PC Gaming Has Modified Much less Than You Assume (12 examples) – How To Market A Game

It looks like Steam is at all times altering. Every month there’s some “hot new genre” rendering the sport you make fully old-fashioned. But is that really true?

For a sanity examine, I purchased a 1993 version of Computer Gaming World journal simply to remind myself of the place PC gaming was 30+ years in the past.

I purchased CGW particularly as a result of in the back of each concern they publish a reader ballot rating the readership’s 100 favourite video games. This is nice quantitative information that I can graph, examine, and monitor.

So to examine my “vibes” I graphed the reader ballot from June 1993. Shockingly, this graph appears fairly “Crafty-buildy-strategy-simulationy” doesn’t it? 

Top genres: Strategy, Point & Click Adventure, RPG, Simulation. 

Least favourite: Puzzle and platformer.

*NOTE: for a bit extra context on this, see the following part

My normal thesis is Steam and TYPES of video games that resonate with the Steam playerbase are rooted within the legacy of PC gaming. There is a sure tradition that endures 30+ years later. 

TL;DR of in the present day’s weblog is that this: Steam truly hasn’t modified that a lot from it’s PC roots and relatively than worrying about how a lot is altering, look to what’s constant however evolving on high of it.

For builders who had been console-first throughout their formative game-playing-years, you will have been imprinted with a sure “style” of sport. Unfortunately, console gaming is kind of a special tradition than its PC counterpart. I believe many indie sport “failures” are as a result of builders who’ve a “console-culture” mindset are attempting to make a sport for an viewers that’s “PC-culture.” 

Ironically, the sensation that “Steam is changing”, is extra seemingly that the person developer is. These console-first builders are studying in actual time and by taking a look at their gross sales information, that the genres that may work on consoles, don’t work on Steam. I usually discover essentially the most profitable builders with first time hits on Steam grew up taking part in PC video games. They perceive PC as their native tongue.

It is feasible for builders who grew up console-first-and-only to be taught the tradition of PC and make profitable video games, however step one is simply recognizing the variations. This can also be the place I see a number of friction from builders. “But I don’t like those types of games” is the widespread chorus. Well, when in Rome, do because the Romans do. And Steam is video video games’ Rome.

Once you understand that Steam’s ancestor is PC tradition, you will note that not a lot is altering

In in the present day’s weblog put up I’m going to level out a bunch of issues I noticed within the June 1993 version of CGW that rhyme with in the present day’s Steam market. If you need to browse the entire journal, there is a scan up on the Internet Archive.

If you need to watch me browse the journal with commentary, I additionally uploaded a video:

Note concerning the graph:

I constructed the above graph based mostly on this “top 100 chart” that CGW editors put collectively. In each concern there was a card that contained 100 video games picked by the editors. Readers had been inspired to guage the checklist and price each sport they performed on an A-F letter grade scale then mail it in to the journal. Every concern the editors would tabulate the outcomes and current it on the previous couple of pages of the journal.

Here is the precise chart from the June 1993 concern of CGW.

We can all poke holes on this pre-internet methodology of accumulating information and the sampling, however it’s a neat little bit of quantitative information that’s stronger than anecdotal proof resembling  “well I used to play some platformers on my dad’s work computer.”

The genres in my graph had been offered by CGW editors. For my bar graph above, I did make some style changes:

• I moved Tetris and Lemmings out into “Puzzle” (they had been listed as “Action”).
• I moved Wolfenstein 3D to FPS. (It was additionally “Action.”) – I simply broke it out as a result of it was attention-grabbing to name out.
• I merged “Wargame” into “Strategy”. I suppose Wargaming was an enormous distinction again within the day which is now virtually meaningless.
• I moved Out of this World to Platformer (It was additionally “Action.”) The journal by no means used the phrase “platformer” however I did that to indicate how few true “platformers” there have been on the time on PC.

Also, I do know there was Commander Keen, Prince of Persia. But puzzle video games or platformers by no means confirmed up on the highest 100 checklist. Platformers had been massive on consoles however the editorial board or the readers didn’t dedicate a lot actual property to discussing them within the journal.

Things from Nineteen Nineties PC tradition that hasn’t modified

Here is a random form of issues that I pulled from the journal that present, though it looks like Steam and the video games on it are altering so much, there isn’t that a lot new.

#1 The PC aesthetic continues to be grim darkish, gritty, fantasy

Look at this advert for Lands of Lore. Look at these brutish guys. Look at that tracery work on the framing structure. This might be the capsule artwork for a Hooded Horse sport in the present day.

Look at how gritty this Ashes of Empire advert is! Broken rebar?! Roughed out concrete. Perfect.

#2 Sex existed earlier than you had been born

Here is a full web page commercial from the journal for the primary Hentai sport dropped at the western market. 

PC gaming has an older-player-base, open, non-gate-kept market, and that signifies that NSFW content material flourished right here. People complaining about NSFW content material on Steam (which is persistently solely 10% of all video games) don’t understand that it has at all times been a factor on PC. There is nothing new. Steam didn’t out of the blue get invaded by porn, it has at all times been there, it is going to at all times be there. 

#3 EA has at all times had crappy software program and help, Bethesda has at all times been janky

In an article about buyer help CGW requested readers to price what firms had one of the best help and which had the worst. 

EA had the best web negativity score at -14. 

Bethesda subsequent at -6.

Things by no means change.

Also have a look at how a lot individuals love MicroProse and Sierra. 

Side historic notice: In retro gaming circles a little bit of revisionism has emerged round the concept that Lucas Arts made the great, cool, higher written, level & click on journey video games whereas everybody knew that Sierra made trash ones the place you’d have walking-dead states should you didn’t seize the coin from the fountain after which fed the ants by the outdated mill. But taking a look at this information, individuals beloved Sierra. Their help had a +47 whereas Lucas arts solely had a +7. Granted this information is for Support. Maybe individuals like Sierra help as a result of whenever you referred to as they acquired you out of the irritating puzzles the place as no person was calling Lucas arts help?

#4 PC gamers worth complicated UIs

Both Steam and PC gamers love complexity. They need deep complicated video games which might be exhausting to determine however reward deep understanding. 

The dev impulse to say “We removed all UI so that you are immersed in the experience” shouldn’t be at all times the fitting route for all PC gamers. 

A sophisticated UI tells PC gamers “this game has depth. This game will become your life.”

Look at this advert for a flight simulator the place the UI is the primary promoting proposition. SIDE NOTE: I informed you… present UI in your Steam screenshots.

Look at this UI for Hearts of Iron IV which was launched in 2016. Look at this nasty-ass UI. THIS IS PC-Style.

Clean UI says it’s for youngsters on consoles or losers on cellular. Complex UI says this can be a “real game.” (That is laptop gamers saying that, that sentiment doesn’t replicate my views or opinions so don’t yell at me)

#5 Indie sport builders exist and are hustling

XBOX Live digital distribution didn’t invent Indie Games. The individuals in “Indie Game The Movie” weren’t the primary indie builders. The truth {that a} PC can each play and make a sport signifies that the idea of constructing and promoting your personal sport is as outdated because the system itself. 

Skimming by way of the journal you will note a pair adverts like this one. 

Individuals used to position adverts for his or her video games in bodily magazines. This man gives his dwelling telephone quantity however asks that you just name him on “Evenings Only” (timezone not specified). Also notice that he lists “Department C” within the deal with. I regarded the deal with up on google avenue view and it’s only a home. He simply calls his workplace “Department C” to sound official. 

Gotta love the gumption to try to promote a sport with no screenshots, and restricted descriptions of the video games. You simply needed to belief you had been getting the sport after mailing this man a examine. Also he was promoting his video games for $25 every which was $56.82 adjusted for inflation. Games actually have gotten cheaper.

Computer Gaming World additionally had evaluate roundups of indie video games. There was no “wishlist on Steam” name to motion. Instead, the creators dwelling addresses had been simply listed on the finish of the evaluate with a telephone quantity. People used to simply Dox themselves and everybody survived. 

#6 Indie sport builders don’t know how one can market themselves

The most attention-grabbing a part of the indie “review “Best of the Rest” part was that the editors added a particular part begging builders to please make their video games extra presentable so they might truly write them up within the journal.

Look at the following tips

• “Submissions should be sent on a NEW floppy disk…at the least, use a new label and type the name of the program on it.”
• “Include a printed or typed cover letter that describes the submission.”

This guidelines is sort of precisely just like the weblog post Wanderbots wrote to ensure that indie devs actually give him the right information for coverage. He also tweeted this information:

Please, put within the effort when you’re reaching out to individuals who would possibly cowl your sport.

#7 There had been “too many games”

Here is a mail order catalog advert the place you may order video games direct from “Disk-count software.” I roughly estimated that this checklist has 1,130 video games on the market. That is denser than the Steam Front web page. Discoverability has at all times been exhausting.

#8 A controller is NOT the first manner PC players work together with video games

In CGW you see a number of adverts for controller peripherals. Like this:

Or this

Or this superior one the place you may flip your desk chair right into a cockpit:

There is not any standardized gamepad or joystick on PC like there’s on consoles. If you wished to make use of a joystick, you had to purchase separate peripherals and typically set up particular ports into your pc to attach them. It was costly. It was time consuming. Developers couldn’t assume that gamers had a controller. 

On PC, the one customary was a keyboard and later a mouse. So these had been the first types of sport enter.

Not a lot has modified: 

In 2024 valve published a Steamworks blog that showed that only 15% of gaming sessions on Steam involved a controller

Since 2018, every day common controller use has tripled from ~5% to as much as 15% of all periods

I believe this aversion to controllers explains why platformers simply aren’t widespread on Steam. The participant base simply likes video games with a mouse and keyboard. AND I KNOW, some individuals performed Celeste on keyboard. But that’s insane.

