What Happened to PC Sports Gaming?

[RaychelSnr]

If you are one of the lonely PC sports gamers out there still playing a game like MVP 05, then you probably have caught yourself pondering what happened to the good ol' days of PC gaming. You are also probably following rumors and leads as they relate to potential revivals on the PC sports scene. It seems like every couple of months there is a teaser that maybe a Madden game will make a return to the home computer, or that the release of something like NBA 2K9 on the PC will revive the glory days of the platform.

Read More - What Happened to PC Sports Gaming?

[DocHolliday]

I use to be strictly PC back in the day. NBA Live 01 was probably one of the best basketball games I have ever played (right up there with INSIDE DRIVE 04)

Sadly, I had to get a console. Things just started going south. First it was no madden, then Live was gone, etc etc.

The communities were amazing though, not like the crap that you get to day on the consoles. Trying to play NBA 2k9 online right now is like trying to deal with "special" children with limited vocab and a uncontrollable urge to scream and question the color of my skin.

Its pretty sad really.

[ChampN252]

Re: What Happened to PC Sports Gaming?

I'm a hardcore PC gamer myself. The games that are being made on consoles wouldn't have as many limitations on PC. I know right off the bat, a good gaming PC cost quite a bit at the start, but you get more variety, less limitations, more performance, and lower prices. I think its a money thing more that stealing. Like Madden 10 could not sell for $60 on PC and the price would drop about $10 every 2-3 months. I was in Gamestop and saw $60 360 games, only $40 on the PC. I know I have about 10 games I play all the time and they are all published by EA, but they are the one I am the maddest at. I want Madden on PC (my Xbox and PS3 are broke).

[tril]

When it comes to graphics and features PC games and the current GEN games on consoles are running neck and neck. with PC holding a slim lead.
That is the reason why PC sports titles are far and few.
In order for there to be a huge revival in PC sports titles and other titles for that matter, the PC will have to go through some huge shift or advance in technology. This is the reason why PC gaming was considered far superior to the consoles.

plainly put the average home PC does the same thing as the consoles now.

What I believe will spark a resurgence in PC sports games is the quest for folks seeking a true sim experience. The processing power of a PC allows software developers to do this.
However in order for this to take place, the developers for these sports titles cant be from the same company. All that these developers are doing or would do is port a game from console to PC.

IMO, MVP was an anomaly because that was a title that was released on the old gen consoles, and at that time the quality of PC gaming was far superior. I dont recall MVP05 being released on the current gen. Guarenteed if this game was released on the current gen and PC the games would most likely be the same.

Finally, NBA 2k9 PC version, has raised my expectations for PC gaming. IMO, The adaptive AI is vastly superior to the current gen versions. The graphics are also better. But then 2k releases a baseball title on PC, and the expectations get stifled a bit.

[rudyjuly2]

I have never been a PC gamer. I've always preferred to play in the comfort of my living room than in front of a monitor.

Piracy is huge. Why make a game when the majority of people just rip you off and you make no money?

PCs are not much more powerful than the current consoles with regards to graphics. Consoles are dedicated gaming machines that can do more with less power so you have to compare apples to apples. Just comparing specs isn't a fair comparison. For those PCs that can produce better graphics, they are so expensive that many casual gamers don't want to invest that kind of money.

[daflyboys]

Re: What Happened to PC Sports Gaming?

Piracy is huge. Why make a game when the majority of people just rip you off and you make no money?

Console game makers are getting ripped off too when it comes to piracy, but probably not at the same rate because of all of the modifications one has to do. We then get reduced to being thrown into the mix of online gaming with the little knuckleheads who aren't shaving yet and have figured out every exploit and have no reservations about using those exploits to win.

[try122583]

People can't afford to buy new computers every 2-3 years to keep up with the demands the new "big" games have to run them. You have a console for the TV, you can play games for that thing forever and not have to worry about whether or not you have enough memory to install it.

[thesicnessnz]

Re: What Happened to PC Sports Gaming?

I use to be strictly PC back in the day. NBA Live 01 was probably one of the best basketball games I have ever played (right up there with INSIDE DRIVE 04)

Sadly, I had to get a console. Things just started going south. First it was no madden, then Live was gone, etc etc.

The communities were amazing though, not like the crap that you get to day on the consoles. Trying to play NBA 2k9 online right now is like trying to deal with "special" children with limited vocab and a uncontrollable urge to scream and question the color of my skin.

Its pretty sad really.

Took the words right out of my mouth! NBA Live 01... ohhhh yea! takes me back to the good ol' day of CUSTIMIZATION.

Your right about the communities too. Ive played 2k9 twice online (360) because the people you play are friggin frustrating.. I mean COME ON!!! full court press the whole time!!! Arrrgggghhh go play NBA jam!!!!

