You’ve been asking what MacBU’s plans are for Apple’s hottest new device, well… Hot on the heels of their successful integration of the Apple Remote with PowerPoint 2008 for Mac, Microsoft’s Macintosh Business Unit today announced a new product line of Mac-based Microsoft games using the Apple Remote as a game controller.
“If you thought driving PowerPoint with your Apple Remote was cool, just wait until you use it to play pool or chess!” says Sheridan Jones, Director of Product Marketing for MacBU. “We envision a whole line of Microsoft Games for the Apple Remote: Everything from sports to strategy!”
Said Craig Eisler, General Manager of the MacBU and co-inventor of DirectX gaming technology, “We’ve embraced the Apple Remote as a platform and extended it to a new category.” Eisler explained the vision of using the Apple Remote’s built-in accelerometers for gaming: “Picture swinging the Apple Remote in your hand like a tennis racket or golf club, then imagine that controlling an actual tennis or golf game on your Mac. Microsoft Games for Apple Remote is a big break-though for the industry. It’s going to be the best gaming device in the world!”
According to the company, productivity and playtime were meant to co-exist. To help promote Microsoft Games for Apple Remote, Microsoft included a preview game called “Prance Prance Devolution” within the productivity application PowerPoint 2008 for Mac in their recent 08.04.01 update. Inspired by MacBU’s great admiration for the legendary musicologists DEVO, the game is unlocked by pairing your Apple Remote to your Macintosh, then starting slide show in PowerPoint 2008 with any presentation containing five or more slides, advancing to slide 2, and pressing the following button combination on your Apple Remote: up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, play, pause.
Additional Microsoft Games for Apple Remote will be available starting April 1, 2008 from an online marketplace appropriately called Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit Online Marketplace 2008 Special Microsoft Games for Apple Remote Edition (MMBUOM2008SMG4ARE). Pricing for Microsoft Games for Apple Remote will start at $1 per day with a minimum two-year contract. Microsoft Games for Apple Remote are side loaded directly to the Apple Remote.
At least you didn't Rick Roll like everyone else. Getting really sick of that.
So, when can we expect a new Messenger for Mac? Will it actually have more feature parity with the Windows version? I mean, seriously, I know you guys love the Mac, and it really sucks to tell friends, "Oh, well, no, I can't receive a nudge or do anything you can do except text chat because I'm on a Mac." To which they reply, "See, Macs suck."
So, don't let your software make my Mac "suck", okay? That'd be great. Seriously, you do some nice work, but Messenger is not one of your shining stars.
kencohen
Apr 03, 2008
11:48am
Name issue
Sorry to tell you this, but the name "Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit Online Marketplace 2008 Special Microsoft Games for Apple Remote Edition" has previously been copyrighted and patented up here in Canada, so you'll have to think of something else.
machead
Apr 01, 2008
10:16am
Yeah Right!!
yeah right, and pigs will fly:-)
eisnerguy1
Apr 01, 2008
10:16am
Good priorities MacBU.......
How about stop wasting time with an April Fools joke & re-release RDC Beta 2 WITHOUT the TimeBomb?
MacBookOne
Apr 01, 2008
10:16am
Nice! But...
... wouldn't MSN Messenger for Mac be a bit more useful than gadget apps such as these?
Barry Wainwright [MVP]
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
So Cool!
Oh my word, this is so cool!
I had a little trouble getting the rmeote recognised first time round, then I realised that the remote needs to be paired to the individual mac - the default config allows any remote to be used with any mac. See the Apple help for details on how to uniquely pair a remote with your mac.
Then, the sequence to trigger the game needs to be got just right - too fast and it doesn't work, press the keys at just the right pace, with a nice even timag and the game pops up! Brilliant!
It's just so cool that you released this today of all days
--
BarryW [MVP]
Adam S
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Not half bad.
It's clearly an April Fool's joke, but it actually seems like a neat idea.
Adrian K. Schultz
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Happy April Fools :)
Good one, heh.
luckylindy
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
$1 a day reasonable--sign me up!
Nice one, gang. And a happy AF day to you, too.
iogamodus
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Very Funny
I almost belived you,and then i looked date...
Per Kreipke
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Perfect!
Thanks so much! This will be the ideal complement to my 'The Clapper' sound activated interface for controlling your Mac. The GRANNY SDK is now available for download and gives every Mac owner the ability to map a single UI action for every involuntary reaction.