#9 PC gamers are extra exhausting core than you count on even after you account for them being extra exhausting core

Here is a 100% severe letter from a CGW reader describing his gaming setup. He purchased an outdated fighter jet cockpit and put in two gaming PCs in it full with a cover that encloses him in a protected bubble of gaming. He even put in a telephone and intercom contained in the system so his spouse can name him to dinner.

This is why I believe it’s a mistake to market your Steam sport as “A short game that respects your time.” Jetfighter man constructed a bodily bubble into his home so he wouldn’t be bothered. He doesn’t need to get out of his bubble. Respecting this man’s time means giving him a sport that has a lot content material he can proceed to reside in his bubble. Only his spouse can break him out of it.

This man is why I believe indies ought to cease making an attempt to focus on “casual” players (see this weblog). You ought to goal exhausting core players as a result of they’re prepared to drop hundreds of {dollars} on their passion. Buying your sport is nothing to them after they construct their very own jet pc.

Respect participant’s time! Give them a sport that wastes a lot of it. They will thanks for it.

#10 The PC participant is superior to console heathens (of their thoughts)

PC gamers solely slightly-ironically call themselves the “PC Masterrace” In their thoughts they’re older, smarter, extra exhausting core than these console simpletons. 

And they aren’t mistaken precisely. Look at this text about some information that was offered at a convention. Check out this quote particularly. (Note on the time “video game users” means console players.)

The SPA repeatedly interviews a random sampling of pc or online game customers and compiles the information for the advantage of its members. The figures launched at this assembly verify that private pc customers are financially higher off and have the benefit of extra schooling than the common inhabitants generally and people who solely play video video games.

#11 Horror could be very widespread, and everybody underestimates it

In this evaluate for “Alone in the Dark” this reviewer says “horror seems to be the ‘in’ genre this year…So it’s still a rich field, and the publishers are finally getting around to sowing a few seeds.”

Everyone at all times underestimates the presence of horror video games on PC and is shocked that it’s such an vital style. Every 12 months I collate all of the video games which have earned over 1000 opinions and there are persistently extra horror video games on that checklist than another style. But the press by no means writes about how widespread horror is. 

Devs don’t imagine it both. They say “Is horror still going to be a thing? Chris said it is so that means it will be oversaturated next year.” 

Just like within the movie world, I believe horror is regarded down upon as crass and in dangerous style. It not often makes the “best games lists.” But followers are like “WE LOVE THIS.” 

Horror was widespread 30 years in the past, will probably be widespread in 30 years sooner or later. It by no means modifications. I nonetheless suppose each indie ought to make one horror sport.

#12 You want skilled artwork to market your sport

In the center of the journal is that this full web page advert by Michael Winterbauer who did wonderful field covers for video games like Wing Commander.

Check this copy: “When you need the finest in computer game illustration, call Michael Winterbauer.”

This is a “capsule” artist promoting himself in 1993. 

Michael is still working today (facebook link). Not positive if he nonetheless takes commissions, unsure his costs. Maybe you may rent him, it could be a cool callback to traditional PC gaming to have him make your capsule.

Summary: What has modified?

The high genres in 1993 had been Strategy, simulation, RPGs, and narrative video games within the type of Point & Click adventures. The gamers had been exhausting core. They analysis every part a couple of sport.

This is why I’m not anxious that Steam shall be stuffed with AI slop, or pay-to-win F2P junk just like the extra informal app shops. There must be a closing refuge for the “true gamers.” The PC playerbase is so hardcore they destroy something that has a whiff of being a money seize. They actually do like gaming for gaming sake.  

However gaming tradition has modified in some methods from the 90s.

First, these are new / various genres:

Although crafty-buildy-strategy-simulationy video games had been massive then and now, the large evolution that separates Nineteen Nineties and 2020s PC is the depth of the genres. 

Point & Click has shattered into Visual Novels and action-adventure dude-with-a-sword video games. I believe some followers of P&C journey video games had been followers as a result of these video games had been the AAA titles of their time. They had been one of the best visuals, most interactive tales, highest manufacturing values. When different genres turned extra epic than Point and Click (like FPS), the followers moved over to FPS

City Builders was once lumped into Strategy or Simulation. There are nonetheless metropolis builders in the present day, however there are additionally factorio fashion video games, tower protection (with metropolis builder mechanics), farming video games like Stardew Valley, and comfy administration video games like Minami Lane and Tiny Glade. 

Crafty video games aka Open World Survival Craft video games like Minecraft, Valheim, and ARK: Survival Evolved are a brand new addition to gaming however I’d argue their lineage comes from the Open World video games of Bethesda in addition to useful resource wealthy motion dungeon crawlers like Diablo.

Basically each father or mother style continues to be the identical, however niches have flourished. There has been an awesome Cambrian explosion and there are sub sub sub genres that didn’t exist within the Nineteen Nineties. 

So sure the “niche” genres would possibly change or emerge or sink each 5 years or so, however should you pull again and have a look at what the grand-father style it developed out of, you will note that it’s virtually at all times Crafty-Buildy-Strategy-Simulation (and horror) video games.