I might also add that I like having collectible swag that comes in a box, such as my Doom posters. 

Let's not even get started on the locked down, media consuming fad that are tablets.

Ah okay, I apologize for the misunderstanding then.  I get kind of heated whenever elitism comes into play, especially when it's about something I care about deeply.


There's been some of each on consoles.

You have multiple-screen gaming through hand-held games interacting with their console counterparts.  I don't think there is any native support built in though.

Both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 are capable of 3D gaming.  Sony has also developed a 3D television geared towards playing 3D games and watching 3D movies.  The PlayStation Store also has a section dedicated toward new 3D releases.

Unreal Tournament 3 for the PS3 supports mods.  Aside from that, you have games which feature level editors, custom gameplay rules, and the ability to download user-generated content.  You can create a first person shooter in Little Big Planet 2 for example.


True, there are a lot of evils associated with digital distribution.  I was just pointing out that there are more opportunities for innovation now than there have been in the past.


Okay, fair point.  I will say that a handful of game companies have done some pretty interesting stuff with the technology available to them.  I am Alive, Watch Dogs, flower, and Journey come to mind.


Oh boy, you just brought back a lot of bad memories...

First off, I absolutely agree with you.  Secondly, I tried my damnedest to avoid that with every single game I worked on and most of my efforts fell on deaf ears.  Lastly, let me try to provide some insight as to why that happens (without breaching my NDA).

Simply put, PC ports get the shaft because of poor planning and because there are no real standards the publisher has to adhere in order to release and sell the software for that platform. 

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all have a list of requirements a game must meet before they will license it for their platforms.  No license means no retailer will touch the game.  Development studios, for whatever reason, tend to ignore these requirements until it comes time for submission.  Unsurprisingly, most games fail their first submission.  One of two things happen at this point, the developer and / or publisher uses their clout to make the problem(s) disappear (extortion, essentially) or they take their lumps, punish those not responsible, and try again.  The only thing is, re-submitting costs money, a lot of money.  It also takes time if you're not on a name-by-name basis with the console manufacturer.  (This is probably why a lot of Xbox LIVE Arcade developers complain.)

So if console development is serious business, what about Windows development?  HA! 

Game for Windows, not to be confused with Games for Windows LIVE, is more or less just a branding.  There are requirements, publicly available in fact: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/...ndows/desktop/ee417691%28v=vs.85%29.aspx, but there is no submission process.  You self-certify.  Valve is also pretty lax on standards when it comes to Steam.  So given that it doesn't cost anything to submit a PC build, the focus tends to fall on the platforms that do.  There is also the "fix-it-later" mentality that comes with the ability to easily patch PC games.

And speaking of patches...

One thing I forgot to mention above is that you need to go through submission again whenever you develop a patch, extra content, or an additional SKU for a console game.  And of course, failing submission means having to shell out more money and / or grease some palms.  Said things are either free or very cheap to do on PC.


Okay from that perspective, I get what you're saying and I agree.


You're right.  The only reason I can provide is that games have become much more complex but that still comes off sounding like an excuse.  I really think the development model most companies use needs to change (and soon) or else the industry is going to crash (again).


Well, poo.  I was in reference to its ease of use but I guess I shouldn't have been vague.  And I can't really fault you for bringing DRM into the discussion either.  I share your sentiment about wanting to have something tangible and to actually "own" the software you paid for.  I doubt it will ever happen, but I would fully support a law that required companies to preserve digital goods and services indefinitely.  For instance, I think it's bullshit that I can't play Xbox games across Xbox LIVE anymore.  I purchased the service because it was advertised as being "always on".  What the spork am I paying for if not that?


Truthfully, I go where the games go.  It just happens that a lot of the games I'm interested in are being released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 now. 

That said, given the choice between console or PC, I will usually opt for the console version of a game first because I know it will run on the hardware I have.  (In the past, it was also because I didn't need to install or patch the game.)  There are also aesthetic reasons why I prefer to play games on consoles.  Controllers feel more natural to me, I can sit on my couch, etc.

Also, in regards to being able to do more on a computer, that's not really a selling point to me.  I generally prefer my electronics to do one thing and do it well.  That's not to say that I don't and won't play games on PC though.  (I obviously played Generations Arena at some point. :p)

The only decent games I see on tablet are proxies of real life tabletop type of games. Boardgames and card games work great because there is a sort of tactile response to be expected that is at least partially delivered via touchscreen interfaces. Beyond that, I find gaming on the platform to be little more than an annoying and hindering gimmick... the same problem I have with all of the "motion" crap that has come out on consoles the past few years.

My bigger beef with tablets is that they're not particularly good for anything outside of consuming media. They largely represent a dangerous sentiment of lazy minds in my opinion. It seems that no one is encouraged to create and tinker with anything anymore. Not just in terms of video games, but the computers themselves. Heck, even your car practically requires a college degree to work on nowadays. Tablets appear as an extension of that in my eye. You're not going to edit videos, write novels, or use Photoshop on one, but you can hop onto an app store and watch movies and read books. It's all about consuming at the expense of creating. Never mind that the devices themselves are built to be completely disposable and quickly obsolescent.

Maybe I'm just too old? I see people today using things like Facebook, and all I see is a portal site. They do their searches through it, their instant messaging, their e-mail, the photo sharing, etc. I remember laughing at people like that not too long ago... the difference was that their service was called AOL. The internet as a whole has seemingly shrunken as corporations have taken notice. It seems as though no one is willing to venture past Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia anymore. Hardly anyone has a personal website today... even businesses seem to rely more and more of simply having a Facebook page. It's kind of sickening that creativity is being drained away... even if a lot of it was just dancing hamsters and photo galleries of cats.

But um...

Remember the good old days when the ones spending all of their time in front of a computer screen were the ones with NO friends? Now you're a geek if you're NOT on MyTwitFace

Full disclosure, as I have seen it mentioned a few times in relation to my comment.

 I do own one of Barnes & Nobles' old, first generation Nook eReaders. It's not a tablet though, as it is e-ink. It's very specific in its use, and does a great job of filling the role. I still have three large bookcases overflowing with books however. I still buy physical books, even. Nothing will ever trump the feeling and ease of use of an actual book. For me however, I greatly enjoy the idea of having hundred of titles at my fingertips while traveling.

I wasn't sold on the idea until I saw one at the store. It's amazing the effect that e-ink can pull off. It really is like reading a printed work. The newer models are even better. They're crisper and faster to refresh between pages. They have built-in reading lights for those of us who stay up past bedtime, reading beneath the covers.

To me, that is something that is perfect for reading. There is no way I would want to sit and read a novel on a tablet though. The battery life is terrible. The screen produces glares off of everything. The backlighting on the LCD strains the eye after awhile. Sure, it can be done... but I don't see it as being particularly well suited for the task. Perhaps that was my original point?

Step 1: Derail topic.
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit!

Just reading some old posts ...

... and ages later, that linked video has 30,583 dislikes 

I actually like steam, i can buy good games for good prices and I don't have to worry about finding the disk and then the disk being destroyed by my kids when i do find it.