While speaking with Croteam boss Roman Ribaric, I had to ask if he, as a PC developer, held any stock in the oft-screamed "PC gaming is dead" declaration. Some believe that it's all over for PC gamers, while fans of mice n' keyboards deny it all. Ribaric believes that PC gaming is still very much alive, mostly thanks to Valve and Steam.
"With Steam now strongly commanding the digital market, PC's future looks better for us developers," says Ribaric. "I have to congratulate Valve for creating Steam, such an awesome piece of technology and server infrastructure, and making it available for other developers to use. I may sound overly enthusiastic with Steam, but this is nothing compared to what our programmers were saying when they started to implement it. I think it's enough to say that we always aim to do our technology, instead of using 3rd party. But with Steam, we don't need to do that.
"Having said that, XBLA platform is great as well. It allows for games that are really great to play and not just great to watch. They also don't have to cost ridiculous amounts to make, as you don’t need 100+ people to create it. ... BTW, Serious Sam HD XBLA is coming January 13th. XBLA Certification process took a bit longer than expected, but it's all sorted out now."
Ribaric definitely has the right of it, I believe, Steam has proven to be a fantastic service since I started the whole PC gaming thing, and it's definitely a very popular service. PC gaming may become more "console-ized" in the future, but it's far from dead.
Contest:
9:00 AM on 12.20.2009
| 
Modified data trees and persistent DRM mechanics resulting in a myriad of consistent compatibility issues is one of the worst ideas man has ever come up with. It essentially takes a broad platform of endless possibilities and bottlenecks the output into a limited, dreary 99 cent store.
So they implemented a policy of no returns this began at all stores Walmart, Gamestop, Blockbuster, which even affected console games since they feared that eventually consoles would be hit. Their were other additional influences like employees being to dumb not to make sure they got the serial key, serial key not working for online activation which happened a little later down the line, but they were aware of this new trend.
So in many ways PC gaming hurts itself also, such as the serial keys. How can a business who mostly works off of trades sell these games back? They can't, so they don't. The Publishers think that it's a good idea for Gamestop not to be able to make money this way anyway, but the problem is because of this, suddenly the retail space and market place grows smaller and smaller, what use to be a whole wall is now one rack or less, maybe even just a shelf of PC games behind the counter of just the best/new releases. Many anti-piracy tactics has actually helped kill PC gaming at this point, then help against it, because as they implemented more and more measures the sell-ability became less and less. Console games look nice 14.99 for a used game, or the same game on PC for $49.99?
In steps Valve...you know the rest.
Digital distribution is fantastic, Steam Friends is great for in-game communication, and it's nice having all my games in one spot on the PC.
However, Steam hasn't saved PC gaming mainly because PC gaming isn't dying. It's a niche of the gaming market just like all consoles. It won't be going away any time soon.
I'm going with Steam.
I really think Steam has a been a force for good in the PC market.
The easy handling, the account access on other pc...just log in with your name, download small games in some minutes..awesome..I think Steam is keeping the pc games sale numbers healthy too
That said, the direct-to-consumer market they have set up and the community features are excellent. The happy medium for me is to buy retail games and then launch them through Steam, which is a perfectly acceptable way of doing things and gets you all the community features of Steam in your box copies. For stuff like Torchlight and Serious Sam that has no box copy I can bite the bullet and get the game on Steam directly.
As for PC gaming being dead you have to realize Jim that people have been saying this for 20 years. As soon as Mario came out PC gaming was dead, as soon as Playstation came out PC gaming was dead, now the Xbox 360 is dominating and PC gaming is dead. I think PC gamers have heard it so many times we just dismiss it out of hand, PC gaming has survived all those periods and is still storng today. There was an article on a PC-focused site not long ago that proclaimed 2009 the best year in PC gaming ever, and while that is a bit exaggerated it was a good year.
I have issues with "mainstreaming" in games, but honestly that is effecting all platforms. Look at Splinter Cell 5 compared to 1, or Morrowind compared to Oblivion, and those are all console games as well as PC games.
In short PC gaming is fine and Steam is a great asset.
Really thats what steam is. Its a piece of technology that you buy all your games for, it just happens that all the processing is done on non-standardized hardware.
Though constricted by a bad graphics card and processor on my laptop, the ability to play the PC version of the GTA series, something I have not done before, or play great strategy games in the form of CIV 3, 4 and rome total war through one, single program or platform was great.
Yes, the ownership of a game on steam is a slight issue, but, in essence, you ow the game, just not in physical form.The drm in most games are simply non-invasive, through can't back them up on a portable hard drive, I can back my games up on a dvd disk, which is much better then re-downloading them all. Heck, as long as you are signed into your steam account, you can download any game you own on that computer, I think that is a excellent feature.
