That is not quite true. DirectX only came around to get people to play games on Windows instead of DOS. People only played games on DOS because Apple under the Pepsi CEO decided they didn't want to be known as a platform for games anymore.
There was a time when businesses wouldn't buy Apple computers because they where known for games. You can thank the Pepsi CEO for killing games and nearly killing Apple.
When I was a kid I remember playing Oregon Trail and where in the world is carman San Diego in the classroom Apple IIe
The Apple IIe is not a Mac.
And the titles you mention were more like interactive and educational steps through history, with mostly still pictures (as opposed to games). Basically presenting learning material in a way that felt more fun than just memorizing text books.
Yes, the Apple IIe was commonly used for games and educational software.
It's graphics and sound capabilities were simple compared to Atari and Commodore computers. But it was adequate for the time.
People didn't buy Apple IIe computers for business tasks simply because it wasn't up to the task of competing with the IBM PC XT or the AT in the business field.
Apple did kill its ties to the education market though, when it abandoned the Apple II series and switched entirely to Macs.
The Apple IIe was an affordable machine for the schools. And the IIc made it even more affordable.
Schools had computer labs packed with Appld II, II+, IIe, IIc, and even a few IIgs computers. And large libraries of educational software.
So when Apple pulled the plug, what options were left for them?
They could invest in more expensive Macintosh machines, with relatively few software titles available (compared to the Apple II and IBM PC Series), and be taking a gamble because Apple had already abruptly abandoned support for a computer the schools had huge investments in.
Or, they could switch to the IBM PC, XT, AT series which showed stability, and was clearly the future of the majority of the workplace.
Naturally, the schools chose to switch to teaching on the same machines that the kids would be using in the workplace as adults.
It made more sense than taking another gamble on Apple. And it paid off for the schools too. The PC series was cheaper than the Macintosh, they had more software to choose from, and the kids learned to use the machines they would use as adults.
