Mar 31, 2008 Because, for all the ads, all the self-celebratory Apple press conferences, all the sparkling-pretty Apple stores, there are still a lot of reasons why Macs still suck. PCs Are Better For Games.

I don't care that nobody will probably read this. I don't care that most who do will be either crapple supporters or PC supporters, and you will either agree or flame denial at me.
All I want, is the opportunity for someone to read my eloquent as fark summary on some reasons why a PC will always kick the ass out of a mac. I won't be replying to comments made. I wrote this to post as a response to someone else's rather inarticulate article about why mac's suck. Mostly in support, but also to teach better spelling/grammar.
Here it is, to anybody who cares.
Firstly, the overpricing issue:
I built a high end PC for $800 (with a 25 inch monitor). It's not high end any more, but I did this at least a year ago.
It's still good.
Specs are as follows -
core i8 2.4ghz
8MB DDR4 Ram 1200Mhz
7700 Radeon HD
2x 1TB HDD
Benchmarking shows my PC runs almost any game on super-max settings with at least 35 fps. It's not perfect, sometimes may need to bump antialiasing or anisotropy down from 24xeq down to 16x and 8x to 4x respectively. But hey no biggie there, barely notice the difference.
Do that on your mac worth nearly 3x as much and don't really even come close to pulling the same frames/settings ratio.
That's a win. Not a small one either.
Next, let's tackle the 'virus issue' a.k.a. the go-to excuse for mac idiots when they're inevitably losing their debate as to what is superior.
Now, I'm a higher end user than most, so I'm not going to say anyone who doesn't know as much about running windows cleanly as me is dumb.
But.
When you get infected (and really, if you pirate stuff or get things for free using pirated software/torrents etc. you will eventually run into malware of some form), all you have to do is, backup important data, format, reinstall OS/drivers, and continue. It's rarely more than that.
Not that this process is different on a mac, but I worked tech support for IBM, who has the account for tech support on all mac products (most anyway from iPad/iPhone to macbook and whatnot.) and my experience is this: Customer has an OS issue, who knows how it started, people are NEVER honest when they call tech support, because they think if the problem caused was their fault, they have to pay (protip, you do, it's true).
So their system is locked up or all messed up and basically not functioning.
Me to customer 'ok sir, we're going to do a backup and restore, it's a simple process' (trained to say that btw even though it rarely ever IS that simple)
We start out strong, files are backed up, computer basically re installs it's own OS (don't get me wrong, I like that part, finding windows discs IS a pain in the @$$) but somewhere between re installing the OS and moving files back over, some sh!t inevitably goes wrong, and now we need you to find your closest apple store (oh what, you live in the country, you don't say. Are you willing to drive 4 hours to your closest mac store? yes? great.) They call us back and the problem apparently was so serious they need to keep the damn thing and mail it back - half the time they're back on to tech support within a week with a similar issue, ie; not fixed, not really.
OR
They need to mail it in, because they can't get to, or are unwilling to travel to, the closest mac store. That's a pain, right?
Often, in between the finding and getting your system TO a mac store, your apple care has lapsed. It's ok though, you can extend your apple care, so long as it hasn't been lapsed for longer than a few weeks. It's only another hundred bucks though, right? no biggie.
Except that the fault the 'geniuses' found, was user caused.
So now you're being billed another $250 for services. (apple tech staff, by the way, are trained to equate practically any problem down to user error/misuse). Ever kept your iPhone in your handbag? Ever been outside while it's raining? (don't lie, you so f*cking have) Well you've tripped the moisture sensor with humidity. Cha-ching. More cash for apple.
So let's say you don't encounter ANY more problems with this process (and I've seen a 'tech support then repair' loop with no joke, 8 or so rotations of; call in, diagnose problem, pay to fix problem, repeat). Cha, f*cking ching.
You're still out at least 3 days with no computer because of your tiny little issue, you've paid out nearly 400 dollars, and likely, when you get your piece of crapple (see what I did there?) back, your files are gone.
My pc? If I REALLY can't figure out the issue, $80 bucks to the local PC store and it's fixed. My files are safe, even if deleted/formatted, they're totally recoverable. Easily. Just TRY keeping my pc for 3 days, I will burn your store to the ground because that is UNACCEPTABLE. For some reason, it's fine if it's a mac though.
