PC Gaming Alliance buoyant over platform

Despite the state of PC gaming recently being described as "tragic" and "in disarray" by the likes of Peter Molyneux and Cliff Bleszinski, the newly-formed PC Gaming Alliance is bullishly confident.

The much-rumoured organisation, now finally unveiled at this year's Game Developers Conference, consists of Activision, Microsoft, Acer/Gateway, Dell/Alienware, Intel, AMD/ATI, NVIDIA, Razer and Epic Games, and is designed to "be the Authoritative Voice of PC Gaming World Wide".

"PCGA members believe that we are stronger and more effective together than any member company is alone," said Randy Strude from the Intel camp. "Our shared vision and group effort will improve PC gaming worldwide."

According to the PCGA website, the Alliance "will promote the PC Gaming Industry and the PC as a gaming platform, provide web and event based forums to discuss, debate and influence all aspects of PC development for gaming for all regions of the world, and guidance to help resolve industry-wide challenges such as: Piracy, Cheating, Security, Consumer experience."

With the rise of consoles as dedicated gaming devices - other entertainment functions notwithstanding - the only recent promotion of the PC platform for gaming has come in the past 12 months with Microsoft's Games for Windows brand.

Exact details on how the Alliance plans to promote the PC as a "gaming platform" and whether that will form some kind of joint marketing budget are yet to be announced.