How Apple could make Macs a gaming computer
Apple should create a game system like Microsoft's XBox. Design the system so that it is so irresistable looking that even Apple bashers will buy it. Hype the system and then sign as many game developers as possible.
Design the games so that they run on both the gaming sytem and the currentt lines of Apple computers.
Basically a gamer would pop the game CD into their Mac and the game would play the same way PS2 and XBox games play. No installation.
The idea is not to make money in gaming systems but to trick game developers into providing games for the Macintosh computer.
Do you think Microsoft released the XBox to make money? No!!! They are protecting their interests in gaming on the PC. It's already been suggested that XBox games will play on a PC in the near future.
Microsoft is losing money on the XBox hardware.
Design the games so that they run on both the gaming sytem and the currentt lines of Apple computers.
Basically a gamer would pop the game CD into their Mac and the game would play the same way PS2 and XBox games play. No installation.
The idea is not to make money in gaming systems but to trick game developers into providing games for the Macintosh computer.
Do you think Microsoft released the XBox to make money? No!!! They are protecting their interests in gaming on the PC. It's already been suggested that XBox games will play on a PC in the near future.
Microsoft is losing money on the XBox hardware.
Comments
Try posting again in General Discussion.
J :cool:
Edit: Thanks anonymous mod/admin
[ 06-14-2002: Message edited by: Jamie ]</p>
You are right in that MS isn't looking to make a ton of money off of their game console in this generation. They want to make their money with the next generation of gaming machines- they feel they can take over the market with it. The Xbox now is their 'trial run'.
As for Xbox games running on a PC in the 'near future', I highly doubt it. Emulating an Xbox would take some major power which PCs right now do not have. Plus, you can bet that MS will be more vigilant than Sony was in letting emulators creep out the door.
Plus, if it's going to cost more than $200 to upgrade your PC to play Xbox games, why not just buy an Xbox console?
<rant>
BTW, i hate video games now-a-days. back in old nintendo days, two guys in a basement could develop a game (ever play "a boy and his blob") and there were bizarre/niche types of games like 7up Spot. However, video games now cost millions of dollars to develop, a far greater investment than any joe or sam in his basement is willing to make. Furthermore, because games cost so much to develop, gaming companies do not want to make unique/innovative games because they might flop and lose money. So instead, we get endless amounts of Sports games, FPS, etc.
The only mild innovation I am seeing in the gaming market is with Nintendo and the game cube. Pikman is an example of some kind of thinking beyond what everyone else is doing.
One positive out of Apple creating a gaming system could be innovation, but I suppose Apple themselves would not be developing much of the software, so i would not count on seeing innovation even with an Apple gaming system.
</rant>
So yeah, saturated market, etc.
Not necessarily. There are plenty of great titles made by small shareware developers...like EV Nova, one of the greatest games ever. Plus, the games being developed now are many times more complicated than the homemade ones of a long time ago...and that's why they are more expensive. Fluid and human animation takes money and equipment to emulate.
But Apple has nothing to win and everything to lose with this console strategy. I can see what you're getting at by looking at the concept...but then Apple only has so much money, and that money is dedicated to their computer. The gamer market is already a niche market on the PC side...trying to win converts to the Mac would be very hard. Microsoft has millions of dollars they can sink into their XBox system, and they need it...goddam they're losing money. Don't they cost about $350 a pop to make? And I don't think they win much money from the games either...maybe they do though...not sure.
The console market is already saturated with fierce competition. Apple is a company with zero experience in the market (okay, well, Pippin) and they have the least amount of money as well. Look who they'd contend with: Microsoft, giant bully with lots of cash; Nintendo, the most recognized name in the industry and amazing games, fans, and experience; or Sony, consumer electronics giant. Apple is a no-name with the least amount of experience etc. They can't compete and expect to have *any* developers.
Plus, console gaming sucks. We want PC games.
<strong>
Not necessarily. There are plenty of great titles made by small shareware developers...like EV Nova, one of the greatest games ever. Plus, the games being developed now are many times more complicated than the homemade ones of a long time ago...and that's why they are more expensive. Fluid and human animation takes money and equipment to emulate.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
that brings up something else interesting...i want a new system with about the graphic equivalant of super NES but with a ton of games that are FUN. imho, very few games are fun anymore. Anyone else agree with me on this one? Technology for a super nes type system is ancient, and games could be developed for next to nothing. It probably wouldn't fly, but hey, I'd like it!
