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The battle between the PC game industry and console (video) game industry has been brewing for years. The convergence of the Internet with console game devices has the media predicting the doom of the PC game business. The heat in this battle has certainly been turned up in the last few years with next-generation game consoles released by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft. These game consoles blur the lines between the two camps with devices mimicking Internet-connected PCs. The Sony PlayStation 2 allows gamers to play online and play CDs and DVDs on the same device. Microsoft, a newcomer to the console game industry, released its powerful XBOX Internet console with advanced graphics, interaction, DVD and powerful Intel Processor.
PC Game enthusiasts have always had a good chuckle when people say that the console game market will replace them. However, with the emergence of the Internet, some of the boundaries and distinct differences between the two industries have lessened. In fact, many of the console companies have retooled their devices for Internet connectivity to mimic the PC. Also, the decline in PC sales during the last couple of years may be a sign of things changing. Five years ago, the strengths of the PC vs. console-gaming industries were relatively even: £1.2 billion in sales for PC games, £1.4 billion for console games. The sales figures for 1999, however, tell a different story: PC sales have just inched past the £1.4 billion mark, while the console industry has exploded, surpassing £2.8 billion in sales for games alone
Games have always ranked high in user applications for the PC. According to IDSA (International Digital Software Assn.) 26% of computer users say that games are their most frequent PC application, with email at 19.5%, Web surfing at 14.6% and word processing coming in last at 14% (www.idsa.com). Considering the fact that new game consoles offer features like email and Web surfing, it's not hard to imagine the impact to the PC market if gamers move over to the console camp.
The PC game advantage has always been superior sound and graphics capabilities. The realism and complexity of PC games has always been significantly higher than console games, which accounts for the fact that adult audiences have traditionally gravitated toward PC games. In fact, 70% of the PC game market is players 18-years and older with 42% of that population over 35 years of age. PC games have always been strong in first-person shooter, strategy and fantasy genres. If you look at recent statistics regarding online games from IDSA (International Digital Software Association) the top genres are roles playing and strategy covering 21% of the market in 2000 (www.idsa.com). Considering the difference in numbers between the 7.3 million baby boomers and the approximately 4 million generation x'ers, this age advantage could weigh heavily on the side of the PC game industry. Getting the older generation to warm up to game consoles, no matter how connected they are to the Internet, may be an uphill battle. Furthermore, the PC is so ubiquitous that it's hard to imagine it disappearing from the technology landscape. Many think that innovations in PC technology will keep the PC alive and well long into the future. Mick West, a technical director at game studio Neversoft Entertainment is one such person, "I think advances in computer power are going to lead to some very interesting developments in voice and image recognition. You'll be able to actually hold conversations with the characters in your role-playing game. Eventually, the characters in the role-playing game will be able to watch you via a video camera, and respond to your expressions and gestures. The real world and the world inside your video games will become increasingly intertwined.
Traditionally, online games have been under the exclusive domain of the PC industry. All that is about to change with the latest upgrades in game consoles coming out this fall. The "lines in the sand" are no longer as apparent between PCs and Internet-connected consoles. Consoles have always enjoyed better processing speeds than the PCs at a fraction of the cost. It's not just the cost of the PC that one has to factor into the equation. By the time you add upgrades to your PC with special graphics cards, gadgets and upgraded operating systems, you're talking £140 to £280 more.
While game consoles have targeted the teenage market in the past, they are starting to "port" existing PC games over to their new systems in an effort to attract the adult game audience. The "plug and play" characteristics of a game console are a real advantage to the next group of Internet users, who are just now coming online. The early adopters of the Internet were "techie" types who understood how to install graphics cards and new operating systems into their PC. This next-generation user is made up of mainstream Americans, who are not as technically sophisticated. A "plug and play" device could win points with this next generation Internet user.
