Support NeoGAF

[Burai]

At native resolution? Maybe if you use low settings and like sub 30fps framerates perhaps.

The 512MB 4850 is a pitiful GPU for a $2000 machine with a 2560x1440 display. They should be shipping it with a 1GB 5770 at the very least, a 5850 if they want to offer the end user some semblance of value.

You're just exaggerating, man. Everything I've run has been really good. Crysis runs at around 30 at full res with everything turned up, Railworks at 50-60FPS at native res with 2xAA, I just installed Serious Sam HD last night and that gives you 55-60FPS at maxed settings.

And semblance of value? Try putting together a PC from Dell with the same specs and try to get it to come in at under $2.2k Go on, I'll wait. The monitor alone will set you back $1,200.

 

[Ad Infinitum]

excellent news.

 

[delirium]

But are the ports real ports (ie DirectX to OpenGL) or something like what EA is doing (using TransGaming Cider/Wine wrapper)

 

[drkOne]

I want a 5850, i5, … Mac for $1500 PC price/performace for gaming still beats a Mac, by too much.
But! It's a nice step for gaming on a Mac, so I'm happy.

Spoiler

And the ads are AWESOME!

 

[Zachack]

I would have to assume there would be a huge valve type sale to coincide with a mac release. So the mac gamers can jump on first week of release and buy every valve game for cheap.

I don't see much incentive for Valve to discount games that are brand-new on a platform with near-zero competition. If there's actually an untapped market of people interested in Valve's games on the Mac then their needs have been grossly underserved, and should thus be willing to pay a premium.

And if you're not a student Amazon.ca sells it for the low, low price of ~C$200. My local independent PC reseller NCIX.ca sells the cheapest one for an even more expensive, C$219.

If you're purchasing software legitimately, not building a computer, and not a student Windows is a really expensive piece of software. There's no real way around that. That's why Steam for OS X is such great news.

Windows 7 OEM is $105 on Newegg.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

The only sucky thing is that while I have a decent CPU in the Macbook Pro (Core2Duo 2.4 GHZ) and 3GB of RAM, it only has an X1600 card... I'm sure that's not enough for anything remotely recent... though I have been looking at this.

 

[Zombie James]

I hate using Windows. If I could play every PC game natively on my Mac, I'd buy a whole lot more PC games.

The other exciting thing about this is that with Steam running on OSX, it'll encourage other developers to port their games to OSX as well.

I still think there'll be a lot of waiting and seeing how this turns out, though, especially with performance. They'll basically have to switch the entire Source engine over to OpenGL (unless they're using something behind the scenes like Codega, like WoW does). It'll be interesting comparing the two once everything falls into place.

 

[crimsonheadGCN]

But are the ports real ports (ie DirectX to OpenGL) or something like what EA is doing (using TransGaming Cider/Wine wrapper)

It would be an in-house port done by the OSX programmers and engineers that they have been hiring.

 

[mattiewheels]

I guess besides the valve library, we can count on all the popcap games, the dragon age mac version....hmm what else.

 

[V_Ben]

I guess besides the valve library, we can count on all the popcap games, the dragon age mac version....hmm what else.

telltale. ubisoft has done some mac ports. civ 4

 

[Hitokage]

The only sucky thing is that while I have a decent CPU in the Macbook Pro (Core2Duo 2.4 GHZ) and 3GB of RAM, it only has an X1600 card... I'm sure that's not enough for anything remotely recent... though I have been looking at this.

Looks like it's for PCI-E 1x slots only. Besides, in a PC the video card slot goes to the northbridge or to the CPU itself, not through the southbridge where all other peripherals go to.

 

[A Twisty Fluken]

I don't see much incentive for Valve to discount games that are brand-new on a platform with near-zero competition. If there's actually an untapped market of people interested in Valve's games on the Mac then their needs have been grossly underserved, and should thus be willing to pay a premium.

They're competing against apathy.

 

[DeathbyVolcano]

Monkey Island games too possibly?

 

[evlcookie]

I don't see much incentive for Valve to discount games that are brand-new on a platform with near-zero competition. If there's actually an untapped market of people interested in Valve's games on the Mac then their needs have been grossly underserved, and should thus be willing to pay a premium.

I'm not sure. Valve has always pointed out that when you discount games on the steam store, sales skyrocket. So a discount across the board for valve games would be a guaranteed way for valve to grab as many mac gamers straight off the bat.

But i do agree there's no competition so they can charge whatever they want. I just hope they don't do that.

 

[noire]

deleted

 

[Hot Coldman]

Spore will be on it too.

