Comments on: Steam for Mac dissected http://themacgamer.com/2010/03/09/steam-for-mac-dissected/ An independent look at games for Mac Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:11:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: CaryMG http://themacgamer.com/2010/03/09/steam-for-mac-dissected/comment-page-1/#comment-1400 CaryMG Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:33:45 +0000 http://themacgamer.com/?p=943#comment-1400 The HalfLife collection, Portal & TeamFortress are now on Macintosh computers. This can only be a *good* thing. The HalfLife collection, Portal & TeamFortress are now on Macintosh computers.

This can only be a *good* thing.

]]> By: ltcommander.data http://themacgamer.com/2010/03/09/steam-for-mac-dissected/comment-page-1/#comment-1354 ltcommander.data Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:43:17 +0000 http://themacgamer.com/?p=943#comment-1354 I also found Valve taking the effort to redevelop the Source Engine and development tools to support OS X with the same source code as the PC and XBox 360 versions significant. Notably this will offer more consistent and better support than the PS3 versions which are ports on a different code base since the Source Engine can't directly compile to the PS3. http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey I think it would be interesting getting a statement from Valve about what they hope to achieve with OpenGL support in the Source Engine. Is it only for Mac support? Currently the Source Engine doesn't have a DX10 codepath and yet 49% of Steam users have a DX10 GPU and a DX10 OS with a further 27% of users having a DX10 GPU but running Windows XP and unable to run DX10 code. Given that the Source Engine has always been very scalable to give the best experience to the broadest audience, it seems possible that OpenGL 3.x support could be used to take full advantage of DX10 GPUs in all versions of Windows and as well as supporting Mac. Especially now that 10.6.3 is bringing OpenGL 3.x support. Valve could then cut down the codepaths in the Source Engine to SM3.0 DX9.0c for older GPUs in Windows and to support the XBox 360, OpenGL 2.x for Leopard and Macs with DX9 GPUs, and OpenGL 3.x for the future on PC and Mac. I wonder if there is any interest between PC developers and Mac porting companies to work out a revenue sharing agreement to allow discounts of the Mac version of ported games if the consumer owns the PC version on Steam? I'm guessing that'll be too complicated for existing games with existing agreements, but may be possible for future Mac ports. I also wonder if Valve doing native Mac versions of their games would tempt EA into doing native ports of their games or allowing Aspyr to do them again? Afterall, Virtual Programming did drop Cider in favor of native ports. I also found Valve taking the effort to redevelop the Source Engine and development tools to support OS X with the same source code as the PC and XBox 360 versions significant. Notably this will offer more consistent and better support than the PS3 versions which are ports on a different code base since the Source Engine can’t directly compile to the PS3.

http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey

I think it would be interesting getting a statement from Valve about what they hope to achieve with OpenGL support in the Source Engine. Is it only for Mac support? Currently the Source Engine doesn’t have a DX10 codepath and yet 49% of Steam users have a DX10 GPU and a DX10 OS with a further 27% of users having a DX10 GPU but running Windows XP and unable to run DX10 code. Given that the Source Engine has always been very scalable to give the best experience to the broadest audience, it seems possible that OpenGL 3.x support could be used to take full advantage of DX10 GPUs in all versions of Windows and as well as supporting Mac. Especially now that 10.6.3 is bringing OpenGL 3.x support. Valve could then cut down the codepaths in the Source Engine to SM3.0 DX9.0c for older GPUs in Windows and to support the XBox 360, OpenGL 2.x for Leopard and Macs with DX9 GPUs, and OpenGL 3.x for the future on PC and Mac.

I wonder if there is any interest between PC developers and Mac porting companies to work out a revenue sharing agreement to allow discounts of the Mac version of ported games if the consumer owns the PC version on Steam? I’m guessing that’ll be too complicated for existing games with existing agreements, but may be possible for future Mac ports. I also wonder if Valve doing native Mac versions of their games would tempt EA into doing native ports of their games or allowing Aspyr to do them again? Afterall, Virtual Programming did drop Cider in favor of native ports.

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