Consoles delaying the graphical revolution

Windows 7 is going to be released soon and DirectX 11 is going to be released with it. Most PC games released in the past few years haven't even used the features of DirectX 10, even future games being released are based around DirectX 9.

Since the Xbox 360 and PS3 have features and graphics similar to DirectX 9, it is safe to assume that most developers don't want to push hardware as that will make it harder to port to consoles since PC games aren't selling as much as they used to. During the mid-life of the last console generation PCs were already way more advance than Consoles. When Far Cry, Half-Life 2, and Doom 3 were released back in 2004 they clearly showed how far advance PC games were ahead of consoles graphically. Even recent GPUs aren't released to much fanfare as they were in years past.

This has been going on for YEARS.

Don't blame consoles, blame the PC users that aren't buying PC games, forcing Devs to run to consoles.

"since PC games aren't selling as much as they used to"

LoserMike

It's funny how you blame consoles and then say something like this.....maybe you should blame weak pc game sales and piracy instead.

It's funny how you blame consoles and then say something like this.....maybe you should blame weak pc game sales and piracy instead.

robflores370

No, blame the devs that make crappy sequels/ports and then blaming the community for low sales even though the game was crappy in the first place aka UT3 (stale in comparison to its predecessors) aka Crysis (did Crytek even expect Crysis to sell 15mil?), past EA (Securom).

Its not consoles its PC's not enough people own compatible PC's yet to make it worth it, along with insane high dev costs to put out what they are now it would only skyrocket from there.wooooode

It costs much less to develop games on the PC than on consoles. That is why the PC caters to so many indie devs. And they can make the game so that it scales. Crysis on low is pretty playable on most PC's, where as very high looks absolutely gorgeous and brings most computers to their knees.

Also those DRM that developers release with their games, especially EA.Miroku32

Thank you!!! If anything, DRM is the main culprit.

This has been going on for YEARS.

Don't blame consoles, blame the PC users that aren't buying PC games, forcing Devs to run to consoles.

SolidTy

This

As a PC gamer since 1994 and console gamer even before that, I agree with the TC. So many PC games nowadays are just console ports. I love consoles too, but PC is struggling to get more developer support that it deserves. Even John Carmack (creator of Doom and the FPS genre) admitted that Rage was designed with the 360 as the lead platform, saying "PC game sales are not what they used to be". PC gaming is slowly becoming more niche, while consoles are becoming more "hip". Sad, but looks like its true. The only PC game that casual gamers play nowadays is the Sims 3. Most of the other games are shooters, MMos and WRPGs etc.

In either case, blame those pirates who crack PC games for ruining our platform :(

As a PC gamer since 1994 and console gamer even before that, I agree with the TC. So many PC games nowadays are just console ports. I love consoles too, but PC is struggling to get more developer support that it deserves. Even John Carmack (creator of Doom and the FPS genre) admitted that Rage was designed with the 360 as the lead platform, saying "PC game sales are not what they used to be". PC gaming is slowly becoming more niche, while consoles are becoming more "hip". Sad, but looks like its true. The only PC game that casual gamers play nowadays is the Sims 3. Most of the other games are shooters, MMos and WRPGs etc.

In either case, blame those pirates who crack PC games for ruining our platform :(

PandaBear86

Again why do people blame pirates for low sales? A good game will still sell good regardless of pirates. Stalker sold 2 million, The Wither sold 1.5million, Crysis sold 3 million. Each of them were pirated to hell and back but because they were good games, they sold well and the developers got more funds; GDC made more STALKER games, CD Projekt is making The Witcher 2 and Crytek bought Free Radical, made Cry Engine 3 and is developing Crysis 2. Even World of Goo sold well for an indie game despite being gaving a high piracy rates.

i used to be a huge pc gamer. back when a half way decent computor could play pretty much any games.

but when the price rose for pc gaming. the sales started to slip. to the point were many devs droped making pc games all together.

We are starting to see ea and some other devs try to make more games for the pc's. but i doubt were ever see agian the ammount of games we saw in the early 2000. and even up to 2007

Well consider that devs need the PC general standard to rise too. What is the point in making games with state of the art graphics if only a fraction of the gaming PC community will run it.

