PC gaming has a problem

[method115]

It's more than comfortable if you spend money.

Show me what your talking about then cause I searched the internet and talked to some guys at work who are into PC gaming and nothing I found works.

 

[Hoof Hearted]

Have you played The Last Day of June? That game was a breath of fresh air. It's only about 3 or so hours long, but if you like SP games with a good story and lots of emotion then check it out. The surprise ending is one of the best from any game I've ever played.

 

[Ice That Jaw]

I fucking hate those types of games.

I grew up on consoles starting with the NES but I always PC gamed on the side starting with Windows 95 but I never, I repeat, never got into the so-called PC exclusive type games. I enjoyed the Sim City games and the Lucas Arts point and clicks but that's it. My steam library is almost entirely made up of games that are also on the consoles.

So yes, I feel a bit ripped off that I spent so much on hardware when the only PC exclusives that actually rook advantage of it are Crysis and The Witcher, and that was only for a very short time.

I couldn't give less of a fuck about the top 10 PC games today.

 

[Madmick]

PC gaming is roughly 35% bigger than every console put together. Copied from the PC thread for any curious about the platform:

Spoiler: Most Popular PC Games

Spoiler: PC Gamer magazine's Top 100 PC Games You Can Play Today

http://www.pcgamer.com/best-pc-games-1/10/

1. The Witcher 3 (2015)
   
2. Dark Souls (2012)
3. Half-Life 2 (2004)
4. Mass Effect 2 (2010)
5. Dishonored (2012)
6. Metal Gear Solid V (2015)
7. Portal (2007)
8. Rocket League (2015)
9. GTA V (2015)
10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
11. Kerbal Space Program (2015)
12. Dota 2 (2013)
13. Deus Ex (2000)
14. EVE Online (2003)
15. Spelunky (2013)
16. Alien: Isolation (2014)
17. Bioshock (2007)
18. Mass Effect (2008)
19. XCOM 2 (2016)
20. Team Fortress 2 (2007)
21. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011)
22. Minecraft (2011)
23. Divinity: Original Sin (2014)
24. Overwatch (2016)
25. Left 4 Dead 2 (2009)
26. Civilization V (2010)
27. Rainbow Six: Siege (2015)
28. Portal 2 (2011)
29. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006)
30. Mount & Blade: Warband (2010)
31. Crusader Kings II (2012)
32. Diablo III (2012)
33. Resident Evil 4 (2014)
34. Planescape: Torment (1999)
35. Stalker: Call of Pripyat (2009)
36. Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void (2015)
37. Fallout 4 (2015)
38. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012)
39. Her Story (2015)
40. Command & Conquer: Red Alert (1996)
41. Baldur's Gate II: Shadow of Amn (2000)
42. Terraria (2011)
43. Arma 3 (2013)
44. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002)
45. Guild Wars 2 (2012)
46. Dragon Age: Origins (2009)
47. Hearthstone
48. Medieval II: Total War (2006)
49. Valkyria Chronicles (2014)
50. Max Payne (2001)
51. League of Legends (2009)
52. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (2010)
53. Darkest Dungeon (2016)
54. Final Fantasy XIV (2013)
55. Fez (2012)
56. Hitman: Blood Money (2006)
57. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)
58. Bioshock Infinite (2013)
59. Pillars of Eternity (2015)
60. Half-Life (1998)
61. Diablo II (2000)
62. Homeworld Remastered (2015)
63. Rollercoaster Tycoon 2 (2002)
64. Life is Strange (2015)
65. Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines (2004)
66. Burnout: Paradise (2008)
67. Far Cry 2 (2008)
68. World of Warcraft (2004)
69. Doom II (1994)
70. Final Fantasy IX (2016)
71. Mechcommander Gold (1998)
72. Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001)
73. Don't Starve (2013)
74. Nuclear Throne (2014)
75. The Stanley Parable (2013)
76. 80 Days (2015)
77. The Curse of Monkey Island (1997)
78. FTL: Faster Than Light (2012)
79. Rising Storm (2013)
80. Super Meat Boy (2010)
81. Towerfall: Ascension (2014)
82. Euro Truck Simulator 2 (2012)
83. Psychonauts (2005)
84. Company of Heroes (2006)
85. Path of Exile (2013)
86. Unreal Tournament 2K4 (2004)
87. Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
88. Europa Universalis (2013)
89. Cities: Skylines (2015)
90. Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars (1996)
91. Anachronox (2001)
92. Undertale (2015)
93. Papers, Please (2013)
94. Dragon Age II (2011)
95. Zork: Grand Inquisitor (1997)
96. Hotline: Miami (2012)
97. Stardew Valley (2016)
98. They Hunger (2000)
99. Warframe (2013)
100. Kentucky Route Zero (2013)

Metacritic: Best PC Videogames of All Time
Gamerankings: Best PC Games of All Time (20 review minimum)

Spoiler: At some point it isn't a coincidence

TOTALS

• 190 = PC
  
• 29 = Playstation 4
• 29 = Wii U
  
• 19 = Xbox One
• 10 = Playstation 3
  
• 3 = Xbox 360

The PC has more than double the titles of every other platform combined.

http://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-videogames-of-2016
View attachment 224335

http://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-videogames-of-2015
View attachment 224337

http://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-video-games-of-2014
View attachment 224339

http://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-video-games-of-2013
View attachment 224341

Wikipedia: PC Games with 1M+ Sales
Nov-2013 to Today: Xbox One & PS4 (8th Gen)

• (11.0m) PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
• (1.5m) 7 Days to Die
• (1.0m) Stardew Valley
• (1.0m) Undertale
• (1.0m) Ark: Survival Evolved
• (1.3m) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
• (2.0m) Grand Theft Auto V
• (3.5m) Cities: Skylines
• (5.0m) The Sims 4
• (3.0m) DayZ
• (3.0m) Rust
• (1.0m) Space Engineers

Nov-2005 to Oct-2013: Xbox 360 & PS3 (7th Gen)

• (3.5m) ARMA 3
• (1.0m) Europa Universalis IV
• (1.1m) Starcraft: II: Heart of the Swarm
• (2.0m) SimCity 2013
• (2.0m) Euro Truck Simulator 2
• (1.2m) Prison Architect
• (5.0m) Guild Wars 2
• (12.0m) Diablo III
• (1.1m) Crusader Kings II
• (2.0m) The Binding of Isaac
• (1.3m) The Legend of Sword and Fairy 5
• (2.2m) The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
• (20.0m) Terraria
• (2.8m) Magicka
• (5.8m) Civilization V
• (6.0m) Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
• (1.9m) Machinarium
• (7.7m) The Sims 3
• (26.0m) Minecraft
• (1.1m) Killing Floor
• (1.2m) Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
• (1.5m) Crysis: Warhead
• (2.0m) Spore
• (3.0m) Crysis
• (2.1m) The Witcher
• (1.0m) BioShock
• (1.0m) Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
• (1.0m) Supreme Commander
• (10.0m) Garry's Mod
• (1.0m) Microsoft Flight Simulator X
• (1.0m) Glory of the Roman Empire

Newzoo's Most Played PC Games
https://newzoo.com/insights/rankings/top-20-core-pc-games/
A few of the most popular PC games, including the most popular game in the world on any platform, League of Legends, have evolved on their own servers, apart from Steam or the other services above, and might otherwise go unnoticed. The above website attempts to monitor the most played PC games in the world.

Other titles that have made this list in 2017

• ARMA 3
  
• Rust
• Heroes of the Storm
• H1Z1
• H1Z1: Just Survive
• Guild Wars 2
• Farming Simulator 2017
• PAYDAY 2

Other titles that made the list in 2016

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• Battlefield 1
• Battlefield 4
• Paladins
• Euro Truck Simulator 2
• Farming Simulator 15
• Team Fortress 2
• Unturned
• Point Blank
• Osu!

Top Free

1. League of Legends
2. Hearthstone
3. World of Tanks
4. Dota 2
5. Warface
6. Heroes of the Storm

Steam's Most-Played Games of 2016 Revealed
Alternatively, Steamstats allows you to look at the peak concurrent users in the past 24-hours on their service, at any time, but this only includes games on their service.

Average Players Per Hour for Steam Games in 2016

1. Dota 2 / 636,607 avg. players per hour (#1 in 2015)
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive / 360,600 avg. players per hour (#2 in 2015)
3. Team Fortress 2 / 50,802 avg. players per hour (#4 in 2015)
4. Grand Theft Auto V / 40,258 avg. players per hour (#5 in 2015)
5. Sid Meier's Civilization V / 37,885 avg players per hour (#9 in 2015)

Average Players Per Hour for Steam Games in 2016 (2016 Release Date)

1. Paladins / 22,809 avg. players per hour
2. Dark Souls III / 14,186 avg. players per hour
3. No Man's Sky / 8,393 avg. players per hour
4. XCOM 2 / 7,815 avg. players per hour

