By Ron McElfresh
By Ron McElfresh
My Mac has a few games. My iPhone has more. Many more. Why? Price and game time.
The games on my Mac can be numbered using the fingers on my hand. And I don’t use all my fingers to complete the count.
My favorite Mac game of the year is Plants vs. Zombies. Anything with zombies is a fun play, and Plants vs. Zombies is no exception. $20 gets a full screen of fun-locing zombies ready to invade your home. How will you defend you and your family and your possessions?
The only way possible is with a few dozen zombie-zapping plants and a crazy mixture of zombie-killing weapons. Walnuts. Cherry bombs. Peashooters. It’s not much against a hoard of 26 different zombie types, but with some skill, a little luck, and a beer or two you’ve got a chance.
Obstacles abound. The sun. The fog. A swimming pool. 50 levels and five game modes make it a challenge for old timers, fun for old timers, and won’t break the bank.
The same game is available on my iPhone and it works nearly the same way, though the on-screen controls are different.
Other aspects of iPhone and iPod touch games are different, too. More focus is required because the action seems to move quicker on the smaller screen. The fun is still there. Anything, Mac or iPhone, that gives you a chance to zap zombies can’t be all bad.
Besides the screen and controls, what is the major difference between a good Mac game and a comparable iPhone game? Both are fun. Both require time to master.
The first difference is price. The Mac version is $20. The iPhone version is $3. That explains why I have four dozen iPhone games vs. the less-than-a-dozen Mac games.
The second difference is location. Sure, I can fire up my MacBook and take Zombies vs. Plants anywhere, but with my iPhone I can take the game, and many others, anywhere—at lower cost.
Why buy a game for your Mac when similar games, with similar fun factors, cost substantially less for the iPhone and iPod touch?