Why PC's Will Overtake Consoles: An Opinion and a Prediction

In this constantly-changing high-tech world we live in, only one thing is certain: Nothing is certain.

However, I have seen a trend recently towards the integration of different aspects of technology. Originally, there were separate systems for many purposes. There were MP3s for music, Betamax/VHS/DVD players and televisions for movies, phones for calling people, computers for computing advanced programs, speakers for audio, and so on.

Nowadays, you see people with iPhones. They use these iPhones not only as phones, but for browsing the internet, playing video games, listening to music, and even watching movies. Amazing, don't you think? Where am I going with this? I'll tell you. Video gaming consoles started in the '70's in arcades so people could play 2-D sidescrolling games... Then home consoles were introduced, with the Atari and the NES. Slowly but surely, computers became powerful enough to overcome the graphics barrier in video games, becoming not only capable of playing games, but capable of anything required from a multimedia center and workhorse machine, also offering access to a variety of communication methods. There may be some multimedia features in consoles as well, but would many people truly use an Xbox for work? I doubt it. The PC is also the birthplace of many great developers of games, creating successful indie studios that eventually become the next big AAA+-blockbuster-title-producing-developer-studio with tons of fans.

The PC is not dead. In fact, it is growing and becoming more popular and accessible as an all-in-one home device. One of the main reasons consoles have so far been the more popular and accessible option for gamers is because of their lower price tag. This counts A LOT, even if PC and console spending may even out eventually. This is a barrier that has already come close to finally toppling, with Intel and AMD's newest integrated graphics on their processors. The only other real barriers I see are marketing and exclusive features. The consoles are well-known and make a lot of money in part because of their effective marketing. They make it seem as if the gaming world revolves around them, and that they are the newest, shiniest, best things in the market since sliced bread. This could be overcome if PCs had more profit in the video gaming communities and lower price points. Exclusives on consoles could be overcome by widening the PC audience and profit margins, so that developers would be even more interested than they already are.

Think about this: Millions of people today use PCs or Macs, and many of them own these powerful machines. What if every PC about the same price as a console could play beautiful games in stunning high resolutions with smooth frame rates and excellent gameplay? What if, farther on, ALL PCs could play games that well? This is integration. This is the trend I foresee, because consoles are the opposite of integration. I think the PC's golden years have not passed. I believe they are merely about to begin.

Who knows when any of this could happen, or how long it lasts before smart phones and tablets take over, or if an ultra-portable form of computer may take over everything as the one-stop entertainment, work, and social connectivity platform. Nothing is for certain. I just wanted to post this thread to share my thoughts, my love of PC gaming, and the opinions of all the people on this forum.

Consoles will assimilate the gaming market in the future. Resistance is futile, give up your fight PC fans :P

There's a thread like this every other day here in system wars with little to no evidence to back it up.

computer sales can only grow and if they find a way to produce computers that are all capable of playing the newest games, then consoles will have to invent something else, and they're already doing it with services and peripherals like Kinect, Move, Wiimote etc. because in this era where multiplates dominate the scene, you need to try and give the system a unique identity and exclusives can't do it anymore, cause gamers are not the only target anymore, but as you know the mass is.

however I, as a gamer, need to play Nintendo franchises and for that I need their console.

Consoles have their place. PCs have theirs. I think the console companies need to back off trying to be like PC and be more focused on games, otherwise they'll just end up as limited PCs with less overall practical application and performance.

I'm sure one person predicting the rise of PC's in the fall of (highly profitable I may add) consoles makes it true instead of allllll those people claiming PC gaming is either already dead or heading there.

Personally I think they are both bs, but if one had to die I think the accessible, marketable and "no constant expensive upgrades necessary" nature of consoles would give PC's the boot, especially when some of the biggest companies (such as Rockstar Games and Infinity Ward) either don't care about it at all or barely enough to get a console port.

Now I don't hate PC, but right now its more of a haven for independent games and an occasional exclusive RTS or MMO game so there isn't much money to be made by betting that PC's will kill console gaming.

It's 3:30am so I didn't bother reading all that... but, what do you mean "will" overtake... they already have. There are more PC gamers in the world than consoles.

Here is the reality...

Almost every house in a modern society has either a PC or a Mac. They have multitudes of functions and have become a necessary part of our daily lives whether it be for work, school or entertainment. The consoles are simply a luxery. They are a convienient way to play games and movies. However, the days of the PC being relegated to some desk in the corner are over. You can take your PC or you Laptop and hook it up to your flatscreen HDTV. They sell wireless M/KB set ups. Heck, you can even use a wireless XBOX 360 controler on a vast majority of games like Crysis 2, The Witcher 2 and more. Why in the world will people continue to shell out $400, 500 or even 600 dollars on consoles when the PC offers them everything the need for a similar price? I may be speaking for myself here, but unless MS, Nintendo or Sony absolutely blow my mind with their next gen of consoles, the XBOX 360 will be my last!!!

