The State of the Games Industry in Numbers 33
Gamasutra has up a pair of articles discussing the numbers from this round of the console wars. One focuses on the current frontrunner, Nintendo. Their numerical superiority is highlighted by the number of million selling titles they currently have on tap. Both the DS and Wii are carrying multiple-million sellers, with the current tally for (recently released) Diamond/Pearl sitting at 12,170,000. Meanwhile, in a lengthy article, the site fully explores the impact of console sales in numerous markets and venues, with comparisons between all three consoles (and a focus on Nintendo's sales). "PlayStation 2 titles make up the bulk of software sales in the U.S. and Europe again in 2007, as they have in previous years. The Wii's 2007 numbers equal the GameCube's in 2006, but its software growth isn't yet matching its hardware's. Microsoft's Xbox 360 has benefited largely from the Xbox's demise and the PlayStation 2 sales' slow decline. Even with the PlayStation 3 hardware's current state in Europe, its software sales in Europe are relatively low."
Re:No PC gaming mentioned (Score:3, Interesting)
On the other hand, Steam and GameTap keep, well, picking up steam -- and I wonder if those services are even registering. If I play Overlord on my PC through GameTap, I didn't buy it. But it's still making money and I'm still enjoying it. And the charts don't ahve much to say about that.
I wonder if it's also the nature of PC gaming. I have a couple dozen DS games, because they're easy to buy and sell and finish and so on. I move through each with relative quickness and move on to the next. But my PC gaming tends to be open-ended, replayable games (Civ IV, Pirates!, MMORPGs) that I'd buy fewer of anyway.
Anyway, this has all been idle gazing from the "PC Gamer For Life" navel. I would like to know what the actual market is, too, for curiosity's sake if nothing else.
Re:No PC gaming mentioned (Score:3, Interesting)
If you look at the patterns of the industry, it has a bit of that tendency, even on consoles, unless the console is several times more popular than the alternatives (PS2, Wii)
Its interesting to look at the evolution of PSP and DS gaming for example... PSP had a lot of piracy and DS little, early on. Now the DS probably has even more, so games tend to be slightly more evenly distributed... CEOs of game development companies most definately watch that go. Making games for the PC has to be justified.
Now, again aside a couple of exceptions here and there, non-FPS games that come out on PC only do so because its so easy to dual develop for 360 and PC at the same time...
Today, I ordered an Xbox 360 (Score:3, Interesting)
So you have two launch titles and two multiplatform games, one of which really should be played on a PC. You also mention Heavenly Sword, which was supposed to be the game to finally make the PS3 worth it, but at 6 hours of playtime, I just don't see it. GTA IV is probably better on the 360, and R&C looks gorgeous, but it's essentially the same damn game I've already played on the PS2.
I've bought a PS3 on launch, but I've ordered an Xbox 360 today* as my second console next to the Wii. The PS3 games just aren't coming. Maybe I can use the thing as a Bluray player and for the occasional game of Little Big Planet (if we ever see that) or something.
* I ordered a 360 despite the fact that I:
- Immensely dislike Microsoft
- Don't want to pay for online gaming
- Fully expect the thing to explode within a week
It just can't be helped: If you want to play some of the games that don't make it to the Wii, the 360 is unfortunately the better choice than the PS3. Actually, I'd even say that the PS3 isn't really a viable option at all, at this time. Oh, and Sony, what's up with the PS3 controller? Do you really think you got that right on the first try? A decade without changes? I'm not 6 years old anymore, you know! How about a controller that isn't so small that I have to hold the thing with two fingers so I get hand cramps within half an hour of Warhawk and have to use the crappy Logitech chill stream instead, which has totally broken analog sticks and no "home" button?