Great interview with Rick Bergman

[Nedjo]

broad range of topics are covered in this interview with Rick Bergman:

http://bit.ly/dgKs73

IHW: At one moment, it seemed that PC as a gaming platform was fading away, but the future looks brighter for PC gaming now.

RB: Objectively speaking, there are fantastic gaming consoles on the market, but it’s the PC gaming market that gets the industry going. There are always enthusiasts for the latest hardware and newest technologies to create a new gaming experience. PC is exactly the platform to be used first for Eyefinity and DirectX 11 and that’s what keeps the industry pushing forward.

[SKYMTL]

IHW: At one moment, it seemed that PC as a gaming platform was fading away, but the future looks brighter for PC gaming now.

I must have missed the memo on that one.

From my perspective developers and publishers are shafting PC gaming even more lately.

[Nedjo]

I must have missed the memo on that one.

From my perspective developers and publishers are shafting PC gaming even more lately.

hm... you base your perspective on what?

what I can see is:

a) there are less exclusive console titles, and more crossplatform one
b) casual gaming on PC is exploding, and even that category will benefit from GPU acceleration (Flash)
c) online gaming stores (Steam, Direct2Drive....) are selling more and more
d) publishers continue to invest in PC gaming development
e) each year there are bunch of great PC games titles that require heavy investment... so if future of PC gaming don't have perspective, no one would invest any money in it! Right?


But let's not turn this thread in another "fate of PC gaming" I've pointed out just that one question, probably 'cos I share same opinion.

Interview has many other interesting questions and answers!

My suggestion to you SKYMTL stop being so negative about other sites interviews with ATI guys (remember how you similarly reacted to Catalystmaker interview), and board on the bus for ATI HQ in Toronto and ask them how they feel about your perspective!

[ajaidev]

Nice interview but the end result should be a holographic game simulator that i can afford

[cegras]

A lot of games released now a days don't even have proper mouse support. See: Bioshock 2. Ugh, what a nightmare to work with. E.g., UT3 engine. What a nightmare.

[SKYMTL]

My suggestion to you SKYMTL stop being so negative about other sites interviews with ATI guys (remember how you similarly reacted to Catalystmaker interview), and board on the bus for ATI HQ in Toronto and ask them how they feel about your perspective!

There wasn't any negativity in that post other than mentioning that PC gaming is suffering.

- Alan Wake went console exclusive as have other games in the recent past

- Several publishers have made very public statements stating they are cutting the development teams for PC games

- Other games either lack features or game controls which used to characterize PC games as unique. Case and point: Batman: AA's convoluted control scheme, GTA's horrible porting problems, Stormrise, etc.

- Many large B&M stores have drastically cut down their PC game selection. Go to your local store and check it out.

- Constant "dumbing down" of PC games to console levels. Heck, I don't even have to provide links to that one.

- See Bioshock 2, a game that could have been a AAA seller for the PC. 'nuff said


I don't give two hoots if this was an interview with ATI, NVIDIA, Matrox, etc. etc. My comment was towards PC gaming and NOT ATI or even the interview. What don't you understand about that? You really need to take a step back and pick your battles a bit more carefully without jumping down on someone with two feet first.

[Nedjo]

Seriously?

Let's get one thing straight here: the board on the bus was a picture taken by a forum member.

what??

"get on board a bus" = buy a bus ticket for ATI HQ!

I don't give two hoots if this was an interview with ATI, NVIDIA, Matrox, etc. etc. My comment was towards PC gaming and NOT ATI or even the interview. What don't you understand about that? You really need to take a step back and pick your battles a bit more carefully without jumping down on someone with two feet first.

I have no intention to pick a battle with you! I'm just noticing what some other forum members did when it comes to you and ATI/AMD... my self and the rest of the guys might be wrong!

[SKYMTL]

what??

"get on board a bus" = buy a bus ticket for ATI HQ!





I have no intention to pick a battle with you! I'm just noticing what some other forum members did when it comes to you and ATI/AMD... my self and the rest of the guys might be wrong!

AH. we got our wires crossed I see. Long story about the board + bus. Will PM you about it to sort things out since what I have to say should be said behind closed doors.

Honestly though, my comment wasn't against ATI or AMD but rather the lazy publishers and developers out there. Nothing more. Nothing less. I'm just a bit ticked because many times my non sugar-coated honesty in certain situations is mistaken for a vendetta against ATI...which it isn't.