PC's can't overtake consoles. They're already far ahead consoles.

Errr since when did consoles overtake PC's?

The PC and PC gaming has always been bigger than consoles.

There will always be a market for consoles until PC gaming has console like ease of use. I've been lucky with my PC gaming experiences because I have so few PC games, but when I go on forums for Civ 5 and I read threads like, "Help, the install program won't run." or "the game keeps crashing to the desktop when I try to load a save" I know that console gaming will still be around for a long time. For all the benefits of PC gaming, headaches like that are enough to keep consoles around.Senor_Kami

Sorry, until PC can be smaller like a console, yet, still do what it does better than a console without costing so much more.....WAIT! That's never happening.TruthBToldShow

I think both the traditional console and PC gaming will eventually give way to cloud gaming where you can play your games on any device, be it your TV, computer or phone. Until then they will exist side by side like before.ManicAce

This is probably true but not for a long time. Cloud computing will be great when we all have super fast, stable and error free internet connections. Until that day it's a liability and if you lose net connection for any reason or can't route to your cloud you have litterally lost the ability to do anything gaming or application wise with your devices.

The only real thing that keeps pc gaming away from many people is all the pc that come with intel junk graphics. It should be illegal to sell a pc with a quad core cpu without a mid range graphics card. If those intel graphics can get replace by ati or nvidia card pretty much any computer would be a gaming computer. imprezawrx500

[QUOTE="imprezawrx500"]The only real thing that keeps pc gaming away from many people is all the pc that come with intel junk graphics. It should be illegal to sell a pc with a quad core cpu without a mid range graphics card. If those intel graphics can get replace by ati or nvidia card pretty much any computer would be a gaming computer. lowe0

I think imprezawrx is saying that the video card is usually what stops folks from having a computer already in their home capapable of playing many new PC games. Many folks get lolled buying computers without a true understanding of what they are actually purchasing. I don't know how many times I personally get called from family and friends (or there family) saying they bought a 600-800 dollar computer from a best buy, walmart, staples but they cannot run 1080p youtube videos, bought X game and it will not play, or something else hiccuping. I look at it and see a ok quad core 4 gigs of ram, good harddrive but what seems to be always missing is ok video card and only have intel integrated graphics... Really, it has nothing to do that computers have intel intergrated its more educating the public on good choices out there. Thats what I was getting with his statement. Not that any company should be forced to sell a product or that Nvidia or AMD has failed anything. Its all about educating the populace.

[QUOTE="lowe0"][QUOTE="imprezawrx500"]The only real thing that keeps pc gaming away from many people is all the pc that come with intel junk graphics. It should be illegal to sell a pc with a quad core cpu without a mid range graphics card. If those intel graphics can get replace by ati or nvidia card pretty much any computer would be a gaming computer. jedikevin2

I think imprezawrx is saying that the video card is usually what stops folks from having a computer already in their home capapable of playing many new PC games. Many folks get lolled buying computers without a true understanding of what they are actually purchasing. I don't know how many times I personally get called from family and friends (or there family) saying they bought a 600-800 dollar computer from a best buy, walmart, staples but they cannot run 1080p youtube videos, bought X game and it will not play, or something else hiccuping. I look at it and see a ok quad core 4 gigs of ram, good harddrive but what seems to be always missing is ok video card and only have intel integrated graphics... Really, it has nothing to do that computers have intel intergrated its more educating the public on good choices out there. Thats what I was getting with his statement. Not that any company should be forced to sell a product or that Nvidia or AMD has failed anything. Its all about educating the populace.

unfortunately (for you), your hypothesis is not supported by any statistics or numbers. console sales and popularity are not in a decline, but rather the contrary. Consoles have been consistently growing since...... oh, I dont know........ the beginning of video games.

unfortunately (for you), your hypothesis is not supported by any statistics or numbers. console sales and popularity are not in a decline, but rather the contrary. Consoles have been consistently growing since...... oh, I dont know........ the beginning of video games.

arbitor365

Yes, since upgrading a computer to play games has always been such a popular idea amongst gamers. That's definitely going to catch on.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, PC's had a large market in the early to mid 90's. Consoles had a large market as well. Consoles have since gained most of the market. That's the way it is. PC gaming is still great, I really don't see the problem.

