Leave it to Valve to start making announcements on the first day of the GDC tutorials about their new ideas and innovations.   “Big Picture” has left me with quite a large amount of speculation and expectations.

What We Know…

…is sadly very little, as Valve hasn’t said a whole lot.  As I understand, Big Picture is going to allow PC and Mac gamers to take advantage of their home theatre setups and allow Steam games to be played on a TV (or other computer monitors, as well).  This also means that Steam will be adapted for the TV, complete with a TV friendly interface and controller support.  This all sounds interesting enough, but it leaves me thinking about the fact that I can already hook my PC up to the TV and play games through it.  So can any other remotely tech savvy individual with the right equipment.  How is Big Picture going to offer something new? (more…)

The huge Game Developers Conference for 2011 kicks off this week, and to celebrate, GameAgent.com is offering a selection of tiered discounts all week! Starting now and running through Sunday, March 6, all GameAgent shoppers will be able to save various amounts depending on how much they plan on spending.

• GameAgent.com shoppers can save $5 by spending at least $35. For example, you could add some of our top Lucas Arts titles, such as The Force Unleashed ($30) and The Secret of Monkey Island ($10), to your cart to take advantage of the discount.
• Shoppers can save $10 by spending at least $55. For example, you can now add Civilization V ($50) and a couple of pieces of Civilization V DLC ($3-$10) to your cart and come out cheaper than the base Civilization V game itself!
• The final tier will see shoppers saving $15 when they spend $75 or more. The various combinations here are close to limitless. Just mix and match your favorite titles at GameAgent.com to enjoy the discount!

In addition to the discounts available at GameAgent.com, we’ll also be covering the various news that comes out GDC all week.  Be sure to check back in periodically to see all the Mac gaming news and other tidbits and insights that matter to you!

X-rated apps, the new iPad, “Final Cut Pro” gets revisited, and Apple hits Hollywood.

Apple Computing and Gaming

• The new MacBook Pros are out!
• Final Fantasy III is making its way to the App Store.
• What does Apple do with X-rated apps?
• Capcom mobile’s first two original social games achieves 10 million unique downloads in the App store.
• Apple may be unveiling the iPad 2 on March 2nd. The supposed launch event is next door to and at the same time that Nintendo’s CEO is presenting a major keynote.
• Want to see some screenshots of Gameloft’s anticipated release of Rainbow Six: Shadow Guard?
• The new “Final Cut Pro” entirely overhauls the original software.
• Apple products appeared in 30% of all number 1 films in 2010.

More Gaming Stories

• Batman: Arkham City demo yields an enormously positive review.
• Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim’s graphics look astounding.
• Zynga may be the most profitable company ever.
• Phone gamers are in bigger quantity than PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii gamers combined.
• Australia bans Mortal Kombat reboot.
• “Games are not the right medium to tell stories,” according to Sims creator, Will Wright.

Our Posts

• Mac Gaming: Going Places
• Video Games: Just for Kids?
• Sweepstakes: Win Free Copy of KOTOR from Mac App
• Private: DirectX vs OpenGL: Why Are We Here?

Looking around this blog and its comments, I’ve noticed that the argument of DirectX vs OpenGL seems to be discussed quite regularly.  Therefore, I thought it relevant to bring up the topic a bit more formally. For those who aren’t completely familiar, DirectX/Direct3D/D3D and OpenGL are the two most popular graphics API’s (Application Programming Interfaces) utilized in game development.  While the complete description of what a graphics API does and their history would fill quite a few blog posts, they essentially provide sets of abstracted functions designed to be used and reused in a game’s source code.  In short, they make game programmers’ lives much easier.

The Great Debate

Probably the hottest debate between the two API’s has to do with their relative performance.  I find this to be a bit misguided.  (more…)

In case you haven’t heard the news, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is now available on the Mac App Store! And to celebrate, we’ve put together a small sweepstakes where you can win a FREE copy to call your own.  The rules are simple:

1. Like us on our new Facebook page.
2. Check out the Discussion Board on our Facebook page and find the topic “KOTOR Giveaway.”
3. Leave a comment on the topic “KOTOR Giveaway” about anything Star Wars-related.

