Retail Sales of PC Games Dropped 14% in 2008

[shio]

Slimebeast said:
And as for this:

"One last thing to consider is that, unlike console games, PC games are getting cheaper and cheaper. In 2007 the average PC game sold in US was only $25. If we extrapolate that globally we get over 200 millions PC games sold in 2007, and I believe that on average PC games sold in digital distribution are cheaper. Hell, even EA is joining the fun, by releasing their Red Alert 3 expansion at a $20 price-point, and exclusively on Digital Distribution (no box for retail) - this E-fucking-A we're talking about."

I hate these cheap re-releases of Age of Empires, Diablo, Warcraft, Counterstrike, and the mass market casual games like The Sims, Spore. They do nuffin good for me.

Great games sell for ages. And Digital Distribution will make it so they will have shelf space permanently. And ofcourse, that's not even considering the fact that a huge part of the traditional sales are from pack-ins, boxes that have several games inside. For example, last year I bought "Myst - The Collection", a box that had all 5 Myst games!!! for only $30.

PC is doing well.

 

Slimebeast said:

shio said:

And why does it matter if their business models are non-traditional? The games are good, and they make money. I don't see what's so bad to acknowledge this. If anything it further proves that PC is the most mature platform for gaming business.

And the best part of all is you don't need a $1000 PC, or even a $200 PC, to play one of the most (if not the most) anticipated FPS of 2009: Quake Live.

And lets think about this - has the traditional retail really declined? Those $2 billions of DD didn't appear out of thin air, and how can one be sure that the traditional box has decreased? Sure, PC lost like $600 millions retail in North America in the last few years, but then we get figures like Steam growing over 140% in 2007, and PC games sales increasing over 50% in Asia.

One last thing to consider is that, unlike console games, PC games are getting cheaper and cheaper. In 2007 the average PC game sold in US was only $25. If we extrapolate that globally we get over 200 millions PC games sold in 2007, and I believe that on average PC games sold in digital distribution are cheaper. Hell, even EA is joining the fun, by releasing their Red Alert 3 expansion at a $20 price-point, and exclusively on Digital Distribution (no box for retail) - this E-fucking-A we're talking about.

 

 For them it doesn't matter weather revenue comes from traditional or new business segments, no! But for me it does, from the perspective of gamers that like to buy ATI 4870X2's and play the latest FPS, RPG, RTS-games with every setting on highest with amazing graphics it does matter.

Because if the PC version of games like Fallout 3, Far Cry 2, Tomb Raider, FEAR, Dead Space, Bioshock, Mass Effect only account for 20% of total sales, we're not going to see any effort on the PC versions when it comes to graphics, and in some cases the PC version will even be ported or not released at all.

And if the traditional market is shrinking due to piracy, there won't be any traditional graphic intensive PC exclusives (like Crysis, the last bastion).

There will be only these awkward niche market solutions (MMORPGs, advertisement-friendly games, microtransactions, Pop-Cap casual games, web browser games and re-release of Counterstrike/Diablo/Warcraft for the bargain bin). Fine, the PC developers will get their money, but in my eyes PC gaming as I know it is struggling.

None of the games you mentioned is anywhere near the level of graphical effort of Crysis. Though I understand what you're saying, you made a poor choice of mentioning games because Fallout 3, Far Cry 2 and FEAR seems to have sold far more on PC than Consoles, and Bioshock reached 1 million on PC several months ago, way before Steam sold Bioshock twice for $5 on their typical Steam Deals.

If Graphical push on PC games isn't viable anymore, that would mean 2 things:

1- PC gamers graphics whores won't be pleased.

2- PC games will have lower requirements and therefore less need of upgrading.

I'm good because I'm a gameplay whore, and the only platform where I can have supreme gameplay is on PC. Less need to upgrade is a bonus for me. My brother is still using his almost 6 years old PC to play recent PC games.