I'm sure there is more than just a simple port. Those developers need to get paid, there will be administration and other costs too. The company has to sell how many copies of the mac version just to break even?
The Apple user base is not big enough IMO. Out of all the mac users in the world, how many have current machines with strong enough video capabilities to play? We can eliminate all the G4 and older machines so we're looking at G5 and newer. Now out of all those machines, how many are into playing games. Lets say 1/4 of them if that? Less maybe. You really think they will sell enough to make a profit? I dont think so.
Apple IMO is retarded. The whole problem is user base. There needs to be more OSX machines for development to happen. As long as Apple continues to make minimally upgradable all in one boxes on one end (which are still overpriced for the average joe to buy) to the very flexable and much more expensive mac pro, that leave NOTHING for the average user to buy. Sure they can buy a mac notebook but really, its not going to be a powerhouse for gaming so game developers are not going to pay attention.
Apple.... MAKE a god damn mid side tower machine that is NOT based on notebook parts. Make it with a desktop Core2 cpu, full size DDR2 RAM, a couple HD bays and a PCI-E slot so video cards can be swapped if need be. Oh ya, price it comparibly to a half decent HD desktop or Dell desktop machine!
Ok so *IF* the average person COULD afford a semi upgradable mac, then maybe there would be a real userbase...one big enough where it wouldnt be a gamble for a game maker to dump huge $$ into.
The problem is Steve IMO. He will not give the users what they wants. He will bring out what he wants. He wants an artsy form over function machine machine that will be disposable so you can buy another one when the logic board dies or when the screen dies or when the processor goes or when the whole thing goes because its idling at 60C + will load temps past 80C. Wonderful. Price replacement parts and the labor to swap it real high to make sure another machine will be sold instead. Mac pros are at least good for upgradability but may as well toss it into the trash if it breaks 3 years down the road if you have apple care or after 1 year if you only have standard warranty. Prices are insane to service them. Poor people who have the liquid cooled G5 duals. Dropping like flies.
I have my G4 733 machine which is really old but fully usable. If a processor or mainboard ever went and I cannot find a used part off ebay, then the whole thing is going into some computer recycling place. Thats a shame for a usable computer. Cant imagine if I had paid full pop for it OR if it was a much newer and more expensive computer....
The reason I'm bitter about all this is that the users suffer but for no reason. There is no reason for any of this to be happening. They could use much more standard components in a slightly more standard form factor, thus reducing purchase and repair costs by a lot.
Anyway I'm done with my rant.
Yeah, I'd have told them to go jump too.
If the game is good, they'll make back development costs and profit through sales.
If they went to nintendo and demanded to be paid to develop on the wii they'd also be told where to go. Nintendo would turn round and say, no, but you can BUY our development kit
Valve are being arrogant*, like they are saying mac is not worth developing for, so we need compensation before we'll get ourselves dirty on your platform.
*I realise apple are excessively arrogant, even more reason why valve would never get away with that!
