Epic focusing on console titles claims PC gaming is currently in "disarray"

[Final-Fan]

naznatips said:

Final-Fan said:
That's exactly what I mean. OBVIOUSLY no one expects today's PC (especially a sub-$600 one) to run a 5-years-in-the-future game at maximum settings because today's PC can't even run Crysis at maximum settings! (I read an article recently about how some PC gaming publication tried to build a monster rig that cost ungodly amounts and would play Crysis at completely maxed out settings ... they got it to run but at like 17fps IIRC.)

I'm not a big PC gamer, but I do play some games on the PC AND I am a friggin' computer tech so I would appreciate it if you didn't assume I have no idea what I'm talking about when it comes to computer hardware naznatips.

If your computer is new I would certainly expect you to be able to play games on it 3 years from now in some fashion but tell me with a straight face you won't be staring longingly at new video cards/CPU/whatever in less than 18 months, especially if your ENTIRE RIG cost "in the same price range as consoles". Consoles last longer and that's a fact.

As I said before, we crossed into a new operating system, which includes a leap in technology. Again, if you view each operating system as a new generation of PC hardware, it's fairly reasonable to say that a PC built in 2002 could play most games out right now, with the possible upgrade of a new GPU, and you can bet your ass that PC played every game released multi-plat between the Xbox and PC.

Along with that, prices of PC hardware are falling at a rapid rate. It certainly does not take thousands of dollars to make a Crysis capable gaming rig. Crytek has promised a $600 one at GDC, and although I'm skeptical until I see proof, they certainly wouldn't have made such a claim without some basis for it.

You're right, I'll certainly buy another $150 GPU in 18 months or so, but I'll still be playing multiplat games even without that upgrade. I can play Crysis right now on medium-high as it is. It's not like every game tries to make the technical leap that Crysis did. You only get one game like that every 4 years or so at the most. Even if we consider that some PC exclusive games will move far above 360 and PS3 technology, I'll still be playing all these multiplats.

Again, this is another of those misconceptions that as soon as a game like Crysis is released, every other game will follow suit in technology and you'll never have anything to play.

I'm certainly NOT trying to say that every game will suddenly have Crysis' system requirements, but if there's a game like that NOW then I think it's absolutely fair to think that most games five years from now will have comparable requirements, unless you show me counterexamples or other evidence to the contrary. 

Honestly I think you are looking at my argument and thinking I'm saying something else based on other less reasonable opinions you have run into.  Am I wrong? 

If you have to upgrade the GPU, then that adds $150 or so to your price every 2-3 years (or $80-100 every year and a half) and suddenly it's not as cheap an investment as the console was which is my whole point.