I recently found out a games franchise I have one of is now only-consoles, at least according to the website. And the local Wal-Mart only has one tiny shelf of PC games, while for consoles, there's 2 shelfs and a huge bargain bin.

Is it just me, or are PC games getting hard to find?

I am noticing the same thing, my WalMart used to have 4 shelving units of 5 shelfs each for PC games (one with jewel cases, one with education/kids games, and two with regular games). The console and handheld games were all behind locked glass in one or two shelving cases per device. They also moved the PC games across their electronics section to the opposite corner for no reason other than filling those shelves with rockband and guitar hero boxes (a few too many if you ask me). They also have had an excessive amount of copies of WoW's 1st expansion at one time, and recently had 30 copies of Red Alert 3. It is also now only on 3 shelves iirc.

At Futureshop they switched all the video games with the music and movies so the PC games have only 3/4s of the space, but so do the other sony/MS/nintendo games. Again, they have an excessive amount of WoW 2nd expansions.

Yeah. Our Walmart moves things around every two weeks or so, and they used to have PC games mixed with console games, not anymore. The only PC game I can seem to find now is Spore, which I refuse to get because of SecuROM, and a buncha violent games that most of you are into. Not my thing. I did find one game that seemed good though.

Staples (office supply store which also sells some games) now has mainly Sims expansion and those casual games, such as puzzles and sudoku and match threes.

I don't know about other places, but its bad for me as I don't like consoles.

I don't really check Staples, although it's right next to Walmart and Futureshop here.

Neither Walmart nor Futureshop had moved their displays since they opened several years ago, then BAM they switched em around when I was off in Europe.

The closest EB games are the two in Nanaimo which is an hour and a half drive from where I live >_<

Another reason to embrace digital download. Though there does seem to be concerted effort by publishers to make it harder to enjoy games on the PC without having to jump through a lot of hoops first (GTA 4 I'm looking at you).
I myself would like to see the pre-eminent PC developers such Blizzard, Valve and Stardock team up to make a digital distribution platform (possibly steam) a viable competitor to console platforms. It wouldn't help bolster the number of physical copies in the stores but it would certainly add to the breadth of titles available to PC gamers.

VALve makes way more money selling their games on Steam than in stores, as they all the money from the steam sale, where as for a store there is the publisher (often EA) and the store's cut of the money.

However I vastly prefer having a hard copy, especially for games I use mods for and/or will want to reinstall. Especially considering the sizes of games now, they take several hours to download which is how you have to install/reinstall steam games...

Best Buy, Circuit City and Target are still good for PC Games

Best Buy, Circuit City and Target are still good for PC Games

Don't have any of those near me, I don't even know if Target operates in Canada. Also Best Buy owns Futureshop (I've seen both of them using the same parking lot too).

the nearest Best Buy is 50 miles away. no thank you.

I'll check out The Source, I seen a few good games there, once got something there.

I'm unable to use online downloading, because I don't have a credit card.

Zellers is okay too, got a few things there.

Yeah, at my local walmart, they used to have two huge shelves stacked with ONLY pc games, now it's down to half a shelf, half of which is occupied by some computer security crap......

Depends on the store. I find that stores that are mostly ignorant about video games and buy games that even have Xbox or Playstation mentioned on them. (PC vs Console flame thread GO!)

PC companies can't keep up with the advancement in technology, while consoles are generally the same. There's a change every few years. For PCs, there's a change every few months.

d.highland: Other way around. The advancement in technology is something consoles can't keep up with. You can upgrade your computer, but not your console.

d.highland: Other way around. The advancement in technology is something consoles can't keep up with. You can upgrade your computer, but not your console.

Exactly why gaming companies can make games for consoles easier.

No, not really. Computer games are way easier to make. The first reason is that computers are how the games are made in the first place. It is much easier to have it on the computer and transfer the files onto a computer disc, rather than convert the files and possibly downgrade the game so it can play on consoles.

Also, upgrading your computer doesn't mean it makes making games harder. Indeed, it makes it easier, as more advanced and upgrade computers = better graphics = more people who can play such games that come out now.

PC companies can't keep up with the advancement in technology, while consoles are generally the same. There's a change every few years. For PCs, there's a change every few months.

Even if that were true (which it isn't really) it would still have no effect on the availiabiltiy of PC games in stores, there have been several games I'd like to buy, that aren't on the shelves locally (when I checked anyways). Keeping up with the technology has little to do with making a PC game I'd give moee than a glance at anyways.

EBgames and Gamestop used to stock a lot of PC games, but now they've switch to mainly selling console games and placed PC Games onto the back burner.

BestBuy is the only place now where I am able to buy PC Games.

PC games are still incredibly easy for me to find, although I don't buy many.

now I wanna move to australia..........

now I wanna move to australia..........

