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MiGSY · 6 Apr 2006 at 13:37

Bad news. Most likely they'll be shifting development primarily to the 360, meaning us PC users will be getting poorly ported, simplified and dumbed down console games from now on.

Loki · 6 Apr 2006 at 14:23

Didnt Steve Balmer say that a lot more was going to be invested in the PC platform. Basically he agreed Microsoft had neglected it and would be looking to redress the balance with launch of Vista

NumptyUK · 6 Apr 2006 at 14:38

well , better MS buying him out than someone like EA. At least he should still produce some variety and creative games. Well ok maybe not variety, God Game v10000 maybe.

neoboy · 6 Apr 2006 at 14:56

While we may get more "conversion" type of games it's not such a bad thing since at the moment xbox 360 is very capable in terms of graphics so we won't lose out that much on graphics and bad textures. Now the simplified menus can be annoying but I'd rather have that than no game at all.

MiGSY · 6 Apr 2006 at 14:59

neoboy said:
While we may get more "conversion" type of games it's not such a bad thing since at the moment xbox 360 is very capable in terms of graphics so we won't lose out that much on graphics and bad textures. Now the simplified menus can be annoying but I'd rather have that than no game at all.

What about a few years down the line? When PC's are leaps and bounds ahead of the 360 in terms of graphical output?

sOLId sPOnGe · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:06

MiGSY said:
What about a few years down the line? When PC's are leaps and bounds ahead of the 360 in terms of graphical output?

That doesn't matter though does it? The console market is always going to be stronger than PC games market, hence developers make more money making console games.

neoboy · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:07

Then we have to deal with it or start buying more games so PC market becomes more financiable viable option. Apparently the next version of windows is going to simplify games for the average joe so maybe the situation will improve but at current rate I just see the PC market being dominated by a few large companies and we all know that monopoly won't be good for the games.

MiGSY · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:18

sOLId sPOnGe said:
That doesn't matter though does it? The console market is always going to be stronger than PC games market, hence developers make more money making console games.

Eh?

My point is that a few years down the line, us PC gamers WILL be losing out as we'll be getting poorly ported console games which don't make use of the PC's graphical potential because they've been developed primarily for consoles. As a PC gamer, that matters to me.

JimJones · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:29

It's best not to think how this will effect future pc games. By the time the graphics gap is that big I think there will be a new console out. PC tech has advanced greatly over the last few year however I don't think that it will continue. Technology for graphics is slowing down the difference between the x1800 and x1900 isn't that great. I'm not to worried about the future of pc games. Things have hit a rut now most games released are remakes or sequels. There are very few *new* games out and I don't see that changing in the near future.

Jim

MiGSY · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:33

JimJones said:
It's best not to think how this will effect future pc games. By the time the graphics gap is that big I think there will be a new console out.

I somewhat doubt that. Look at the PS2/Xbox generation. The PC was WAY ahead graphically for years before the 360 was released.

dEl_fUEGo · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:38

Plus in around 6 months we will have a better set of graphics cards available to buy than what the consoles have to offer. In 2005 the pc games market grew by around 10% where as the console game market grew by only 5%. Fast forward 10 years and it looks sweeter and sweeter for the pc. Show me a console game that has 6 million+ subscribers like World of Warcraft? Revenue on game sales are better because console games cost more.

EDIT: If there are 6/7 billion more games being sold for the console (which most are utter carp) than the pc but the market trend continues in the way it has in 2005 the console future doesnt look as rosey as it does today. If i were to invest in gaming for the long term i know where my money would go, slow and steady all the way.

DrEvil · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:19

Interesting - I'm in a building just across from their HQ in Guildford (Lionhead, not M$

).
Best check on the way home to see if their building's logo has been updated to 'Microsoft's Lionhead studios'

Inquisitor · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:31

dEl_fUEGo said:
Plus in around 6 months we will have a better set of graphics cards available to buy than what the consoles have to offer. In 2005 the pc games market grew by around 10% where as the console game market grew by only 5%. Fast forward 10 years and it looks sweeter and sweeter for the pc.

You have to remember, though, that the console game market was far bigger to begin with, so a 5% difference between console and PC game sales does not mean much. Besides, game sales are bound to fluxuate from year to year, and what's more, that was before the release of the next gen consoles, which is bound to boost console game sales massively.

dEl_fUEGo said:
Show me a console game that has 6 million+ subscribers like World of Warcraft? Revenue on game sales are better because console games cost more.

Well, for a start, consoles don't have any MMORPGs yet; but I'm sure there are games that have sold more than 6 million copies on the console anyway.

Loki · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:37

Year on Year PC Games are up. However console games have more titles beign released (almost 30% more) and they sell in a greater volume. I don't see this as the Death knell of the PC gamer just yet. However the point about badly ported games is valid.

neoboy · 6 Apr 2006 at 17:02

Well PC gaming will never die, we might just go through a slow phase for a bit but we bound to recover if new windows delivers in terms of what it promises to the gaming world (put the disc in and just play and number scheme for requirements). This is bound to attract more average joe users who are the biggest piece of the console market and who are scared by all the numbers in system requirements. I mean if you can just put a disc in and play the game, more people are bound to buy it as that's the same as with consoles, now while PCs are more expensive they can do more than play games and play DVDs.

Matmulder · 6 Apr 2006 at 17:53

There is a "PC Gaming is dying" thread every time a new console comes out. I remember it when the PS1 was on the horizon.

We probably are getting more console ports - I can only dream of what Oblivion would have been like had it been PC only...

But PC gaming will continue to live on. Its still the best platform for RPGs, simulations and the mod community.

fdxd · 6 Apr 2006 at 19:14

People here are pretty ignorant about the sales. Console and pc games dont tend to mix much either. Half Life has never been much of a success on consoles since it is made for pc gamers ground up. Same Halo wasnt much of a success on pc.

Graphics cards sales have been up year on year and one thing not tracked is sales and revenue made via online and downloadable games. Success of games like BF2 and WOW have surprised many. Lots of people download via Steam. Its only the beginning. Ofcourse its still a learning stage

but so far so good.

Gerard · 6 Apr 2006 at 21:15

Mr hype has been signed by ms, :eek:

I think his games would do much better if he'd stop talking out his ass about them having x amount of features only to cut a load of them just to get the game shipped.

SCM · 7 Apr 2006 at 02:42

PC games outsold the last xbox games wise by a factor of 5 last year so PC is still strong.

As to Peter joining microsoft, hopefully he is allowed to work on games for the PC with free reign as otherwise poor console ports here we come.

SCM