Peak Players for Steam Games in 2016

1. Dota 2 / 1,286,617 peak players (#1 in 2015)
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive / 845,806 peak players (#2 in 2015)
3. No Man's Sky / 212,321 peak players (new)
4. XCOM 2 / 132,834 peak players (new)
5. Dark Souls III / 129,922 peak players (new)

Steam 2016 Top Sellers by Revenue (Digital Sales)
--- Platinum Tier ---

• Fallout 4
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
• Civilization VI
• Rocket League
• Total War: Warhammer
• Dota 2
• Dark Souls III
• Tom Clancy's The Division
• Grand Theft Auto V
• XCOM 2
• No Man's Sky

--- Gold Tier ---

• DOOM
• Stellaris
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration
• Team Fortress 2
• Warframe
• ARK: Survival Evolved
• Dead by Daylight
• Stardew Valley
• H1Z1: King of Kill
• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• ARMA III
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Siege

--- Silver Tier ---

• Smite - Ganesha: God of Success
• Rust
• War: Thunder Assault
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• PAYDAY 2
• Dying Light: The Following (Enhanced Edition)
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Universities
• Civilization V
• Watch Dogs 2
• Far Cry Primal
• Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
• Europa Universalis IV
• Hearts of Iron IV
• Planet Coaster
• Cities Skylines
• Subnautica

VGChartz (Physical Sales)

Bestsellers 2016

1. Farming Simulator 17 (1.05m)
2. Overwatch (0.76m)
3. Battlefield 1 (0.72m)

Bestsellers 2015

1. Fallout 4 (1.39m)
2. Grand Theft Auto V (1.30m)
3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (0.81m)
4. Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void (0.56m)
5. Star Wars: Battlefront (0.56m)

Bestsellers 2014

1. The Sims 4 (3.45m)
2. Farming Simulator 2015 (1.21m)
3. The Elder Scrolls Online (0.96m)
4. Dragon Age: Inquisition (0.77m)
5. Far Cry 4 (0.67m)
6. Titanfall (0.58m)
7. Assassin's Creed: Unity (0.58m)

Bestsellers 2013

1. Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm (1.68m)
2. SimCity 2013 (1.42m)
3. Battlefield 4 (1.40m)
4. Total War: Rome II (0.72m)
5. Call of Duty: Ghosts (0.73m)
6. Rocksmith 2014 (0.67m)
7. BioShock Infinite (0.67m)
8. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (0.66m)
9. Football Manager 2014 (0.64m)
10. Crysis 3 (0.63m)

Spoiler: Free Games & Emulation resources

Emulation Software

This isn't necessarily restricted to gaming-class hardware, or even PC's, but a thread that any will find interesting:
Internet Archive Brings 1000's of Free Arcade, DOS, & PC Games to Your Browser

Perhaps more stable emulation than universal HTML5 javascript run through browsers is to use actual emulation software. Let's assume one is using Windows, since it's the most common platform by far, and if you're using Linux, you're probably not the type who needs a ton of help. This is a frequently updated Reddit post that gives a survey of the different consoles and their finest emulators on a Windows PC:
emulatorguide: PC Master Race
Here is the master subreddit for all things emulation. You can learn the finer points of emulation, here. For example, you can reference this for discussion of accessories where you will learn that you can purchase the original controllers for the respective consoles, brand new at stores like Amazon, designed specifically for PC emulation, and for very little money. To offer an example, the last time I checked, it was $12 for a Nintendo pad with a USB-input at the end of its cord via Amazon.
https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/


STEAM
Most Popular Free Games

• Dota 2
• Team Fortress 2
• Warframe
• War Thunder
• Paladins
• Fallout Shelter
• Unturned
• Smite
• Warface
  
• Path of Exile
  
• Clicker Heroes
• Planetside 2
• Guild Wars 2
• Neverwinter
• Lord of the Rings Online
• Star Trek Online
• DC Universe Online
• Tribes: Ascend
  
• Hawken
• Mechwarrior Online
  
• Alien Swarm
  
• Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop
  
• Last Man Standing
• Heroes & Generals
• Fishing the Planet
• World of Tanks Blitz
• World of Warships
• World of Warplanes
  
• Rift
• TERA
• EVE Online
• Wildstar
  
• Marvel Heroes 2016
• Super Crate Box
• Atlas Reactor
• Robocraft
  
• Star Conflict
• Orcs Must Die! Unchained
• Dirty Bomb
  
• Blacklight: Retribution
• Shadowverse
• Everquest

OFF-STEAM
Most Popular Free Games

• League of Legends
• Hearthstone
• Heroes of the Storm
• Star Wars: The Old Republic
• World of Tanks
• World of Warplanes
• Final Fantasy XIV Online
• Pokemon MMO
• Roblox
• Paragon
• Black Desert Online

 

[LuchaBear]

It's more than comfortable if you spend money.

