Aces High to support Apple platform?

[Badger]

I heard a rumor that HTC was giving serious consideration to supporting the Apple technology environment with a version of Aces High.

I also heard that a December or early next year timeframe was discussed.

Can anyone at HTC confirm or deny this?

On another issue, I had also heard that Apple has a killer O/S running in the lab that supports DirectX and D3D that they would like to put forth as a direct competitor to Windows Millennium.  By Microsoft's own acknowledgement, WIN 2000 is not designed for home and gaming use.  They propose Windows Millennium as the platform of choice for gamers and home, which Apple thinks they can go head to head with using this "skunkworks" O/S.  It potentially means two graphical user interface based operating systems that will run exactly the same programs like Aces High.

If there's any truth to this, it could be a fabulous next few years as a consumer of home computer software and products.  I hope they indeed can pull this off.

Regards,
Badger

[Apache]

I would like to see either of these come to fruition. Some of the best pilots in WB use a Mac & I for one would like to see them in AH. Some wouldn't like it I guess but at least they could make their own determination.

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Apache
The Blue Knights

[edog]

Badger-

HiTech stated, as recently as 8 weeks ago, that it was not viable for them to do a mac version.

edog

[Apache]

 

Originally posted by edog:
Badger-

HiTech stated, as recently as 8 weeks ago, that it was not viable for them to do a mac version.

edog

Was there not a "at this time" somewhere in there tho? Maybe that was Pyro.



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Apache
The Blue Knights

[Badger]

Hi edog....

Thanks....

Yes...I remember that from a few months ago also, but this rumor is very recent.  

Perhaps there's been a change in HTC's marketing strategy of implementing AH to alternative platforms.  I just wanted to see if I could get an official clarification, although I do understand that even if they were going to do this now, it probably isn't in their best interests to say anything about it yet.

For the benefit of our many WB's squaddies that use the Apple platform, I sure hope they've decided to at least revisit the potential of an Apple version of AH.

Regards,
Badger

[Spitboy]

Well, they could kill two birds with one stone by doing a Linux port. Interesting that WB3 is apparently Linux supported. Any high-quality game coming to Linux is sure to get loads of good press and publicity right about now.

Spitboy -SW-

[Lephturn]

Yeah, that was "at this time".

I really don't want to see HTC split their focus at all.  I think they are on the right track as it is by staying highly focused.  I can't see how diverting resources into a Mac version will ever be a good move unless they have extra cash kicking around to re-invest in the game.

As for the second part of your post Badger:

Don't get your hopes up.  It's not that simple, if it was Apple would be the dominant player by now.  (Mac OS was FAR better than DOS, but MS still won.  MS didn't catch up until Win95 IMHO.)  The market is driven by standardization more than any other factor, and no other OS will be in a position to challenge MS for that reason for a good long time.  That's even assuming that Apple could do what you suggest, which is far from a sure thing.  Don't get me wrong, Apple has some great products and great ideas, but that doesn't mean squat in the grand scheme of things.

On a brighter note, V 1.03 will be supported under Win2k.  Finally a REAL OS to play on.


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Lephturn - Chief Trainer
A member of The Flying Pigs
Visit Lephturn's Aerodrome for AH news, resources, and training data.
 http://users.andara.com/~sconrad/


"MY P-47 is a pretty good ship
And she took a round coming 'cross the Channel last trip
I was thinking 'bout my baby and lettin' her rip
Always got me through so far
Well they can ship me all over this great big world
But I'll never find nothing like my North End girl
I'm taking her home with me one day, sir
Soon as we win this war"
 - Steve Earl

[edog]

Yeah, Apache..there was a "at this time". I took that as a given......I hope the hell it's true, for competition's sake, but I'm not holding my breath <G>

edog

[bloom25]

I remember seeing a quote from Pyro stating that AH is written to be platform independent.  This would seem to me to mean that a Mac port would not be a massive use of resources.  On the other hand HTC is currently very busy improving the sim (1.03 this month   ) and since 90+ percent of computer users use the Windows OS IMO they are making the correct marketing decision in delaying a Mac release for now.  I've never seen a post from HTC saying that they will never do a Mac version, no it's a Mac version is currently not viable.

I think that once a Mac version comes around that is identical to the PC version HTC will see a substantial growth in new accounts.  The reason is that Mac users currently have only 1 choice in online sims, and I don't believe they can even play WB in 3-d.  If someone gives them something else to try I'm sure you will see the majority of WB Mac users moving to AH in a matter of a few months.  (Unless WB3 actually supports the Mac as promised.   )  

Unfortunately there is one person in the community that seems bent on torpedoing HTC's opinion of Mac users.  I'll bet he has done more harm to Mac users chances for getting an AH version than anything else.  


I'll bet before too long HTC will announce that they plan to create a Mac OS version in the future.  We need to remember that since HT does all the coding for AH we can't expect him to stop all progress on the PC version to make a Mac port until AH becomes a little more mature.  (I.e. AH 2.0 )

My $.02 only.  

   

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bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS

[Koed]

Ofcourse MS will sell the Millenium OS as a gaming platform, but I did the beta and trust me it sux. It's just a fancier version of win95 and it's still dos based.
The great thing about 2000 is that it's:

A- not dos based
B- A stable and proffesional platform
C- Has all the gadgets millenium and 98 have
D- Has Directx 7 and is great for games

[JimBear]

Beta testing of ME is currently at the RC2 stage. So any opinion you state on its stability is of a very beta version. And would violate your NDA?
There will be plenty of time to bash it after it is for sale in the stores  

[Saintaw]

When do we get the WindoZe CE version ? <G>