Steam is gaining power, however I don't see it abusing that power anytime soon, if it all, as we have seen with XBLA, and Sony pricing of content for the PSPgo.
Thanks to steam, PC gaming has risen somewhat in terms of viability for developers, and that's a good thing for every gamer out there.
You didn't need to drop a buttload of money on a PC years ago to play a game. Now? The requirements aren't met unless you get a "gaming PC." Do you remember building a computer built for gaming back in 1990? 1995?
1995 I had a cheap custom built PC, 60MHz, 8MB ram, on board video card. Nothing fancy, flashy or "hardcore." I could play NHL 95, Leisure Suit Larry, Police Quest. Because games then didn't require the fastest processor, the most memory, dedicated video memory. A regular computer you bought at the store could play games then very well. Now?
Plus, people are moving from Windows to Apple. Mac gaming? Sure it's there...barely.
Consoles make gaming so much easier and cheaper. No need to wonder "will my <insert console> be able to handle <insert game> when it's released?" like people do with PC gaming? Take Starcraft II. How many people are thinking now "will my PC be able to handle it when it comes out?" Then look at say Metal of Honor. Will console gamers say "gee, I hope my PS3 can handle it when it comes out."
With the implement of (restrictive) DRM hasn't helped PC gaming much. But then again, I don't feel like banging the same drum of "the restrictions of PC gaming are coming to consoles in the near future."
That all said, I've gotten back into PC gaming because of Steam. Sales, deals, etc. Though I've also gotten very cheap, and I don't buy games at full price anymore. I haven't bought a brand new game in years. I always wait for price drops. Thanks to Steam, I'm able to get games on sale all the time.
And yet, despite being all for it back then, I still buy everything I can in physical form.
As a gaming service STEAM isn't the best thing to happen to PC gaming, it's the best thing to happen to gaming in general.
it makes PC-gaming a lot more comfortable and affordable :-)
"Modified data trees and persistent DRM mechanics resulting in a myriad of consistent compatibility issues is one of the worst ideas man has ever come up with."
Right, Steam is the worst idea man has ever come up with. Yeah, you didn't lose any credibility with that bullshit statement, right?
That's fine if you don't like Steam, but try not to put so much emphasis on your hate. It just shows what an actual tiny amount of thought you put into it. And you also apparently don't know the first thing about Steam. Which is too bad for your argument.
On that note, I think I'll balance out the equation and state that I use Steam on a regular basis and have been exposed to a huge array of indie games I would have never otherwise been exposed to. Hell, some of my friends who weren't gamers found out that they were in fact gamers, when they finally met Steam.
The PC was my weapon of choice. over a decade of upgrading, getting the best shit to play one or two games a year seemed just fine. Then the 360 hit and that was all over. Amazing games, great community, renting, no pricey pain in the ass upgrading every year! Yeah, done.
Then along came the new and improved Steam with it's seductive 5 dollar deals and great casual games, easy access to demos, etc. Truly if it wasn't for Steam, my overpriced gaming rig would be just a work tool. But now, Osmos!
Nowadays, though, I buy pretty much every PC game I can on Steam. It's extremely stable now (cannot remember the last time it crashed), the game selection is great, weekend sales are good, and it keeps all of my games up-to-date. All in all, it is far more convenient than buying games retail.
Steam is here to stay.
PC Gaming in no way requires you to upgrade every year and if you were really a PC gamer for a long time you would know that. It is one of the great falsehoods of the medium.
Graphics have plateaued to the point where you only spend a few hundred every 3-4 years. That's $400+ less than getting a new (ie: the next) console in that same time period.
Silly rabbits!
Core2Duo E6750, 8800GT, 2GB Ram, 500GB harddrive and an X-fi sound card for $800 Australian, and that was 3 years ago, so expect to be able to build that computer for like $500 now.
People who complain about the pricing of PCs just have no idea what the fuck they are doing or talking about, or where to shop; they don't research, they just assume based on hearsay. Not to mention having a PC isn't just for games, so of course it's going to cost more than a $300 games console.
Don't go bringing facts into an argument, what are you thinking? This is Destructoid. We use archaic styles of thinking and it suits us just fine that it costs $1200 every 6 months in order to play video games on medium settings on a PC. OK? And you're a fanboy if you think anything else!
But the import taxes are about 80% for video games in my country. The cost has increased by about $50. Are $120 in just one game. The last game I bought via digital distribution only cost the price of the game, $20 (The void).
