True. I've been out of the PC market for several years just because of the financial barriers of playing the games of today. Soon as I get a little cash to upgrade my system then I'll get back in the swing of things.

PC has peaked as far as market share goes (that's not to say it's dropping), but the life of PC gaming will long outlive any console.

I agree with most of what has been said - particularly with price being such a problem. Right now I'm lagging badly in what I can play on my PC - sticking with games that are a couple of years old. Getting the 360 version of a game is much more practical than upgrading/buy a new computer or getting the PC version and have it be barely playable.

I do not, nor will I ever agree with "PC gaming is doomed" sentiment - despite whatever shortcomings it will always have its place. As said some genres you just wouldn't want to play on a console. I tried to play a RTS game on console and it was hopeless. So its definitely not going to disappear - there will always be a demand for PC games and I still think enough quality titles are coming out - include some also on console - which are just best handled on a PC.

As for being "past its prime" - I think that's pretty subjective and you'll get different answers depending on who you ask (obviously). But I personally don't see it as "waning" or anything so I'd have say no - though I suppose it could be considered relatively stagnant.

Of course not. If anything it's entering it's prime. Steam has over 15 million users worldwide. A lot of PC gamers these days not only use steam as a platform, but they also buy their games through it, or services like it. And lets not forget the biggest game in the world, World of Warcraft. With prices on high-powered hardware dropping more and more (if you have the know-how, you can build a Crysis crushing machine for under $700), new services like Stardock and amazing games like Sins of a Solar Empire, and Age of Conan already here, and the promise of StarCraft 2, Wrath of the Lich King, Sims 3, and Spore as system exclusives, and Left 4 Dead and Episode 3 having the PC being their lead platform, I think the PC is just fine.

PC gaming will be past its prime once we're not able to improve our computers any more. While there have been some crappy games released recently, there have also been a lot of good ones. I wouldn't say it's on a decline, I'd say it's just plateauing for the time being.

You guys forgot to mention Sam & Max.. I'm disappointed in you PC gamers

If you mean if PC gaming in the USA is past its prime then definitely.

If you mean PC gaming is past its prime everywhere but the USA then you're wrong.

I still play a lot of PC games just because it seems that they offer a lot more interactivity between people than consoles. With more people buying consoles than investing in a gaming rig it seems to be more easy to claim the PC gaming community dead but if you look at the rest of the world it's not the case at all. The USA gaming community is more interested in graphics, simplicity and something that already has done the networking for games rather than going out and buying a title and playing a game with strangers and maybe meeting someone from another country half a world apart. XBL is a huge success but it still needs to do more in my opinion just to be great. I want to see more cross-platforming from consoles and PC games. Sure PS3 has some games and it seems great but XBL needs to add more. People asked a while back about how an MMORPG would do on a console and many reject the idea just because most still view it as a PC only thing but it would be great to reach the console market and see a true network of gamers interacting within a universe that is only restricted by bandwidth rather than hardware.

I hope more developers take the initiative to take a leap and make both PC and console gamers interact and become one whole Nirvana
or gaming with cross-platforming.

Maybe not past its time but past it's prime for sure...

I dont think its dead, certain genres as said previously are not only alive but thriving on PC such as RTS and MMO, but it is stagnant.

PC gaming is not as exciting as it once was, I remember back in high school ( 96 to be exact ) the first time my friend told me he had gotten duke nukem 3d and I nearly shit my self with anticipation I didnt have a PC back then and my friends was broken so we paid our english teacher 20 bucks to let us load it on one of the computer labs computers and stay after school and play it - shortly after that I got a pc haha.

the first time I played diablo was epic .

I remember when playing the original war craft game was a big deal.

now PC gaming is jsut sort of meh - in the early to mid 90s PC gaming was coming into its own and finally showing what it could do and everything was so new and exciting and fresh, now its just sort of buisness as usual,

the fact consoles have come so far effects it too because PC gets the same sort of games as 360 or ps3 just with slightly prettier graphics in some cases - or graphics that look exactly the same in others.

heres an interesting question - would bioshock have been recieved as well as it was, and as widly praised if it was released as a PC exclusive and did not come out on 360?