Together with your wonderful work, I can imagine every knee slapping, high kicking moment in Prance, Prance... becoming high art.
Optional disco ball interface also available for just $10.99 from saturdaynightfever.com.
Britain W.
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
The Konami code!
Does this mean Solid Snake is unlocked when I beat PowerPoint on hard?
That Microsoft is keeping up on those easy, roll-off-the tongue naming conventions Nice one guys!
Oliver
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
I do not really understand ...
Dear Mac BU,
please think about making Office 2008 more stable and faster instead of devolping such useless things.
Thank you very much!
Oliver
Mark
Apr 01, 2008
3:03pm
Ha
Wow, the humor at the MacBU is horrible.
Stan
Apr 01, 2008
3:03pm
Love it!
Thanks for the humor guys- always a joy.
Jimmy
Apr 01, 2008
3:07pm
Re: Announcing Microsoft Games for Apple Remote
april fools?!
Lucas Wagner
Apr 01, 2008
3:07pm
As if...
Not like Microsoft would ever port DirectX to any Apple platform.
Matteo
Apr 01, 2008
8:34pm
Well, fist fish ;)
So, it can be instresting, but let me wait until tomorrow...
peter
Apr 01, 2008
8:34pm
cool
think i hear the laughter of the xbox team down the hall
Andy K
Apr 02, 2008
12:03pm
I may sound like a killjoy, but...
I loathe April Fools Day. The internet is my primary source of news and information. And AFD means that I lose an entire day's worth of reliable info, as I have to wait until the next day to find ouyt what's genuine and what's BS.
And then you take a site like MacMojo. Where a lot of us (or at least the more vocal of us) are constantly complaining about a lack of information. Either on future products, issues with current ones, or knowing if anyone has actually taken notice of the negative opinions about the website. (The redesign really doesn't work. BBC News just redesigned theirs, too. And despite having many flaws, it still walks all over this site...)
Yet time was taken out for what's either a blatant AFD joke, or something totally frivolous.
But as a total hater of April Fools Day, I really hope that this wasn't this week's only posting.
AJ
Apr 02, 2008
5:15pm
Re: Announcing Microsoft Games for Apple Remote
honestly, don't you think you people should be updating microsoft messenger:mac, considering version 6 was outdated even when it was first released...
Anthony
Apr 02, 2008
10:22pm
Re: Announcing Microsoft Games for Apple Remote
"up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right..."
Yeah Konami Code! 30 lives forever!
(Nobody picked up on that?)
Josh
Apr 02, 2008
10:22pm
That'd be two breakthroughs in one.
First, you'd make a non-Office product for Mac (when will Messenger have webcam? Or voIP?), and second, you might be inspired to port the DirectX platform. GASP!
Alex
Apr 04, 2008
1:53pm
Is it a joke?
Kind of April Fools joke??
drey2008
Apr 07, 2008
8:48pm
PC emulator for Mac
Hi All,
I work for a telecommunication company in Jamaica W.I. and there network is PC envionment, i'm the only Apple Mac user, my job is Graphic Designer, their It department don't know to hook me up to their ndrive etc. What do I do?
Audrey
john
Apr 07, 2008
8:48pm
Re: Announcing Microsoft Games for Apple Remote
why dont you spend your time doing something worthwhile... like putting all the features you stripped from excel 2004 back into excel 2008.
this is absolutely ridiculous
That Guy
Apr 09, 2008
3:06pm
MAKE OFFICE BETTER!! AHHHHHHRRGGHH
Please, make Office 2008 more stable. The rest of the world uses Office, and Mac users are shafted. This POS won't stay open for an hour without crashing making the most basic graphs and tables. Copy-Paste between Excel and Word? Hell NO! Spaces? SPACE 1 IS GOOD ENOUGH!
Happy belated April Fools. Now get back to work.
Andrew
Apr 29, 2008
2:17pm
haha!
I totally believed this whole thing until the "appropriately named online marketplace". Lol! Microsoft has some long names but i knew that was too long for even Microsoft!
Alynight
May 30, 2008
12:47pm
games
When are you guys going to have good rpg games for macs like Fury ....
Comments | Who's Blogging This
schalliol
Apr 01, 2008
10:16am
Where's the order page?
