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Spliff · Dec 7, 2004, 01:12 PM

http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ID=10557

GameSpy Dropping Mac Support?

The Macintosh version of America's Army is facing a major delay that could ultimately seal its doom. In a recent post to his web page, developer Ryan Gordon said that they no longer have a license to the GameSpy SDK. GameSpy, which is the most popular player matching service on the PC, allows gamers to join into thousands of games online. Unfortunately the GameSpy problem facing America's Army Mac will affect other Macintosh games such as Aspyr's Men of Valor as well.

Here is Gordon's post:
The Mac build is suffering from a serious problem...we don't have a license to use GameSpy's SDK on the Mac anymore, for reasons I won't get into here. For a purely-multiplayer game, this complicates things, to say the least. There are some minor contingency plans in place, but this means more delays. I know you all love waiting, sorry about this.

According to one industry source, GameSpy recently significantly increased the licensing fees for Mac gaming companies. According to the source, this may be a squeeze play on GameSpy part to "get out of the Mac business all together. This is basically GameSpy's way of dropping Mac support". The situation is so dire that one Mac game company we talked to recently is considering cancelling a port of a "major PC" title unless a workaround to GameSpy can be found. One option may be to provide Mac-to-Mac networking only. Another option would be to somehow circumvent the GameSpy license and get the required server list through an alternative "unofficial" method.

The impact of GameSpy's pricing tactics could be devastating to the Mac gaming market. A number of recent games on the Mac such as Battlefield 1942, Medal of Honor: Breakthrough, Neverwinter Nights, and others use GameSpy.

One upcoming game of note is Aspyr's Men of Valor, which is also being ported to the Mac for Aspyr by Ryan Gordon. According to Glenda Adams, because of GameSpy's tactics, the company is being forced to drop PC to Mac support via GameSpy:
We feel the game has a strong enough single player aspect that it will be a great Mac game, even though the primary multiplayer play will be Mac to Mac only. We're disappointed we can't secure a license from GameSpy for Men of Valor Mac, but we're going to do everything possible to build and foster a great Mac online community for Men of Valor. We're also researching options for mac to PC LAN play and direct IP connections without GameSpy.

So what will this mean to the Mac gaming market in the long run? Unless GameSpy changes its tune, Mac gaming companies will be forced to provide Mac to Mac networking only.

IMG is considering forming a formal protest against GameSpy. Stay tuned.

Sarc · Dec 7, 2004, 01:32 PM

This is a serious hit on Mac gaming, speacially when everything was going so well ...

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Dec 7, 2004, 02:05 PM

People play games on their Macs?

Xeo · Dec 7, 2004, 02:12 PM

It's unfortunate that Macs have less and less game options. It doesn't affect me personally because I don't play many games at all, but it's harder to sell a Mac to a family if the kiddies can't play some games on them. Only techies like us are willing to buy that PC to sit under our desk and serve as a gaming machine while still using our Mac for everything else. If I was so motivated for gaming, that would be my setup. But your average teen won't be crying to their parents for a Mac when all they want is an expensive gaming console.

olePigeon · Dec 7, 2004, 05:31 PM

What about Game Ranger?

Link · Dec 7, 2004, 05:34 PM

They sure know how to make a slightly good situation go to ****.

CreepingDeth · Dec 7, 2004, 05:40 PM

Yawn.

Who cares.
The mac game scene is pitiful. GameSpy has been on my "Crap List" for awhile. I can't remember the last game I played using the service.

The only PC developer that ever excites me is Blizzard.

Spliff · Dec 7, 2004, 06:00 PM

Originally posted by CreepingDeth:
Yawn.

Who cares.
The mac game scene is pitiful. GameSpy has been on my "Crap List" for awhile. I can't remember the last game I played using the service.

The only PC developer that ever excites me is Blizzard.

Unfortunately, this sort of thing could bite into Apple's hardware sales with the amount of negative press it could potentially generate. If gaming on the Mac is "good enough," then some borderline switchers are more likely to buy a Mac and more teens are likely to stay with a Mac instead of dumping the platform for a PC.

Komisar · Dec 7, 2004, 06:09 PM

like ole' said gameranger is still tehre though i only use gamespy for mohaa and such when i used to play it.... gameranger is great for any other game

Super Nova · Dec 7, 2004, 08:14 PM

Originally posted by Komisar:
like ole' said gameranger is still tehre though i only use gamespy for mohaa and such when i used to play it.... gameranger is great for any other game

that game ranger?

SuperNova

Komisar · Dec 7, 2004, 08:48 PM

Originally posted by Super Nova:
http://www.seiberspace.com/rangedug.gif
that game ranger?

SuperNova

Are you brain dead?

Super Nova · Dec 7, 2004, 09:09 PM

Originally posted by Komisar:
Are you brain dead?

why yes I am, thank you!

SuperNova

Komisar · Dec 7, 2004, 09:11 PM

Can you stop going to every thread doing a google search on crap that isn't even relevent (and don't even link anyone to the thread where i posted aqua man) people try and carry out a chat here and no one wants to be plagued with your utter stupidity

Have a wonderful day,
Komisar

Super Nova · Dec 7, 2004, 09:13 PM

Originally posted by Komisar:
Can you stop going to every thread doing a google search on crap that isn't even relevent (and don't even link anyone to the thread where i posted aqua man) people try and carry out a chat here and no one wants to be plagued with your utter stupidity

Have a wonderful day,
Komisar

chill out j-, i mean komisar

SuperNova

Komisar · Dec 7, 2004, 09:15 PM

I'm cool

.... as ice

Miniryu · Dec 8, 2004, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by Komisar:
Can you stop going to every thread doing a google search on crap that isn't even relevent (and don't even link anyone to the thread where i posted aqua man) people try and carry out a chat here and no one wants to be plagued with your utter stupidity

Have a wonderful day,
Komisar

I thought it was funny. The pic-posting threads are some of the funniest (if not THE) funniest thing posted here.

Super Nova · Dec 8, 2004, 07:20 PM

Originally posted by Miniryu:
I thought it was funny. The pic-posting threads are some of the funniest (if not THE) funniest thing posted here.

SuperNova

Komisar · Dec 8, 2004, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by Miniryu:
I thought it was funny. The pic-posting threads are some of the funniest (if not THE) funniest thing posted here.

I know it is but not when there is some people actually talking about something... when a thread falls apart thats when the picture come in!

CreepingDeth · Dec 8, 2004, 07:41 PM

Am I late for the party?

Komisar · Dec 8, 2004, 07:54 PM

Nah, but i think you just started it

CreepingDeth · Dec 8, 2004, 08:03 PM

Originally posted by Komisar:
Nah, but i think you just started it

"Let's get it started in here�"

Komisar · Dec 8, 2004, 08:04 PM

You have to do one thing first, and you know what it is.... How many times would you hit it?

CreepingDeth · Dec 8, 2004, 08:17 PM

Originally posted by Komisar:
You have to do one thing first, and you know what it is.... How many times would you hit it?

Komisar · Dec 8, 2004, 09:04 PM

So i tried it and my friend lost his....

Super Nova · Dec 8, 2004, 10:10 PM

Originally posted by Komisar:
So i tried it and my friend lost his....

that's what pc's will do to ya.....

SuperNova

Komisar · Dec 8, 2004, 10:35 PM

Originally posted by Super Nova:
that's what pc's will do to ya.....

SuperNova