While it may usually be true that Mac users get stuck with the
table scraps when it comes to games, we've finally reached a point
where we now get to sit at the table and eat with the big boys.
These four games prove the ever-growing strength of the Mac and
will keep any gamer happy for quite a while to come.
"The Sims" by Aspyr Media
The idea behind "The Sims" is this: the ultimate goal of life is
to achieve happiness, and the way to achieve happiness is to satisfy
your Sims' needs. That's right, "The Sims" allows you to create,
direct, and manage the lives of SimCity's residents. Each need
Hunger, Comfort, Hygiene, Bladder, Energy, Fun, Social, and Room)
can be met by interaction with other Sims or objects: throw a party
with the help of a rockin' stereo system, then watch your Sims' Social
and Fun ratings improve.
"Diablo 2 Expansion" by Blizzard Entertainment
"Diablo 2 Expansion" is finally available and, yes, it is well worth the wait.
Everything that made the original "Diablo" great - nonstop action,
wicked monsters, dark gothic atmosphere, and fantastic magic items -
has returned. But new enhancements such as the class skill system
and cheater-proof multiplayer competition make "Diablo 2 Exp" even better
than the original.
"Deus Ex" by Aspyr Media
"Deus Ex" combines so many of the elements found in other action-adventure
titles that it's almost like getting several games for the price of one.
You slip into the trenchcoat of J.C. Denton, an operative with the top-secret
UNATCO antiterrorist organization. Denton's body and mind have been augmented
with nanotech implants that help him fight, think,and sneak his way through
a completely interactive world filled with intrigue,conspiracies,and encounters
with other characters. The plot is ripped straight out of a bad "X-Files"
episode, but the decent cut scenes and complex mission environments kept us
coming back for more.
"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Second Edition" by Disney Interactive
The first version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" was the third bestselling
game of 1999 and continues to fly off store shelves, so a sequel was inevitable.
"Who Wants to Bea Millionaire: Second Edition" gives fans 600 more questions and
brilliantly captures the feel of the TV show. The only thing missing is the cash.
PERIPHERAL VISION
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Gravis Eliminator GamePad USB
The USB version of Gravis's GamePad Pro makes for an extremely simple
setup - all you need to do is plug it in, install the software, and
start playing. This basic gamepad closely resembles the PlayStation
controller and is perfect for sports and action games.
Logitech WingMan Rumble Pad
Gamepads can be a difficult peripheral to get right- care needs to be
put into the design, the layout of pads and buttons, and the appropriate
software interface. Logithech's WingMan Rumble gamepad pretty
much nails it. The analog sticks are great with games like NHL 2002 -
directional movement is excellent with the WingMan.
MAKING MUSIC WITH YOUR MAC
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Toast 5 Titanium by Roxio
Nowadays we can buy and download our music off the Net and play it
instantly on our computers, completely bypassing the CD. However,
almost every computer has a CD-ROM drive that can also play audio CDs,
and many new computers are shipping with CD-RW burners. Toast has been
around for years and is the benchmark application for CD burning. If you
want a reliable, flexible, easy to use way of writing CDs and DVDs on your
Mac, this is the solution. It even comes with other utilities that simplify
converting old LP albums to CD audio.
SonicBlue Rio 600 32 MB Digital Audio Player
The new Rio 600 from SonicBlue is the MP3 player for the fashion-conscious
and trend-setting crowd. Not only is it ultrastylish with its optional
removable color faceplates, but it also signifies that you're on the
vanguard of digital technology. With 32 MB of storage space (up to half
an hour of near-CD-quality music) and expansion capabilities with the
addition of a separate memory backpack, the Rio 600 is a supercool,
flexible accessory that lets you take your digital music with you anywhere.
FOR FURTHER READING
*******************
by John Ray and William C. Ray
With Macintosh products earning more devotees every day, there's ever-increasing
demand for a high-quality book that welcomes new users without being overly simple.
"Mac OS X Unleashed" takes mostly a basic approach to the Mac OS X, going into
detail on the core (pun intended) user interface and its built-in productivity and
customization tools. John and William Ray are obviously Unix heads but they are also
very much in love with the Mac as well so it's got a good feel when reading it.
This book will take the approach of demonstrating familiar actions and tools, and
then provide the equivalent information within the BSD environment.
Ever stylish and seamlessly integrated with the Internet, the Macintosh
may be enjoying the best days of its long career. "Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual"
unlocks the technical aspects of the Mac OS and the computers that run it,
enabling you to begin realizing your personal and business computing ambitions
right away. By doing that, you can become part of the Mac community and
start enjoying the little computer that Apple founder Steve Jobs called
"insanely great.
Learning from the best is always a good idea, especially when the best in the
field is adept at explaining his methods. In "Flash Web Design," Hillman Curtis,
a renowned Web developer (particularly in motion graphics), walks you through
nine enlightening Flash projects in order of increasing complexity.
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