NY Times on PC game biz rebound
by Kyle Orland 
{ Apr 23rd 2007 at 12:10PM }
For an industry that has been purported to be "dying" in some form or another for the past two decades or so, PC gaming has remained a remarkably consistent niche in the overall games business. The New York Times today takes a look at a recent upturn in the PC games market, partially fueled by the phenomenal success of World of Warcraft and the imitators it has spawned.Don't cancel your console development plans yet, though. While domestic PC game sales were up 48 percent to $203 million in the first two months of 2007, the PC market was still dwarfed by the $990 million spent on console games during the same period. And while efforts like Games for Windows and HP's gaming initiative are likely to help attract attention to computer games, it's hard to match the focused marketing muscle of the big three console makers. So while PC gaming may not be dying, it's not exactly threatening to take over the country, either. The rest of the world, on the other hand ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Arthur Gustafson @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:15PM
Just give me Spore, already. Unfortunately for the rest of the game business, I won't be buying another game after that for awhile. I pity Mass Effect if it comes out the same month as Spore.
Justin B @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:23PM
"...it's hard to match the _focused_ _marketing_ _muscle_ of the big three console makers."
The first link leads to a Wii article, and the second two links lead to 360 articles. Very subtle, Mr. Orland. Very subtle!
orAngeMicro @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:27PM
damn that setup in the pic looks nice. what is it?
AirIntake @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:28PM
Sorry PC, you killed yourself when $300 video cards became a requirement for gaming.
It used to be, that any new PC bought for work purposes was also perfectly capable of playing the latest games. Sweet! Thanks Dad!
Today, virtually all PCs come with integrated video that is almost completely incapable of playing games released in the last 2 years. And most of the systems you buy at a place like Best Buy don't even include a PCI-E x16 so you can't even upgrade. But if you could, it's still not that attractive to spend $300 on a video card when a whole console can be had for around the same price.
CaptainHowdy @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:39PM
I have that case, its an X-Blade
Poisoned Al @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:39PM
PC gaming will always have a future as long as the PC can do other stuff. Would I spend £1500 ($3000 shitty US dollars) on a pure games machine? No. But £1500 for a machine that I can edit images, animate, view the interweb tubes and all sorts of stuff AS WELL as play a load of exclusive games is a lot more reasonable. All these idiots that say it's "dying" probably own a PS3. "I paid all this money and it sucks balls! PC gameing must be three times worse!"
FrankTheCrank @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:46PM
This shouldn't surprise any seasoned gamer.
It happens every console cycle. PC games start to tank, the new consoles are out and then all of a sudden, PC gaming is back on top.
It's cyclical. Consoles, PC's, Consoles, PC's...so on and so forth.
Me and a buddy are already looking at new builds toward the end of summer, late fall. Vista though, still on the fence. I played with a build that was just way too restrictive. It was a pain in the ass.
charlie @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:08PM
PC gaming will always be here, but I feel like console gaming will continue to take a larger percentage of the market. Consoles are much better at converting non-gamers, much easier for parents to buy their kids (than a gaming computer or specific gaming parts like a video card), have a more "normal" community of gamers, now have nearly all the features of PCs (hard drives, networking, USB), and a lot of beloved PC developers are now working on console products largely because piracy is more controlled.
Jack of No Trades @ Apr 23rd 2007 1:23PM
Computers and console will become one in the future.
Jake @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:01PM
PC
Pros: Assuming you already have a decent computer, $300-400 isn't bad for having a nice high-end rig. PC has nice online multi-player advantages, user created content, and better graphics if you upgrade 1-2 years into a console cycle. Many also swear by kb/m for FPS and RTS games and can't stand using anything different.
Cons: Sharing. PC gaming is a very individual experience. No local multiplayer unless you have a LAN party. My best memories in gaming have been "loser-passes" fighting game competitions with 5 or 6 people as well as co-op type games. Also, your wife, gf, brother, etc. cannot use the computer while you are gaming. When I play games, my gf can still use the computer. She is in school and needs the computer a lot. I would almost need two computers in my house for me to game. There are also a lot of pains involved in PC gaming.
Consoles:
Pros: Game variety. Ease of use. Local multiplayer. Online split screen even. Having a distinct system such that gaming doesn't tie up the PC. On the flip-side, it does tie up one of your TV's. The fact that the system will always perfectly play every game made for it is big for many.
Cons: You can't play all old games on the new system all the time. This has gotten better in recent times. Cost, it is cheaper to get into console gaming than PC if you assume a person already has a PC worthy of upgrade. What many would consider an inferior control scheme for FPS and surely RTS games. No Warcraft (which I consider a positive).
I guess the market would indicate console gaming is more appealing to more people overall. But each platform definately has its merits.
I think in the future we will have one big media hub that can control gaming on one TV, Video on another, and PC functions on another, all done in one system over WiFi. I just feel power and memory will be much cheaper in the future, allowing everyone to own a mini super-computer.
stephentur @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:09PM
"shitty us dollars" ha! Don't hate the country that has made gaming what it is Mr. Socialist. PCs are too slow (load game, setup controls, play on-line, etc.) consoles are just for gaming so it's just load and play away. Also consoles have built in accessory capability that fits under your TV. You need 3 usb hubs just to get a fricking wireless receiver and chat is horrible. In other words I am a console fanboy and PCs are just for upgrade junkies.
hoohoo @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:22PM
sorry, but that $990 million for console game sales is wrong. that number includes the hardware as well.
