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PC Gaming World Contracts

As Xbox, Wii, PS3 draw casual gamers away, PCs left with die-hard fans of killing games

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 18, 2007 3:41 PM CST
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(Newser) – The PC gaming industry is on the defensive, with sales of PC games down substantially over the past five years, as less expensive gaming consoles have become more powerful. The Wii, Xbox, and PS3 have lured away casual gamers, leaving the PCs to hardcore gamers playing, first-person shooters and complex role-playing and strategy games, CNET reports.

Part of the problem is that PC games only work well on expensive computers. "Something needs to be done so a person buying a PC at Wal-Mart could be a PC gamer too," an industry insider said. Until that happens, PC games will likely continue to court only a small, lucrative core of die-hard gamers.

In this photo released by World Cyber Games, the world's largest computer and video game festival, Mykola Poplavskyi of the Ukraine CS_team reacts as his teammate makes a play during single elimination tournament action playing Counter-Strike at the World Cyber Games 2007 Grand Final in Seattle, Saturday, Oct., 6, 2007....
In this photo released by World Cyber Games, the world's largest computer and video game festival, Mykola Poplavskyi of the Ukraine CS_team reacts as his teammate makes a play during single elimination...   (Associated Press)
This undated screen shot courtesy of Valve Corp., shows two combatants in Team Fortress 2. The game is one of five packaged in The Orange Box, a new collection of video games for the Xbox 360 and personal computers. (AP Photo/Valve Corp.)
This undated screen shot courtesy of Valve Corp., shows two combatants in "Team Fortress 2." The game is one of five packaged in "The Orange Box," a new collection of video games for the Xbox 360 and...   (Associated Press)
  (Getty Images)
Video game fan Robert Overson, 31 from Highland, CA challenges his son Mathew, 10 to a Wii Sports tennis match game at the E for All Expo on Thurs., Oct. 18, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA. The expo is the first electronic gaming show for the general public where attendees...
Video game fan Robert Overson, 31 from Highland, CA challenges his son Mathew, 10 to a Wii Sports tennis match game at the E for All Expo on Thurs., Oct. 18, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA. The expo is the first...   (Associated Press)
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