14 DAY TRIAL // Electronic Arts found itself under the spotlight last week when Mac-centric publications started asking just where the games that were promised are. With the initial timeframe already come and gone, the company had not even bothered to make a public statement about the delay. Not surprisingly, the company's image amongst Mac users took a well-deserved hit.
Though EA has been keeping quiet, AppleInsider reports that they actually managed to get in touch with a company representative. According to their report, Mac OS X versions of Madden NFL 08 and Tiger Woods 08 have both been pushed back from the initial August release to September or October. While no specific reason was given, lack of experience in developing for the Mac was hinted at? Not surprising considering that the company has not touched the Mac platform for many years. On the issue of the other promised games, Battlefield 2142, Command and Conquer 3, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Need for Speed Carbon, the spokesperson said that these games were delivered as promised and are already in stores. Exactly which stores remains unclear as none of Apple's stores, Amazon or other known Mac retailers have them in stock. Some locations offered preorders, while others such as Amazon, who has traditionally carried Mac software, does not even know of their existence. Interestingly enough, there have been reports of these games being available in Singapore where EA games are manufactured and distributed by an EA licensee.
All in all, the promise made by EA during the WWDC has still not been honored. Between delays and non-existent copies in stores, Electronic Arts managed to fail miserably. The lack of experience in Mac development might have been an acceptable excuse were it actually offered before the public outcry and if the games were actually developed for the Mac instead of being ported using virtualization technology. Is it any surprise that Mac games don't sell well when companies ask the full price for a two month old game that is not even run natively on the platform?