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Valve to Release Mac OS Graphics Code to Steamworks Partners
by Xav de Matos, Jul 30, 2010 10:00am PDTValve brings more good news for Mac gamers today as the company has revealed it will "provide a portion" of its graphics code to developers looking to create Mac OS versions of their games. In an upcoming interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Valve's business development director Jason Holtman said the aid will be provided to devs who plan to use the Steamworks community infrastructure. Valve's reasoning for the move is to help studios expedite development of the Mac OS "graphics layer," which Holtman calls "the real hard work in making a Mac version" of games.
"So our Steamworks partners will have access to some of the hard work that we do to get our games up on Mac, and they'll be able to incorporate that into their games--and our hope is it gets them there faster," Holtman said. Valve released a Mac version of its popular digital distribution platform Steam for Mac users in May 2010. The code sharing decision will hopefully lead to more gaming options for dedicated Mac users and shorter wait times for fresh titles.
According to Holtman, Steam games that have added Mac versions to their catalog have enjoyed a significant boost in combined platform sales. "We're seeing between a 15 and 20 percent increase in games that have a Mac version on Steam. So some of our baseline games with added Mac versions, they're seeing quite a healthy bump in people picking up their title." No time-frame for the Mac code sharing was indicated in the article.
Of course, Valve isn't the only company with a fondness for Apple products, as Blizzard's highly-anticipated StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is currently available on PC and Mac in one retail or digital package.
Comments
Imagine they do the same for Linux. They're doing everything in their power to break the control over PC gaming that Microsoft has. All I can say, its about time. I mean, seriously. Microsoft has treated PC gaming like its a given, like its their right to control it, and not push it at all. Instead, Valve has pushed it with great games, with Steam and Steamworks that are constantly evolving, and very open policies.
Microsoft bought Epic cheap and stopped their PC game development, bought Remedy cheap and stopped their PC game development, canned the Flight Sim team, canned FASA, canned Ensemble, bought Bungie for a lot of money and stopped their PC/Mac game development (though they did do PC gamers the favor of porting 2 Halo games poorly with one of them having a silly OS requirement), and then FOR YEARS they acted as though they FORGOT their PC gaming Live initiative after releasing it to deservedly poor reception.
At this point, the only thing Microsoft is doing for PC gaming (ask yourself what the last released PC game was that Microsoft developed and published?) is slowly improving Games for Windows Live. Their focus is on the 360.
Isn't it a coincidence that when Steam showed signs of Mac and Linux development, suddenly Microsoft has GfWL being improved with variety in the store and Fable III is back on the PC menu?
Too little, too late, Microsoft. Valve, we welcome you as our new overlords. Long may you reign and have Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter sales.
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