Rise of the Machines: Epic battle of the ages between PCs, Consoles and Mobiles

[MessiaaH]

Nah man, what kinda ninja edit is that, u said 5 years at one point in time, I clearly rememeber 5 years.

[MessiaaH]

And just like that, we have the holodeck



Technology will never slow down, for every mobile innovation, there will be an advanced counterpart on the upper end of technology pushing the limits of what's possible. 10 years from now a mobile mite be something to marvel at, but picture what other tech like the above go be like..... boom!

[TriniXaeno]

Nah man, what kinda ninja edit is that, u said 5 years at one point in time, I clearly rememeber 5 years.

I thought it was 5 as well but dug as far back as my googlefu would allow and saw 10 in the ancient parchment.

So March 2022 is the official deadline for the rise.

boom @ holodeck

Star Trek iwmc

[MessiaaH]

Your googlefu is weak grasshopper:

Fast forward five years. Xbox 720 and PS4 hits, sales are in the billions. The latest MMO rage (Universe of Warcraft) is available on both platforms. Game Over. They are all doing digital distribution, offering graphics that match the PCs of the day for a fraction of the cost. Sit in the living room with all sorts of kinetic sensors to immerse you in the gaming experience. Meanwhile, everyone in the house hold is using their tablets / netbooks and fridge to check email and do word processing.

Scattered across the globe is an underground network of circa 10,000 hard core gamers with $20,000 beast machines playing Battlefield 3 led by the dark, pragmatic John "Messiaah" Conner.

That prophesied five years ends in 2015. And their are many other instances of that 5 years being used to describe the death of pc and rise of mobile within the 2010-mid 2011 time period.

Even if we say 10 years from now, I still say that ain't happening, holodesk version 10 in we skin @ that time. But the original prophecy was five years, made roughly 3 years ago.

[TriniXaeno]

Wrong again, that was in relations to the rise of consoles, not the rise of mobile.

You're mixing up the prophecies. lol

So to be clear:

Consoles Rise: Circa 2015

Mobile rise: Circa 2022

We are definitely on track for both.

PC is surprisingly still in the race and largely due to Valve and the brilliant debut of steam machines.

This is the best chance the platform has had to date for remaining relevant in the future. They have serious work to do to stem the tide against the desktop.

I quote

In 2013, Global PC Shipments Suffered the Worst Decline in PC Market History

"Strong growth in tablets continued to negatively impact PC growth in emerging markets. In emerging markets, the first connected device for consumers is most likely a smartphone, and their first computing device is a tablet"

http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2647517

So yeah, prophecy on track, short of steam machines bucking the trend.

I really hope they can do it. Sexy little beasts that they are (which is why I've begun building one myself)

[IsMe2003]

I think its way off track Spartacus,

Point 01: Not disputing the fact that PCs have declined in 2013 as predicted by Gartner and others, one possibility is because people just aren't buying PCs  because the ones they have just works (Half the world is still on Windows XP), the PC industry has just became bloated and lazy with no real innovation last few years as well, and as you rightfully pointed out, Tablets/Mobiles o was on fire that contributed to the decline.

But the trend seems to have bottomed out, now that hardware makers have started innovating and ramping up, the same people that predicted the decline 2013 has new predictions,

http://www.citeworld.com/tablets/22794/ben-bajarin-pc-market-better
http://www.tweaktown.com/news/34800/gartner-pc-market-shrank-10-percent-but-growth-possible-in-2014/index.html

If you add in the valve systems into the fray, even better news. So  i doubt the decline seen 2013 will be seen this year,

Point 02: I don't think its fear to link the health of the PC gaming industry to PC sales, despite the pc sales decline PC gaming is climbed steadily at an alarming rate, most sites as pc gaming growth at 300% last year:

http://hexus.net/gaming/news/hardware/60297-steam-continues-impressive-growth-face-pc-decline/

Have you not noticed this year as well that the majority of the games announced for console have PC versions as well? and a lot cheaper two, i bought 3 games over the Christmas, Marvel Lego, Rayman and Fifa, each title on the xbox one was 60+, i paid 20 and under per title on the PC, I only picked up my Xbox One controller to play killer Instincts then switched to the PC for everything else

Weather your PC will run windows or steam OS or what ever, you cannot deny the amazing growth despite the ruff year in PC sales, and its only on tract to get better in my opinion as the PC in general gets more easy to use in terms of obtaining and launching a game thanks to Steam, Amazon and others that now digitally distribute games very easily

If PC Gaming was declining in proportion to sales i may have been a bit skeptical, but there is no real evidence of the demise of PC Gaming i can find, its so much easier to innovate on the PC platform and the future looks bright.

Now I'm not saying that we may not see Declines in PC sales we may, life span of a PC is a lot longer than tablet/mobile devices, i'm saying that that doom and gloom continuous downward spiral is not the case. E.g. i'm upgrading this year and i may not do another upgrade for the next 2 years, will that contribute to another decline in PC sales next two years? possibly, will it affect PC Gaming? Nope

[TriniXaeno]

On your first point, we are in agreement.

Which is to say...the fact remains that PC sales have plummeted in 2013 but the future is bright for 2014 for a comeback (strong showing by steam machines, a lot of titles announced for the platform and digital distribution in general thanks to Amazon and Valve)

We are a little divergent in our views on point 2.

The rise of a platform should align with sales of the underlying hardware. Certainly that accolade goes to the competition right now (consoles and mobiles). They are on the rise by any and every definition. Their software sales (games) are impressive and the devices themselves are flying off the shelf.

The PC platform is, as you said, bottoming out. It can hardly go any lower. Established markets are saturated and emerging markets are skipping it altogether. New growth is going to require the creation of a new segment. Like Apple did with the iPad.

