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Is PC gaming dead?

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There was a time when personal computers were the tools of choice for hard-core gamers. But four years ago, on the brink of the release of the PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360, analysts were proclaiming the death of PC gaming.

These new consoles – well, Sony's PS3 and Microsoft's Xbox – were more powerful than the computers at the time, and were integrating with home entertainment systems to provide high definition experiences beyond just gaming. Nintendo, meanwhile, offered a completely new approach to gaming with its Wiimote controllers.

And this year, Electronic Arts decided to kill the PC versions of many of its popular sports titles, including Madden NFL 09, Tiger Woods PGA Tour and NBA Live. LucasArts is releasing The Force Unleashed, its new Star Wars title, on every platform except PC.
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Rowland - contributor
Published: 488 days 5 hours ago | Article | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | Wii | PC | Industry News
 
 

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El_Colombiano - 488 days 5 hours ago
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1 -
ROFL, no.
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Winter47th - 488 days 1 hour ago
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1.1 -
PC withstood the test of time when generations of consoles faded away, so no, not now, not anytime soon.
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El_Colombiano - 488 days 1 hour ago
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1.2 -
Exactly. Bubbles for not being a blind console owner.
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SaiyanFury - 487 days 20 hours ago
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1.3 -
Sorry there are plenty of people out there including myself who have PCs easily capable of running current games released, and we do. I've been playing Oblivion, DiRT, GRID, Crysis, and many others on my PC and they run better than on the consoles at higher resolutions with higher graphical settings. I hate to tell all the non-believers about the status of PC gaming, but it's not dead. Today I bought Mercenaries 2, another title that will run better on my PC than any console out today, and I love it. I own both a 360 and PS3 for the record and I have many titles for them. I'm not blindly defending the PC platform, I'm merely showing that it's not going anywhere.
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kesvalk - 488 days 4 hours ago
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2 -
why they still make this stupid articles?

the same question was made when the PS2 launched and the PC Gaming is still alive, it will not die now, it will not die never.

heck, the only "real" hardcore gamers play in the PC, they are the ones that put a lot of cash only to run their games in their fullest, that keep playing for days without sleeping and such...

i was a PC gamer, and i just know that it have the strongest and largest gamerbase and they will not switch to consoles so easily...

heck, Warcraft 3 and Diablo 2(and even the first one) are still being played! it's like, if this games don't die, how the heck PC gaming will?
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El_Colombiano - 488 days 4 hours ago
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2.1 -
Great, great response my friend. Have a bubble.
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lsujester - 488 days 4 hours ago
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2.2 -
That's not to even mention the huge following of MMORPGs. Some of those people will never get off the PC.

I myself still enjoy a little Counter-Strike everyday, and occasionally buy new games to play. Several series will also be in my staple, including Total War, Civilization, anything from Blizzard or Valve, and several shooters like Crysis, etc.
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Ninja-Sama - 488 days 3 hours ago
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2.3 - Guys, did you even read the article?
Though he mentions piracy, the majority of the article speaks very favourably about PC gaming "growing at an alarming rate" and "showing no signs of death"...
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silvacrest - 487 days 19 hours ago
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2.4 -
the only thing that could kill PC gaming is possibly piracy but even then the ammount of pirates would need to increase alot and in my opinion people who pirate games were unlikely to buy them anyway
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Marty8370 - 488 days 4 hours ago
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3 -
It's not dead yet, but piracy is doing it no favours.
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lsujester - 488 days 4 hours ago
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3.1 -
But clamping down on piracy just drives away the customers.

Just ask the music biz.
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sidar - 488 days 4 hours ago
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4 -
Is ThiS QuestioN StUPid?
Yes.

