Do you think PC gaming will go extinct or anti-piracy protection will get better.

[BannanoPeel]

It seems like more and more developers have been either releasing they're PC version after the console release or not making a PC version at all. Do you think that sooner or later developers will just simply stop with the PC version or do you think they will come up with a solution for piracy.

[Jason]

I can't see the day coming where PC gaming stops completely, because there will always be games that the PC does more justice to than a console ever could (RTS games in particular, but also games like Spore, the hugely popular Football Manager series, Flight Sims) - piracy will ALWAYS be an issue with the PC, but I don't really think it's any better or worse than it ever was, just that the methods have changed.

[Sahil]

I don't think that Pc gaming will ever stop. I think more and more companies will start to bind CD keys to an 'account' so that the account is bound to a specific copy of a game.

[MyNameDidntFit]

They'll never stop piracy. Even with things like Steam you can pirate games. Half-Life 2 and so on can be easily pirated, all Steam does is force users to adjust a few things and use a client such as Hamachi or Tunngle to play over the internet.

Basically, no matter what anti-piracy a company develops, there'll be a way around it in a week.

I don't think piracy will ever be so great an issue that it stops PC gaming.




Besides, give it 20 years and the newest console will be a thinly disguised PC.

[Jason]

They're pretty much that now - the PS3 allows you to play supporting games (Unreal Tournament 3 is one, I believe) with a mouse and keyboard, and I think the really brave amongst us even have the option to install a new OS on the PS3 if you're really feeling like tinkering with your £300 toy... :-/

[Landy]

PC gaming as we know it, is already changing. In the not so distant future, the games will be available on large servers and the only thing you need is a monitor to be able to play them. You will never have to buy another part for your pc nor upgrading it. This will also limit down on the piracy that we see today. However, like mentioned, one can never really get rid of piracy. It will always be around in some way or form.