Half Life 2 for the Mac Petition

[mac.head.high]

thechris69 already mentioned this in a post, so he gets the credit, but he didn't make it a thread, so the initiative is mine.

This is a petition for Half Life 2 to be ported to the Macintosh System. Lets let the developers and publishers know our numbers. Every little bit counts, and even if you don't intend to play or own this game, I urge you to sign it anyways. Just think of it as giving back to the Mac community. Or whatever reasons justify it in your mind.

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?hl2mac

[Veldek]

thechris69 already mentioned this in a post, so he gets the credit, but he didn't make it a thread, so the initiative is mine.

This is a petition for Half Life 2 to be ported to the Macintosh System. Lets let the developers and publishers know our numbers. Every little bit counts, and even if you don't intend to play or own this game, I urge you to sign it anyways. Just think of it as giving back to the Mac community. Or whatever reasons justify it in your mind.

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?hl2macIt’s not that porting companies don’t want to port HL2. It’s just that the Havoc engine is just too expensive, because Valve (?) is to greedy in this case. So sign every petition you want, it won’t change anything.

[mac.head.high]

It’s not that porting companies don’t want to port HL2. It’s just that the Havoc engine is just too expensive, because Valve (?) is to greedy in this case. So sign every petition you want, it won’t change anything.


Yeah, thanks for your vote of confidence. Sign it anyways.

[Veldek]

Yeah, thanks for your vote of confidence. Sign it anyways.You’re welcome ;)

Actually, I really like to have HL2 on the Mac, especially as I suffer because I can’t play DOD:S which I’d really like to do. But I still don’t belive that this petition will do anything to change this, sorry.

[Dagless]

I agree with Veldek. All the petitions in the world won't get HL2 on a Mac.

I'd only get it if the whole Steam system comes over with it. So I wouldn't have to re-purchase HL2.

[mac.head.high]

I'm not the author of the petition, but you're killing my buzz. I know this is a discussion board, but there is no need for nay-saying. Notice I intentionally left out a phrase resembling "I would appreciate your opinions in the matter", because in this instance, unlike every other post or discussion I've started, I don't appreciate your opinions in the matter. Unless there constructive or solution oriented.

I'm not taking a poll with this post. It's a function to distribute a message and a means.

So again I repeat, now in a condescending tone: Yeah, thanks for your vote of confidence. Sign it anyways, unless your a Communist.


http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?hl2mac

[~Shard~]

Calling people Communists is not going to make them want to sign your petition. :p

And I think it's good that people are expressing their thoughts on the petition here, whether you personally like it or not. It gives people something to think about, as opposed to just blindly signing something - perhaps Veldek and others will help to explain to people why this hasn't occurred yet, and will manage people's expectations on the likely success of the survey, so people don't have misconceptions on the outcome.

Plus, it's all a moot point anyway, because once HL2 actually does finally come out for the Mac, your buddy will already have started his petition for a port of HL3... ;) :cool:

[Mord]

edit: damn macrumors wont accept russia text, my joke was lost in ????'s

[GFLPraxis]

Sign it anyways, unless your a Communist.

There's nothing wrong with communism, it's a fine economic system. The United Federation of Planets in Star Trek is communist. You're getting mixed up with socialism (a modified communist economy where a dictator controls everything). :p

[/nitpicker]

Anyway, look, it's not going to do anything. Valve CAN NOT port Half-Life 2 if the Havok engine is not ported first. We need a petition for Havok, not HL2.

[~Shard~]

edit: damn macrumors wont accept russia text, my joke was lost in ????'s

Ah well, it's the thought that counts... ;)

[jrv3034]

I'll sign it, but I think we have a better shot at somebody figuring out how to run PC games on Intel Macs using WINE. :eek:

Oh, and shouldn't we be petitioning for Half-Life 1 first? I'll sign that one, too!

[Dagless]

Off topic but...
What is it with Americans poking at communism. I've never heard it mentioned once in any school/college/university/pub/skatepark/cinema etc or UK based forum. It's not like you've even experienced it. Like what GLFPraxis said theres nothing really wrong with it. It just gets thrown in with Socialism in America for some reason.
Unless of course you have experienced Communisim or aren't just echoing what US Cartoon shows say about it.

[Mord]

There's nothing wrong with communism, it's a fine economic system. The United Federation of Planets in Star Trek is communist. You're getting mixed up with socialism (a modified communist economy where a dictator controls everything). :p

[/nitpicker]

Anyway, look, it's not going to do anything. Valve CAN NOT port Half-Life 2 if the Havok engine is not ported first. We need a petition for Havok, not HL2.

their is nothing about socialism indicates a need for a dictator, just many dictatorships have claimed to be socialist for the sake of propaganda (the nazi party for example), conservatives calling socialists evil because many dictators claim to be socialists is akin to someone criticizing someone for being a good person because some idiot says he's good too.

socialism is just an umbrella ethos for a state run economy in moderation it equates to the welfare state, in totalitarian it means complete economic collapse due to people not bothering to do anything as their is no economic reward to it.

