Why PC Gaming is Surging

[Pemalite]

S.T.A.G.E. said:

Steam, Origin...all of it is unified no different than the Xbox Live concept. You can just manipulate your games because it doesn't interfere with it like a true closed format would. Anyone can create games for an open format, but how much can they stand to make especially when marketing is needed in their budget? At some point they would probably need a publisher. Minecraft, I am sure sold very well, correct? How much did it sell on the Xbox compared to PC?

PC version of Minecraft has still sold more than any other platform by several million units, without a publisher with 12 Millon units sold.

Mojang also gets a larger chunk of the profits on the PC due to not having Microsoft or Sony take a large percentage of the sale.

Basically, Word of mouth, Steam Greenlight, Humble Bundle tend to make big differences in a game getting recognised.
Take FTL for instance, sold respectively because of kickstarter. :)
Minecraft on the PC was all word of mouth.
Once a games news outlet reviews an indie game, they will do well.

If Steam however, has a sale, regardless of how old the game game is or what the game is, it will sell well.
For example when Microsoft brought over Fable: The Lost Chapters to Steam, released in 2004 origionally, it hit the top of the sales charts and will keep ranking highly on the sales charts whenever it's on sale, that's added profit for essentially no effort for years to come.
In comparison console games will fall into obscurity generally never to be heard from again after it's initial launch.