The PC is still the best all round in my view - FPS (keyboard and mouse), Strategy (not possible on console), Driving (with wheel), Flight Sims (Joystick). There's nothing a PC cant do, so i dont see why it should be on the decline. There is just a hell of a lot more hype for new consoles coming out.
Treatment in media is definitely one big factor shadowing PC gaming...
Console games are favored in media pretty much always.
Good example is that it's always PC games which are accused of increasing violence! But how often have you seen consoles accused of that despite all kind of beat em ups have been basic games of most consoles from start?
But what is damaging PC gaming is definitely this hyping of need for Crossfire/SLI and games made to them incited by graphic card makers... and what's worse then these claimed to be "PC gaming enthusiasts" playing parrot with that in everywhere!
I don't see why any rational people should get excited about need to buy second expensive, power hogging, hot running component. And miraculously for human specie majority of people acts rationally in that.
Gameplay, content and story should be higher on priority instead of "best" graphics!
Good example is Max Payne 2, when it was released it run reasonably well on average PCs of time and graphics are still decent today. But gameplay and story haven't deteriorirated a day. (if you don't have it I strongly suggest to get it)
And like Peter450 said sloppiness of code definitely plays big part in insane hardware requirements. And I don't think Microsoft is helping any with their idea about advanced OS being one which hogs as much power and resources as it can.
Maker of 3DMarks, Futuremark (former MadOnion) which itself was originally "spin off" of Remedy Entertainment (Max Payne games) has actually founded own "spin off" called Futuremark Games Studio. While Futuremark is called with such "fond" names like "Enslaver of new hardware" they know how different hardware behaves and they're intending to make game engines such that they scale well meaning reasonably good graphics also on moderate PCs.
So let's hope that they'll succeed well.
Console games are favored in media pretty much always.
Good example is that it's always PC games which are accused of increasing violence! But how often have you seen consoles accused of that despite all kind of beat em ups have been basic games of most consoles from start?
Consoles are and will be always that "lowest denominator" so there's no point in making PC games so that they can run directly equally well in them because that will mean low resolution textures and lot of such compromises and limitations.
But what is damaging PC gaming is definitely this hyping of need for Crossfire/SLI and games made to them incited by graphic card makers... and what's worse then these claimed to be "PC gaming enthusiasts" playing parrot with that in everywhere!
I don't see why any rational people should get excited about need to buy second expensive, power hogging, hot running component. And miraculously for human specie majority of people acts rationally in that.
Gameplay, content and story should be higher on priority instead of "best" graphics!
Good example is Max Payne 2, when it was released it run reasonably well on average PCs of time and graphics are still decent today. But gameplay and story haven't deteriorirated a day. (if you don't have it I strongly suggest to get it)
And like Peter450 said sloppiness of code definitely plays big part in insane hardware requirements. And I don't think Microsoft is helping any with their idea about advanced OS being one which hogs as much power and resources as it can.
Maker of 3DMarks, Futuremark (former MadOnion) which itself was originally "spin off" of Remedy Entertainment (Max Payne games) has actually founded own "spin off" called Futuremark Games Studio. While Futuremark is called with such "fond" names like "Enslaver of new hardware" they know how different hardware behaves and they're intending to make game engines such that they scale well meaning reasonably good graphics also on moderate PCs.
So let's hope that they'll succeed well.
ahh Max Payne 1 & 2 two of the finest games ive ever played and Max Payne the movie is coming out