[Eric5h5]

Anyway, look, it's not going to do anything. Valve CAN NOT port Half-Life 2 if the Havok engine is not ported first. We need a petition for Havok, not HL2.

We already have Havok; it's just that the Havok guys want loads of money to license it. Plus Valve wants loads of money for Half-Life 2 on its own. That's a double-whammy: (loads of money X 2) + (relatively small Mac games market) = Not Gonna Happen.

Seriously, does anyone really think that all the petitions in the world will convince any porting company to take such a major financial loss so a few more people can play this game? If that's nay-saying, well, deal with it. (I'm speaking, mind you, as a 100% Mac-only gamer.)

--Eric

[Marathon4ever]

Anyway, look, it's not going to do anything. Valve CAN NOT port Half-Life 2 if the Havok engine is not ported first. We need a petition for Havok, not HL2.
You got it right. Havok is necessary for Half-Life 2. But the issue with porting Havok previously was that it was heavily based on a different hardware set. Now that Mac has gone Intel, it is trivial to bring it over to our platform. I wouldn't be surprised if it's being done as we post.

Even so, I encourage everyone to sign this petition, just so Valve and Sierra know how many people this is affecting.


Also, people like jrv3034 need to realize the negative impact they have on the Mac plaform when they talk about running PC games on WINE or dual-boot or whatever. "Making do" with Windows is not the answer. Native Mac code is the only answer.

[Dagless]

But is it worth it?

[Marathon4ever]

We already have Havok; it's just that the Havok guys want loads of money to license it. Plus Valve wants loads of money for Half-Life 2 on its own. That's a double-whammy: (loads of money X 2) + (relatively small Mac games market) = Not Gonna Happen.

Seriously, does anyone really think that all the petitions in the world will convince any porting company to take such a major financial loss so a few more people can play this game? If that's nay-saying, well, deal with it. (I'm speaking, mind you, as a 100% Mac-only gamer.)

--Eric
I find it hard to believe you are a 100% Mac-only gamer. Yes, we are a minority, but only for so much longer. We need to fight to get recognition and the games we want to play. We can't just cop out and say "Oh, we'll never get that game". Sure, you can be realistic, but you should at least be hopeful in addition.

[Marathon4ever]

But is it worth it?

Of course it's worth it! It's always worth it.

[~Shard~]

Of course it's worth it! It's always worth it.

Ah, naive idealism - nothing beats it! :p :cool:

[crachoar]

Off Topic Battle!

Off topic but...
What is it with Americans poking at communism.

...It just gets thrown in with Socialism in America for some reason.
Unless of course you have experienced Communisim or aren't just echoing what US Cartoon shows say about it.


Yes, we have so many 'US Cartoons' that teach you to hate communists, and also, to lump 'Socialism' in with 'Communism'. You're so right! Are you sure you don't live in the states!?


And besides, have you experienced Communism? And if not, why haven't you? It's obviously working out for so many people. Don't knock the lack of free speech and information until you've tried it!


On Topic...

About 'Steam' coming to OSX? Who knows at this point. If the Intel Macs increase Apple's market share, it's possible. But VALVe's stance in previous years has been that they didn't view the Macintosh as a viable market for their audience. And really, they're probably right. They'd most likely break even. But, like I said, it's all speculation until we see how popular the new computers are.

[Marathon4ever]

On Topic...

About 'Steam' coming to OSX? Who knows at this point. If the Intel Macs increase Apple's market share, it's possible. But VALVe's stance in previous years has been that they didn't view the Macintosh as a viable market for their audience. And really, they're probably right. They'd most likely break even. But, like I said, it's all speculation until we see how popular the new computers are.
Um, actually Valve was convinced enough to nearly port the original Half-Life. It was like 95% ported before the project got canned. Supposedly, the port was taking too long, but who knows why the plug was really pulled. Good ol' Contraband made an impressive effort.
I wonder if they'll ever release Abduction.

[Dagless]

Off Topic Battle!




Yes, we have so many 'US Cartoons' that teach you to hate communists, and also, to lump 'Socialism' in with 'Communism'. You're so right! Are you sure you don't live in the states!?


And besides, have you experienced Communism? And if not, why haven't you? It's obviously working out for so many people. Don't knock the lack of free speech and information until you've tried it!

From memory, everytime communism is mentioned in Family Guy, Simpsons etc its always greeted as some kind of evil thing. Praxis also noted the way people get mixed up with Communism and Socialism.

