PC Gaming still Truck'n

source: the internet

Did Apple just kill the Wii U?

Nintendo's newest console is expected in time for the 2012 Christmas season. The big change? It now has better graphics, supporting 1080 resolution output to your television.  It also changed up the UI with a new type of controller, the Wii U controller.  Aside from physical buttons, This new controller sports a 6 inch 854×480 screen which interacts and supports the action on the television, often displaying different info.  It can also display a full game on the controller and has a touch element.



However this week, the "new" Apple iPad "3" was announced and it supports ...nothing really new.  Instead it upgrades itself with some amazing new specs, including a 2048×1536 display!  This is significant, as it officially puts it in competition with the current consoles, and in some ways, even excelling.  My point, when you couple the tech from iOS 5 with the new iPad 3 tech specs, you basically get something that is much better then the Wii.

Hackers have already proven that the iPad can successfully emulate a Wiimote (jail breaking required) .  Really, that's not too difficult, considering the Wiimote uses off-the-shelf Bluetooth tech to communicate. 



 Then there's Apples AirPlay Technology, which allows the iPad to stream and interact to your television.  The results can be seen in the video below:



Of course Nintendo still has Mario, Zelda, and fanboys.  Plus, they'll bundle it all together for the casual market and a reasonable price.  Granted the casual market moved on to mobile devices and Facebook, its possible Nintendo can win back a few of those users.  Nor do I see Apple approving Wiimote emulation software in the istore.  However, the main takeaway, is that Nintendo has been schooled by Apple.  Not only will Apple have their product out first, it'll make the Wii U look archaic. Aside from the iPad, the Wii U is in competion with the former Wii.  If the Wii U flops, it'll be 2 strikes for the company.  Making Nintendo ripe to be bought out by Apple.

Top 25s (IGN)

IGN has published another round of top 25 games for each console (X360 & PS3).   While very subjective, these types of lists try to show the exclusive elements of each system.  But how exclusive are these games really?  I've tallied up the titles that are also available on the PC.

X360 - 16 of 25 available for the PC, where the top 3 were for the PC.  The pattern is this, X360 exclusive often become a PC game a few months latter.  Red Dead, I'm looking at you.

PS3 - 8 of 25 available for the PC.  In true Sony form, we see heavy emphasis on exclusives.  Can't say this is really good for the industry, as none of the games listed take advantage of what the PS3 has to offer.  Additionally, this doesn't account for good games, that simply were not available for PS3. For example, a "breakout" game was listed for PS3...seriously?

A PC list was also made by IGN.

IGNs best of decade list

IGN put out their best of overall game listing. Like most comments on the site stated, the list was really sloppy. Then again, most of the best of the decade lists a saw on other sites were sloppy, probably created by players that didn't even play some of the potentially greatest games. Oh well, so here's another breakdown of the platforms, and which is the best. To be fair, Xbox missed out on 2000, unlike the others.

PC - 6
Sony - 5
Microsoft - 3
Nintendo - 1

This break down really was what I had expected, however, only one quality title for Nintendo exhibits the sad state they were in, even before the Wii.

My picks of the best overall on PC.

GTA IV on PC

So what's on the PC that other platforms miss out on....

• Custom match filtering for multiplayer games.
• Customize traffic and population density
• 32 player support (over 16)
  
• Keyboard/mouse support, along with simultaneous gamepad support.
• Improved aiming due to mouse
• Higher resolution support
• Replay editor, including multiple camera angles
  
• Custom MP3 for radio
  

Bioware on Mass Effect

"If you want the Mass Effect true experience, PC version is the way to go...its the ulimate masterful experience."

-Ray Muzyka
General Manager - Bioware

The State of the PC

There's been an interesting ripple in the PC market. The latest news...PC gaming is dying! But wait, here's the rub...in the past, its been console junkies and adolescent ramblings making that statement. Now, the news is coming from the folks that actually make the PC games.

It all started when Chris Taylor at GDC made a speech about how piracy is killing the PC market. News was then followed by a THQ employee venting (Michael Fitch) not only the same thing about piracy, but cranked it up a notch and bitched about every single annoying variable he could think of. If the people making the games are complaining, then the outlook must be grim...right?

Well, in steps Doug Lombardi of Valve, who claims PC gaming is live and well, and Steam is doing better then ever. So we see complete opposite statements. So, which is it...Alive or Dead?

Well, looking deeper... both Chris and Michael were using similar games as examples. For Chris, it was Dungeon Siege...and Micheal used Titan Quest. Both games, were Diablo ripoffs. There I said it...Rip-offs. Okay, Diablo is technically Gauntlet, but it did bring the ARPG up to speed. So, really, PC gaming fans, simply need to shrug off this latest bullshit from guys that lack original contentual ideas.

Edit: While writing this, a new speaker sounds off, this time its Tim Sweeney of Epic. Again, harping the PC. But again, I look at his resume. Unreal...Unreal Tournament...um Unreal 2...Unreal Tournament 2...Um...Unreal...you get the point. Oh, they did have Gears of War...Which was crippled by Windows Live (later patched). Course, GoW was just Co-op Unreal. How about something new Tim before you go pointing fingers. Truth be told, its easier to tap a new market with the same shit...then to innovate for the old.

[EDIT 2] Ben Cousins of EA weighs in, supporting the PC climate. ...thinks console gaming is niche in comparison to the PC.

Now some facts pulled from the articles:

• PCs need to ship with decent (mid range) video drivers
• Laptops manufacturers need to allow 3rd party video driver support
• PCs need to break the 32bit software barrier
• PC games need to tap the dual/quad processor power
  
• Steam has 15 million accounts
• WoW has over 10 million paying subscribers
• PC indie titles are at a record high
• Casual games are at record highs
  
• NPD reports lack international, online, and monthly subscription sales
• Pirates hurt sales, but no more than any other media (books, movies, etc)
• Consoles have organized marketing
• Xbox, X360, and PS3 have not recovered costs
• Um...Starcraft hype?
  

PC Patience Pays

Mass Effect has been announce for PC, to be out in May. The game will include Better graphics and much better interface, designed for the Mouse and keyboard. Sounds like its the non frustration route to play the game.

Here's a quote from Gamespy:
"If you wish you'd have played the PC version first, it's doubtful anyone would blame you. It's set for release sometime in May, so plan your schedule thusly."