Posted 03/10/2010 at 09:41:54pm

Every year, PC gaming “dies.” But every year we just end up feeling silly. We buy a nice black suit and a lavish coffin, only to have PC gaming wreck it all by continuing to live. And so it was with 2009.

According to a report by the PC Gaming Alliance, PC game revenues increased to $13.1 billion in 2009 – a three percent increase from the previous year. Also of interest is a sharp drop in boxed PC game sales, which – at a whopping 20 percent – could very nearly be considered a freefall.

“The most notable trend in recent years has been the movement to digital distribution and payment for subscriptions, and the growing popularity with consumers of online games as a service,” said PCGA president Randy Stude.

“In 2009, we saw North America and Europe experience a rapid uptake in purchasing virtual items. This model is what drove growth in Asia, and we think it is just starting to come to Western markets,” he added.

PC gaming is dead. Long live PC gaming! Now then, on that note, anyone in the market for a slightly used coffin?

Posted 03/10/2010 at 08:47:09pm

After months of doubt followed by more months of nothing, OnLive’s finally back in the limelight. During this week’s Game Developer’s Conference, the streaming videogame service finally deployed its landing gear with a June 17 release date. Now then, onto the potentially – depending on how long the service lasts – million dollar question: how hard is it gonna hit your pocketbook?

Well, honestly, that part’s got us a bit worried. The on-demand platform carries a $15 subscription fee, which would be fine on its own. Unfortunately, you’ll also have to pay for individual games, which could definitely get pricey in a hurry. So far, actual prices for launch titles – which include Assassin’s Creed II, Metro 2033 and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands – haven’t been announced, but they’ll apparently be “competitive.”

Thankfully, there’ll also be an “a la carte” rental service for use with some games. Which, combined with the subscription fee, sounds a bit like GameTap’s Gold service – only without that crucial little “unlimited access” bit. But let’s be honest here: OnLive’s servers aren’t going to pay for themselves. And you’ll be getting a suite of social networking features for your rapidly dwindling buck, so… yeah, it’s still a whole lot of money.

Meanwhile, when competing service Gaikai launches, it’s going to be free-to-play and ad-based. Unless OnLive’s got some crazy tech-based tricks up its sleeve that put it head-and-shoulders above Gaikai quality-wise, we just don’t see ourselves subscribing. How about you?

Posted 03/10/2010 at 03:44:16am

Be still, our beating hearts. No seriously, be still. We’re sure that headline’s got your head swimming with dreams made real and wishes fulfilled, but we’re going to send all of that crashing down around you with one phrase: browser-based MMO. Heart sinking yet? No? Ok, try this one on for size: a list of the games developer Bigpoint Games has headed-up. Recognize any of them? Yeah, us neither. Which is not to say we’re writing this one off completely – quite the contrary, in fact. But neither are we getting our hopes up too high. For now, though, Bigpoint’s description of the game is certainly speaking our (extremely geeky) language.

“Players will be able to choose to play as cylons or humans in a constant struggle to control the universe or just survive its perils. A blend of tactical space combat, exploration, and mission-based gameplay will provide a diverse experience. The dramatic missions will define the game's overall storyline, enabling the player to delve into mysteries of the Battlestar universe.”

“Battlestar Galactica Online will create a new standard for web games, with beautiful 3d graphics and innovative game mechanics bringing a new level of game play to browser based MMOG. Assets from the television production will be integrated into the game to deliver an even more authentic experience.”

Bigpoint’s definitely not lacking ambition, but it remains to be seen if the developer can pull it off. We don’t know about you, but we’ll certainly be praying to the Lords of Kobol that BSG Online’s more fun than a game of Pyramid on a non-irradiated Caprica. And if you understood any of that last sentence, we’re pretty sure you’ll be doing the same.

Posted 03/10/2010 at 03:32:02am

Hey there, beleaguered Battlefield Bad Company 2 players. Feel like you’ve been tricked into paying to be part of an extended beta test? Well, sad to say, the storm’s not over yet. At 12 PST tonight, EA brought the servers down yet again for more maintenance. This comes, of course, after a weekend of more ups and downs than a botched entry of the Konami Code. But, if it’s any consolation, there is a silver lining to your sufferings.

“PC currently has more people playing and are in game servers than both the consoles,” said associate producer Gordon Van Dyke.

Don’t break out the confetti just yet, though. We’ve won the battle, sure, but we haven’t quite won the console war.
 
“The PC had more players than either console not more than both consoles combined,” Van Dyke added. “You'll need to work to beat both consoles’ combined effort.”

Still though, that’s certainly something. See, publishers? If you build it with PC gamers in mind, they will come. So learn from EA and DICE’s example – well, minus the server part, obviously. And speaking of servers, maybe Ubisoft might be willing to take a few pointers from DICE once it gets out of this DRM-heavy rebellious phase. We sure hope so, anyway.

Posted 03/08/2010 at 09:58:00pm

Earlier, we brought you word that Ubisoft’s much-maligned DRM servers were on the fritz. “But why?” you probably wondered before continuing to stay far, far away from them. Well, what goes around comes around, it would seem, because Ubisoft’s declared that its servers are under “attack.” PC gamers who are both tech-savvy and prone to semi-militant protest? Who’da thunk it?

“Ubisoft would like to apologize to anyone who could not play AC2 or SH5 yesterday. Servers were attacked and while the servers did not go down, service was limited from 2:30PM to 9PM Paris time. 95% of players were not affected, but a small group of players attempting to open a game session did receive denial of service errors. All players with an open session during the attack were not affected,” said the publisher.

But it gets better. You see, a scant few hours later, the servers came under fire again.

“Our servers are under attack again,” tweeted a Ubisoft rep. “Some gamers are experiencing trouble signing in. We’re working on it and will keep you posted.”

Ubisoft, as much morbid glee as we’re deriving from this twisting train wreck, we think you might want to consider slamming on the breaks before your credibility ends up on the list of casualties. We accept sincere apologies, you know. Actually, we’re surprisingly open to anything when there’s no DRM involved. Ok, not those kinds of things. Oh, wait, you mean those kinds of things and not those kinds of things? Well then, that changes everything!

Posted 03/06/2010 at 04:32:46am

After some incredibly clever viral marketing on Valve’s part, GameStop and Game Informer have teamed up to let the cat out of the bag a few days early. Not that we’re complaining, mind you.

In addition to the expected return of GlaDOS (she is “still alive,” after all) and an all new single-player mode packed with “devious test chambers,” Portal 2 promises a completely separate co-op campaign that has even the mighty collective MPC Megabrain crying in a corner just thinking about it.

Also, if GameStop's listing’s anything to go on, Portal 2 will probably be a fair bit beefier content-wise than its predecessor – at least, if it hopes to wear its suggested $49.99 price tag with pride and not shame and regret.

Unfortunately, that’s all that’s trickled out, for now. But hey, look at it this way: Gabe Newell has to pass the time during his GDC award acceptance speech somehow, and while thanking his family and God or whoever is great, it’s so passé. The solution? Portal 2 footage. This, of course, after he approaches the podium, grasps his award, leans in close to the microphone and whispers, “This was a triumph. I’m making a note here: huge success.”