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: What Happened to PC Sports Gaming?

It is a couple of things that happened in the past 5 years or so that caused the decline of PC sports game.

1. 360 and PS3 - These 2 consoles are as powerful as any PC was 4 years ago.

2. Pricing - A gaming computer cost well over a $1,000. And I'm not just talking about the graphics card. The CPU itself have to be powerful nowadays. I was at Walmart yesterday browisng the PC gaming section. All the modern games, Godfather 2, Wheelman, Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, Civilization 4, etc all require a minium CPU of 2.8GHZ.

PC gaming is expensive and every 2 years it requires a faster CPU to run. Then with graphic cards, good lord you have to get a new one damn near every year. And then you have to have at least 3GB or more RAM.

That right there is why PC sports games fell to the way side. You can buy a 360 for $300 or PS3 for $400 and it will last you a good 7 or 8 years.

You buy a $1,500 PC and it will last a year before you have to upgrade the graphics card or buy more RAM for it. Now granted the communities OVERALL for PC games is vastly superior then consoles, but that price difference will always make PC games sales decline.

[biglami]

I am thinking of getting a laptop (Apple or PC?) for my travels, and the only quality games I am seeing are NBA 2K9 (PC only) and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Apple and PC). Am I missing anything? Or is that pretty much the point of this article (that there is nothing)

I am a 360 guy, and for my in home needs, I cant be happier with EA/2K for sports and Halo/ COD for my thirst for carnage on the console

[P-Dub]

I'll tell you what happened to sports gaming on the PC. The Xbox360 and the PS3 happened.

What are you going to do, ignore them as a developer and continue to work on a game with a dated engine for the PS2, X-Box, and PC? 'Yeah, we'll make the PC version with old-generation graphics so we don't lose 1,000 customers who won't be able to upgrade their machines, but we will be missing out on 10,000 customers who don't buy the game since it doesn't take advantage of their modern hardware.'

The PC is just not a priority. Bless 2KSports for what they did this year and I hope they continue doing it. I bought both their games. I also bought two versions of NBA 2K9, one for the 360, one for the PC.

Who sais I can't lean back in my chair while playing PC games?

[nrt25]

Re: What Happened to PC Sports Gaming?

It is a couple of things that happened in the past 5 years or so that caused the decline of PC sports game.

1. 360 and PS3 - These 2 consoles are as powerful as any PC was 4 years ago.

2. Pricing - A gaming computer cost well over a $1,000. And I'm not just talking about the graphics card. The CPU itself have to be powerful nowadays. I was at Walmart yesterday browisng the PC gaming section. All the modern games, Godfather 2, Wheelman, Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, Civilization 4, etc all require a minium CPU of 2.8GHZ.

PC gaming is expensive and every 2 years it requires a faster CPU to run. Then with graphic cards, good lord you have to get a new one damn near every year. And then you have to have at least 3GB or more RAM.

That right there is why PC sports games fell to the way side. You can buy a 360 for $300 or PS3 for $400 and it will last you a good 7 or 8 years.

You buy a $1,500 PC and it will last a year before you have to upgrade the graphics card or buy more RAM for it. Now granted the communities OVERALL for PC games is vastly superior then consoles, but that price difference will always make PC games sales decline.

If you custom build a gaming PC and you put 1500 into the PC (WAY more money then you need to build a decent PC) then I can guarantee you it will last longer then year before you "need" to upgrade it. That said PC gaming is still more expensive then the consoles and its very intimidating for someone who doesn't know much about PC hardware.

Factor in that low install base with the fact that PC gamers would be much less likely to buy he same PC sports franchise every year because of the great user created mods that often appear for sports games to upgrade and update them. It then becomes pretty easy to see why companies would be reluctant to put out new sports games on the platform.

[hbk_wess]

actually the every 2 years thing is soooo overated. only when 2k released mlb 2k9 on pc have i even thought of upgrading to play a game on the pc. ive ran the same pc setup for over 5 years and until now i havent had to upgrade.

[Mr.Scarface]

Peter Moore is what happened to PC Sports gaming. Since he joined EA, he has killed All of their PC sports games. This guy doesn't know what he is doing. EA is listening to a guy who was basically fired for RROD fiasco of the Xbox 360. Sales of all EA sports games are done since this guy has taken over. They need to remove him from control.

[tiedyed]

If you think console games, are hard to pirate, then you are very misinformed.There is no great modding needed anymore.Do a search for xbox torrents or wii torrents, in any search engine and you will see.
As for needing a new pc every year or two to play new games. My pc is 5 years old had to spend 74$ on a new vid card this year to play anything, that is made for the pc.,and comparing cosoles with 3-4 year old graphics cards to today's pc's is just foolish.