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28
Dec

Call for Comments: What will Mac Apps mean for YOU?

Posted by Russ Looney
For those not aware, Apple is launching a brand new Mac App Store on January 6, 2011.  The Mac App Store promises to bring the ease and functionality of the iOS App Store (for iPhone, iPod, and iPad) to Mac computers everywhere.  You’ll be able to search for thousands of different apps for your computer, and purchasing, downloading, and updating these apps should be easier than ever.  The apps also promise to be portable across different Mac computers. We at Aspyr are particularly excited about the prospects and potential the Mac App Store could have for gaming.  As almost anyone that’s paid any attention to the iPhone and iPad probably know, these devices have turned into incredibly popular gaming devices, with tons of new, innovative, and accessible games available for users of all ages and interests.  You’ll be able to find content from Aspyr in the Mac App Store in the opening days of the store’s launch. However, we want to know: what do our fans and customers think about and expect from the Mac App Store?  Will there still be a market for boxed retail applications?  Will you still purchase your favorite games from traditional outlets, like the GameAgent store and/or Steam?  Let us know in the comments if and/or how you expect the Mac App Store to change the way you use your Mac!

Related posts:

  1. Call for Comments: To SteamPlay or Not [Updated]

Tags: , , , , , , , ,   Posted Call for Comments |

  • AJ

    For AAA titles (like Force Unleashed; you’re working on the Mac version of the sequel, right? ;) ), I still prefer boxed retail versions, which I usually buy from the Apple Store or Amazon.com (as I often have gift cards) or direct from publisher. For smaller casual/indie games, I use Steam or download direct from publishers, especially those that keep track of my account and allow me to re-download my purchases to whatever machine I’m using. I will probably continue to buy games in these ways when possible rather than switching to the Mac App Store, unless the prices there are better.

    For games not available boxed or on Steam or other site/service I already use, I would probably choose the Mac App Store over anything else, assuming prices are the same. (I’ve never had occasion to use GameAgent, though I would have if a game I wanted was not available elsewhere or GameAgent had the lowest price).

  • http://www.seanswiiworld.co.uk/ Sean Aaron

    My primary gaming platform is the Wii, so I’m not interested in retail boxes for Mac games. The best thing I’ve found about being able to get old games I used to have retail versions of for the Mac is that the downloadable versions are all updated to run on current machines like my previous gen Mac Mini. That’s a big deal to me. Sure it takes a couple of hours to download a big game, but having it work without having to download additional patches or having a disc in just to launch the thing is worth it.

    I haven’t purchased anything from Steam yet (I’m definitely keen to check out Half Life), but I’m hoping the Mac App store will mark a renaissance in gaming on the Mac. There’s so many games Mac users have missed out on over the years (as a big Star Trek fan I’m terribly disappointed I apparently won’t get a shot at port of classics like Klingon Academy, Star Trek: Armada and Starfleet Command), so hopefully the ease of selling to Mac users via Apple’s storefront will enhance the viability of the Mac as a gaming platform in the eyes of many developers.

    As a result of downloads via GameAgent I’m gaming on my Mac more now than I have in many years; having a single point of purchase will likely enhance this.

  • Dwight

    My response will be short and simple. I think the Mac App Store will be fantastic for a few reasons.

    #1. People can actually find your games – I know about 20 Mac users who had no idea that CoD 4 even existed on the Mac (heh).

    #2. This will beat the whole “10 downloads” limit – not important, but still a plus

    #3. Easier updates to your games

    #4. Payments go to Apple, not “GameAgent” (for someone who hasn’t heard of you, that could be a risk in their mind). – more sales.

    #5. Better place for reviews and more (if im not mistaken, people can review and report problems via the app store.

    These are 5 of the reasons i think you and users would benefit from the app store. I hope to see you on the Mac App Store :) .

  • http://www.igameradio.com Omaha Sternberg

    For me, the primary importance is on access to the latest version of games when I want to play them. That means that I don’t mind digital downloads as long as when I need to reload the OS, or upgraded to a new system, I can add the game again without a hassle.