PC win. Just.. it just is.
Now, the issue about keyboard/mouse/general OS difficulty.
On my windows machine, I open a window, I browse my files. Stuff is easy as hell to find. The file tree and the way it's laid out, just makes sense. Can't find it? just do a search. Bingo, there it is.
My mother wanted to find where she'd saved a something or other on her mac, so I ask her, where do your documents save by default.
She said 'I think, it's here' and took 5 minutes in finder (the worst thing I've ever seen EVER) to navigate to her typical documents folder, the windows equivalent of, clicking 'My Documents' on the start menu. (I'm sure there is an easier way but she's a typical aged mac fanatic, can't learn new stuff so good but refuses to use a windows machine, even though the learning is easier by far).
But it wasn't there. So now, I have to go through finder and try to navigate the file tree. Now, it's not that much different REALLY in the way it's structured, but you tell me why it took me damn near all day to find my way to wherever the hell it ended up saving, because the search turned up either a: nothing or b: practically everything.
We decided at that point, to just move all the offending documents scattered across the four winds to her typical 'Documents' style folder.
Attempted what I thought would be a cut and paste. Nope, copied the files, gotta go back and delete them. Ok, that sucks, but I know where it all is now, so no big whoop.
She (being a mac advocate who knows nothing) is all, OH why don't you just click and drag? huh. HUH!
So fine, not wanting to have another argument with her over why her system sucks, winning, and not getting my birthday money bc 'I'm such a smart ass', I tried it.
Oh dear. We didn't arrange our open windows in exactly the right way so that we could just bam drop them right into where they are meant to go. Sh!t is flying across the screen as I feebly attempt to navigate to the open folder where stuff is going. Try again, put the origin folder on the left, the destination folder on the right, highlight, click and drag, release.
What's this? duplicates? didn't we just deal with this issue?
Are you telling me, there is NO cut and paste? Copy and paste sure but NO cut and paste? Only copy and paste and delete and then delete again (because putting crap in the recycle bin doesn't even MOVE the offending file away, just 'tags' it for deletion). Damn those sly apple bastards. No wonder people with macs spend all their time on them, it takes three times longer just to do something simple. I've no doubt an experienced mac user could do it in ten seconds, totally admitting that. But a novice PC user could do the same on a PC. My 4 year old can do it on a PC.
Why do we need to be experts to move files around. Simpler OS my Australian bum.
Another issue; how to right click on the default apple mouse (you know the robot hamburger, as my son calls it, looks like a white plastic burger patty).
Oh it's easy, boasts my mother, you just hit command (or control or apple symbol or freaking something, I don't recall) and click, then it gives you a menu. Ok fine a stupid system but not insurmountable. How about deleting stuff then. Couldn't be simpler, says my mother, you just *whatever button* click it, hit delete, go into the recycle bin (Or is it called trash can? can never remember) empty it, get an error saying the file is in use, try in vain to close the offending program, get annoyed, call someone who knows, not be able to follow their instructions because of it being needlessly complex, happen upon a brain aneurism, die, and go to heaven, which has nothing but PC's. And never encounter this problem again.
Same deal trying to uninstall something, won't go into it again, literally, exactly the same process.
Why have so many function keys to do such simple things?
The most complex key sequence in windows is good old ctrl + alt + delete, for task manager, the program killer. Right click end process bam just TRY and not close you biatch. (don't even get me started on trying to close stuff on a mac. Roll a d6. If it lands on a number, your program will fail to close properly.)
On my windows machine, I highlight and hit delete (sends to recycle bin), I empty the recycle bin, and it goes away. I have never (I repeat, ad infinitum, NEVER EVER EVER) found a file to be in use while in the bin.
OR
I just shift + delete the files, bypasses the bin and *poof* away they go.
Oh snap, deleted the wrong thing, well then let's just recover the files. Because they're not gone until you've written over that part of the hard disk.
Won't go into this too far, but, the damn beach ball style 'your computer is busy' icon. You know. The scourge of your existence.
Open iTunes. Beach ball. At least 5 minutes of summer beach fun.
Try to close it. Once again. Someone get a volleyball net. We'll be here a while.
Save an important document, helloo, you need to work on your tan, we're providing you with this lovely beach ball, free of charge. No you can't use your computer while you have the ball, don't be antisocial, get out there and play! This response is long enough, so I won't give any particular long winded examples of this.
So, for my money, once again, it's a PC win.
Lastly, a small section on the ability to upgrade your mac/PC.
Short answer, PC yes, cheaply. Easily. So cheaply and SO easily.
Mac, kinda. Very expensive for not much and also not that easy.
You also don't get your pick of parts to replace. Need more processing power on your mac? Buy a new (ridiculously overpriced) mac. Want better graphics capability for gaming? Let's assume you can even FIND more than 2 games worth playing on a mac that would need a better graphics card. What do you do?
You go out, right. You buy, get this, BUY, a whole new (omg, overpriced!) mac.
PC win. PC win win win.
Seriously, are you mac people just... not understanding, or what? I mean.. I don't get it. Logic dictates. Intelligence, dictates. Freaking unimpeachable EVIDENCE dictates.
But no. No your thing is just.. it's just better.
Well... it isn't. By a very, very wide margin.
Now on to the disclaimer (I could continue but this post is ridiculously long as it is).
As I will inevitably cop flame from you macwits (see what I did there?) for posting this, let's just get a few things straight.
I'm a mac simpleton. I just don't get them. It doesn't. Make. Sense.
Anyone who uses them frequently would certainly have less gnashing of teeth and rending of garments trying to find the document I just saved or picture I can't find. That's all well and good.
My point here, is you shouldn't NEED to be adept to operate 'the simpler OS', that's how it's marketed. And it's not true. Not for anyone.
Sure, some people setup their mac and never have issues. I mean... I haven't heard of any, but people mention them all the time. They must exist. Right? I mean.. they can't ALL be making these people up. Can they?
My experience and the reason for posting this comment/article (I'm really sorry about the wall of text, I articulate. Can't help it), is that a simpleton PC user has less problems with their windows machine than a higher level mac user has with their terrible machine.
Windows is easier to learn, it functions, sure you hit problems with software now and then, but hot damn if you can't get the 2 second answer googling the problem and fix it just as easily.
Googled a problem for a friend who had just bought a mac once, sent the link to their skype, on the PC they were looking to upgrade from.
My friend (bless his soul) tried every single god damn fix suggested and STILL didn't solve his iTunes issue. 1 month later, sold on the mac and just had me build him a cheap as hell next generation beautiful PC with the cash from the sale, and guess what. He had $700 left over to blow.
You mac people, you are zealots, you've bought into the marketing scam perpetuated by apple, and are annoyed (deep down) that you wasted money (triple what you needed for a windows machine) and time (takes at least twice as long to learn to use mac OS than windows) and don't want to admit, you were wrong. You like your club, you will defend your decision, even in the face of overwhelming evidence of the fact you dun' goofed.
You can like apple stuff if you want to. I support freedom of choice. Just stop being cultists of the church of job's. Please.
Stop shoving your crap down our throats, stop trying to convince us to be 'one of you'. You are wrong, misinformed, won't back down, and it's irritating. You're the scientologists of the tech world.
You care more about image than function.
And I know what it's like to be too proud to admit you're wrong, especially if you don't know that, because it's deep within your soul.
But you might realize it, the very next time you're handing all your excess income over to apple over a simple OS brainfart. Or you command clicked when you should have apple clicked and now your macbook is a large and unwieldy paperweight. Oh also, don't update ANYTHING until the update has been out for at least 2 months. Remember the iPhone 3.0 update that bricked the world - I was working for apple tech support then.
Special 2 week training course on how to reassure people we had NO IDEA it would do that, even though we freakin' well did know that. And how to not accept any responsibility for it on apple's part, while also not expressly blaming the customer (I could tell you some stories about that period, it was NOT graceful. But GOD did apple make some cash repairing those damn iPhones.) Just try and tell me apple isn't an evil corporation whose one true skill is marketing. Just try it.
I could so continue, but that's enough, isn't it? It's not just kicking someone after they're down.
It's kicking them after you've kicked them so much they are human fruit leather.

