It's about time I start blogging again. Lots of stuff happened over the past month and it's been so hectic that I didn't have any energy left by the end of the day to write a decent blog. Usually, I could shove in a dozen paragraphs before my eyelashes entangle themselves and stitch my eyes shut.

Well, obviously, I've now settled down. I guess I'll start with what's latest and head back down the memory archives with each successive blog.

Today, I finally finished setting up my new computer. About a week ago, my old PC finally died for good. So I went and got myself a new desktop PC - a Mac Mini. Prior to that, I've spent almost a month researching about Macs and Mac OS X. After a great deal of extensive reading, some heavy discussion and price comparisons (of premium brands), I was convinced that I should make the switch over to Mac.

Great advertisements aside, I really have no reason to continue using Windows (save for Game Maker 7.0 Pro). In terms of aesthetics, OSX wins, hands-down. In terms of price for an optimized, full-featured 64-bit OS, OSX Tiger beats Windows Vista. Functionality? Most of the freeware I rely upon in Windows XP is usable for OSX. Except that now I also have Widgets and a load of surprisingly good built-in software. I planned to rely heavily upon freeware for my work - as I did on Windows XP, but as it turned out, I don't need half of them because of the iLife suite (yep, they're good). Ease-of-use and stability? I still get the usual freezes and crashes, but recovery from those problems are amazing - and almost fluid. With WinXP, it frequently takes ages for me to load up Task Manager, while the Force Quit window in OSX pops up pretty fast. Do I need to get started on security and viruses?

As for those pesky little annoyances many people complain about in regards to OSX... The lack of Alt-Tab application-switching is not only compensated, but tremendously enhanced by mouse-gesture-customized Expose. No problem about that. The "X" button doesn't close an application, but since it's located in the same corner as the menu item that closes the app, it's a trivial problem. As for file management, I really like how everything is so drag-friendly. Instead of cut-and-paste, I can select a folder or a group of files, and then drag-and-browse my HD until I reach the folder I want to drop them.

Even if those annoyances give you itchy rashes, you can't help but admire Mac's wonderful little touches. Its Airport WiFi is superbly easy to configure and works wonderfully. As a comparison, my old WinXP laptop's WiFi works erratically (sometimes it connects, sometimes not - same location). Tried making it work. Brought a knowledgeable friend over for help. Still the same volatility. Even my Wii downstairs works consistently with no problems. Another nice touch is the IR remote and how I can use my Mac as a remote-controlled music player (and turn it on/off with the same remote). I guess I don't need to mention the size and cuteness of the Mac Mini.

And so I come to the biggest problem of Macs - gaming. Fortunately, I have a Wii (and pretty soon everyone will sooner or later), so it's not a big deal for me. For hardcore PC gamers though, that's too bad. That's not to say that I will no longer buy & play computer games. Some of the best games, such as all Blizzard titles (yay for World of Warcraft), Age of Empires III, The Sims 2, Myst series, Civilization IV, Heroes of Might & Magic V, and Prey, all have Mac versions (some Blizzard and Ubisoft games even come with Mac and PC installers on the same disc). I'm more worried about whether Starcraft II is scalable enough to run on my Mac Mini (with its low specs). I bought it as a replacement for my PC, so it's far from powerful. Regardless, I'm getting a MacBook anyway, later this year.

And what about Game Maker 7.0 Pro? I still have a rickety WinXP laptop, remember? However, I may be making a move over to a Mac game engine soon - probably over the summer. It's a great opportunity to try out new technologies. All I know is that we're dissatisfied with the lack of support with multiple languages of GM. There are some incomplete works I still have laying around. However, with the death of my PC, I think it signals a finality and rebirth. After having learned much more (first-hand) about the business side of game development, I gained a newfound appreciation for the sometimes underrated intricacies and potential of the casual game genre. I'm also moving away from a GUI-based development engine and see how that goes.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not abandoning GM7.0Pro and its wonderful communities. My next project just happens to be made with something other than GM.

