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Author Topic:   SMAC on the Mac

darkrose posted 02-18-99 01:59 PM ET
Is it ever going to happen? I'd really like to play, but I refuse to let a Wintel box into my home. Is there hope?
iratheous posted 02-18-99 02:43 PM ET
Mabee I'm wrong but I thought Mac's had these 100% reliable Windows Emulators?? Everyone I know with a Mac always tells me that Mac's are better because they can run both Wintel AND Mac software. Wouldn't that be a good alternative to waiting forever for Mac software?? Besides accoording to Mac they are the #1 system on the market, surely there is a way to play a simple game.
Spencer Olson posted 02-18-99 03:07 PM ET
Actually, there are in fact two very reliable Windows emulators for the Mac.. the only problem is that trying to emulate a whole other hardware set takes a lot of power, both in terms of speed and RAM.
While it would undoubtedly be possible to run SMAC under Virtual PC or SoftWindows, it is very likely that it would be slow or kludgy in some way, because it is not a simple game, it is a state-of-the-art game. Now, a simple game, like, say, Ultima 1 thru 6, or even Civ2, would probably be no problem.
Ultimately, however, it's much better for the end users to have a version specifically for the system. This does wonders to alleviate the machine requirements of the poor fellow, thereby expanding the market available to the software developers. And while it would require changing a decent amount of programming to change from Windows/DirectX to MacOS/QuickDraw/GameSprockets, at least we wouldn't have to worry quite as much about checking driver certification and so forth.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to trying to get SMAC to run on my game machine, a PII/266. I use this here Mac mostly for work
Spencer "Will buy SMAC for Mac, too, two purchases for one customer.. can't beat that!" Olson
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS posted 02-18-99 04:17 PM ET
If it sells well, I'm sure EA would do it. It's completely up to them.
jkm
firaxis games
Jonji posted 02-19-99 02:53 AM ET
Jeffrey,
Why would releasing a Mac version of SMAC be up to EA? Wouldn't the game have to be re-written and compiled by Firaxis before it could be released by EA? Surely the re-write would be the major expense.
Jon
Spencer Olson posted 02-19-99 09:44 AM ET
Actually, they've already answered this one, check the FAQ. In brief, because EA is the publishing company, I suppose they also have control over which platforms to which the game gets ported. I mean, after all, unless my definition of publisher is skewed, EA is pays for the packaging and CD replication and whatnot.. and, well, if they think it would be an unwise decision to port it, they have some sort of veto over it.
So, I did my part.. I bought the PC version first. And I guarantee I will buy the Mac version when it arrives. None of that 'if' crap.. I'm positive this game will be the biggest of the year; it's just that good.
Plus, of course, Activision is bringing Civ:CTP to the Mac, and it would be very unwise of EA to not compete on that market; Mac users tend to be able to tell the good games from the bad
Spencer "Back to work for me *grumble*" Olson
Lingchih posted 02-22-99 02:14 PM ET
I have been playing the AC demo on my G3 desktop Mac (266mhz, 64 mb ram) using Virtual PC. The game is great, but the emulation is awful. It is almost unplayable, even on my relatively fast Mac. In fact, it would be totally unplayable if it weren't such a great game. I would definitely spring for the native version if possible.
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Author	Topic: SMAC on the Mac
darkrose	posted 02-18-99 01:59 PM ET Is it ever going to happen? I'd really like to play, but I refuse to let a Wintel box into my home. Is there hope?
iratheous	posted 02-18-99 02:43 PM ET Mabee I'm wrong but I thought Mac's had these 100% reliable Windows Emulators?? Everyone I know with a Mac always tells me that Mac's are better because they can run both Wintel AND Mac software. Wouldn't that be a good alternative to waiting forever for Mac software?? Besides accoording to Mac they are the #1 system on the market, surely there is a way to play a simple game.
Spencer Olson	posted 02-18-99 03:07 PM ET Actually, there are in fact two very reliable Windows emulators for the Mac.. the only problem is that trying to emulate a whole other hardware set takes a lot of power, both in terms of speed and RAM. While it would undoubtedly be possible to run SMAC under Virtual PC or SoftWindows, it is very likely that it would be slow or kludgy in some way, because it is not a simple game, it is a state-of-the-art game. Now, a simple game, like, say, Ultima 1 thru 6, or even Civ2, would probably be no problem. Ultimately, however, it's much better for the end users to have a version specifically for the system. This does wonders to alleviate the machine requirements of the poor fellow, thereby expanding the market available to the software developers. And while it would require changing a decent amount of programming to change from Windows/DirectX to MacOS/QuickDraw/GameSprockets, at least we wouldn't have to worry quite as much about checking driver certification and so forth. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to trying to get SMAC to run on my game machine, a PII/266. I use this here Mac mostly for work Spencer "Will buy SMAC for Mac, too, two purchases for one customer.. can't beat that!" Olson
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS	posted 02-18-99 04:17 PM ET If it sells well, I'm sure EA would do it. It's completely up to them. jkm firaxis games
Jonji	posted 02-19-99 02:53 AM ET Jeffrey, Why would releasing a Mac version of SMAC be up to EA? Wouldn't the game have to be re-written and compiled by Firaxis before it could be released by EA? Surely the re-write would be the major expense. Jon
Spencer Olson	posted 02-19-99 09:44 AM ET Actually, they've already answered this one, check the FAQ. In brief, because EA is the publishing company, I suppose they also have control over which platforms to which the game gets ported. I mean, after all, unless my definition of publisher is skewed, EA is pays for the packaging and CD replication and whatnot.. and, well, if they think it would be an unwise decision to port it, they have some sort of veto over it. So, I did my part.. I bought the PC version first. And I guarantee I will buy the Mac version when it arrives. None of that 'if' crap.. I'm positive this game will be the biggest of the year; it's just that good. Plus, of course, Activision is bringing Civ:CTP to the Mac, and it would be very unwise of EA to not compete on that market; Mac users tend to be able to tell the good games from the bad Spencer "Back to work for me grumble" Olson
Lingchih	posted 02-22-99 02:14 PM ET I have been playing the AC demo on my G3 desktop Mac (266mhz, 64 mb ram) using Virtual PC. The game is great, but the emulation is awful. It is almost unplayable, even on my relatively fast Mac. In fact, it would be totally unplayable if it weren't such a great game. I would definitely spring for the native version if possible.