Pachter on why consoles are becoming obsolete

[Forlorn Drifter]

People who want video games are still going to buy these machines. I doubt that'll change ... as long as they're offered.

This is the part I'm not so sure about. I'm certainly not the first gamer I've heard "this generation" say that they were done w/ consoles and would be shifting attention to PC. Certainly I've heard others on this forum echo my feelings that consoles are becoming an antiquated notion. Though admit, this is all anecdotal.

I also admit that referring to anything as "antiquated" on a retro gaming forum is kind of funny.

To ante up with more anecdotal evidence, most people I know when from PC to console in the last generation or two. Ease of use, although many argue against that, is part of it, but the argument of many I know who switched was having physical media on a single disc, actually owning the content and all that. Anecdotal though, as pointed out.

The other thing I don't understand is it seems like a lot of people want consoles to die, but also aren't console gamers, at least not primarily. Its like the argument that "PC gaming is going to die" changed to "Console gaming is going to die", except that there are groups actually pushing for it. I don't understand.

[Cronozilla]

Well yeah, consoles are only as relevant as their exclusives. The platforms that decide to be like one another will probably drift into irrelevance at some point. If people are annoyed with dilution and homogenization, then they're not going to be interested in what most manufacturers are doing. You would just go to the platform that has the widest support which will almost always be PC, since it's open, has longevity, and is adaptable to personal needs.

In any case, if I were to clarify I don't necessarily mean "consoles" as in a PlayStation, I think there's still going to be a "game box hooked up to a TV" market in the future. If that means PC components in small form factor or a custom designed piece of hardware, that's up in the air. At least until it's actually replaceable, not just converting some fringe percentage of people who don't care about it in the first place.

[Forlorn Drifter]

But if we go to "game box hooked to a TV", we have a wide variety of other issues. I continually see talk of most games having gamepad support as standard, but when I look up practically any PC game I'm interested in that was not released on console, it tends not to have gamepad support. And what happens to competitive play or multiplayer? Well, the majority of the time, anybody with a gamepad will be kicked, banned from the server, mistreated, etc. What if someone doesn't want to use steam? That limits them immensely. There's lots of options besides steam, but there is a lot of stuff exclusive to steam too.

The "dilution and homegenization" remark is, quite truthfully, a good point. But then again, that comes down to developers and such opening up and allowing their stuff to go to more consoles to make more money. That's all anything is about, is the money. And if we did go back to having many more console exclusives, there would be outrage from those on other consoles... and those on PC. I commonly see PC gamers get pissy when something doesn't come to PC, the same way console gamers get when something doesn't come to console. However, PC gamers are quick to turn around and talk about how much better it is for them if something does come to PC, because they can take advantage of things not available on console, which is a fair point, but also can be limiting, if, for example, you can't game with a mouse and keyboard. I'm still stuck with the occasional strategy game that floats onto consoles, but I will never be one of those people who really get into them. I loved XCOM: Enemy Unknown, but the sequel (at least so far) is not coming to console, so I won't be able to play it.

[MrPopo]

On your KB+M argument, I can understand not feeling comfortable enough with KB+M for an FPS, but I don't see how XCOM 2 being on PC would prevent you from enjoying it. It's a turn based strategy, so you have all the time in the world to maneuver around even if it's not as comfortable for you as KB+M.

[Forlorn Drifter]

On your KB+M argument, I can understand not feeling comfortable enough with KB+M for an FPS, but I don't see how XCOM 2 being on PC would prevent you from enjoying it. It's a turn based strategy, so you have all the time in the world to maneuver around even if it's not as comfortable for you as KB+M.

Well, for starters, I can't afford a second PC right now, and my laptop can't handle anything above DOOM (but DOOM runs on everything), but my hand problem I had on the left has showed up on the right now, and the doctor says mouse use does kick it up too. Trackpad is alright because it's just my pointer finger, but the issue extends to my middle, ring, and pinky finger on my right.

[Damm64]

Well, for starters, I can't afford a second PC right now, and my laptop can't handle anything above DOOM (but DOOM runs on everything)

I imagine you have a nice laptop like this one

[o.pwuaioc]

Well, for starters, I can't afford a second PC right now, and my laptop can't handle anything above DOOM (but DOOM runs on everything)

I imagine you have a nice laptop like this one

The hand problems, that's something, yes. But I promise you Forlorn you have a laptop that can run a whole lot more than Doom.

What are its specs?

Also, I imagine that if PC reigns supreme, more games would come with control pad support. Already a good number of them do, though I can't say anything about exclusivity vs. console ports on that matter.

[noiseredux]

so this feels related: It was just announced that the next Harvest Moon game will be on PC. That has long been a Nintendo-only series.

[Erik_Twice]

so this feels related: It was just announced that the next Harvest Moon game will be on PC. That has long been a Nintendo-only series.

That seemed off to me so I checked and it seems Harvest Moon games were also published for Sony consoles and handhelds at one point or another.

It's true that a lot of Japanese companies are making the jump to PC. Sega is one of the big ones, for example.

By the way, this topic was interesting so I wrote like 300 words on it. Hopefully I can make an article out of that

[noiseredux]

I actually didn't realize Harvest Moon games were on Sony platforms. I guess that makes this *slightly* less surprising. But still surprising.