Intro Guests

Scott Johnson, The Instance, Film Sack, Fourcast, Extralife comic, Frogpants Studios

frogpants.com

Brian Ibbott, Coverville, Film Sack

coverville.com

Charlie George, Tiredthumbs

tiredthumbs.com

Valve and Steam on the Mac

Teaser ads and build up to announcement.

Never seen a gaming buzz or marketing campaign like this targeted specifically at Mac community

Different ads appeared on various gaming and Mac sites and blogs.

March 8th Valve announced that Steam will be coming to the Mac

Titles include, Left 4 Dead 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike, Portal, and the Half-Life

Also they will bring over Source and Steamworks for Mac

What is Valve, Steam, Source, and Steamworks?

Orange Box for Mac? What is OrangeBox?

Also announced Steam Play and Steam Cloud

Will allow you to play any title built on Source between PC and Mac

Steam Cloud will let you stop on one platform an pick-up at the same place on another

Both versions bundled at one price.

They are using native versions and not emulation.

Included WebKit into Steam and OpenGL into Source

Is this better than other titles using Transgaming Cider technology?

Does this change the game or just expand it?

Do people really game on the Mac?

Is this goign to convert the hardcore gamer to the Mac or just stop Mac users from buy/booting a PC

What are Mac gamers current options?

What about Streaming gaming like OnLive?

Will launch June 17 for $14.95/mo.

Games are rendered on the server?

No porting of titles.

Ye old Mac vs. PC as gaming platform debates

Not as many titles on the Mac

Macs are more costly.

Hardware is is more expensive and not top of the line

GFX cards and upgrades are limited

Is a 27" iMac enough these days? Do you need a Mac Pro?

Peripherals are limited

Razer announced all future products will have Mac support.

Is it a the dawning of a new day for Mac, and Apple, gamers?

Blizzard, Starcraft II Beta for Mac in April

InsideMac Games reported on a Blizzard Tweet that said the Mac version of the Starcraft II Beta “will be available in April, when it’s ready.

Also planning a major content patch for the game in mid-April

enable some basic achievements

improved voice chat

3x3 and 4x4 maps

Other unidentified features.

Map editor will also be out before late April

Not a priority, but will also eventually add critters.

iPad, does it mean anything for gamers?

Discuss gaming possibilities of the iPad

Apple showed off some exisitng iPhone games at the announcement.

X-Games Snocross

Nova on the iPad

Showed customizing placement of game controls, more screen real estate

3-finger twist to open airlocks

Rocket launcher multi target system by dragging a box around targets.

EA Need for Speed

Gameplay and UI dynamics

Processor and GPU performance, enough?

Does it go beyond casual games?