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Mac Gamers: Are we a rare breed?
- Thread starter CJM
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I know several people who totally focused on games and did not want to have two computers switched to PC. I guess I could see it as lately 95% of the games I do play are either PC or console. But I won't give up my Mac for every day use and now that I have one that will run Vista, I'm in good shape.
Not primarily gaming for me either. If I had the time to play lots of games, I'd buy a console.
The few Mac games I played have generally been good (Doom 3/CoD2/BF2142/ETQW). I've never played the Windows versions of these games so I can't compare them.
What would be good is if the Mac versions were released at the same time; CoD4 being a case in point. I appreciate that we Maccers are a small minority but is it too much to ask for a semblance of equal treatment once in a while?
Apple on the other hand could try and encourage more games by building an affordable gaming Mac. Someone here said the Mac Pro is good for gaming - do you know how much they cost?!!
Low Mac ownership and games is really a self-fulfilling prophecy: the software houses know there aren't many Mac gamers so they think it's too risky to spend much on development. As a consequence, we don't see many games. People who are thinking of buying a gaming puter know Macs have a very limited catalogue so they don't buy one. And so the story keeps repeating itself.
The few Mac games I played have generally been good (Doom 3/CoD2/BF2142/ETQW). I've never played the Windows versions of these games so I can't compare them.
What would be good is if the Mac versions were released at the same time; CoD4 being a case in point. I appreciate that we Maccers are a small minority but is it too much to ask for a semblance of equal treatment once in a while?
Apple on the other hand could try and encourage more games by building an affordable gaming Mac. Someone here said the Mac Pro is good for gaming - do you know how much they cost?!!
Low Mac ownership and games is really a self-fulfilling prophecy: the software houses know there aren't many Mac gamers so they think it's too risky to spend much on development. As a consequence, we don't see many games. People who are thinking of buying a gaming puter know Macs have a very limited catalogue so they don't buy one. And so the story keeps repeating itself.
I am a gaming fanatic. I only have macs which keeps me limited to what I can play but with my new mac pro I booted up vista just for games not available to apple users like Age of Conan.
Ok... So I don't know if this really is me venting or bringing up a concern that others are also thinking but here goes.
I have a Mac Pro with the 8800GT 512. This is a very capable card and I love playing games like Crysis, WoW, and Age of Conan with it, but i can't stop myself from thinking about how well a more graphic intensive game like Age of Conan would run if there was a better consumer priced video card available. I know apple likes to be in control of what gets put in their computers but at the same time don't they see the need and want of the consumer?
I read all the time about people trying to hack the firmware on other video cards to work on their mac pros and setting up SLI with windows using boot camp... I mean... come on! When people are willing to open the computer up and run SLI every time the boot up windows to play games and then change the card back to boot into os x, don't you think it would be profitable to gain access to more of a variety of cards?
I would, in a heartbeat, take the 8800GT out and replace it with a more powerful 1GB card.
**Now before anyone else says it... I know there is another card out there that is 1.5GB but at the same time... well... lets see... what's the price of that card? And, not to mention, it isn't available in an upgrade kit you can only get it BTO when you purchase.**
Just saying it would be nice to gain access to faster cards at a more reasonable price like PC users.
Anyone else share this thought?
I have a Mac Pro with the 8800GT 512. This is a very capable card and I love playing games like Crysis, WoW, and Age of Conan with it, but i can't stop myself from thinking about how well a more graphic intensive game like Age of Conan would run if there was a better consumer priced video card available. I know apple likes to be in control of what gets put in their computers but at the same time don't they see the need and want of the consumer?
I read all the time about people trying to hack the firmware on other video cards to work on their mac pros and setting up SLI with windows using boot camp... I mean... come on! When people are willing to open the computer up and run SLI every time the boot up windows to play games and then change the card back to boot into os x, don't you think it would be profitable to gain access to more of a variety of cards?
I would, in a heartbeat, take the 8800GT out and replace it with a more powerful 1GB card.
**Now before anyone else says it... I know there is another card out there that is 1.5GB but at the same time... well... lets see... what's the price of that card? And, not to mention, it isn't available in an upgrade kit you can only get it BTO when you purchase.**
Just saying it would be nice to gain access to faster cards at a more reasonable price like PC users.
Anyone else share this thought?
More choice of cards--BTO and aftermarket--would be great. I'd want SLI or Crossfire for sure, if I was going all the way and configuring a tower.
(I don't think it's about Apple "wanting to control" what cards you install. They are fine with changing the internals--they make it easier to access than on a PC! However, support from third parties seems to be lacking. And they may indeed be something Apple could do more about: putting extra pressure on the graphics card companies, and offering extra help in making drivers. Or maybe Apple is already putting as much time and effort as they can into that--maybe it's just that it's not WORTH those companies' while to make a wider range of Mac products. After all, the Mac Pro market is but a fraction of the Mac market as a whole.)
(I don't think it's about Apple "wanting to control" what cards you install. They are fine with changing the internals--they make it easier to access than on a PC! However, support from third parties seems to be lacking. And they may indeed be something Apple could do more about: putting extra pressure on the graphics card companies, and offering extra help in making drivers. Or maybe Apple is already putting as much time and effort as they can into that--maybe it's just that it's not WORTH those companies' while to make a wider range of Mac products. After all, the Mac Pro market is but a fraction of the Mac market as a whole.)
You can get a console for much less than that. And that's the
way things are heading. In the local shopping mall all 5 of the
stores that sell PC games have reduced the allocated shelf
space. In some cases the PC gaming shelves have been cut
back very drastically making way for XBOX 360 and PS3 games.
Now you could argue that many more people are getting their
PC games online, e.g., via steam - I'm sure that's a factor. But
still, to go from 5 stacks of games to 1 in less than a year...
Something's afoot
You can get a console for much less than that. And that's the
way things are heading. In the local shopping mall all 5 of the
stores that sell PC games have reduced the allocated shelf
space. In some cases the PC gaming shelves have been cut
back very drastically making way for XBOX 360 and PS3 games.
Now you could argue that many more people are getting their
PC games online, e.g., via steam - I'm sure that's a factor. But
still, to go from 5 stacks of games to 1 in less than a year...
Something's afoot
Just keep in mind that there are still a number of games that are not coming out for platform
Personaly I don't believe that its 100% the graphic card makers that are causing this lack of choice. Its pretty much as simple as a firmware and driver update. If you haven't noticed, apple is definitely a control freak. Look at what its taking for the iphone sdk and for the same reasons apple wants, for good reason, to know that whatever is being installed in their computers is going to work. I think its about man power and time to test specific cards. Maybe SLI or Crossfire is asking too much but what would it take to test one more gfx card for the Mac pro? Just something in between the two they have (not including the 256 card). I mean look at how fast the 8800GT was made to be compatible with older mac pro owners.
You can get a console for much less than that. And that's the
way things are heading. In the local shopping mall all 5 of the
stores that sell PC games have reduced the allocated shelf
space. In some cases the PC gaming shelves have been cut
back very drastically making way for XBOX 360 and PS3 games.
Now you could argue that many more people are getting their
PC games online, e.g., via steam - I'm sure that's a factor. But
still, to go from 5 stacks of games to 1 in less than a year...
Something's afoot
For computer gaming, downloadable games/content is definitely where we are heading. Even the console market is heading that way.
was a diehard mac gamer for 15 years. But, bought a PS3 last year (originally "for movies") and haven't looked back. Love the game selection (current favorites are Uncharted and Hot Shots Golf) and the fact that you can get away from the desk for a while. Nothing like playing while lying sideways on your couch. Highly recommend it! (a side benefit is that it results in significantly less wrist strain than using a mouse, for anybody that has RSI issues.)
The only caveat is if you are a big FPS gamer -- I cannot for the life of me get used to the controller for aiming. On the other hand, I lost interest in FPS games several years ago so it's not a big deal for me.
The only caveat is if you are a big FPS gamer -- I cannot for the life of me get used to the controller for aiming. On the other hand, I lost interest in FPS games several years ago so it's not a big deal for me.
I'm spending most of my time by the computer playing games such as WC3, SC & WOW. Actually, I'm considering to buy a PC gaming rig even tho I really really hate windows. I will still be using a mac for everything that isn't gaming.
Actually the price for a MBP is as high as the price of a PC and a MB.
Actually the price for a MBP is as high as the price of a PC and a MB.
Definitely. There's all this talk of "PC gaming dying" when it evidently isn't. Downloadable services are massive now, Steam continues to get better. I haven't bought a boxed PC game since Doom 3. HL2 was my first and I haven't looked back since.
Oh and about money. Consoles cost less, yes. But games for these systems cost much more. The new Lego Indy is £35 for the PS3 and 360. £32 for the Wii and £25 for PC. You can see that after 10, 20 games the PC is going to be the nicer option. Plus you don't need to annually pay out £40 to play online, or pay the extra £40 to play the PS3 (going off recent reports into console energy usage). The insane cost of peripherals - USB Wifi dongle for an Xbox is £50, PS3 and Wii controllers are quite expensive.
And then you find you're paying more money for a lesser experience. Some AAA 360/PS3 titles don't even run at HD resolutions! You don't get the precision of a mouse for RTS/FPS games. You either get delayed DLC or have to pay (we're almost hitting the 2nd TF2 update, 360 still hasn't had the first).
Sorry but PC/Mac gaming isn't dying.
I have never really been much into Computer games myself. I always had a Sony or a Nintendo for games. I just cannot make myself throw all that money away keeping my computer updated for stuff like that when it will do everything else fine. I know there is games that you just cant get on consoles but if you never play them you don't miss them.
just a gamer sense 1999
I use the best of both worlds mac and pc, homeworld 1 & 2. just got HW2 for macbook pro 2007 version, play's great so far, the game i started with is Quake and SOF. Member of Relic sense 2000 and on-line gaming has been a
great way to meet new folks to say the least, interesting might be a better statement LOL. So that being stated I'm new to this fourm and will continue to scan the pages to see and here what's up. So keep gamin' will ya'
Re-Veda
I use the best of both worlds mac and pc, homeworld 1 & 2. just got HW2 for macbook pro 2007 version, play's great so far, the game i started with is Quake and SOF. Member of Relic sense 2000 and on-line gaming has been a
great way to meet new folks to say the least, interesting might be a better statement LOL. So that being stated I'm new to this fourm and will continue to scan the pages to see and here what's up. So keep gamin' will ya'
Re-Veda
as rare as a PC gamer who plays mac games on his hackintosh...
seriously. Look, I know we all liek to 'game', and some awesome points/stories have been shared here, but let's stop the lying and wishing!!
Believe me, i WISH i was able to get answers to some of my more niggling gamer issues quicker and with less research - but it ain't so! not that this place hasn't helped every now and then...
true - slowly, ever sooo slowly, you start to see a congealing (?) of mac-based gamers now moreso than ever before - but man, do we have a LOOOONG way to go in comparison. Heck, we do better support for each other than EA does! (CnC3/TW:Kane's Wrath osx port springs immediately to mind). Suck it EA!
And it's STILL slower - yes, ok, it plays, but come on - the FPS and whatnot are NOT the same (usually) - CnCG/ZH played like a BEAST on an old IBM Thinkpad R40 with only 1g RAM in comparison to my newer MBP CD - yeh, i know ATI, but still - IDK about the newer ones w/Nvidia and all, but...still - yaknows it don't match up. And please remember I'm a mac fan, and yes, i know about your 'mine runs faster, yada yada' - *overall* is what i'm talkin' about - not specifically. hell, we'd never have threads like this if it *weren't* overall!
I don't know - bloody apathetic planet. I've no sympathy at all...frankly, my MBP does the job (for the most part, as long as i don't expect too much out of it) - and if i wanted to go *serious* gamer, then it would be PC all the way...sorry.
and having said that - look at what you have to go thru if you want to play a space-sim like Freespace or Homeworld on osx, anymore...not to mention if you want to load mods...
so, what exactly do you mean by 'gamer'? casual, or crazy???
seriously. Look, I know we all liek to 'game', and some awesome points/stories have been shared here, but let's stop the lying and wishing!!
Believe me, i WISH i was able to get answers to some of my more niggling gamer issues quicker and with less research - but it ain't so! not that this place hasn't helped every now and then...
true - slowly, ever sooo slowly, you start to see a congealing (?) of mac-based gamers now moreso than ever before - but man, do we have a LOOOONG way to go in comparison. Heck, we do better support for each other than EA does! (CnC3/TW:Kane's Wrath osx port springs immediately to mind). Suck it EA!
And it's STILL slower - yes, ok, it plays, but come on - the FPS and whatnot are NOT the same (usually) - CnCG/ZH played like a BEAST on an old IBM Thinkpad R40 with only 1g RAM in comparison to my newer MBP CD - yeh, i know ATI, but still - IDK about the newer ones w/Nvidia and all, but...still - yaknows it don't match up. And please remember I'm a mac fan, and yes, i know about your 'mine runs faster, yada yada' - *overall* is what i'm talkin' about - not specifically. hell, we'd never have threads like this if it *weren't* overall!
I don't know - bloody apathetic planet. I've no sympathy at all...frankly, my MBP does the job (for the most part, as long as i don't expect too much out of it) - and if i wanted to go *serious* gamer, then it would be PC all the way...sorry.
and having said that - look at what you have to go thru if you want to play a space-sim like Freespace or Homeworld on osx, anymore...not to mention if you want to load mods...
so, what exactly do you mean by 'gamer'? casual, or crazy???