This is precisely what Valve is trying to do with Steam Machines and why they have the best bet of changing the story. Re-inventing the PC as something new and carving out a space in the living room.

Google and Apple  are still fighting over a spot there with the chromecast and apple TV

Can Steam and Nvidia succeed amidst all of that? We will see. I hope they do

It is guaranteed to be an entirely uphill battle.

Also, let me counter argue against something you mentioned. That PC holds a significant advantage in the pricing of games.

I thought so myself until a very enlightening conversation on this very forum.

Apparently the consoles have begun offering massive discounts on games via digital distribution themselves and pushing out free games over their subscription services. Leveling the playing field.

They were paying attention and responded in kind.

Right now you can pick up Crysis 3 for US$5 on the playstation store and Far Cry Blood Dragon for even less.

[IsMe2003]

Two varying views both with compelling arguments for both,

But lets be real, leveling the playing field on pricing? that's far far fetched seeing that i own both consoles and hunt for best price to see which platform i get games on

Time will tell how it will play out

We will have to see how things shape up later down and onto 2015 on the PC Gaming front

[TriniXaeno]

Owning the console doesn't say much if you weren't aware of the sales lol

For example, I own all of the previous gen consoles and had no clue that there were such cheap games available for them. You have to admit when you see the list, it is very much on par with steam.

That is one of the reasons I love this forum. We learn so much from other gamers. One person can't possibly keep on top of everything.



See and judge for yourself, a list of current sales on PSN store

Game Title   PS Plus Price   Sale Price   Original Price
BIT.TRIP Presents… Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien   $3.75
Crysis 3   $5.00
Deus Ex Human Revolution: Director’s Cut   $13.49
ENSLAVED: Odyssey to the West Premium Edition   $5.00
F1 2013   $20.99
Far Cry Blood Dragon   $3.75
Lone Survivor: The Director’s Cut (Cross Buy)   $5.24
Pool Nation   $2.25
Puppeteer   $7.00
Rain   $3.75   $7.49
Rayman Legends   $35.99
Tales of Xillia   $10.00
The Wolf Among Us Season Pass   $13.49
Thomas Was Alone (Cross Buy)   $2.50

[IsMe2003]

Cant argue with the sale prices of a few games vs none sale pcining equivalents on steam

All good for the gamer i say

should be interesting pricing wars this year

[TriniXaeno]

Totally agreed!

We are the ones coming out on top as digital distribution takes full flight.

Boom bang.

[MessiaaH]

Wyatt, I don't buy the consoles leveling the playing field in prices, ill give them ah "A" for effort, but they still among way off to matching release prices on PC, them games u list above is old old games, s newest one is Ryman for 35$ which I got for 5 on pc. The price difference is still at this moment very significant. After we experiment n 2014 we go see if consoles accomplish  leveling, but that is not the case right now.

All I know, is that every year after your prophesy, despite pc sales, pc gaming has been stronger each succeeding year. A steady healthy growth from d time of the prophecy to now. I dont see said growth and interest reversing in the next 2 years. Not much longer to wait again to see.

[TriniXaeno]

How about bioshock infinite?

http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/26/5245950/playstation-plus-gets-three-of-2013-best-games-free-bioshock-infinite

[MessiaaH]

Seriously? One Game? The same game I got @ launch for 22$ on PC? And is mine for life?

I said the consoles are trying and making a valiant attempt at leveling the playing field. But as of now, it is far form leveled. At the end of 2014 we will see.

So don't misunderstand me, consoles are making progress. But not there yet.

[Arcmanov]

Seriously? One Game? The same game I got @ launch for 22$ on PC? And is mine for life?

A question just occurred to me as I read that.....

If you buy discounted games as a PS+ member...what happens if you stop paying for PS+?   Can you still play those games.

(I was never a PS+ subscriber, that's why I'm asking)





Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | SwiftKey | Tapatalk Pro

[Redlum08]

Seriously? One Game? The same game I got @ launch for 22$ on PC? And is mine for life?

A question just occurred to me as I read that.....

If you buy discounted games as a PS+ member...what happens if you stop paying for PS+?   Can you still play those games.

(I was never a PS+ subscriber, that's why I'm asking)





Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | SwiftKey | Tapatalk Pro

I believe once you stop paying for PS+, whatever benefits you once had with it, namely the games that were offered as part of being a PS+ member are no longer accessible, until you start paying for PS+ again..

[shivadee]

Correct. You basically pay to "rent" the game indefinitely. Once your unsubscribe or fail to renew you cannot use the PS+ games again (this includes PS4, PS3, PSN, PSP and Vita).

I was a PS+ subscriber when it was first announced, didn't like it (When they had that Qore monthly episode, unless they still do). I re subbed because of a PS4 and online. It suits me fine. I get alot of games that i would like to try or play that i possibly wouldn't buy. i play it finish it...done. I like it

[Arcmanov]

Very well.

I've been using my PS3 for years without PS+, but I guess it's almost mandatory to fully enjoy the PS4 anyway.
I actually don't have an issue paying once I get it.

[Eroo]

Seriously? One Game? The same game I got @ launch for 22$ on PC? And is mine for life?

A question just occurred to me as I read that.....

If you buy discounted games as a PS+ member...what happens if you stop paying for PS+?   Can you still play those games.

(I was never a PS+ subscriber, that's why I'm asking)





Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | SwiftKey | Tapatalk Pro

You get to keep the game . It's only the free games you get as PS+ member that you lose once subscription expires. PS+ is honestly the best value for money, Bioshock infinite is of today a free game on ps plus. Also as I have a vita and ps4 I get ps plus on all those devices as well

[Arcmanov]

Ah boy...that would have been my next question.

boy Eroo.