PC gaming is dying... again?

Is there any outstanding TBS console games like GalCiv, Space Empires, MOO, Total War, Master of Magic? It's the only PC game genre (TBS) I like to play. And yes, the possibility to modify PC game is the great advantage wich can extend a game life.

Isnt this like the 6th time pc games started dying?

PC gaming may never die, but every new console generation developers shift to the new console.  Once the consoles have been out a while traffic on the PC gets steady again.

And the numbers do shrink year over year on non casual PC game releases, last I heard.

Unless consoles start making more use out of a keyboard and mouse there are going to be a lot of games which will never work well on the console platform.  I have no allegiance to any one platform for playing video games, the only thing that is important to me is that I can play the games I want.  Unfortunately, consoles simply can't accommodate all the types of games I enjoy.

"Do you think that professional video games would dissapear from the world of PC?"      Answer: No.  When all the businesses in the world starts using Playstation 6 or Xbox 13 then I'll be concerned.  Until then, if your using a console its because you lack the required skills, time, money, or interest in video gaming on a pc.  I don't see pc's leaving our culture anytime soon.  Also, what are some of the very first programs for a pc?  You guessed it, games.  Many people will migrate back and forth depending on the quality of games released by the console makers.  They just want to play a great game.  The majority of us though will be playing pc games until we die.

 "Do you think this interest drop for PC games will hinder the sales of Elemental?"      Answer:  Maybe, but doubtful.  My take is that the economy is not doing well.  I think people will make fewer purchases in general.  However, Elemental could be one of those "If I only get to buy one game this year what would it be..I know Elemental: War of Magic!"  It's a game with a new engine, developed by a respected small publisher, has lots of options at the beginning of a game.  You can play multiplayer or singleplayer, online or offline, is being made to be very mod friendly/gamer friendly and the owner of the company is spending large amounts of time and effort to communicate with the public at large on how to make the best game possible.  Personally, I hope it sells 10million copies.

  As an aside, I think your statement here- "Console games are now as powerful as PC games, they allow you to play online and they do not have the bugs of the PC: compatibility problems, crashes, etc. Like my friend once said: "when you want to play a console game, you place the game in the console, you push power and it works". The only advantage the PC game has right now, is that you can mod your game. Which is only a matter of time since consoles now have hard drives."-is completely wrong.  PC's have functionallity beyond the scope of games.  Also, no game is more "powerful" than another.   

Once Starcraft II comes out, none of us PC gamers will need any new games for 4 years.

My answer to both questions is "no".

Is PC gaming changing & evoloving?  Yes.  Is it dying?  Not in the slightest. 

you only have to experience the consolitis of many PC titles these days to know that PC gaming is already dead. yes, it remains relatively strong in a few areas, but the console is killing us in the marketplace. hence virtually everyone moving to cross-platform development. and such development often comes with bad textures, poor control options & UI, simplified gameplay etc.

piracy has already killed PC gaming. how long the death throes last depends on how many of us stalwarts will continue to shell out cash for titles we feel are becoming more and more like console games.

*wink* nicely said general

For strategy games & MMORPGs PCs are the totally dominant platform.  For fighting/racing/sports games consoles are dominant, and PC gaming in these genres may well be "dying".  Adventure/RPG/FPS games are the ones that are disputed territory, but until consoles get mods and a mouse I don't see these games leaving the PC market.  So while the markets are segregating somewhat, PC gaming is not dying, just like it wasn't dying the last nineteen times someone claimed it was.

And the reason you're seeing fewer PC games on shelves is the explosion in digital distribution.  As bandwidth becomes cheaper and physical distribution becomes more expensive, digital distribution makes more and more economic sense.

key press, mouse click - its all the same to me. user actions.

I prefer making that single well thought out and well timed click which changes the whole battle in my favour.

I don't think PC are dying at all, it is just that they have been moved to different platforms of distribution, for example Steam and Impulse, however, I am seeing more and more interesting games are coming out for consoles only.