 

[Xater]

I guess besides the valve library, we can count on all the popcap games, the dragon age mac version....hmm what else.

IS EA on Steam? They have some Mac games. Also some indie games that are on Steam have Mac versions: Darwinia, Defcon....

 

[Benjamin1981]

I guess besides the valve library, we can count on all the popcap games, the dragon age mac version....hmm what else.

Bioshock, Halo 1, Age of Empires series, Civ 4.

Lets just hope that Valve told Mac game publishers that they can't get away with prices of 50 bucks for three year old games.

 

[Jet Grind Radio!]

=O HELL YEA! This is gonna be pretty sweet.

 

[Hitokage]

I don't see much incentive for Valve to discount games that are brand-new on a platform with near-zero competition. If there's actually an untapped market of people interested in Valve's games on the Mac then their needs have been grossly underserved, and should thus be willing to pay a premium.

If Valve succeeds in establishing Steam as a viable outlet for Mac games, they can easily corner the market just by doing so. It's not so much valve games, but any mac game.

 

[Red Scarlet]

I'd love to be able to play L4D with Mac owners. Hope it's all true. Catts, I'm talking to you!

 

[mattiewheels]

telltale. ubisoft has done some mac ports. civ 4

Telltale, that's right!

Since I have a lot of Aspyr mac ports (freedom force being my favorite), wonder if they'll offer all there games or keep them exclusive to their service...

 

[crimsonheadGCN]

Bioshock, Halo 1, Age of Empires series, Civ 4.

Lets just hope that Valve told Mac game publishers that they can't get away with prices of 50 bucks for three year old games.

Those two won't happen as long as Microsoft is "competing" with Valve/Steam through their own DD service, GFWL Marketplace.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

Looks like it's for PCI-E 1x slots only. Besides, in a PC the video card slot goes to the northbridge or to the CPU itself, not through the southbridge where all other peripherals go to.

Ehhh... Oh well. So how (un) recent of a game would I be able to play at a decent 25-30 fps framerate? Most of the PC games I own are dog's years old. The newest is A Vampyre Story...Not exactly graphically intensive.

 

[brain_stew]

You're just exaggerating, man. Everything I've run has been really good. Crysis runs at around 30 at full res with everything turned up, Railworks at 50-60FPS at native res with 2xAA, I just installed Serious Sam HD last night and that gives you 55-60FPS at maxed settings.

And you're just lying. Crysis does not run at 30fps at 2560x1440 with max settings on a 4850, a 5870 can't even manage that. You're either getting a single digit framerate or you're running with a crapload of stuff turned off. I used to own a 4850 and it was a great card............@1360x768. It couldn't manage 1080p without major issues and it sure as hell can't manage double that resolution.

And $1200 for a TN panel? Really?

 

[Quasar]

I guess besides the valve library, we can count on all the popcap games, the dragon age mac version....hmm what else.

All the Aspyr games I imagine.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

PS: people who continue to spew the bullshit about Macs = overpriced are going to get banned. We've heard the spiel already.

 

[Quasar]

They make their money on Office.

For which the sell a OSX version already.

 

[dofry]

Those two won't happen as long as Microsoft is "competing" with Valve/Steam through their own DD service, GFWL Marketplace.

Games for Windows Live. I can see that expanding to other platforms with a nice name like that.
One can clearly see how they thought about computer as a gaming platform. Win only. We are the kings.

 

[Benjamin1981]

Those two won't happen as long as Microsoft is "competing" with Valve/Steam through their own DD service, GFWL Marketplace.

Microsoft is not the publisher of those two titles on the Mac.

 

[mattiewheels]

Do services like valve consider playing on a mac and playing on pc as requiring separate licenses? I bet most third parties would think that, but if I can play my copy of half life 2 on any computer I can install steam on, why would I need to pay again to play it on a mac?

 

[rezuth]

I guess besides the valve library, we can count on all the popcap games, the dragon age mac version....hmm what else.

EA, id, Activision, Ubisoft etc.

 

[LCfiner]

And you're just lying. Crysis does not run at 30fps at 2560x1440 with max settings on a 4850, a 5870 can't even manage that.

And $1200 for a TN panel? Really?

well, they are IPS displays. Dell’s 27” IPS Ultrasharp is 1200 bucks.

no comment on the vid card. I’d certainly like a 5xxx ATI series in there.

 

[derFeef]

Francis poster is full of win. I am going to print that out 100 times and stick it on every free wall in my office.

 

[Draft]

PC Gaming wins again.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

If Valve succeeds in establishing Steam as a viable outlet for Mac games, they can easily corner the market just by doing so. It's not so much valve games, but any mac game.

