I've been a life long gamer. I've owned just about every console since the Atari days. I have all of the current systems even a 360. I've also tried to keep my PC upgraded as best possible to play the latest games. But lately, keeping the PC up to date is expensive. Many times you can't just get a new video card. First PCI, then AGP and now PCIexpress. Each of those upgrades usually means a new motherboard which means a new processor and new memory. For me, the best bang for the buck is a console, PS3, 360 or, Revolution, any of those would be less expensive than a PC upgrade. Go to any Gamestop and see how much area is devoted to PC gaming vs console gaming. Consoles have at least 80% to 90% space in retail stores. I say PC gaming is dead or dieing. Your thoughts.

Since the day of the PC are numbered, so are PC games. No need to fret though, the great merger is taking place...

I can only say that it is dead to me. I don't think it is dead, or even actively dying, as there are plenty of people playing plenty of games I've barely heard of.

I was an avid PC gamer in the 90's. Basically over the SNES/Genesis and N64/PS eras. But it got to a point where I just couldn't justify the constant upgrades you described. Plus, they stopped making Wing Commander games

Once I got a Gamecube and GBA (and to a lesser degree Xbox and PS2), I knew that that'd be all the gaming power I'd ever need and it was far more cost-effective. I don't see myself ever going back.

People who claim PC gaming is dying remind me of religious people claiming Jesus is coming back soon. Both groups have been saying it for years and years and years.

Constantly upgrading PC hardware is a hassle, and it is definitely not for everybody. However, there are still a lot of hardcore PC gamers.

Why would the days of the PC be numbered? PCs are as common in the household as TVs nowadays.

I can't see playing a game like Age of Empires 3 on a console...but on the other hand, I couldn't see playing Madden '06 on a PC either. I used to have fun with my friends playing Mario Kart 64 or Madden on a console, but playing Half-Life with 8 people hooked to LAN was incredible.

There are definately console games, and PC Games. And I keep mine seperate.

I can't stand FPS (with the exception of Halo) on console. While I love Call of Duty 1/2, Counterstrike, and Tribes on the computer.

I love my sports games on the consoles. Football, Baseball, all on the XBox (unfortunately, I liked EA Sport's MVP Baseball, and ESPN NFL 2k5, so I pretty much just play the older games now).

I also love RTS and Strategy games on the computer. Star/Warcraft, Civilization, GalCiv, and Age of Empires.

And finally... MMORPG?

Ya...

Computer.

I don't have the energy to detail the last 25 years of PC development, but simply put, the idea of a box dedicated for only personal computing days are numbered. Gates says so, Jobs says so, Intel says so, IBM says so, everyone is moving to the next level, it will come. Its the whole reason the Xbox was born after all...

I love both my PC and console games and don't think PC is dying. I have switched some of the genres to console, such as most of my FPSs.

However, with the keyboard/mouse, real-time strategy games are still a PC entity for me. While consoles could utilize the keyboard and mouse, it does not feel right and is still the domain of PCs in my opinion. I could not sit on my couch and organize legions of troops with a keyboard and mouse as well. These games are at times forced onto a controller setup, but it never works as well. Turn-based strategy though (Fire Emblem series, Advance Wars) works great on a console.

Simulation games (Rollercoaster Tycoon, SimGolf, etc.) are PC games for me for the same above reasons, as are many point-n-click RPGs (Dungeons Siege, Baldur's Gate, etc.).

As mentioned, I can't see MMORPGs ever fitting the console as well as they do the PC. Voice chat and online gaming become standard helps, but, for example, with D&D Online (only MMORPG I play), it is updated often and has had new content, with more planned. I am sure expansions are in the works as well. On a console, this does not work as well, and unless we get bigger hard drives at better prices, it won't work well for some time... in my opinion.

Along those same lines, any game that can be modded or has a toolset included is best on the PC. If the main game is strong (Oblivion), then it can be enjoyed well enough console side (I have the 360 version). However, a game such as Neverwinter Nights, which has thousands of user made modules and toolset items, just can not function on a console. Hell, the community-made expansion pack was well over any size of console hard drive we've seen/heard of.

It's not dying -- look at subscription rates for WoW -- but sales are certainly shrinking for some types of games.

There has yet to be a decent real-time strategy, Sims-type game or MMORPG created for a console.

To me, it's dead if you don't have the money to upgrade every 3-6 months, other wise if I was rich I'd keep upgrading. I know, I know, some of you will say you don't have to upgrade, but certain games like Fear can be a bitch if you don't. Why bother then?

