Borderlands 2 shows the sad state of PC gaming…

[Philip_J_Fry]

http://digitalbattle.com/2012/03/17/...-of-pc-gaming/

Gearbox, developers of the upcoming Borderlands 2, recently posted a “letter” to PC gamers about all the features that the PC version of Borderlands 2 will include. Groundbreaking stuff like “FOV slider”, “LAN support”, “V-sync option”, “PC specific UI”, and more.

In case you played PC games in the first half of 2000s, you’ll know that all those “features” were standard on even the most basic shovelware PC titles. The recent console ports have gotten so bad that these things are now considered “features”.

It’s sad that PC gaming has come to this. At least Gearbox is making some effort in releasing a decent PC version of Borderlands 2. But is a special announcement really necessary for something like “mouse smoothing options”?

[ZenEffect]

[SoF]

there is a lot going wrong developement and marketing wise in the pc-gaming sector.
pc-games could be much more on a growing patch with better strategy and communications...

a half-decent laptop with GT540M for ~500-600€ (don't need to be higher for most casual things) via HDMI will replace every console.
With steam on it - faster, more flexible and no need of buying overpriced console titles anymore.

A lot "casual people" still don't know they can play a lot free stuff on steam or get games for very cheap - I know that sounds strange to most of us but think of the classical console gamer, still getting his games in a box...

And the concept "consoles are much easier, they don't brake, just insert DVD and play" does not apply anymore...console games need patches also, can brick etc.

So I will never understand why people do not replace their old consoles with a decent laptop that will serve you in many more situation despite only gaming.

Dedicated consoles are old-fashioned - GameBoy is dead, mobile gaming is taking part on the smartphones...wonder what will happen to stationary consoles...

[ZenEffect]

at least its a step forward. look at the borderlands 1 options and compare with what was announced.

Id agree with SoF here when he says consoles no longer are insert dvd and play. most all games now console or not have a day 0 patch... and I know plenty of people who went through at least a dozen xbox 360s or ps3s due to hardware failure of one kind or another. to be honest... at this point in time... pc is actually the most stable platform of them all. if you are bsod or crashing, its probably because the computer is infested with malware, thermal enhancing dust (not in a good way), or overall neglect. Alot of "gamers" with "high end pcs" spend as much for a pc as a used car, yet they don't maintain it the same way as they would a car.... I would imagine they would like to prefer to view it as the monolith in space odyssey 2001... monkeys, bones, and screaming until something works.

[El Mano]

In case you played PC games in the first half of 2000s, you’ll know that all those “features” were standard on even the most basic shovelware PC titles. The recent console ports have gotten so bad that these things are now considered “features”.

It’s sad that PC gaming has come to this. At least Gearbox is making some effort in releasing a decent PC version of Borderlands 2. But is a special announcement really necessary for something like “mouse smoothing options”?

This. We'll see whether they succeed or they produce another infamous console port.
And by the way, they rather work in a much better ending. The first one was really annoying.

[Manicdan]

ive said it before and ill say it again, i think the biggest thing they could do to save PC gaming is to give it better co-op features. borderlands for my PS3 can have 2 people play, but for PC i have to find them over the internet. even though both copies support controllers.

given how many people play from a laptop, or have a desktop hooked up to a tv anyway, it could be common for people to want to play together using one machine, and one copy of the game, but on separate screens. give us one AAA title that can do it, and i bet we see a real war between console and PC again.

[Vardant]

In case you played PC games in the first half of 2000s, you’ll know that all those “features” were standard on even the most basic shovelware PC titles. The recent console ports have gotten so bad that these things are now considered “features”.

FoV slider was never standard. Not too sure about V-Sync either, pretty sure it wasn't in every game and you probably couldn't even force it through the CP.

Don't forget, that back in the day, you had to force refresh rate in your games through a third party app, so not everything was so great.

Not that I don't agree with with the notion about the state of PC gaming, but we don't need to make stuff up.

[SoF]

offline "LAN support" is something the publishers have totally forget about in favour to implement another and another copy protection.

I attended a small lan lately and nobody played a new game - they still played ut and cs due to their easyness in lan.
don't ask about bf3 or so to run mp at such a small event...we had much more fun with bf classic due to the fact for local lan people can use one key.
it might be so old, dave had long hair when it came out but it can still give you hours of fun in LAN.

if a "demo concept" of a good online mp-game would be to be able to run it free (or with one "hosting license") in local lan it would surely gain some attention.
also the ways of opening own servers, with own (fun) mods, having local fun with some laptops have been ignored long enough when you ask me.
remember the big community of stunt and story videos in bf classic...

[Vardant]

Even if you try it with a newer game, you might get blacklisted if it as Blizzard game...too many computers connecting from one place is surely a tournament and they want their cut...happened with SC2 on several occasions. Their system is so brilliant, that even when it happened to their own tournament, it took them a few hours to fix it.