No you really don't, they often charge DOUBLE the price for games there.

PC Games at the moment cost the equivalent of $50-80 US. ($80-120 AU)

New Xbox360 games cost $65-80 US. ($100-120AU)

What PC game is $80?

$80 Australian or $80 US?

$80 US or $120 AU

My mistake, PC games only seem to reach $100AU. It was the various "special offers" that were $120.

Here PC games are usually $50-55 CAD (they used to be 50 or 60, but the dolar went to apr with the USD earleir this year, but since it's dropped again the prices are creeping back up). Add $10 for console games, except Wii games I think.

The amount of PC Games here has went up. Your average game store went from 1/2 a shelf for PC games to 1 Will Wright shelf(Sims 1/2 Expansions and Spore) and 1/2 a shelf for other games.

over this side of the pond things are getting bad


I remember when at least half of a gaming store would be PC Games, now its roughly a quarter if that, also, PC Worlds selection has shrunk massively.
PC Games are getting squashed out of the market by consoles and some old favourite genres have ceased to exist in todays enviroment, the space fighter sim for one aswell as old fashioned adventure games. Monkey Island and X-Wing series, we miss you!


EDIT: new games here cost on average £45-£60 GBP

EDIT: new games here cost on average £45-£60 GBP

Where are you buying these games? I rarely see PC games above £35 in street stores, and normally I see them for £30. London prices?

That said, PC games are becoming rarer to find in town, and at least half my game collection are bought online. All the Paradox games since EU3 I've bought through their online service, and Steam is fantastic for game purchases.

I went to an HMV in london as my friend needed an adapter for his laptop so he could plug it in in Britain and the games weren't that expensive O_O

£45 is $83 Canadian! That's a $30 mark up!

Where are you buying these games? I rarely see PC games above £35 in street stores, and normally I see them for £30. London prices?

That said, PC games are becoming rarer to find in town, and at least half my game collection are bought online. All the Paradox games since EU3 I've bought through their online service, and Steam is fantastic for game purchases.

Just going by the prices I see in some shops in London, I never buy anything for over £30 mind :P

EDIT: Meh, maybe my memory fails me, its been ahwile seen I have actually bought a game instore and not online, I must be going senile early!

I think I saw Spore for £35.

i swear new games used to be more expensive back in the early 00's

I remember getting the complete RA1 Boxset back in 1998 or so for £45.

I looked around some more. The Source (some electronics store) now only has console games.
Zellers (Canadian store) still has a few PC games, but the console games are taking over the shelf.
Giant Tiger (smaller Canadian store) has a large bargain bin, but the only few I found interesting I already bought. Nothing new coming in, and they're mixing them with DVDs and console games now.
Although in a small local store I found a bargain bin full of dumb little kiddy games. And match three's. Aren't there enough match threes?

Staples and Walmart are still bringing in PC games, although Walmart is slowing replacing them with consoles. Staples is still good, but the games aren't what I'm into.

Sadly, I can't buy online without a credit card. Hopefully I'll get a prepaid one for Christmas, or at least a paypal account, but ...

Zellers is a joke sometimes, that's why i stopped even looknig at their selection, they have had games at twice the price as walmart! I think their problem though is that most of their customers are the parents of the gamers (or grandparents).

London Drugs is my hero, I never go there and I went there today, they have an awesome selection! I finally found EUIII Complete :)

Also The Witcher Enhanced! Finally!

Staples has severely shrunk all their video games at my local store, and there selectino has been decimated by christmas.

Staples' selection is a joke. I've found Best Buy to have the best selection, Wal-Mart the best price, and Gamestop in between.

No, not really. Computer games are way easier to make. The first reason is that computers are how the games are made in the first place. It is much easier to have it on the computer and transfer the files onto a computer disc, rather than convert the files and possibly downgrade the game so it can play on consoles.


Having done both (made PC and console games), they each have their challenges. The challenge of consoles is that they really don't have much memory to play with. The challenge of PCs is that they are all different and you have to deal with many variations of your code for different configurations. The biggest benefit of consoles is that you only have a few possible configurations that you have to deal with.

Lately many game companies are doing simultaneous development with the 360 as the baseline version.

I was at Staples yesterday. Looks like they're selling out too.

Well it is 4 days before christmas.

Well, now they're filling up their shelves with security software and variants of Print Shop Deluxe.

Oh, in that case it's kind of pathetic.

I think they're doing that to make the shelves look full.

Yeah, that's true, stores do that, they HATE empty shelves.

I just hope they don't keep it that way.

I'd guess it means they suck at ordering enough stock to keep their shelves full with things people actually buy.

I was back in Zellers. There's a lot of PC games there, but they're all casual games. Match threes.

Are PC games getting harder to find?

No. I search Impulse or Steam, find the game I want, buy it, and wait as it's beamed to my hard drive.

If a PC game isn't on Impulse or Steam, it doesn't exist to me.

Purchasing, installing, and maintaining a PC game has never been easier. I haven't been to retail in search of a PC game in ages. :cool:

There's a store not quite far from here, which has games for nearly every platform (I've seen NES, SNES, N64, GC, WII, GB, GBC, GBA, DS, XBOX, X360, PSX, PS2, PS3 and PC games there at the same time, lol). There are a lot of computer games :)

Yeah. They're getting pretty hard to find, in stores that is. If you're a pirate than lol more power to you.

I have just recently realized that PC games are getting hard to find. The selection at EB games is so small that I couldn't find it, basically it was a tiny shelf in the corner stacked full of sim games and some used games. The selection at Best Buy and Futureshop is better but much smaller than I remebered. Hopefully, my memory is failing me. Maybe I should start looking on Steam...

Was back at Walmart today. Seems like the PC games shelf is shrinking -- there were about five thousand computer mice on the shelf.

Also 6-year-olds being brats because their parents won't buy them a Wii.

Was back at Walmart today. Seems like the PC games shelf is shrinking -- there were about five thousand computer mice on the shelf.

Also 6-year-olds being brats because their parents won't buy them a Wii.

Having 6 year olds with a Wii is a good thing, no whiny kids with mics on computer games.

Went back to Staples today. The PC games are shrinking, and they have a few too many Sesame Street boxes...

At my local store in the UK (Gamestation) there is literally 3 half shelves of PC games, of which most seem to be Sims2 & Expansions.

Whereas when it first opened there was 2 full size sets of 4 shelves dedicated to PC games, there is also a ridiculous amount of copies of pre-owned games on the shelves, why put 10 copy's of one pre-owned games on a shelf?

Most of the four EB Games near me have shrinking PC areas.

One had literally a bin
One had a small bookcase like thing
The other two had a shelf for PC games, which was pretty good compared to the others, but compared to the size of the stores, was pretty pathetic.

The Gamestops (also EB Games) have about 2 shelves of PC games in my area (South and Central New Jersey). This is about 1/20 of the store with the rest about equally divided between XBOX 360 (non-360), PS3 (PS2), Wii, Nintendo DS, and all other stuff (accessories and movies). The used movies section is the same size as the PC games section.

Oh well, TPB is my friend. I now only purchase 100% DRM free games - I have Temple of Elemental evil that says I don't have the disc in because the copyright protection is messed up somehow. Not paying for that crap anymore.

I also notice that in alot of "game" shops there is also a lot of software being sold, what's that all about?

I have also noticed that in shops around here, more and more are selling only consoles and their games, rather than PC games. Even the 'traditional' places are giving more space to them. Guess they don't make as much profit off PC games these days...

Well, Steam is a game distribution software. I like the way it's going--you pay for the game and you can download it. You're also not screwed if you lose the CD, because it's attached to your account, so wherever you set up a steam account, you can play. I know that Guild Wars works the same way too.

My guess is that this trend will continue. And it'll be better overall, I think. You won't have to spend money manufacturing CDs and boxes (or at least, as much money).

Even with Steam, I still vastly preferr to have the hard copy and I don't lose my disks. Especially with larger games, if I re-downloaded everything I have on steam it would take me a few days. And going to a store to look at games is a nice thing to do if you need to kill some time in town. (I live in a rural area so when I go to town I try to do several things at once if possible, besides for work).

The Gamestops (also EB Games) have about 2 shelves of PC games in my area (South and Central New Jersey). This is about 1/20 of the store with the rest about equally divided between XBOX 360 (non-360), PS3 (PS2), Wii, Nintendo DS, and all other stuff (accessories and movies). The used movies section is the same size as the PC games section.


The Gamestop near me doesn't have much space for new console games. They have decided that there is no profit there either. More than half of the store is used console games (which are much more profitable for them as they pay much less for them - and none to the actual developers :mad:).

I'd be careful about filling up my shelves with used games, as I would think they are returned for a reason, such as being crap.

Even with Steam, I still vastly preferr to have the hard copy and I don't lose my disks. Especially with larger games, if I re-downloaded everything I have on steam it would take me a few days. And going to a store to look at games is a nice thing to do if you need to kill some time in town. (I live in a rural area so when I go to town I try to do several things at once if possible, besides for work).

This. I have a (technically) 1mb connection (less in reality). With the average game now approaching 5GB, It would take me a ridicolous amount of time to download anything. Which is why it pisses me off so much when people say ("just get it on steam"). And I can't get more than 1mb where I live.

I also notice that in alot of "game" shops there is also a lot of software being sold, what's that all about?High profit margin would be my guess.

I don't generally buy from shops anymore, but when I do, I never really have any problems. Haven't been to ebgames for a while, but JB Hi-Fi (an aussie chain that's expanding in nz) has a pretty decent selection of pc games to go with their console games (Multiple shelves that are all several metres long).

And with hard copies, you don't need the internet connection. Unless it uses funky DRM. So if your internet goes down (for example in a storm) you can install and play until it comes back on.

And with hard copies, you don't need the internet connection. Unless it uses funky DRM. So if your internet goes down (for example in a storm) you can install and play until it comes back on.
Well, if you keep your games updated you can play Steam games in offline mode. Not the multiplayer only ones, of course.

You would still be able to play the multiplayer ones, you'd just have to host your own LAN server and populate it with bots (although there is no Ai for bots in TF2).

Best Buy always has a good selection. Target and Walmart are decent, but not as great as Best Buy. And if you really want physical media you can buy on Amazon. It doesn't really seem like a big problem.

Best Buy always has a good selection. Target and Walmart are decent, but not as great as Best Buy. And if you really want physical media you can buy on Amazon. It doesn't really seem like a big problem.

Why pay an extra $10 or whatever they charge for shipping, usually all the way across the continent?

My friend who lives in New York City says that she can't find many PC games.
She found tons of console games at really high prices.

Why pay an extra $10 or whatever they charge for shipping, usually all the way across the continent?
Because you really want a physical copy of the game? I never said it should be your 1st option. Also, you can generally get free shipping on orders over $25. If you really don't care about physical media there's Steam.

My friend who lives in New York City says that she can't find many PC games.
She found tons of console games at really high prices.
You can generally find new releases. Also, I wouldn't call $60 a really high price when PC games go for $50.

Well, she didn't give any prices, just said "high prices."

And some games you can't get on Steam.

And some you don't want to get on steam (even if they use steam, like Empires, I intend to try mods for it and I don't know if I'll be able to have seperate installs now, and I don't know if they will be in a seperate folder or in the game folder, hence I want to be able to easily reinstall it quickly without re-downloading it for several hours).

And people with dial-up can't even use Steam.

Mom's attempting to get some money into PayPal. (She says she doesn't trust me with that stuff. It's humorous, considering she never installs security updates and uses IE for banking. Managed to get her to switch to Firefox.) Maybe I can get a few things on Amazon and Steam that way.

Another thing I remembered about console games, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony sell the development tools used to create games for their consoles, which aren't cheap, and they get money from every game sold, plus there is also the publisher's fee, although the games are usually $10 more (in Sony and Microsoft's case anyways).

Amazon then. There are plenty of valid options to get PC games.
And people with dial-up can't even use Steam.

Mom's attempting to get some money into PayPal. (She says she doesn't trust me with that stuff. It's humorous, considering she never installs security updates and uses IE for banking. Managed to get her to switch to Firefox.) Maybe I can get a few things on Amazon and Steam that way.
There is nothing inherently wrong with that. I'd be much more concerned about keyloggers, which don't care which browser your using.

I do prefer Firefox to IE (though I mostly use Opera), but don't consider Firefox safe.

Well, the main problem is that she doesn't install any security fixes. I wouldn't mind so much if she did.

Well, I WOULD have Sins of a Solar Empire by now (beat out Fallout 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV for IGN's PC Game of the Year Award), except that:

A. My computer heats up to quickly.
B. I heard Sins of a Solar Empire is too big (as in Civ4-big), and I don't want that right now.
C. I don't use my computer a whole lot.

So yeah, I'll stick with what I have. An occasional scenario in Age of Empires is enough for me right now.

Been back at Staples. Seems like there's hardly any games, whether PC or Console. And there's also a lot of QuickBooks boxes, whatever that is. And Print Shop.

There's also a clearance going on -- makes me wonder if they're closing.

There's also the matter of me having no multiplayer buddies.

Been back at Staples. Seems like there's hardly any games, whether PC or Console. And there's also a lot of QuickBooks boxes, whatever that is. And Print Shop.

There's also a clearance going on -- makes me wonder if they're closing.
Staples is an office supply store. Quickbooks and PrintShop make sense being on shelves, games much less so.

Yeah, LOL.

I was at that small local store. There's tons of games there. I got SimCity Societies for 8 bucks. (I wasn't gonna consider buying it for 40 dollars with the reviews, but then I saw it for 8 dollars and...)

I was at Wal-Mart today to get computer speakers and there's plenty of PC games now. :)

I was at Wal-Mart today to get computer speakers and there's plenty of PC games now. :)
Well, if you go a few days before they get a new shipment, of course stuff will be missing.