[PCWorld]

Post your comments for PC Gaming Enters a New Cycle here

[CannibalCat]

It will be a LONG time before games on PC's are declared endangered, let alone dead.
With your average console costing the same as a decent PC and only a bit less than a decent gaming PC (which is capable of doing a heck of a lot more than just gaming. Try programming in C or Java with a console, or editing in Photoshop/GIMP), there's little reason NOT to have a PC.
Hell, I have three PC's in my house, two of which are hooked up to televisions that can not only play games, but run any Windows/Linux program out there. With their HD graphics cards and costing less than $350 each, they're comparably priced and LOTS more powerful than any gaming console.

[simpleminded]

@Jared Newman

Thanks for a PC related article that isn't doom-n-gloom or just starter fodder for the writer to gush about Apple anything. Here at macworld that's a rare thing.

[waldojim]

Some of us try to keep up on the PC gaming because some games are just more fun on the PC. I get the feeling BF3 is going to have ... unusual game play regardless of platform, and is certainly a strain for the average PC.

Rage showed us what better planing can achieve.

Now Skryim is here to show us the difference between PC's and Consoles. This isn't just about hitting technological limits though, there are differences in how you can game as well. Skyrim on 3x or even 6x 1080P displays is something that can be done on PC's but never even considered with a console. That is a whole different gaming experience.

[Mombasa]

Console games are just too restricting, graphics just too basic when compared to a semi-decent pc gaming rig.

[damitch]

I agree that PC's are a better gaming platform. Plus there upgradeable anytime.
However, it seems that PCs are increasingly being ignored when big games are published, i.e. Madden 12 and NCAA 12.
I haven't seen any studies, but I'll bet PC gamers tend to be older than console gamers (Wii excepted) and are not in the prime target demographic.

[Vulpinemac]

CannibalCat, on 13 November 2011 - 08:37 AM, said:

It will be a LONG time before games on PC's are declared endangered, let alone dead.
With your average console costing the same as a decent PC and only a bit less than a decent gaming PC (which is capable of doing a heck of a lot more than just gaming. Try programming in C or Java with a console, or editing in Photoshop/GIMP), there's little reason NOT to have a PC.
Hell, I have three PC's in my house, two of which are hooked up to televisions that can not only play games, but run any Windows/Linux program out there. With their HD graphics cards and costing less than $350 each, they're comparably priced and LOTS more powerful than any gaming console.

waldojim, on 13 November 2011 - 01:27 PM, said:

Some of us try to keep up on the PC gaming because some games are just more fun on the PC. I get the feeling BF3 is going to have ... unusual game play regardless of platform, and is certainly a strain for the average PC.

Rage showed us what better planing can achieve.

Now Skryim is here to show us the difference between PC's and Consoles. This isn't just about hitting technological limits though, there are differences in how you can game as well. Skyrim on 3x or even 6x 1080P displays is something that can be done on PC's but never even considered with a console. That is a whole different gaming experience.

Mombasa, on 13 November 2011 - 01:44 PM, said:

Console games are just too restricting, graphics just too basic when compared to a semi-decent pc gaming rig.

damitch, on 13 November 2011 - 04:00 PM, said:

I agree that PC's are a better gaming platform. Plus there upgradeable anytime.
However, it seems that PCs are increasingly being ignored when big games are published, i.e. Madden 12 and NCAA 12.
I haven't seen any studies, but I'll bet PC gamers tend to be older than console gamers (Wii excepted) and are not in the prime target demographic.

Personally I agree that PC gaming is better--simply because you have more control; you're limited by the number of available buttons on the average console--no matter the brand.

That said, the quality of the game is just as important as the platform it runs on. I've tried a number of different PC and Console games and each have games I really enjoy, but when it comes to FPS or TPS I prefer the PC and the ones I like best are MMOs. Even when an MMO has a console and a PC version available, I prefer the PC version more--again because of the control, not any perceived difference between PC or Console graphics capabilities.

[waldojim]

Vulpinemac, on 13 November 2011 - 05:13 PM, said:

Personally I agree that PC gaming is better--simply because you have more control; you're limited by the number of available buttons on the average console--no matter the brand.

That said, the quality of the game is just as important as the platform it runs on. I've tried a number of different PC and Console games and each have games I really enjoy, but when it comes to FPS or TPS I prefer the PC and the ones I like best are MMOs. Even when an MMO has a console and a PC version available, I prefer the PC version more--again because of the control, not any perceived difference between PC or Console graphics capabilities.

I think FPS needs to carry more than just one genre these days. Fallout 3/NV, Rage, Half Life 2, etc are all first person shooters in that regard, yet none are what I consider console games. They MUST be played on a PC to appreciate them. However, for Modern Warfare 3, BF 3, etc the console is the only way to go. The matchmaking system, the controls, etc, just lead to considerably more fun in the games.

RPGs are another matter altogether. Be it MMO or not, there is not one instance I have found the console to have preferable game play. Not one.

[karthiq]

As long as the PC exists, PC gaming will exist.