Epic's Mark Rein: Intel is killing PC Gaming

Iria · Jul 13, 2006, 03:33 AM

Source: JoyStiq
__________
A couple of hours ago, Epic Vice President Mark Rein opened the Develop Conference in Brighton with a keynote covering topics ranging from the economics of next-generation games, episodic content and middleware (which, incidentally, Epic makes a lot of its money from). The majority of the second half of his keynote took a critical look at Intel's place within gaming; specifically, Mark thinks "Intel is killing PC gaming".

Over several slides on the topic, Mark laid out the reasons he thinks that PC gaming is being harmed by Intel. He pointed the finger at Intel's integrated graphics chips. Integrated chipsets are often incapable of playing the latest (and certainly next-generation) games at any kind of graphics settings. Despite this, they are wildly popular amongst retailers. According to Mark's figures, 80% of laptops and 55% of desktops (note: he failed to cite a source for these figures) feature integrated graphics. That's bad news for companies like Epic, which are investing heavily into extremely demanding next-generation games.

Tipstaff · Jul 13, 2006, 06:30 AM

"Over several slides on the topic, Mark laid out the reasons he thinks that PC gaming is being harmed by Intel. He pointed the finger at Intel's integrated graphics chips. Integrated chipsets are often incapable of playing the latest (and certainly next-generation) games at any kind of graphics settings. Despite this, they are wildly popular amongst retailers. According to Mark's figures, 80% of laptops and 55% of desktops (note: he failed to cite a source for these figures) feature integrated graphics. That's bad news for companies like Epic, which are investing heavily into extremely demanding next-generation games."

Jeezuz, I once thought that this guy was a genius. Boy was I #%@$# wrong.

Desktop boards have integrated graphics for cost reasons. People buy systems with onboard graphics for convenience, and to save money. A person or company can buy a machine for X dollars, and get up an running right away for very little money. For a company that means 1 more complete computer for the price of 2 video cards of decent gaming quality. BTW, why is he picking on Intel? Even though boards that have integrated ATI or Nvidia graphics are faster than Intels "overall" (although the newer GMA X3000 from Intel is pretty good) I damn well wouldn't do any serious gaming on them. That's not what they are for. He also doesn't seem to understand that most boards that do have integrated graphics on them ALSO have a dedicated PCIE graphics slot (previously an AGP slot) for a simple reason: upgrading. Later, these same people can buy a dedicated grahics card so that they can game if and when they can afford to do so.

As for laptops, hell, most people buy cheap laptops, and do not do serious gaming on them for the same reasons as with the desktop boards: convenience, and cost. They buy cheap laptops for work, browsing the net, and for pure portability. If they are going to do any serious gaming on a laptop then they buy the more expensive ones with dedicated graphics cards just for that purpose.

Get your head outta your @$$, Mark.

SFOSOK · Jul 13, 2006, 07:09 AM

Wait....shouldn't it be retailer's or dumb customers hurting gaming?

I don't like Intel but I believe this guy does have a clue what he is talking about.

Matth · Jul 13, 2006, 08:40 PM

Once upon a time, playable games could be written to use 1/1000th of current RAM, CPU and graphics power - is the art of programming dead, killed by the easy availability of power?

Judas · Jul 13, 2006, 08:54 PM

although it's meh/meh on both sides.

For one, people don't understand.. they just don't seem to grasp it. Hell, alot of these computer shops and stores and whatnot arn't helping matter either by strickly selling a machine as "upgradeable" only to be let on buy being told 2 years later that the sucker is in no way upgradeable. and then to take it one step further, not upgradeable without removing older components, like smaller sticks of ram and replacing with larger?.

I find Intel/SiS's intergrated chipsets absalutely nothing but junk. Even the simpliest of 3D acceleration is pitiful. ATI/NVidia's intergrated chips actually can do something. Hell, i've be selling the ATI Xpress 200 boards with the intergrated IGP, those little suckers do a mighty fine job for what they have for specs. Nothing steller, but something reguardless. Plus the overall video performance is 10 fold better in other areas.

It's confusion about how things work that causes the problems, and then what really drives me nutz is that people base there computer gaming experiences on these el-cheapo rigs and call it crap in comparison to consoles.

Jul 13, 2006, 03:33 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Epic's Mark Rein: Intel is killing PC Gaming Source: JoyStiq __________ A couple of hours ago, Epic Vice President Mark Rein opened the Develop Conference in Brighton with a keynote covering topics ranging from the economics of next-generation games, episodic content and middleware (which, incidentally, Epic makes a lot of its money from). The majority of the second half of his keynote took a critical look at Intel's place within gaming; specifically, Mark thinks "Intel is killing PC gaming". Over several slides on the topic, Mark laid out the reasons he thinks that PC gaming is being harmed by Intel. He pointed the finger at Intel's integrated graphics chips. Integrated chipsets are often incapable of playing the latest (and certainly next-generation) games at any kind of graphics settings. Despite this, they are wildly popular amongst retailers. According to Mark's figures, 80% of laptops and 55% of desktops (note: he failed to cite a source for these figures) feature integrated graphics. That's bad news for companies like Epic, which are investing heavily into extremely demanding next-generation games.

Jul 13, 2006, 06:30 AM	#2
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 191 System Specs	"Over several slides on the topic, Mark laid out the reasons he thinks that PC gaming is being harmed by Intel. He pointed the finger at Intel's integrated graphics chips. Integrated chipsets are often incapable of playing the latest (and certainly next-generation) games at any kind of graphics settings. Despite this, they are wildly popular amongst retailers. According to Mark's figures, 80% of laptops and 55% of desktops (note: he failed to cite a source for these figures) feature integrated graphics. That's bad news for companies like Epic, which are investing heavily into extremely demanding next-generation games." Jeezuz, I once thought that this guy was a genius. Boy was I #%@$# wrong. Desktop boards have integrated graphics for cost reasons. People buy systems with onboard graphics for convenience, and to save money. A person or company can buy a machine for X dollars, and get up an running right away for very little money. For a company that means 1 more complete computer for the price of 2 video cards of decent gaming quality. BTW, why is he picking on Intel? Even though boards that have integrated ATI or Nvidia graphics are faster than Intels "overall" (although the newer GMA X3000 from Intel is pretty good) I damn well wouldn't do any serious gaming on them. That's not what they are for. He also doesn't seem to understand that most boards that do have integrated graphics on them ALSO have a dedicated PCIE graphics slot (previously an AGP slot) for a simple reason: upgrading. Later, these same people can buy a dedicated grahics card so that they can game if and when they can afford to do so. As for laptops, hell, most people buy cheap laptops, and do not do serious gaming on them for the same reasons as with the desktop boards: convenience, and cost. They buy cheap laptops for work, browsing the net, and for pure portability. If they are going to do any serious gaming on a laptop then they buy the more expensive ones with dedicated graphics cards just for that purpose. Get your head outta your @$$, Mark. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Jul 13, 2006, 07:09 AM	#3
SFOSOK 939 Goin Strong Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,033 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	Wait....shouldn't it be retailer's or dumb customers hurting gaming? I don't like Intel but I believe this guy does have a clue what he is talking about. __________________ Warning - Explicit Content Preceeding METAL!!

Jul 13, 2006, 08:40 PM	#4
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Once upon a time, playable games could be written to use 1/1000th of current RAM, CPU and graphics power - is the art of programming dead, killed by the easy availability of power? __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread