The EGTV Show: The Future Of PC Gaming Pt.1

Published 9 July, 2011 Duration 9:45

Why the next-gen is already here.

Comments (71) Latest comment 10 months ago

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  • MasterOfTheStick #1 11 months ago

    Next-gen consoles need to come right now. In 2013 these consoles will look obsolete. Gameplay is king but better graphics and better AI never hurt any game.

  • NADC #2 11 months ago

    Agreed you can feel PCs are starting to push ahead of consoles. Console makers have invested so much in this generation its going to be interesting to see what happens.

  • Cadence #3 11 months ago

    Fantastic article, really enjoyed watching that. It did remind me that my pc still can't run crysis though :)

  • Nephirion #4 11 months ago

    The futures bright, the future is PC ...

  • Billy_Sastard #5 11 months ago

    Consolols

  • Phishfood #6 11 months ago

    The future has always been PC. The Wii however showed everyone that consoles is where the new experiences are at. PC games have to cater to the lowest common demoninator being the mouse and keybaord, whereas with consoles its the controller it comes packaged with.

    PC may be the future when it comes to cutting edge graphics but consoles have a potential that the PC doesn't.

  • ruddiger7 #7 11 months ago

    If you think pc gaming is powerful now wait till the new nvidia kepler cards this year.

  • MasterOfTheStick #8 11 months ago

    What's a kepler card? I want that for sure.

  • apoc_reg #9 11 months ago

    Cool video, keep em coming! GTX 580 for the win!

  • ninjasinthesnow #10 11 months ago

    As a self confessed graphics whore I love how PC developers push the tech to make games look better, and as a consequence force console game developers to push what's possible graphically on the consoles. I fully expect the next gen of consoles, 360 in particular, to be a PC/console hybrid. Now if someone wants to lend me a couple of grand so I can buy a decent rig...

    How good does Samaritan look by the way. I know it was only a tech demo but still...
    Edited by ninjasinthesnow at 09/07/11 @ 08:58

  • Sid-Nice #11 11 months ago

    PC's are becoming more living room friendly, compact and almost console like. The PC could easily become the console of the future; it already is a multimedia hub for gaming, movies, music, online shopping and more. I'd be quite happy to pay for an under the telly super console/computer which would be upgradable. I don't know where this would leave the console manufactures? Sony and Microsoft would be fine, but poor Nintendo would become software only, unless they can amalgamate with a PC manufacturer?
    Edited by Sid-Nice at 09/07/11 @ 09:35

  • DiamondIce #12 11 months ago

    I would prefer better AI over graphics. Some games are fine to be as they are; for example I have been on a marathon Just Cause 2 playthrough over the last few weeks. I am happy with a game like this to be 'dumb' but it would be nice for FPS games to have better more tactical intelligence.

    Will super fast fast processors and better graphics cards offer this...

    ...Or will time, money, our ability to program such things hold back great AI whilst the graphics get better but nothing else?

    Personally, I am not interested in all the graphics and effects that people tout as 'next-gen'. Smooth framerates do matter but all the terms used in Digital Foundry mean bugger all to me.

    The personal problem I have with PC gaming is that I work from home a lot and if I switch a PC on I will invariably check my email and end up doing work. I am unable to close the door on stuff like that hence why I stick to console gaming.


    Edit:

    And what the hell is a ed hardy short_tank_woman $16? It sounds like a butch female dwarf.
    Edited by DiamondIce at 09/07/11 @ 09:45

  • Andeus #13 11 months ago

    Tell us something we didn't know. :p

    PCs have been more powerful than consoles for years, this isn't something new. If anything PCs are like 2-3 generations ahead.

    So you're gonna ask why all the fuzz lately and how come no one mentioned all that 2-3 year ago?

    It's simple. In order for games to maximize profit, they go for multi-platform releases, so in the end of the day the PC gets a slightly upgraded version of the console version, which it can run with only half of it's resources. So all that power remains untapped.

    Why not make the PC version use the full power? Because that would be, pretty much, a new game with all the cost around it.

    In the end of the day it's not a bad thing either. PC Gaming gets a bit cockblocked by console ports, yes, but it means that PC users don't have to upgrade as often. My 2 year old PC can play all these games on 1080p with 8xAA and 8xAF (sometimes even 16xAF) just fine, which is still at least 1 generation ahead of the console versions.

    The biggest issue here in my opinion is that due to console limitations we have reached the limit of what we can do. Screw graphics, I'm talking about gameplay. There are no resources left untapped in today's consoles, which means that we can' t have better AI, we can't have bigger, richer, more lifelike environments and a ton of other stuff.

    Things like that could show, for example, in the next AC, where it might feel like another round of the "same thing". Well, to be honest I don't know how they could add more with the current limitations.

    Edited by Andeus at 09/07/11 @ 11:10

  • AdamAsunder #14 11 months ago

    Enjoyed that.

    We're really knee deep in the build up to the next gen now folks. Whether you like it or not.

    Bring it on I say.

  • glottis0 #15 11 months ago

    @Andeus - You're right of course, but a few companies are focussing on PC-only development and they're the ones really driving towards next gen visuals. The Witcher 2 is the most notable example - on full settings that just eclipses anything else I've seen. Shogun 2 is pretty impressive too.

  • Timotei #16 11 months ago

    I really wish EG would start reviewing PC hardware.

  • Lunatic4ever #17 11 months ago

    Holy shit that unreal tech video was REAL FOOTAGE!?

  • SASking #18 11 months ago

    Great video. When's Part 2 available?

  • Tomo #19 11 months ago

    Great video. Loving the work Minks.

  • Lexx87 #20 11 months ago

    I think you guys missed off the 'Sponsored by Alienware' at the end :p

  • Felwyn #21 11 months ago

    Lexx is right, we should ignore the facts and stick to our 6 year old consoles.

  • knightmt #22 11 months ago

    mmmm Alienware.
    Personally pcs are great for solo playing.
    But they are not the homogenized platform that allows players of mixed ability to compete with each other.
    I want my pc to play the shit, but generally I opt for the lowly console.
    Saying that I have been playing ghost wars on the 3DS,
    which is like 5 gazillion times weaker than the latest supercomputer.

  • deadstoned #23 11 months ago

    Great show I'm looking forward to part 2 :)

  • Uncompetative #24 11 months ago

    Edited by Uncompetative at 02/08/11 @ 16:41

  • thesonglessbird #25 11 months ago

    @Uncompetative - Actually, RAGE is more about the open environments. So much so, there are driving sections. Hardly stuck in a rut.

  • rottingyoda #26 11 months ago

    Awaiting am3+ cpus out very shortly and imo 6950 2gb w/ shader unlock in crossfire ftw.

    Next gen been with pc since the i7 tbh

  • Chibi-Kibou #27 11 months ago

    All that's all well and true, but I'm sure there are some benefits to be had from the console development cycle, also.

    While PC's will always be ready to expand, consoles on the other hand have a more or less set range of capability over their lifespan. This forces the innovation onto the software development side of the equation as developers try to squeeze all the can from consoles in the latter years of their lives.

    I'm pretty sure that the continuing push to improve hardware on PC, and the continuing push to reduce software resource wastage on console, actually feed back into one another. Or at the very least, while PC eggs console developers on to make better and better machines, console development in turn reminds PC developers not to get too lazy, and code sloppy game engines on account of the fact that 'PC's will be able to run it fine in a year anyway'.
    Edited by Chibi-Kibou at 10/07/11 @ 00:34

  • kinth #28 11 months ago

    the reason PC gaming is dying isn't because of the advances in hardware, it's because developers are too lazy to develop games that push the hardware to the edge.

    we haven't seen a massive leap in graphics since crysis, yeh crysis 2 looked good but if you look at the leap that crysis made it is nowhere near comparable.

    PC's are generally always atleast a generation ahead of consoles. when PS1 was out pc games looked like PS2 games and not far off 360/PS3 games, most of the hardware in 306's and ps3's were already dated when they released.

    in the current economy it is much easier to develop for consoles, it's cheaper, people are used to the hardware now, you dont have to put as much effort into supporting multiple hardware's and while piracy is about on consoles, it's nowhere near the level of PC's.

