EA Wants you to buy a PC

[nigelmellish 0]

I bought Simcity 4 and Rush Hour for Mac. Recently, I had an idea for a building, and went to get BAT or Lot Editor from Simcity.com. Guess what? Mac users can't - and EA won't help you. Tech support even told me that I should buy the PC version of the game.

Below is our conversation:
------------------------------------------

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us here at Electronic Arts Technical Support,

If you would like the same add-ons as everyone else, you should be running the PC version.

Should you require further assistance about this or any Electronic Arts games in the future please visit our website and review our extensive Self Help knowledgebase (http://ea.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?)

Thank you for contacting EA Technical Support.

Customer 11/08/2005 07:30 AM
Dear EA, Thanks for not getting back to me. As for your request for me to contact Aspyr, here's what I received:

-----------------

Original Question
I want to download the Lot Editor and BAT for my PC. EA support sent me to you. Do you have a link where i can get that software?

**********
Aspyr Media Support Response

Alex,

The EA site is only for PC users of the game.
WE have some downloads for Mac users of the game on our website: http://www.aspyr.com/games.php/mac/sc4/support/
This is a site that offers some content for Mac users:
https://www.simtropolis.com/

I hope this helps.

Thanks for playing SimCity

[Bank 0]

So, will the EA site allow you to register, or merely allow you to register but fail to provide some of the programs?

I ask because I was told if you call EA, and offer to fax in a copy of your disk with the serial number while you're on the phone, they'll probably be able to allow you to register. Then you could download the files available there, and with file juicer, make them work on your mac. Of course, I haven't tried any of this, it's all what I've gathered from posts. Let me know if it works and it may get me off my ass.

[MacSimizeDenver 0]

Same thing for me like for every SC4 Mac user. But for me, EA ignored my mails i had send.

That's really a ~language~ arrogance i can't understand. i wrote in that email i can send a scanned jpeg of the cd case with the serial, even with the bill amazon Germany shipped with.

what happened: no answer from EA. every time i wrote.

i have a pc version also but sold the sc4+rh for this some months ago so the registration is gone also.....no way for me to get access now on the simcity website to download some necessary stuff.

L'Electronic Arts sont des abrutis de capitaliste. (peut-

[ABCD12345 1]

the only choice now is to buy a PC.

[TheCrybKeeper 301]

well, I hate to say it, but our MACs at the newspaper, are slowly being replaced with Dell PC's?!

Strange trend in the advertising bizz. Especially when My newspaper group is owned by one of the biggest corps. in the entire world. If we are slowly migrating to the PC here, what will that mean for MACintosh's future? They rely on a, bussiness related customer base.

[Voar Tok 4]

I don't know if you know this, but EA won't support the BAT or lot editor for the PC either.  It's considered to be an unofficial add-on that people can use at their own risk.  I tried to contact them a few times about some help with the BAT, and I got the cold shoulder.

[toxicpiano 125]

quite frankly noone wants you to have a mac. personally i'm suprised that EA; being the company it is even bothered having it ported over to the mac format. This was probably only done because of maxis' intervention.

[MacSimizeDenver 0]

Well, and i do everything in Senegal that people get in contact with Macs. Most schools who have access to Computers are using very old PCs and the only Macs you will find are in the two universities in Dakar or St. Louis and in the medias like press, some radio stations and of course in my room. And i would never buy a PC just to get full access to Maxis software..... that's crap.

Because it's much more on a Mac that makes me belong to it.


Hey EA, hope you hear that !!

[GMT 389]

trhe problem here is not at EA... ok, they could do more about the mac users, but the main problem is the PC dominated world we live in.

only few corps actually provide a close net of mac-compatible software and updates on them.
now to blame ea for that lack of cooporation is ok, but, IN MY OPINION, the problem doesn't sleep in EAs cupboards, but in world dominated by pc systems.
i can't remember having seen a mac in the our local pc-hardware stores for about 8 or 9 YEARS, so i think that tells lots

[MacSimizeDenver 0]

that's now really a classic thread.

of course the Mac isn't a gaming machine and it doesn't make sense to compile many games for that OS, only best-selling titles.

But i think EA as creator, or better Maxis owner, should support us too. Because they gain money through us, through selling licenses to Aspyr and so on....


@toxic

what's todays german word of the day? (if you read my signature...)

[simzebu 20]

And this is one of about three reasons not to buy a Mac. It's also one of about fifteen billion reasons to hate EA.

[toxicpiano 125]

Date: 11/11/2005 11:32:14 AM Author: MacSimizeDenver @toxic what's todays german word of the day? (if you read my signature...)

quote>

we havent decided, ill have to look up a word online. join the site if you want...

back on topic now.

