PC gaming is dead. Right?

I wish I could remember names of all those EA, Sony, Microsoft and etc suits that were yelling RIP PC, go buy overpriced garbage hardware because dreck exclusives!

http://www.dsogaming.com/news/pc-gam…ales-combined/

As we can see, PC gaming accounts for 28% of the total game market in 2017, whereas consoles (this includes all consoles) accounts for 29%. As such, and if we compare the PC individually with each console, we can easily see how more profitable PC gaming actually is.
Going into slightly more details,*PC gaming generated $32.3 billion in 2017 and saw a YoY growth of 1.4%. Boxed and downloaded PC games generated $27.1 billion whereas browser PC games generated for $5.2 billion.
Naturally, the biggest video-game market right now is the mobile which accounts for 43%.
Still, and what’s really important here, is that PC gaming is a really healthy market, something that more and more console-only developers appear to acknowledge. With the exception of first-party titles, the PC is currently getting all sorts of console games; from fighting to arcade and JRPGs.
Below you can find GamesIndustry’s graph. Here’s to a better and bigger new year!

Next statistic I wanna see is a graph with mice sales compared to mushrooms sales in this year.

Is it weird that I heard of all the top mobile game downloads except Subway Surfers?

Going by revenue, VR games don't seems worth it.

PC being 1/3 of the gaming market isn't a new thing. I think publishers just see more money (better ROI) from console games…and now mobiles, so they left PC behind.

You're correct about publishers. They'd all want to repeat Candy Crush Saga success - $1 invested in a product yet it returned billions back.
But is it gaming? Are those milk-em clickers games?

Connected to that, I believe selfpublishing and crowdfunding helped PC scene.

So far I detest VR. Have zero interest in it unless they SIGNIFICANTLY up their game.

As for mobile revenue - Its like Joxer said… its milkem clickers, and thats not really a game. On the other hand, as a suit I can see why you spend money chasing it regardless of the shifty products you flog. Its clearly $$$$.

Originally Posted by Wisdom
So far I detest VR. Have zero interest in it unless they SIGNIFICANTLY up their game.

As for mobile revenue - Its like Joxer said… its milkem clickers, and thats not really a game. On the other hand, as a suit I can see why you spend money chasing it regardless of the shifty products you flog. Its clearly $$$$.

Have you tried games like Elite Dangerous in VR? I think it's amazing in terms of atmosphere. Games like Alien Isolation, too.

Also, it's great for watching movies in 3D. You get to pick whatever theater and screen size you want - and you have the whole cinema to yourself

It's still early days - and they have to up the resolution, get it properly wirless, reduce weight and discomfort - as well as make it more affordable. All well within reach of a few years.

But it has amazing potential with the right games.

Actually Dart, I detest 3D movies.
I don't like being told where to focus. If I want to stare at the background or the left side of the screen when the action is to the right, then I want to be able to.
To me (and I realize this is minority because 3D movies are all the rage apparently) I am LESS immersed in the story with gimmicky movie shots, forced focus, and slo-mo items jumping out at you.

I haven't tired Elite Dangerous, thanks for the tip.

Originally Posted by Wisdom
Actually Dart, I detest 3D movies.
I don't like being told where to focus. If I want to stare at the background or the left side of the screen when the action is to the right, then I want to be able to.
To me (and I realize this is minority because 3D movies are all the rage apparently) I am LESS immersed in the story with gimmicky movie shots, forced focus, and slo-mo items jumping out at you.

You are aware that the exact same is true for non-3D movies, right?

A talented director using a talented composer will tell you exactly what to look at, how to feel about it - and when

Not sure it's something you want to fight, unless you don't want to experience what the creators intended for you - for maximum enjoyment.

At least, for me, most movies are very deliberately crafted journeys - and I'm much happier when they succeed in taking control - rather than the opposite. Sadly, it's all too rare that it happens.

Hehe, but we agree that a lot of 3D in movies is gimmicky - but there are notable exceptions.

For instance, I thought Dredd and Tron Legacy made excellent use of 3D and it enhanced the immersion quite a bit.

To each his own, though.

VR is great for non-3D movie watching, too - except it's not quite comfortable at length.

Once they reach that comfort level, I don't see a reason to have a big screen anymore.

Also, I can finally achieve my dream of lying in my own bed and have a superior-to-cinema movie experience.

I really haven’t paid much attention to annual sales figures in the last few years, it is just amazing to see how thoroughly handheld gaming has been torched by mobile/tablet games. Whereas the DS had game sales right up there with the full consoles (and at a time, as much as PS3 & X360 combined) … now it is ~5%.