Some people will always prefer a controller to a keyboard and no amount of money or setup will make them feel different. Why is that so hard to understand?

Why do a lot of PC players use controllers for Dark Souls? Are they "poor" or don't have the right set up? It's almost like you don't understand what convenience is.

 

[My Spot]

Some people will always prefer a controller to a keyboard and no amount of money or setup will make them feel different. Why is that so hard to understand?

Why do a lot of PC players use controllers for Dark Souls? Are they "poor" or don't have the right set up? It's almost like you don't understand what convenience is.

Sounds like something a poor person would say.

 

[LuchaBear]

Sounds like something a poor person would say.

 

[GtehMVP]

I've tried all kinds of setup and lap desk stuff it's just not nearly as comfortable. Believe I tried hard to get back into PC gaming. Built a PC then sold it, then built a new one a year later to try again.

I use a wireless keyboard(back lit logitech) and extended USB cable for my mouse (wireless mice suck). I have long one I run under an area carpet

Get a wireless Xbox controller for gaming if that's what you prefer. Most games brought to pc the last 8 or 9 years have full or partial controller support.

With Steam's giant library and many services like Green Man Gaming and Humble Bundle (which carry nearly all games with Steam keys), you're never short on finding amazing deals. When you buy through Steam directly you can return any game within 2 hours of playing time. Good old Games (GOG) is awesome too!

If you ever decide to do it and need assistance, pm me and I'll be glad to help. Having a capable desktop/laptop plugged into your main tv opens the door to so much entertainment. I cut off my cable long before the Netflix-like services came out.

 

[Scerpi]

I fucking hate those types of games.

I grew up on consoles starting with the NES but I always PC gamed on the side starting with Windows 95 but I never, I repeat, never got into the so-called PC exclusive type games. I enjoyed the Sim City games and the Lucas Arts point and clicks but that's it. My steam library is almost entirely made up of games that are also on the consoles.

So yes, I feel a bit ripped off that I spent so much on hardware when the only PC exclusives that actually rook advantage of it are Crysis and The Witcher, and that was only for a very short time.

I couldn't give less of a fuck about the top 10 PC games today.

Why limit yourself?

I don't. I play both and enjoy.

Some games are better on the PC and others are better on console.

Played TF2 on PC not too long and that game is still rocking.

 

[Ice That Jaw]

Why limit yourself?

I don't. I play both and enjoy.

Some games are better on the PC and others are better on console.

Played TF2 on PC not too long and that game is still rocking.

Its not that im limiting myself, I just flat out dont enjoy the WoW and LoL type games. TF2 is fine although after playing Halo 1-3 and Left4Dead 1-2 for so long I have avoided competitive multiplayer altogether theae days.

 

[Madmick]

Its not that im limiting myself, I just flat out dont enjoy the WoW and LoL type games. TF2 is fine although after playing Halo 1-3 and Left4Dead 1-2 for so long I have avoided competitive multiplayer altogether theae days.

They are incredibly deep with mechanics. Even though I adore that stuff I was having trouble building the will to really dig into League of Legends to play with some friends to whom, ironically, I introduced the game. These guys were just pissed because nobody played Halo which used to be our franchise, and generally speaking nobody seems to own the Xbox. I see the near-parity in the NA sales, but I don't know who the hell is buying them. All of our friends are a bit past prime gaming age, first of all, but the only ones who do game own PS4s.

They didn't have a lot of horsepower in their PCs, and I recommended League of Legends or Dota 2 as the most popular PC games on the planet that can also run smoothly on just about anything. They tried to get me to play more seriously with them, but with games like that, it's always such a steep climb out of the gate.

Vainglory on the Android tablet has been a more effective MOBA-lite introduction to the genre, and I'm starting to fall in love with it. I might branch into LoL, here, shortly, to join them, now that I have a handle on the big ideas behind the competitive format. You might check it out. It's one of the only phone games that isn't totally lame.

 

[Squall Leonhart]

Gaming died when online multiplayer became the focus and the story was an add on.

Gaming died when DLC came to town.

Gaming was always an interactive movie to me. The story was the most important part, well, that and the discovery of items and the journey the game took you on.

Gaming is not the same thing as sports. At all.

I don't like to spend a monthly payment on something that I've already spent good money on once.

I don't play a video game to dominate my buddy and say booyah! I have better stuff and I'm better than you at this game. Sure, those games should be SOME games. But most hardcore gamers that remember the pre- (IDK, 2008 ish?) times I talk to are still the types that buy games to play by themselves.