[Voar Tok 4]

Date: 11/11/2005 11:32:14 AM Author: MacSimizeDenverBut i think EA as creator, or better Maxis owner, should support us too. Because they gain money through us, through selling licenses to Aspyr and so on.

quote>

I seriously doubt that EA makes enough money to want to support the mac platform.  I know a guy that used to work in tech support, and he said that the reason why companies with free support make it so difficult to contact them is because tech support sucks up serious profit.  A game like SC4 has probably about fifteen minutes of tech support that EA could give you before your problems completely eradicate the profit that they made on your purchase.  Since EA didn't make the Mac version, there is know way that they are going to want to support it, and I seriously doubt that Aspyr makes enough money to be able to afford to support it.

 

SC3k used to run on Linux, but I don't see a Linux version of SC4 available for purchase.  Simply put, the money is in the PC world, and nowhere else (excluding gaming consoles like the PS2 and PSP).

[TheCrybKeeper 301]

Herauf bis vor 2 Jahre, wurden MACs ausschlie

[louisville327 0]

Listen, guys, it's real simple. The reason EA (and so many other companies) don't care about Mac computers is because almost nobody owns one.

As of October, Mac's market share was a very tiny 4.3% , which, though changing somewhat, means that 95.7% of the home computer market is PC/Windows. Well, maybe a little bit less because a few people here and there run Linux, but you get the idea.

So, tell me why a company like EA would go out of their way to provide ANYTHING for less than 5% of the market? What money is there to be made by the TINY minority of Mac users in the world?

Macs are cool, don't get me wrong, but they pull absolutely no weight at all in the entertainment software market---because just barely more than nobody has one.

Don't act surprised!

[GoaSkin 2]

I bought the PC version and found out that simcity.com is useless for mac users. In Germany, you can buy retail boxes of SC4 in discounter stores for $5.

Neither the Maxis tools (LOT Editor, BAT, Plugin Manager) start in any virtual machine because the programs require a native DirectX access to the graphics adapter (exit message: could not initialize DirectDraw)

All the buildings are either stolen from other SC4 sites or very bad. Maxis uses Exploits of the Internet Explorer to install them on the user system. A curious script finds out if Simcity is installed and places the files in the plugin folder without the need of any user actions.

I have a serial and I have registered. It helps me nothing.

[USA Patriot 49]

It's rediculous how they treat users of macs, It madening.
But don't give up hope Mac users. Macintosh computers and Apple sales are on the rise. It's one of the fastest growing things on the market!

[bourneid 13]

Macs seam to be the favored platform for those in the graffic design and avertising field...and other profecionals. That may be the reason there isnt as much support for them as gaming platforms.

[USA Patriot 49]

^ That is correct.
Also notice on movies and news shows, the Mac is always the computer shown.

[Zelgadis 638]

Date: 11/11/2005 9:04:28 PM
Author: louisville327
Listen, guys, it's real simple. The reason EA (and so many other companies) don't care about Mac computers is because almost nobody owns one.
As of October, Mac's market share was a very tiny 4.3% , which, though changing somewhat, means that 95.7% of the home computer market is PC/Windows. Well, maybe a little bit less because a few people here and there run Linux, but you get the idea.
So, tell me why a company like EA would go out of their way to provide ANYTHING for less than 5% of the market? What money is there to be made by the TINY minority of Mac users in the world?
Macs are cool, don't get me wrong, but they pull absolutely no weight at all in the entertainment software market---because just barely more than nobody has one.
Don't act surprised!

quote>

Not so simple.

4.3% is huge.

When you consider how many computers are out there, 4.3% adds up to millions of computers, millions of Mac owners, and millions in potential revenue to anyone who pays attention to us.

And then consider the percentages when you only count home computers and leave out the ones used in companies. That 4.3% will suddenly be much, much higher, I guarantee that.

There is money to be made out there for Mac gaming. Id Software understands this, which is why almost all of their titles are made for Mac as well as Windows.

If there wasn't any money to be made from Mac gaming, then nobody would do it. But there is money to be made, and companies do make Mac games. Any company that doesn't is just plain foolish. I wouldn't buy stock in one. They're not maximizing their earning potential.

There are even companies that do very well making games almost exclusively for Mac. (Freeverse Software) If giving up my Mac means giving up my Burning Monkey games, it ain't gonna happen.

ISF

[Bank 0]

I know I said it already but I would really attempt calling on the telephone. With an email there is little reason for any human contact. With a phone call, you can provide all of the information and the very presence of a voice that is speaking a reasonable request (I will fax you my registration number that is on the back of my CD if you register the copy) is very persuasive.

