Battlefield:TF2

[Smooth Groove]

 

[Smooth Groove]

I see the words free.

Not if I have to run some shitty adware that makes my computer unstable.  Time will tell.

[MCD]

not regular ads my friends, adware/spyware/malware.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adware

[brawndolicious]

It's probably like what particle said.  unless EA confirmed that it has some sort of adware but that's too stupid for a game like this (basically BF2 with new skins/shaders).

[Vizzys]

[Eel O'Brian]

Well, I loved BF1942, janky glitches and physics and all, so I'll DL.

[brawndolicious]

I'm willing to try it.  I mean, what is there to lose?

[The Fake Shemp]

Crysis went and showcased to publishers that the days of the resource hog mega-hyped PC game are over.  It sold like crap, because folks are investing more of their gaming dollars in consoles and less in upgrading PC technology.  I'd even say that a lot of casual PC gamers have gone over to consoles - it's cheaper, has online play and you get more for your dollar.  There will always be a market on the PC, but to make WoW money, you need to hit a wide range of PCs.  Not quadro SLI rigs and crazy shit like that.

[MrAngryFace]

WoW is still the best looking MMORPG thanks to ART DIRECTION and not OMG POLYZ OMG SHADERS OMG GEFORCE 1001010101001

[The Fake Shemp]

It was clever on their part to focus resources on art direction rather than building the game around high-powered gaming rigs, but that's the direction the PC gaming industry has to go to be a viable platform for the industry.  Your average person sees a Xbox 360 for $279 that pumps out visuals that outperform the shiny Dell he got for Christmas (he got a regular one - not a XPS, because his parents aren't made of money!), which is a far cry from even eight years ago.  Hell, a good number of casual folks still think PC gaming is complicated with the hardware requirements and all - a hassle that is unnecessary when they can just drop a DVD disc in a console tray and play from day one.

I know some of the old guard, like Frag and Prole, probably think it's the wrong direction for PC gaming, since they've got disposable income and are invested in PC gaming, but their situation isn't the same for everyone.

[FancyFeast]

It will be in game/browser ads.

The future of PC gaming btw.

[Phoenix Dark]

FREE

That's the only word I saw. Sign me up

[Fragamemnon]

I know some of the old guard, like Frag and Prole, probably think it's the wrong direction for PC gaming, since they've got disposable income and are invested in PC gaming, but their situation isn't the same for everyone.

On the contrary, I think what DICE/EA are doing here is fantastic, and represents a great cross between traditional PC gaming and the easy to pick up casual gaming that has broader appeal. I'll be even happier if it does so without falling into the Wii trap of broader appeal through assuming your userbase is less sophisticated and making the videogame equivalent of Ow My Balls.

the thing is, the old guard like me will ALWAYS have a PC gaming market. Even if almost everyone were to make shitty habbo and runescape knockoffs, there would still be enough small budget indie and euro games in hardcore genres for me to have plenty to play. That's sort of the advantage about having an open platform where sales and distribution work can be done very cheaply if need be.

[The Fake Shemp]

I don't think PC gaming is dead and that's not what I'm implying, but I do contend that the days of the hyped, resource hog megarelease are over.  The real goldmine for the PC market is to make quality games that capitalize on the platform's strength (open, DLC content, amount of users, etc.) that can be played on the widest range of PCs.  Would World of WarCraft be nearly as popular if it was running on a more exhausting engine?  I doubt it.

[brawndolicious]

http://bluesnews.com/

seems third person only.  will be interesting still to see what they pull off.