Exactly. That is the 1 thing Valve has with Steam that no other DD service has. The killer library that is exclusive. Just as it worked for the PC, I have a feeling that it will start some some more interest on developing games for the Mac. Valve isn't taking a huge risk with this but the potential for reaping the rewards is there in spades.

 

[blazinglazers]

Yes! I'm sure there's a ton of Mac gamers out there who, like me, are dying to drop a ton of cash on Steam. Valve's gonna make a killing!

Hope the ports are good.

 

[Rur0ni]

Yeah.. rolling in more dough.

My only concern is what implications this may have for the advancement of PC gaming (DX11, etc).

 

[Hitokage]

PS: people who continue to spew the bullshit about Macs = overpriced are going to get banned. We've heard the spiel already.

Apple's price competitiveness waxes and wanes. Right now it happens to be pretty bad, but a few years ago it was near parity.

 

[Tworak]

great news for the mac dudes!

something something linux client plx! D;

 

[Jenga]

Valve porting Steam over may...MAY have a small chance at making Macs relevant for PC gaming. Which would be huge if it truly works out. It'd basically be bolstering PC gaming again, with a nice chunk of new userbase. With Valve profiting at the forefront :lol

 

[Meier]

Hey, StrikerObi and Agent Dormer can finally play their Christmas presents that I gifted em.. had no clue Steam wasn't on Mac at the time.

 

[Zachack]

I'm not sure. Valve has always pointed out that when you discount games on the steam store, sales skyrocket. So a discount across the board for valve games would be a guaranteed way for valve to grab as many mac gamers straight off the bat.

If Valve succeeds in establishing Steam as a viable outlet for Mac games, they can easily corner the market just by doing so. It's not so much valve games, but any mac game.

I'm looking at the prices for Mac games on Gogamer (which is basically a distro-turned-retailer) and Bioshock (the first one) is on sale for $45. Rome TW Gold, which I think I got for free when I bought Empire TW on Steam over a year ago, is $40.

The Mac game market is incredibly distorted at this point. Valve may discount prices, but controlling the market will require very, very little to do so. Apple has let Mac gaming wither for so long that I really don't think the market exists in any significance. Steam will certainly help but I'm guessing it'll be years before any real market forms to the point where Mac users will get the same kind of price warfare that PC users see.

 

[BothBarsOn]

This is the best news of my gaming life. Steam/Source on its own is great but the very fact of Valve's interest will mean that the Mac is no longer a gaming joke (a reputation which it has fully deserved).

It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and drunky.

 

[stupei]

Amazing news and so great to find a thread where people aren't trolling Macs. (For the most part. I kind of assume people suggesting you can't right click every time with the mighty mouse have to be trolling. With the magic, sure, but the mighty mouse? Come on.)

 

[GDJustin]

So happy!!!

 

[Kuran]

Any chance that my windows license of valve games will work on the mac client?

 

[Hitokage]

The Mac game market is incredibly distorted at this point. Valve may discount prices, but controlling the market will require very, very little to do so. Apple has let Mac gaming wither for so long that I really don't think the market exists in any significance. Steam will certainly help but I'm guessing it'll be years before any real market forms to the point where Mac users will get the same kind of price warfare that PC users see.

Like I said, it's easy to corner a market you created yourself.

 

[Minsc]

PS: people who continue to spew the bullshit about Macs = overpriced are going to get banned. We've heard the spiel already.

brain_stew did get baited a little. Reading a 4850 runs Crysis maxed out at a good framerate on a 27" monitor is pretty :lol

I'd just as soon not have to read anything about people preferring never to boot windows, just as much as other would prefer to never read about things being overpriced or told to use windows.

I don't know. I tend to find myself frustrated in mac/pc threads concerning gaming, so I'm going to try to stay away from them.

Making claims about hardware like that will draw in trouble, and it's not fair to others to lie about performance.

Spoiler

Unless when he said "everything turned up" he meant "turned up past the lowest settings"

 

[Fredescu]

The Mac game market is incredibly distorted at this point. Valve may discount prices, but controlling the market will require very, very little to do so. Apple has let Mac gaming wither for so long that I really don't think the market exists in any significance. Steam will certainly help but I'm guessing it'll be years before any real market forms to the point where Mac users will get the same kind of price warfare that PC users see.

I think Valve understands the inherent value of sales as a tool to expand their own platform. There is no doubt in the world they will engage in aggressive sales, regardless of how limp the competition on that specific platform might be. They aren't as short sighted as to think they only have to compete with other Mac game outlets. They're competing with every other games platform out there.