MacGeek Pro
Apr 01, 2008
3:03pm
Well...
So, when can we expect a new Messenger for Mac? Will it actually have more feature parity with the Windows version? I mean, seriously, I know you guys love the Mac, and it really sucks to tell friends, "Oh, well, no, I can't receive a nudge or do anything you can do except text chat because I'm on a Mac." To which they reply, "See, Macs suck."
So, don't let your software make my Mac "suck", okay? That'd be great. Seriously, you do some nice work, but Messenger is not one of your shining stars.
kencohen
Apr 03, 2008
11:48am
Name issue
machead
Apr 01, 2008
10:16am
Yeah Right!!
eisnerguy1
Apr 01, 2008
10:16am
Good priorities MacBU.......
MacBookOne
Apr 01, 2008
10:16am
Nice! But...
Barry Wainwright [MVP]
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
So Cool!
I had a little trouble getting the rmeote recognised first time round, then I realised that the remote needs to be paired to the individual mac - the default config allows any remote to be used with any mac. See the Apple help for details on how to uniquely pair a remote with your mac.
Then, the sequence to trigger the game needs to be got just right - too fast and it doesn't work, press the keys at just the right pace, with a nice even timag and the game pops up! Brilliant!
It's just so cool that you released this today of all days
--
BarryW [MVP]
Adam S
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Not half bad.
Adrian K. Schultz
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Happy April Fools :)
luckylindy
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
$1 a day reasonable--sign me up!
iogamodus
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Very Funny
Per Kreipke
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Perfect!
Together with your wonderful work, I can imagine every knee slapping, high kicking moment in Prance, Prance... becoming high art.
Optional disco ball interface also available for just $10.99 from saturdaynightfever.com.
Britain W.
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
The Konami code!
Joel Esler
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Good one
Joel Esler
http://www.joelesler.net
John
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Funny
Andy
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
Nice to see
Oliver
Apr 01, 2008
3:00pm
I do not really understand ...
please think about making Office 2008 more stable and faster instead of devolping such useless things.
Thank you very much!
Oliver
Mark
Apr 01, 2008
3:03pm
Ha
Stan
Apr 01, 2008
3:03pm
Love it!
Jimmy
Apr 01, 2008
3:07pm
Re: Announcing Microsoft Games for Apple Remote
Lucas Wagner
Apr 01, 2008
3:07pm
As if...
Matteo
Apr 01, 2008
8:34pm
Well, fist fish ;)
peter
Apr 01, 2008
8:34pm
cool
Andy K
Apr 02, 2008
12:03pm
I may sound like a killjoy, but...
And then you take a site like MacMojo. Where a lot of us (or at least the more vocal of us) are constantly complaining about a lack of information. Either on future products, issues with current ones, or knowing if anyone has actually taken notice of the negative opinions about the website. (The redesign really doesn't work. BBC News just redesigned theirs, too. And despite having many flaws, it still walks all over this site...)
Yet time was taken out for what's either a blatant AFD joke, or something totally frivolous.
But as a total hater of April Fools Day, I really hope that this wasn't this week's only posting.
AJ
Apr 02, 2008
5:15pm
Re: Announcing Microsoft Games for Apple Remote
Anthony
Apr 02, 2008
10:22pm
Re: Announcing Microsoft Games for Apple Remote
Yeah Konami Code! 30 lives forever!
(Nobody picked up on that?)
Josh
Apr 02, 2008
10:22pm
That'd be two breakthroughs in one.
Alex
Apr 04, 2008
1:53pm
Is it a joke?
drey2008
Apr 07, 2008
8:48pm
PC emulator for Mac
I work for a telecommunication company in Jamaica W.I. and there network is PC envionment, i'm the only Apple Mac user, my job is Graphic Designer, their It department don't know to hook me up to their ndrive etc. What do I do?
Audrey
john
Apr 07, 2008
8:48pm
Re: Announcing Microsoft Games for Apple Remote
this is absolutely ridiculous
That Guy
Apr 09, 2008
3:06pm
MAKE OFFICE BETTER!! AHHHHHHRRGGHH
Happy belated April Fools. Now get back to work.
Andrew
Apr 29, 2008
2:17pm
haha!
Alynight
May 30, 2008
12:47pm
games
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