[QUOTE="arbitor365"]

unfortunately (for you), your hypothesis is not supported by any statistics or numbers. console sales and popularity are not in a decline, but rather the contrary. Consoles have been consistently growing since...... oh, I dont know........ the beginning of video games.

PC_Otter

[QUOTE="PC_Otter"][QUOTE="arbitor365"]

unfortunately (for you), your hypothesis is not supported by any statistics or numbers. console sales and popularity are not in a decline, but rather the contrary. Consoles have been consistently growing since...... oh, I dont know........ the beginning of video games.

Sp4rtan_3

[QUOTE="arbitor365"]

unfortunately (for you), your hypothesis is not supported by any statistics or numbers. console sales and popularity are not in a decline, but rather the contrary. Consoles have been consistently growing since...... oh, I dont know........ the beginning of video games.

PC_Otter

alot has changed since the atari age. thats like saying

"well...... the Spanish Inquisition happened once. it could happen again. watch out, Spain."

Most gamers don't like constantly upgrading to the best hardware to play the best games. That's why console gaming has taken away a significant PC market share over the last 10 years or so. I don't see PC gaming reclaiming those gamers. KC_Hokie

When did Pc gamers have to "constantly upgrade to the best hardware to play the best games"?

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Most gamers don't like constantly upgrading to the best hardware to play the best games. That's why console gaming has taken away a significant PC market share over the last 10 years or so. I don't see PC gaming reclaiming those gamers. jedikevin2

When did Pc gamers have to "constantly upgrade to the best hardware to play the best games"?

[QUOTE="jedikevin2"]

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Most gamers don't like constantly upgrading to the best hardware to play the best games. That's why console gaming has taken away a significant PC market share over the last 10 years or so. I don't see PC gaming reclaiming those gamers. KC_Hokie

When did Pc gamers have to "constantly upgrade to the best hardware to play the best games"?

So your bases is 1987-2008? Ok.. I thought you were talking within the realm of this generation of games. So the argument is buying new consoles vs upgrading in a 11 year span you presented. So in the end we are argueing from pretty much the:

• Nintendo
• Sega Genesis
• Neo Geo
• Atari Jaguar CD
• Panasonic 3DO FZ-10
• Sega CD for Genesis 2
• Sega CDX
• Sega Genesis 2
• Sega Genesis 32x
• Sega Saturn
• SNK NEO-GEO CD
• Sony PlayStation
• Nintendo 64
• Sega Dreamcast
• Sony PlayStation 2
• Sony PlayStation PS1
• Ps3
• Xbox
• Gamecube
• 360
• Wii
  

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"][QUOTE="jedikevin2"]

When did Pc gamers have to "constantly upgrade to the best hardware to play the best games"?

jedikevin2

So your bases is 1987-2008? Ok.. I thought you were talking within the realm of this generation of games. So the argument is buying new consoles vs upgrading in a 11 year span you presented.

Console gamers don't have to upgrade their system for that entire generation which is 6+ years on average. PCs have actually lost ground to consoles and I don't see them taking it back.

P.S. Nice signature. I was one of the testers for the original Counterstrike. Cliffe lived in my dorm.

This is why this is an Opinion its not a very good one at that lol

[QUOTE="jedikevin2"]

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]Is that a serious question? I was a PC first gamer from 1987-2008 and can't even begin to count the number of PCs and hardware upgrades I had to go through to play the top games.KC_Hokie

So your bases is 1987-2008? Ok.. I thought you were talking within the realm of this generation of games. So the argument is buying new consoles vs upgrading in a 11 year span you presented.

Console gamers don't have to upgrade their system for that entire generation which is 6+ years on average. PCs have actually lost ground to consoles and I don't see them taking it back.

P.S. Nice signature. I was one of the testers for the original Counterstrike. Cliffe lived in my dorm.

YOu have to upgrade every year and a half? I find that extremely hard to believe. I have friends on e4400's, athelon x2's, q6600, offcourse 8800 gt etc.. This "have to upgrade every year and a half" seems FAR off base.. Why do you think a person Has to upgrade that fast?

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]

[QUOTE="jedikevin2"]

So your bases is 1987-2008? Ok.. I thought you were talking within the realm of this generation of games. So the argument is buying new consoles vs upgrading in a 11 year span you presented.

jedikevin2

Console gamers don't have to upgrade their system for that entire generation which is 6+ years on average. PCs have actually lost ground to consoles and I don't see them taking it back.

P.S. Nice signature. I was one of the testers for the original Counterstrike. Cliffe lived in my dorm.

YOu have to upgrade every year and a half? I find that extremely hard to believe. I have friends on e4400's, athelon x2's, q6600, offcourse 8800 gt etc.. This "have to upgrade every year and a half" seems FAR off base.. Why do you think a person Has to upgrade that fast?

