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90 Million Gaming PCs By 2007

Posted by Zonk on from the one-of-us dept.

Joystiq has commentary on research by ananlyst group IDC, which states that 90 million 'gaming ready' PCs could be in homes by the end of 2007. From the article: "IDC expects out of those 90 million units that 67% will be Vista Basic and 30% will be Vista Premium (both private consumer versions). Vista requires the PC to have a semi-competent graphics processor, able to push DX9, just to function properly. This could mean the PC gaming market will enjoy more potential customers, especially among more graphically intense programs."

4 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. What Potential! by AKAImBatman · · Score: 2, Insightful
    This could mean the PC gaming market will enjoy more potential customers

    (Emphasis mine.)

    The PC Gaming market already "enjoys" a rather massive "potential" market. Yet PC sales are quickly falling to the wayside in favor of console gaming. In fact, most PC Games are either being ported to consoles or are ported from consoles. Which means that there is little advantage to being a PC Gamer unless you're into MMOGs.

    A better headline would be, "Casual gaming market gets bigger! Game studios still have no idea how to make money off them!" :-P
    --
    Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
  2. That's not the point! by CTD · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When you are talking about 90 million users, you aren't talking about hardcore gamers with gaming PC's -- you are talking about Joe and Jane Normal, who just want a computer to do basic work and keep the kids quiet/busy at home. That's the mass market -- and if you can deliver quality games that function on those computers (that are bought stock at the retail stores) you are delivering to a huge potential audience -- which makes great business sense.

    It's not about those of us who will build our own computers, it's about the Eloi who think Geek Squad is a lifesaver. :)

    --
    Grimwell - old, cranky, mean, obsessive
  3. Re:I doubt 97% of gamers are going to install Vist by 0racle · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I believe Vista is supposed to be able to unload a lot of itself when necessary freeing up the resources it held. On top of that, only Vista is going to have DirectX 10. Gamers will buy it eventually.

    Now what the hell is a gaming PC? I have a Sempron 2500+ with 1GB ram an ATI X1600 and a Creative XFi. Is that a gaming PC? It must be, thats all it's used for. If I found an old Pentium 166 and just for games, is that also not a gaming PC?

    --
    "I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
  4. not just MMOs by snuf23 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "Which means that there is little advantage to being a PC Gamer unless you're into MMOGs."

    Or RTS games that actually have a decent interface. Or just about any kind of strategy game in general such as Civilization or Heroes of Might and Magic. Or if you want to play FPS games with a mouse (Wii MAY help to change this, but not PS3 or Xbox 360).

    --
    Sometimes my arms bend back.