Comments on: Windows Isn’t For Gamers Anymore

By: Im a hardcore Linux user! « OPEN BYTES – cave quid dicis, quando, et cui.

Sat, 09 May 2009 00:22:14 +0000

[...] Ladies and Gentlemen meet Hemanth.� He popped up on Neosmart on a thread about gaming and the Windows platform(and about its decline) . http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-isnt-for-gamers-anymore/ [...]

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:16:47 +0000

I think the article points out a real phenomenon, but it’s not just Microsoft’s fault. I think they’re reacting the changes that are happening in the market beyond their control.

Most of the games Nick McDonald’s comment lists were released on consoles as well. Laptop sales are outnumbering PC sales by a wider and wider margin and the majority of PC users only use them to play casual games. There are a handful of hardcore PC games like Crysis but only a few people build the systems to run them properly in the first two years of their release. How much are you willing to spend to get 60fps at 1920×1200? If that’s the only benefit to playing on Windows, it’s a hard sell.

Between that and the piracy problem, developers like Crytek have stated they’re reconsidering the value of developing PC exclusives.

By: Hemanth

Hemanth — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:23:05 +0000

Wow, not so hard on them mate. I never find any pleasure in playing games in linux, even though I’m a hardcore linux user.

I must say vista & DX10 was a disappointment for me and that’s why i’m sticking with Windows XP for those juicy games like NFS.But with Windows 7 it should, it must change.

By: dalriada

dalriada — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 07:12:47 +0000

It’s good to see some of the fold stand up for PC gaming, but there is no doubt that it is somewhat in decline.

The total market might still be larger than consoles, but those are mostly MMORPGs, and some genres like the adventure game, are all but vanished.

Microsoft has no reason not to hasten the demise of PC gaming, since Xbox sales are direct revenue, not so PC games except if licensed by MS Game Studios, and creating games is expensive.

I agree with the author that there is an opportunity for a smart, lucky team of developers who can create the next genre-defining game (Baldur’s Gate, Halo, World of Warcraft) and publish it exclusively for Linux. My PC can operate Linux for free. How many kids would learn to dual boot Ubuntu, if the game’s appeal and hype were strong enough?

By: chaostheory

chaostheory — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:10:14 +0000

The problem with Windows as gaming platform is not Microsoft don’t make games for it (im VERY happy with it), but the Windows itself. Look at Vista – this OS wasn’t made for gamers – theres too much automatisation, and too much resources goes for the system itself – there is no space for games. I remember E3 2006 when Bill &Co were saying how gamers will benefit from Vista – and only thing they did for gamers in Vista is … Games Explorer
So: to save Windows as a gaming platform Microsoft needs to make Windows for gamers – not make more games by themselves. There is Business edition of windows, they should also make Gamers Edition of windows (and make it cheap).

By: Javi

Javi — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:50:19 +0000

stumbleupon user gives this dribble of an article.. 4 thumbs down

By: dreamhunk

dreamhunk — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:57:27 +0000

if don’t beleave me then look at live vs steam you go on gaming fourms where pc gamers are at you ask them what they think about micro soft! Even Blizzard well tell you how alot of pc gamers feel.

By: dreamhunk

dreamhunk — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:14:34 +0000

I’m a hardcore gamer I have to say I really dislike micro soft. I am glade apple is back in the pc market. If apple was get all the games on the mac I would jump ship. Even another company that supports games with OS.

All the attacks on pc gaming are all micro softs game devs. There is a ton of pc gamers out there that would agree with this article. I am a hardcore gamer and I agree with article.

By: None

None — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:38:54 +0000

I wrote better written and more thoroughly-researched articles about PC gaming back in elementary school.

D minus. Please see me after class.

By: J McChesney

J McChesney — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:50:19 +0000

I wasn’t encouraged to read past the first few paragraphs thanks to sloppy editing. For example:

“bite the built”
“reckless abandon for one of its”
“but it has since failed to disappoint”
“the lesser-appealing option”

By: byanbloodaxe

byanbloodaxe — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:01:41 +0000

….STOP….Bickering and play…

By: Random User

Random User — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:36:13 +0000

So this should have been called: Microsoft isn’t a PC Gaming company anymore is what you are saying xyx.

The entire article is trying to convince people that, because Microsoft wants to focus their game development studios more exclusively on the Xbox360 to promote its sales, Windows is going to suddenly drop off the face of the world for PC Gamers as they all rush out and buy a 360.

There are so many more titles for PC coming out constantly than all of the consoles combined(at least in the States) that this is not even remotely close to being truthful.
The PC Gaming market is basically entrenched, having an easier time developing games over longer periods, and the luxury of knowing their game can be purchased by a MUCH broader range of people.

Console titles are practically rushed into release status from the moment they are conceived, simply because consoles no longer last as long as they used to before being replaced by the next best thing. PCs aren’t going anywhere, they only get better hardware/software.

Sounds more like he was made they closed Ensemble Studios and he wouldn’t have any new Age of Empires series games to play and wrote a rant.

By: xyx

xyx — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:53:48 +0000

None of the games you mentioned are even made by Microsoft or any of their studios.
Which validates the point made in the article where Microsoft stopped producing games for the PC and moved on to the Xbox

By: Nick McDonald

Nick McDonald — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:34:11 +0000

Do you actually play games???? From your obvious hatred towards the windows platform I would not think so. The beginning of your article reads like nothing more than unsubstantiated tabloid dribble. And you continue on do discuss how the failure of a single game company is going to affect the entire Windows platform. What???? I revert back to my first question. In danger of sounding like your article with fact less data. Most serious gamers would not and do not play Microsoft Games. Have you heard of Crysis, Spore, Warhammer, World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, STALKER, Fallout, Outcry, GTA, The Sims, Mass Effect, Bio Shock, Assassin’s Creed, Quake and Quake Wars, Supreme Commander and the list goes on. All of which were picked as top 10 of PC games for ‘08. And not one of them from Microsoft. I think you need to educate yourself a little on what PC gaming actually is before you go and write and article about it.

By: Robin Milson

Robin Milson — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:53:26 +0000

I guess Microsoft will come up with something soon.

Editor’s Note: Links removed