Is a reboot worth $30?

[macfaninpdx]

So I see that Feral will be shipping Fable: The Lost Chronicles at the end of the month. The thing is, it will be $50. I also see that it is sold for Windows for $20.

Since I have Windows installed via Bootcamp, my question is this: is there any reason, other than the convenience of not having to reboot every time I want to play the game, to spend the extra $30 on the game? I mean, the Mac version will play just as well as the Windows version - but not better - on the same hardware, right?

 

[ebel3003]

Fable is an amazing game, definitely worth the money. It isn't worth the extra $30, though. Just buy it for Windows and stomach the reboot. It isn't worth it for the minor convenience.

 

[Senor360]

Fables worth...

I remember buying this for my 360 when it came out. Returned it 2 days later. Main story line content was incredibly short. Just couldn't see what the buzz was about. I'll rent the full sequel, when it comes, next time.

 

[macfaninpdx]

You know, after thinking it over for a while, I realized that I am going to buy the Mac native version. It really sucks that it is so expensive, but unless I do my part to support the mac developer community, that will never change.

So to answer my own question, no. A reboot is not worth the $30. But supporting the mac community with hopes that more developers will release simultaneously for Mac and PC in the future... priceless. OK, well, $50 at least.

 

[sushi]

You know, after thinking it over for a while, I realized that I am going to buy the Mac native version. It really sucks that it is so expensive, but unless I do my part to support the mac developer community, that will never change.

So to answer my own question, no. A reboot is not worth the $30. But supporting the mac community with hopes that more developers will release simultaneously for Mac and PC in the future... priceless. OK, well, $50 at least.

I would agree with this. Plus rebooting to play a game is not desirable compared to running a game natively provided all things are considered equal game wise.

And if Mac users do not buy Mac versions, then what is the motivation for companies to produce them in the first place.

Yeah paying more is not fun at all. Hopefully that will change in the future.

 

[kkat69]

And if Mac users do not buy Mac versions, then what is the motivation for companies to produce them in the first place.

Yeah paying more is not fun at all. Hopefully that will change in the future.

This is one of the reason's I try to stay away from dual booting. I prefer to support mac gaming when at all possible.

Thing is, (from my reading) Mac games (which have cheaper windows counterparts) are more expensive are due to port licenses (Feral/Aspyr/etc pay fees for being able to port) plus the extra overhead developer cost for native porting. The prices tend to stay higher than the windows versions longer too. These companies that are graciously bringing us these native ports have to make money too.

Sucks? yes it does. If companies will just code their games to allow native installs on both windows and mac's from one single disk (BLIZZARD ANYONE?) they will increase their sales greatly.

 

[EvryDayImShufln]

Heres your solution

Buy the PC version. Download the mac version from bittorrent.
Put in your PC serial code (I assume this works as it works on many, many games I've tried) and there you go.

 

[crap freakboy]

Heres your solution

Buy the PC version. Download the mac version from bittorrent.
Put in your PC serial code (I assume this works as it works on many, many games I've tried) and there you go.

Being a ex-carracho whore I feel I can't pass comment on this, yet I'll be guessing there may be few who may.

 

[macfaninpdx]

You know, after thinking it over for a while, I realized that I am going to buy the Mac native version. It really sucks that it is so expensive, but unless I do my part to support the mac developer community, that will never change.

Heres your solution

Buy the PC version. Download the mac version from bittorrent.
Put in your PC serial code (I assume this works as it works on many, many games I've tried) and there you go.

It appears you missed the sentiment of my second post...

 

[benbondu]

I would agree with this. Plus rebooting to play a game is not desirable compared to running a game natively provided all things are considered equal game wise.

And if Mac users do not buy Mac versions, then what is the motivation for companies to produce them in the first place.

Yeah paying more is not fun at all. Hopefully that will change in the future.

I think that misses the point of the original question: Is it worth $30 to not have to reboot to play a game? That's not a trivial amount of money; especially considering the cost of the Windows version.

If you had a friend who could port the game personally for you for $30, would you take that offer? I know what I'd say: "No thanks. Don't bother. I'll just use Boot Camp." No sense in wasting the guy's time (and my $30) when the only benefit is me not having to reboot.

It's really no different when you scale it up to a company developing for hundreds or thousands of customers. By not buying the port, you're saying: "No thanks. It's not worth that much to me. I'll just use Boot Camp." If the company decides not to port any more games in the future, there really isn't much lost since their product wasn't worth much in the first place. Maybe next time the company will instead develop a new piece of software that is worth your $30.

Personally, I think if Mac ports really cost that much to develop (and I don't doubt they do) then it just isn't a worthwhile endeavor. There havn't been cheap 3rd part ports for 15 years (and the next 15 aren't likely to be different), for reasons outlined in a previous post. I don't think you need to purchase a Mac port to let first party developers know you exist. There are cheaper and more efficient ways to do that, even if they aren't particularly more effective.

On the other hand, if not having to reboot IS worth $30 to you, then spend away. You're the market this developer is going after.

 

[RHD]

You know, after thinking it over for a while, I realized that I am going to buy the Mac native version. It really sucks that it is so expensive, but unless I do my part to support the mac developer community, that will never change.

So to answer my own question, no. A reboot is not worth the $30. But supporting the mac community with hopes that more developers will release simultaneously for Mac and PC in the future... priceless. OK, well, $50 at least.

Well just make sure it actually works first.
I just bought Myst 4 Revelation and Myst 5 and it turns out neither of them work on a new Macbook Pro running Leopard, I downloaded patches and everything, and I can't get a refund because in the UK no shop will refund software once it's been opened. I have to say this has been typical of all my attempts to run games on the Mac the only exception to date being MDK which shipped with my Bondi iMac years ago.
It annoys me that Ubisoft does not bother keep it's mac versions updated.

 

[macfaninpdx]

I think that misses the point of the original question: Is it worth $30 to not have to reboot to play a game? That's not a trivial amount of money; especially considering the cost of the Windows version.

I agree, although for a more direct comparison it would be more appropriate to compare this upcoming Mac version to the price of Fable when it originally shipped for Windows. I don't know what it sold for originally, but I would be willing to bet that it was closer to $40, or even $50. It is only $20 now because it has been out so long that the demand is low, and prices drop over time.

If both versions were released (new) at the same time, then any price differential would be indicative of either the higher cost of licensing/producing Mac games, or more realistically the lower supply of buyers of Mac games. In the case for games such as Warcraft where both versions are shipped at the same time and for the same price, I would imagine their business model combines the cost of all production, both Windows and Mac - and hence is worked into the initial price.

But I do think that buying any Mac software - whether it is a port where a company licenses the title from another company, or original software written for the mac - does support the Mac development community.

 

[sushi]

On the other hand, if not having to reboot IS worth $30 to you, then spend away. You're the market this developer is going after.

Up front, I am not a gamer.

However, there are a few games I enjoy playing. I want them so I am willing to pay the cost.

As for dual booting, I would much rather not have the need to dual boot to play a game. Give me a Mac version any day.

That is why I mentioned about supporting those companies that make Mac versions. If we don't, later we will be sitting around wondering why there are no games for the Mac or why it takes companies so long to port PC games to the Mac platform.