[Eastcoasthandle]

There are many games that are coming to the PC:
-BF:BC2
-Just Cause 2
-Assassins Creed 2
-Supreme Commander 2
-F1 2010
-Star Craft II
-Medal of Honor
-Rage
-etc
And other games on the PC not everyone knows of like:
-Wings of Prey
-Dawn of War II
-Heroes of Newerth (in beta)
-etc
So I honestly can't agree with the PC gaming is doom argument. Yes, the selection of PC games in B&M stores are not what they use to be. There are online digital downloads which IMO have taken their place. Which are great places where Indie games can be found. Those who no longer want to support PC like Alan Wake are IMO a drop in the bucket for those that do.

Sure, there maybe opinions on how games should be supported on the PC. However, it's apparent that developers for the most part still see a market in making PC games.

[rogueagent6]

I must have missed the memo on that one.

From my perspective developers and publishers are shafting PC gaming even more lately.

In addition to what everyone else said, look at the Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 releases. When the first one came out it was XBOX 360 only and the PC version came later on, yet the Mass Effect 2 release saw both XBOX and PC versions released simultaneously. And that was AFTER EA picked up BioWare.

[StAndrew]

I hated how the ported Modern Warfare 2 between counsil and PC and left out the "Q,E" Lean function. Gameplay almost reminds me of 1st generation shooters with better graphics.

[SKYMTL]

Sure, there maybe opinions on how games should be supported on the PC. However, it's apparent that developers for the most part still see a market in making PC games.

See, I am of the opinion that PC gaming won't die but is rather being "consolized" so much that there will come a point where very few games will be unique on the PC. That means there won't be enough to differentiate the PC games from those on consoles to justify puchasing a PC for gaming.

[Eastcoasthandle]

See, I am of the opinion that PC gaming won't die but is rather being "consolized" so much that there will come a point where very few games will be unique on the PC. That means there won't be enough to differentiate the PC games from those on consoles to justify puchasing a PC for gaming.

From the rumors (and yes just that) the next gen consoles are going to elevate this concern as they are going to more up to spec. Regardless if that's true or not what we can assume is that the next gen consoles are coming and, for the most part should allow for more streamline porting with fewer limitations. Now how that will all work out if true remains to be seen. For example:
-PC gaming vs console gaming that now allows for 4xAA, DX11 support and or OpenGL/OpenCl support, higher poly counts and better options/fetures
Will that mean more PC gaming ports or less? Tough question, can't be answered right now.

[SKYMTL]

From the rumors (and yes just that) the next gen consoles are going to elevate this concern as they are going to more up to spec. Regardless if that's true or not what we can assume is that the next gen consoles are coming and, for the most part should allow for more streamline porting with fewer limitations. Now how that will all work out if true remains thing to be seen. For example:
-PC gaming vs console gaming that now allows for 4xAA, DX11 support, higher poly counts and better options/fetures
Will that mean more PC gaming ports or less? Tough question, can't be answered right now.

Graphics are the least of my concerns actually. With motion controllers becoming the "cool thing" to equip a console with, I am more worried that future controllers for next gen consoles will mean even more convoluted control schemes for the PC's mouse / keyboard combos.

I don't know about you but flailing around like an idiot doesn't appeal to me if I wanted to play an RTS or any type of game for that matter...

[Eastcoasthandle]

Graphics are the least of my concerns actually. With motion controllers becoming the "cool thing" to equip a console with, I am more worried that future controllers for next gen consoles will mean even more convoluted control schemes for the PC's mouse / keyboard combos.

I don't know about you but flailing around like an idiot doesn't appeal to me if I wanted to play an RTS or any type of game for that matter...

I wasn't speaking on just graphics alone but the coding of the game. Also, I believe that all this "motion" movement is just a fad. Sure it maybe something seen in next gen consoles but it will be more of an option then standard IMO.

Edit:
Looking forward to all this it is my opinion that companies may want to see a centralized way of developing games across multi platforms (Crytek 3 Engine for example). I believe that for now porting is just 1 step. However, as times goes on it's possible that development of games are more standardize/streamlined it will ultimately reduce costs, development time and allow for more creative/artist thinking. The last one maybe more of a stretch depending on the developer.

[Teemax]

Graphics are the least of my concerns actually. With motion controllers becoming the "cool thing" to equip a console with, I am more worried that future controllers for next gen consoles will mean even more convoluted control schemes for the PC's mouse / keyboard combos.

I don't know about you but flailing around like an idiot doesn't appeal to me if I wanted to play an RTS or any type of game for that matter...

Starcraft II (likely the RTS game of the next couple of years) is PC only. No Natal support is announced yet, so, do not worry

[Starscream]

console exclusivity is all about the money.

As an example Alan Wake. MS wants it exclusive for the 360. The guys who made it know that then theyl make less profit if it is 1 console exclusive and that they would make more profit if they would launch it on the 360, ps3 and PC.
So they say ok to the exclusivity if MS compensates them for the loss of profit with a big bag of money that surpasses to extra profit of selling the game on PC and PS3.

