News Sega: PC market is bigger than you think

I can't really comment on your own experience. But in the UK and London, most people do their 'high-end' gaming via consoles, whereas AAA level PC gaming is like some kind of "hidden, underground way to game".

Some people I know who work in various high street stores, such as PC World, can also confirm the general lack of public awareness about PC gaming.

Of course, everyone already knows about popular PC casual games like Solitaire, MSN games, and Facebook games. So in that sense, everyone does know about PC gaming. But very casual gaming.

AAA level PC gaming has almost zero advertizing for the general public and relies mostly on word of mouth.

When it comes to AAA level gaming, people may walk into a PC World store looking to buy what they see 24/7 on TV: XBOX or PS3.

Even if they accidentally notice a PC version of Call Of Duty on the shelf, they don't normally know what to think of it, because nobody has explained it to them. They don't know, for example, how it's gonna play and whether it will be as good as the console versions. So they automatically think it can't ever be like an XBOX game.

Most customers don't stand there thinking: "Should I get the game for PS3, XBOX or PC?"; "Should I get the digital download version of the game from Steam?"; "Should I upgrade my PC's graphics card for this game?"; "How much is an exact 'XBOX-equivalent' PC graphics card gonna cost".

No. They are more likely to only be thinking of XBOX or PS3, because that's all they really know about.

My own experience has proven that once people are educated about all of their choices and not just the ones heavily advertized on TV, I have been surprised how easy many people have gotten into PC gaming, and more and more console gamers are asking me to build them a Gaming PC. I'm not saying everyone is going to rush towards PC gaming. But the fact here is that the general lack of public awareness about higher-end PC gaming is a much bigger reason for most living rooms being console-only than any other factor.

The article talks about digital download versions of PC games and how the focus on the year-on-year reduced PC sales can mislead you into thinking that less and less people each year are buying games for PC. I don't know what the real true world statistics are.

However, over the years, I have bought less and less boxed retail PC games, and I have contributed to the year-on-year PC game declining statistics. Instead, I have purchased most games for digital download from online stores, such as Steam, Metaboli and EA download store.

These are what the article refers to as 'invisible' PC sales.

 

Anyone would get upset if they heard you of all people trying to promote PC gaming.

You are well known to deliberately exaggerate the cost of PC gaming and tell people that they must have at least a $500 graphics card, so it's no surprise that you have had the complete opposite experience to the positive experience I have had.

I don't lie to people, I tell them as it is.

I tell them about minimum specs as well as what I would recommend they go for. I show them what their games will look like at each level. I show them the sharpness of true PC native resolutions compared to upscaled console resolutions. I show what advanced PC Anti-Aliasing and high PC frame rates do and they are sold.

From what I have seen, most people who are heavily into games such as The Sims or WOW, are usually not the same people who will have higher-end rigs and are interested in playing games like Crysis. In fact, a few WOW gamers I know only ever play WOW and nothing much else. I know of one particular whole family (brothers, sisters, dad, mum, uncles) who are hooked on WOW. Most of them have never heard of Crysis until I mentioned the game to them.

I have also recently started to hear console-only gamers talk to me about Crysis, only now after they read about the multiplatform Crysis 2 in a console game mag.

I have never seen the PC-exclusive original Crysis advertized anywhere that the general public can be notified about its existence.

But everyone has seen TV commercials for the XBOX-exclusive FORZA.

I also see the same multi-platform commercials you are talking about as well:

In terms of the commercials promoting the PC version, it usually means nothing more than: showing you the PC version's game cover with the other platform versions at the very end of the commercial.

Most people watching these commercials don't sit there thinking "Why would I play an exact XBOX port on a PC?" - even if they managed to properly notice that crucial one second moment in time when the PC game cover was displayed.

In terms of certain multiplatform game commercials directly 'pushing' people to buy one platform version over another, there are more than plenty of those.

At the end of the multiplatform commercial, you may witness an aggressively styled voice telling you to get the game now on XBOX 360. They will even show you the XBOX 360 console and its retail price, 'pushing' the viewer to walk into a high street store and buy a new XBOX 360 to play this game.

