| Macintosh video games are becoming more frequent | | | | Windows a year later. |
| in the marketplace. Whether its action, adventure, | | | | Since the majority of games are not developed with |
| role-playing, sports, kid's games, or any other | | | | the initial Windows version, the roll out tends to lag |
| category you seek, Mac offers an incredibly diverse | | | | behind the Windows version, usually by several |
| and rich gaming experience. The newest Macs also | | | | months. This is the typical scenario for most high |
| offer an easy to install application which allows users | | | | budget games that require an extensive amount of |
| to run Windows games from their Mac. Though | | | | time to play and are graphically intense. However, |
| earlier Mac versions weren't as gaming friendly, the | | | | there are many companies today that create original |
| current ones have eased porting of many games. | | | | Macintosh video games that are of the more casual |
| Whether running on a Mac or through the use of a | | | | variety. These are games that consist of simple |
| Windows running system, the Mac will provide | | | | graphics and easy to play in short bursts. |
| performance roughly equivalent to a similarly equipped | | | | One thing to consider when looking for Macintosh |
| Windows PC. | | | | video games is that there is not enough shelf space |
| The ideal situation for the creation of Macintosh | | | | in brick and mortar stores to justify carrying a full line |
| video games is to have them developed | | | | of Macintosh games. With Macintosh's small share of |
| simultaneously with the Windows version. This way | | | | the market, it just doesn't make sense to stock up |
| the original programmers are available for any | | | | on these types of items. Therefore, to get the best |
| questions or troubleshooting that comes up while | | | | selection, an online retailer like will be your best bet, |
| creating the game. This also usually allows a | | | | for both selection and price. |
| simultaneous roll out of both Windows and Mac | | | | Another option for Mac users is to play PC games |
| versions to the marketplace. While ideal, this rarely | | | | using a Windows based operating system on their |
| happens. There are only a few companies that | | | | Mac. This can be accomplished a few different ways. |
| develop games for both the Mac and Windows | | | | Since the Intel processor was introduced into the |
| systems simultaneously. | | | | Mac platform, users have been able to simultaneously |
| What usually happens is that the high dollar games | | | | run the Mac operating system alongside the |
| that come to Mac are actually created for Microsoft | | | | Windows, without having to reboot their computer. |
| Windows. They are then later ported to the Mac | | | | There are free applications available online for Mac |
| system via one of the relatively small number of | | | | users to set this up on their system |
| porting house companies. Two of the early video | | | | Whether playing a game through a Windows |
| games that were converted to Mac were Microsoft | | | | operating system, or an exclusive Macintosh video |
| Flight Simulator (1986) and SimCity (1988). One | | | | game on the OS, the experience on the Mac is as |
| notable exception was Myst (1993), which was | | | | rich and compelling as the one found on any PC. |
| actually developed on the Mac and then imported to | | | | |