[paulbagz]

I've never had to do anything other then insert DVD and play on my Wii :P

Oh and lots of waggling haha.

+1 to old games @ LANs. CoD4 + Zero Hour + CSS + Sins/Civ

-PB

[Russian]

Rocksteady did it right, look at BATMAN AC... they waited a few months after the XBOX Launch to release the PC version because they re-did the entire UI, graphics, etc.

[Mad1723]

Rocksteady did it right, look at BATMAN AC... they waited a few months after the XBOX Launch to release the PC version because they re-did the entire UI, graphics, etc.

Yet, they still used GFWL... honestly, people overreact and invent stuff that PC games are supposed to have these days. Most PC games didn't have FOV sliders, yet people claim they all did. The existence of a tool that modified config files so that the correct aspect ratios and FOVs would be calculated and applied proves my point.

PC gaming is on a upward trend lately, but people still about every single little thing. I'm sure if a game came out and had almost all the features of a "proper" (whatever that means these days!) PC game, someone would complain that we are missing an option to "adjust the FOV per level" (example). People always want more, but come on now, stop complaining and just enjoy your god damn games for once! :P

[RPGWiZaRD]

Hey cmon, where's my software renderer!?

[Russian]

Yet, they still used GFWL... honestly, people overreact and invent stuff that PC games are supposed to have these days. Most PC games didn't have FOV sliders, yet people claim they all did. The existence of a tool that modified config files so that the correct aspect ratios and FOVs would be calculated and applied proves my point.

PC gaming is on a upward trend lately, but people still about every single little thing. I'm sure if a game came out and had almost all the features of a "proper" (whatever that means these days!) PC game, someone would complain that we are missing an option to "adjust the FOV per level" (example). People always want more, but come on now, stop complaining and just enjoy your god damn games for once! :P

Yes, I absolutely f'ing hate that crap but its a good game and I bear with it. Similar to BF3 and Origin BS.

[G.Foyle]

Only way they can stop me from buying Borderlands 2 is if it uses Origin or Punk Buster or other malware (Steam is ok ).

[El Mano]

Yes, ten years ago not every game had a FOV slider, but almost every game used to have a decent FOV and not a console-like FOV. Games used to have a LAN option and had no DRM. You didn't need to register anywhere in order to "enjoy your goddam game" and designers worked in deeper gameply and more options rather than on simplifying the game and removing options.

Better graphics are a poor compensation for all of the above. So yes, we complain, and we totally have the right to do so.

[zanzabar]

Yet, they still used GFWL... honestly, people overreact and invent stuff that PC games are supposed to have these days. Most PC games didn't have FOV sliders, yet people claim they all did. The existence of a tool that modified config files so that the correct aspect ratios and FOVs would be calculated and applied proves my point.

PC gaming is on a upward trend lately, but people still about every single little thing. I'm sure if a game came out and had almost all the features of a "proper" (whatever that means these days!) PC game, someone would complain that we are missing an option to "adjust the FOV per level" (example). People always want more, but come on now, stop complaining and just enjoy your god damn games for once! :P

i dont remember the FOV being so small on pc games that it was a problem until UT3. And what about the other things, like mouse smoothing and smooth frames, those have to be disabled for a games to work properly and there is no reason for ether of their existence yet they are default with the UT3 engine. So basically, UT3, give us a real config file, and GFWL/securom/origin/secudisk/starforce and we should all be good.

[Mad1723]

Only way they can stop me from buying Borderlands 2 is if it uses Origin or Punk Buster or other malware (Steam is ok ).

it's a steamworks game

[Pokerface]

People have been banging on about pc gaming for years now, but its by far the best system to play games on, even in its sad state. Rts, fps, mmos, simms, etc, I could go on.

[PaganII]

I vaguely remember getting Linux dedicated server software with games also. No Lan without internet = no purchase.

[VulgarHandle]

want config control? Quake 3 Arena (quakelive.com these days)

[BeepBeep2]

I remember buying madden '08 for PC a few years ago. The only aspect ratio option was 4:3 and I couldn't fix it, even with a 3rd party tool.

I don't think we should be whining about the features in todays games.

[SKYMTL]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this. IMO, this should be greeted with open arms instead of derision and mocking.

Us PC gamers are a stupidly hard headed lot. Omit things from games and we whine. Give us what we want and we whine some more.

[STEvil]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this. IMO, this should be greeted with open arms instead of derision and mocking.

Us PC gamers are a stupidly hard headed lot. Omit things from games and we whine. Give us what we want and we whine some more.

The problem is they are claiming them as new features, not saying "hey, we heard you guys complaining and decided to give you your options back."

This is an admission of a console port. A poor admission.

[paulbagz]

The problem is they are claiming them as new features, not saying "hey, we heard you guys complaining and decided to give you your options back."

This is an admission of a console port. A poor admission.

Well technically they're new features for a Borderlands game

-PB