The money you have to spend on hardware and constant upgrades is what drove me away from PC gaming. I likely never coming back as a PC first gamer. I also doubt PC gaming will make up the ground they lost to consoles over the last 10 years any time soon.

I suppose if you spend $1500+ of your PC you wouldn't have to upgrade as frequently.

The money you have to spend on hardware and constant upgrades is what drove my away from PC gaming. I likely never coming back as a PC first gamer. I also doubt PC gaming will make up the ground they lost to consoles over the last 10 years any time soon.

KC_Hokie

So now if you spend 1500+ dollars you don't have to upgrade as frequently.. Where is all this information coming from? We went from having you upgrade every year and a half to now you ok if you spent 1500+ dollars.

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]

I suppose if you spend $1500+ of your PC you wouldn't have to upgrade as frequently.

The money you have to spend on hardware and constant upgrades is what drove my away from PC gaming. I likely never coming back as a PC first gamer. I also doubt PC gaming will make up the ground they lost to consoles over the last 10 years any time soon.

jedikevin2

So now if you spend 1500+ dollars you don't have to upgrade as frequently.. Where is all this information coming from? We went from having you upgrade every year and a half to now you ok if you spent 1500+ dollars.

Are you trying to argue you only have to upgrade your PC about every 6 years now to play the best games? What are you trying to say?

[QUOTE="jedikevin2"]

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]

I suppose if you spend $1500+ of your PC you wouldn't have to upgrade as frequently.

The money you have to spend on hardware and constant upgrades is what drove my away from PC gaming. I likely never coming back as a PC first gamer. I also doubt PC gaming will make up the ground they lost to consoles over the last 10 years any time soon.

KC_Hokie

So now if you spend 1500+ dollars you don't have to upgrade as frequently.. Where is all this information coming from? We went from having you upgrade every year and a half to now you ok if you spent 1500+ dollars.

Are you trying to argue you only have to upgrade your PC about every 6 years now to play the best games? What are you trying to say?

Personally, 5-6 could be it. I know guys rocking duel cores, q6600's and old 8800gts and play games perfectly at 1366x768 hdtvs. I know guys playing on P4's with hyperthread sitting on 15 inch monitors at 1280x720 and game just fine. Its all what a person wants. Saying that "you have to do X to ...." just seems like a far stretch. In this day and age where the games haven't exactly pushed hardware specs on Pc side, people can game on systems for years. I know where your coming from as your looking in times up to the pentium 4 and even older which was pretty bad on prices but at the same time, your logic suggest you would have had to buy like 20-30 consoles to play the "best games". Its a trade off there..

In the end, I feel people do not "have to" upgrade every year and a half nor do they have to have 1500+ dollar computers to be able to play longer then that time frame.

[QUOTE="KC_Hokie"]

[QUOTE="jedikevin2"]

So now if you spend 1500+ dollars you don't have to upgrade as frequently.. Where is all this information coming from? We went from having you upgrade every year and a half to now you ok if you spent 1500+ dollars.

jedikevin2

Are you trying to argue you only have to upgrade your PC about every 6 years now to play the best games? What are you trying to say?

Personally, 5-6 could be it. I know guys rocking duel cores, q6600's and old 8800gts and play games perfectly at 1366x768 hdtvs. I know guys playing on P4's with hyperthread sitting on 15 inch monitors at 1280x720 and game just fine. Its all what a person wants. Saying that "you have to do X to ...." just seems like a far stretch.

Consoles last 6+ years and are about $350 on average for the lifespan of that console.

PC gaming is a long ways off from retaking the gamers they lost. When Bill Gates decided to put DirectXon a console he took away a huge percentage of the PC gaming market. And it will be at least a decade before it starts coming back in large numbers. Bill Gates really is a genius.

To future proof a PC to have to run the best games on half decent settings without upgrades means you're spending a good $2000 new.

Consoles last 6+ years and are about $350 on average for the lifespan of that console.

PC gaming is a long ways off from retaking the gamers they lost. When Bill Gates decided to put DirectXon a console he took away a huge percentage of the PC gaming market. And it will be at least a decade before it starts coming back in large numbers. Bill Gates really is a genius.

KC_Hokie

I'm just using your logic here.. If I was to take a new 2500K intel build, pop in somthing like a AMD6970 and play on a 20 inch monitor at 1650x1080p spend about 1000 dollars for it it will not be playing playing the "best games on half decent settings" in a year and a half?

I must not be adding things up right or something. We've gone from, year and a half, to 1500 dollars to 2000 dollars? I'm beyond confused right now. The numbers are not adding up here.

The way i see it, it's just easier to buy a console....