By Ben T Wilson
Multimedia professionals prefer to use Apple computers. When they
buy a Mac, they know they're getting brilliantly clear screens, a
sophisticated but easy to use operating system, cutting edge
graphics, excellent audio, and a reliable Internet
connection.
These are also the very features that computer gamers demand.
Game playing is such a popular leisure activity, people want the
best they can afford within their budgets. Apple meets these
expectations with every model in the Apple Mac range.
Apple also keeps ahead of games technology. Games do not develop
independently of computers, but the best manufacturers push the
limits of what is achievable. Gamers can rest assured that with a
Mac, they'll get what they need to enjoy the latest games to the
full.
Availability of Games
Many years ago, there was a justified concern that manufacturers
were failing to offer games compatible with Apple computers. This
situation has completely changed. New games now come in a Mac as
well as PC format. There's no need to convert a PC game for Mac
use.
Game-playing Mac owners can therefore be confident they won't
lose out. In fact, once they load a new game into a Mac, they
know they have a computer that will do it justice.
The Macs
The Mac mini provides a perfect, reasonably priced introduction
to game playing. Simply connect the Mac mini to an Apple Cinema
Display, an Apple Keyboard, and a multi-button USB mouse - or use
peripherals such as gamepads and joysticks - and you're ready to
experience the world of computer games.
The aluminium 13 inch MacBook is the initial Mac computer choice
for those who like to take their games with them wherever they
go. The 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor combines with the
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor to give you impressive
clarity, speed, and consistency.
If you're happy to play your games at home, you need to see and
use the 24 inch iMac to appreciate its potential. The 1900 x 1200
pixel widescreen is the ideal display for the remarkable 3D
graphics reproduced by the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS graphics
option.
The most committed gamer, however, will want the Mac Pro. The
great advantage of this top of the range computer is its
flexibility: you can expand its power and capabilities as you see
fit. The two Quad Core Intel Xeon processors give the Mac Pro
some of the fastest computer speeds available. Add a NVIDIA
GeForce 8800 GT with 512MB of GDDR3 RAM, and you have a games
machine that's as good as it's possible to get.
Even so, you may still want to have a superb gaming experience,
plus mobility. For this you need the 15 inch MacBook Pro. This
beautifully designed notebook has two graphics processors: a
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT with 512MB GDDR3 SDRAM, and a NVIDIA
GeForce 9400M with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with the main
memory. Consequently, gamers have both high performance and
startling power available in one package.
Peripherals
A keyboard and mouse may be all that you require to play your
games. On the other hand, part of the fun can be using
peripherals.
For instance, although Macs come with built-in speakers (apart
from the Mac Pro), you may want the extra excitement generated by
an external sound system with a pounding subwoofer. There's a
wide choice of these systems for Macs, including portable mini
speakers for the MacBook and MacBook Pro.
Other Mac peripherals include gaming mats, joysticks, trackballs,
gamepads, and steering wheels - there's a huge range for you to
choose from. Most are Plug and Play; if not, it's easy to run the
relevant software in your Mac and ensure compatibility.
Gaming Online
The Internet offers another arena for games players. There are
now many online games on various websites, and there's the chance
to play a favourite game with players across the globe.
To find and download these online games quickly and successfully,
you need a first class web browser. Every Mac comes with Safari,
acknowledged as the computer world's fastest and best way of
searching the Internet. Safari helps you locate online games, and
the other technology in your Mac ensures you enjoy them to the
full.
If you have a game that's not browser-based but you want to play
it online with other people, Apple can help you with GameRanger.
This is a free programme for Macs that provides you with a
multiplayer online gaming service. With GameRanger, you can meet
other Mac game players (there are more than 260,000 who use the
programme) and play over 170 games.
Downloading the GameRanger programme is easy. Once you have it,
you can see who is playing what game. If you have your own copy
of a game, you can then ask to join in. Alternatively, you can
set up your own competition and invite others to become part of
it.
GameRanger also has six chat rooms for discussing games. If you
opt for GameRanger's premium membership, you can even run your
own chat rooms as well as creating lists of friends and adding
rankings to your contests.
Upgrading
If you currently own an older style Mac, you may find that the
latest games require a spec that your computer doesn't meet. If
you try to run the games software, the result may be poor visual
quality, slow speeds, and clumsy movements. You can often improve
these by upgrading, where possible, your computer's processor,
graphics card and RAM. An Apple retailer can give you further
advice, if necessary.
Mods
Mods are free downloads that can replace the content of certain
games. For example, a game with a World War II subject matter can
become a game with a science fiction theme. Macs fully support
Mods, and allow you to give a well-worn game a new lease of
life.
From Beginners to Experts
Macs offer everything a computer game player can wish for. From
the start of a gaming career, through the intermediate level, and
on to expert status, Macs are there to help you every step of the
way.
