Blizzard: MS's focus is on 360, should promote PC gaming too

[Zeus]

Blizzard's Paul Sams has called out Microsoft to invest more time and resources in promoting PC gaming. Sams believes MS's gaming focus is very much on the Xbox 360 but they should do more for the most prominent operating system in the world that is Windows.


Speaking with Gamasutra, Blizzard's Chief Operating Officer Paul Sams has called on Microsoft to channel more resources towards PC gaming, saying that it should "put more emphasis on the Windows operating system".

Sams explained that while Microsoft's focus on the Xbox 360 as its primary gaming platform made sense, more could be done by the company to support PC gaming.

"[Microsoft's] gaming focus is very much on the 360. And that makes sense, cause they're a hardware manufacturer as well as a software developer. And so they've got a lot of money and investment tied up in that system," Sams said. "... I kind of look at it and say to myself ... is that it would be great if they put more emphasis on the Windows operating system, certainly probably the most prominent operating system in the world. Even more so than console boxes."


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[Xenontc]

PC gaming is dead. MMORPG and RTS are the only things that stand a chance on the PC. And both of those game types blow.

[MorisatoKun]

FPS' are far better on PC than any console.

[gustavo00]

it makes sense.

PC gaming is not dead, only consoles look more and more atractive, and many people are playing more consoles than PC.
But if you look through MS' eye , it should be worth investing on windows. With consoles, they have to fight against nintendo and PS3 for the whole market share of gamers. They are doing pretty well, but not that well. They need to sell the hardware, which costs money for them, so they need to sell a lot of games, but the 360 is hackeable, so many people buy the system (loss of money for MS) and don't buy any games.

If you take a look on the windows "platform"... Well.. not many games are made to Linux and Mac. Many people already have windows in their PCs (original or not...). Making money for windows games license should make MS earn a lot. Since not every game needs to be ultra high graphic powered to be a good game, smart solutions would win the market. And that's it.

[Rotmm]

Of course, MS makes no money off "Making money for windows games license" because there isn't one, so the only Windows based games they make money from are those that they publish themselves.

[pokey66]

If the Xbox360 wasn't hemorrhaging money, Microsoft would be paying more attention to Windows gaming but since there's no significant sign that game developers will abandon Windows for Mac and Linux... what does MS care? Microsoft doesn't make a dime and publishers keep 100% of the profits earned on PC game sales.

Ever wondered why console games cost more than PC games? Even though in most cases the PC version has better graphics and/or more content. Which makes me think, is gaming on the PC more expensive in the long run or about the same as gaming on the console? Console games are generally $20US more than a PC title (at least in the US). Buy 10 X360 games or for the same amount of games on the PC you would have money left over to buy a high end graphics card or a mid range card and 2GB of memory.

[Tempos]

Console gaming is more fun. Generally people have more comfortable sofas or beds than their computer chairs, bigger TVs than their monitors and more area to accommodate guests than their computer. Then there's also the social aspect of console gaming, who doesn't love splitscreen (no need to quote me on this, it's rhetoric)? Very few PC games have such a feature, instead relying on LAN/WAN. Then you've also got all the problems with installation on PC, with many new games requiring an internet connection for activation upon installation and playing the game for the first time, it just gives people more incentive to pirate it. And if Crytek were accurate with their 20:1 piracy vs sales figure, Microsoft really don't need to promote PC gaming as it is dead.

[grapeape]

I have a decent gaming rig (I still maintain a good pc for client support mainly) but have mostly given up on PC gaming, for a long time PC gaming even on low-mid end PC's looked better than consoles, IMHO graphically games for consoles reached "good enough" last generation now its all just gravy. I dont play many FPS and the few I do play (bioshock, COD4, etc) play fine on consoles. There just isnt enough of a gap to matter anymore and that IMHO is whats hurting PC gaming. When I have 30 minutes to an hour to play a game and the choice is wait 20-30 minutes to install a PC game or just pop in a disk on the console and play the choice is pretty obvious.