    This is *very important* as there are becoming more and more restrictions on “licensed” digital downloads, as opposed to “owned” retail boxes. However, I only have so much space for physical boxes, and it’s a pain to make sure that the game has been upgraded to the latest, has the disc in if needed, etc.

    The Mac App Store has the potential for allowing many indie game devs a lot more exposure to customers out there that never heard of them, if done properly. But it won’t turn me away from continuing to use such services as Steam, etc, because they combine pricing (sales included) with community. And after what Apple considers to be “social networking” ala Game Center, I think that others have a better idea of what community and social space are for game players.

  • Jason Kenney

    I like the idea of a centralized updating (patches) service on the mac. (I hope its actually merged with Software Update.)

    However, aren’t the app guidelines pretty much non professional/non game (at least T or above)?

    I also think choosing between Steam and the App Store for games I would go with steam using the present data. Steam allows win/mac sales, the cloud, works with boxed retail versions, etc.

  • Snap

    Steam is my main computer game buying platform and will remain so due to Steamplay, Steam Cloud and Achievements.

  • Jim

    I have a hard time using something called an “App Store” to buy serious, full software titles. It’s great for the Angry Birds of the world, but if I’m going to spend $50-60 on a game, I either want a physical boxed copy in my hand or I’m going to contribute to a dedicated gaming platform like Steam.

  • Nate

    If games are available on the app store, I would be more likely to buy them there than in physical, boxed form. That said, I know many people prefer having a physical dvd or cd. I think soon, those people will be in the minority as optical drives are slowly removed from computers.

    In the mean time, I think there are markets for both mac store downloads and boxed software.

  • Jan

    I guess the time of boxed software products is definitely over. Since the introduction of the iOs App Stores and Steam on the Mac, I’ve purchased and tried out more apps and games than ever before in my 20+ years in computing.

    Especially CD checks have always been a pain for loyal and honest customers of games like myself. I bought KotOR for the Mac two times and still I’m not able to play the game on a new MacBook Air without adding an external optical drive. If I had downloaded the game illegally from a torrent site, I wouldn’t have such problems. :-(

    But even a web based sales channel like GameAgent is not the best solution for many customers: I bought the Monkey Island: SE and my serial doesn’t work on my new iMac anymore. Now I have to contact Aspyr again, hoping to get a working new serial. That’s not really convenient and consumes valuable time.

    I will continue to buy Aspyr Mac games, but only through the Mac App Store and Steam.

  • http://www.virtualchaos.co.uk/blog/ Nadeem

    I think the App Store has already had an impact, 1 Million downloads on the first day. And how many of us have purchased games for the Mac through Steam. I think they days of hard copies are over- at least for me.

    Steam/ and the App store make it far easier to find games and install them, and update/patch them. It also means you dont have to insert a disk every time you want to play.

    I purchased a copy of Aspyr’s Call of Duty4:Modern Warfare from Amazon when it was first available on the Mac, and whilst historically almost all of my serious games were hard copies purchased on disk, none of my recent purchases have been, and frankly I don’t think I really need hard copies anymore.

    I love the fact that I can purchase software/games through the App store and install them on both my mac book pro, and my iMac. Of course I have the same right with Steam. Whilst steam is a dedicated gaming platform, it seems to far more heavily skewed in the favor of Windows rather than Mac, and that’s obviously because there are simply more titles available on Windows then there are for the Mac.

    I think, or hope, that the dedicated distribution channel the App Store provides might encourage more publishers to actually publish games for the Mac. Otherwise – how many years will Mac users have to wait before titles like Black Ops are available on the Mac?

  • Kain

    I am excited about being able to download classic and current games via the Mac App Store. I have already downloaded some of your titles and also from other developers too. It’s so easy I just hope that some older titles will be released on this platform that are not updated for intel processors as Lion 10.7 is dropping Rosetta support meaning a lot of your classic games become forgotten. Games like Elite Force 1 + 2, star wars galactic battlegrounds, return to castle wolfenstien amongst many others.

    Fingers crossed!