Apple announced new MacBook Pros today, and I think Michael Gartenberg addresses about 40% of the importance with his post on it. The other 60% (maybe more), in my opinion, is about gaming.
Gaming’s long been a thorn in the side of Mac users. In a previous era the Mac platform represented only the most miniscule of computer purchasing, and even today it’s just a fraction of all computers sold. That is, until you look explicitly at the home and high-end laptop markets, at which point the story gets more interesting.
Last month it was announced that Steam (a gaming platform) was coming to the Mac. Today, inside their official announcement for the new MacBook Pros they explicitly state:
More than twice as fast as the GeForce 320M, the powerful new GeForce GT 330M provides incredibly smooth, crisp on-screen graphics for the most demanding 3D games, creative software and technical applications.
Video games are an $11 BILLION dollar industry. That’s more zeroes than I can type. And almost none of it is on the Mac platform.
Yet.
I’m a big believer in betting on trends. Further, if I apply our typical analysis as to determining market viability for gaming on the Mac, here’s how it looks:
- Does the infrastructure already exist?
It does now. Macs have sufficient hardware and a mature enough OS to enable immersive gaming (a requirement for non-console games), as well as well-integrated connectivity and media sharing for casual gaming. - Does the product tie into a rising trend?
As stated above, “heck yeah”. - Is there already an “acceptable” solution to the problem?
No, the only way to play games on the Mac today is either (1) use BootCamp or (2) play Web-based games. Minorly acceptable for some, but clearly not touching on that $11B number. - Is there a perceived need?
Quite clearly, people like to play computer games, and there just aren’t many for the Mac. So yes. - Is there a want for the product?
Gaming is one of those rare “need/want” industries. Some basic googling will find evidence on both sides of “are computer games a waste of time” but let’s simply agree it’s debatable. It most certainly is a high “want” and has tons of emotional and cultural significance these days.
I believe Apple has laid all the groundwork necessary to entice game developers to really pay some attention to their platform. They’ve showed them a clear revenue path through iPod/iPhone/iPad distribution models, and the Mac is the final bridge to cross. The only downside whatsoever is the amazing costs that go into modern game production, with budgets reaching $100 million, and climbing. But considering a $50-60 price tag, and popular games selling 1-3 million (or more), the possibilities are unquestionably there.
Game on!
mmmm, not sure about this. This would be a major shift and indeed one can play all games on a mac with a little effort (vm app and some more RAM) already, at relatively good rates/fps/etc.
CAN it mean that game devs COULD make macs more available on the platform, inded, but I personally don’t think there is that much demand ON the platform to warrant it. Those who WANT to game on the mac, DO. I think, relatively speaking any mac/macbook pro is actually a BETTER platform than a low priced pc or laptop. The real gamers are going to continue to move to the voodoos and alien products – and whatever that old DELL XPS thing turned in to (prior to their purchase of a real gaming architecture company.
I think todays move is about simply refininning the model line-up – and quite frankly catching UP with the pc world here, AND furthing the platform for the things that the platform really already HAS a big foot in (I almost said BigToe!) which is video, photos, movie making, movie playing, publishing, etc.
Personally, I’m let down by the products today. I LOVE speed like any previous auto manufacturer executive 🙂 but I don’t NEED SPEED in really ANY of the things I do, even video editing. I think what we got today, is a small step up and confirmation that for the last 12-18 months APPLE as an enterprise has had their focus elsewhere (ipad, iphone os 4.0, better itunes integration, app store, acquisitions) and NOT on their bread and butter hardware. Even though apple LEADS the world as a laptop salesman, and LEADS the world in customer satisfaction and their MARKETSHARE is growing and this is making lots of money for shareholders, the % of revenues coming from laptops and mac desktops is SHRINKING (of course new products make that a simple math reality) at a faster clip than the growth in market share would indicate. Things like iphone, ipod touch, app store and maybe even ipad will soon eclipse their core products.
I also don’t like the fact that I have to pay 150$ MORE for a MATTE screen. Come on apple, get with it, people WANT the MATTE SCREENS!
Okay, that last bit was a bit of a rant.
Interesting little follow on.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/194147/apples_new_macbook_pros_not_for_serious_gamers.html/