My guess is they simply don't know how to program for a Mac.
Is that not mostly a function of their tools though? I mean, it is not like they are using the Windows UI. And CIV got less proprietary with how it uses PHP and XML. So they are starting to move in the right direction.
What's 'the lutz'?
It is some old guy embarrassing himself by trying to talk like the kids. I meant lulz.
There are clearly not enough of them to make it attractive to Aspyr to produce BtS ... and Aspyr *do* know how to spell Macintosh.
Aspyr is expected to do all the work, take all the risk, and then split the profits. Since Mac gamers now have choices, it is no longer safe to assume that that market will pay full retail for mediocre products that are late to market.
Why would Firaxis see it as worth while to change their whole software engineering process and hire scarce Mac game programmers just in order to make their software run on a few more percent of the world's computers? Those computers can already run the Windows version if players are prepared to reboot.
This is the interesting question I think worth discussing here. My thoughts are:
- The engineering process has to be refreshed periodically anyway. Just do it right next time. It is not clear to me that multiple Mac game programmers would need to be hired. It is just adding new tools and expectation to the current stable. With the proper tools, one guy who knows the different nuances come compile time might be enough.
- The few more percent question is the rub. I would guess that, for many titles, selling 6 percent more product at launch (i.e., full price) would be the difference between good profit and breaking even.
- For the reasons I outlined before, Boot Camp cannot be depended upon to move product.