“Apple could be preparing for a renewed attack on the game industry through products like the iPod and Apple TV. Certainly, many games are available for the Mac. Apple maintains a list of games on its Web site that are currently available for its technology, and that roster includes popular titles such as Age of Empires III and Civilization IV. And with the switch to Intel, it’s easier than ever to compare the performance of the Mac to other PCs on the market,” Tom Krazit reports for CNET News
“‘The Mac is faster and more powerful than ever, has stunning graphics and a growing list of popular games that our customers enjoy, including World of Warcraft, Prey and The Sims 2.0,’ Apple spokeswoman Lynn Fox said in a statement,” Krazit reports. “But with the notable exception of World of Warcraft, those games were available for Windows PCs long before they made their way onto Macs. Apple users often have to wait several months for new PC game titles to be ported over to Mac OS X, said Glenda Adams, director of development with Aspyr. Major game studios tend to develop for Windows and let others, such as Aspyr, port Windows games to the Mac platform, a process that can take several months, she said.”
Krazit reports, “While Apple took a big step forward with the addition of the OpenGL specification for 3D graphics to Mac OS X, it still doesn’t have an answer to the DirectX technology found in Windows, Morrison said. DirectX is a collection of APIs used by developers in their designs. OpenGL is ‘old tech’ compared to DirectX, said Jake Richter, an analyst with Jon Peddie Associates. And since DirectX can only be used with Microsoft’s software, Apple would have to undertake a significant development effort to come up with its own technology or encourage the development of a different open standard, he said.”
“Some believe Apple might have some enhancements planned for Leopard, the next version of Mac OS X that’s scheduled to arrive this spring. Last year at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference, Steve Jobs demonstrated some graphics-friendly technology such as Core Animation, which will make it easier for developers to create high-powered graphics. It’s also possible that Jobs has other surprises in mind for this year’s show, scheduled for June,” Krazit reports.
“Programs like Boot Camp and Apple’s quiet approach to Mac gaming seems to indicate that the company has made a decision to let the Windows companies pursue the hard-core gamer, said Stephen Baker, an analyst with The NPD Group,” Krazit reports. “But Apple, despite having the horsepower to satisfy those gamers with products like the Mac Pro, doesn’t need that category as much as the rest of the PC world, Baker said. ‘That segment is profitable to (Windows) guys because they don’t have a solid way to make themselves profitable in the low-end market,’ Baker said. ‘But Apple is more profitable off the bat. They don’t have to go searching for those smaller niches, their main niches are already relatively profitable.'”
Much more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Apple looking for in-house game developer staff, preps ‘Apple TV’ retail store push (with Sony LCDs) – February 15, 2007
Apple embraces casual gaming; iPhone, Apple TV to join iPod as gaming devices – February 09, 2007
Former GM of Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade: Apple TV to become video game console – February 08, 2007
ZDNet’s Graham: Apple TV hits a number of sweet spots, poised to make a big impact – January 25, 2007
Is Apple out to kill cable television? – January 25, 2007
RUMOR: Apple TV sales blowing away Apple’s internal expectations – January 25, 2007
Steve Jobs: Apple TV is the ‘DVD player for the 21st century’ – January 22, 2007
Apple TV beats out iPod, hits top spot on Apple Store sales chart – January 19, 2007
Report: first batch of 100,000 Apple TVs to ship this month – January 11, 2007
Steve Jobs moves to control the living room with Apple TV – January 10, 2007
Analyst Bajarin: Apple’s iPhone and Apple TV are industry game changers – January 09, 2007
Apple premieres Apple TV: movies, TV shows, music & photos on your big screen TV – January 09, 2007
RUMOR: Apple may enter video game market – December 05, 2006
Could Apple become king of game consoles? – September 26, 2006