Of course, everyone has his opinion, but for those markets that publishers ignores, DD was the light at the end of the tunnel for those who do not use piracy.
Ps.: I still have a GF8600. Best deal I ever made.
Replica barbarabui-handbags
Replica chloe handbags
Replica dior-handbags
Replica Gucci handbags
Replica Hermes handbags
Replica jimmychoo handbags
Replica LV handbags
Replica Miumiu handbags
Replica Mulberry handbags
Replica Prada handbags
Replica valentino handbags
Replica YSL handbags
Replica versace handbags
Replica balenciaga handbags
Replica prada-fairy handbags
designer handbags
Discount handbags
Cheap handbags
fake handbags
fashion handbags
Replica purses
handbags on sale
barbarabui-handbags
chloe handbags
dior handbags
Gucci handbags
Replica Hermes handbags
jimmychoo handbags
LV handbags
Miumiu handbags
Mulberry handbags
Prada handbags
valentino handbags
YSL handbags
versace handbags
balenciaga handbags
prada fairy handbags
balenciaga motor
chloe leather handbags
Gucci boston
miumiu bow
miumiu coffer
mulberry bayswater
Prada leather handbag
Gucci leather handbag
Fake barbarabui-handbags
Fake chloe handbags
Fake dior-handbags
Fake Gucci handbags
Fake Hermes handbags
Fake jimmychoo handbags
Fake LV handbags
Fake Miumiu handbags
Fake Mulberry handbags
Fake Prada handbags
Fake valentino handbags
Fake YSL handbags
Fake versace handbags
Fake balenciaga handbags
Fake prada-fairy handbags
Cheap barbarabui-handbags
Cheap chloe handbags
Cheap dior-handbags
Cheap Gucci handbags
Cheap Hermes handbags
Cheap jimmychoo handbags
Cheap LV handbags
Cheap Miumiu handbags
Cheap Mulberry handbags
Cheap Prada handbags
Cheap valentino handbags
Cheap YSL handbags
Cheap versace handbags
Cheap balenciaga handbags
Cheap prada-fairy handbags
Hair straignteners
ghd hair straighteners
ghd iv styler
ghd iv
ghd styler
[url="http://www.ghdivs.com]ghd straighteners[/url]
best hair straighteners
ghd iv black styler
ghd iv dark styler
ghd iv gold styler
ghd iv kiss pink styler
ghd iv pink styler
ghd iv pure styler
ghd mk iv purple gift set
ghd pretty in pink
ghd radiance set
ghd rare styler set
ghd salon style
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca"><b>Wholesale Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca"><b>Discount Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/26-barbara-bui-handbags"><b>Barbara Bui Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/3-chloe-handbags"><b>Chloe Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/4-dior-handbags"><b>Dior Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/5-gucci-handbags"><b>Gucci Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/6-hermes-handbags"><b>Hermes Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/7-jimmy-choo-handbags"><b>Jimmy Choo Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/30-louis-vuitton-handbags"><b>Louis Vuitton Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/8-miu-miu-handbags"><b>Miu Miu Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/9-mulberry-handbags"><b>Mulberry Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/11-prada-handbags"><b>Prada Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/12-valentino-handbags"><b>Valentino Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/13-versace-handbags"><b>Versace Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/14-ysl-handbags"><b>YSL Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/10-handbag-collection"><b>Handbag Collection</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/29-balenciaga-leather-handbags"><b>Balenciaga Leather Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/22-chloe-leather-handbags"><b>Chloe Leather Handbags</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/18-gucci-boston"><b>Gucci Boston</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/19-miu-miu-bow"><b>Miu Miu Bow</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/20-miu-miu-coffer"><b>Miu Miu Coffer</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/17-mulberry-bayswater"><b>Mulberry Bayswater</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/28-prada-fairy"><b>Prada Fairy</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/62-louis-vuitton-2009-collection"><b>Louis Vuitton 2009 Collection</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/31-louis-vuitton-2009-new-arrival"><b>Louis Vuitton 2009 New Arrival</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/32-louis-vuitton-antigua-collection"><b>Louis Vuitton Antigua Collection</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/33-louis-vuitton-damier-azur"><b>Louis Vuitton Damier Azur</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/35-louis-vuitton-damier-geant-canvas"><b>Louis Vuitton Damier Geant Canvas</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/34-louis-vuitton-damier-canvas"><b>Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/36-louis-vuitton-damier-graphite"><b>Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/37-louis-vuitton-epi-leather"><b>Louis Vuitton Epi Leather</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/38-louis-vuitton-graffiti"><b>Louis Vuitton Graffiti</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/39-louis-vuitton-leather-handbag"><b>Louis Vuitton Leather Handbag</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/40-louis-vuitton-mahina"><b>Louis Vuitton