First off, I've decided that I want to focus on interactive narratives for my eventual thesis. These narratives may very well take the form of a computer game, but I've decided to stop worrying about whether my interests fit in with those of the game industry. Anyway, I was trying to think what kinds of people would most likely want to play a Myst-like interactive narrative, and it hit me: Mac users! When analysts have tried to determine the reasons behind the success of the Myst series, an oft-overlooked reason may very well be that it was available for Mac. The number of games available for Mac has always been small, but it goes further than that. Creative, artistic people, as well as average Joes have Macs. Hardcore gamers, the type that would most likely scoff at an interactive narrative, are almost solely Windows PC users.
Of course that's not to say I'm going to abandon Windows. No way!!! Windows rocks! But perhaps it's time I stop knocking Macs and explore a potentially untapped market...*
* It's funny, because the first computer we ever had in our house was a Mac 128K, one of those little self-contained beige boxes. We had a Mac in our house up until 1995, when we switched to Windows--a good decision, considering that Macintosh was floundering at the time. But anyway, my attitude toward Macs is kind of like a man who was born in the country, moved to the big city, then hates the country pastures where he grew up.
Welcome to the "Switcher's Club"!
Posted by: Andrew at January 28, 2004 06:48 PM
the field really requires one to be ambiOStrous
Posted by: pw at January 29, 2004 12:16 PM
"AmbiOStrous", I like that!
Posted by: Michael Steffen at January 29, 2004 02:24 PM
Ah, the beige box. I remeber that too. Dad was excited, he enjoyed it. He brought it home and shared the expierence with his family. Then it was ripped away from him by a cheap PC. He really has never been the same since...
Posted by: Mike at January 30, 2004 12:36 AM
Yay Pc's!
Posted by: julie at January 30, 2004 08:28 PM
Yay Macs too!
Posted by: Julie at January 30, 2004 08:29 PM
Oh yeah, my statement should in no way be construed as "Macs are better," just "People use Macs, so I should stop ignoring them." x86-based PCs still kick more ass!!!
Posted by: Michael Steffen at January 31, 2004 12:43 AM
don't forget that ultimately, this doesn't matter (imo).
i'm working on interactive narrative as well and feeling like i just hit wall after wall. to some extent, i think it's because i don't really enjoy games. i've had some good times playing (digital, but mostly analog) but in the end, i much prefer other things. much of interactive narrative does seem to almost require elements such as goals and rules... thus, games - and i guess i'm searching for more flexible and transformative ideas (of course, not to say that games cannot offer this, and if so, how?)
Posted by: susana at February 4, 2004 10:08 AM
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)