it has ever been. Graphics card sales alone account for more then all console sales combined. And having a state of the art gmaing rig is actually cheaper now then it was back in the 90's. Having 16-32 mb's of system ram and a 8 mb videocard would have set you back a $1000 back in the day.

Nowadays you can get 4 Gb's of ram for less then $100 and a very powerful graphics card for under $250... PC gaming isnt that expensive uless you have to build a ridiculously expensive machine just for bragging rights.

Consoles are the ones with an unforseen future. They dont know what they're suppsed to be. Are they watered down gaming PCs? (360) An all in one entertainment hubs? (PS3) Simplified gaming machines? (Wii) Until they fix their identitiy crisis and become what they were back in the past (a cheap gaming machine and nothing more) I would worry more about consoles then PC's.

It's great and not going ANYWHERE.

It's sad to say, but it's not quite as big as it was back in the 90's. Back then, gaming stores had huge sections devoted to PC games. Now, there's usually just a small area or a single shelf.

price to have an actual state-of-the-art gaming PC keeps getting higher. So what is the popularity of PC gaming today?

clubsammich91

Back in the 90s PC gaming was insanely popular, consoles couldn't even compete. But now things are a bit different. Consoles are looking more and more like cheep gaming PCs and the price to have an actual state-of-the-art gaming PC keeps getting higher. So what is the popularity of PC gaming today?

clubsammich91

Anyway the state of PCgaming? There's a big change occuring right now. The biggest mainstream devs are going multiplatform(with few exceptions of course), the upgrade cycle slowed down (a computer from 2007 is still more than enough today) at the same time the shift of biggest devs to consoles as well as the explosion of digital distribution has caused the ressurgence of small niche devs. Genres that were though to be lost and abaddoned are now coming back to life (like simulators, 4X, adventure), small independent developers are doing great (while on consoles they're dying out, it seems in console market you either get bought out or go bancrupt) and overall revenues from PCgaming are growing on steady basis.

Bassicaly the state of PCgaming is that it's growing and at the same time changing into more independent driven market, with games portofilo resembling what PCgaming was in late 80s and early 90s