PC Games Are Dead....Again?

Oh boy! Here we go again. Analysts across the board are making this outlandish claim, as they do year after year - particularly within the E3 timeframe, but while consoles are certainly the "gorilla in the room" PC gaming is far from dead. Dan Morris, former EiC at PC Gamer support this theory in a recent article on Next-Gen.

Relying on NPD’s number blinds one to the ongoing evolution of PC game distribution. The key insight, as summarized in a new report from IM Consulting (the market-intelligence unit at Ignited Minds), is that "the PC game software market is much more robust than a cursory glance at the data suggests…

He goes on to say:

If we were to set apart the three biggest genres in PC gaming – first-person shooter, real-time strategy, and RPG (including MMOs) – and consider them as a market unto themselves, we would see a market that is in fact growing.

I would have to concur with Dan. PC games are often driving the industry in these key categories. Why else would Microsoft be scrambling to get an MMO signed on to their X360 platform? No, PC games aren't dead - we may well see convergence one day replace what we think of as our PC only desktop device. But the simple fact that the hardware can so easily step ahead of the console curve within mere months after a console's release ensure that the PC platform will continue - for the time being - to define the leading edge playground of interactive developers.

Testing Again

====Gamehelper News bloGH – The Week in Games====
It may be the end of the year but there’s no lack of industry shaking news coming forth from the gaming machine. Each week Gamehelper’s News Team will be brining you the Gamehelper News bloGH – a collection of the week’s top stories delivered right to your inbox. This is our first edition so if you have any suggestions on how we can improve this or if you’d like to contribute check the links below:
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What a week in gaming! G4TV is dumping all it’s gaming programming; Ubi announces a new Splinter-Cell and Working Designs closes its doors. Folks still can’t find their Xbox 360s and the situation has gotten so bad folks are paying for a service to be notified when they become available!?!? Huh!? Man, talk about fumbled launches.

Perhaps one of the most interesting stories of the week is on that snuck in under the wire – a wee bit too late for this newsletter in fact. Bioware and Pandemic have teamed up to create an uber-gaming group and are going public – ring your broker’s ladies and gentlemen – it’s time to buy! In all seriousness we’re not sure how well the stock will be received or how it will be sold (Google auction style anyone?) but one thing is for sure – with the compaction of the industry over the last five years there’s room for an entity like this to stand up and make some waves. We hope to bring you a story on this merger in the coming weeks.

====The Week in Games====
Majesco Sells the Rights to the Darkness and Ghost Rider
More Xbox 360s on the Way?
Xbox 360 Alerts…Be “In the Know”
Gaming Journalism for Sale?
Free Shooter for Your PSP
Fan-made “King’s Quest IX” Back in Development
Working Designs is No More
G4TV no more?


Majesco Sells the Rights to The Darkness and Ghost Rider==
What will 8 million dollars do for Majesco Entertainment? I'm hoping for a REALLY good sequel to Psychonauts, what about you? Oh, Majesco. I’ve been reasonably impressed with Majesco this year. Psychonauts was a fun, imaginative, superhero of a game. Advent Rising was ambitious and clever with an outstanding dialog. Neither of these games sold like they should of, but both provided many with solid hours of video game fun. Alas, due to sales Majesco’s year didn’t end up so great, resulting in the sale of two anticipated comic inspired titles The Darkness and Ghost Rider. More information will be available in January, as Majesco will discuss their overall business plans.


More XBOX 360s on the Way==
Were you one of the ridiculously large amount of people that didn't receive the XBOX 360 that you put at least 50 dollars on to reserve? Possible good news...There’s a shortage in XBOX 360’s? No waaaaay! I know that you’re just as surprised by this news as I am, but there’s hope: According to American Technology Research analyst Paul-Jon McNealy we should be receiving 300,000 to ship here in the next week. Hopefully he can be trusted, as the manager of my local game store has been saying that every week since launch. I’m such a sucker.