    PC gamers don't want to play most PC games because they're generally terrible ports and full of restrictive DRM, been a few years since ive seen a game that wasn't a shoddy console port.
    But publishers blame the low sales on piracy when really its down to quality of the game.

    It would be nice to see a resurgence in pushing PC's to the limit but i don't think we will see it for a while.

    also why do Epic have that absolute idiot Cliff blezinski represent them? he's an obvious console fanboy and gives there company that same image, when they used to be a very well known PC developer.


    @Ruddiger7
    everyone was saying that about the fermi chips and look how dissapointing they were.
    I love nvidia but i think the next massive advancement we see will come out of ATI they're just doing way better things at lower prices these days.
    Edited by kinth at 10/07/11 @ 11:24

  • GooseUK #29 11 months ago

    Just seems a bit redundant, Crysis 1 back in 2007 already destroyed anything seen on the relatively new consoles at that time. So effectively, console graphics have been outdated for over 4 years now.

    I went back to pc gaming last summer, because I am sick of the lack of visual progress on consoles, and the idea of waiting another 2 years for a new console is horrible to think about really.

  • BeachGaara #30 11 months ago

    Alienware is such a waste of time. They should just sell the case/keyboards.

  • knightmt #31 11 months ago

    @redbarony

    COD

    WOW is the highest active subscription, it is not the highest number of players online or the most successful mp franchise. I am not stating that sales or popularity are a measure of quality (see farmville). I bought crysis 2 on the pc but I have avoided the mp because I have been using a joypad, I might be just shit. I will pick up a console version later. Plus it is not necessarily a criticism.

  • RESIDENT_nEVILe #32 11 months ago

    I quite enjoyed that, even though it was stating the obvious. I've always wondered how people could even consider writing off PC gaming. It could never happen - the more likely scenario is that PCs knock consoles off the top spot or consoles become PCs.

    Also, lol@blackxino. Games is games. It is possible to own consoles and a gaming PC. Just because some people want to experience something a bit more substantial than 512MB RAM can provide and then shockingly *discuss* that experience, there's no need to get all salty ;)
    Edited by RESIDENT_nEVILe at 11/07/11 @ 14:30

  • CloudXIV #33 11 months ago

    PCs are better after a year into a gaming generation. That's a fact. PC enables the evolution of new hardware and graphics which benefits us all. BUT, thanks to a closed architecture of consoles developers learn how to optimize those graphical technologies and build around the limitations of hardware, not only in technical terms, but also aestethics. How to make a game beautiful without 4 gigs of ram and a quad core? People learn how to do that on consoles (not everyone obviously) which also benefits us all. I'm a console gamer, but I never doubted that PCs have their rightful place as a wonderful gaming platform. But the thing is that years ago we had console games and pc games and now everything got mixed. This isn't a good thing, because I feel like I'm not getting enough 'console games' on a console and PC gamers get angry, because titles that were destined to be on PC in the past are console exclusives or the PC version is a crappy console port.

  • Zephro #34 11 months ago

    I think people should also think about memory. A PS3 has 512MB of memory, that was low for a PC years ago. When you consider that it is shared by video and CPU it's pathetic.

    Just think about the amount of detail, scope of levels or just sheer scale of algorithms you can hold in memory at once. Take Total War, it's capable of holding the AI information for thousands of soldiers in memory at once. Or destructible terrain calculations. They have real gameplay implications.

    Deus Ex wasn't possible on consoles at the time because the size and variety just wouldn't fit in console memory.

  • Machetazo #35 11 months ago

    I thought they missed out FEAR amongst their flag-bearer video montage (I would count it as both landmark title in several respects, as well as a hardware purchase driver), but still, a good show.

  • gjgjg #36 11 months ago

    i want a new graphics card

  • Jorendo #37 11 months ago

    @knightmt perhaps you can tell me then why console goes to max. 32 players per server and a pc easally allows 64 per server on shooters? Why MMORPG"s work better on a PC and you don't see them on the console beside 3 or so MMORPG's?