Biofreak @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:38PM
PC market is just growing now, be it a laptop or a desktop PC. Consoles are for kids and teens for most part. Even tho i'll be buying my 1st console later this summer, probably 360 elite because i'll have some time to play good games. :)
New PCs are also made more toward home media center. Just look at the new video cards that will have HDMI port, people buy 22+ inch monitors for their PCs, wireless keyboards and mouses. For example i built a computer 5 months ago that cost me $2.5k, but i can watch 1080 movies on it and i can do gaming on it. The most important thing i can do on it is my college work, video editing, drawing with tablet, my 3d modeling and animations and even some rendering. I am about to cancel my cable TV and phone subscriptions because i barely use them.
I just don't know how i would live without a computer.
I have Core2Duo 2.4ghz @ 3ghz, 8800gts 640mb, 2x64gb raptors in raid for OS and 2x500gb HDs, 2gb of ram, Acers 22inch LCDs and Wacom Intuos3 9x12.
Just ordered 2 more GB of ram and 1 more Acer 22inch LCD. All i need now is a better chair :P
Jake @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:38PM
hoohoo,
You are wrong. It is games only.
Derbeste @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:42PM
That %990 million is beyond misleading.
Assuming all consoles have an equal share (And they don't), that's ABOUT $330 PER CONSOLE.
So basically, $203 millions isn't that far behind each individual console if you consider it just another gaming platform.
I'll betcha that's better than the gamecube did. >
wackychan @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:47PM
"12. sorry, but that $990 million for console game sales is wrong. that number includes the hardware as well."
I agree it doesnt seem right. Even if every game was $60 there would still have to be 16,500,000 games sold in 2 months. That would be 275,000 games sold per day at the price of $60. and seeing as how alot of crap gets sold between $10-$50 you could likely double or triple that amount of games sold. hmmmm
Kyle Orland @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:52PM
@12, the $990 million is accurate and does not include hardware:
January: "$549 million in non-PC software sales for the month"
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/21/npd-lost-planet-leads-strong-january-game-sales/
February: "console software sales are $441 million"
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=13163
wackychan @ Apr 23rd 2007 2:55PM
Your the winner Kyle, congratulations!
Poisoned Al @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:50PM
"shitty us dollars" because I wipe my arse with dollar bills! It's cheaper then toilet paper!
Joey Geraci @ Apr 23rd 2007 3:50PM
So the guy in the article is going to play Civ IV on his 3-year old home Dell (that I assume he hasn't upgraded decently as he has a problem with spending $400 for a console). Right.
Shawn D @ Apr 23rd 2007 4:32PM
If you read closely, the PC numbers still DON'T include online purchases and MMO subscriptions. That means, none of my PC purchases have counted, and I'm much more of a PC Gamer than anything else. The PC has arguably the best lineup for 2007, so I wouldn't be surprised if it surpasses 2004 and 1999 sales numbers. Couple that with the PC's populariry around the world, and the PC is on a major upswing. And maybe, just maybe, the NPD will actually put out more accurate figures for the PC to begin with, as most of my buddies buy online, like myself.
If you compare each console to the PC, instead of lumping all consoles vs. the PC(Which is simply assinine), the PC is just as viable, with the PS2 being the most competitive.
Autocrawler @ Apr 23rd 2007 5:21PM
I don't care what the articles say, but I'll present my case here:
This year, I'm planning to buy 15 PC games and a total of 5 console games split between the 360 and the Wii.
Nearly every single game, except for a few shoddy console ports look simply amazingly better on my gaming PC. That coupled with the fact that I use my HDTV as a monitor so I can play at 1080p makes all consoles obsolete.
orAngeMicro @ Apr 24th 2007 12:43AM
Biofreak I envy you SO DAMN MUCH! how long you been building computers for? I want to get into it. Is there any websites you would reccomend for total newb like myself to get started? Thanks in advance.
sine909 @ Apr 24th 2007 12:50PM
#22 What 15 PC games are you buying this year? I'd bet 5 get pushed to next year, 5 get canceled completely, and 4 suck. Have fun with Hellgate.
Shawn D @ Apr 25th 2007 12:04AM
@24 sine909:
You're not very aware of PC Gaming, are ya?. There are more PC titles to come out this year than ALL of the next gen systems combined. You asked for Autocrawlers list, well, here's mine:
PC Games already Purchased in 2007(All online and not counted in the NPD figures):
1.)C&C 3
2.)STALKER
3.)SUPREME COMMANDER
4.)JADE EMPIRE SE
5.)FEAR EXTRACTION POINT
6.)GOTHIC 3
PC Games I am Purchasing later this year(Will play and look better on my X1950Pro 512 than my 360, plus, you can't beat the M/K in my eyes, oh and the 360 is mod-less):
7.)Infernal
8.)Bioshock
9.)Hellgate London
10.)Quake Wars ET
11.)UT3
12.)Crysis
13.)Assassin's Creed
14.)Half Life 2: Ep2
15.)Portal
16.)Team Fortress
17.)Dragon Age
18.)World In Conflict
19.)Alan Wake
20.)Medal of Honor Airborne
21.)The Witcher
22.)Two Worlds
23.)Arma: Combat Ops
25.)Spore
26.)Blacksite: Area 51
27.)Clive Barker's Jericho
28.)Company of Heroes 2
29.)Left 4 Dead
30.)Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
31.)Neverwinter Nights 2 Expansion
------------------------------------
360 Titles to be bought this year:
1.)Mass Effect
2.)GTA 4
------------------------------------
For a more extensive list of PC games coming in 2007, check this link out at GS:
http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=24525221