There’s a lively debate in the comments section of a Tweakers.net commentary (Dutch) about how PC games are losing ground to console games. Piracy is pinpointed as the primary cause of this, and I’m sure it has a lot to do with it, but the ever increasing prices of games in general must take some of the blame as well.

€50 or more for a videogame is an awful lot of money, especially when many games coming out these days tend to be quite short. While in the past you could lose yourself entirely in a game for weeks, nowadays a singleplayer experience of 10 hours or less is the norm.

The article on Tweakers was prompted by some comments an Infinity Ward employee made in a blog post about the vast amount of pirated CoD4 copies out there. I understand the guy’s frustration, but this is the result of a vicious circle the game industry helped start:

Pirated games -> less games sold -> prices go up to cover for reduced sales -> less people want to buy games at higher price -> more pirated games

There are some ways to break this downward spiral and perhaps save the PC as a gaming platform. One approach is to switch to online distribution channels exclusively (Steam comes to mind) and channel the reduced cost of distribution directly to the customer in the form of lower prices.

Many gamers, myself included, would be much more inclined to buy good PC games if we can do it easily at lower prices, rather than go through the hassle of getting a pirated copy with all the involved risks.

Finally a technology that can deliver us something that we’ve been promised since 1984:

I’ll buy an XBox 360 just to play this game.

Let me emphasize that for you, so you understand the significance. I am a hardcore PC gamer. I despise consoles. I think consoles turn gaming into a brain-destroying, IQ-lowering, undignified affair that stands in direct contrast to the stimulating, intelligence-enhancing and thrilling experience that intricate and well-made PC games bring.

And I will buy an XBox 360 just to play that game. That’s how much I want it.

If you’re wondering what type of console to buy exactly to properly satisfy your gaming urges, look no further than this handy flowchart.

Portal: Best new original game in years. I never had so much fun in a game where nobody died.

Sheer brilliance. Be sure to read the comments for additional hilarity.

In more lighthearted news, there are gamers out there who are unfamiliar with the eclectic oeuvre of Duke Nukem. What’s the world coming to? (Thanks Acidfreaky!)