While it is hard to predict the future, the fact that these next-generation consoles will appeal to a broader audience makes a compelling case for consoles eventually overtaking the PC game industry. PCs have evolved over the years, however, no one would suggest that they have gotten easier to use. If the online game audience is any indication of how the game population is changing, the PC industry may be in for a few surprises. Online games attract more women than traditional PC games. In fact, 48% of online gamers are women. This is, perhaps, additional evidence of mainstream users entering the online market. Whatever the outcome of the battle between PC Games and Console Games, the Internet has generated a whole new crop of avid gamers. It may look like the game console manufacturers have the upper hand at the moment, but I wouldn't totally rule out the PC market. Watching the competition for that 16.4 hour per week user is bound to be interesting.
You Decide...
Thanks for reading.
PC Game enthusiasts have always had a good chuckle when people say that the console game market will replace them. However, with the emergence of the Internet, some of the boundaries and distinct differences between the two industries have lessened. In fact, many of the console companies have retooled their devices for Internet connectivity to mimic the PC. Also, the decline in PC sales during the last couple of years may be a sign of things changing. Five years ago, the strengths of the PC vs. console-gaming industries were relatively even: £1.2 billion in sales for PC games, £1.4 billion for console games. The sales figures for 1999, however, tell a different story: PC sales have just inched past the £1.4 billion mark, while the console industry has exploded, surpassing £2.8 billion in sales for games alone
Games have always ranked high in user applications for the PC. According to IDSA (International Digital Software Assn.) 26% of computer users say that games are their most frequent PC application, with email at 19.5%, Web surfing at 14.6% and word processing coming in last at 14% (www.idsa.com). Considering the fact that new game consoles offer features like email and Web surfing, it's not hard to imagine the impact to the PC market if gamers move over to the console camp.
The PC game advantage has always been superior sound and graphics capabilities. The realism and complexity of PC games has always been significantly higher than console games, which accounts for the fact that adult audiences have traditionally gravitated toward PC games. In fact, 70% of the PC game market is players 18-years and older with 42% of that population over 35 years of age. PC games have always been strong in first-person shooter, strategy and fantasy genres. If you look at recent statistics regarding online games from IDSA (International Digital Software Association) the top genres are roles playing and strategy covering 21% of the market in 2000 (www.idsa.com). Considering the difference in numbers between the 7.3 million baby boomers and the approximately 4 million generation x'ers, this age advantage could weigh heavily on the side of the PC game industry. Getting the older generation to warm up to game consoles, no matter how connected they are to the Internet, may be an uphill battle. Furthermore, the PC is so ubiquitous that it's hard to imagine it disappearing from the technology landscape. Many think that innovations in PC technology will keep the PC alive and well long into the future. Mick West, a technical director at game studio Neversoft Entertainment is one such person, "I think advances in computer power are going to lead to some very interesting developments in voice and image recognition. You'll be able to actually hold conversations with the characters in your role-playing game. Eventually, the characters in the role-playing game will be able to watch you via a video camera, and respond to your expressions and gestures. The real world and the world inside your video games will become increasingly intertwined.
Traditionally, online games have been under the exclusive domain of the PC industry. All that is about to change with the latest upgrades in game consoles coming out this fall. The "lines in the sand" are no longer as apparent between PCs and Internet-connected consoles. Consoles have always enjoyed better processing speeds than the PCs at a fraction of the cost. It's not just the cost of the PC that one has to factor into the equation. By the time you add upgrades to your PC with special graphics cards, gadgets and upgraded operating systems, you're talking £140 to £280 more.
While game consoles have targeted the teenage market in the past, they are starting to "port" existing PC games over to their new systems in an effort to attract the adult game audience. The "plug and play" characteristics of a game console are a real advantage to the next group of Internet users, who are just now coming online. The early adopters of the Internet were "techie" types who understood how to install graphics cards and new operating systems into their PC. This next-generation user is made up of mainstream Americans, who are not as technically sophisticated. A "plug and play" device could win points with this next generation Internet user.
