Apple has finally taken its ultra-popular App Store to its oldest product line--computers. Read on for the first details to see whether the company can finally make its mark on gaming outside of the portable realm.
While many Mac users can currently peruse theMac App Storeright now, we're sure that many gamers are up in the air about the service's worth in terms of bringing quality titles to the Mac platform. For those of you in the market for a Mac, here's what you need to know.
What do you need to play?
The Mac App Store is only available to Mac owners who have the latest version of the Mac OS X Snow Leopard--the company's current operating software. While it's available on the company's current slate of desktops and laptops, owners of Mac computers made before August 2009 will have to shell out $29 to get the new software. While it may be prohibitive to cut off certain customers in the same way that Games for Windows did a half-decade ago for PCs, it's also in line with Apple's platform standardization that happens with its portable products. Bottom line--if you can run Snow Leopard, you can run these games.
What's available?
The Unofficial Apple Weblogran the figures on the Mac App Store, counting almost 600 games available for the service on its first day. The iDevice hit Angry Birds is by far the crown jewel of the launch day, standing atop the top games and top paid app lists. It's currently available for $4.99 (the same price as the iPad version), but according toPC Mag, it'll soon jump to $9.99.
A few other games of note include mobile gaming favorite Flight Control, as well as two computer gaming favorites that have been folded into the Mac App Store--Peggle and Bejeweled 3 available for $9.99 and $19.99, respectively. Sprinkled among these titles are plenty of lesser-known games from smaller developers that may just end up becoming the next overnight hit.
It should be noted that current Mac Apps are sold separately from the iPhone and iPad selection. While iPad owners could always play a scaled-up version of the iPhone version of Angry Birds, you can't access those apps in the Mac App Store, nor does your purchase on a Mac entitle you to play a game on any of the portable devices.
How does it compare to other platforms?
Sure, Apple gamers can use Steam or buy and install games directly from the developers, but the App Store branding has become ubiquitous with the"pick-up-and-play"style that has caught fire over the last few years. Even on day one, the Mac App Store fits in with the Apple OS style very seamlessly. Mac users visiting the store--most of whom are already iTunes customers--will find purchasing and playing a snap, with a minimal amount of menu navigation and program installation to slog through. With hundreds of available games at bargain-basement prices (TUAWplaces most games in the $5 and under bracket), the Mac App Store has plenty to offer launch day visitors in terms of quantity, if not quality.
So far the App Store has gone two-for-two, as it's been attached to two runaway platform successes in the form of the iPhone and iPad. While this is the first time the store has competition, Apple's promotional powerhouse (and the breadth of software that can be ported over into even higher-definition) bodes well for a three-peat of video game dominance. It may not be a hit amongst the hardcore gaming community, but this may be the key to getting the massive casual crowd to migrate from Apple's portable devices to a new gaming frontier.
Be sure to check outMacWorld's coverage of the Mac App Store, including their thoughts onthe service itselfand thelaunch games. Mac users--what do you think of the new platform launch?
Editor's note: GamePro Media ownsGameDownloads.com, a digital-download service that sells PC games.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий