Problems with engineering, retail distribution and divisiveness within Apple continue to keep the company at the back of the pack for gaming. And despite words to the contrary, it seems to be getting worse.
I don't know how to describe the emotion that overcame me at the Macworld Expo this summer, except to say it left me feeling like a groom standing at the altar with no bride in sight, lured there by a handful of empty promises and left with a half-full hall of guests who felt equally jilted and unsure of what to do next.
"… it left me feeling like a groom standing at the altar with no bride in sight."
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Steve Jobs was that bride. At previous Macworlds, Jobs had promised gamers a happy ending: renewed commitment from inside Apple, fast 3D acceleration, and the return of developers to the platform. Apple also announced support of SGI's Open GL, which facilitates the development/porting process. Devotees saw what they thought was the beginning of a new age.
Announcements were made at last week's Expo as well: The fourth horseman in Apple's simplified product lineup, the six-pound iBook finally made an appearance. Apple's seventh consecutive profitable quarter was announced, as well as the sale of 1.9 million iMacs in less than a year and assets of more than $3 billion. All good news. But the promise of Apple's makeover into the manufacturer of great gaming machines and supporter of great games fell flat, leaving more than a few disgruntled developers and Apple insiders behind. So where did Apple go wrong?
Next: Snake Oil and Promises
