Monday, September 10, 2012

The Gaming Revolution On Mac Computers

By Mathew Jonathally


More than a decade ago, finding a game that can be played on a Mac led only to disappointment generally because there really were not much gaming titles available for the platform back then. Even though Apple has become known for the modern design and the straightforward operation of their various computers models, the closed hardware architecture and limited customization options made creating games for it somewhat complicated.

Apple's rigid way of thinking to computer development has also discouraged many gamers from getting a Mac. One other reason why Macs really were not regarded as an appealing gaming platform is that it was only beginning of the 21st century when Apple made a decision to replace their PowerPC processors with Intel-based ones and launched multiple button support for mice and discrete graphic cards which have long been regarded as de facto standards for computers running Windows OS since the boom time in the gaming industry in the 90s.

Macs have been thought of as generally better at graphics, developing animation, and editing different kinds of media compared to their PC counterparts , so a lot of consumers felt that it was such a pity that it didn't rival the latter in terms of gaming. The good thing is that Apple has been opening up to the exciting world of video gaming. For instance, the company has introduced Boot Camp with their OSX 10.4 Tiger release that allowed users to partition their Macs and run a Windows OS and hence enjoy the best of both worlds - an intuitive and visually-appealing Mac that can run Windows apps and games

The introduction of Steam service, which delivered an incredible library of gaming titles for Mac, has also elevated the appeal of Mac computer as a gaming platform. Some game builders are also taking notice and have designed games can be played natively on Mac. There are also games otherwise only available for Windows PCs that are ported to Mac through third-party porting houses like MacPlay.

These days, one could already play flight simulator made for Macs which in the past were only available to PC users. The best thing about these simulator games is that they provide people an chance to try something they otherwise would not be able to do in real life, such as flying a plane or being behind the wheels of a race car. Just as those games that can be run on Windows computers, these simulator games provide a selection of obstacles with primary and secondary goals.

Physical retail shops still allot a small shelf space for for games and related apps for Mac computers though because Mac gaming is not yet as widespread. That said, if you want to find Mac flight simulators, your best bet would be to download from the Internet through Steam and other niche websites that supply gaming titles at no cost or for a fee.




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