Right. Even though console games BY FAR make the most money for their developers and sell better as well.
Console gaming is the future. I'm sorry if you don't want to believe it, but it's much cheaper and easier to develop for a set platform with one configuration than for a platform with thousands of configurations.
Plus, PC games, for the most part, are buggy and need to be worked on after the game is released. Console games don't have this problem.
Also, for most people, their televisions are much bigger than their monitors. Even though monitors can provide better quality than a lot of tvs (but HDTVs are just as good), their smaller size make the PC the less than ideal gaming platform.
Just because they make more money doesn't mean they're better...you should know this, the Mac user you are.
[quote]Console gaming is the future. I'm sorry if you don't want to believe it, but it's much cheaper and easier to develop for a set platform with one configuration than for a platform with thousands of configurations. <hr></blockquote>
The two can coexist...they have for more than a decade now, why can't they go for longer?
[quote]Plus, PC games, for the most part, are buggy and need to be worked on after the game is released. Console games don't have this problem.<hr></blockquote>
Yes.
[quote]Also, for most people, their televisions are much bigger than their monitors. Even though monitors can provide better quality than a lot of tvs (but HDTVs are just as good), their smaller size make the PC the less than ideal gaming platform.<hr></blockquote>
Decent 19" monitor: $400
HDTV: $ Too Much
A 19" monitor running @ 1600 x 1200 looks so, so much better than a 32" TV @ 640 x 480 (or whatever native TV res is). I hate playing on the console at my friend's houses...you can't even read the text...everything looks fuzzy and grainy. I was originally floored by the XBox's graphics when I saw screenshots online, but horrible resolution seems to wash that all away.
You said you could hook up an XBox to a computer monitor though...though I looked on an XBox and couldn't find a VGA port.
Console gaming has a while before it can reach the complexity and immersiveness of a quality PC game. Seriously, name one decent flight simulator for a console.
All you need is a cheap VGA box. One that takes standard White/yellow/red costs as little as $20.
Plus, PC gaming will die out because MS wants people to use the Xbox. They don't want gaming on the PC- they want it on their own gaming device.
Microsoft can strongarm companies, but not a whole industry, methinks. XBox isn't doing so well...I really hope it falls flat on its face and never comes back.
Microsoft can strongarm companies, but not a whole industry, methinks. XBox isn't doing so well...I really hope it falls flat on its face and never comes back.
<hr></blockquote>
What do you think DirectX is?
There are very little options in the computer gaming world. And there have been serveral subtle attempts on M$'s part to kill OpenGl.
Consoles and computer games had different advantages, but that changed considerably with this generation of boxes(PS2,cube,xbox)
Computer gaming is becoming more and more saturated, companies shouldn't even try unless they are sure they can last the first couple of years as a rookie.
Oh and I don't see why you need a Dual 1ghz. If you don't want to spend the cash, you don't need 1400x1240 resolution and 100fps.
Most gameplay can be done on 30fps at 800x600. I would understand those people who want better if they spend 6hours a day on it, but at that point, you shouldn't blink at the price tag.
~Kuku
[quote]
Operating System: Windows® 95/98/Me/2000
Mac® Version coming soon.
Processor: pentium® II 300MHz
Memory:32 MB RAM
Hard Disk Space:400 MB free hard drive
(+50 for swapfile)
CD-ROM Drive: 4X Speed or higher Video : DirectX® 8.0a-compatible video card* (must be able to display
1024x768x16 bit)
<hr></blockquote>
I don't know what you're talking about a Playstation might be able run this with some creative programming tweaks.
If you're talking about the 1024x768, then yes no console game can play it because a TV can't go that high. But that's has nothing to do with consoles.
Do people have any idea what console system threat to PCs are?
A ps2 is one freaking powerful machine with regard to what it does, and it's the least powerful(technically) of the big three.
On top of which they all have the ablity that was privy to computers until now.
Expandiblity, Internet, add ons, portability. It tries to mimic a PC without the PC's faults. That's why it it show's a threat.
That won't say consoles will win, but developers always try to go where the money will most likely go.
~Kuku
[ 06-15-2002: Message edited by: Kuku ]</p>
~Kuku