I dont think its past its time i think its in a phase of change and transition. Since PC gaming is more directly competing with consoles, PC game development needs to change which is why it seems to be lagging right now.

PC Games developed like crytek (who made crysis) wont cut it anymore. They create a game that, when released, only a handful of top end computers can run and only half of those computers can run it well. Its fucking unacceptable, i shouldn't have to go out and buy a whole new 1500 system just to play your game. If you dont develop your pc game to scale down on the lower-end computers, your not going to sell crap.

Thats why console gaming is really starting to hit back at the pc market right now. No one has to worry about system specs, the game should just work. The functionality that use to be pc only (online play, game updates, map packs and add ons) have come to the consoles. So when crytek comes out and cries about leaving the pc market because of piracy i call bullshit. They weren't asking most people to pay 60 bucks to play their game, they were asking most people to pay 1560 bucks to play their game.

Meanwhile companies like valve, blizzard, stardock are all making games that scale and play well on just about any pc. Their games continue to sell extremely well despite claims that pc gaming is dying. These companies have figured it out.

The other thing is that good pc games create communities where user generated content greatly extends the life of the game. Consoles are starting to try and do this, but its not as easy as it is on pcs right now. Just look at half life and all the mods that came out for it. If the original half life had been a console game then counter strike or any of the other popular mods would not exist.

just my 2 cents

It's not on a life line quite yet, Crysis just sold over 3 million, apparantly.
People fall prey to the perception of its death because games aren't instant hits like they're consoles any more.
They simply take a little longer to hit or surpass console like numbers, probably due to the hardware upgrade curve being a little slower.

I do think they are ina bit of a slump lately but it's not past it's time by a long shot.
Besides PC benefits from the 360 with the Games For Windows line.
Like last years The Gathering in Norway was a huge success and they are doing it again this year.
It's Norway's biggest LAN party.

But sure consoles are stealing the thunder for the most part.

I think we'll see another golden era for PC once again, just give it time.

Well I've always been a console gamer out of necessity, I had a computer from the stone age until i was like 14 so I could never play decent PC games. But objectively speaking I think console has the edge, here's why:

1. It's significantly cheaper (Xbox 360=$349 Wii=$249 Ps3=$499, high-end gaming PC=$1000+)

2. No installations (Not counting stupid ps3)

3. All the games are guaranteed to work, unlike PCs where you may encounter problems such as lack of memory or an inferior graphics card, rendering the game unplayable.

4. Consoles have an incredibly larger selection of unique games. While games for windows is bringing over some of the more popular xbox 360 titles, there's just way more console games out there to suite a variety of tastes, which is what developers want.

5. PC gaming has a serious hacker epidemic.

6. This last one may not apply to everyone, but it certainly applied to me for quite some time. If you only have one or two computers in the house, and you don't live alone, chances are someone (Parent, sibling, child, spouse, etc.) is going to have to use the computer, and it usually happens while your completely sucked into a good game, which is a real downer.

So, in closing, I'll say that since consoles have evolved to the incredible state they're in now, I say PC gaming is indeed past its time with the exception of the occasional good MMORPG or RTS.

Just FYI, Crysis sold over one million world-wide by the end of '07. I wouldn't be surprised if their coming up on the two million sold mark.

Saying PC gaming is past its prime is kind of a blanket statement. The best answer you can give it is "Yes and no." It lacks in some areas, but makes up for it in others. I agree with the general concensus that PCs are the best for FPS and MMO games, and the right model computer can essentially be called an upgradable gaming console. However, PC gaming has simply become a niche market. The most talked-about games are either classics that have been out for a long time, or ports from the consoles. There's not much originality left. And of course, there's accessibility, which is the same reasoning more people can play the Wii than other consoles: easier learning curve overall.

Here are my rebutals to your points.