Mahina</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/41-louis-vuitton-men-bag"><b>Louis Vuitton Men Bag</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/42-louis-vuitton-monogram"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/43-louis-vuitton-monogram-canvas"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/44-louis-vuitton-monogram-denim"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/45-louis-vuitton-monogram-dentelle"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Dentelle</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/46-louis-vuitton-monogram-glace"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Glace</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/47-louis-vuitton-monogram-jokes"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Jokes</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/48-louis-vuitton-monogram-leather"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Leather</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/49-louis-vuitton-monogram-leopard"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Leopard</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/50-louis-vuitton-monogram-mini-lin"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Mini Lin</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/51-louis-vuitton-monogram-miroir"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Miroir</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/52-louis-vuitton-monogram-multicolor"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Multicolor</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/53-louis-vuitton-monogram-perforation"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Perforation</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/54-louis-vuitton-monogram-suede"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Suede</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/55-louis-vuitton-monogram-vernis"><b>Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/56-louis-vuitton-nomade"><b>Louis Vuitton Nomade</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/57-louis-vuitton-seasonal-collection"><b>Louis Vuitton Seasonal Collection</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/58-louis-vuitton-snakeskin-leather"><b>Louis Vuitton Snakeskin Leather</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/59-louis-vuitton-suhali-leather"><b>Louis Vuitton Suhali Leather</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/60-louis-vuitton-taiga-leather"><b>Louis Vuitton Taiga Leather</b></a>
<a href="http://www.thehandbags.ca/61-louis-vuitton-wallet"><b>Louis Vuitton Wallet</b></a>
Barbara Bui Handbags
Chloe Handbags
Dior Handbags
Gucci Handbags
Hermes Handbags
Wholesale Handbags
Jimmy Choo Handbags
Louis Vuitton Handbags
Miu Miu Handbags
Mulberry Handbags
Replica Handbags
Prada Handbags
Valentino Handbags
Versace Handbags
YSL Handbags
Discount Handbags
Handbag Collection
Balenciaga Motor Handbags
Chloe Leather Handbags
Gucci Boston
Knockoff Handbags
Miu Miu Bow
Miu Miu Coffer
Mulberry Bayswater
Prada Fairy
Louis Vuitton 2009 Collection
Louis Vuitton 2009 New Arrival
Louis Vuitton Antigua Collection
Louis Vuitton Damier Azur
Louis Vuitton Damier Geant Canvas
Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas
Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite
Louis Vuitton Epi Leather
Louis Vuitton Graffiti
Louis Vuitton Leather Handbag
Louis Vuitton Mahina
Louis Vuitton Men Bag
Louis Vuitton Monogram
Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas
Louis Vuitton Monogram Denim
Louis Vuitton Monogram Dentelle
Louis Vuitton Monogram Glace
Louis Vuitton Monogram Jokes
Louis Vuitton Monogram Leather
Louis Vuitton Monogram Leopard
Louis Vuitton Monogram Mini Lin
Louis Vuitton Monogram Miroir
Louis Vuitton Monogram Multicolor
Louis Vuitton Monogram Perforation
Louis Vuitton Monogram Suede
Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis
Louis Vuitton Nomade
Louis Vuitton Seasonal Collection
Louis Vuitton Snakeskin Leather
Louis Vuitton Suhali Leather
Louis Vuitton Taiga Leather
Louis Vuitton Wallet
Not only that but even old games where I have been well above the minimum requirements are a 50/50 crapshoot on weather they will work right or even run at all.
PC gaming is a complete, and total mess, and I won't touch it again unless there is a standardize platform that can run all PC games properly. As long as there are a million different PC configurations PC gaming is always go be complete garbage, and not worth messing with.
Not only that but even old games where I have been well above the minimum requirements are a 50/50 crapshoot on weather they will work right or even run at all.
PC gaming is a complete, and total mess, and I won't touch it again unless there is a standardize platform that can run all PC games properly. As long as there are a million different PC configurations PC gaming is always go be complete garbage, and not worth messing with.
came acros your weblog on yahoo when looking for a compartment. I will come back again for
your webpage.
hermes handbags [url=http://www.hermeselling.com]
hermes birkin handbags[/url] coach handbags
burberry handbags
hermes purses
discount hermes handbags
hermes kelly handbags
hermes lindy handbags
hermes handbag
hermes wallets
hermes birkin handbags
burberry handbags
coach handbags