Originally Posted by txa1265
I really haven’t paid much attention to annual sales figures in the last few years, it is just amazing to see how thoroughly handheld gaming has been torched by mobile/tablet games. Whereas the DS had game sales right up there with the full consoles (and at a time, as much as PS3 & X360 combined) … now it is ~5%.

Well, everyone has a phone, so it was pretty inevitable

Originally Posted by NewDArt
You are aware that the exact same is true for non-3D movies, right?

A talented director using a talented composer will tell you exactly what to look at, how to feel about it - and when

Not sure it's something you want to fight, unless you don't want to experience what the creators intended for you - for maximum enjoyment.

At least, for me, most movies are very deliberately crafted journeys - and I'm much happier when they succeed in taking control - rather than the opposite. Sadly, it's all too rare that it happens.

Hehe, but we agree that a lot of 3D in movies is gimmicky - but there are notable exceptions.

For instance, I thought Dredd and Tron Legacy made excellent use of 3D and it enhanced the immersion quite a bit.

To each his own, though.

VR is great for non-3D movie watching, too - except it's not quite comfortable at length.

Once they reach that comfort level, I don't see a reason to have a big screen anymore.

Also, I can finally achieve my dream of lying in my own bed and have a superior-to-cinema movie experience.

I can't stand 3D myself. Not because there is a problem with the technology though (Avatar in 3D was incredible). Mostly because almost every movie tries to incorporate it as an afterthought. What we get is a blurred mess that's also too dark. The movie needs to be designed around 3D from its inception.

Originally Posted by Caddy
I can't stand 3D myself. Not because there is a problem with the technology though (Avatar in 3D was incredible). Mostly because almost every movie tries to incorporate it as an afterthought. What we get is a blurred mess that's also too dark. The movie needs to be designed around 3D from its inception.

I think I understand what you and Wisdom are saying - and I think I mostly agree.

You're just using joxer-speak, which is a bit different from English as I understand it. I'm not a native speaker, though, so I could be wrong!

When you're saying "I hate 3D and 3D movies" - what you're really saying is that you don't like bad use of 3D and bad 3D movies.

I completely agree with that.

To me, 3D is just another tool or piece of technology. Whether it's good or bad depends on how you apply it.

The exact same thing can be said for VR.

We've yet to see a really strong made-for-VR game. Lost Echo and Robo Recall were great in terms of VR usage, but not really what I consider amazing games.

However, some games are extremely well suited for VR - even if they're not designed around it. Elite Dangerous is probably the best example.

I would never - and I do mean never - play it without VR after trying it. The sense of immersion is that good.

As for 3D movies, I think the majority I've seen don't make good use of it. I think the whole "the movies are worse with 3D" is the kind of thing you tend to say if you have an emotional grudge against the opportunism and greed surrounding every new fad the suits will take advantage of.

I don't think I've ever had a movie literally ruined or made significantly worse by 3D. There's just been a bunch of them that really didn't need it at all.

I tend to watch non-3D versions - unless I feel convinced they would take proper advantage of the technology. A few times, I'm really glad I made the 3D choice.

But I was talking about VR and 3D movies - where you don't pay extra and when you get other advantages of having whatever environment and screen size you want.

Under those circumstances, using proper VR technology (as in, Rift) - it can be a great experience to watch movies.

But we're still not where we need to be in terms of tech, price or comfort. However, we're close enough where most people can see the potential.

Well, they should be able to see it

Originally Posted by Wisdom
Actually Dart, I detest 3D movies.
I don't like being told where to focus. If I want to stare at the background or the left side of the screen when the action is to the right, then I want to be able to.
To me (and I realize this is minority because 3D movies are all the rage apparently) I am LESS immersed in the story with gimmicky movie shots, forced focus, and slo-mo items jumping out at you.

Amen! Preach! :-)

I am a fellow hater of 3D movies, but for slightly different reasons. Long story short, I have yet to see a movie where 3D enhanced or improved the movie in any way, but often, detracts from the film instead (ironically enough)

I always choose to see the 2D version of new movies in theaters, when available. And its often available, happily, which I'm guessing is because the theater owners know that there are a lot of us out here.

Anyway, on the OP topic of the often heard, "PC gaming is dead" refrain. Yea, that is always bullshit, and whenever you see an article proclaiming that, then you know it must have been a slow news day, and some gaming "journalist" was desperate.

PC gaming is alive and well, and has been growing like gangbusters in recent years, in conjunction with the larger (explosive) growth of gaming in general, on all platforms.

I'm old enough to remember when pc gaming was very niche, and considered a weirdo thing done mostly by nerds and outcasts, and basically considered "uncool".