To me the prime of video gaming was around the time where online multiplayer was about AS prominent as excellent single player games.

 

[Scerpi]

Gaming died when online multiplayer became the focus and the story was an add on.

Gaming died when DLC came to town.

Gaming was always an interactive movie to me. The story was the most important part, well, that and the discovery of items and the journey the game took you on.

Gaming is not the same thing as sports. At all.

I don't like to spend a monthly payment on something that I've already spent good money on once.

I don't play a video game to dominate my buddy and say booyah! I have better stuff and I'm better than you at this game. Sure, those games should be SOME games. But most hardcore gamers that remember the pre- (IDK, 2008 ish?) times I talk to are still the types that buy games to play by themselves.

To me the prime of video gaming was around the time where online multiplayer was about AS prominent as excellent single player games.

Not sure what you mean by "Gaming Died"... maybe for you it has, but it's definitely not dead. Not by any stretch.

I think PC gaming alone hit $34 Billion last year and consoles are around the same number, maybe a little less. If you include mobile games, I read that total Gaming Revenue hit around $90 Billion in 2016.

There's still lot's of excellent single/Co-op player games. I know, because I love playing both... a lot.

Just since 2010
GTA
Last of US
Uncharted Series
Bioshock
The Witcher Series
Batman: Arkham City
Dark Souls/Demon Souls Series
Mass Effect Series
Fallout
Destiny
Oblivion/Skyrim/Elder Scrolls
Red Dead Redemption - My personal favorite game in the last 10 years
Dishonored
Metal Gear
Dragon Age
Tell Tale Games - Walking Dead, Etc...
Far Cry Series
Civilization Series

I mean, I could go on and on... these were just off the top of my head.

Seriously, not sure what you want. I didn't even touch on the Nintendo exclusive world games either.

Single Player is far from dead.

 

[tramendous]

Gaming nowadays is centered around online multiplayer

Check stats and the most popular games are WOW, Overwatch, Dota 2, PUBG, etc etc...

So developers are only caring about online games

Problem is on PC unless the game "catches on" early like Ark or PUBG it will be dead very quickly (see Lawbreakers, Squad, Dirty Bomb etc...)

So we are left with poorly ported console games if you want single player, or invest in an EA game and hope it isnt dead a month after release

Wait how is Squad dead? I play that game every night and its only in alpha.

 

[Drain Bamage]

Wait how is Squad dead? I play that game every night and its only in alpha.

These games tend to die after they leave Early Access

How many people play at any given time? Is it in the hundreds, or thousands?

 

[Gref]

Not sure what you mean by "Gaming Died"... maybe for you it has, but it's definitely not dead. Not by any stretch.

I think PC gaming alone hit $34 Billion last year and consoles are around the same number, maybe a little less. If you include mobile games, I read that total Gaming Revenue hit around $90 Billion in 2016.

There's still lot's of excellent single/Co-op player games. I know, because I love playing both... a lot.

Just since 2010
GTA
Last of US
Uncharted Series
Bioshock
The Witcher Series
Batman: Arkham City
Dark Souls/Demon Souls Series
Mass Effect Series
Fallout
Destiny
Oblivion/Skyrim/Elder Scrolls
Red Dead Redemption - My personal favorite game in the last 10 years
Dishonored
Metal Gear
Dragon Age
Tell Tale Games - Walking Dead, Etc...
Far Cry Series
Civilization Series

I mean, I could go on and on... these were just off the top of my head.

Seriously, not sure what you want. I didn't even touch on the Nintendo exclusive world games either.

Single Player is far from dead.

Preach!

 

[Lord Commander Palis]

PC gaming > console noobs

 

[Madmick]

These games tend to die after they leave Early Access

How many people play at any given time? Is it in the hundreds, or thousands?

Squad is still in Early Access. It first became available in December 2015, and its peak numbers today are roughly identical to then. Its greatest popularity was a weird spike in November 2016, or nearly a full year after it first became available:
http://steamcharts.com/app/393380

Games tend to have terminal windows of popularity. That's just the nature of gaming in general. I can't say I've noticed the trend you're referencing, and it certainly doesn't hold true for that example.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Steam_Early_Access_games

 

[tramendous]

These games tend to die after they leave Early Access

How many people play at any given time? Is it in the hundreds, or thousands?

Hundreds. Why hasnt project reality died? I can always find a match.

 

[Gref]

Hundreds. Why hasnt project reality died? I can always find a match.

Same reason the classic Doom community hasn't died. As long as you can share content there will be a player base for almost every game. Single or Multi player.