OS Neutral Best outlet to "gift" Mac/PC games?

[Solomani]

My cousin and I have been playing online games, been doing it since we were teenagers (we're both over 30 now, so that's so many years now). Despite the fact that I prefer to use a Mac, and he is strictly a PC gamer dork that derides Apple as a too-expensive yuppy-hipster brand (and he loves to rub it in), we manage to find common ground on a few online Mac-PC cross-platform games like Starcraft, Diablo3, etc.

Since he moved to a different state, it's our main way to stay close… sporadic online gaming.

So this Christmas… I thought about "gifting" him a game that we could both play, a good example is the recently released Baldur's Gate 2 EE. Available for both platforms, and will easily play on somewhat older hardware.

The problem is clear if I went ahead and bought my Mac copy (for myself) through the Mac App Store, which means I probably cannot play online with his Windows copy. So this rules out buying from the Mac App Store.

So my questions are twofold:

#1) Where is there a good selection of online games like BGEE2 for both Macs and PCs. Even slightly older games are fine.

#2) And that place has to allow me to "BUY" my Mac copy for me, and then buy a Windows copy as a gift to send to him. I know the Mac iTunes and App Stores makes it easy to "gift" any music or app, but again… games purchased from the Mac App Store typically will only online play with other Mac users.

We also enjoy Blizzard's games. I think there is an upcoming expansion for Diablo3. I could get him (pre-order) that since it was just announced, he likely doesn't have it yet. Does Blizzard allow "gifting" from their online store?

 

[Cougarcat]

The problem is clear if I went ahead and bought my Mac copy (for myself) through the Mac App Store, which means I probably cannot play online with his Windows copy. So this rules out buying from the Mac App Store.

You can, actually. I would urge you not to buy the game on the MAS, though, and instead buy it from Overhaul directly. This will ensure you are always in-sync version-wise with the PC version. Otherwise, you might be waiting a few weeks for Apple to approve the MAS copy. Overhaul also lets you send a game as a gift when you check out.

You can also gift your friend the Steam version (which is strangely PC-only) although there can also sometimes be a delay in patches there, too (but it looks like it'll be getting better.) But I recommend buying from Overhaul directly for both, to ensure you are both always up to date.

We also enjoy Blizzard's games. I think there is an upcoming expansion for Diablo3. I could get him (pre-order) that since it was just announced, he likely doesn't have it yet. Does Blizzard allow "gifting" from their online store?

I just checked, seems so.

Steam is probably your best bet as far as gifting games go, but note that there are a lot of games that don't support PC/Mac multiplayer, or versions can sometimes go out of sync with updates, especially when a third-party porting house like Aspyr is involved. (This is why I prefer Steam, as if this happens, as it frequently does with Civ V, I have the PC version which I can start up in Bootcamp).

 

[Solomani]

Very helpful information. Thanks Cougarcat.

 

[Huntn]

As I recall, at least on developer/publisher Blizzard at one point included both Mac and PC versions of their game in the same box. But if the same box or not, I'd check Amazon for my purchases. You can find used copies there too. eBay is an option too, for "used", but imo, more risky although they do seem to be more focused on the buyer to the detriment of the seller.