The U.S. actually has quite good internet infrastructure. The problems are 1) Last mile infrastructure makes that largely moot (no glass to the curb; last mile is usually old copper everywhere I've ever lived,) and 2) Artificial (and largely arbitrary) bandwidth caps.

I've always said I wouldn't mind always-online systems (nor streaming cloud-based systems) of any kind if they were reliable, and if there was some limited guarantee as to how long the servers required for the game to function would remain in operation. Literally the only problems I have with it are the only ISPs I have access to where I live enforcing bandwidth caps, and the lack of any way to ensure I can still play the game ten years down the road.

How did this discussion about PC gaming having a future lead into a debate about this, incidentally? I haven't kept up with the topic sadly lol.

Yeah, here we have two options. AT&T (ADSL.) Comcast (Cable.) Comcast never gives me over 15Mbps (which sucks by global broadband standards but is the fastest service I can get here for the moment apparently) and imposes a bandwidth limit for their "unlimited" service. In fact, they even impose a bandwidth limit on my "unlimited" calling, which is also through them. They sent me a letter one day informing me that I had exceeded their 5000 minute per month "normal residential use" limit, and would have to switch to their exorbitantly expensive commercial plan if I wanted more. (Apparently 2.7 hours a day in a 30 day month is considered "unlimited calling" by Comcast.) Unfortunately I have friends and family who live across the country and who I never get to see, so we talk quite a bit. So I've had to artificially curtail my talking in order to bring my usage into compliance.

I complained to the FCC and eventually a regional manager from Comcast called me up. "Sir, you did exceed normal residential usage." I said, "I understand that, but when I signed up I was told I had unlimited calling. Nowhere in any way and at any point was I ever told there was any form of limitation on my talking minutes. The plan said 'unlimited.'" He then informed me that the user policy was on their website. I went and looked, and it was buried under several pages that I would never have any occasion to read in the first place. So I said, "Well, in the future, how about informing customers that their service is in fact 5,000 minutes a month and not call it unlimited?"

His actual reply - I shit you not - was, "But sir... then it wouldn't be unlimited."

The memory of this induces a facepalm the likes of which the world has not seen in some time.

I know a lot of people hate Google, but I say BRING ON GOOGLE FIBER. And Verizon FiOS for that matter. You're right, these companies need to expand.

This discussion veered way off from the future of PC gaming itself to something like "Who has the best internet access?". There is another discussion about "Always on DRM" in the Sim City topic.

I can safely say that as long as we have mediums like Steam, and game developers that give a damn that PC games themselves are in no danger of becoming extinct.

The real question is say 5 years from now, What kinds of platforms, or hardware will we be playing these games on? Will it be Tablets? (Cringe)., Or Consoles, or will the Venerable PC itself exist at that time?

It is no big secret that Windows 8 sucks. People don't like it. PC makers don't like it. PC sales are plummeting largely because of Windows 8. I don't need to post articles about it. Just google it up, and see for yourself. This is a bad thing for PC's, BUT it is also an opportunity. An opportunity for other OS's to shine. Like IOS, Android, Linux, and even Google Chrome. The evil MS empire finally has true competition. It will be interesting to see what happens.

I actually found a neat use for Windows 8. The metro interface, coupled with a touch monitor, coupled with some of Stardock's apps, allowed me to create a super user friendly first time PC for my aging and completely tech-illiterate (but loveable and sweet) mom. Now she can surf (somewhat,) check the news, get the weather, etc. and email her family without having to do much typing. That, to me at least, says Windows 8 is a much more accessible OS. And while we may scoff at that word (accessible) as experienced PC users, I think it's important to remember that as the ubiquity of electronic devices with graphical UIs proliferates and becomes more and more essential to day to day life, operating systems need to serve people who have no experience using them before as well. Especially as our population begins to age.

Just a somewhat different take on the issue for people's consideration.

I disagree on that too.  It has its glaring weaknesses at the moment, but given a year or two after the PS4 comes out many of them should be cleared up.

Wouldn't make much sense to make multiplatform games considerably weaker on PC instead of using 64 bit code and DX11.

PC will rebound...eventually.

Consoles have a long way to go to catch up to PC's. Playing a resource heavy game on a high-end gaming computer vs. a console is still a no-brainer for me although I admittedly own 11 consoles dating back as far as the Atari 2600 (yes, i'm an old gamer). Smart phone games are not deep enough to seriously contend with PC games so no worries there, but in the future I would expect to see a big growth in the notepad/notebook division. Still a long time off for that. Couple in the versatility PC's offer, such as running older games and the ability to use emulators for various consoles.....nah. PC Gaming is here to stay.

  I find it hard to believe that PC gaming can die, when ALL games have to be developed on a PC.  When they come out with consoles for programming, then I will get worried.

Like I said the only thing about PC gaming that is declining/dead is the hobbyist-upgrade-to-play-the-latest-shooter-scene. If that subculture was important to you then, sure, things suck.

But for the rest of us things are looking great!

Eador

AoW3

Age of Decadence

Chaos Chronicles

Wasteland 2

Project Eternity

Stardrive

Might & Magic X

X Rebirth

Torment 2

Dominions 4

... and more I can't remember right now

plus last time I looked Paradox and Stardock are both still in business and cranking out PC only titles

and even adventure games (which really were dead) are having something of a renaissance

Could be. Anythings possible considering how tight-mouthed Egosoft are being. But we know there is a game and, apparently, it's in closed beta.

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I forgot Larian for the list: they have 2 games on the way. Dragon Commander imminently and Original Sin in development.

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Anyway my general point - to reiterate - was that this is really just a matter of your age and your preferred genres. For myself I began PC gaming before 3D acceleration so I have no nostalgia in that regard. My fist big purchase was a 486 DX 50 not a Riva TnT. Plus I've never cared much for shooters.

Equally I can imagine that for MS Flight Simulator fans, when that was killed it must have been like the end of the world?

And then for the real hardcore wargame grognards things have never changed. That's the beauty of a niche market (the opposite of the AAA shooter).

I don't remember saying anything at all about 'shooters' etc. so I don't understand why you keep mentioning them.   As far as age goes?  Let's put it this way, my youngest of three is in university........the others have already flown the coop!

Also, I started gaming with Joust, Loderunner and Rescue Raiders.......good old Apple II with a 12'' monochrome screen........that was 'gaming'....

I grew up in the 70's. I got to marvel at "Pong" when it first came out. Then the Atari classics. It's funny, I didn't buy a PC when they first came out. I played on the classic consoles. Nintendo 8 bit, 16, and 64, Sega Genesis, 3DO, All three Playstation's, and both versions of XBox. all of which i still have, and still play on occasionally. Though i got rid of the XBox's when i got the PS3. IMO some games play better on a PC. Like FPS's. I am a "Mouser". I cant stand the console controls for FPS's. However Consoles are great for adventure games, and RPG's. My first "PC" was a 6800 Mac that was barely powerful enough to run OS 7.6. However it was good enough to run "Escape Velocity". This was back in 1997. My first "Windows" PC came shortly afterwards, and it was a 486 DX2 laptop running Win95. That is when i got on the "Upgrade to play" bandwagon, I learned about the hardware, and started building my own PC's. The last PC i built was an AMD Athlon 1900+. 4 gigs 333 mghz ram, and a g-force 6800 gt 1 gig card. It was good enough to run the latest games up to 2005. When it's age really started to show. It was the machine i beta tested Original Sins (and developed TSOP: Trinity on).

Parts are kind of hard to come by now, and there aren't many PC retailers left like Fry's in California where you can hand pick your own parts to build your own PC. My current rig is a prebuilt Acer I5 3 gig rig, 6 gigs ddr 3 ram, 1 terrabyte drive. . that i only added a g-force 520gt 2 gig video card to. My laptop has the very same specs (minus the video). Both are dated rigs now. Point being is i didn't build them, because i couldn't find anywhere that specialized in parts. The only way to do that now is ordering online. I am not really comfortable with ordering stuff online. Call me old fashioned.

Just saw the Rebirth update today. I am glad it didn't go vaporware. It did have me worried for a bit.

I kind of agree if there is a tank in gaming in general that consoles will be hit the hardest (Especially the new XBox "IF" it bans the use of Used Games). However Company's like Gamestop will sort of keep console gaming afloat through the used game industry.

Ok, Maybe it isn't. That is a good thing