If no one curbed the possibilities of games you really would need to constantly upgrade.

I want the new graphics to be adopted quickly, and more and more bling to be pursued. It is usually pursued by those who don't care for their customers, and the faster said companies go under, the better.

Its allways like that. We will see a gig graphical jump (even on PC games) when the next consoles come out.

[QUOTE="LoserMike"]

"since PC games aren't selling as much as they used to"

robflores370

It's funny how you blame consoles and then say something like this.....maybe you should blame weak pc game sales and piracy instead.

Good one dude..hit the nail right on the head. Here is how I see it...When people think of gaming "in general" they think of consoles. Gaming started on consoles...OR...was popularized and commercialized on consoles. When I think of gaming I think of consoles. I dont care what pc has to offer. Upping the visuals another 5% isnt going to change the minds of millions and millions of people. Mods dont mean anything to 95% of the gaming community. Being able to set up your controls ie "keyboard" however you want them doesnt mean anything to most people either.

PCgamers are just pizzed because consoles are still pumping and knocked pcgaming back down a knotch. PCgaming is has a small group that will continue to follow it. Console gaming is still too mainstream, easy to use, and works with every game made for them to get run out. Sorry pcgamers...your time has come and gone with "COUNTER STRIKE"...:)

i used to be a huge pc gamer. back when a half way decent computor could play pretty much any games.

James161324

Don't blame consoles, blame the PC users that aren't buying PC games, forcing Devs to run to consoles.

SolidTy

Unfortunately it's true

Cool story Bro.

Hopefully, the fact that DX11 is fully backwards compatible with 9/10, should help devs decide to code with DX 11. Meaning we should get some great looking games, which can be scaled back for 9/10 machines.

[QUOTE="robflores370"]

[QUOTE="LoserMike"]

"since PC games aren't selling as much as they used to"

FunkyHeadHunter

It's funny how you blame consoles and then say something like this.....maybe you should blame weak pc game sales and piracy instead.

Good one dude..hit the nail right on the head. Here is how I see it...When people think of gaming "in general" they think of consoles. Gaming started on consoles...OR...was popularized and commercialized on consoles. When I think of gaming I think of consoles. I dont care what pc has to offer. Upping the visuals another 5% isnt going to change the minds of millions and millions of people. Mods dont mean anything to 95% of the gaming community. Being able to set up your controls ie "keyboard" however you want them doesnt mean anything to most people either.

PCgamers are just pizzed because consoles are still pumping and knocked pcgaming back down a knotch. PCgaming is has a small group that will continue to follow it. Console gaming is still too mainstream, easy to use, and works with every game made for them to get run out. Sorry pcgamers...your time has come and gone with "COUNTER STRIKE"...:)

There are more PC gamers in the WORLD then consoles. Period.

The Western world surely makes a huge chunk of change for the entire industry. The PC gaming world outside the US though is still quite big. Sims 3? World of Warcraft? You mentioned Counterstrike? Despite the age of these products, they sell. A lot. Crysis even sold 3 million + with its absurd requirements! Plus these games will keep selling even when you bought a second or third console from now.

PC games will not go away, especially with the cost of technology plummeting. The PC is always the best place to go for a staff thats want to push the envelope of tech, and or is to small to afford the royalties and publishing woes of the consoles. The PC has and forever will be a staple of gaming culture. Even if the kids in the US/UK/JAPAN prefer the ease of use of a console.

Almost every third party console game ends up on the PC as well anyway. Every game ends up on the PC later down the line.

PC gaming may not be in the spot light, but it never really was. It will continue to be a niche audience that enjoys tech almost as much as games, or has such a love of the medium playing with sub PC performance is just not an option. I'd even wager despite the percieved lack of exclusive big name titles, that there is more people playing on a PC right now then ever before. It keeps evolving into something that is much easier to grasp and afford and will continue to do as such.

[QUOTE="robflores370"]

[QUOTE="LoserMike"]

"since PC games aren't selling as much as they used to"

FunkyHeadHunter

It's funny how you blame consoles and then say something like this.....maybe you should blame weak pc game sales and piracy instead.