That’s it!  By leaving a comment under the “KOTOR Giveaway” topic, you’ll be entered into the sweepstakes.  You must leave your comment by 11:59pm CST on Tuesday, March 1.  We’ll pick one winner at random; the winner will then be announced and notified via Facebook on Wednesday, March 3.  Simple enough?  Then what are you waiting for? (more…)

I have a variety of nerdy interests. I have seasons of Full Metal Panic and Babylon 5 tucked under my bookshelf, folders full of unfinished fantasy stories, and a beautiful, proudly decked-out iMac squarely taking up the majority of my desk. Needless to say, I’m a pretty big geek. Most people know that I’m nerdy, but before I started writing for Aspyr, few knew that I was into video games. Why? “The look.” I encounter “the look” frequently. I’m a senior in college and yes, I’m still into video games. “The look” is an expression of the American stigma against video games. It typically involves a cocked eyebrow, an awkward silence, and a slightly upturned lower lip. They believe that games are for kids and immature teens, that games are violent and have a negative influence on society, and that games are socially isolating. Unfortunately, these people likely haven’t played a game since Oregon Trail was a bestseller. The video game industry is a growing art, and has shifted its focus to adults. That trend is here to stay.

Myth: Video Games are for Children.

While its true that most American children play video games, the video game industry is refocusing on older people as the first generation of gamers continues to play into adulthood. In fact, 66% of the PC game market is meant for gamers 18+! Think Call of Duty 4 or Doom 3. Were those games meant for kids? Absolutely not. Some may argue that though video games include more sex and graphic violence, the industry is pandering to immature adults, or teens who are going through a gore phase. But this is another misinterpretation of the industry. Have you ever played Civilization V? It’s a great example of a game that is too strategically mature for most children, but also doesn’t feature any questionable material. There are video games for kids, but video games as an art is developing for the older player.

Myth: Video Games are Violent. That’s Bad.

I enjoy a good headshot just like anyone else. They are a reflection of my developed skill, precise striking, and quick reflexes. In spite of this, I would never have the desire or skill to do so in real life. Games haven’t changed my nature. In fact, violent video games may be used for good. Believing that gory video games make people violent is a giant leap of faith. In order for this to be true, the gamer must:

• Ignore pre-existing morals against violence
• Have a reason to apply violence
• Have no resistance to what they are learning in the game
• Have the ability to translate tactics learned in games to a real-world environment

Violence is a part of some video games, yes. Violence is also frequently featured in movies, books, and tv shows. The only reason why people react negatively is because of my earlier point: they believe games are for kids. ESRB ratings, just like MPAA, are meant to help educate parents and guardians before making a purchase. Would you let your six-year-old see Predators? Probably not. They probably shouldn’t be playing Quake 4 either.

Myth: Games are Socially Isolating.

Just the opposite is true:

• Almost 60% of frequent gamers play with friends
• 33% of gamers play with siblings
• 25% play with spouses or parents
*All stats taken from this PBS article

Even single player games can be played socially, with one player watching or giving advice while the other holds the mouse. Video games can create and strengthen camaraderie. Indeed, it is a social activity for the 21st century, and is perhaps even more socially engaging than Facebook.

The Look.

If all these myths are false, why am I still confronted with “the look?” The look-givers are misinformed. They likely view me as immature, childish, and maybe a little nutty, solely because I haven’t “grown out of” my video game hobby. That time will likely never come as the industry continues to develop for my needs. That said, I’m off to conquer the world. Have you ever experienced “the look?” Do video games have a stigma? Are there other myths about the gaming industry that just aren’t true? Let us know in the comments below!

Please extend a warm welcome to Michael Simpson, our newest social media marketing intern.  Michael is a graduate of Westwood College with a degree in game software development.  He “aspyr”s to one day be a game designer, specifically in the areas of game mechanics and/or balancing.  Michael has always been into competitive gaming, and lately has been fairly obsessed with Riot Games’ League of Legends.  Some of his favorite games include Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Shadow of the Colossus, Limbo, and Silent Hill 2.  For his first entry, we asked Michael to comment on the future of Mac gaming, and the larger picture of gaming on Apple devices in general. The future of gaming on the Mac is going to rely heavily upon choices made by Apple.  Looking to the past, one can see that Apple hasn’t made much effort to support gaming on its OS, until quite recently.  One of the largest breakthroughs was Apple’s shift to Intel processors and then later the release of Boot Camp, though this ultimately still promoted playing games through a Windows OS (part of the problem).  While this is a temporary way to satisfy fans of gaming, it’s not the answer to gaming natively on a Mac OS.  The laziness Apple has exhibited in the past with game software has been a large bane to gamers who also love Apple PCs and Mac OSX.

Problems of the Past

Historically speaking, Apple has taken too much of an ambiguous stance toward gaming on their platform.  A great example of this is an old interview with Gabe Newell, the co-founder of Valve Corp.  Gabe reveals that he and others at Valve had been in talks with Apple many times, trying to get the ball rolling on Valve software releases for Mac operating systems.  According to Gabe, Apple was hesitant to follow through with them on a repeated basis.  Given Valve is responsible for arguably some of the greatest games in recent history, Apple’s choice to not follow through on this opportunity should leave doubts toward their commitment to Mac gaming.

Full Steam Ahead

While choices like this have made Apple’s aim to make gaming “serious” on a Mac dubious at best, recent developments have been significantly more promising.  With Valve’s announcement that Steam would be available on the Mac, it seems that they were finally able to get through to Apple.  Though the number of games currently available through Steam is limited in comparison to the PC version, the fact that Steam is available for the Mac period is a huge boost to Mac gaming.  Steam makes games incredibly accessible and therefore offers increased exposure as well.  Both of these things are needed to increase the likelihood of game developers releasing Mac ports in close tandem with their PC counterparts.  Essentially, Steam makes a future where a Mac gamer is no longer logging into their Windows partition to play a given game a very viable possibility.

Gaming Alternatives

With Steam breathing life into Mac gaming, there’s some assuredness to its growth.  However, the future of gaming and Apple may be more closely associated with other apple products – namely, the Apple iPhone and iTouch.  The iPhone in terms of app support is fairly dominant among mobile devices, and experienced iPhone developers are highly sought-after in the job market.  Apple has the ability to take the iPhone and do to the rest of the phone industry what PCs essentially did to Macs in terms of gaming.  If Apple continues to put time into iPhone and iTouch graphics and app support, the sky is the limit as to what these devices could achieve.  When there are 99 cent games in the app store that are giving better experiences than ~$30 Nintendo DS/Sony PSP games, who is to say that such a device couldn’t potentially steal sales from the handheld industry?   With Nintendo’s 3DS launching at a $249 price point (slightly more than the base iTouch retail of $229), the iTouch and its future generations can be seen as a reasonable alternative, especially for more casual gamers.  This isn’t even taking into account the plethora of other features that the iOS can offer.

A Hopeful Future

While Apple has found a bit of a gaming niche with the iOS app store, there are still strides to be made if the Mac is to be considered a true alternative to PC gaming.  Fortunately with the launch of Steam for the Mac, Apple now has a stronger foothold to challenge PC dominance.  Most importantly, Apple must continue to make a strong push for gaming and continue to show that it’s a market they wish to capture. How do you feel about Steam on the Mac?  Is Steam going to be Apple’s big ticket item toward driving Mac gaming, or just a small stepping stone in the right direction?  What about other online game services, such as Aspyr’s GameAgent Store or the Mac App Store?  How about the gaming support on Apple’s mobile devices?  Feel free to leave some comments below with your opinions!

Smurf game complications, a video game grammy win, and a Smithsonian video game exhibit.

Apple Computing and Gaming

• The Mac App Store’s Smurfs game has led to a “significant number of parents who have complained that their children have been racking up large amounts of in-app purchases without their knowledge.”
• Just like there is a subscription service for MMOs, the Mac App store is now introducing subscription-based apps.
• GreenpoisOn has an untethered jailbrake of IOS 4.2.1 for AppleTV.
• There is also a rumor that Apple may be buying a small developer to improve iOS notifications.
• Aspyr is celebrating Civilization IV‘s 2011 Grammy win for “Baba Yetu.”