[sigma8]

PC gaming is dead. MMORPG and RTS are the only things that stand a chance on the PC. And both of those game types blow.
Hi, 1998 called and would like to have its fatalist prophecies back.

[EL_CAD]

PC gaming is dead. MMORPG and RTS are the only things that stand a chance on the PC. And both of those game types blow.

So I haven't been palying FPSs on my PCs this year? All those people online with me weren't really there?

Consoles are the kiddie pools of FPSs.

[EL_CAD]

Then there's also the social aspect of console gaming, who doesn't love splitscreen (no need to quote me on this, it's rhetoric)? Very few PC games have such a feature, instead relying on LAN/WAN.
Many of the PS3 games don't have splitscreen either, like MotoStorm. I have my PCs side by side so we can game together or play a different game at the same time. BTW, the cost of both PCs together was less then the PS3 when it was new.

The biggest problem I see with PCs right now is the lack of sports games.

[Tempos]

Many of the PS3 games don't have splitscreen either, like MotoStorm. I have my PCs side by side so we can game together or play a different game at the same time. BTW, the cost of both PCs together was less then the PS3 when it was new.

The biggest problem I see with PCs right now is the lack of sports games.

In England you would never be able to get two gaming computers for £425. Two 17" monitors alone would take up half of that budget. You would also have to factor in the cost of networking computers (although most people have routers these days for their broadband connections) as a majority of users would not understand creating a cheap ad-hoc network.

Unfortunately you have a point about the PS3 having many games without splitscreen. I feel the 360 is going this way too now that the PS3 is picking up momentum; consumers pressure developers to have great graphics in single player and don't want compromised graphics in splitscreen, so instead, developers seem to just take it out (yes additional development costs and time probably factor into this too). I was disappointed when I found out that Grid on the 360 does not have splitscreen, I then made an instant decision that I would not buy it.

We were not the biggest gamers in my previous house, but the Wii got the most playtime simply because of how easy it was to setup a multiplayer game of Mario Kart or Wii Sports etc. Had we been unable to all play using one interface (console/output) we probably wouldn't have played many games at all.

I believe consoles also have the advantage that they are mostly in a public place. Usually a living room, bedroom or gaming room is positioned around a TV, it's common now to find consoles connected to large TVs. This automatically gives your guests places to sit, no-one has a compromised view and changing controllers over is easier. It's better for everyone to play a four player game and swap over at the end of every game than to have two people on two PCs and then do winner stays on.

[Anil8tr]

PC gaming is dead. MMORPG and RTS are the only things that stand a chance on the PC. And both of those game types blow.

And Diablo III is neither one of those genre you mentioned. That game ALONE could and will put PC gaming back on the map. I know I'll be playing the hell out of it as will many of the people who are here in these forums. There's a fucking reason the Diablo Battlechest is still the cost of a regular game and it is 10+ years old. That should tell you it still kicks MAJOR ass!

[NewBeginning]

I call my PC the "Blizzard Console".

Microsoft made something called Games for Windows and they put a shitload of money into it to try and help PC gaming get standardized, and there's still more games coming out without the Games for Windows branding than with it. If anything, Games for Windows is what's causing Microsoft to hemorrhage (?), and the blame is to be placed on other publishers, rather than Microsoft.

And then of course, you pirates aren't buying any PC games anymore, and it makes sense because we all know that if you had no choice, you'd stop gaming on the PC forever rather than buy PC games, so really, what's there to complain about?

[EL_CAD]

In England you would never be able to get two gaming computers for £425. Two 17" monitors alone would take up half of that budget. You would also have to factor in the cost of networking computers (although most people have routers these days for their broadband connections) as a majority of users would not understand creating a cheap ad-hoc network.

I don't want compromised graphics so I still use CRTs. I still use my 21" Hitachi from 1993! It's too heavy to carry to the dump so I have to use it.