From experience. I spent some time in Poland during communism years and it wasn't half bad. I can't speak for all the Poles out there but a few of my family say they were better off. Its just easy to corrupt. but hey! we're getting into playing the obvious game now, like its obvious you're right about politics. Why don't you be a government advisor? I hear the pay is good.

[GFLPraxis]

Fully agreed, we Americans are brainwashed that Democracy = from god and all other forms of governments = bad, especially communism. Communism = t3h 3vil!!!1!

their is nothing about socialism indicates a need for a dictator, just many dictatorships have claimed to be socialist for the sake of propaganda (the nazi party for example), conservatives calling socialists evil because many dictators claim to be socialists is akin to someone criticizing someone for being a good person because some idiot says he's good too.

socialism is just an umbrella ethos for a state run economy in moderation it equates to the welfare state, in totalitarian it means complete economic collapse due to people not bothering to do anything as their is no economic reward to it.


I've officially been out-nitpicked.

Anyway, back on topic.

[emaja]

I spent some time in Poland during communism years and it wasn't half bad.

Except for that whole being run over by tanks and shot at, it wasn't that bad! I could have done without the political abductions though.

[ReanimationLP]

Probably never gonna happen, since HL2s entire engine and everything uses Direct X heavily.

[thechris69]

just sign the thing and stop complaining

P.S. yes i am the one mentioned in the first post:D

[quigleybc]

I tried to sign the petition, but it said my valid email, wasn't valid....

Oh well, I agree though, why can't we get that game....?


oh well,

on a lighter note, this is my 500th post!! Damn...took long enough...


:)

[mac.head.high]

We already have Havok; it's just that the Havok guys want loads of money to license it. Plus Valve wants loads of money for Half-Life 2 on its own. That's a double-whammy: (loads of money X 2) + (relatively small Mac games market) = Not Gonna Happen.

Seriously, does anyone really think that all the petitions in the world will convince any porting company to take such a major financial loss so a few more people can play this game? If that's nay-saying, well, deal with it. (I'm speaking, mind you, as a 100% Mac-only gamer.)

--Eric

My point is this. It's not only a product, but a piece of artwork, like a painting or a play. And after a while, most artists want to make sure their art gets to the widest audience possible. And I just don't see the game developers wanting to keep a population of gamers from playing a beautiful piece of art like Half Life 2. I just think their pride in their product would push them to want to make sure this game gets to everybody; regardless of platform.

[ReanimationLP]

My point is this. It's not only a product, but a piece of artwork, like a painting or a play. And after a while, most artists want to make sure their art gets to the widest audience possible. And I just don't see the game developers wanting to keep a population of gamers from playing a beautiful piece of art like Half Life 2. I just think their pride in their product would push them to want to make sure this game gets to everybody; regardless of platform.

If you really want it that badly, just pick it up on Xbox. :/

EDIT - w00t. 900 posts. :D

[mac.head.high]

If you really want it that badly, just pick it up on Xbox. :/

EDIT - w00t. 900 posts. :D


I own an Xbox or two (Sadly), and Half Life 2 for it. I just want the full experience. As well this is really about the principle of the matter.

[mac.head.high]

Also separately:

I should probably take the time to explain my communist comment. IT WAS A JOKE. PLEASE GROW A SENSE OF HUMOR!

I really didn't realize when I typed that, that this board is a global one and that it might offend some people.

But communism doesn't work. It meanders along until it shots itself in the leg. American Democracy is far from perfect (especially from 2000-2008), so I'm not saying it's the answer. But do you really think China is in a better place because their internets are filter, their rights have been stripped away, and they have no freedom to protest?

Wait I think I just described my homeland again. Duh?!

On second thought, China might be more politically safe for the moment than America. I think I'm moving.

That being said, I love my country, but it's going to crap because internal politics.

[Eric5h5]

I find it hard to believe you are a 100% Mac-only gamer.

Well, believe it anyway.

Yes, we are a minority, but only for so much longer. We need to fight to get recognition and the games we want to play.

There's something to be said for picking your fights....

But the issue with porting Havok previously was that it was heavily based on a different hardware set. Now that Mac has gone Intel, it is trivial to bring it over to our platform. I wouldn't be surprised if it's being done as we post.

As I said, it's already been ported. Going to Intel has nothing to do with it. It was also ported to Gamecube and XBox 360, which are PPC-based. The source code is obviously multi-platform and it was probably relatively simple to port it to OS X. The issue has never been technical; it was always about money.

Probably never gonna happen, since HL2s entire engine and everything uses Direct X heavily.

That's meaningless, since virtually all Windows games use Direct X heavily and that's never stopped any ports. The Sims 2 for example is a massively huge game (in terms of source code), Direct X through and through, and was still ported in a reasonable time frame.