More Gaming Stories

• Steam is now responsible for 70% of the downloadable gaming market.
• Waiting on news for Diablo 3? Blizzard announced that it will be released by the end of 2011.
• Soon available with Steamworks support, Duke Nukem Forever will be able to be accessed on any computer with Steam.
• EA games will not be making Mirror’s Edge 2 because of poor Mirror’s Edge sales.
• Playing video games can have a variety of positive side effects, like helping kids feel better connected with their parents and building self-esteem. They may also be key to alleviating depression.
• Smithsonian announces that they will have an exhibit on the art of video games.
• Felicia Day will be acting in the launch of the Dragon Age: Redemption web series.

Our Posts

• Tweet Your Love Contest Winners
• We’re Splitting Up
• Quicksave: Sweet Game Deals of 50% Off
• Contest: Tweet Your Love to Your Favorite Game

First, big thanks to everyone that participated!  We got some really good entries, and we put them all through our super scientific selection process (read: a committee of interns and a few others picked their favorites) to come up with six winners.  Here are the winners and the tweets that got them to the top: Runners Up

• @pablo0208 – #GameLove “Homeworld” is want to come back! missing your warmth, homeliness and kick-ass battles with the Vaygr warlord
• @johnewarren – Dear Portal, You made me think, you made me cry. You made me laugh, you made me die. Love isn’t enough of a word to describe. #GameLove
• @tufdaawg – i really like call of duty. it is cool. death. destruction. blood. #gamelove
• @myyrdneopia – To the entire Civilization series—because you can’t have just one! #GameLove #GAV
• @SF_Steph – #gamelove Cant get enough of Civilization 5! Been playing Civ games for .. 20 years or so? Civ I on MSDOS was my first…!

Grand Prize Winner

• @goldsmithaaron – Dear #Civilizations5, you have conquered my world. #GameLove

As mentioned, all of our runners up will be getting a coupon for 30% off any game from GameAgent.com, and the grand prize winner will be receiving a FREE game of choice from GameAgent.com! We’ll be contacting all of our winners via Twitter.  Thanks again to everyone that participated!

Valentine’s was great, but it’s time for a change.  And it’s not you–it’s us. We feel like we’re constantly giving you a GameAgent deal here, or product news there, but what if you’re not interested in one or the other?  We haven’t been giving you enough choice, and that’s why we have to split up. Wait, you thought we were talking about splitting up with you guys? No way–we LOVE you guys! We’re talking about splitting up with ourselves. Starting today, we’re creating TWO news streams–one focused on the GameAgent Store and its news, deals, contests, and promos, as well as our upcoming and updated GameAgent application (check the Mac App Store soon!); and one focused on Aspyr Media, all of its products, and the Mac gaming scene in general. If you want to keep up with all of the latest promotions, contests, and deals from GameAgent.com, then be sure to follow our GameAgent Facebook and Twitter (@gameagentstore) accounts.  The vast majority of you are already following us on these accounts since these have been our sole social media outlets. For everything else Aspyr-related, as well as news, reviews, and other tidbits from the Mac gaming scene, be sure to follow our new Facebook and Twitter (@AspyrMedia) accounts set up specifically for Aspyr Media.  You’ll be able to find out about new releases, keep up with stories here on our blog, and be one of the first to know about any deals on any of our games (whether through GameAgent, Steam, or anywhere else!). Essentially, you’ll be getting all the same info as before (if not more) from both of the feeds, but now it will just be easier to filter! Of course, you’ll still be able to get everything in one place by checking in here on our blog.  Like our upcoming GameAgent application for the Mac App Store, we want the GameAgent blog to be a place to “discover Mac gaming.”  To keep things equally simple for you guys, though, we’ll do our best to clearly label and categorize any and all stories and posts. Does the separation of the commerce and news feeds help you?  Did you like it better the old way?  Let us know what you think in the comments!