Enigmo (iTunes link) $4.99
The ADA-winning game had a price drop from its $9.99 debut, as if you had an excuse good enough not to download it now. Enigmo basically is a port from the amazing Mac physics puzzle game, which may actually play better on the iPhone because of the intuitive touch controls the platform offers. Also available from Pangea are many other fantastic games available at low prices, so check them out.

Texas Hold’em (iTunes link) $4.99
This game is a heavy download at around 129MB, but once you play it you’ll notice why: it has videos of real people as your card-playing opponents. Also, this game features online gameplay, so Apple definitely came up with a great game for the App Store’s launch date.

Trism (iTunes link) $2.99
The developer made a lot of money with this game, and no wonder why: it’s fantastic. While it may be a Bejeweled-esque game, it makes use of the iPhone’s accelerometer for some clever puzzle solving.

Toy Bot Diaries (iTunes link) $3.99
This one is a fun platformer game. Here, you guide the little robot hero through the levels as you move him by tilting the screen, and use his grappling hook by using the touchscreen. If you’re eager to try it out before you buy it, Toy Bot Diaries Free is basically a demo version of the game that anyone can download.

MotionX Poker (iTunes link) $0.99
Perhaps the most addictive game — poker being played with realistic-looking dice that you roll by shaking your iPhone. While the computer may look as if it’s cheating at times as it comes with a fantastic hand at the last minute to beat yours, I cannot stress out how addictive it is. Compulsive gamblers: beware!

Bonus! Five great free iPhone games.
Tap Tap Revenge (iTunes link) – Dance Dance Revolution for your fingers.
Dactyl (iTunes link) – Game where your reflexes will be your best weapon in defusing bombs.
Sudoku Free (iTunes link) – Free Sudoku, need I say more?
Aurora Feint The Beginning (iTunes link) – An artistic puzzle game with RPG-like game elements.
Cube Runner (iTunes link) – Use motion to steer away from the incoming cubes.

Most Macs are not for gaming. Take a close look at the Macs’ specs — good processor, memory… but a not-as-good graphics card is also present. And in the lower-end Mac models, such as the Mac mini and MacBook, they’re not even present — just an integrated graphics chip that steals memory from the RAM. If you want a Mac that’s up to today’s standards and not three-to-four generations ago, you won’t find it. The closest thing to today’s standards are the higher-end MacBook Pro and iMac models, which sport an NVIDIA GeForce 8600 and 8800, respectively. And those two are still from the last generation of graphics cards. The Mac Pro is upgradeable up to an 8800, at the moment — with the possibility of an ATI Radeon HD 3870 later in June. And then again, the only fully-upgradeable Mac is the Mac Pro — a costly choice that officially starts from $2799. So if you’re looking for some Mac gaming, you’ll probably have to stick with older or more casual games — both a blessing and curse the Mac is known for.

Independent developers. Since the Mac is a more casual machine, developers have noticed the trend, and are bringing more casual games to the users. There is a good number of addictive and innovative gaming titles available for the Mac — most of them from independent developers. Some good titles that pop into mind are Enigmo and Frenzic. Then you’ll probably find some joy from the MacGameStore, too.

Large game companies. There are also more games for the Mac appearing from big-name developers at the same time as the PC version launches, or shortly after. A couple of hyped Mac games that are coming within the next year are Blizzard’s (like always) WarCraft expansion and StarCraft II, alongside EA’s Spore. And the list of Mac games from this kind of developers is only expected to rise in the future.

Boot Camp. Now that Windows is being installed far more easily in Macs than in PCs, gamers are also jumping at the opportunity to play the newest and most exciting titles without the need of having to decide sticking with only a Mac or a PC. Since Boot Camp runs Windows at full speed, of course gamers are excited about this new option. Of course, some are discovering that most Macs have hardware that will make the newest titles perform lower than expected.

iPhone. Here’s the big push — the one that even analysts are betting will take some market-share from the Nintendo DS — the iPhone and iPod touch platforms. With the high popularity of both of these devices, not to mention a powerful mobile design, and a big touch screen — it’s no secret that even big game companies are jumping on board to bring some interesting titles. From Sega to EA to Pangea Software — current and future iPhone/iPod touch owners will be pleased with the variety of games that will be available from all kinds of developers with different approaches to gaming. And the future here only seems brighter.

The Mac as a gaming machine still has a lot of growing to do — and it still won’t be easy with all the game journalists claiming that PC gaming will die at the hands of console gaming, eventually. But then take a look at the iPhone and iPod touch — those have already sold millions, and many people are eagerly waiting for the first games to appear. If you are one of them, just beware and try not to drool over your shiny device.

There’s also another curiosity within Second Life — the Pear Store — but you’ll have to check it out by yourself this time to learn more.

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[tags]Apple,Mac,Games,Second Life[/tags]