Is The Computer Gaming Industry Finished?

[Atrocities]

Over the Last few years we have seen many long time PC game developers go under, be aquired, or simply close their doors because they saw no future in the market, could not sustain themselves, or simply could not aford to continue to develop their products.

In the day where consule is king, and one of the largest game publishers, Activision, dedicates 73% of its gaming resources exclusively toward consule games and only a pitance of 23% to PC games, has we begun to see the end of PC Gaming?

The spactacular failures of such staple PC games as Moo3 to mention one, in the Last year have only added fuel to the fire that now threatens to devour what is left of the once dominate PC market.

Microsoft, Activision, and many other staple game publishers and developers are all gearing up for strictly consule games have clearly shown us that we as PC games are on the short list for extinction. The list is so short that even TechTV has altered its game play magainze eXtended play to focus exclusively on consule games and even have gone so far as to rename the once PC dominate show Xplay. (To denote that is now is dedicated to consule games)

In the Last two years we have seen a significant reduction in PC game releases and games that were slated for PC release have been put on hold, pushed back, or out right cancled in favor of cnsule games.

It was discussed in a thread a while back about the possibility that SEIV could be developed for Consule play in addition to many other fine games offered by Shrapnels, and if true great, but what will that mean to us, the PC players? I suppose the sme as it did to those who used to play such games as board games. The market will always be there but not at the level it was at its peek.

Game developers Lucas Arts and ID Software, have both stated recently that they expect to phase out PC game development completely no later the then end of 2005. We all know from past experience where ID software leads, the industry will follow.

I shudder to think what it will be like having to sit in front of my old TV and play a game designed for a plasma tv, an HD system that I can ill aford, and try and play a game of SEV.

[ November 07, 2003, 12:50: Message edited by: Atrocities ]