Because places like play and amazon and steam and d2d and impulse or all completely out of reach of console gamers?
Even if all they own is an iPhone for connecting to the internet they can still view the pc games section easily online.
Is PC games being faded out in shops
- Thread starter D.Roberts
- Start date
Because places like play and amazon and steam and d2d and impulse or all completely out of reach of console gamers?
Even if all they own is an iPhone for connecting to the internet they can still view the pc games section easily online.
I dont think that while ever there is games shops then they will cut out PC gaming altogether (Edit: what a **** poor sentence. my bad. Basically meant I doubt they will ever cut out pc games sold in shops no matter how few they seem to be). There is still a profit in it fir them even if it seems marginal compared to the top consoles, but especially when a big release is coming (i.e. starcraft2, WoW: Cataclysm) I dont think they would want to lose out the custom just for the sake of a few shelf space.
Digitial release is fine and convenient in the same way that the local rental store is. Still prefere hard copies (reasons said many times on here and dont wish to go into it again) which are catered for in my local games shops where only around 1 in 4 have reduced the amount of PC games space in the last 3 or so years (although 3 years ago PC space was still the smallest so its not saying much).
Second hand is where its at anyway: Splinter Cell 1 for 25p baby!
Digitial release is fine and convenient in the same way that the local rental store is. Still prefere hard copies (reasons said many times on here and dont wish to go into it again) which are catered for in my local games shops where only around 1 in 4 have reduced the amount of PC games space in the last 3 or so years (although 3 years ago PC space was still the smallest so its not saying much).
Second hand is where its at anyway: Splinter Cell 1 for 25p baby!
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Associate
They did at one time. I remember before I got my PC (still had an Amiga at the time) and went to look in a shop in Meadowhall because the entire window was set up to advertise the original Alone in the Dark.
They actually had PCs set up running stuff back then.
Soldato
I think it's because they can not compete at all with online shops who sell PC games at at least half the price half the time. They can't make enough money to justify the space, which could be taking up by the hordes of games now available for all current gen consoles.
Must admit, when I go to my favourite supermarket I used to like looking for a bargain PC game but they removed the shelf
, it's a "extra" store aswell.I actually prefer just downloading games (from steam), far easier, more convenient than going into the shop and being offered a game reward card about 100 times a sale.
I don't think it should be the case for all games, but I remember when I was buying a Half Life years ago to play Counter-Strike, all the serial keys were in use. Items like this were saved from fraud.
I don't think it should be the case for all games, but I remember when I was buying a Half Life years ago to play Counter-Strike, all the serial keys were in use. Items like this were saved from fraud.
I find it so annoying that back in the day you could return games that had no copy protection, but now with online authentication, required permanent broadband connections, securom etc you can return nothing. How easy is it for PC gamers to meet minimum specs yet have games utterly fail? Very unfair.
Man of Honour
@OP:
Please edit the title of your first post. It causes me physical pain whenever I read down the list posts in the forum :*(
Please edit the title of your first post. It causes me physical pain whenever I read down the list posts in the forum :*(
Associate
YES it is but on the flip side there seems to be less demand for PC games therefore they are less expensive then console games (except for the PC exclusives)
Soldato
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O Hai and welcome to 2010
Soldato
Been like this for years. Worked in a computer games shop 15 years ago and even then console games were taking up 4/5 of the shelves and were were talking about the death of PC gaming...... I think it is more resilient than most people think.
That said, in this day and age I would imagine console to PC games must sell at easily 40:1
That said, in this day and age I would imagine console to PC games must sell at easily 40:1
Associate
Thing is how many people actually go into a shop to buy a pc game? i have plenty of games for my pc but think the last time i went to a shop for a pc game was maybe 7years ago lol. Allways get my games online
Soldato
When there was no protection, it must have been in the early 90s, people did just take games back after they installed them, well I did.
In the past 3-5years, before you bought the game in a shop they would ask "Will your PC run this?", you would say aye. The store policy would mean if you did have a problem because of your PC, then you wouldn't be able to change it for a different game to avoid fraud.
