PC version of Devil May Cry 4 not doing so well, so what's the deal?

Maybe more people would buy it if it wasn't so shit that it's impossible to play without a controller. I buy PC games so I can play them with a keyboard and mouse. If it doesn't let me use the keyboard and mouse, I won't buy the game.

STEAAAAM LET IT TAKE OVER THE WORLLLLLLD PLEAAAASSSSE.

I think pirates need to get a damn job and buy their games.

I know I'm waiting for the Steam version to come out so I can buy that one. I hope Capcom embrace digital distribution. It's a big thing for the western market, especially PAL territories, so hopefully Capcom Japan don't screw it up.

"I know I'm waiting for the Steam version to come out so I can buy that one. I hope Capcom embrace digital distribution. It's a big thing for the western market, especially PAL territories, so hopefully Capcom Japan don't screw it up."

There's a lot of bonuses about digital distribution.

1. It's cheaper for developers to embrace. With the PC market as it is, lower entry costs are necessary.
2. It's easier for consumers. With local PawnStops err.. PYGames err... GameStops and EBGames giving no respect to PC games and basically just selling used PS2 games, it can be hard for consumers to find what they want. Quadruple this if Walmart doesn't carry it, and you live somewhere fairly remote....

what killias said. people don't really think things through, i guess. or they just like to throw the blame on the usual suspects.

and the game is definitely playable with a keyboard.
still, this doesn't make it ok. the 2nd half of the game is just backtracking through the first half.. which is kinda lame, considering that the 1st half already had a ton of backtracking.

so.. a mediocre score for a mediocre game.

i don't see the problem here. if people would have liked the game, they would have bought it. this being said, a mediocre game seems to have more chances of selling on a console than on pcs for some reason.

The reason it's not selling well is that 99% of the time console ports SUCK ASS. Look at Alone in the Dark, the worst console port of all time. I actually loled at the idea of buying DMC4 until 2 days ago when I saw IGN give it game of the month because it was such a good port.

Average game + stigma of console port = low sales. But of course every time a game sells bad its those mystical evil pirates! Oh sure lots of PC games sell millions, but if it sells BAD its ALL PIRATES.

Gimme a fucking break.

Yeah...it's probably because most of those who wanted the game have it already

Here's an idea: Considering that the last time a major Capcom game was ported to the PC (Resident Evil 4), it didn't include mouse support. When games require lightning-fast reflexes and exact precision, I hear that a mouse would be useful.

That's not to say that is the only reason DMC4 for PC fell flat on its face, but considering how much of a stink RE4 made among PC gamers, it's understandable why they would be hesitant with another Capcom PC port.

Game Devs just don't seem to realize that some games have qualities that make them 'pirate' games rather than ones people buy.

It's not that complex just answer the following questions...

Is your game primarily a tech demo (Crisis, Doom3)?
Is your game a single player console port months after the console release (DMC4)?
If your game is being released on console is there any driving reason to buy the PC version over the others?
Is your game of questionable quality?

Devs responsible for Crisis or ports like these complain about piracy. Their games get pirated a ton because they offer nothing worthwhile but still expect money. So many of the pirates for Crisis were for benchmarking/testing rigs I'm sure (people don't actually care about the game).

Meanwhile when's the last time you heard Blizzard, Infinity Ward (COD4), 2k Games (Bioshock)*, or others raise such a fuss over piracy? Hell diablo 2 can't be that hard to find a pirated copy of since it's been out so long but it still made a top seller when D3 was announced.

*Not sure if Bioshock did or not, they did have that whole copyright protection fiasco

Capcom needs to learn how to fucing port games to the PC before they can start whining.

Logo - Exactly

I guarantee you Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3 will sell like hotcakes. Meanwhile, Crytek will continue to bitch and moan about how nobody can sell games for the PC because of piracy.

However, I do think there are a few things that help reduce piracy:

1. Digital distribution. If people can download a game legally, they are less likely to download it illegally.
2. Multiplayer support. Believe it or not, if people want to play a multiplayer game, they are more likely to buy it.
3. Login to patch/DLC. Basically, don't let every random ass website on teh tubes host your patch. Only let people with registered accounts download patches. This is a really difficult thing for pirates to get beyond.. trust me.
4. Be straightforward about system requirements, and try to be as inclusive as possible. People are a lot less likely to buy a game if they are worried about running it. This is part of an industry-wide problem that really needs tackled before PC gaming can get back to whooping console butt.
5. Treat PC Gamers with respect. I know this sounds silly, but when you shove a DRM anal probe up a gamer's butt.. they are less likely to buy the game. When you release a shitty port.. they are less likely to buy the game and future ports by your company (I'm looking at you Devil May Cry 3 and Resident Evil 4). When you release a PC port after the console game, they are less likely to buy the game. When you repeatedly scream that PC GAMING IS DOOMED.. PC gamers remember.. and are less likely to buy your games.
6. Release games that appeal to the PC gaming market. Although this something, obviously, that not all games can follow, certain kinds of games do better on PC's. Strategy games, online games, PC RPG's (very different than their console counterparts), and FPS's (with mouse support!) are major niches for PC gamers. I think games like DMC 4 can still be a success despite its genre, but you have better chances with PC kinds of games.
7. Be realistic with your expectations! If you're breaking a number of these rules, be prepared for sales in the low hundreds of thousands. The PC is not like consoles. People are less likely to indulge in impulse PC game purchases. Especially if you forsake digital distribution, be prepared for low sales.

Let's take Sins of a Solar Empire as an example. Here is a game that forced login for patches (making piracy of patches extremely difficult), includes a robust multiplayer mode, is a strategy game (which is a major genre for PC gaming), treats PC gamers with respect (they talk up the platform, they don't attack piracy, and they have absolutely no DRM), it works on a number of platforms, it's available through digital distribution, AND they had realistic sales expectations. The result was a surprise hit that made the initial investment back many times over.

"And as for "1 pirated copy does not equal 1 lost sale." True. But SEVERAL pirated copies can equal one lost sale. In truth, most pirates wouldn't have played the game at all if they couldn't get it for free. But there are a lot of pirates out there that have the money and WOULD buy games if they didn't have the abililty to pirate EVERYTHING under the sun thanks to bittorrent. "

This is true, but its very hard to quantify the number. Also, you have to keep in mind that there would be more borrowing of games, more waiting for the budget bin, etc. if there was less piracy.

Another thing to keep in mind is that all this copyright crap pisses gamers off. For example, I bought Shogun Total War. Great game. I bought Medieval Total War. Great game. I bought Rome Total War. Wouldn't install. It didn't like some of the programs I had, and the disc had issues. In order to run my legitimate copy of Rome Total War, I had to use a friends burner and copy one of the discs. It was a decent game, but, with all the trouble it put me through, I stopped playing around with it. I didn't buy Medieval 2 Total War. I might buy Empire Total War.. we'll see.

Honestly, I'd like to see more openness with PC sales. It's really hard to find most games PC sales, and it's impossible to find anything involving digital distribution at all. Personally, I think the whole piracy thing is purposefully pushed over the top in order to get more people to engage in pity-buying. "Only YOU Can Save PC Gaming! Buy More Games!"

Meanwhile, I bet digital distribution is through the damn roof.

Piracy is a problem guys. Stop trying to defend the PC so much killias2. I don't see how you can throw piracy out of the window. It is a major major problem in the PC idustry and thats why the PC doesn't get much love anymore. If publishers would start more digital distributing they would see more sells and thats a fact. Whenever someone mentions piracy, someone else says its because the game sucked. Its pretty retarded to be that naive.

It couldn't be that action games have never sold spectacularly on PC? It couldn't be that not many of them have made it to PC in the past and that most fans therefore would have purchased the already released console version to play with a gamepad? It couldn't be because the RE4 port was FUCKING AWFUL and worse than the PS2 version?

IT JUST COULDN'T BE!!

Cevat Yerli's VERY FACTUAL statement that if your game manages to sell 1 million copies every sentient being from here to Uranus has pirated it is FAR MORE LOGICAL!

It is also fact that every single PC in existence is set up to play high spec games.