1. It maybe cheaper to buy a console that will last you about 5-6 years then you have to get a next generation for another $400-$700(my estimate due to the world economy). While if you get a PC it would be if anything a $1k-$infinite depending on what your budget is. While the PC will last you as long as you have the cash to upgrade whatever component you need which can vary for
$1-$700 and usually it really is a video card or maybe a mouse/keyboard.

2.Installations are sucky but you really can't do much about not installing a new DirectX/Flash/ect. version so you can watch online videos/games/any other thing to you hearts desire. As for operating systems and hardware most already come with drivers when you buy a PC/hardware so it really shouldn't be a problem especially since it really is just a read and click install.

3.As I said in point 2 hardware is easily replaceable especially memory since 1 gig of memory is around $25-$35 dollars and usually it comes bundled with another 1 gig which really is 2 gigs that should run any game ok.

4.Consoles do have an incredible selection of games of all genres but that also applies to PC games. Heck if you want a shooter take your choice of all of the incredible ones that are available. God games take Sim games for a spin. Heck even Final Fantasy has a PC port.

5.If your playing a game with hackers most likely you also will be using hacks or mods.

6.This point is really a situational reason and should have been ignored. I know the problems of being in a great online game on the PC but if it is something that family/friends could wait for then they should be patient while you finish the game. If that is not the case then you sir are SOL.

I don't think it is dead, think of all the cool stuff PC gaming has compared to consoles

More Patches to games to squash bugs, Emulators to play all the classics and the number one most important thing for the PCs is...

MODS

Think of all the modding possibilities when GTA: IV comes out for the PC or Devil May Cry 4, it will be awesome.

PC versions usually beat consoles in more content.

CoD4 has more Maps and Mods.

Oblivion has like what...1 million Mods?

I could go on forever but I'll stop here.

Finally PC is not that much expensive if you shop around, I got my PC for around $650 AU which run Crysis like a dream at High settings and you don't have to pay to use the internet, I'm Looking at you Xbox Live.

I would say its not dead yet but one thing is for sure, its freakin expensive at least for someone like me. Always havin to upgrade, download pathes, register your software so you can get support and to make sure you can play the dam thing since they started implementing this extreme anti piracy crap in the games. Plus I have a laptop which I freakin love and I can't really play the cutting edge games that are about to be comin out, and I'm not gonna go out and buy or build a rig just so I can play games. I say concoles all the way, but I will admit pc gaming is the best with a good rig.

It also depends on the genre in question, for RTS it still is (and IMO will continue to be) the best platform


FPS is really a matter of personal choice, i personally like COD4 on my 360 but mostly FPS is a PC thing for me


Action (3rd Person Shooters etc) thats a console area, they always seem to be really crappy ports to PC, yes I'm looking squarely at you PC Metal Gear Solid 2-Substance, tell me to press Start and L1 and wiggle my right control stick will you?


and the consoles are gaining ground on the Casual gamer market with the XBL Arcade, Virtual Console and a lesser extent PSN, with the PC having the obvious Steam & Gametap (i hear thats a really good system, haven't tried it myself however)

In the end its really a matter of personal preference and other factors (family,financial issues,free space etc)

I truly believe that PC's pinnacle was when adventure games were huge in the mid 90's. Lucasarts and Sierra still pumped out awesome adventure game after another. FPS were starting to get huge with Quake and Doom. RTS were huge with C&C and Red Alert. I mean, the entire market was untouchable. But then I think a lot of its power was stolen by the original Xbox and its Xbox Live and then the 360 just sealed the deal. You could play pretty much the same game, without upgrading your computer, without installing anything, without drops in framerate (as if you had something else running on your computer), and multiplayer was improved ten fold.

Nowadays, the only games you see for the PC are FPS (with exception to Counter-Strike and Team Fortress 2) hae a much better life on consoles now, RTS (but a lot of developers are turning towards consoles now...see Tom Clancy's End War) and MMORPG's which are probably the only type of game that hasn't done well on consoles (but that could change). Honestly...I can't remember the last game I played on my computer...and I used to be a huge PC gamer. In fact, I missed the N64, PSX and other consoles because PC gaming was still in its prime. That is no longer the fact.