Valve Software's Co-Founder Explains Why No Mac OS X Support
Kikizo interviews Valve Software's co-founder, Gabe Newell, about the upcoming Orange Box game compilation due for release in October. The compilation includes Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal, and Team Fortress 2 and will only be available for Windows, XBox 360 and PlayStation 3.
When asked about why there have been no Mac versions, Newell claims that they have tried to work with Apple over the years, but there has been a definite lack of follow-through on Apple's side.
The cycle then repeats itself when a new group of people replace the old ones at Apple. Newell goes on to say that "they seem to think that they want to do gaming, but there's never any follow through".
The interview does not specifically reveal what issues the developer would like Apple to improve on, but at this year's WWDC, Apple did make a point of announcing a number of Mac games from EA. Today, Apple's homepage reflects that the announced EA games are now available.
When asked about why there have been no Mac versions, Newell claims that they have tried to work with Apple over the years, but there has been a definite lack of follow-through on Apple's side.
...we have this pattern with Apple, where we meet with them, people there go "wow, gaming is incredibly important, we should do something with gaming". And then we'll say, "OK, here are three things you could do to make that better", and then they say OK, and then we never see them again.
The cycle then repeats itself when a new group of people replace the old ones at Apple. Newell goes on to say that "they seem to think that they want to do gaming, but there's never any follow through".
The interview does not specifically reveal what issues the developer would like Apple to improve on, but at this year's WWDC, Apple did make a point of announcing a number of Mac games from EA. Today, Apple's homepage reflects that the announced EA games are now available.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
57 months ago
In this article, http://games.kikizo.com/features/gabenewell_valve_iv_sep07_p1.asp, Gabe Newell talks about why it is not happening.
While I don't game on my Macs, I think Apple should definately listen to these developers. The programming techniques and accumulated knowleged from this will be good not only for games but running other process intensive applications as well.
While I don't game on my Macs, I think Apple should definately listen to these developers. The programming techniques and accumulated knowleged from this will be good not only for games but running other process intensive applications as well.
57 months ago
While the article stated that Apple didn't do what they wanted them to, but it's too bad they didn't say what they actually asked Apple. I'm curious.
57 months ago
While the article stated that Apple didn't do what they wanted them to, but it's too bad they didn't say what they actually asked Apple. I'm curious.
I'm sure it's a multi-years worth of mess dealing with a faceless company (eg. one where you can't really talk with anyone who can really push to make a difference). Regardless, the macs are becoming more popular and :apple: is going to have to seriously take a good look at their gaming side and try to help it mature a little more. Maybe we will see more games come out with Leopard/OpenGL2
57 months ago
Surely it should be up to the porting house to decide what's missing from OS X. Glenda (Aspyr) was saying that they sometimes have their developers go over to Apple and work with the OpenGL team to get things sorted out, and it seems to happen. I think MacSoft did the same; I seem to recall that one of the Panther updates was Halo-focussed.
57 months ago
Well, I guess apple just doesn't care?
You could always just use bootcamp to play..
You could always just use bootcamp to play..
57 months ago
I wonder what they asked apple and why they can't do what blizzard, epic and id software can.
57 months ago
While I'm sure his reason is at least partially correct, the other half reason it isn't coming to Macs is because Gabe Newell is a whiny douchebag who needs to shut up and make his damn games instead of making everyone wait 2 years for "episodic content"....it's not episodic if you need to wait close to a full game dev cycle to play it (for 6 hours)
57 months ago
When I read that article, my BS detector is going off.
They do make good games, but they sure sound like self-entitled whiners.
They do make good games, but they sure sound like self-entitled whiners.
57 months ago
I'm sorry, but I just can't take that article seriously. Unreal engine 3 is coming to the mac, and they just say that Apple doesn't hear game devs? What about Aspyr, MacSoft and the other developers? What about EA with command & conquer, and Blizzard?
I'm pretty sure that they asked Apple to alter their OpenGL implementation so that it conforms more with the DirectX standards. And that's not going to happen since OpenGL has its own standards.
Oh, and... I think that now we can't complain about games with poor performance on the Mac OS X. I think that the latest games are all with good performance. So, I can't believe we are still hearing these crap from Valve. These are all lame excuses for not being able to port a game to OpenGL.
I'm pretty sure that they asked Apple to alter their OpenGL implementation so that it conforms more with the DirectX standards. And that's not going to happen since OpenGL has its own standards.
Oh, and... I think that now we can't complain about games with poor performance on the Mac OS X. I think that the latest games are all with good performance. So, I can't believe we are still hearing these crap from Valve. These are all lame excuses for not being able to port a game to OpenGL.
57 months ago
In this article, http://games.kikizo.com/features/gabenewell_valve_iv_sep07_p1.asp, Gabe Newell talks about why it is not happening.
While I don't game on my Macs, I think Apple should definately listen to these developers. The programming techniques and accumulated knowleged from this will be good not only for games but running other process intensive applications as well.
Interesting link. I'm sure that a lot of other game developers feel the same way about Apple's lack of serious commitment towards expanding mainstream gaming on Macs, hence the lack of ports.
FWIW, unless things change in the near future with some positive announcements from Apple re gaming, my laptop Mac will soon be joined by a new desktop PC specifically for gaming. A Mac for serious stuff & a PC for gaming, increasingly looks like (for me at least) the only way to go!
[ Read All Comments ]
Analytics firm Chitika today released a report showing that by its metrics iOS has now surpassed OS X in overall web traffic share in the United States. Chitika's methodology involves an analysis...
One of the most frequent reasons for an iPhone to go on a trip to the Apple Store's Genius Bar is because of water damage. Typically, a water damaged iPhone can be replaced for a flat $199...
TheVerge's Joshua Topolsky summarizes the iPad 3 casing findings reported earlier today, but also adds his own sources regarding some details of the iPad 3.
Image from RepairLabs
As...
Last July, Apple discontinued the white MacBook from its consumer lineup, pushing consumers toward the company's popular MacBook Air line or the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The company didn't kill...
Popular iPhone Twitter client Tweetbot has finally arrived on the iPad, with a user interface instantly familiar to any current Tweetbot user. Designed for the Twitter power-user, Tweetbot packs a...