Oops, got a little off-tracked there. A word-of-warning regarding those who live in some third-world-countries. There are super-cheap printers and scanners made only for those regions, and these ones often completely lack MacOSX drivers. One company to watch is Fuji Xerox (not Xerox), since very few of their printers work with Macs. My old printer was broken anyway (the infamous Canon MPC190 with the defective driver that can destroy your HD), so I was using my dad's Fuji Xerox Phaser 3116. It's a special model that, from what I heard, seems to be sold mostly in third-world countries. No Mac drivers for it. I had to go and get a new HP Deskjet D4160. These days though, a low-end printer is very cheap, so that's not a problem at all.

What else... oh right. Hardware that're often overlooked are well-selected for Macs. I can be getting any kind of crap WiFi with my Windows laptops, but Mac systems always come with its reliable Airport WiFi. The on-board soundcard for my Mac Mini is also better than the one in my PC, though only slightly. There's only so much you can bring out of MP3 files. XD The slot-loading Combo Drive is questionable though.

Oh, btw, I also bought an iPod Shuffle. Very nice.

And as of this moment, I officially declare myself as a fully converted Mac zealot. Pretty soon, I'm going to worship Steve Jobs as a demigod and tattoo my body with Apple logos. I'm going to spray paint my keyboard and mouse white because anything else is heretical. Or not. :P

Stop using a PeeCee. Get a Mac. Yay.

Ok, I lied. I didn't go through a complete transformation yet. I still haven't dreamed of Macs. One of my friends though, did, twice. And he usually dreams once a year... or something. Now that's devotion. XD

'Fortunately, I have a Wii (and pretty soon everyone will sooner or later)'



Not freakin' likely.  Quite honestly one of the worst consoles I've ever played on.  Barely anything worth playing on it for more than five minutes (apart from the VC where you can pay again for all those games you already bought wooo) and I cannot stand using the Wiimote...





And Macs are crap too.  And so are all those PC games you mentioned...  I ain't much a PC fan (only use it cos I have to) but I far prefer my PC to any Mac.  Never had me a crash on this computer either cept for that time I installed the wrong graphic drivers but that was my fault.



Ipods are crap too... Actually this whole blog is crap.  Do better next time.



Grade: F-

Oh and make some games you lot.  So many members and yet you still got the same eo mini thats been there over half a year.  How longs it take to make a mini game.



Tut tut and maximum tutness...

Don't be an ass, whoever you are.



Anyways, I don't like Apple at all, but you don't want to get me started on that. Being, to use your words, a hardcore PC gamer, I don't think I could stomach it, but that's only one reason.



I'd kind of like a Wii, but I don't really have the money, and for the first time in my life I'm getting a bizarre urge to buy a Microsoft console instead of a Nintendo one.

Um, that's wolverine you're speaking too. Sure, he's vocal about his sometimes controversial opinions, but he's a really nice guy.

Anywho, I love my wii to bits. There's not many games out for it yet, but it's the most interesting consolde for me (wii music, etc).

the carnivorous vacuum has a point  ;)

Yeah, a well-supported one too. ;) Unfortunately, when one becomes a Mac zealot, one loses all reasoning and becomes a shameless fanboy. Yes, I'm a proud victim of Apple ads. XD

Anyway, some repeats of my old opinions. X360's online system is amazing. And by that, I'm not only talking about its multiplayer capabilities, but also the option of downloading games made by indies. I really appreciate homebrewn games, and that's one thing I know I'm missing out on. PS3, though, still doesn't have anything unique to offer. As for Wii, at this point, I'm disappointed with the variety and quantity of games available. Looks like I have to wait another year for some great releases.

It's sad though, how many PC game developers are developing games using DirectX. Every other industry in the world uses OpenGL for their graphics. The notion that DirectX is better for game development is easily debatable - and is not a fact. What's lost with DirectX-based development is the ability to deploy on Linux and Mac systems, the latter of which is becoming increasingly popular. *shrug*

As for now, Myst V should last me a long, long time. It's my first entry into the series, and I'm excited on enjoying and learning from it. This is one type of game I've never really experienced and explored.

hmmm, i wonder if microsoft realizes this?

 ;)

Hahaha! Maybe we should share the line-up of mid-to-late 2007 releases :P as it'd be sure to quiet this fellow. Don't worry, there will be games.

Ooh, EA is releasing their games on Mac! Nice! ;D

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6172346.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;2