    Also funny and i quote "But they are not the homogenized platform that allows players of mixed ability to compete with each other." so what you mean is because the pc doesn't give you auto aim so you suck and get killed all the time the pc is less suited for multiplayer? In my eyes you are blamming the machine for your own lack of skills. People of all kinds of skills play on the PC and console, but its a fact that with a pc you need to have more skills in the same game as on the console where you don't have to aim accurately, you can easally shoot 1 or 2 meters off target to still hit him while on the pc its registered as miss. This is cause the controllers don't reespond as fast as a mouse so it has to compensate.

    ALso what is your point about Ghost recons future war for the 3DS? Its not even out on the PC, XBOX 360 and PS3 so whats the point saying you play it on the 3DS that has lesser power?

  • Lord_Gremlin #38 11 months ago

    Nowadays it's simple - PC are where games are created and technology is developed, but console is the device to play them. For reasonable people.

  • Lord_Gremlin #39 11 months ago

    Nowadays it's simple - PC are where games are created and technology is developed, but console is the device to play them. For reasonable people.

  • Lord_Gremlin #40 11 months ago

    Nowadays it's simple - PC are where games are created and technology is developed, but console is the device to play them. For reasonable people.

  • Lord_Gremlin #41 11 months ago

    Nowadays it's simple - PC are where games are created and technology is developed, but console is the device to play them. For reasonable people.

  • Roland_on_the_Ropes #42 11 months ago

    ^^Reasonable Person^^

  • Corben_Dallas #43 11 months ago

    10 times more powerful = ten times more expensive.

    Also PC Dev cos are lazy cunts, Crisis released and PC's at the time couldnt run it with everything on 'Max', LOL they cant be bothered to work to a spec, and the gamers can go fuck themselves, they can all go out and upgrade their smokin rig PC's again, we dont give a fuck.

    12 core machines with 3 high end GPX cards LOL, FUCK OFF> PC game devs.

    PC gaming is dead if they never agree to a fixed spec. that they all design games to.
    Edited by Corben_Dallas at 13/07/11 @ 14:04

  • MistMeUK #44 11 months ago

    @Corben Dallas The whole point of Crysis was that it wouldn't run on the current Hardware, running it on low-medium settings was better than any console game of the day aswell.

    The big thing could be Ai, as well, recently we've seen huge increases in Ai that showed the last gen of consoles couldn't do it, F.E.A.R. is what springs to mind, the Ai in that was just a huge leap forward, the next leap is to improve on that and have it enabled for hundreds of character simultaneously.

    Its not all about the graphics, but the Ai and Physics are going to define much of the next generations, even though graphics will take the headlines, as Ai and Physics are both directly built into the all important gameplay.

  • natureboy #45 11 months ago

    Just realised if Wolfenstien 3D had not kickstarted the genre, somebody else would have

  • Bluetooth #46 11 months ago

    wheres part 2?

  • TheNinkyNonk #47 11 months ago

    We're making a big assumption here: it's all about the graphics

    I'm going through some 5 year old games at the moment and am still struck by their beauty

  • Deinsleaf #48 11 months ago

    I still remember the first time I watched that Samaritan Demo. Damn I was blown out my seat. The graphics are amazing. Sure, we are still a long way from experiencing those kinds of graphics on a moderately priced PC. But damn, that surely is the future. But developers should not only think of the graphical fidelity of their games. They should also push enemy A.I. and develop games with good gameplay. We are sure to hit a wall where graphics are almost real. So focusing on A.I. and developing great gameplay are still much more important than graphics. But nice graphics would never hurt.

  • orangpelupa #49 10 months ago

    @EUROGAMER TV TEAM
    thanks for the tv show :D nice to see PC got focused here.

    btw some suggestion:
    as the show is covering "PC Gaming", please make attention to the aspec ratio. Many clips inside this episode is in Wrong Aspect Ratio.
    also some "modern game" have horrible frame-rate there...

  • Tryst #50 10 months ago

    The PC has always been better. More memory, better graphics and more processing power and each component upgradeable independantly. No throwing away the whole box to buy a new one like you have to with consoles. By the time a console has gone through the development process and released onto the market, the PC capability has already surpassed it.

    With a console, you pay top dollar for old and outdated tech equivalent to a 1 year old PC.