So online buying is pretty much the same. Beauty is though, most games have demos via Steam for example, so you can play them before buying the game and the likelyhood is, if the demo works the full game will.
Associate
It was nice to see that they had brought back the Pc games section in my local GAME store, back to having a nice wall section and a few shelves elsewhere.
Yea, used to seeing a single column of shelves dedicated to PC games now, hidden away behind the Wiimotes. Sad, but at least I can still go in on a whim and buy 3 for £10
Tbh if it's not as viable a revenue stream as high stocks of console games, then fair play to them. There are plenty of sources for PC games on the internet, with competitive pricing (damn steam sales taking all my money
).oh and "PC gaming is dead!!!11!" and all that stuff..
Associate
I've noticed the lack of PC games in stores, but I still see PC Gamer and such in WH Smiths. Occasional pick it up and can't say I've noticed any lack of PC mags.
Permabanned
Always been like this.
GAME offer a very good selection, they have a big "sold out" budget range and they have all the chart games. They do "2 for £15" on some quite newish games and "2 for £25" on more recent games, so they have their uses.
Gamestation have always been terrible for pc games, theyve never been a big fixture in other shops, I see some HMV's that have a okish selection and also some bargains to be had.
My nearest wh smiths have custom pc, pc gamer, pc zone *edit : RIP*, pc format and all the other pc advice type mags.
My local SPAR even used to have pc gamer, now they have 1 xbox mag, 1 ps3 mag and this bog roll called "games master".
GAME offer a very good selection, they have a big "sold out" budget range and they have all the chart games. They do "2 for £15" on some quite newish games and "2 for £25" on more recent games, so they have their uses.
Gamestation have always been terrible for pc games, theyve never been a big fixture in other shops, I see some HMV's that have a okish selection and also some bargains to be had.
My nearest wh smiths have custom pc, pc gamer, pc zone *edit : RIP*, pc format and all the other pc advice type mags.
My local SPAR even used to have pc gamer, now they have 1 xbox mag, 1 ps3 mag and this bog roll called "games master".
Can't say I miss them much in shops since I barely go into them in a first place. I haven't bought a game from a shop (bar occasional second hand deal when they used to sell them) for probably 5 years now. Also with the big shift towards digital era from likes of Steam, D2D, GFWL, GoG, etc I'm not sure sales have necessarily gone down by that much, they are just happening along different distribution channels.
Its not because pcs are dying its just retailers are stupid and cant figure out how to sell them.
It is sad because it cuts off impulse buying, everything online has a review or some opinion attached, stops people from buying things that are outside there subscribed circle that they may find interesting.
It is sad because it cuts off impulse buying, everything online has a review or some opinion attached, stops people from buying things that are outside there subscribed circle that they may find interesting.
One of the major reasons for the decline of PC games at retail is that retailers are now glorified pawn shops - 80% of their business is second hand games.
You can't sell modern PC games second hand due to DRM and CD keys, so each PC game can only be sold once. Console games can be sold, traded in for paltry sums and then resold at £5 less than the new price multiple times, each time making a fat profit for the retailers, while none goes back to the developer and publisher.
You don't see Waterstones stocking second hand books and promoting them over new. You don't see HMV selling second hand DVDs and CDs, but the game retailers think it's OK to kill off an entire platform at retail because they're fixated on profits from second hand games.
You can't sell modern PC games second hand due to DRM and CD keys, so each PC game can only be sold once. Console games can be sold, traded in for paltry sums and then resold at £5 less than the new price multiple times, each time making a fat profit for the retailers, while none goes back to the developer and publisher.
You don't see Waterstones stocking second hand books and promoting them over new. You don't see HMV selling second hand DVDs and CDs, but the game retailers think it's OK to kill off an entire platform at retail because they're fixated on profits from second hand games.
Associate
Our local Gamestation has no PC games at all, Game has a pitiful section, But surprisingly, HMV has just as much as the consoles near enough.