It's all about money, and it's only about money. Havok is already ported, they just want too much money for the size of the Mac market. It wouldn't be any harder to port Half-Life 2 than any other game, they just want too much money for the size of the Mac market. Look what happened to Gamespy...they upped their fees by a huge amount for no particular reason, so Mac games can't use it anymore. Not for any technical reasons.

--Eric

[Marathon4ever]

If you really want it that badly, just pick it up on Xbox. :/

EDIT - w00t. 900 posts. :D
Playing an FPS on a console is like riding a bike with training wheels. It's just not as good.

[Eric5h5]

My point is this. It's not only a product, but a piece of artwork, like a painting or a play. And after a while, most artists want to make sure their art gets to the widest audience possible.

Maybe that would work if the world was Communist. ;) Sadly, the developers don't really get a say in the matter, and it's all about sales.

It's quite an assumption to think that they even care that much about how many people play their game...look at the recent interview with Brian Greenstone of Pangea Software on InsideMacGames. He says he dropped retail sales and just went for direct sales. The result was that the sales volume dropped in half...in other words half as many people are playing his games now. But his response is "Best business decision I ever made" because by cutting out the middle man, his profits went up 250%.

What it comes down to is actions, not words. All the complaining and petition-signing in the world doesn't amount to diddly-squat if the publishers don't see the numbers. By far the best thing anyone can do is to start buying Mac games, instead of pirating them and hoping that it's all about developers just wanting people to play their games. It's not; it's about sales numbers. That's it. Maybe that sounds cold and harsh, but it's the truth. I put my money where my mouth is, but not enough other people do.

--Eric

[mac.head.high]

Playing an FPS on a console is like riding a bike with training wheels. It's just not as good.


I disagree with that statement. But I know Marathon4ever will disagree with my next statement. Halo is one of the best FPS's because of it's tight control scheme, solid game-play, and consistently high quality graphics for a console based game. That is why Halo and Halo 2 feel tighter and like a full experience on the console, because they were designed (ultimately) for that console. Ignore the fact that Halo started on a Mac, because most of that code got trashed when Bungie started again.

But thats my point: Half Life 2 is designed (initially) with power and presentation of a home computer in mind. I want that full experience with no compromises of level size, story elements, or graphical capabilities. That is all I'm saying. I want a non-edited version of what said be a game of pure beauty and engrossment.

[Marathon4ever]

What it comes down to is actions, not words. All the complaining and petition-signing in the world doesn't amount to diddly-squat if the publishers don't see the numbers. By far the best thing anyone can do is to start buying Mac games, instead of pirating them and hoping that it's all about developers just wanting people to play their games. It's not; it's about sales numbers. That's it. Maybe that sounds cold and harsh, but it's the truth. I put my money where my mouth is, but not enough other people do.

--Eric
Beautifully said. You have redeemed yourself.

[Marathon4ever]

I disagree with that statement. But I know Marathon4ever will disagree with my next statement. Halo is one of the best FPS's because of it's tight control scheme, solid game-play, and consistently high quality graphics for a console based game. That is why Halo and Halo 2 feel tighter and like a full experience on the console, because they were designed (ultimately) for that console.

The key phrase there is "for a console based game". Meaning, practically every FPS on the computer beats the pants off Halo on the Xbox.

[Eric5h5]

Beautifully said. You have redeemed yourself.

Thanks, I think...I wasn't aware I needed redeeming. :) I will clarify by saying that I'd buy Half-Life 2 if it was ported to the Mac, but I don't do petitions because they're useless and a waste of time. There's a reason most gaming forums have "no petitions" as one of the forum rules.

Everybody has it in his power to help get more Mac games ported, not by petitions but by buying the games. I'm not sure a lot of people realize how small the Mac games market really is, and how those extra sales make a big difference. It might not get us Half-Life 2, but it will get us the next big thing that otherwise would have remained unported because of a perceived lack of sales.

--Eric

[mac.head.high]

The key phrase there is "for a console based game". Meaning, practically every FPS on the computer beats the pants off Halo on the Xbox.

That's fully and only opinion. And your entitled to that. But as usual I think you missed the point by not reading the remainder of my post.

In addition; will you please stop trolling. This isn't a Halo bashing thread. (Do you even own an Xbox?)

Although if you wanted to, you could start one yourself.

[iPoster]

Considering what it takes to run HL2 at a decent FPS on a PC (I do have it), only those with Dual G5's, and the top video cards would even be able to attempt to run it, and that is if it's a 'clean' port like Quake2 or Quake3, not 'dirty' like Doom3!! :rolleyes:

[mkaake]

first, the off topic, then the on topic:

off topic: america is not a democracy. they really should harp on that a little bit more in schools, cause it's just funny seeing people fight about forms of government, saying that our democracy is the best way to go, when we don't use a democracy.

on topic: I think there will be a larger chance of getting ports of this type available as we see consumer machines from apple that are finally capable of playing them at decent frame rates without sacrificing resolution. The iMac has made great strides (in G5 form) from where it was when it was introduced, and the last two iterations (the final G5 and the first intel) were fairly capable machines. But before that...