I would be very interested to know if you have ever heard them tell you to get the PC version and then show you an awesome gaming PC rig with a side window and all types of lights and guns hanging off the sides. Have they ever shown say an ALIENWARE™ with an cool alien-styled voice saying "Let the invasion begin" and telling the viewer to go to alienware.com ?

 

Every time a new multiplatform game is coming out, I always have someone ask me if I am going to get this new game. If I say yes, the next question they ask is whether I am getting the XBOX 360 version or Playstation 3 version. If I say I'll be getting the PC version, 9 out of 10 of them did not know there was a PC version. These people watch the same TV commercials, but don't notice a PC version. These console gamers are also the very same people who also own PCs at home.

So contrary to what you are saying, PC penetration in every home does not automatically promote PC gaming.

Of course, people will play a casual game of Solitaire (I even play it sometimes) because it's there.

A lot of people get introduced to Facebook games when they log into their Facebook.

However, most of these people are never going to hear about Crysis or the PC version of Call Of Duty automatically just because they have a PC at home.

If you go into the Windows 7 games folder, you will see a link at the top of the page under "Game Providers" for "More Games from Microsoft". This link takes you to a world of more casual games. But you will notice that there is no such link to Steam or Microsoft's "Games For Windows" site which would have made sure you at least become aware of hardcore PC gaming.

Also, you talk like hardcore gaming is dying when 'most' of the console gamers I have ever met would class themselves as hardcore gamers.

Casual gaming is indeed growing, and especially with the Wii console, more females are getting into casual gaming.

But that doesn't mean hardcore gamers are shifting towards casual gaming.

Most console gamers I know laugh at any game with crap graphics, and they want the best graphics to push their console to its limits.

They prefer to play hardcore games like GTA, FORZA, Gran Turismo and Call Of Duty. They usually only play casual games, such as on a cellphone, when they haven't got access to hardcore games. They are now getting excited about Crysis 2.

These hardcore console gamers (along with hardcore PC gamers) are part of a very large market that is not going to disappear. They need to be catered for.

More games publishers will be smart to take advantage of the growing casual and internet social gaming trends.

But that doesn't mean these companies are planning to miss out on the solid hardcore gaming market.

 

I'm fully aware of how vast the PC gaming library is. I've spent the best part of my life playing it. But I wasn't talking about that. Go read the article and then my post again. You can of course disagree, but keep your lame insults to yourself.

 

Actually I am not a professional salesman actively promoting PC gaming. Hence why some of my long time friends have only recently gotten into PC gaming only after either seeing one of my PC builds or by gathering enough information from me regarding their curiosity about why I usually get the PC version of multiplatform games.

Contradicting your conclusions, they were already hardcore console gamers, so I did not need to 'sell' them the consoles that they already had.

Whenever people, family or friends, ask me these types of questions, I can't help but to be honest. It's the truth. Why am I buying the PC versions of games when I have the consoles and can buy the versions that most of my friends prefer me to buy. I have to give honest answers.

If it's for the advanced PC framerates or to take advantage of high def FRAPS game recording, then I am not gonna lie.

When the PC version of Dirt 2 demo was released last year, one of my friends who rarely visits sat in the room the first time I fired up the demo on the PC. The first comment he made when he found out I was loading on PC and not PS3 or XBOX, was: "It won't look good, will it?". Anyway, as soon as the game loaded, he said "The picture looks so clear." His exact words. Now, to cut a long story short, I have since built him a PC. He could have upgraded his original, but would have been advised to change his case and power supply at least. He chose to keep his existing PC for another room and go for the option of all new parts including bluray recorder. I never told him to get a Level 10 case, but he wanted one. He thinks Level 10 are a work of art. His choice. The system is doubling up as a HTPC in his living room connected to two screens (a small monitor and 50inch HDTV). Other people have since seen his system and there's this thing called word of mouth.