Xbox 360 Alerts...Be "In the know"==
Consumer Electronics (CE) Buys has begun taking sign-ups from consumers to be alerted as soon as stock is available for the Xbox 360 system. According to them, it will be the only way to get a system before Christmas. As a bonus, you can also sign up to receive an alert when reservations are being taken for the Revolution and the Playstation 3. Are you going to let your neighbors get their systems before you?! How could you live with yourself? With this alert system, you can keep your dignity and be the first in your neighborhood to possess the desired system of the moment! And all for just $39 per year! Eh, it really just goes to show how hurting for stock Microsoft must be. Again, are we surprised?


Gaming Journalism: For Sale?==
A recent editorial in Electronic Gaming Monthly by Dan Hsu accuses some game industry publications and websites of bad business. Hsu states that he has confirmed, through important peeps (I’m sooo cool), that some such companies are exchanging good press for ad space. This is a heck of a statement considering that many gamers use these outlets in expectation of honest and educated recommendations. Giving no names in his accusations Hsu leaves us to determine the worth of our editorial options, causing paranoia and investigation. It’s certainly a shame when ethics take a backseat to profit, but in an industry already so full of bias it’s always a good idea to choose your resources wisely.


Free Shooter for your PSP!==
Looking for something fun to play on your PSP? Saving up for that hit title you can’t yet afford? Yay for you! rRootage is available for FREE! rRootage is a homemade scrolling shooter game that gets its roots from the Japanese titles like Rez. Just download the program and throw it on your memory stick. Despite Sony’s best efforts they just can’t keep the outside content off their system. Resistance is futile, you see. The PSP can try it’s darndest, but they can’t make it impenetrable without losing the features that convince people to buy it.

Fan-made “King’s Quest IX” Back in Development==
After a cease and desist was issued last October, fans joined forces to try and convince Vivendi to let them complete their fan-made game. The campaign appears to have been successful as Vivendi released the following statement last Friday, December 9: After extensive evaluation, Vivendi Universal Games is pleased to announce that the fan developed trilogy project 'The Silver Lining' (previously known as King's Quest IX: Every Cloak Has A Silver Lining), based on characters from Sierra Entertainment's "King's Quest" series, has been given approval to continue development. We look forward to seeing the first of its three upcoming chapters, 'Shadows', completed soon.

Fans from around the world have been working on King’s Quest IX since early 2002. When finished, the game can be downloaded for free at http://www.kgix.com/. It’s great to see that the fans can have such an influence on a company. Now if we can only get Vivendi to stop making Crash Bandicoot and Leisure Suit Larry games. That’d be sweet! C’mon! You know we can do it! We have the power!


Working Designs is No More==
Sadly, just a few hours ago, Victor Ireland posted that Working Designs has officially closed its doors for good. Apparently, he had trouble obtaining approval from Sony to release the games that he wanted. This includes the US Goemon game, which they we’re working on recently. Jeeze! Will we ever get another Goemon game over here? Wasn’t the last one on the N64? Aww…Poop! Why, Sony?! Why?!! Victor mentioned that he and some of the WD staff will be working on games for other publishers. I wish them all well and good luck on their future works! You can read Victor Irelands entire post on the Working Designs website here.


G4TV no more?==
Word has it this may very well be the facts Ma'am. Wired News reports several sources inside G4 have let the cat out of the bag so to speak. We've seen a serious down trend from the networks in terms of interest in gaming-centric television programming.
MTV, who has recently made big plays into the gaming sector, has told industry insiders it's not looking for any game related programming for the time being. Our same sources told us a month back that G4 would be looking to solicit outside productions whereas all current content has been done in-house. Was this a pre-cursor to the death-rattle that is unraveling before us now?

Why has game-oriented television programming failed? My two cents: because advertising and production firms have been forcing dumbed-down, "Wal-Mart consumer" oriented content at gamers for some time now. When gamers can find smart, intelligently written content online, why should they turn to a television channel that offers nothing but rehashed trailers and Green Day?

Until the networks "get it" we'll see a dry spell of gaming content on our televisions. Already shows like ‘Making the Gam’e or ‘VideoMods’, on the aforementioned MTV, are simply adver-tainment masquerading as entertainment. With TV viewers heading for the web or Netflix for their entertainment I believe we'll be seeing a lot more of this type of content on our boxes.

Guess it’s back to Gametrailers.com for now. Oh wait! MTV just bought them too!