While it is hard to predict the future, the fact that these next-generation consoles will appeal to a broader audience makes a compelling case for consoles eventually overtaking the PC game industry. PCs have evolved over the years, however, no one would suggest that they have gotten easier to use. If the online game audience is any indication of how the game population is changing, the PC industry may be in for a few surprises. Online games attract more women than traditional PC games. In fact, 48% of online gamers are women. This is, perhaps, additional evidence of mainstream users entering the online market. Whatever the outcome of the battle between PC Games and Console Games, the Internet has generated a whole new crop of avid gamers. It may look like the game console manufacturers have the upper hand at the moment, but I wouldn't totally rule out the PC market. Watching the competition for that 16.4 hour per week user is bound to be interesting.
You Decide...
Thanks for reading.
Page:
Upgrading and the problem of it will I think push PC gamers towards the Xbox. I alos think that one market will never eliminate the other, as a PC can have a lot of other functions than a console, which console developers won't try and copy for fear of being criticised for moving away from games.
Many people have argued this point to me, but as Silent says its gets frustrating upgraded the system all the time to play the latest games coming on the market. PC's can generally be downgraded the instance they are bought, new technology is being created so fast that the PC needs to be maintained and upgraded every to often, with a console, for example the PS2 you know the range of games that will come out on it will work on it and with the addition of of online gaming and modem released on the PS 2 it will attract many gamers and possibly prize some of the PC users over to a consoles.
However in my mind the PC has ultimate graphics but they are generally made for the 'office' rather than does everyone think of this theory?
I have both a laptop and PS 2 and I hardly ever play games on my PC let alone play online but if I had a modem to play online on my PS 2 I would do.
However in my mind the PC has ultimate graphics but they are generally made for the 'office' rather than does everyone think of this theory?
I have both a laptop and PS 2 and I hardly ever play games on my PC let alone play online but if I had a modem to play online on my PS 2 I would do.
well pc will alway be better then consoles mainly in terms of hardware (rumour has it a ps2 emulator is already available but still in the early stages) although consoles are no fuss gaming (e.g pop the cd in and play) but the only draw back of the pc is installing games, loading, long start up times and driver and hardware problems.
consoles to end the PC!! yeah right. PC games are much more wellmade, and structured than console games, I should know I have both a PC and a PS2. Anyway as for online play, well I don't know how its going to work, I figure some games company's will put their own severs up, but will other people. It can cost up to £100 a month to rent out a permenent server and I don't think console owners will be willing to pay that.
Besides the Dreamcast didn't exactly outdo the PC when it came to online play. The PC currently has a vast amount of online only games on the way such as Unreal Tounement2, Star Wars Galaxies and Nedd For Speed online to name but a few, and if its one thing the PC is good at its Multyplayers games. Can't wait for them.
Besides the Dreamcast didn't exactly outdo the PC when it came to online play. The PC currently has a vast amount of online only games on the way such as Unreal Tounement2, Star Wars Galaxies and Nedd For Speed online to name but a few, and if its one thing the PC is good at its Multyplayers games. Can't wait for them.
The battle between the PC game industry and console (video) game industry has been brewing for years. The convergence of the Internet with console game devices has the media predicting the doom of the PC game business. The heat in this battle has certainly been turned up in the last few years with next-generation game consoles released by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft. These game consoles blur the lines between the two camps with devices mimicking Internet-connected PCs. The Sony PlayStation 2 allows gamers to play online and play CDs and DVDs on the same device. Microsoft, a newcomer to the console game industry, released its powerful XBOX Internet console with advanced graphics, interaction, DVD and powerful Intel Processor.
PC Game enthusiasts have always had a good chuckle when people say that the console game market will replace them. However, with the emergence of the Internet, some of the boundaries and distinct differences between the two industries have lessened. In fact, many of the console companies have retooled their devices for Internet connectivity to mimic the PC. Also, the decline in PC sales during the last couple of years may be a sign of things changing. Five years ago, the strengths of the PC vs. console-gaming industries were relatively even: £1.2 billion in sales for PC games, £1.4 billion for console games. The sales figures for 1999, however, tell a different story: PC sales have just inched past the £1.4 billion mark, while the console industry has exploded, surpassing £2.8 billion in sales for games alone
Games have always ranked high in user applications for the PC. According to IDSA (International Digital Software Assn.) 26% of computer users say that games are their most frequent PC application, with email at 19.5%, Web surfing at 14.6% and word processing coming in last at 14% (www.idsa.com). Considering the fact that new game consoles offer features like email and Web surfing, it's not hard to imagine the impact to the PC market if gamers move over to the console camp.
The PC game advantage has always been superior sound and graphics capabilities. The realism and complexity of PC games has always been significantly higher than console games, which accounts for the fact that adult audiences have traditionally gravitated toward PC games. In fact, 70% of the PC game market is players 18-years and older with 42% of that population over 35 years of age. PC games have always been strong in first-person shooter, strategy and fantasy genres. If you look at recent statistics regarding online games from IDSA (International Digital Software Association) the top genres are roles playing and strategy covering 21% of the market in 2000 (www.idsa.com). Considering the difference in numbers between the 7.3 million baby boomers and the approximately 4 million generation x'ers, this age advantage could weigh heavily on the side of the PC game industry. Getting the older generation to warm up to game consoles, no matter how connected they are to the Internet, may be an uphill battle. Furthermore, the PC is so ubiquitous that it's hard to imagine it disappearing from the technology landscape. Many think that innovations in PC technology will keep the PC alive and well long into the future. Mick West, a technical director at game studio Neversoft Entertainment is one such person, "I think advances in computer power are going to lead to some very interesting developments in voice and image recognition. You'll be able to actually hold conversations with the characters in your role-playing game. Eventually, the characters in the role-playing game will be able to watch you via a video camera, and respond to your expressions and gestures. The real world and the world inside your video games will become increasingly intertwined.
Traditionally, online games have been under the exclusive domain of the PC industry. All that is about to change with the latest upgrades in game consoles coming out this fall. The "lines in the sand" are no longer as apparent between PCs and Internet-connected consoles. Consoles have always enjoyed better processing speeds than the PCs at a fraction of the cost. It's not just the cost of the PC that one has to factor into the equation. By the time you add upgrades to your PC with special graphics cards, gadgets and upgraded operating systems, you're talking £140 to £280 more.
While game consoles have targeted the teenage market in the past, they are starting to "port" existing PC games over to their new systems in an effort to attract the adult game audience. The "plug and play" characteristics of a game console are a real advantage to the next group of Internet users, who are just now coming online. The early adopters of the Internet were "techie" types who understood how to install graphics cards and new operating systems into their PC. This next-generation user is made up of mainstream Americans, who are not as technically sophisticated. A "plug and play" device could win points with this next generation Internet user.
While it is hard to predict the future, the fact that these next-generation consoles will appeal to a broader audience makes a compelling case for consoles eventually overtaking the PC game industry. PCs have evolved over the years, however, no one would suggest that they have gotten easier to use. If the online game audience is any indication of how the game population is changing, the PC industry may be in for a few surprises. Online games attract more women than traditional PC games. In fact, 48% of online gamers are women. This is, perhaps, additional evidence of mainstream users entering the online market. Whatever the outcome of the battle between PC Games and Console Games, the Internet has generated a whole new crop of avid gamers. It may look like the game console manufacturers have the upper hand at the moment, but I wouldn't totally rule out the PC market. Watching the competition for that 16.4 hour per week user is bound to be interesting.
You Decide...
Thanks for reading.
PC Game enthusiasts have always had a good chuckle when people say that the console game market will replace them. However, with the emergence of the Internet, some of the boundaries and distinct differences between the two industries have lessened. In fact, many of the console companies have retooled their devices for Internet connectivity to mimic the PC. Also, the decline in PC sales during the last couple of years may be a sign of things changing. Five years ago, the strengths of the PC vs. console-gaming industries were relatively even: £1.2 billion in sales for PC games, £1.4 billion for console games. The sales figures for 1999, however, tell a different story: PC sales have just inched past the £1.4 billion mark, while the console industry has exploded, surpassing £2.8 billion in sales for games alone
Games have always ranked high in user applications for the PC. According to IDSA (International Digital Software Assn.) 26% of computer users say that games are their most frequent PC application, with email at 19.5%, Web surfing at 14.6% and word processing coming in last at 14% (www.idsa.com). Considering the fact that new game consoles offer features like email and Web surfing, it's not hard to imagine the impact to the PC market if gamers move over to the console camp.
The PC game advantage has always been superior sound and graphics capabilities. The realism and complexity of PC games has always been significantly higher than console games, which accounts for the fact that adult audiences have traditionally gravitated toward PC games. In fact, 70% of the PC game market is players 18-years and older with 42% of that population over 35 years of age. PC games have always been strong in first-person shooter, strategy and fantasy genres. If you look at recent statistics regarding online games from IDSA (International Digital Software Association) the top genres are roles playing and strategy covering 21% of the market in 2000 (www.idsa.com). Considering the difference in numbers between the 7.3 million baby boomers and the approximately 4 million generation x'ers, this age advantage could weigh heavily on the side of the PC game industry. Getting the older generation to warm up to game consoles, no matter how connected they are to the Internet, may be an uphill battle. Furthermore, the PC is so ubiquitous that it's hard to imagine it disappearing from the technology landscape. Many think that innovations in PC technology will keep the PC alive and well long into the future. Mick West, a technical director at game studio Neversoft Entertainment is one such person, "I think advances in computer power are going to lead to some very interesting developments in voice and image recognition. You'll be able to actually hold conversations with the characters in your role-playing game. Eventually, the characters in the role-playing game will be able to watch you via a video camera, and respond to your expressions and gestures. The real world and the world inside your video games will become increasingly intertwined.
Traditionally, online games have been under the exclusive domain of the PC industry. All that is about to change with the latest upgrades in game consoles coming out this fall. The "lines in the sand" are no longer as apparent between PCs and Internet-connected consoles. Consoles have always enjoyed better processing speeds than the PCs at a fraction of the cost. It's not just the cost of the PC that one has to factor into the equation. By the time you add upgrades to your PC with special graphics cards, gadgets and upgraded operating systems, you're talking £140 to £280 more.
While game consoles have targeted the teenage market in the past, they are starting to "port" existing PC games over to their new systems in an effort to attract the adult game audience. The "plug and play" characteristics of a game console are a real advantage to the next group of Internet users, who are just now coming online. The early adopters of the Internet were "techie" types who understood how to install graphics cards and new operating systems into their PC. This next-generation user is made up of mainstream Americans, who are not as technically sophisticated. A "plug and play" device could win points with this next generation Internet user.
While it is hard to predict the future, the fact that these next-generation consoles will appeal to a broader audience makes a compelling case for consoles eventually overtaking the PC game industry. PCs have evolved over the years, however, no one would suggest that they have gotten easier to use. If the online game audience is any indication of how the game population is changing, the PC industry may be in for a few surprises. Online games attract more women than traditional PC games. In fact, 48% of online gamers are women. This is, perhaps, additional evidence of mainstream users entering the online market. Whatever the outcome of the battle between PC Games and Console Games, the Internet has generated a whole new crop of avid gamers. It may look like the game console manufacturers have the upper hand at the moment, but I wouldn't totally rule out the PC market. Watching the competition for that 16.4 hour per week user is bound to be interesting.
You Decide...
Thanks for reading.
Page: