Why gamers are still loyal to their PCs

With a host of new video game platforms popping up in the last decade, few would have been surprised to see the end of PC gaming. But despite a variety of impressive alternatives, many gamers are staying loyal to the platform.

To stay viable in the marketplace, PC game developers have chosen a mixed strategy of nostalgia and innovation. Some games still reach out to a fanbase that grew up tapping the spacebar and clicking the mouse for desktop classics. Several websites are selling cheap, copyright-free versions of old favorites such as Duke Nukem, Oregon Trail and Myst.

But game developers have also shown a willingness to innovate and distinguish the PC platform in recent years. Popular series such as Starcraft and Civilization received next-generation facelifts that have generated as much buzz as any console competitors.

Catering to long-time gamers may have been a wise decision, but the industry has also received a boost from new gamers gained through social media. After the release of Farmville through Facebook, it didn't take long for tens of millions of users to realize PC games are still relevant, fun and a great distraction from work.