Are PC games getting harder to find?

[aimeeandbeatles]

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?

 

[Maniacal]

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.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

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.

 

[Maniacal]

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 >_<

 

[Mulholland]

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.

 

[Maniacal]

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...

 

[JtheJackal]

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

 

[Maniacal]

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).

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

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.

 

[Civfan333]

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......

 

[Leonel]

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!)

 

[Synobun]

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.

 

[carmen510]

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.

 

[Synobun]

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.

 

[carmen510]

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.

 

[Maniacal]

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.

 

[GenMarshall]

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.

 

[azzaman333]

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

 

[Civfan333]

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

 

[Maniacal]

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

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