Over the past 30 years, it's safe to say that the Macintosh has had a ... complicated ... relationship with gaming. While it's unlikely that the Mac will ever be a premiere gaming system like a console or even like a PC, 2014 brings a certain equilibrium, along with a lot of room for improvement.

A brief history of Mac gaming

Games abounded on the Apple II, which in its day was the most popular computer in the world. Many hobbyist programmers had parlayed their experience writing games into careers, and companies (and fortunes) were founded. But the Macintosh's introduction in 1984 changed things. It was radically different from computers before it.

The Mac arrived with pre-made software (including a game called Through the Looking Glass, made by Apple, pictured above). But uncustomary for its time, the Mac without a built-in programming language, which made it a tough sell for hobbyist programmers and others interested in making video games for the nascent system. As programming tools improved, as developers gained skill and as more people bought the Mac, games inevitably followed. But games on the Mac never obtained the critical mass that they did on the burgeoning PC platform. As the Apple II waned, so did Apple's influence in the game development market, and the result was a shift in both industry development and consumer buying habits to PC games.

Mac games have been a sideline business ever since. There have been a few Mac-only and Mac-first developers (Bungie, Halo's creator, famously started on the platform), and a few others that treat the Mac equally with the PC (such as Blizzard). But there's no original high-profile game development on the Mac.

Instead, the Mac game market — outside of the indie scene and the outliers like Blizzard who do do Mac and Windows versions together — is dominated by companies that license popular games from publishers on other platforms, convert the games to run on OS X, and sell those games independently.

Changing distribution

As big box computer retailers like Comp USA slid into irrelevance, changing tastes and a diversified Apple product line also forced game boxes from the shelves of many Apple retail stores. By 2010, commercial Mac game publishing was on life support. But two things happened to change the fortunes of Mac game makers dramatically: Steam and the Mac App Store.

It's the rise of digital distribution that has really revitalized the Mac game scene. Valve's Steam game service, and accompanying development tools released by Valve, have led to a steady stream of commercial and indie game releases on the Mac. Valve also deserves credit for implementing Steam Play, which enables users to buy a game once for one platform and use it elsewhere — so people who have already bought PC versions of games don't need to repurchase them for the Mac.

Do Macs Suck For Gaming Laptop

The Mac certainly isn't on even footing with the PC, but Steam has lowered the barrier to entry for some game developers who didn't have either the programming expertise or the marketing acumen to reach Mac gamers before.

The Mac App Store was another sea change for Mac game publishers. It provided a purchasing and distribution mechanism that millions of Apple product owners were already familiar with — the Apple ID used to make purchases from the iTunes Store and App Store — and applied it instead to Mac apps.

These days, Mac games can be found through an ever-increasingly number of download services, and most game publishers are only too happy to offer up their titles to new services if it means increasing their distribution. The biggest problem many of them have — even Apple and the Mac App Store — is gaining the trust of the customer enough to garner payment details. With all the stories of identity theft, consumers have every reason to be gun-shy about giving out their credit card information online.