Now, gaming has entered the mainstream in a huge way, and just about everyone seems to be a gamer, and age doesn't matter either -- there are young gamers, old gamers, gamers of all different ethnicities, and girl gamers, etc.

Unlike those early, older days, its now considered "cool" to be a gamer, and gaming is part of mainstream entertainment and culture.

Originally Posted by Wisdom
I haven't tired Elite Dangerous, thanks for the tip.

The community goal at the moment apparently lets you buy Federation ships without the rank for them. Try and find someone who wants to help a new player, there will be tonnes because there's nothing to do, some people just deliver fuel to people who ran out, then you might be able to get an Assault ship within the week.

Is the game good?

Nice skeleton of a game with excellent dogfighting but its slow and tedious and aimless and the content just ain't comin'

Should I just wait for Star Citizen?

hahahahahahahahahahahaha

Originally Posted by NewDArt
I think I understand what you and Wisdom are saying - and I think I mostly agree.

You're just using joxer-speak, which is a bit different from English as I understand it. I'm not a native speaker, though, so I could be wrong!

When you're saying "I hate 3D and 3D movies" - what you're really saying is that you don't like bad use of 3D and bad 3D movies.

I completely agree with that.

To me, 3D is just another tool or piece of technology. Whether it's good or bad depends on how you apply it.

The exact same thing can be said for VR.

We've yet to see a really strong made-for-VR game. Lost Echo and Robo Recall were great in terms of VR usage, but not really what I consider amazing games.

However, some games are extremely well suited for VR - even if they're not designed around it. Elite Dangerous is probably the best example.

I would never - and I do mean never - play it without VR after trying it. The sense of immersion is that good.

As for 3D movies, I think the majority I've seen don't make good use of it. I think the whole "the movies are worse with 3D" is the kind of thing you tend to say if you have an emotional grudge against the opportunism and greed surrounding every new fad the suits will take advantage of.

I don't think I've ever had a movie literally ruined or made significantly worse by 3D. There's just been a bunch of them that really didn't need it at all.

I tend to watch non-3D versions - unless I feel convinced they would take proper advantage of the technology. A few times, I'm really glad I made the 3D choice.

But I was talking about VR and 3D movies - where you don't pay extra and when you get other advantages of having whatever environment and screen size you want.

Under those circumstances, using proper VR technology (as in, Rift) - it can be a great experience to watch movies.

But we're still not where we need to be in terms of tech, price or comfort. However, we're close enough where most people can see the potential.

Well, they should be able to see it

Yes this is pretty much what I mean, in large text form.

Except for one point. There have been movies that are less enjoyable when seen in 3D. The passive filters in 3D glasses naturally make the movie darker, making it harder to see depending on the person and sitting location. Also 3D can make a screen appear much bigger than it is. This is like sticking your face right up against the screen. You can see it, but it takes more effort to focus on all the action since you have to search the screen with your eyes. This is what I mean by where 3D needs to planned out from the beginning designs. There needs to be one relevant focal point in a 3D shot, not a whole bunch of them at the same time.

Originally Posted by Caddy
Yes this is pretty much what I mean, in large text form.

Except for one point. There have been movies that are less enjoyable when seen in 3D. The passive filters in 3D glasses naturally make the movie darker, making it harder to see depending on the person and sitting location. Also 3D can make a screen appear much bigger than it is. This is like sticking your face right up against the screen. You can see it, but it takes more effort to focus on all the action since you have to search the screen with your eyes. This is what I mean by where 3D needs to planned out from the beginning designs. There needs to be one relevant focal point in a 3D shot, not a whole bunch of them at the same time.

Oh, I agree it can sometimes detract from the experience. But I deliberately said "ruined or made significantly worse" - because that hasn't been my experience in any movie.

Of course, we all have different tolerance levels - and if it's a big issue for you, then it's a big issue for you. If it's a spectacle movie - I tend to find the immersion effect tends to outweigh the headache effect - but it depends. I would never watch a character-driven drama in 3D, for instance - but, then again, I don't think they do those in 3D

But we definitely agree that, for the most part, good use of 3D is a rarity.

Which is really quite different from 3D being shit

The PC market is big in South Korea and China. But western devs have a harder time getting into those markets with the exception of Blizzard.

Always the same angle that is association to devs.

The PC market is strong, that does not mean that PC gaming is not dead.

PC products are so often recycled products or copy paste crowdfunded products.

Gamers are interested in playing games, not knowing the platform they are playing them on is a big market.

The highest PC product quoted in the article is overwatch which is underrated on this site.