The PC doesnt get alot of these exclusives because there is no one there to pay for it like Sony or MS.


At the end of the currents consoles lifetime we will see more good PC games because the consoles wont be able to handle those games properly and the PCs wil because they will have surpassed the consoles by to much.
Also a powerfull platform is grt for bad devs because then they wont need to optimize much and manage to get away with badly optimized power hungry games.

ps. i believe that Natal wil turn out to be a huge flop.
First most of the Wii games that use motion sensors in the nunchucks are either party games or games that make very bad use of it, so i got the feeling that there wont be many games that make good use of it besides party games.
Second i doubt Microsofts Natal will work properly seeing you wont have a controller or whatever to push buttons everything wil work with motion control and i doubt it wil work flawlesly.

[SKYMTL]

Starcraft II (likely the RTS game of the next couple of years) is PC only. No Natal support is announced yet, so, do not worry

We're talking FUTURE here. Not games that will be released in the next few quarters but rather those which will be released a year or more from now.

[Teemax]

BTW, while consoles are going the motion sensing route, PC has started the brain-machine interface research.

I don't think PC is really lagging behind...

[Teemax]

We're talking FUTURE here. Not games that will be released in the next few quarters but rather those which will be released a year or more from now.

Please give me some examples of a half-decent RTS on console for reference?

As for the future, what RTS have you heard that go console exclusive?

[tajoh111]

See, I am of the opinion that PC gaming won't die but is rather being "consolized" so much that there will come a point where very few games will be unique on the PC. That means there won't be enough to differentiate the PC games from those on consoles to justify puchasing a PC for gaming.

I totally agree. It will never completely die off, but besides the MMO, its a shrinking market with less and less revenue being made.

I agree with all of SKYMTL points. Additionally look at what happen to sport game franchises in general on the PC. When they are making a Madden game for the iphone but not for the PC, you know they don't care for the PC.

When was the last million plus seller? The only thing that sells a million copies nowaways on pc are World of warcraft expansions, a Sims game, and the occasional mega triple AAA title like Diablo 3, Half life 2 or Starcraft 2. Million plus titles are like rain on the consoles.

PC gaming is becoming marginalized and although it might not completely disappear, its future being shining again might never come again.

[SKYMTL]

Please give me some examples of a half-decent RTS on console for reference?

As for the future, what RTS have you heard that go console exclusive?

I am not saying they will be exclusives or that they will be AAA titles. What I am saying is that it is only a matter of time before the majority of genres make the jump to the PC + console route which can cause an issue for PC gamers.

[Eastcoasthandle]

console exclusivity is all about the money.

As an example Alan Wake. MS wants it exclusive for the 360. The guys who made it know that then theyl make less profit if it is 1 console exclusive and that they would make more profit if they would launch it on the 360, ps3 and PC.
So they say ok to the exclusivity if MS compensates them for the loss of profit with a big bag of money that surpasses to extra profit of selling the game on PC and PS3.

The PC doesnt get alot of these exclusives because there is no one there to pay for it like Sony or MS.


At the end of the currents consoles lifetime we will see more good PC games because the consoles wont be able to handle those games properly and the PCs wil because they will have surpassed the consoles by to much.
Also a powerfull platform is grt for bad devs because then they wont need to optimize much and manage to get away with badly optimized power hungry games.

ps. i believe that Natal wil turn out to be a huge flop.
First most of the Wii games that use motion sensors in the nunchucks are either party games or games that make very bad use of it, so i got the feeling that there wont be many games that make good use of it besides party games.
Second i doubt Microsofts Natal will work properly seeing you wont have a controller or whatever to push buttons everything wil work with motion control and i doubt it wil work flawlesly.

It's sad when someone is easily duped into situations like that, enough said. But yeah natal, etc shouldn't make that much of huge impact in next gen gaming. At least without the option to use standard methods.

[saaya]

the next consoles will probably be dx11, so i think pc gaming will have a revival, but after that it will fall into a deep choma, much worse than what we saw in the past 1-2 years...
they cycles are slowing down, and pcs are not only competing with consoles but smartphones, handhelds, laptops, netbooks, nettops and smartbooks... they are all nagging on the pc gaming platform...

[saaya]

- Alan Wake went console exclusive as have other games in the recent past

well they actually want to launch it on the pc as well now i thought?
it sounded as if they made a 180 and figured every added sales is a plus
but thats if you believe that it actually WILL ever launch...

...



just noticed this today in fear2...
looks like monolith doesnt put too much trust into alan wake ever launching...