Calling all PCGAMER

Well, hot on the heels of the 'grand' launching of PS3 and XBOX 360 (and Nintendo Revolution) in the past weeks, it's time to collect our thoughts and thinks hardly about it. Before I proceed, I'm a "PCGAMER" the one whose obsession towards gaming revolve around the galaxy of PC gaming goodness. But, I play games on PS2 and XBOX too... although I don't own them. I'm enjoying the console platform although not as much as I like gaming on PC though. I always held an open mind towards gaming in general though, cos its what MATTERS. PC or console, make your pick, show off your fanboy fanatism, but in the end of the day... well its still GAMES!!

I'm not gonna bitch around those matters though. The launch of the new cycle of new console will surely refresh the platform and irrate the PC gamer section. They'll be on another cycle where they will not be holding those exclusivity such as "the best looking graphics" or the best "multiplayer online code" or the "most advance AI" in terms of gaming... for a little while. The Sony and Microsoft of the w0rld will rings all the bells and whistles on how great their new platform. The console wars has begun either we like it or not. PS3 and XBOX will attack and counter-attack each other about their respective console system. To be really fair, both are great consoles in their own right. And both surely will sell well, not-so-hopefully!!.

But do we PC Gamers need be of little concern that our "greatest" platform gonna be buried deep in our gaming grave? For me HELL NO!! Why? Okay firstly we PC Gamers got a platform where its nearly zero cost needed to produce games on our platform. Those publishers who made games on the XBOX or the PS3 needs to pay an upfront payment in order to acccess the platform console. PC on the other hand is really an open system with open standard that its virtually zero capital needed in order to enter it. Thats explain why some crappy games exist on our system (Mad Dog McRee anyone?). So in economic terms those console games will ported to PC with minimum cost needed... just cover for the transition cost in terms of system architecture rather than doing it all over again. XNA tools from Microsoft seems to handle those where it helps games developer convert their games from XBOX to PC effortlessly and vice versa.

The other point is that independent developer with low start-up cost can enter the market at their leisure. The problem with the next-gen console is that, as they embrace the HDTV (High Definition TV) is that the cost of producing games will skyrocket. And it will not be possible of any new start-up venture to enter the market. Bear in mind that production cost of games nowadays is on the USD 20 million per game. So don't expect some clever creativity on the console platform often as its a very volatile environment. Its about games that sells, full stop. That make for the reason all games previewed on either XBOX or PS3 are only of fighting, racing and shooting theme. PC Game on the other hand, although got many of those theme, still home of many creativity and labour of love title. Small developers come and go, but still PC is the ultimate platform for everyone. There is something for everyone. The Sims 2 for console? YUCKS!!

The problem for PC Gaming is that its well, a niche market. Cater for the geeks and techokids. PC games to a certain extend needs to be mainstream in order to maintain and sustain its growth on the long term. It needs to be in a friendlier environment, "the living room". Yes, the place where all the consoles crave attention from the market. e-Home is here. So PC needs to act fast in order to hold its appeal among the general public. They are 2 companies trying to do just that, but I'd not heard anything from them since yesteryear. DISCover and Phantom needs to act swiftly and decisively, or if not the industry needs to find a new answer for the living room PC Games, or else we'll be palying second fiddle to the inferior consoles. Microsoft won't be too bother if their new gaming box hits big time.

SO what we should do. I'm not a programming genius not even a programmer. But the PC gaming scene first needs to be independent and open as possible. Although this is a bold claim, we need have a grip on our own API. Yes, the DirectX is too Microsoft centric and hampers our development. It makes us too reliant on Microsoft and well, they got the new XBOX to concentrate on. Yes, I know DirectX save our asses not so long time ago. But to be really independent and competitive it needs to be PC-Gaming not Windows-Gaming. Or to a lesser extend, Microsoft should open up their API rather than fully-controlling them.

Second maybe we should have a sort of basement system requirement that we periodically change in 3-4 years. Games develop on the PC should meet this minimum requirements during the course so it'll make it easier for n00bs out there building a gaming system, or hardware developer of the new gaming console building well, their gaming consoles.

Well this is just a simple thought from an ordinary gamer. Feel free to flame or discuss this matter.