Anyway, I think as the mac market continues to grow, and more people with macs are actually capable of playing graphics intensive games, we'll have an argument.

That said, I signed the stinkin online petition, which is something I never do - I usually just make a quick sarcastic post pointing out that they're good for... <insert witty comment here>...

[ReanimationLP]

Considering what it takes to run HL2 at a decent FPS on a PC (I do have it), only those with Dual G5's, and the top video cards would even be able to attempt to run it, and that is if it's a 'clean' port like Quake2 or Quake3, not 'dirty' like Doom3!! :rolleyes:

Half-Life 2 runs decently for me on a Athlon 64 2.8 with a Radeon9600, getting about 55FPS with all settings on High and 2x AA at 1440x900. o.O

[Marathon4ever]

In addition; will you please stop trolling. This isn't a Halo bashing thread. (Do you even own an Xbox?)

Although if you wanted to, you could start one yourself.
If you read my first thread about the True Mac Gamer, then you would know that I do not own an Xbox, nor would I.

I might take you up on that Halo bashing thread for fun :D

[Mord]

first, the off topic, then the on topic:

off topic: america is not a democracy. they really should harp on that a little bit more in schools, cause it's just funny seeing people fight about forms of government, saying that our democracy is the best way to go, when we don't use a democracy.


explain, bush acctually won last time around.

[mac.head.high]

explain, bush acctually won last time around.


Off Topic: Actually the reports are coming in about Ohio being stolen as well due to the open-source nature of the Die-Bolt electronic voting machines. And no matter in what fashion Bush may or may not have won he's reelection, doesn't absolve the fact that he outright stole the first election with Florida.

And your right. America isn't a true democracy, because we have elected officials. As well, the popular vote would be the end all in a true democracy. I wished America was a true democracy, because it would become much harder for our government to do things that are against the people's will.


On Topic: I have a feeling that this gaming machine will be a Intel based Mac that will be built for use with a mouse and keyboard, and/or a controller (Apple or 3rd party, maybe even a 360 controller). So that if it is a dedicated gaming Mac computer that it will still attract console players. It will probably be bundled with a game like WOW, or a brand new franchise intended to help establish Apples hardware as a gaming standard.

[Marathon4ever]

On Topic: I have a feeling that this gaming machine will be a Intel based Mac that will be built for use with a mouse and keyboard, and/or a controller (Apple or 3rd party, maybe even a 360 controller). So that if it is a dedicated gaming Mac computer that it will still attract console players. It will probably be bundled with a game like WOW, or a brand new franchise intended to help establish Apples hardware as a gaming standard.
Um, actually you're not on topic since this is not the right thread to be posting that.

[truz]

Honestly. I'd purchase a new copy of hl2 if they would get this running on mac ;) They should set it up so you can't use your windows serial (like most mac games are: halo, ut2k4) They need to have shorter serials then the pc ones and steam needs to be setup different for mac users. Honestly.. I think apple should purchase valve and steam with there millions they have to spend ;) I'll donate a few hundred dollars for apple to buy valve! Before you know it I think apple would be givin valve from its donaters ;)

[mkaake]

explain, bush acctually won last time around.

we're a republic, where people vote for us, instead of us voting for ourselves. It's almost a democracy, but not quite. Seriously - that's not political mud-flinging, that's the truth...

[Marathon4ever]

Honestly. I'd purchase a new copy of hl2 if they would get this running on mac ;) They should set it up so you can't use your windows serial (like most mac games are: halo, ut2k4) They need to have shorter serials then the pc ones and steam needs to be setup different for mac users. Honestly.. I think apple should purchase valve and steam with there millions they have to spend ;) I'll donate a few hundred dollars for apple to buy valve! Before you know it I think apple would be givin valve from its donaters ;)
That would be so awesome if Apple bought Valve!!! Do you realize how many people would switch to the Mac just to play Half-Life 3?? It would be the biggest upset in the computing world in a long time!

[~Shard~]

That would be so awesome if Apple bought Valve!!! Do you realize how many people would switch to the Mac just to play Half-Life 3?? It would be the biggest upset in the computing world in a long time!

4 words: NEVER. GOING. TO. HAPPEN. :cool:

[whocares]

I say we start an online petition against online petitions on the basis that they never serve their purpose and are generally a waste of Cyberspace. Anyone with me?


:eek: :p :p

[Lord Blackadder]

Hmmm....

- Online petitions don't work. Even if you got a quarter million signatures, nobody would be willing to pay what Valve is asking to be allowed to port the engine. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just making an observation. Good luck with it though.

- I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but I recommend everyone here read wikipedia's excellent articles about Socialism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism) and Communism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism) before commenting further...slight misinformation problem in this thread, which seems bound for the poitical forums in a minute or two.

[Marathon4ever]

4 words: NEVER. GOING. TO. HAPPEN. :cool:
HEY... anything's possible :D

[iPoster]

Half-Life 2 runs decently for me on a Athlon 64 2.8 with a Radeon9600, getting about 55FPS with all settings on High and 2x AA at 1440x900. o.O

That is the same setup I have, and I guarantee you it runs rings around any Mac short of a dual G5....and that is average hardware in the PC world these days! :cool:

[Nermal]

I'm not the author of the petition

No, but I am :)

Seriously, I wrote it ages ago, before the Havok issue reared its ugly head, even before the Windows release of HL2. I've given up on the petition now, it's not really going anywhere. A few months ago I tried to clean it up and remove all the "Macs suck!" signatures and duplicates, but it was a mammoth task :(

I intended to send it to Valve, but there's no way I want that to happen now, not with the state it's currently in. If I'm really, really bored one day then I could again attempt to clean it up but at the moment it's just not worth it :(

[Lord Blackadder]

I intended to send it to Valve, but there's no way I want that to happen now, not with the state it's currently in. If I'm really, really bored one day then I could again attempt to clean it up but at the moment it's just not worth it :(

Maybe you could depute that task to one of the several outspoken "pro-petition" posters in this thread. ;)

[~Shard~]

HEY... anything's possible :D

Sorry to burst your bubble, but not anything is possible in life... :p ;) :cool:

[woxel1]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but not anything is possible in life... :p ;) :cool:
Maybe so, but everything that is possible is possible.

[~Shard~]

Maybe so, but everything that is possible is possible.

I can agree to that. ;) :D

[Marathon4ever]

Maybe so, but everything that is possible is possible.
and buying Valve is possible with the cash that Apple has lying around. Apple you'd better be reading this

[ZildjianKX]

Buy an Xbox/360 or buy an intel mac and contribute time/money to DarWINE.

[mac.head.high]

Um, actually you're not on topic since this is not the right thread to be posting that.


I'm sorry. Their all starting to blend together. I should consider sleeping.

[benpatient]

Apple will not "buy" valve simply because Valve is not for sale.

They went to considerable effort to demonstrate this with last years VU scandal. Valve owns themselves, and they have no interest in being part of a larger company. They could have sold out to VU or EA and all of the employees would have made a killing, but they wanted to retain complete control, so they did. Their current distribution deal with EA gives them an unheard-of amount of freedom.

They have developed Steam into their own flexible, versatile content delivery/distribution service, and I seriously doubt they've any interest in breaking it just to make a few Mac users happy.

I would love to be able to play my games on my Mac, but the reality is, my very cheap PC plays games faster than my 4,000 dollar dual G5 does. That's OK, though. I've accepted it. All I needed was 700 bucks for a SFF PC and a KVM switch, and I've got the best of both. I find windows sometimes annoying to use, but i rarely use it to do anything other than play games (although it is very nice to be able to use some of the free apps that are out there when you need to do something like convert an OGG file to AAC or recover lost photos from a memory card (or transfer files with a card reader) or something like that...

[Xephian]

I Highly doubt this would happen. Macs are simply not for gaming.

[truz]

With this intel processor and the ati card they can play any games for windows just as good if not better :) (if the game was supported on mac) Just wait for Call of Duty 2. You will see :)

I think someone needs to make game play 100% alike counter strike source (clone of cs source) for the mac with a new name, new graphics, new maps, ect.. It would do killer I think. Mac should invest some of there millions into a dev team for gaming on macs and spit out a few games.

[mac.head.high]

With this intel processor and the ati card they can play any games for windows just as good if not better :) (if the game was supported on mac) Just wait for Call of Duty 2. You will see :)

I think someone needs to make game play 100% alike counter strike source (clone of cs source) for the mac with a new name, new graphics, new maps, ect.. It would do killer I think. Mac should invest some of there millions into a dev team for gaming on macs and spit out a few games.


CS! I've killed almost years playing CS on the xbox. That is the one and only game that got me to buy an xbox. Is it were on the Mac, it would surly bring a lot of gamers over, seeing as how it is the most played video game in the world; literally.

I would play it for sure if it was solid.

As for all the CS fans out there. I know the PC version is probably better than the xbox version, but I had and still have a tremendous amount of fun with that game. It just such a solid engine. Even on the crippled xbox.

[Mr. Mister]

Valve doesn't like Macs, Havok isn't ported to Mac, and there's no evidence that either value is going to change. Both need to before there will be a Mac port.

Exhibit A: Valve was requesting a million-something last time I looked for access to its source code just to port it.