Now for the real exciting part:

I will explain to you why most of my friends have only recently heard of Crysis. Get ready for this ... It's because .... wait ... first ... it is ... first, they don't look at the PC section of game websites. Second .... wait ... Gametrailers does not broadcast on live TV to the general public, so has nowhere near the same level of affect on the general gaming public as a website anyway. Third, we have various popular Console Game Magazines in the shops that are dedicated to reviewing and previewing console games. The latest editions are all going on about Crysis 2 and how good the graphics will be. Now as these gamers are hardcore gamers who are sold on anything with good graphics, the game is already a win. The magazines mention that Crysis 1 was PC exclusive. So guess what... they come to people like me and ask me if I have heard of Crysis. They don't even remember when I originally asked them about Crysis. Some of these people regularly visit Gametrailers and never heard of Crysis before.

2 years ago, when I asked some of these same people if they have heard of the game Crysis, they seriously thought I was talking about 'Time Crisis' for the Playstation. The only people I have ever met who heard about Crysis at the time were some existing hardcore PC gamers who already had it.


About ALIENWARE, they sell them in PC World stores. They used to also sell Dell XPS machines before Dell replaced them with their ALIENWARE brands. They also have others, such as the Acer Predator systems. These machines sell. Obviously not anywhere near the regular PCs.

They would shift a lot more ALIENWARE if PC gaming was not some kind of "hidden, underground way to game".

These machines are not going to be purchased by the average casual gamer looking to play Solitaire. A potential buyer usually needs to understand what type of games are available to play on a gaming PC, which is why some PC stores are displaying the latest PC game titles on the same shelf right next to the gaming PCs.

 

Who ever put farnesworth up there get's some props. Someone who isn't in grad school please make a petition to get that ******* show back in creation.

 

If you're a "hardcore" gamer, then gaming on all platforms is quite natural.

If thats why "you" buy PC games, then so be it.

"You are well known to deliberately exaggerate the cost of PC gaming and tell people that they must have at least a $500 graphics card, so it's no surprise that you have had the complete opposite experience to the positive experience I have had."-tron

Orily?!!

"He could have upgraded his original, but would have been advised to change his case and power supply at least. He chose to keep his existing PC for another room and go for the option of all new parts including bluray recorder. I never told him to get a Level 10 case, but he wanted one."-tron

Bwahahahaha!!! Some friend you are. A level 10?!!! The leaning tower of Pc-za? He went from needing a case and PSU to...THAT?!! You have the nerve to accuse "me"? How do you go from not knowing $h!t, to a level 10?!! Lol!

"Actually I am not a professional salesman actively promoting PC gaming."-tron

What?!! Really? Wow, you really worked your buddy over good. As for my "conclusions"...they stand. Damn thats funny. That is EXACTLY what I'm talking about, he could've done better and cheaper there if he was advised properly. He wasn't.

Please...no more...doubled over...so funny!

Again, the "clueless hardcore gamer". Maybe our gamers over here are a little more savy or something. I can't call these people hardcore anything, if they don't even know the biggest or best games being launched or played on PC or otherwise. If you're into "gaming", then you know these things. There is just too much information and advertising out there to be so ignorant, and "hardcore" at the same time. Sorry, not buying it.

Well since Crysis was already in the bargin bin at that time, I don't doubt this.

Or anywhere near what consoles do, probably in the same store.

They're not shifting these PCs because people are not buying them! The same thing happened here. They're sitting on the shelves in OBVIOUS plain view of the customer. You act like "nobody" knows about PC gaming, and if they ONLY knew. No, people know, they just don't care.

Exactly! I bet the iPad outsold Alienware this month at launch!! That is the point. The mainstream people are casual gamers at best, and they're NOT going to spend that kind of money on a PC. Numbers don't lie, -26% per year is real. Pc gaming is niche, or fast becoming so.

 

This again?

Um, many things sit on the shelf...ever been to Walmart? Most things aren't noticed unless there's some advertising going on.

 

Yes I have been to Walmart, thats why I know what I'm talking about. They had those PCs in there and removed them. Best Buy removed their gaming (desktop) PCs as well. I think they might carry Velocity Micro. They even moved their PC games away from the console games on the other side of the store.

 

Lol yaaaay

 

Then it's clearly apparent that PCs aren't getting their fair share of attention.

 

Yeah, from the customers. They were properly displayed. This is a business, they "do" want to sell them, and they're not hidden. I saw them, there were people around looking at "other" PC stuff. I saw the move of the PC games away from the console area as a way to give the PC games "more" attention as they are right in the PC section and don't have to compete with console games...it's not working.