These things are asked and looked at before.
PC's are the universal tools for "programming" so hell no that its dead.
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Rice - 488 days 4 hours ago
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5 -
well...if im still playing starcraft and counter strike, i highly doubt its dead...i believe there are more pc gamers than console gamers?
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silvacrest - 487 days 19 hours ago
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5.1 - I base this on no facts but
the ammount of people who have bought a wii/ps2 alone VS people who bought a PC for hardcore gameing? i no there are more PCs worldwide but how many of those are used for work, internet etc or gaming?
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Charmers - 488 days 3 hours ago
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6 -
Another day and another misinformed piece of cra......... journalism. I think if the PC could speak it would say something like "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated". When are people going to get it through their thick heads ? We had this rubbish when the PS1 came out, the PC didn't "die". Then the PS2 came along and again the PC is "dead" erm no it isn't. Now 2 years into the life span of the PS3 they are still prattling on about the PC being dead without a single shred of proof. I have no doubt we will get this rubbish when the PS4 comes out.

Last time I checked no one was having to "support" the PC by blowing billions on it like certain console manufacturers. Last time I checked the PC wasn't wiping out profits from the last "gen". I would say if anything was dying it's the consoles. The consoles can only exist because MS and Sony are prepared to throw billions away supporting them in the "hope" it will start turning a profit somewhere down the line, that doesn't sound all that healthy to me.

Ah well I will keep playing games on my "dying" PC because the PC is the only format that allows me to game how I want too. I tried a "next generation" console (the xbox 360) and if I had a PC performing like that I would have upgraded it 2 years ago. But hey that is just me. I am sure there will be plenty said about how you can game from your "sofa" with a console (I do that anyway with my PC) and rubbish like "you need a 5 gazillion dollar PC", you know the usual rubbish that gets spouted on this site from console gamers.
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ONYX737 - 488 days 3 hours ago
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7 - I don't think either will die
I think that both pc's and consoles just continue to get more alike and adopt some of the stregths of the others
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kesvalk - 488 days 1 hour ago
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7.1 -
in fact the consoles are starting to become PCs, last i heard, the PS3 have a option to install a OS in it right...

i can even see, net generation "inovation": upgradeable Hardware, video, ram, processors...

if the consoles keep going like this, i don't give two generation until you guys see "Sony PlastationPC - high end PC for Gaming"
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Product - 488 days 2 hours ago
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8 -
"These new consoles – well, Sony's PS3 and Microsoft's Xbox – were more powerful than the computers at the time"
Funniest thing ive ever heard.
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dktxx2 - 488 days 1 hour ago
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8.1 -
Actually that is truthful, however it didn't take long for it to go back to normal. PC better then consoles.
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LeonSKennedy4Life - 488 days 1 hour ago
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8.2 - no
It's not truthful...

...at that time, the 8800 series was out from nVidia...

That and 3-4 gigs of RAM could have you running Crysis on full in no time.
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OOG - 488 days 1 hour ago
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9 -
Um wrong time to ask the question about PC gaming...especially when the next year seems to have some of the most promising pc exclusives...since quite a while
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Firstkn1ghT - 488 days 1 hour ago
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10 -
PC Gaming has died in my household. And Halo 2 was the reason for that. I used to be a huge Unreal 2004 player. I haven't played any game on my pc since than. But that will all change once Starcraft 2 comes out.
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LeonSKennedy4Life - 488 days 1 hour ago
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10.1 - seriously?
Halo 2 killed PC gaming for you?

What are you smoking, dude?

You had Battlefield, UT, Quake, Half-life, Tribes, and all sorts of shooters that were much better than Halo 2.
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Firstkn1ghT - 488 days ago
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10.2 -
Sorry dude but I know my shooters. I played Battlefield 1942, Blackhawk Down, Counterstrike, Soldiers of Fortune, Quake 3, and Unreal 2004 on my PC. All were great games but none gave me the thrill that Halo 2 did. That's why I switch to console gaming.
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10.3 Spydiggity | 487 days 5 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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LeonSKennedy4Life - 488 days 1 hour ago
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11 - no
As long as Half-life is around...PC gaming isn't going anywhere.
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kesvalk - 488 days 1 hour ago
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11.1 -
yes, it is, it is going UP.

XD
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vdesai - 488 days ago
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12 -
Is handheld gaming dead?
Is casual gaming dead?
Is mac gaming dead?
Is cellphone gaming dead?
Is playing things in real life dead?
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kesvalk - 487 days 15 hours ago
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12.1 -
they never asked if frisbee is dead...
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killalot100 - 488 days ago
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13 - its been shot at not killed
consoles are getting more popular every year but pc gaming just kinda stays the same. pc has its fans and they have never really left them some with consoles. pirating is getting out of hand i have to admit to that but its not enough to kill it. as long as console games r being made on pc then it might never will.
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jerethdagryphon - 488 days ago
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14 - pc gaming
its not going anyware for the hard core
casual and light users are migrating to consol;es

but consoles can be more powerfull (not there gpus or ram but cpus)
because of the way they work

ps3s cpu is more flops then a current quadcore...
ibms words not mine

but in terms of ram and gpu no not anywhare close to top end
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unicronic - 487 days 23 hours ago
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15 - PC Gaming is.....
....seriously wounded at the moment. But not dead.

But being seriously wounded does not mean good games won't go to PC. Infact some games go to PC and not PS3 but that's a different discussion altogether.

But heavy piracy does not help PC gaming causes as a commercially strong platform. Also looks at sales on console vs. PC. some reports go as low at 14% of total sales being PC. That must come down to piracy and also the fact that consoles are a better economic investment with a typical platform lasting from 5-10 years.

If you are to say the PC has been around longer then that is correct and wrong also. I dare anyone to keep the PC they have now and try to play the new release games in 5 years without changing specs. And there is one of the PC's largest curses. Gaming technology advances so fast on PC that most people are not willing to invest in the rapid hardware cycles needed to stay in touch with PC gaming.

There you have it plain and simple. PC Gaming will be around as long as accountability and restrictions are low, but similarly until the experience becomes as "simple" as consoles PC's won't come close in commercial terms, sadly.
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stpiio - 487 days 22 hours ago
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16 -
don't forget that most games are ported to PC.
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SabreMan - 487 days 22 hours ago
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17 -
another month another is pc gaming dead article

is pc gaming dead - NO
is pc gaming going to die - NO
will pc gaming be around next year - YES
will pc gaming be around in ten years - YES
has pc gaming always co existed happily with console gaming - YES
will this always be the case - YES

in a nutshell pc gaming is going nowhere
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The Milkman - 487 days 22 hours ago
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18 -
Why not buy a console and be sure everything that comes out on it will actually run on it. Pop the disc in and play! No worry about is my windows or Mac going to play this?
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NarsilianShard - 487 days 22 hours ago
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19 -
STOP POSTING ABOUT THIS. You've had at least 20 of these articles in the last year, not to mention another 20 titled 'PC Gaming is Not Dead'

Yes, we know PC gaming is less popular in America. But it's still the number one mode of gaming in the world, and that may never change. So just stop it N4G, this isn't even news.
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Rayko - 487 days 21 hours ago
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20 - PC vs console
PC is a little complicated with graphic cards that have to be uppgraded, more RAM, more of everything actually but with console you just plug and play, no worries about if it can be played on the machine or not.

I mean, it is more comfortable to play, sitting in a comfy chair or sofa playing on your 50 inch plasma than sitting on a computer chair, playing on a 22 inch TRT-screen. Console has now taken a step forward with its online play as well. Before you could never play online with your friends on a console but those days are history.
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volcatius - 487 days 20 hours ago
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20.1 -
Plug and play?
You mean beside installations, firmware upgrades and patches?
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sidar - 487 days 19 hours ago
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20.2 -
" I mean, it is more comfortable to play, sitting in a comfy chair or sofa playing on your 50 inch plasma than sitting on a computer chair"

Its time you hook up your pc to your TV then and buy a gamepad for your PC xD.
Not saying you should drop console gaming( o the lord forbids xD) but its great to play some PC games on your big screen.
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volcatius - 487 days 20 hours ago
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21 -
If consoles are so profitable, why don't Apple or EA jump in?
And why did Sega and Atari pulled back?

Nintendo?
They saved their ass by concentrating on casual gamers, and they are the only ones that actually make money.

Microsoft?
The first XBox was a financial disaster. Up to date, they have already burned more than $7 billions.

Sony?
More than $3 billions, and the PS3 has eaten ALL earnings they have ever made with the PSX and PS2.

Both HS consoles are surviving only for the fact that there are huge companies behind willing to spend billions and billions of dollar.
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W S K - 487 days 20 hours ago
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22 -
I think that just the title in this article is bad...may it could have be something like how console gaming in general "evolved"...or something like that.

It is a fact that games changed a lot since the Super NES to Playstation era.
Since the PSX came out back in the days it changed a lot for gaming!!! Now its cool to play games and the games in general became more mature.

Gaming got more serious...

So......NO...PC GAMING IS NOT DEAD!!! ( and i think that it never does...or atleast i hope so ;-) NEVER SAY NEVER! :D )

Of course...every system or plattform needs its exclusives so they could convince a customer to buy their product...
Yeah so...this is almost all that matters now...good exclusive titles, sell more systems....but thats business...and thats competition...AND THATS GOOD!!! FOR US....right!? ;D

If you´re a REAL gamer you enjoy all of it!!!

*CHEERS*
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cjg23 - 487 days 20 hours ago
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23 - HA!
How about a Ps3,xbox 360 and a PC with a Gtx280! I'm a games whore I know I love em all.
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kesvalk - 487 days 15 hours ago
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23.1 -
a graphics whore you mean? where is the DS,PSP and Wii? you can't a gaming die hard fan with out them...
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hot_gamer_girl_1 - 487 days 19 hours ago
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24 - it must be a joke.....
PC gaming dead? lol Never will they die...

I agree with you ONYX737
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Kinetix - 487 days 18 hours ago
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25 -
I love PC games.
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metalhead - 487 days 16 hours ago
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26 -
Im sorry but ppl who post these articles dont realize that PC gaming is the biggest form of gaming out their because almost everyone owns a PC and has a game for it. Sure its not a huge big money gaming rig but If it play WOW your in good shape.
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Some_One_Plays - 487 days 16 hours ago
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27 - PC is fading; for me at least...
There is a difference between running a PC game, to playing the game the way it's suppose to. Every generation you'll have to pay at least around $3,000.00 - $4,000.00 for the best stuff. The games I mostly want to play take up a lot of memory so I can forget about it with this laptop. Another thing that screws up PC gaming for me are viruses, IP addresses, basically hackers who try to find your PC's IP to manipulate it. You don't have to deal with IP addresses online with console gaming, safer from hackers.

On the console side of gaming you don't have to worry about hackers on your console. I can play the games the way they're suppose to run because every console is the same. You'll get your PC gamers telling you there are cheaper ways, but the prices of console are a lot less. Plus PCs aren't good for fighting games, and I love fighting games. You can ultimately get the best of both worlds at a much lower price.

The only thing that keeps me thinking about getting a decent PC rig are Persistent Worlds (PW). You don't need much to run them, yet I can wait to see how other PWs on the PlayStation 3 work plus PlayStation Home is similar. What I like the most about console gaming is a unified online name; if the PC was like that it would be similar to PlayStation Network. In the end there will be space for PC gamers, but won't have such a large audience because of people like me. Once RTS (Real Time Strategy) games are replicated on the TV consoles just look out.
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kesvalk - 487 days 15 hours ago
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27.1 -
sorry man, even with something like the IR of the Wiimote you can't have the sensitivity of a mouse, RTSs Will aways be at home on PC, atleast until the consoles starting to be played with mouse and keyboard, but then, the consoles would be already gaming oriented PCs...
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Some_One_Plays - 487 days 10 hours ago
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27.2 - kesvalk
I've played FPSs on the PC before and understand why people like it over the controller. At the same time I do believe RTS fanatics are a different bread compared to the console gamers. I don't think a lot of TV console gamers would like RTSs and RTS fanatics wouldn't like too much of the TV console games.
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Scar 360WA - 487 days 14 hours ago
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28 -
I wish it was, but unfortunately it never will be. Console gaming FTW.
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