Exhibit B: Havok is a hundred thousand dollars or more per license, and there'll be an even greater fee for the first dev to buy it, since it hasn't been ported yet and will need to be.

Not looking hopeful. Just get a gaming PC or Xbox or something.

[Marathon4ever]

I would love to be able to play my games on my Mac, but the reality is, my very cheap PC plays games faster than my 4,000 dollar dual G5 does. That's OK, though. I've accepted it. All I needed was 700 bucks for a SFF PC and a KVM switch, and I've got the best of both. I find windows sometimes annoying to use, but i rarely use it to do anything other than play games (although it is very nice to be able to use some of the free apps that are out there when you need to do something like convert an OGG file to AAC or recover lost photos from a memory card (or transfer files with a card reader) or something like that...
No, that's not OK. It's something that must be fixed. And it will be fixed. I do not accept it, and neither should you.

There is no best of Windows - it's all bad. Microsoft must be destroyed. And that can't happen as long as people like you keep giving in and getting Windows for those apps that you "have" to use.

[Marathon4ever]

Valve doesn't like Macs, Havok isn't ported to Mac, and there's no evidence that either value is going to change. Both need to before there will be a Mac port.

Exhibit A: Valve was requesting a million-something last time I looked for access to its source code just to port it.

Exhibit B: Havok is a hundred thousand dollars or more per license, and there'll be an even greater fee for the first dev to buy it, since it hasn't been ported yet and will need to be.

Not looking hopeful. Just get a gaming PC or Xbox or something.
According to another poster in an earlier discussion, Havok is already ported to the Mac.

If Apple is really serious about increasing games on the Mac, then they should buy the source code license from Value and give it to a porting house to port. Like what was said above, CS would certainly turn the heads of countless computer gamers out there who are sick of Windows and looking to switch.

[whocares]

No, that's not OK. It's something that must be fixed. And it will be fixed. I do not accept it, and neither should you.

There is no best of Windows - it's all bad. Microsoft must be destroyed. And that can't happen as long as people like you keep giving in and getting Windows for those apps that you "have" to use.


LOL! Your post was a joke, right?

[benpatient]

i don't think it was.

well, i don't think it was intended to be.

but it was a joke, in a way.

I laughed.

"people like me" who "support" microsoft. (who says I've ever bough a microsoft product?)

[Marathon4ever]

i don't think it was.

well, i don't think it was intended to be.

but it was a joke, in a way.

I laughed.

"people like me" who "support" microsoft. (who says I've ever bough a microsoft product?)
No, it was not a joke.

Giving Microsoft money is not the only way to support them. Quake was a huge online game when it came out and a large number of online players pirated the game.

When you simply use M$, you are telling the other Mac Users, hey it's ok to use M$ products, when in reality everything that Microsoft stands for is everything that Apple does not.

I am one of the few who attempt to show the Mac community that by using Windows, Office, AoE, or whatever perpetuates the popularity of the software and sets poor examples for those who don't know better and simply follow the lead of others.

There was once a glorious time when Mac Users were strong and fought against the tyrannic forces of Microsoft. Publications like Mac Addict openly attacked M$. Then slowly, the brainwashing advertisements showed up in the Mac magazines, trying to alter the perception of M$ in Mac Users eyes. I knew it was a trick from the very beginning and I didn't expect it to last, but unfortunately I was wrong. Mac Users fell under a spell, the MBU was formed, and Mac Addict touted the amazing changes in the latest Office version. Now, instead of strong Mac Users, I see weak ones who believe that M$ is a boon to our beautiful platform. But M$ always has been the enemy of Apple and always will be the enemy of Apple. No amount of "good" software can change that. They are the competition. For Apple to win, they must lose.

[Eric5h5]

According to another poster in an earlier discussion, Havok is already ported to the Mac.

And anyone who doesn't believe me can go play Second Life on the Mac if you want confirmation. :) Yeah, it uses Havok.

--Eric

[mishi]

i havent bought a game in a long while. but i swear i would go out and buy this game for mac the second it was realeased. i was forced to watch painfully as my bro played the halflife 2 campaign...then then even more painfully when he was playing CS:S. not painfull becuase it was a bad game....painfull becuase i couldnt play it.

p.s to all those people who say that "it cannot be ported becuase it uses direct X too much" they said the same thing about doom 3

[Eric5h5]

p.s to all those people who say that "it cannot be ported becuase it uses direct X too much" they said the same thing about doom 3

No, they didn't, considering that Doom3 was OpenGL on the PC to begin with.

