| Over the last few years, video game sales on the | | | | 3 or 4 years. Eventually, console games were |
| PC have been slumping quite a bit. The most | | | | considered bad games compared to what was |
| obvious reason is that in a bad economy, people | | | | new. Today's consoles offer almost the same |
| stop paying $50 to $60 for a new video game, | | | | experience as PC games. So many people have |
| but the drop in sales is much more dramatic than | | | | switched to the console platform, and that has |
| one that would be affected by a bad economy. | | | | taken a big bite out of PC game sales. |
| Why are these game sales down? | | | | A third problem is that people are tired of bugs |
| First of all, there are more methods of delivering | | | | and patches. For more than a few years, the |
| games to the end user than are being taken | | | | newest PC titles have been found full of flaws |
| account of. There are new services like | | | | and bugs. Many times in the first few months |
| Direct2Drive and Steam that deliver games | | | | after release, there are patches that much be |
| directly to the customer via download. These | | | | downloaded. From day one, a new game is not a |
| services make buying a new game much simpler | | | | finished or quality product, which can frustrate the |
| and easier. You get the game instantly via | | | | buyer. When you pay a lot of money for a game, |
| download and you do not have CDs or DVDs that | | | | you expect it to work and work well from the |
| you might worry about losing or breaking. You | | | | moment you install it. |
| also do not have to go to the store and buy the | | | | And finally, there are tons of free games that |
| game, taking time out of your day. It is much | | | | offer high quality and even a social environment |
| nicer to decide that you want the game and have | | | | that many like playing with. With games that are |
| it moments later to enjoy. | | | | part of Facebook and other simple browser based |
| Secondly, consoles have more than caught up | | | | games, millions of people have something to play |
| with the quality of PC games. Generally console | | | | on a regular basis without having to spend |
| gaming lagged behind in the quality of games | | | | upwards of $60 for a new game. Many are |
| compared to the newest PC games. This was | | | | satisfied with the free options that are on the |
| because PC gamers constantly upgraded their | | | | internet to play. |
| equipment while consoles were only made every | | | | |