GamerNode: News - Cliffy B: PC in disarray, Epic to focus on consoles

Cliffy B: PC in disarray, Epic to focus on consoles

Category: Industry, Posted: 02/14/2008 at 12:02PM EST by Eddie Inzauto, Executive Editor

Cliffy B Epic Games' Cliff Bleszinski believes that PC gaming has seen better days, stating that the PC market is "in disarray." He also says that Epic plans to focus on console gaming in the immediate future, citing the success of Gears of War on the Xbox 360.

"I think people would rather make a game that sells 4.5 million copies than a million and "Gears" is at 4.5 million right now on the 360. I think the PC is just in disarray... what's driving the PC right now is 'Sims'-type games and 'WoW' and a lot of stuff that's in a web-based interface. You just click on it and play it. That's the direction PC [gaming] is evolving into. So for me, the PC is kind of the secondary part of what we're doing. It's important for us, but right now making AAA games on consoles is where we're at."

Well, I can't say that I disagree with him when it comes to 4.5 million being better than one million, but I really hope that he (and half of everyone else in the industry) is wrong about the direction of PC gaming. I'd love to see a strong comeback in that market, if for no other reason than the fact that it isn't proprietary, like consoles.

Check out the rest of MTV multiplayer's talk with Cliff to find out what he thinks of Mario, Zack & Wiki, and the lovable GLaDOS.

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Posted by vincian on 02/14/2008 at 12:06PM

Well, maybe the PC is in disarray because these big game companies are only focusing on the counsels.

Grumble. Grumble.

We still get Spore. lawl.

Posted by lskennedy on 02/14/2008 at 01:08PM

Vincian, i find it funny that you mention spore for the pc. I Want it too, but its like he said a SIM game! i cant believe thats the presumed direction. FPS is where its at for me.

Posted by -=BINGO-BANGO=- on 02/14/2008 at 01:25PM

...but i dont want spore

Posted by Alex6969 on 02/14/2008 at 01:39PM

what the hell is spore? I want GOW2!

Posted by vincian on 02/14/2008 at 01:41PM

Spore is an upcoming... well... a Sim game. But regardless, it's going to be awesome. Shame on you not knowing what it is.

But yeah, PC FPS are tons better than on the counsel. Mouse>Joystick controller.

Posted by Corvall on 02/14/2008 at 02:11PM

The controller works just fine for FPSs. It all depends on what you're used to.

The fact is that consoles are more accessable to your average gamer. More accessable means more users, and more users mean more game sales. Companies interested in making money will develop games for platforms that will give them those sales. PC gaming will never die completely, but the current focus on consoles probably won't be changing any time soon.

Posted by ninjalegend on 02/14/2008 at 02:38PM

I think it is also monetary. To play gears of war you either need a $279 xbox 360 or a $900+ pc if you do not build it yourself.

Posted by Vars on 02/14/2008 at 03:05PM

^ I think $900 is a bit excessive, probably around $500.

Posted by -=BINGO-BANGO=- on 02/14/2008 at 03:13PM

"But yeah, PC FPS are tons better than on the counsel. Mouse>Joystick controller."

/your opinion

i prefer my controller tyvm

Posted by Aksumka on 02/14/2008 at 03:49PM

So gears, as a 360 exclusive sold 4.5 mill. And now that it's finally on the PC it only sold 1 mill. Hmm, yea, PC gaming is totally going down. I mean a game that was out for months didn't sell as well when they finally ported it to the PC.

The reason people think PC gaming is going down is because of idiots like him, he's so wrong...

Posted by bu11eTJuNkiE on 02/14/2008 at 04:23PM

One thing that is not an opinion is RTS on PC is much better than on console. If you think not lemme face ya on a pc and you can have a controller. I'll kick your ass...Assuming the game is dumbed down to work better on controllers. The fact is mouse and keyboard is faster than controller. On PC you are limited by the speed of your body reactions, on console you are limited by the speed at which your joystick decideds to move.

Posted by jambo on 02/14/2008 at 05:14PM

'Tis a sad day indeed =[

Posted by -=BINGO-BANGO=- on 02/15/2008 at 12:13AM

i wont deny you that bu11eTJuNkiE, i could see your point. but im talking about FPS

Posted by BahamutBBob on 02/15/2008 at 01:37AM

Some genres play better on PC (FPS, RTS, MMO) while others play better on consoles (fighting, platformer, RPGs) and yet others are fairly equally split.

But, if you ask me, Epic and Infinity Ward need to stop crying about their lack of PC version sales. Epic is raking in the money with everyone and their dog using UE3, and Infinity Ward is raking in money on every version of CoD4 other than the PC version. (last night rtanger was the only person on my friends list NOT playing it)

It just gets annoying when wildly successful companies complain because they're not getting the PC sales they would like, while all of their software is selling like hotcakes on every other platform it's available on. Don't abandon your roots because you like to cry about it.

Posted by 7ty714 on 02/15/2008 at 04:17PM

Shit x.x

Posted by Vars on 02/15/2008 at 04:58PM

Also he's mad because UT3 tanked.

Posted by madvillain on 02/20/2008 at 04:55AM

he's an idiot. that sort of mentality he has when regarding the PC market is exactly why it's in the shape it's in today. these big shot developers need to not limit themselves to consoles. couple of people here summed up my beliefs. glad to still see some die hard PC folk out there.

oh and i don't care what anyone says...FPS on PC > FPS on console
and to be frank, i can't stand sims 2 games for more than a month, at most, at a time. i do think spore is going to be good though. i am also waiting for assassin's creed, dead rising, gtaIV, etc for the PC. although i might pick up a wii for brawl, and because it's a generally innovative piece of machinery

Posted by madvillain on 02/20/2008 at 04:56AM

to sum it up, the PC market is in disarray because people like Cliff make it so and not doing anything to help

Posted by rtanger on 02/20/2008 at 02:06PM

The stupid controller vs. mouse comments are so...stupid.

Seriously, just stupid. And tiresome.

You may as well spend you time pointing at the sky every 5 minutes and saying "LOOK! IT'S STILL BLUE!"
It's also bizarre to me that no one ever concedes that playing games on PC is exactly akin to every other activity on PC. clickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclickclick-- and then everyone wonders why PC gaming is so stale...