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Mac OS Planet Comments on Mac Game Viability
10:33 AM | Eddie Park | Comment on this story
Apparently John Carmack's recent statement regarding the viability of the Mac market for gaming has ruffled more than a few feathers around the Mac community. George Wagner of Mac OS Planet recently added his own two cents to the argument against Carmack's claim in an article titled "The Mac Isn't A Viable Game Platform?"
Rather than engaging in a debate about the Mac gaming market, Wagner instead suggests ways that Mac gamers can improve the market. Not to say that he doesn't engage in a little chiding regarding the so-called non-viability of the market:
Of the 90% market share figure (No, I don't agree with this number, but that is another column) that
is commonly used, we can see some of the problems. Since a large portion of the Windows market
is corporate, it will not affect the gaming sales. Conversely, since the Macintosh has a smaller
corporate share, a higher percentage of the Macintosh market will be potential gaming customers.
So let's just grab a number, say 4 to 1, of Windows to Mac gaming customers. In a level playing
field, Mac sales should be around 20 percent of sales. However, we are not playing on a level
playing field. If you go into a store, it is difficult to find Mac software, and when you are lucky
enough to find some, it is usually only the hybrid titles. This makes it difficult for the average Mac
user to find games. And since games are often an impulse buy, a lot of potential sales are lost. Among the methods he lists to improve the market are contacting companies to make more Mac games, telling them how much you enjoy Mac games, asking local stores to stock more Mac titles, registering games once bought, encouraging others to buy Mac games, and of course, buying more games yourself rather than resorting to piracy. He also gives short arguments for each method listed. For example:First and foremost, buy games. Money speaks louder than anything. Don't pirate, all that does is
reduce the number of Mac sales. Personally, I have seen small companies devastated by piracy, to
the point of going out of business. The Macintosh community cannot afford to lose any good Mac
developer. If it's good enough to pirate, then it is probably worth buying.
For the rest of the read, be sure to check out Wagner's column, titled "The Playful Mac," at Mac OS Planet. The methods listed are well thought-out and supported and would definitely go a long way towards improving the state of the current market.
 IMG - Carmack Comments on Mac Market
 Mac OS Planet - The Playful Mac
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