Good one dude..hit the nail right on the head. Here is how I see it...When people think of gaming "in general" they think of consoles. Gaming started on consoles...OR...was popularized and commercialized on consoles. When I think of gaming I think of consoles. I dont care what pc has to offer. Upping the visuals another 5% isnt going to change the minds of millions and millions of people. Mods dont mean anything to 95% of the gaming community. Being able to set up your controls ie "keyboard" however you want them doesnt mean anything to most people either.

PCgamers are just pizzed because consoles are still pumping and knocked pcgaming back down a knotch. PCgaming is has a small group that will continue to follow it. Console gaming is still too mainstream, easy to use, and works with every game made for them to get run out. Sorry pcgamers...your time has come and gone with "COUNTER STRIKE"...:)

There have been over 200 miliion gaming PC's sold since the beginning of this gen (ie, the release of the 360).

Link that PC gaming was worth over 12 billion in 2008, and that almost 50 million PC's capable of playing video games had been shipped in less than one year.

You were saying what now?

This has been going on for YEARS.

Don't blame consoles, blame the PC users that aren't buying PC games, forcing Devs to run to consoles.

SolidTy

This

aroxx_ab

Unfortunately it's true

badtaker

That must be why the console developers went cross platform as well :roll: I suppose console gamers aren't buying games either...

The sheer number of people who seem incapable of recognising that cross platform orientation is happening to 'all platforms' is getting irritating. It is today's content development cost causing cross platform orientation, it is happening on all platforms, will consolites quit trying to make it seem like a PC only problem.

[QUOTE="SolidTy"]

Don't blame consoles, blame the PC users that aren't buying PC games, forcing Devs to run to consoles.

badtaker

Unfortunately it's true

are now on the PC too. Yes of course, its piracy.

Development costs have nothing to do with it.

The are PC exclusive powerhouses that come from time to time, so I don't know what you're talking about. Honestly, this is a generation that's been multiplat focused. Exclusives are becoming less common, and this isn't just PC only. We're going to see Crysis 2 on consoles, whereas we're going to see Dead Rising 2 on PC for example.

Just because consoles are on the shelves for longer times, doesnt mean ATI and Nvidia (sp?) arnt working hard creating more advanced chips... Like a dev said, its better that this gen of consoles will have a longer shelf life, because when the next gen of consoles releases, we will be amazing at how big of a leap the graphics and power will be... Sucks for Wii owners though, they are stuck with last gen hardware for another 4 years! :lol:

There have been over 200 miliion gaming PC's sold since the beginning of this gen (ie, the release of the 360).

Link that PC gaming was worth over 12 billion in 2008, and that almost 50 million PC's capable of playing video games had been shipped in less than one year.

You were saying what now?

I was saying that no matter how many pcs sell, no matter how big a fuss pcgamers make, no matter if the graphics are marginally better, no matter if you can connect the pc to a tv, no matter if you can use a "consoles" controller, no matter how many mods you make up....THAT PCs have never been, are not now, and never will be the mainstream consumer choice, most popular outlet for gaming...EVER.

I know it hurts but its true.. maybe you got it this time??..;)

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

There have been over 200 miliion gaming PC's sold since the beginning of this gen (ie, the release of the 360).

Link that PC gaming was worth over 12 billion in 2008, and that almost 50 million PC's capable of playing video games had been shipped in less than one year.

You were saying what now?

FunkyHeadHunter

I was saying that no matter how many pcs sell, no matter how big a fuss pcgamers make, no matter if the graphics are marginally better, no matter if you can connect the pc to a tv, no matter if you can use a "consoles" controller, no matter how many mods you make up....THAT PCs have never been, are not now, and never will be the mainstream consumer choice, most popular outlet for gaming...EVER.

I know it hurts but its true.. maybe you got it this time??..;)

You are solely insinuating, and passed off your opinion as fact. How can they not be the most popular, if they have sold the most "gaming" PC's in this current generation, they have sold more than all the consoles combined (Wii, PS3 and 360). How's that possible?

[QUOTE="FunkyHeadHunter"]

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

There have been over 200 miliion gaming PC's sold since the beginning of this gen (ie, the release of the 360).

Link that PC gaming was worth over 12 billion in 2008, and that almost 50 million PC's capable of playing video games had been shipped in less than one year.

You were saying what now?

lundy86_4

I was saying that no matter how many pcs sell, no matter how big a fuss pcgamers make, no matter if the graphics are marginally better, no matter if you can connect the pc to a tv, no matter if you can use a "consoles" controller, no matter how many mods you make up....THAT PCs have never been, are not now, and never will be the mainstream consumer choice, most popular outlet for gaming...EVER.

I know it hurts but its true.. maybe you got it this time??..;)

You are solely insinuating, and passed off your opinion as fact. How can they not be the most popular, if they have sold the most "gaming" PC's in this current generation, they have sold more than all the consoles combined (Wii, PS3 and 360). How's that possible?

You do know that just because a PC is labeled "GAMING" doesnt mean people are using them as "GAMING PCs"...A gaming pc is nothing more than a high end pc. Used for video editing, photo editing, animation,music ect. ect..I am going to upgrade my pc soon to "gaming pc specs" but im not using it as a gaming machine. Now can you see how im not just "insinuating" but im actually thinking about the many uses of the PC which in fact does out do the console with no question.

You do know that just because a PC is labeled "GAMING" doesnt mean people are using them as "GAMING PCs"...A gaming pc is nothing more than a high end pc. Used for video editing, photo editing, animation,music ect. ect..I am going to upgrade my pc soon to "gaming pc specs" but im not using it as a gaming machine. Now can you see how im not just "insinuating" but im actually thinking about the many uses of the PC which in fact does out do the console with no question.

FunkyHeadHunter

By that rational I declare that the majority of PS3s sold are used as Blu-ray players and not for gaming.

I don't need any evidence, apparently. It being a possibility means that it is true.

nothing new.

if we had photorealistic graphics now.

there would be no way for the industry to milk the people who want greater graphics.

thats why they are delaying.

This has been going on for YEARS.

Don't blame consoles, blame the PC users that aren't buying PC games, forcing Devs to run to consoles.

SolidTy

and/thread

[QUOTE="FunkyHeadHunter"]

You do know that just because a PC is labeled "GAMING" doesnt mean people are using them as "GAMING PCs"...A gaming pc is nothing more than a high end pc. Used for video editing, photo editing, animation,music ect. ect..I am going to upgrade my pc soon to "gaming pc specs" but im not using it as a gaming machine. Now can you see how im not just "insinuating" but im actually thinking about the many uses of the PC which in fact does out do the console with no question.

AnnoyedDragon

By that rational I declare that the majority of PS3s sold are used as Blu-ray players and not for gaming.

I don't need any evidence, apparently. It being a possibility means that it is true.

Well you are right. In the beginning the PS3 was used as that. OR it was being played up as being used that way. Even though there were a few good titles early on. Poeple were being quite dramatic at the time and dissing the PS3 for the "fun" of it. And in most cases you dont need "evidence" to understand many points not only here in the gaming world, but in life as well.

You have millions of people that follow, believe, and give their life to a so called GOD"Jesus" and they have zero proof of anything. BUT you ask them and its as real as the nose on your face.

Windows 7 is going to be released soon and DirectX 11 is going to be released with it. Most PC games released in the past few years haven't even used the features of DirectX 10, even future games being released are based around DirectX 9.

Since the Xbox 360 and PS3 have features and graphics similar to DirectX 9, it is safe to assume that most developers don't want to push hardware as that will make it harder to port to consoles since PC games aren't selling as much as they used to. During the mid-life of the last console generation PCs were already way more advance than Consoles. When Far Cry, Half-Life 2, and Doom 3 were released back in 2004 they clearly showed how far advance PC games were ahead of consoles graphically. Even recent GPUs aren't released to much fanfare as they were in years past.

LoserMike

pc games still can look completely different to the console versions, the big exclusive titles are just replaced of multiplattform games

considering consoles now use PC based GPUs, saying the consoles are delaying the graphical revolution is the most rediculous thing i've ever heard. Why are we so obsessed with obtaining the most hyper realistic visuals ever conceived?....i could be wrong, but it's almost like people don't like escapism anymore, i mean seriously, gaming is meant to be fun and thats why i play them. personally i like all these different artistic visuals in games, gives them a colourful contrast so to speak. Just to contrast: (and not favouring any particular system) Crackdown Eternal sonata Ninja Gaiden 2 Gears of war Animal crossing Mirror's edge REZ Super mario sunshine These are some of games with IMO really cool art styles, hardly the most realistic but they stand out to me as games, and not situation simulators we're trying to achieve.Quadster

Console Systems graphics update slower. They won't have new GPUs until the next console launch.

BTW consoles are what developers are being paid to develop for more because Microsoft would rather pay for pc developers to develop for gaming on the xbox platform since they control the hardware for it.

I must say that it does not bother me in the least that PC games are having to follow consoles standards...it is PC gamers fault in the end (no offense). Plus, no matter how you look at it, eventually we will have jaw-dropping graphics. . . if I do not get them in the next 3-4 years, it does not bother me. Games like like Uncharted 2, Resident Evil 5, Gears of War 2, Killzone 2, COD:MW2, Assasin's Creeed 2, etc, look good enough for me....if games stay this way for a while, I will be happy....developers might even take more time with the story instead of amazing graphics.

[QUOTE="wooooode"]Its not consoles its PC's not enough people own compatible PC's yet to make it worth it, along with insane high dev costs to put out what they are now it would only skyrocket from there.shakmaster13

It costs much less to develop games on the PC than on consoles. That is why the PC caters to so many indie devs. And they can make the game so that it scales. Crysis on low is pretty playable on most PC's, where as very high looks absolutely gorgeous and brings most computers to their knees.

So what if consoles are delaying the graphical revolution ? The games are still amazing...

Well you are right. In the beginning the PS3 was used as that. OR it was being played up as being used that way. Even though there were a few good titles early on. Poeple were being quite dramatic at the time and dissing the PS3 for the "fun" of it. And in most cases you dont need "evidence" to understand many points not only here in the gaming world, but in life as well.

You have millions of people that follow, believe, and give their life to a so called GOD"Jesus" and they have zero proof of anything. BUT you ask them and its as real as the nose on your face.

FunkyHeadHunter

The point being made was a possibility is not evidence.

Could those gaming PC sales be used for none gaming tasks? Yes, but that isn't evidence that the install base figure is useless as an indication of gaming install base. There is no method of measuring how many PS3 sales are simply used as Blu-ray players, just like you cannot make assumptions on whether or not gaming PCs are actually used for gaming.

Quite frankly I think it is a good indication of the gaming install base. Not because I'm a PC gamer so it is in my interests to criticise these sort of claims in SW, but because there is a entirety separate line of GPUs more suited for none gaming but graphically intensive workstation tasks. Gaming computers are equipped with Geforce and ATI equivalent GPUs, people who need high end graphics for none gaming tasks get GPUs like the Nvidia Quadro.

I think it is fair to say a high end PC with a Geforce GPU is intended for gaming.

So what if consoles are delaying the graphical revolution ? The games are still amazing...

anshul89

You know I just got to thinking...I think PCs might be holding back technology in games. And this might be the reason so many developers are moving over to consoles. Think about it. PCs are very intimidating to millions of people. There is no debating that. Many people are scared of them. Dont want to mess with them for one reason or another.

Consoles are easy. You plug them in, turn them on and boom...you are in. No messing with installing parts and learning ins and outs. So developers are spending more time on them. More adults and elderly are playing games now more so then ever. Why? Ease of use, newer motion controls, game characters that have been around for years that people feel comfortable with. Consoles are made for games. Yes they do other things now days, but in general they are for games.

Graphically consoles are doing just fine. The difference in graphics are so slim it really doesnt matter anymore. Sure console tech is behind a little, but look at what we get even with that. I feel people look a little too close at graphics and less at whats important. Gameplay...

You should stop whining about what you could have and enjoy what you have at the moment. When the graphical technology is ready to be brought out to the "main stream", it'll be brought out.forgot_it

I agree...People whining about graphics kill me. You have PC gamers that say they get the best of the visuals. Well...Even they have nothing compared to whats being used in animated movies and such. SO the argument is bunk. PC and console graphics are behind if you ask me..BUT then again, IM very very far from a graphicswhore as I still play 30 year old games daily.