--Eric

[MacsRgr8]

There was once a glorious time when Mac Users were strong and fought against the tyrannic forces of Microsoft. Publications like Mac Addict openly attacked M$. Then slowly, the brainwashing advertisements showed up in the Mac magazines, trying to alter the perception of M$ in Mac Users eyes. I knew it was a trick from the very beginning and I didn't expect it to last, but unfortunately I was wrong. Mac Users fell under a spell, the MBU was formed, and Mac Addict touted the amazing changes in the latest Office version. Now, instead of strong Mac Users, I see weak ones who believe that M$ is a boon to our beautiful platform. But M$ always has been the enemy of Apple and always will be the enemy of Apple. No amount of "good" software can change that. They are the competition. For Apple to win, they must lose.

You know.....

Deep, deep down, in my heart, I know you are right. I mean that.

But my head keeps telling me: we need M$ Office to survive.
I have been a Sys Admin (Mac, ofcourse) for some time now, and the majority of people using "computers" I have dealt with (PC or Mac), simply (think they) need M$ Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

It's a psycological thing: The whole world use M$ Office, so they must have it to be able to communicate.
Trust me, M$ Office is the worst piece of software to manage in a managed Mac OS X environment. Default rights, location of the temp-files, "different" preference files, M$ auto-scan of Explorer's temp dir, etc..... make it the most admin-intensive set of apps to manage when the user's home-dirs are on AFP servers. You can work around, and solve it, but it does cost more time.
But, giving them say, Mellel, AbiWord, Mariner Write, Mariner Calc, OpenOffice... etc, results in terrible discussions about Macs not being compaitble with the rest.

Steve gave us M$ Office back (Office 98). He did the deal with good ol' Gates. Later Explorer was "the browser of our choice", and M$ became a regular guest speaker on Job's Keynotes.

So, hi-jacking this thread.....

in short:

We can't live with them..... nor can we live without them.

[Marathon4ever]

We can't live with them..... nor can we live without them.
Nonsense. Like you said above, it's all psychological. People are simply too scared to let go of their "security blanket". Those of us who know better need to start to speak up about the alternatives out there. Apple nearly has a replacement with iWork, they just need to add a few more apps to the package.

Steve Jobs made a deal with Microsoft because it was a smart short-term business move. But Steve hates Microsoft more than you and I. That's why he went on to destroy IE on the Mac with Safari, and why he will destroy Office as soon as he gets a chance.

This dependance on Office needs to go. We lived before Office, and we will do just fine once it's gone.

[jdechko]

As much as I'd like to see Half-Life come to the PPC Mac Platform, I highly doubt it. I think there's more of a chance for HL3 to be on the Mac Platform, but that's only because it's not out yet, and there's no word on its development. Maybe we will see the HL3 platinum pack (HL, HL2, HL3) on Intel Macs, but that's all I expect for now.

Off Topic: As far as Socialism/Communism being a good or a bad thing, I think it has its place. I tend to think of it more in an economic sense. Among countries, it doesn't work well, as it is very unfair, and has the (overwhelming) potential of becoming a corrupt system of government. However, among much smaller societies (think 2-20 or so people) that government/economic system is almost necessary to ensure the survival of the group.

A good case of this is Gilligan's Island (even though it was just a TV show). Every person in the group had to contribute (even though the contributions were unbalanced) in order for the group to survive.

There are two economic terms that apply in this situation: Absolute Advantage and Comparative Advantage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_advantage#Example_1

[mac.head.high]

You know.....

Deep, deep down, in my heart, I know you are right. I mean that.

But my head keeps telling me: we need M$ Office to survive.
I have been a Sys Admin (Mac, ofcourse) for some time now, and the majority of people using "computers" I have dealt with (PC or Mac), simply (think they) need M$ Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

It's a psycological thing: The whole world use M$ Office, so they must have it to be able to communicate.
Trust me, M$ Office is the worst piece of software to manage in a managed Mac OS X environment. Default rights, location of the temp-files, "different" preference files, M$ auto-scan of Explorer's temp dir, etc..... make it the most admin-intensive set of apps to manage when the user's home-dirs are on AFP servers. You can work around, and solve it, but it does cost more time.
But, giving them say, Mellel, AbiWord, Mariner Write, Mariner Calc, OpenOffice... etc, results in terrible discussions about Macs not being compaitble with the rest.

Steve gave us M$ Office back (Office 98). He did the deal with good ol' Gates. Later Explorer was "the browser of our choice", and M$ became a regular guest speaker on Job's Keynotes.

So, hi-jacking this thread.....

in short:

We can't live with them..... nor can we live without them.

Just drop the coin on iWork, and you never need M$ Office again. I opens Office documents, and can even save to that format if desired. And of course it has it's own versions of PowerPoint and Excel included as part of iWork. And it only $99. Apple is making a major push to not rely of any M$ software.

[Marathon4ever]

Just drop the coin on iWork, and you never need M$ Office again. I opens Office documents, and can even save to that format if desired. And of course it has it's own versions of PowerPoint and Excel included as part of iWork. And it only $99. Apple is making a major push to not rely of any M$ software.
iWork does Excel??? since when? and which app?