Atari 2600 controller is USB, OS X compatible

Section: Software + Apps, Games, Mac + Computers, PeripheralsHard to get more old school than this: Legacy Consumer Electronics has released an Atari 2600 joystick with a USB port.It’s compatible with OS X, Windows, and Linux, and is sure to provide hours of enjoyment until your hands get horrible, crippling cramps from the harsh plastic edges. But I ask you, who really knew about ergonomics in those days? Finally - a controller to play video games the way they should be played - OLD SCHOOL STYLE !!! Tired of trying to play video games with a keyboard/mouse? Tired of trying to use a thumbstick, flight yoke, or other thumbpad designed controllers to play video games and they just don’t work right and your game play suffers? The answer is here at long last, the classic joystick controller! Note that Legacy isn’t mentioning the name “Atari” anywhere on their store page, so hopefully this beautiful piece of nostalgia won’t run into any licensing issues. Also no word on how to configure it for use with a particular game, although they state that it should work with “almost any game that can map and use a Standard Gamepad as a controller.” The controller costs $14.99 (plus shipping, discount if you buy more than one). Product [Classic joystick controller] Full Story » | Written by Bill Stiteler for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

OpenCL gets touted in Texas

Attendees at the SC08 high-performance computing conference in Austin got a progress report on OpenCL, the the Apple-spearheaded parallel computing API that figures to be a prominent new feature in the upcoming Snow Leopard update to OS X.

GameTree Online offers Mac game downloads

GameTree Online, TransGaming's new game portal for the Mac, is officially out of beta and will serve as a way for Mac gamers to get their hands on new titles.

Geneforge 5: Overthrow, turn-based RPG for Mac, now available

Section: Software + Apps, GamesThe Geneforge story is finally coming to a close. Last week, Spiderweb Software, Inc., announced the release of Geneforge 5: Overthrow for Macintosh, the final game in the epic, award-winning Geneforge series. This classic-style turn-based RPG dates back to 2002 with the release of the first Geneforge game. Originally for Mac OS Classic, the entire series has been updated to run natively on Mac OS X. From the original game: Geneforge is our newest fantasy role-playing game with a science fiction twist. In Geneforge, you are free to choose what your overall goal is, and you can seek after it with your own horde of deadly, mutant monsters. You are a Shaper, a member of the most powerful and secretive of the magical guilds. You have the power to create life and mold it to serve your own needs. For millennia, your world feared and respected the Shapers above all others. Their creations could go everywhere, do anything, all according to the wishes of the Shapers and no others. If you need a servant, you simply create it, and it will gladly die for you. But now the secrets of your people are at risk. Someone dares to try to steal the power of the Shapers and take it for his own. He has committed the ultimate crime: he has captured you, and he will do anything to get you to surrender your secrets. He would use the power of the Shapers to remake the world. The question is a simple one. Will you fight him? Or join him? Of course, that was Geneforge 1. The story has now spanned five epic games, and comes to a close in Geneforge 5: Overthrow. Geneforge 5 is set in the land of the Shapers, a secretive sect of wizards with the ability to create new life to serve them. Then their servants rebelled, and their whole world slid into ruin. Play a lone traveler in this strange land and fight to bring an end to this war. End the reign of the Shapers. Or, if you choose, join them and destroy the rebels once and for all. The Shapers have the ability to create life in any form they choose. They can make living tools that obey their commands, plants that can flourish in the harshest wasteland, and powerful monsters to crush all who oppose them. The Shapers ruled the known lands, and any who tried to rebel or learn their magical secrets were destroyed. But then their creations rebelled. Working with humans jealous of their masters, they stole the secrets of the Shapers and created their own armies. They created and unleashed new, even more powerful creations and matched the Shapers in savagery. And now, years into the rebellion, the war has settled into a gruesome stalemate. The lands are scorched, and city after city falls. The two sides are so delicately balanced that one brave warrior can turn the tide. Will you help the rebels overthrow the Shapers? Will you help the Shapers regain their power, tempted by the incredible rewards they offer? You might be able to end this war. Which side will you choose? As with the previous games, Geneforge 5: Overthrow has a huge, open storyline, with dozens of different endings and paths to victory. Help the rebels or fight them. Kill your opponents or use stealth and diplomacy. Focus on the storyline or simply seek wealth and carnage. No matter how you play, Geneforge 5 offers an epic adventure with plenty of replay value. Geneforge 5: Overthrow requires: Macintosh running System 10.3.9 or later 50 MB free RAM 200 MB hard disk space 1024x768 screen resolution with 32 bit color (Macintosh) Geneforge 5 will run natively on Intel Macintoshes Product [Geneforge 5: Overthrow] Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Appletell review - Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties

Section: Software + Apps, Games, Mac + Computers, Software, Features, Review Genre: Real Time Strategy Format: DVD Developer: Ensemble Studios, Big Huge Games Mac Port: Microsoft Game Studios Mac Publisher: Macsoft Games System Requirements: Age of Empires III full version, Mac OS X v10.4 or higher, 256 MB RAM, 1.4GHz processor, 2GB free hard drive space, 64 MB video card with support for hardware transformation and lighting, 56K dial-up Internet access or LAN for online/multiplayer Review System: Apple 13” MacBook, 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4GB RAM, 64MB VRAM Network: Yes ESRB Rating: Teen, for Blood and Violence Official Website: The Asian Dynasties Price: $29.99 Gather ‘round, folks, for the latest installment of the acclaimed Age Of Empires series is upon us. Whether its the intricate plot line or the strategic gameplay that floats your boat, chances are this game won’t disappoint the AOE fanatic. Whether you’re conquering Feudal Japan, or fighting the betraying Zamorins, a lot goes on in this one little game. When I first received the review unit, my first impressions were something along the lines of “sounds like a cool game, but not really my type.” I went in optimistically, hoping to find a fun game. Overall, The Asian Dynasties was a pretty decent game, albeit boring and repetitive at times. And, for those of you who get bored with the game and have destruction on your mind, there are some wonderful little cheats to help the game along (I won’t spill the beans here, but you can easily find them through Google). On my MacBook, one thing that I noticed was that it always took a bit of time to get from inserting the disc to the main menu. Overall, it takes about 45 seconds. Within that time, there is an intro video to familiarize yourself with the plot and characters throughout the game. Once at the menu, you have options to learn how to play the game, play single player (more on single player game modes later), play multi player, view options, and quit. The main menu is well-organized and not too busy. I always find a neat and pleasant-on-the-eyes interface to be a big plus.  If it’s been a while since you’ve played through Age of Empires III, I suggest you refer to the how to play tab in the menu to re-familiarize yourself with the game. Here, there is a tutorial and a practice game mode. My only complaint about this section is that the tutorial is quite limited. I went through it in about 3 minutes, and did not get nearly enough information. Many times throughout the game, I had to refer to internet resources. This may be due to the fact that I am very un-versed in the way of the gamer, or maybe it is expected that you have extensive past knowledge of the game before you install the expansion pack. Either way, should the makers of this game want to successfully attract and maintain a playership, they should look into expanding the tutorial. Once you have finished the tutorial, it is suggested that you play a practice game. For this mode, no complaints. It is pretty much a skirmish match with hints given along the way. Now, on to the many single player modes. The first mode is Campaign Mode. From this, you can play the actual game, in which you slowly progress through the levels of Japan, China and India. Each country has about eight levels which increase in difficulty. In each country, you assume the identity of a “good guy,” and subsequently lead your troops on land and sea to victory. If Campaign Mode isn’t for you, you can try the next mode: Skirmish. Skirmish Mode presents the user with a randomly created terrain and enemy, and the idea is simple: destroy the opponent’s Town Center before he destroys yours. Finally, there is Custom Match, in which you can customize your own skirmish to your likings. For Multiplayer, you have the option of playing against fans from around the world.  The multiplayer version of the game is pretty much the same thing as the single player game, only some people find it more interesting to play against a living person. For this game, my main complaints had to do with the game play. I couldn’t stand how close the camera view was zoomed, and even on Far View, I felt that the view was very cramped. Another gameplay complaint I have has to do with confusing and ungainly controls.  t took me about two hours of playing the game to finally master the basics of building and controlling units.  Overall, this game was somewhat enjoyable, but those who aren’t fans of the genre may find it sometimes getting repetitive and boring.  Appletell Rating: Buy The Asian Dynasties Full Story » | Written by Mark Rowland for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Macintosh/iPhone software update round-up - August 26, 2008

Section: Software + Apps, Miscellaneous, Third-Party, Mac + Computers, Software Macintosh and iPhone software updates and announcements for August 26, 2008: On the go political enthusiasts wishing to savor memorable images and quotes of their favorite USA Presidential candidate, have two revolutionary software tools. Spiffyware, an Alaskan software development company that specializes in video games for the iPhone and iPod Touch, released two applications that salute the US presidential candidates for 2008. wondertouch, a leading software developer of high performance particle effects creation tools, has announced that new versions for its particleIllusion 3.0 and particleIllusion SE line of product offerings on Mac OS X are now available. The updates to particleIllusion 3.0, wondertouch’s industry standard, full-featured standalone particle effects application, and particleIllusion SE, the company’s introductory version, gives digital content creators working on Apple’s advanced operating system more ways to quickly and easily create complex effects: explosions, smoke, fire, sparkles, motion graphics backgrounds, space effects, creatures, and abstract artistic effects. The new changes and enhancements are available to current wondertouch customers free-of-charge. Lava Software is now shipping Kenbushi v7.4, their free digital media jukebox software which puts your library of movies, TV shows and music at your fingertips for easy browsing, fast searching and instant playback. Kenbushi can be used to manage and play media on a Mac or PC, sync media to all non-Apple portable media players, and convert any computer into a media center with InternetTV which connects directly to an existing TV or home theatre system. It includes a secure data backup system and easy file-sharing over LAN or Internet. Versions are available for Windows and Mac OS X (Linux version coming soon). MacVide has announced iPod Converter 1.7, their video to mp4 conversion utility for Mac OS X. With a focus on ease-of-use, iPod Converter allows conversion of the most popular video files to mp4 iPod video. It fully integrates the process into the Mac experience by allowing human interaction on the content during conversion. MacUpdate today launched a new software bundle promotion, delivering up to 10 first-rate applications valued at more than $600 for just $49.99. The Back-to-School-themed bundle runs through September 10 and is as equally well suited for students and educators as it is for home users and professionals. Plum Amazing has announced their second iPhone application, Plum Record, which turns your iPhone into a digital audio recorder and tags sound files with photos and text, and costs only $5. Plum Record for the iPhone is now available in the iTunes App Store in English, German, Spanish and French. There is a link below which will open iTunes to the Plum Record page in the iTunes App Store. XChange International has announced the release of the popular Sonar Bookends range of XTensions for QuarkXPress v8. Users can upgrade from earlier versions and they are available for both Macintosh and Windows platforms. Daylite 3.7.6 is now available and is a free upgrade for all Daylite 3 users. One useful improvement: A sync failure no longer forces a restart of Daylite. Daylite now remains online or offline and allows you to continue working. That’s productivity! Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »