"Consoles Are Holding PC Games Back" - OBJECTION!!

Console gamers!
How many times have you heard PC gamers complain about how video game consoles are ruining the video game industry and holding back PC gaming? Lost count? Sick of hearing it even?

I've got something here that just might make your day:
- A counter argument.

A lot of PC gamers seem to think the video game industry is in a bad shape and we've got video game consoles to blame for that. And when you ask them what exactly is the problem, their answer is usually something along the lines of:

"Video game graphics and game engines are being held back because the majority of PC games are getting console releases, meaning that 5-year old consoles have to be able to run these games."

Which is not entirely UNTRUE, but it's only one half of the bigger picture.
The bigger picture being that it would be pretty counterproductive anyway to come out with new game engines every year or two to keep up with the constantly evolving PC specs. Especially if it's only to please the niche of PC gamers who actually have the hardest of hardware.
And why would it be counterproductive? Well, because every time a game developer is developing a new in-house engine, it means less people developing video games. And you're not making profit and paying salaries by tinkering with a new game engine. You're making profit and paying salaries by launching new games.
Besides, from a game developer's stanpoint, putting out a new game is where the hard work pays off.

It's the same with my 3D animation studies.
Right now I'm working on an animated short film at school. I'm excited about the progress and the future release of the short film, not the fact that Autodesk just launched their 2013 line of 3D modeling and animation software. In fact, it was kind of a pain in the ass to have to download the 2013 versions of 3Ds Max, Maya and Mudbox 'cause none of the files I've worked on at school with the updated software can be opened on the 2012 software that I had on my home PC.

Which conveniently brings me to my other point:
Externally developed game engines like the widely used Unreal Engine.

If Epic Games came out with a new Unreal Engine and Development Kit every year or two, that too would be a real pain in the game developers' collective arse. Because, again, that would mean more time spent on studying and learning the new tech and less time spent on developing video games.

So there.

Dear PC gamers.
The next time you wanna go tossing around this hackneyed complaint, consider this:
If this was really the case and it was as simple as you make it sound, why does the game industry seem to be blind to this issue? Why aren't there more PC exclusive developers making games that meet the specs of latest gaming PCs?
I dare you to say it's a question of money 'cause then I get to write another counter argument entry.

---

PS.
Can I get a game developer in here?
I wanna have have a game developer in here for a quick interview.
I want it to be somebody respected.

Somebody from... BioWare!
- No, everybody still hates BioWare for Mass Effect 3. (Oh, you silly bumbums.)

Okay, Ubisoft!
- No. Wait. I just checked aaand... everybody hates Ubisoft too. For some reason.

Oooh! Bethesda! Skyrrrrim!
- Nope. Still notorious for their broken-ass games.

Maybe Obsidian?
- Hm. Right. Even I'm still feeling kinda sore about Fallout: New Vegas.

Hey, I know! Valve! I promise I won't ask about Half-Life 3!
- Oh wait. You guys have been using the same engine since 2004. Plus, you're making consoles now.

Naughty Dog?
- Sony exclusive developer. *Sigh*

Right. EA? Activision?
- Fuck... better not even go there.

Okay then. Gearbox Software it is...
- Haven't been hyping about you guys at all lately, have I? ... I bet everybody's over Duke Nukem Forever by now. Good. Let's get on with the interview.

Commander Harvey:
Joining me in this starship's conference room to talk about video game development is none other than Gearbox Software president, Randy Pitchford! ... Who is totally in here with me for real, for this absolutely legitimate interview... Welcome, Randy.

Randy Pitchford:
As I live an breathe! It's my genuine pleasure, Commander.

Commander Harvey:
Nice nod to IGN's Greg Miller there. You two met just last week, I think?
(That worked out nicely. Now I feel like a real video game magazine editor.)

Randy Pitchford:
Yes, we did. I shaved him bald.
All the best to him. Y'know, he's a such likeable guy.

Commander Harvey:
You're a likeable guy yourself! Love the Hawaii shirt, btw.

Randy Pitchford:
Thank you, thank you. My neighbor's dog picked it for me.

Commander Harvey:
You don't say.
Mmmhmmhmmokay..! Let's get down to business!
You and your team at Gearbox Software just wrapped up work on the highly anticipated looter-shooter Borderlands 2 last week. The game is out in North America, right now! And it will be released internationally this Friday.
The game was in development for about two years. Would you say that's a normal development time for a game like this?

Randy Pitchford:
Well, yeah. I mean, this being the second game in a series, some of the development work had already been taken care of. We didn't have to start from scratch when we rolled up our sleeves on Borderlands 2.
But yeah - two, three years sounds like a pretty reasonable development time for a game like this.

Commander Harvey:
How does that compare to the rest of the industry? If some other developer had made the exact same game, would there have been any notable difference in the development time?

Randy Pitchford:
Well, there are bigger game studios with more people working on their games an all that, sure. So I guess some developers may have been able to shave off some of that development time. But what we did with Borderlands 2 - you couldn't have done it much faster than we did.

Commander Harvey:
So two, three years is a pretty average development time for a game like this by industry standards? How much would those development times change if game developers got new game engines to work with every year or two?

Randy Pitchford:
Well, Borderlands one and two are running on pretty much the same tech, which is a heavily modified Unreal Engine 3. If we had switched to newer tech between the two games and had to make modifications to the new engine, that would have extended the development time on the second game by about a year.

Commander Harvey:
That was Gearbox Software president, Randy Pitchford, everybody!
Thanks for the interview that was absolutely not made up at all.

Randy Pitchford:
W-wait. That's it?
That was kind of abrupt... Don't you want to hear my sentiments on this game engine stuff?

Commander Harvey:
Nah. I'm cool, thanks.
*Puts on space suit*

Randy Pitchford:
Whaddya doing? What's with the space suit?

Commander Harvey:
DECOMPRESS CONFERENCE ROOM!!

---

PPS.
Shit, I hope Randy doesn't read that.
I mean, his name reads on that post, like, ten times. All it takes is one of his friends or co-workers googling his goddamn name. And they'll find out I just kinda killed him on my blog.

Source: http://starshipbombus.blogspot.com/2012/09/consoles-are-holding-pc-games-back.html

weather st louis faceoff kings island red hot chili peppers tour orange juice photos doomsday clock