BioWare's CEO Ray Muzyka is claiming that -despite what critics and analysts say about the decline in PC gaming- the "sector" is actually doing well.
In an interview conducted by Computer and Video Games, Muzyka claims that there are more people spending money and playing games in the PC industry than ever before. However, the spending and playing habits are taking on "a new form." As technology and audiences evolve, he believes that it's the developers' job to adapt to the new market conditions.
He goes on to talk about flash-based games and casual titles, enabling consumers to play in short bursts rather than endure long stretches of time lasting for hours. Even core games can be played in a casual manner. "It's not a bad thing if people want to play more types of games than they did 20 years ago," he said in the interview, "it's natural and normal as the audience and technology evolves. As creators we have to adapt to that and continue to make sure that we're satisfying the audience, but it doesn't mean we have to compromise."
Muzyka stated that developers can still make rich experiences. However, those experiences must be easy to access, the control system easy to use, and design it in a way for the consumer to determine how long they want to play--whether it's a 15-minute jab or a four-hour session--rather than the game forcing the consumer to play for long durations.
BioWare is the famed developer of many well-known role-playing games including the Baldur's Gate series, Neverwinter Nights series, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect. Recently the company delved into portable gaming with Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for the Nintendo DS. Currently the company is collaborating with LucasArts on the upcoming MMOG, Star Wars: The Old Republic. With that said, it's safe to say that Muzyka and his band of developers have made anything but "short and sweet" games.
But is he correct in his assessment that PC gaming could evolve into a more laid-back approach? It's quite possible, with PC games of yesterday now deemed as "casual" or "arcade" (a good example is id Software's Quake Live, a browser-based version of the all-time classic FPS, Quake III Arena). The change has even been felt here, with parent company Bestofmedia transforming Tom's Games into a flash-based gaming website. Perhaps more PC gamers would rather spend less money on upgrading hardware, and spend more time dong what they love best.... playing easily accessible games.
However, with hot titles such as Left 4 Dead, Fallout 3, Call of Duty: World at War and World of Warcraft commanding the sales charts, its hard to believe that the PC gaming market is swinging anywhere close to a casual state. Despite economic times and piracy issues, perhaps the PC gaming market is doing well after all.
Oh geez, please don't remind me of this. -_-
Just so we're on the right page.
As for the gaming industry, in times of hardship, I'd much rather spend $50 on a PC game than go to the bar and drop $100 for a night.
PC gamers and console gamers can have different tastes, and even the same individual will want to do different things on their PC and other things on their console.
Pirating is difficult on consoles, that's why they're flourishing. Make no mistake this is the main reason. Is it so hard for people to understand that a company needs to make money in order to pay its staff and overhead? Why bother doing hard work if it's just going to be stolen from you? I'd focus on stuff where I could sell it, and if what I make sucks, then no one will buy it and I'll go out of business. But it's unfair for me to make something really good and have these myopic, self aggrandizing, apologist thieves take my just reward.
Amazing how many people still can't see this. The PC gaming industry will continue to die a slow death thanks to piracy. Idiots will blame this on the "stagnation" and lack of good ideas in the PC gaming world, but smarter folks will realize that it didn't pay to be innovative so no one bothered to put in hard work and talent into the PC arena.
I played the Wii recently and that is a groundbreaking, innovative and awesome platform. The new stuff coming out for that in the future should be awesome, but why haven't we seen something like that for PC yet? Someone could easily copy the idea of the Wii and release hardware and software for the PC. The hardware people would do this, but you need software games to drive hardware and that's where it all ends. Why bother? Pirates will just steal all the software. If I'm a CEO, I say no way, don't waste our resources to make a Wii like game for the PC, the thieves will descend like vultures and we'll end up losing money.
Again, we have the pirates to thank.
We're doomed.
As for azxcvbnm321, I think we live on different planets, although we'll both argue that we're from Earth.
pc gaming is just getting vast reach. imagine professionals and workers playing a short game before they get back to work. i myself is playing flash games in facebook, eating time to play games here in my pc.
increased sales in video cards and highend processors is proof enough that pc gaming is not dying, not to mention blizzard's insane success.
What a load of BS.
Well I'm a fan of PC games, always was, always will be. I'm addicted to WoW right now haha
Go on then compare them. I looked the PC's line up for 2009 and to me it was packed with titles that I want to play and if Thief 4 gets officially announced I'll be even more happy. As for MS most of the 360 exclusives find there way on to the PC within a year not 3 years (don't expect Halo 3 to ever appear on the PC, the Halo name is dirt and previous games aren't well liked).
BTW Mr Kevin Parrish, please don't try and justify Bestofmedia decision to axe Toms Games with a flash based gaming site being due to PC gamers becoming more casual in their gaming habits, it was a cost cutting exercise and an effort to generate more revenue. Read your own forums, your customers aren't happy! And remember the customer is always right!
Casual gaming is a huge business already. You just don't notice it, cause many of the games aren't sold indivudally - but paid via monthly fees or access to them. No casual gaming title is likely to get into the top 10 for game sales though, as they don't cost 50 euro a piece.
Many people only play casual games ranging from online board games to small sudoku/jigsaw/puzzle bobble type of games. They're not the heavy spenders though.
My collectors edition of farcry 2 probably exceeds a full years of expenses for those doing casual gaming. but then again, I spent more time gaming than they do, so that's okay.
I believe there's room for both the small, and imo silly, games and the big blockbuster titles. They're not targetting the same audience, so they don't actually compete with eachother.