[TheCrybKeeper 301]

USA Patriot: I think much of that market share that Apple is getting, is due to the IPod. MAC sales are on the downside right now.

Actually, a lot of shows and movies I have seen, show generic computers and even OS's that are non-existant in RL.

 

CSI: comes to mind. The show has a nice budget, but not quite enough, to get permissions for real products to be displayed. Just a guess.

 

Anyways, I use both computers and have used PhotoShop and Quark express on both. I still have not found a reason to say, one is better than the other and like both PC and MACs.

[Buster 9]

Yeah, I'm not a regular mac user myself, but I do love those beauties, and I'm fed up with watching you guys being treated as second-rate citizens.

Just want to urge you to hang in there. I'm rooting for you.

[USA Patriot 49]

Thankyou Buster.
Actually, MAC sales are up. Here's the link to proove it.


Back to topic though.

[TheCrybKeeper 301]

USAPatriot: you may be right there. I am referring to much older article on the AP, from earlier this year.

By the way, I do like MAC. I just do not want to take sides. I have seen this same thread subject in tech forums and they never have a resolution.

[USA Patriot 49]

Sorry, I forgot to stick the link on!

yeah, the PC and Mac people argue, but the PC guys never have a good reason, nor does anyone ever get anywhere except make enemies. I work with both. I got 1 Macs. One is mine, 1 is Dads, and a PC that is new but alredy died on us. I twas awork one for my Dad.

[dwayner 1]

It comes down to what system you prefer. I have used both mac's and pc's, but when it comes to gaming, pc's can be built or upgrade so easily or like me you build your own tower. If you build your own mac that would make a pc. So if you are a real  fan of games for computers you would have bought a pc in the first place. Sorry, but the mac has a lot of catching up to do. Remeber that selling millions of mac's don't compare to selling billions of pc's. If you want to wait that long go ahead but until macs are at the same level as pc's then you will always get the boot from a game company.

P.S. Why do you think most mac programs are converted to pc so easily.  BECAUSE THEY SELL.

 

[USA Patriot 49]

Did anyone know that many games that PCs have are made on Macs?

[diablo_del_bano 3]

MACS>PCS
the only thing i use it for is games, and when it acts up i say it's being windows again

[louisville327 0]

Date: 11/11/2005 10:06:34 PM
Author: zelgadis

Date: 11/11/2005 9:04:28 PM

Author: louisville327

Listen, guys, it's real simple. The reason EA (and so many other companies) don't care about Mac computers is because almost nobody owns one.

As of October, Mac's market share was a very tiny 4.3% , which, though changing somewhat, means that 95.7% of the home computer market is PC/Windows. Well, maybe a little bit less because a few people here and there run Linux, but you get the idea.

So, tell me why a company like EA would go out of their way to provide ANYTHING for less than 5% of the market? What money is there to be made by the TINY minority of Mac users in the world?

Macs are cool, don't get me wrong, but they pull absolutely no weight at all in the entertainment software market---because just barely more than nobody has one.

Don't act surprised!

quote>

Not so simple.

4.3% is huge.

When you consider how many computers are out there, 4.3% adds up to millions of computers, millions of Mac owners, and millions in potential revenue to anyone who pays attention to us.

And then consider the percentages when you only count home computers and leave out the ones used in companies. That 4.3% will suddenly be much, much higher, I guarantee that.

There is money to be made out there for Mac gaming. Id Software understands this, which is why almost all of their titles are made for Mac as well as Windows.

If there wasn't any money to be made from Mac gaming, then nobody would do it. But there is money to be made, and companies do make Mac games. Any company that doesn't is just plain foolish. I wouldn't buy stock in one. They're not maximizing their earning potential.

There are even companies that do very well making games almost exclusively for Mac. (Freeverse Software) If giving up my Mac means giving up my Burning Monkey games, it ain't gonna happen.

ISF

quote>

First of all, sure, 4.3% is significant because of the sheer numbers of computers out there, but compared to 95.7%, it's insignificant. And if you leave out corporate computers, you have to leave out all those Macs used by marketing, graphic design and advertising firms as well. At the VERY most, Mac might then hold 8% of the market, which still means Windows/PC machines make up 92%. At least that's an estimate I've seen in various articles.

There is money to be made from everything. But that doesn't mean EA will spend their time on tiny niches in the market when they can concentrate on the main cash cow: Windows-run PCs.

What other explanation is there for EA's lack of Mac support? The evidence is already there, some of which is so clearly outlined above. EA doesn't care about Macs.

And please note that I didn't say EA doesn't make games for Macs, I said they don't waste money on SUPPORT for Mac users. Sure, they can put the games out there for Macs (through ID or any other company), but follow-up through customer technical support is a completely different story.