Gas Powered Games: PC Gaming Is Not Dead

[Hilarion]

No and NO and NO again. Browser gaming isn't gaming to me.

And I don't like the intrusive Steam spy.

 

[back_by_demand]

Of course, one possible option for Steam next is that you can ask it to only display games that your system is capable of running, that way you can only buy ones that run.

 

[g00fysmiley]

70% of activition's revenue comes from pc... WoW.. pun intended 😉

 

[Usersname]

Their market would be much greater if they used OpenGL

 

[nforce4max]

Gaming through browsers only works when the client has a decent connection to the server and the server is up to the task load wise if not hello ques. PC gaming is for those who truly hardcore gamers like my self. Build it your self and you will appreciate it even more, console not so much. Just a box hooked up to the golden calf aka TV.

 

[maestintaolius]

All the steam hate... I dunno, I love steam. I've gotten great deals off it (particularly during the perils of summer sale) and I've also gotten some really great games that I really couldn't reliably at a brick and mortar (e.g. indie titles or games that are more than a few years old).

 

[thegreathuntingdolphin]

This is a joke. Maybe in more than 5-8 years. Servers would need to be very fast and very close to gamers. Also, the gamers themselves would need fast internet with very low ping (which is really the hard part).

 

[legato blusumrs]

Steam is a very well put together community and game distribution system. At the moment browser based gaming just doesn't seem that it will be possible anytime soon. At least not for the more demanding games. There is already enough lag during online play much less browser based play.

As far as mentioning Sup Com 2 as being a good title, I have loved Total Annihilation since around when it came out. Sup Com 1 was everything Total Annihilation was and then some. The only problem was the demand on even the best processors available today. With Sup Com 2 he promised the same size maps and unit diversity as well as improved computer performance. He delivered a product that has less features than TA or SupCom1 with WAY smaller maps and it still bogs down the CPU in 8 player/AI matchups. Recently available on Steam for $7.50

 

[lejay]

[citation][nom]usersname[/nom]Their market would be much greater if they used OpenGL[/citation]

By much I assume you mean 5%?

 

[cscott_it]

SaaS is not a panacea. It's still a long way from being a completely viable corporate solution, much less for end users and gamers.

Make something worthwhile and people will pay for it...
Unless you are Penny Arcade. Those guys produced a game that was geniunely fun and engaging, and was pirated in-so-much that it was not viable for them to finish the series.

I digress. For services like that to work well, you would need numerous well placed servers. Google has the right idea with their data center in a trailer approach.

Even if SaaS was a mature enough delivery platform, the US lacks the infrastructure for the majority of the rural US to get any use out of it. So long as Big Cable/Phone can charge $55/mo for 3mbs, then there is not much that can be done.

 

[screechy]

Now all we need is a good ISP. This technology won't go far without a total network overhaul.

 

[techguy911]

Look at Final Fantasy XIV they turned a pc mmorpg into a console game that runs good only on a gamepad controller.
One of the reasons why pc game sales are low is they don't give customers what they want most games are shipped unfinished or have such restrictive DRM causing problems.
There has been so little in the way of good rpg, and rts i have not bought a pc game in a loong time.
Quality has gone down over the years every few months they release a patch to finish these games that are half done.

 

[proxy711]

Until everyone has uber fiber optic speedy internet no game over a browser is going to even come close the performance of a good system using software. Even then it would look as good. good luck trying to send 1920x1200 and higher resolutions at 60fps without it being laggy.

I have a fast cable connection "good" computer and onlive runs like shit its like playing a game in jello. playing a FPS with 2 seconds of lag isn't going to work. MMO's will be more playable if you're just leveling or farming but anything group based would be a nightmare.

 

[proxy711]

[citation][nom]techguy911[/nom]Look at Final Fantasy XIV they turned a pc mmorpg into a console game that runs good only on a gamepad controller.[/citation]

Sorry if this is a double post. But you cant use FFMMOs as a sign PC is dieing. FF has and will always be on the side of consoles look at EVERY PC FF it runs like shit on PCs, the controls suck they just make the crappiest ports to PC they can.

That's like saying consoles are dieing because Sagas new console is a huge failure, its expected and proven true that it will suck.

 

[jimmysmitty]

Steam has been known to take a Indie game company and push them into the millions of sales so I believe it.

And I never thought PC gaming was dead. VALVe told me it was alive and well.

 

[warezme]

I'm an elitist to. I consider my dual 295GTX, Quad SLI setup, outdated but consider dual 480GTX's not good enough. I'm waiting for the die shrunk 512GTX's to some day be released so I can buy two and overclock them.

 

[techguy911]

[citation][nom]Proxy711[/nom]Sorry if this is a double post. But you cant use FFMMOs as a sign PC is dieing. FF has and will always be on the side of consoles look at EVERY PC FF it runs like shit on PCs, the controls suck they just make the crappiest ports to PC they can.That's like saying consoles are dieing because Sagas new console is a huge failure, its expected and proven true that it will suck.[/citation]

The game is not a port it was done on the PC the ps3 version will not be out till next spring.
They created an mmorpg with the gamepad controller in mind on the pc rather than use mouse and keyboard this will prob cause many players to pass this one by.

 

[ram1009]

All software is heading (at different speeds) toward subscriptions. There's no other way to provide a steady revenue stream to the developers. Economics 101.

 

[Guest]

Here is my two cents. When Gas Powered Games takes a perfectly great game engine that they had in place with Supreme Commander and Forged Alliance and turned it into a Starcraft engine, I have issue with that. They could have expanded on the units and maintained the same gaming engine as it was - PERFECT!!!

 

[yesitsmario]

PC gaming needs to be pushed more in the mainstream. Tired of all these console commercials.

 

[Warsaw]

PC gaming will always live. The only hope that I really want to stay current is the "enthusiast" class. I don't want to be lumped together with some noob that doesn't know WASD vs. Up, Down, Left, Right. I would feel like half a person if dedicated graphics went to the way-side.

 

[hemelskonijn]

[citation][nom]lejay[/nom]By much I assume you mean 5%?[/citation]

You do realize that 5% of a shitload is an awe full lot?

 

[queequeeg]

High-end browser gaming transparent to the end users system. I believe Paul Allen has a patent on that.

 

[theoutbound]

The day that AAA titles are being released in browser only format is the day PC gaming will die.

 

[dEAne]

I won't believe ten years for now the internet will be the only choice for gamers, there are still lots of problems to tackle for that to happen.