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What's on the horizon. Hello everyone! My name is Erica J. Marceau and I am going to be the resident Game Expert of the Mac OS Journal's staff. Many of you might not know who I am so I'll take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am a Senior Contributing Editor at the MacGamer's Ledge and write previews, reviews, and a bi-weekly column about games called Erica's Soapbox. When I'm not playing or thinking about games, I attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and will be graduating this December with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. My other hobbies include watching animé and reading manga, learning how to program and make web sites, and using eBay to support my hobbies. Every month I'll cover a different topic, from interviews with important people in the gaming industry to ideas for the perfect game, and everything in between. No matter what topic chosen, I hope that you enjoy my column and that my own thoughts on games stimulates thoughts and ideas of your own. And if there is a topic of the Mac gaming industry that you'd like me to talk about, please email me at: erica@macosjournal.com
I've been talking with some of the subscribers to my "Erica's Soapbox" eGroups and the discussion turned to what Apple can do to better help Macintosh games get the same kind of recognition in catalogs, stores, and people's minds that PC games have. The conclusion that many came to is that Apple should do more to promote the companies that make Mac-only games. How and why would they do this? Read on to find out... I am not against ports from Windows because many of those games are a lot of fun and provide an incentive for Macintosh users to not throw in the towel and give up on their trusty Mac. However, ports do nothing to give PC users or new computer buyers who like playing games a reason to choose the Macintosh over the PC. Right now, you can say that there are these hundreds of games for the PC (admittedly some of which are just awful) and a small portion of them are available for the Macintosh. There are also a lot of great games that are only for the PC and since I want to play them, I will get a PC instead of a Macintosh. You can't point to the Macintosh and say that there are a bunch of Mac-only games that I want to play so I will get a Macintosh instead of a PC. There are some available, but there could be a lot more and this is where Apple steps into the picture.
The Nintendo Example Despite Apple saying that they like games and want to promote them, they are merely giving lip-service to what they really could do. Let's look at what Nintendo does to encourage people to buy a Nintendo 64 or Gameboy instead of a PlayStation or a Dreamcast. What Nintendo does is make their own games that are not available on any other platform so if you really like their games, you have to buy a Nintendo 64 or a Gameboy to play those games. Nintendo also pays special attention to the other companies who makes games exclusive to Nintendo. Nintendo supports these companies with money, technical help if they run into any problems, publicity and more. Rare has made Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, and Goldeneye 007 among others and they are only available for the Nintendo systems. If you like any of these games, you have to buy a console from Nintendo to play these games. You might be wondering why Nintendo is so important to this discussion, since Apple makes computers, not consoles. It's important because games are a very high priority for many people, and they take it into consideration when shopping for a computer. Games can be the deciding factor because if you only use the computer for games, Internet browsing, email, and the occasional word processing, then which of these might not be available on every platform? Naturally, it's games. Unfortunately, Apple does not do enough for the companies that make Mac-only games as Nintendo does for their dedicated companies. I believe that if Apple does the same thing then Apple Computer and everyone who uses Macintoshes will be seen in a different light. We might not be viewed as people who use a Macintosh because we are into desktop publishing or digital video but like to play a good game. Now that you know why Apple should help Mac-only gaming companies, what should Apple do?
Should Apple Follow Suit? Apple should follow Nintendo's business plan by supporting Mac-only and some Mac-first gaming companies. Specifically, Apple should start publishing games. With Apple's wealth it could rent the space at stores such as Electronics Boutique, Wal-Mart, and catalogs such as Mac Mall, and Mac Connection. With this kind of publicity, these Mac-only games could get the kind of attention that will turn the heads of shoppers who might not have believed there were any games for the Macintosh. Apple should also take care of the publishing details such as making the boxes and jewel cases and sending the completed games to consumers and stores. Apple already knows how to do all of this because it already does it for the software that it makes, so Apple is very familiar with the publishing process. Apple can't stop at publishing the games, it also must market them, with a separate section of Apple's web site devoted to games and a tab at the top of every page that would go along with iTools and QuickTime. Apple has to send free games not only to the usual Macintosh magazines (MacAddict and MacWorld) but online publications (Mac OS Journal and MacGamer's Ledge) and gaming magazines (GamePro and Computer Gamer). There has got to be a flood of public awareness that there are really cool games that you can't get anywhere else except by buying a Macintosh computer. Another thing that Apple could do is provide technical and monetary support to companies on an as-needed basis. This way, game creation doesn't suffer a debilitating setback when the company runs into technical difficulties, and any money invested in the company would ultimately be financial gain for Apple by drawing more customers. Everybody comes out a winner.
Problem Solved!
So Apple provides the Mac-only gaming companies support in publishing, marketing, and technical troubleshooting - areas that Apple already has knowledge in from making their own software and hardware. This frees these companies to make the best games that they can, secure in the knowledge that someone else is taking care of actually selling the game. Apple benefits from having another reason foreveryone to buy a Macintosh computer and for PC-users to seriously consider the Macintosh when they buy a computer. Everyone wins and I can't see a single loser out of this arrangement. Now aren't you glad we figured all of that out. Now, we just need Apple to implement the plan and we'll get more great Mac games out of the process. Remember, if there is a topic of the Mac gaming industry that you'd like me to talk about, please email me at: erica@macosjournal.com.
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