I believe consoles also have the advantage that they are mostly in a public place. Usually a living room, bedroom or gaming room is positioned around a TV, it's common now to find consoles connected to large TVs. This automatically gives your guests places to sit, no-one has a compromised view and changing controllers over is easier. It's better for everyone to play a four player game and swap over at the end of every game than to have two people on two PCs and then do winner stays on.
I game on consoles as much as I do on PC. The Wii, DS, and PS2 get lots of use. Plus we have 5 more consoles hooked up in the living room as well. They are all cross connected to 2 TVs so there is no waiting to play. I do and have always loved consoles for multiplayer games and for that rumpus room experience, but I like gaming on the PC as well.

[sigma8]

Console gaming is more fun. Generally people have more comfortable sofas or beds than their computer chairs, bigger TVs than their monitors and more area to accommodate guests than their computer. Then there's also the social aspect of console gaming, who doesn't love splitscreen (no need to quote me on this, it's rhetoric)? Very few PC games have such a feature, instead relying on LAN/WAN. Then you've also got all the problems with installation on PC, with many new games requiring an internet connection for activation upon installation and playing the game for the first time, it just gives people more incentive to pirate it. And if Crytek were accurate with their 20:1 piracy vs sales figure, Microsoft really don't need to promote PC gaming as it is dead.
Some excellent points there. Lots of factual tidbits. However "console gaming si more fun" is entirely subjective, and I can't agree with you unconditionally on that. Was that just your opener? With the following statements provided as proof thereof?

Anyway, I offer the following counterargument:
- I think desk chairs are often more comfortable than sofas for extended periods of sitting; certainly if you have a "good" desk chair with ergonomic support...playing 6 hours of counterstrike at your desk will not ruin your spine like 6 hours of playing Halo3 on your sofa.
- Social aspect of console gaming? Yes. I agree. If you have a Wii. Splitscreen is tolerable with some games, but I think 2 players with full screens would be considered the ideal. Plus, take a look at Xbox Live lately? Your social consoles are completely copying the PC way and making it more popular than ever.
- PC game installation -- no counterargument for this, apart from it not really being all that difficult. If you legitimately buy the game, installation and activation are not that difficult. If you're warezing, yes, things can be a pain.

huh, looks like i was typing this and never posted.. from yesterday. Oh well, here we go now..

[Tempos]

Some excellent points there. Lots of factual tidbits. However "console gaming si more fun" is entirely subjective, and I can't agree with you unconditionally on that. Was that just your opener? With the following statements provided as proof thereof?

Anyway, I offer the following counterargument:
- I think desk chairs are often more comfortable than sofas for extended periods of sitting; certainly if you have a "good" desk chair with ergonomic support...playing 6 hours of counterstrike at your desk will not ruin your spine like 6 hours of playing Halo3 on your sofa.
- Social aspect of console gaming? Yes. I agree. If you have a Wii. Splitscreen is tolerable with some games, but I think 2 players with full screens would be considered the ideal. Plus, take a look at Xbox Live lately? Your social consoles are completely copying the PC way and making it more popular than ever.
- PC game installation -- no counterargument for this, apart from it not really being all that difficult. If you legitimately buy the game, installation and activation are not that difficult. If you're warezing, yes, things can be a pain.

huh, looks like i was typing this and never posted.. from yesterday. Oh well, here we go now..

The console gaming is more fun was just my opinion, perhaps easier would have been the better way to describe it. It's been a long time since I've played any game for an extended period of time and I find a console more convenient. In my student house we all have rather standard chairs making the living room the most comfortable place for gaming, not to mention the most social. Occasionally we will play PC games via LAN but the consoles are a lot easier to just pick up and play.

Unfortunately we are without internet at the moment (I'm away for a few weeks) which is slightly annoying. I was thinking of buying Alone in the Dark for my PC (price was a factor here because I wasn't sure whether I would like it enough to pick up the more expensive 360 version) but would be unable to activate the game. The idea was to pick the game up to kill some time whilst I've no internet, but that's not possible :( An alternative solution may have been to download it on campus, at ~2MB a second it wouldn't take long. Cracks are easy to come by and it would be easier for me to pirate it than to buy it but I don't often go down that route anymore. However, looks like Ninja Gaiden 2 will now get the purchase.