 

I'll believe that they're given the utmost advertising when they give a gaming PC a chair, and an actual demo display of any game.

 

The art of fighting against your own self (Revisited)



You see Warrior, this is what happens when you lose all your ability to properly refute the opposition's arguments: You begin to argue against your own self.

What you are doing now is like school playground tactics. Like when a kid says, "yes it is". The other kid says, "No it aint". Then it goes back and forth, "Yes it is / No it aint / Yes it is / No it aint", with no real intelligent debating. This is why people on forums get confused into thinking you are a small child.

You used the same tactics here: http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=179810


Let's take a closer look at your arguments:

I spoke about MY experience of being asked to build PCs. How did you respond? You started inventing your own conclusions out of thin air:

Quote Warrior - "Did you ask what they already had? Nope! Did you ask what they were intending to do? Nope! Did you ask what they're price range was? Nope! Did you ask what games they like? Nope! What kind of resolution did you show them? What was the screen size...Exactly!! Why did you compare anything to a console? Did they ask about the console? Did you ask if they already have a console? Nope! Did you tell them of the price difference, and show them? Nope! But "you" did tell them what "you" recommend they go for! You "SOLD them like it is"."

But what's really funny is that even after I came back and explained that these people have their own minds, and the example with the TT Level 10 PC case was all HIS choice, rather than move on, you then began the 'schoolboy' playground tactics again. Just arguing for the sake of arguing. My friend has absolutely no regrets with this case. In fact, the amount of positive attention it gets by others in his living room is incredible. Whether you hate it or love it, it's quite impressive to look at. Like something of a classic artwork displayed in a gallery. Which doesn't really matter anyway. I shouldn't even have to explain all this. What really counts is that HE saw the previews, HE loved it, HE pre-ordered it, and HE is now enjoying it. Facts. Even if I COULD have stopped him, What kind of a friend would I be to stop him from getting HIS dream case.

When you spoke about YOUR own personal experience about upsetting your relative with the cost of upgrading their PC, I wasn't surprised they got upset. Nobody on this forum would be surprised. You came back, explained yourself and, even though I'm still not surprised they got upset, I still moved on and left the argument there. Because there's no point going round and round in circles 24/7

I explained the general lack of public awareness about Hardcore PC gaming, not only from direct feedback, but also from speaking with people I know who work in certain stores and can confirm similar public ignorance.

Most customers don't know they can hook their PC up to the TV, for example. Most people can't name more than one AAA PC game. But even people who haven't yet purchased a console, can name game titles that may also appear on the PC platform.

Just because World Of Warcraft ads are on TV all the time, does not mean people should automatically be knowledgeable about hardcore PC gaming. Or knowledgeable about Crysis.

Don't get me wrong, I am also surprised that so many people are so ignorant about hardcore PC gaming. I still meet people who are totally unaware that they can use their XBOX controllers on their PC. For every one person who knows, there's at least 9 who don't know.

I have heard the most ridiculous questions from gamers asking about the PC. One person thought hardcore PC games were about the actual XBOX discs being installed on a PC. No lie, this is recently. A work colleague. He has an XBOX, and when I told him I was playing a certain game on the PC platform, he asked me how can he also get to play HIS xbox games on his PC. He asked if He should just put the disc in. Then I had to explain that PC versions of these games are actually different games for windows format that you buy specifically for the PC. Now just as shocked as you are to hear this, I was shocked as well.

You can say it's because PC gaming is a kind of ... how should I describe it ? ... a "hidden, underground way to game". The ignorance is out there. And there are reasons why it's out there. You think ads about World Of Warcraft are enough to educate people.

In TV advertizing, there is a big difference between the audience seeing something and actually acknowledging it. This is how certain multiplatform ads fail to properly get through to the masses about hardcore PC gaming. In the split second that the PC box may be displayed on the screen, most people will take that time to look for the box / icon / logo that relates to the platforms that they already expect to get the game on. Maybe there's another explanation. However, on a general public gamers level, somehow, the ignorance continues. Which could be further explained by the fact that many ads for multiplatform games. Yes the multiplatform games, end the ad by showing the viewer one of the consoles and telling them to get the game now on that platform.

There are no such direct PC supporting ads for hardcore games. So psychologically, this increases public ignorance further, and would explain why the same viewer will walk into a PC World store the next day looking for the same console for their hardcore gaming needs. They are told that hardcore gaming = XBOX or PS3. This is why people who have noticed PC versions of certain hardcore games like GTA will usually mentally skip past it. Because they are constantly being recommended to get the consoles by TV ads that broadcast on main channels primetime nationwide to an audience of 20 million or so viewers.

From my own direct experince, once a lot of these graphics-hungry hardcore console gamers see a hardcore PC rig playing their favorite games with better graphics, that's when I can confirm how ignorant they previously were, and how quickly they become interested in hardcore PC gaming.

This brings me back to the issues some stores are having when selling high end gaming PCs. The reaction that people have is generally very positive when they look at the awesomeness of the actual PC hardware. But at the end of the day, most potential buyers, don't really know how the experience will be when they get home compared with hardcore consoles.

All the TV ads are recommending consoles because the game publishers are given incentives by Microsoft and Sony to promote them. Most people don't know about Steam. Most people have only heard of a very small number of PC games like World Of Warcraft, which doesn't appeal to everyone.

The public ignorance is further compounded by Microsoft who do not want any hardcore gaming attention taken away from the XBOX and given to the PC, due to the obvious money they will lose on XBOX sales and lost XBOX game sales if much more potential customers were properly educated about hardcore PC gaming and how you can get graphics even more 'hardcore' than the console versions. Plus all the other PC specific benefits.

Again, this would explain why Microft would not dare to include a link within the 'game provider' section of the Windows 7 Games Folder to their hardcore PC gaming store: "Games For Windows". But they don't mind providing a link to their MSN for causual gaming. No matter how popular PC casual gaming gets, it will never take away potential XBOX sales. Why? Because most people who buy XBOX 360's are people such as my friends who prefer hardcore gaming.

Microsoft will only promote PC gaming so far, such as showcasing the latest Direct X at an exhibition. They want to give an extra benefit of Windows over Mac: Gaming. But where Microsoft will stop promoting PC gaming is well before it eats into any real XBOX sales. They don't mind more PC gamers getting into XBOX gaming. But not the other way round. Hence why the Games For Windows website has a link at the bottom of the home page to the XBOX website. But the XBOX homepage has no such link to the Games For Windows site. Microsoft are scared of the potential lost XBOX sales, and prefer hardcore PC gaming to be a "hidden, underground way to game"

 

The other day I walked into a large Curry's MegaStore. As you walk in, they had the console game shelves located right beside the actual console stands that were playing the latest games for people to walk in and play.

The PC game section was on the side of the console section with absolutely no PC hardware in site. Guess what? The actual PCs were at the complete opposite side of the building. When I managed to find the gaming PC section, they had an impressive line-up, including the new Alienware Aurora. But guess what? It wasn't even switched on. There wasn't a single PC that was playing any PC games. And this example I have given is quite typical accross the nation. Then one wonders why there's so much lack of public awareness.

 

"The other kid says, "No it aint".-tron
So I guess you're the other little kid, there is no confusion there now is it.

Oh, you mean like these conclusions?

"Anyone would get upset if they heard you of all people trying to promote PC gaming."-tron

"You are well known to deliberately exaggerate the cost of PC gaming and tell people that they must have at least a $500 graphics card, so it's no surprise that you have had the complete opposite experience to the positive experience I have had."-tron

Well... at least I was right!

Like something of a classic artwork displayed in a gallery huh? Then why don't "you" think so?!!
"It isn't the most beautiful case IMHO. From some angles, such as directly looking at the front, it can look a bit ugly. But the case is definitely different - but then, "different" doesn't necessarily automatically = good."-tron

"I have recently done a build with this case and it leans like the one in the photo."-tron

Please tell me this wasn't your "buddy's" case?!! Please say it ain't so! Please tell me that you at least included a kick stand!

This is what I'm talking about. Here is a guy (according to "you") who visits "rarely". Who had no intentions of buying anything when he came! Sees you playing a "demo" game of all things and asks about the game. After listening to your advice, he goes from only needing a PSU and a case, but comes out of it with an $800, overpriced, monstrosity the size of a small child, that leans like palm tree in a storm! This guy IS NOT a hardcore gamer and never even heard of a Level 10 before, and now all of a sudden this is his dream case?!! What "else" did you put in this case tron?!! What kinda friend are you?!! Friends don't let friends waste money! You could've advised him better than that. You didn't. Didn't "you" say that you tell people which way to go?!!

Be surprised, I WILL NOT/DID NOT take advantage of their ignorance about PC hardware just to see them get an overrated PC that they did not need.

These people are not gamers.

Most people can't hook a PC to their TV! Whats a AAA PC game anyway?

If people were interested in that game, it could lead them into playing other games. All games don't get advertising. Gamers who dumped the PC are tired of the PC and it's issues. Why do you keep bringing up Crysis. The game is old now, VERY old. PC gamers don't care about it, so why should the general gaming public care. The game's graphics have been bested by the console for sometime now so there is no real reason to keep looking back at that game anymore unless yuo think this 3 yr old game is the best thing that the PC has going for it? If that the case, then no wonder people are migrating away, there is nothing here to keep them! Where is that PC exclusive blockbuster?!! Exactly.

Well, these people aren't gamers to begin with, let alone hardcore. Just because someone has a particular platform and a few games doesn't give him/her hardcore status. He is just as ignorant about his console as he is about the PC.

People have PCs, they just choose to game elsewhere like consoles. PCs have failed to capture the casual market in a way that makes it mainstream. There is no interest outside of the truly hardcore. PC gamers have moved away from this platform and embraced consoles as well, or dropped the PC altogether . You have so why can't you understand that? You added to the growth of consoles.

They don't want the games, its as simple as that. The games that are in the top ten chart are games that were purchased...in stores. Bit-tech includes the Steam chart, but why, to inflate the level of PC popularity? I never understood that. Thats like charting who buys what on Xbox Live, who cares?

There is no intrest! Only hardcore gamers really play PC games now, thats it. All your big times devs fled the platform and are now making games for consoles! They're advertising the same games so don't give me that nobody knows, it's more like nobody cares.

I believe the analysts that track sales and trends for a living, and trust their views more than fanboy based accounts. I'm sorry, thats just that facts. This decline has been going on for years. They say that for various reasons, migration away from PC gaming by "PC gamers" like..."you", who realised how ignorant they previously were, purchased consoles. This trend is continuing and thats why you see the -26%growth. With epic, cinema style quality games, that can't be found anywhere on the PC, like God of War III and Uncharted 2 feed these graphic hungry, hardcore, console gamers and are an indictment against these big expensive power hungry machines that continuously fail to live up to the hype.

Well the big box electronic stores don't sell these gaming PCs here. You can buy a gaming laptop, but thats about it. If you want one of those then build it yourself or buy it online! I checked again yesterday and Best Buy had an AMD quad Core "gaming PC" with intergrated graphics for $700!!

Now you're attacking M$? Why? It was PC gamers who attacked Games for Windows and Windows Live relentlessly before it even got off the ground! So blame youreselves for that. Now that the 360 has huge sale numbers, a huge install base, and Xbox live is the biggest and best online service on any platform, they're not looking back! You have to remember something, M$ charges for their service and they're still the biggest and the best! Nobody else does this, not Sony, Nintendo or Steam!

M$'s vision was to marry up console and PC gamers. PC gamers did not want this so they just concentrated on the 360 and let PC gaming fend for itself.

Sorry to break the news to you, but the the PC can't do anything to the 360. There are many more reasons why the PC is failing than just blaming M$. Start looking at PC gamers themselves.

 

Warrior I don't think you realize this but Console sales DO in fact affect PC sales and vice versa. Microsoft makes TONS more off the licensing on 360 games than they do on PCs, so as any logical person would, they'd take the path that makes more money.

As for GFWL, well, they did provide a service, but one that was:

1. Badly implemented
2. couldn't top the current competition(Steam)
3. Would've worked except for #1

If you've used GFWL and then use Steam, it's almost no doubt you'd stick with Steam. It's not that we don't want to play games with 360 owners, it's that the platform to do so was so badly done that it isn't worth considering.