Still, digital distribution has breathed new life into a business that, only a few years ago, was almost totally moribund. Mac game publishers like Aspyr and Feral regularly dominate the Top Ten list of paid game apps on the Mac App Store, and Transgaming often works with leading PC publishers to create Mac versions of games, as well. Both companies see their products sold alongside their PC counterparts on Steam, and have a fairly wide digital distribution network besides.

Changing tastes

It's also worth noting that consumer buying habits have changed. Many more people own Macs now than used to, but they come to the Mac with a different set of expectations than they once did. And gaming is the last thing on many of their minds.

Do Macs Suck For Gaming Free

Instead, they're buying Macs to get online, to create files they need for work, to avoid malware, or because they need a computer and they don't want the hassle of dealing with a PC. Games are typically pretty low on their list at all. They may have a game console, or they may find gaming on their tablet or smartphone to be perfectly sufficient.

Overwhelmingly, Mac owners don't self-identify as gamers. It's entrenched behavior for gamers to get systems made for gaming, and for many of them, that means a PC that can run the latest cutting-edge games. Admittedly, PC sales are in the toilet, but that hasn't stopped PC game sales from surging in recent years.

So for the truly game oriented who choose to use Macs, Boot Camp has become a go-to solution to help them get their jones for games that never make it to OS X. Boot Camp lets you run Windows on your Mac natively, and it turns out that Macs are pretty good Windows PCs. In fact, the Windows version of the same game will often run better on Boot Camp than it will on OS X, thanks to differences in the way that graphics drivers and other core system elements are handled.

There's also another big reason why PC gamers stay away from the Mac - the device architecture itself. PC gamers are shade tree mechanics. They love to tweak their systems with upgraded video cards, better CPUs, faster components. That's by and large something you simply can't do on the Mac. And that's something that Apple is unlikely to change, certainly not to fit the needs of a fairly small niche of users.

Will Mac gaming ever achieve critical mass?

There are a few things working against the Mac platform ever achieving parity with PC or console systems — installed base, developer expertise and developer support are among the most prominent.

Despite the surging popularity of the Mac, it still remains a niche. So for many publishers, it simply still doesn't make business sense to divert resources into Mac game development and publishing if it means taking away from a core business selling to PC and console gamers. That's changed, as the sales of Macs have risen, and more and more companies are taking a serious look, but for many, it's still not worth it.

That leaves the prospects of companies like Aspyr, Feral and Transgaming safe — they have years of experience managing Mac conversions, assuming the risk themselves. The downside is that this has often led to a delay in the time between a game's debut on other platforms and its release on the Mac.

Developer expertise is another critical issue. At this point, generations of game developers have grown up playing and making games on PCs (and consoles), while the talent pool for Mac games is a lot smaller. A lot of the same principles apply, and there are a lot of cross-platform 'middleware' tools to simplify the process, but code development is art and science, and it's very easy to make a mediocre or bad Mac app, and much more challenging to make a good one. That's best left to people with experience, and those are still few and far between, especially in the game development world.

To that end, Apple could certainly be doing more to attract game developers. Apple has dedicated developer relations staff, and some of its developer relations people work with game developers, specifically. But there's no uniformly coordinated effort to improve the OS X platform for gaming, as there was years ago at Microsoft when they developed their DirectX API.

In the end, perhaps gaming shouldn't have any higher a priority at Apple than anything else — it's hard to argue with the results. They're the most profitable computer company in the world. But speaking as a long-suffering gamer and a Macintosh user, I'd love to see Apple do better here. However, even I have to accept the changing face of gaming. I do less and less of my gaming on a computer and more and more on my mobile devices. And I'm far from alone.

How about you? Do you game on your Mac or do you use something else? Let me know in the comments.

Fishing time

C.J.'s next Fishing Tourney will be in July

There are four Fishing Tourneys each year in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Here's when they are and what the rules are for participating.