I am god damn sick and tired of people with no understanding of the market saying "Boo hoo pirates stole our games, our rum and our women".

Every game on every platform, every movie, book, music album, any media at all is up on torrent sites by release day.

I hope Blizzard haven't bought into this "20 bazillion PCs means 20 bazillion potential customers" bullcrap. If they start moaning about PC sales people might actually pay attention.

"Piracy is a problem guys. Stop trying to defend the PC so much killias2. I don't see how you can throw piracy out of the window. It is a major major problem in the PC idustry and thats why the PC doesn't get much love anymore. If publishers would start more digital distributing they would see more sells and thats a fact. Whenever someone mentions piracy, someone else says its because the game sucked. Its pretty retarded to be that naive."

First off, let's separate our "defending the PC" and talking about piracy. Regardless of piracy, the PC is a great platform. The mod communities are lightyears beyond console's counterparts, the online multiplayer is still better overall, most of the best console games come to PC, while there are still plenty of great PC exclusives. Also, let's keep in mind that every system, except maybe the PS3, has issues with piracy. It may be easier on the PC, but it's everywhere. (As a sidenote: I just plain don't get why you would attack PC Gaming. It's not like it hurts you if PC Gaming does well. If the world went the way you want it to and only Sony and Microsoft were left with any clout in the VG industry, I guarantee you that you'd see some TERRIBLE things happen to the industry. The fact that both have to compete with Nintendo (keeping prices low) and the PC (keeping expectations of an open environment high) does a lot of good, even for the 360 and PS3 fans.)

Now, as for piracy, as has been argued a million times in these comments by almost as many people, it is not the end of the world scenario these companies argue. Generally speaking, PC sales are comparable to what they were 10 years ago. People may have a heart attack when they hear Crysis only sold 1.5 million copies. However, it took Diablo, a MAJOR PC hit I think we can all agree, 4 years to sell 2.5 million copies.

There are lots of factors that interplay here, but only one of them, and probably a smaller one at that, is piracy:
1. Piracy
2. PC sales are generally lower
3. Digital distribution sales never get counted
4. Some games are not optimized to run on most systems. Devil May Cry 4 is actually pretty well optimized, but, when so many PC gamers get Crysis-ed, they become hesitant to buy new, graphically intense games.
5. Games that get released for another platform first get less sales. Are we surprised?
6. Companies that have a history of doing terrible ports will sell less copies of their ports. Are we surprised?
7. Games that do not fit the standard niches of PC gaming will sell less. Are we surprised?

Acting like piracy is the downfall of the world is just dumb. I guarantee you that Starcraft 2 will sell like god damn hotcakes when it comes out, despite being pirated by everyone between here and Mars.

Bwa ha ha....?

I played the demo on my PS3, deleted it and forgot about it. Might pick it up when there is a price drop or something as it wasn't as "awesome" as I was hoping.

Plus, I have never played a game like DMC (action/slashing stuff) on a PC and I really don't think I will attempt to anytime soon. That could be the problem.

shitty controls

crappy port(the demo crashed like 10 times)

People already said it, the game is not selling bad because of piracy, is selling bad because is not the PC is not the platform for that kind of game.
I will buy it, eventually, maybe sooner than later if it comes out on STEAM.

Oh for fucks sake...Can anything fail in this day and age without someone instantly blaming pirates?

@ajaxender

i have a gamepad, and do not as ninjikiran suggested "turn my nose up" at them, therefore i have no problem with DMC4 on PC and it was worth the £20 i paid for it, which i should probably add is about the same price as the console version is selling for so since i got an improved version of the game for the same price i consider it value for money.

also you cannot really discount the fact that it runs well considering it's a very fast paced action game which requires a lot of exact timing. the console version is locked at 30fps so there is a genuine advantage to playing on PC.

as for mass effect... annoying DRM, various bugs not present in the console version, full price and it doesn't run nearly as well as DMC4 does, especially with antialiasing enabled. i agree that bioware made sure it played properly on PC but the only reason they did was because the console interface didn't translate properly to PC.

ME is a good game, but DMC4 is an equally good port if not better considering the problems ME had.