What hype? The last commercial I saw on TV about awesome PC graphics was....well I can't remember. At any rate, the decline can be attributed to 2 things:

1. Consoles haven't moved on to new tech yet; if you didn't notice, when the 360/PS3 came out with their new and shiny hardware, PC games took a HUGE skyrocket, and incidentally that was the end of the previous console gen's lifetime. So in other words, the trend for PC games and hardware is:

Peak at end of a Console's generation, lowest in the middle, and still high during a new console's induction.

2. The lack of advertisement and the costs of producing a game, with consoles having a higher exposure to the public at large, the developers don't have to worry so much, and seeing as they don't need to work on different hardware it's less costly to develop. With that said though, that means nothing if you really want to approach the graphics side of things. The PC is entirely capable of extreme graphics per-se(just look at BFBC2 on PC v Console) it's just that with a more centralized market that focuses on consoles, it's a big wonder why the PC market is smaller.

Who are you to say who wants what and who doesn't? You can thank the publishers for making store bought PC games more of a PITA than Steam versions...
As for BT including Steam sales...well let's see: I'm sure it constitutes as sales don't you?

Actually I think we all did, it's just that if you were to use GFWL or WL you'd rip out your hair at the problems that it still hasn't addressed. And they concentrated on the 360 market not because we told them how much GFWL sucked, it's because the 360 makes more cash.

Let's address all your points.

First of all the whole gamers getting tired of the PC, that's a conclusion and feeling you have not everyone else so don't use that as fact.

2ndly Crysis is old yes, but we still do like the game, just as people like TimeSplitters 2 or Goldeneye64. And as for it's graphics being bested, perhaps by 1 or 2 games, but the majority of console games are still beaten by a 3 year old game, and if all else fails, PC gamers can point in the direction of BFBC2 for more graphical goodness.

And yet again you forget that Crysis isn't the best that PC gaming's got, people never really migrated, just more people got into the consoles(w/o getting into PCs mind you) due to the mass media exposure of them.

As for the next PC blockbuster: Ask the publishers, they're more focused on milking money so...yeah. Although you can't blame them for being financially sound.

I know a bunch of not-hardcore(exactly what defines this anyways?) that play PC games, hell I know a bunch of people who play Morrowind. As for the big time devs who left, well you can't stop them nor blame them, consoles rake in more money. As for advertisements; bah don't give me that no one cares garbage, I have not seen a single ad in 4-5 years about a PC game.

IIRC Doom 3 didn't even have ads, and that was quite a while ago.

I told myself I wasn't going to argue with you this time...but oh well.

 

A special step-by-step guide to understanding how someone can go from not knowing anything about PC cases to knowing a lot


Duh 1: First, you may not know much. No problem, everyone starts here.

Duh 2: Then you may get introduced by a friend to certain websites that sell PC cases.

Duh 3: You read the specs and compare the ones you like the look of the most.

Duh 4: You check the prices and see if they are acceptable to YOU.

Duh 5: What if you pre-order a case that has no reviews due to the fact it is not released yet? Don't worry, you may choose to wait, or even pre-order it. If you don't like it, send it back.

DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION IS FICTIONAL

Warrior says: "Duh! I have a problem. I have this strange tendency to call other people "DOOR KNOBS". But what if I read your step-by-step instruction and I STILL don't understand basic logic? Should I panic?"

Tron says: "DON'T PANIC !!! I can translate the guide into a special coloring book for you. You don't need to rush it. Just take your time and color in the pictures one by one"



Understanding the difference between 'MY' dream case and 'HIS' dream case


So as expected, Warrior thinks he was being a smart boy to quote MY personal opinions of someone else's dream PC case. Duh!

It seems there was too much bandwidth of information for him to understand the fact that the case was not bought for me, but by a friend for himself, who was absolutely determined to get this case.

The case's unique 'leaning feature' was not advertized when he pre-ordered it.

Only after it was built, did I notice this fantastic special leaning feature.

It doesn't even require a kick-stand, because the aluminium frame was specially designed to take the weight and show off the extra feature.

Even without a built-in or third party kick-stand, my friend STILL thinks the case is the best and I still think it looks like an artwork you may see in a gallery