Tag Archive for 'Ambrosia'

Happy Birthday, The Mac Gamer!

By Alex McLarty on July 7, 2009 in News and Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: Alex McLarty, Ambrosia, Birthday, Brad Snios, Brice Unland, Destineer, Luis Sosa, Mac game deals, Mac game discounts, Peggle Mac, PopCap, Russell Marsh, The Mac Gamer Birthday, Transgaming, Unreal Tournament 3 for Mac, Windosill, World of Goo.

Today, one year ago, I wrote my first post: Welcome, Mac Gamers! In it I outlined my patented 10 step weight loss programme thoughts on games and why I’d like the Mac to be a part of the gaming community. In a year much has changed: Transgaming have taken the lead in new releases for the Mac, Destineer didn’t release Unreal Tournament 3, Indie games like World of Goo, And Yet It Moves and Windosill began making a big impact on the Mac, and the iPhone literally bit the head off mobile gaming, chewed it up and spat it in the faces of mobile phone manufacturers. Pleasant, eh?

We’ve grown tremendously over the last year and now get around 5,000 unique visitors a month and around 11,000 visits. This is in no small part down to a talented and excitable bunch of writers that came onboard earlier this year. In no particular order, here they are:

Russell Marsh

Brice Unland

Brad Snios

Luis Sosa

And then there’s me, Alex McLarty (I share none of the talent but do get very excited).

My thanks to them for taking the time, effort and thought to write some wonderful reviews, previews and interviews.

When I started The Mac Gamer I decided primarily to focus on original content - not the regurgitation of press releases or links to other articles. So while you’ll maybe see the odd link to Eurogamer, HardMac or Rock, Paper, Shotgun, we really do try and think hard about what we cover, how we write and what we recommend.

The best comment of the last year has been this one, which I received via anonymous email a few weeks ago:

“So stupid picture in top of yours site.“

We broke down at that wonderful Engrish, but quickly recovered and realised there was more work to be done.

Also, thanks to you, the reader, for taking the time to read our stuff and contribute through that wonderful mechanism - comments! Getting you more involved in The Mac Gamer is something I’d like to focus on. Do we need a forum? A better comment system? Do we need to give you cash?

So, in celebration of The Mac Gamer’s first birthday (it’s time to take the nappies off) and as an apology for our so stupid picture in top of ours site, take a gander at the deals for Mac games we’ve arranged and spend, spend, spend, at discounted rates:

PopCap

All The Mac Gamer readers can obtain 50 % off Peggle Mac by quoting the code “MACGAMER” at check out when you purchase a game. Offer expires 8th of August.

How to Use your PopCap Games Coupon:

1. Visit www.popcap.com and select a game from DOWNLOADS
2. Add the game to the Shopping Cart by clicking BUY NOW
3. At the checkout page, enter your billing address.
4. At the bottom of the page, click on “Have a coupon code or gift certificate? Click here to redeem.”
5. Enter the Coupon Code in the text box labeled COUPON CODE.
4. Click the “CONTINUE” button.
5. Your final total should now be adjusted appropriately.
6. Proceed with the ordering process.

Enjoy your game!

Ambrosia

Coupon Code: TMGanniv
Discount amount: 25% off
Valid on: Entire catalog
Valid until: 13/07/09

I recommend taking a peek at Aquaria, Gooball, Multiwinia and Defcon.

Digging and playing

By Alex McLarty on June 17, 2009 in Thoughts. 1 Comment Tags: Ambrosia, Boot Tramp, EA, Friends, GooBall, Mirror's Edge, Prince of Persia, Transgaming, Ubisoft.

Apart from digging, digging, digging my almost weed free garden, I have actually been gaming:

Shame on me, it’s been Mirror’s Edge via Boot Camp. Beautifully sparse environments, clean cityscapes, somewhat spoiled by a lackluster story that fizzles out to nufink. It’s rather short too, but still a refreshing change from the ordinary run and gun malarkey. One of the focuses of the game is to evade and escape enemies, but that makes a challenge of jump kicking them in the sugar lumps, snatching their weapons and proceeding to shoot up call centre coloured environments.

Gooball by Ambrosia, the now bloody hard Super Monkey Ball (but better) inspired roller. When Gooball went Universal Binary they updated the physics engine. It’s now bloody difficult. More often that not, off you go, spinning, wobbling into oblivion. The game says, in a suitably patronising tone, fallout. Arr! Demo here.

I’m still playing and working on Prince of Persia. I like it, but in the same way you’d watch and enjoy a Friends episode and feel guilty afterwards. The story is unfolding in a suitably predictable fashion, but as I said - Ross and Rachel!

It’s quite an odd title. One of the most beautiful I’ve seen; ridiculous airborne contraptions, vast, abandoned cities, dark and wonderfully realised enemies. But the gameplay is quite often mere button mashing. It’s still very entertaining, but perhaps not skilful or even challenging.

What are you guys playing?

Multiwinia: RTS without the pain

By Alex McLarty on April 6, 2009 in Reviews. 4 Comments Tags: Ambrosia, Introversion, Multiwinia for Mac, RTS, World of Warcraft.

I stay away from RTS. We don’t mix. Whenever we meet things are said, shots are fired. We are from different worlds and despite best efforts, we don’t get on. It’s like the Biggie and Tupac thing, but in game, yo.

Continue reading ‘Multiwinia: RTS without the pain’

Defcon for Mac

By Brice Unland on April 3, 2009 in News. 2 Comments Tags: Ambrosia, Defcon for Mac, Introversion, Uplink for Mac.

Do you remember the Cold War? Me neither, but since I was old enough to understand the basic premise of the nuclear bomb, I have been enthralled with it. The logical conclusion to this enthrallment was to enter the grade eight science fair with a display of all things nuclear. I didn’t win. I got second. Some fancy pants environmental project won.

Continue reading ‘Defcon for Mac’

Aquaria for Mac released

By Alex McLarty on November 16, 2008 in News. 0 Comments Tags: Ambrosia, Aquaria, Bit Blot.

It’s a been a long time coming, but Aquaria for Mac has finally been released by Ambrosia Software.

Aquaria: A massive ocean world, teeming with life and filled with ancient secrets. Join Naija, a lone underwater dweller in search of her family, as she explores the depths of Aquaria. As players navigate through Aquaria’s richly textured surroundings, Naija learns to defend herself, heal, and to change her form for combat, stealth, speed, and more … skills she will need to defend herself against the perils of the deep.

Naija’s story, narrated fully with voice overs and a lush soundtrack, will become yours as you join her on this magnificent adventure.

Check out my interview with John Champlin from Ambrosia about Aquaria (and other things) and stay tuned for a review soon.