I don't upgrade my graphics card for anything more than $200. I'll do that about every two years. Anything more frequent than that is not cost effective.

Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II comes out for the 360 this summer. That should satisfy peoples RTS needs on a console. I'm not sure why a MMORPG wouldn't work on a console. Just take the Oblivion engine and add multi-player functionality. Keyboards are overrated. 360 supports voice chat and video is just around the corner. There are Sims games available on consoles. I guess your definition of "decent" is a factor of course.

I'm still convinced that a console can do anything a PC can do, from a gaming standpoint. And, do it cheaper.

not so much that it is dead, but with the new consoles like the 360 and nintendo's Wii it is bringing pc hard cores over, because there isn't so much of a difference any longer in graphics if you've got an HDTV or even a good compy monitor with the 360. to have a machine that plays GRAW or CoD2 with the same FPS and detail level your graphics card alone cost more than the 360 does. i'm sure this will be true for the sony people also whenever they ship this year or next year. the only added bonus you get with a gaming machine is the fact video encoding and music storage and stuff is awesome. i have a gaming machine and a 360 and i'll have a Wii when it ships, but 9 times outta ten now i'm getting the 360 game instead of the pc game because they look almost alike and i've got good people on my buddy list for xbox live. i mean my video cards i could have got two 360s and a couple games. i think the biggest thing keeping pc gaming alive is people with retarded hands who can't use the analog sticks.

I"m probably on crack, but I have a gut feeling PC gaming will hit a resurgance sometime within the next year.

PC Gaming will always be alive to me as long as I can play the Command & Conquer games and other RTS ones. Those are the only ones I play on my computer though (and F.E.A.R. though I will be getting that on the 360 so I can enjoy it on my 61" DLP)

I don't know.. it's dead to me as far as new stuff, the typical FPS, RTS and MMORPG regimen.. but I still enjoy some of the classics like the Quake series and Command and Conquer series. Plus, I do occasionally grab some Japanese stuff but it usually doesn't hold my interest for very long (unless it's a Falcom action-RPG, then it's ON!).

Yeah, that's obviously it.

To me, PC gaming and console gaming are not comparable. I find a richness and depth to the PC games I play that I have never really found on a console. There are just no good ways to make a game like Railroad Tycoon II, the Civilization series, the Infinity-engine D&D RPGs, The Sims, etc. work on a console.

I own a PS2 and a GBA and I have fun with them, but I keep going back to my PC games. The two "sides" just do very different things.

Since I got a 360 I never game on my PC anymore.. The only reason I gamed on my PC before was because the graphics were so much better.. Now that the 360 is out and the graphics are INSANE in HD I feel no need to PC game anymore..

There's a huge difference between PC gaming and Console gaming is online multiplayer. PC online MP games are much more easier to manage than console online MP games where you have absolute no control such as admintration power, configure file, etc...

That's why PC online MP will survive - unless next generation console provide keyboard/mouse as standard, then PC will turn into Internet/office application-only computer.

I agree that it's a hassle trying to keep up with hardware you're a PC gamer, but I don't think it will completely die. Most of the games I play are on console, but the few that I have on PC are awesome which I wouldn't want to play on a console.

I agree with you on only upgrading your graphics card when it's cheap enough to fit your budget. Trying to stay "current" will drive anyone insane and to the poor house and it's really not necessary because only a few games really take advantage of having the latest and greatest.

I think what's happening is consoles are turning into PC's and that's why a lot of this stuff is shifting.

However some genres just work better on the PC. More and more will move to the console no doubt - MMO's for sure, FPS games have already done it, but I see RTS and God games staying a PC-centric genre. Even if these games do eventually come to consoles, the fans of these genres will still want them on the PC (like many FPS fans won't touch a console FPS outside of Halo).

People will keep developing/publishing for the PC because there is a better profit margin there for smaller games. Sony, MS, and Nintendo get a cut from every console game sold, whereas PC games sales go straight to the pocketbook.

Also wasn't The Sims a very different experience on the consoles than it was on the PC?

I don't think it's dead. Nor will it die anytime soon.

It's just gotten overshadowed by the explosion of console gaming over the past 5-10 years.

Console gaming went mainstream and PC gaming really didn't.

I think PC gaming will continue to survive in its niche. I don't see it ever going away completely.

i know its the retarded hands keeping people down

PC gaming has been losing genres, so now we're reduced to RTS, Strat, FPS, and MMORPGs mostly. 10-20 years ago the pc library had a lot more variety.

no control! keyboard and mouse! you really don't know how the new gen of console gaming is working huh