Pangea Software is the well-known Mac-only developer of games like Nanosaur, Bugdom, Cro-Mag Rally and most recently, Otto Matic. Recently the developer/publisher posted a plea to its Web site to encourage Mac gamers to help get involved in improving the company’s retail distribution.
“We need your help to stay in business,” said a message posted to the company’s Web site. “Over the years the cost of producing games for the Macintosh has skyrocketed, and as a result we have become more and more dependent on getting our games into the large retail stores to make a profit.”
If you’ve ever gone shopping for Mac games in retail stores, you might be able to identify with this next comment.
“Unfortunately, Apple’s only major retail partner is CompUSA, and for quite some time now CompUSA has refused to carry any of our games despite the fact that any time you walk into a CompUSA they will be demoing Bugdom, Cro-Mag Rally or Otto Matic on their iMacs. It seems unfathomable to us that they wouldn’t carry a game that they demo all day long, but that’s how it is,” said the company.
“Unfortunately, without CompUSA’s shelf space it will be difficult for us to stay in business through 2003. For the last 10 years we have dedicated ourselves to producing relatively non-violent, family-friendly games for the Macintosh and we hope to continue doing this for another 10 years with your assistance,” said Pangea.
Pangea sought to improve retail distribution for its newest game, Otto Matic, by striking a distribution deal with popular Mac game publisher Aspyr Media, but apparently CompUSA has proven to be a tough nut to crack. What can you do to help? It’s fairly simple, according to the Mac game maker.
“So, we want to start a letter writing campaign to CompUSA to try and urge them to carry our games (most importantly, our new game Otto Matic) in their stores, so we humbly request that you send CompUSA your thoughts on this matter by filling out the Sales Support feedback form on their web site at www.compusa.com/contact.
Addendum: Late today MacCentral spoke with CompUSA’s buyer of entertainment software. The buyer said that he was unaware of the game before today, and indicated that the game had not been presented to him.
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