Why does WotC hate Macs?

[Elephant]

So, you haven't heard about the Virtual Game Table yet? Or the character visualizer?

Both of those could easily be done in Flash.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Both of those could easily be done in Flash.

Please direct me to a Flash application with a similar 3D qualities and user interaction. They might exist, but I certainly don't know any, and in this case, I have to see it before I can believe it.

If the 3D Gametable could be done in Flash, then Neverwinter Nights 1 could also have been done in Flash.

 

[azhrei_fje]

The mac users I know personally are a peculiar lot.

I bought a MacBook Pro last summer. I have never owned a Mac before.

I didn't buy it because I love Macs or because I love Apple. In fact, Apple's practices regarding OSX are starting to piss me off as much as Microsoft's practices regarding Windows.

I bought it because more and more of the students in my corporate training classes have Macs and I wanted to understand the environment so that I could relate better to those students. When students ask me if I like my Mac, I admit that some things are a joy to use and other things are annoying.

I've been a Unix bigot since the late 1970s. Back then I had pity for the people stuck with an Apple ][ or DOS. In addition to having Unix V7 running on a M68K 32-bit chip with a flat addressing space, I also owned two Amigas in the early 1980s -- they also used a flat addressing space and programming was easier than the segmented architecture that the Intel 80x86 line has been saddled with. And first and foremost I'm a programmer.

While I like some of the features of the Mac (it runs a modified BSD Unix after all!), there are also a few things that annoy me. I can see myself wiping OSX off this machine and putting Kubuntu Linux on it within 8-12 months. By that time, I will have had my fill of Apple's proprietary policies.

Not all Mac owners are Mac fans. Or Apple fans.

 

[Mercule]

Google Apps is currently deploying offline access, phasing it in over their account base. I just got it this week....

So, one could use it to store docs locally and privately, then? I don't mind my game notes stored online, but I've used Word to write contracts, wills, resumes, and other sundry private docs that I don't want stored on Google's servers for posterity.

Not that I'm likely to switch, given that I've already got Word and actually use some of the VBA and other proprietary features, but I am curious.

 

[Elephant]

Please direct me to a Flash application with a similar 3D qualities and user interaction. They might exist, but I certainly don't know any, and in this case, I have to see it before I can believe it.

If the 3D Gametable could be done in Flash, then Neverwinter Nights 1 could also have been done in Flash.

A 3D gametable to "help" play D&D online really misses the point. I stand by my original assertion.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

A 3D gametable to "help" play D&D online really misses the point. I stand by my original assertion.

I suppose a software developer trying to say his client that the software he wants is not needed is also missing the point.
I am very much in favor of solid requirements engineering, but this seems to go a little too far.

 

[heruca]

Here is a virtual tabletop program done entirely in Flash. So yes, it's doable, but probably not ideal, despite being multi-platform.

 

[caudor]

I'm a D&D player and Mac user. In both ways, I'm pretty much in a minority of people who enjoy something that most people do not.

Does it really cost more to develop cross-platform applications? I'm not qualified to say. I'm just disappointed with the "Windows Only" solution. It's like...yeah, let's all do our little part to help the monopoly become more necessary--even to enjoy D&D's new online tools.

Nevertheless, it's not going to stop me from using the DDI though; it will simply be less convenient. I bought my current Mac knowing that it could run Windows in addition to OS X. Thus, I can have both.

I'm not surprised, just disappointed.

 

[Raevynn]

While it may not solve all of the issues with DDi, HeroForge will be available to satisfy the char gen needs of those with Macs. In fact, it will run on PCs, MACs and Linux. Check out the link in my sig to sign up for the forums and get more information.

Well if that is true.. you just sold a pre-order and I will see you at the booth...

And to be honest.. its not about mac vs PC vs Linux... think of it like this... it should be about platform choice.. that is why things like Adobe Air, Java, Web 2.0 apps exists... I for one use a mac.. I have windows running in VMWare/Parallels for 2 applications.. HeroForge (damn macros) and QuickBooks (mac version sucks)... Will I try out DDi.. sure.. *if* it works in VMWare/Parallels..... if not.. I wont use it...

And the argument of "many companies dont make windows and mac software" is getting old... the logic is flawed... MICROSOFT OFFICE windows and mac, QUICKEN windows and mac... OpenOffice... etc....

Blizzard isnt the only company doing this...


but again... it comes down to choice... hell what about OLPC... would that be nice for developing countries to have access too?

But hey thats my 2cp...

 

[Plane Sailing]

Here is a virtual tabletop program done entirely in Flash. So yes, it's doable, but probably not ideal, despite being multi-platform.

Hmm, I just had a look at it and on Windows it is unusably broken for me

Plus, it isn't anything like the 3D implementation of DDI