With a little work you can turn your Mac mini into a powerful Windows gaming system. So why not?

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I just heard something: A tectonic eruption of eye-rolling from PC gamers. Look, if you've got a custom rig with Nvidia Titan hardware and 4K displays to run Crysis 3 in ridiculous mode, move along. There's nothing for you here. If, on the other hand, you already have a Mac mini, or if you've been thinking about getting one but think it's underpowered for gaming, what I have to say may surprise you.

One of my kids wanted to play Windows games that weren't available on the Mac. He can certainly play plenty of games that are out for the Mac, but most stuff still isn't out for the Mac. That's not going to change. Apple accepts that, otherwise they wouldn't provide you with the Boot Camp Assistant utility to begin with.

Dec 20, 2012 Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Mac and iOS Telltale’s The Walking Dead is one of the best licensed games of all time because of the way it re-creates the pacing and feel of the comic.

Our victim is a 2010-era Mac mini. That's the last Mac mini model to sport a built-in SuperDrive. It has Nvidia GeForce 320M integrated graphics. Not as fast as the average gamer GPU card in a custom-built PC, granted. But enough to run a lot of games at acceptable frame rates.

It may surprise you, but the Mac mini is an adept little Windows gaming system. Its graphics speed can't compare to a dedicated gaming rig, but it doesn't have to. Because while it spends some of its time running Windows, it's also a great general purpose Mac running the latest version of Mavericks.

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• We round up the 125 best Mac games available in March 2020, from real-time strategy and RPGs to racing, shooting games and puzzles, together with links to buy at the best price.

Better at Windows games than Mac games

Whatever Mac mini you use will probably run Windows games faster than it is does Mac games. Windows graphics tend to run faster than OS X graphics do on the same hardware, thanks to more extensive Windows driver optimization and underlying differences in the way the OSes are structured.

It took a few afternoons to get everything squared away. This Mac's been well used since it was new, and its drive partition didn't pass muster with Boot Camp Assistant. Once Drive Utility patched things up I was able to get started.

I used Windows 7, which has broad game support and is available in Home Premium trim for $99 or less from online retailers.

The alternatives

Running Mac games natively and exclusively is always an option. There are a lot of good games on the Mac, games that will run well or decently on the Mac mini. They're available from the Mac App Store, Steam, MacGameStore.com and elsewhere.

If you're looking for a Windows game experience but are reluctant to have to reboot your Mac each time to do it, you can install software that bridges the Windows gap.

VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop get the lion's share of attention, partly because they broad appeal for Mac users who also want to run business software and specialty apps that won't run on OS X natively. Both continue to optimize their releases for the broadest and fastest driver support they can.

CodeWeavers' CrossOver is worth a special look from gamers. It's optimized for games, and unlike the other two or Boot Camp, doesn't require you to have a Windows license.

Putting the pedal to the medal

How well does it actually run, you ask?

A lot of it depends on the individual performance requirements of the game. Obviously some games employ enormously sophisticated 3D engines that want more horsepower than the Mac mini can muster. Many don't, and the relatively modest integrated graphics in the mini are perfectly sufficient to play them.

If you keep your expectations realistic, you can usually tweak settings and resolutions enough to get a really playable experience. For many games, that's frame rates of 20 to 30 frames per second; for others, it's even higher, with higher levels of detail possible.

I've played a combination of FPS, strategy and RPG games on our little Mac mini, and it's held up well. My 14 year old has been pretty happy; he's been dividing his time between various Steam games he couldn't play on the Mac and other fare; a particular favorite is Smite, a multiplayer online battle arena strategy game from Hi-Rez Studios. He also says that old favorites he could play on the Mac, like Valve's own Team Fortress 2, subjectively run better on Windows than on OS X.

The bottom line

I'm never going to ditch my Mac in favor of a Windows PC — I prefer the Mac user experience to the Windows user experience, that's all there is to it. But I can't dispute that there are a lot of fun Windows games to be played, and I'm grateful that Apple's made it easy to equip my Mac as a Windows PC.

As much as I love Sony and Microsoft's game consoles, they're just that — game consoles. The greatest thing about using a Mac for Windows gaming is that you're still using a Mac at the end of the day.

Tune back in tomorrow as I walk you through installing Boot Camp yourself. In the interim, I'm curious to see what you think: Have you set up Windows using Boot Camp Assistant? Are you tempted to?

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Best Mac Games For Free

Whether you've just unwrapped a new smartphone or tablet or are simply looking for something new to play around with over the holiday break, hundreds of stellar apps made their debut in 2012.

IPhone, iPad and Android owners, in particular, can benefit from inexpensive (or free) downloads ranging from music discovery and photo sharing to digital magazines and smart productivity tools.

For a small sampling of what 2012 had to offer, consider the following a few of our favorites — not listed in any particular order — as well as a few updated apps and some 'must own' oldies but goodies.

Note: This roundup doesn't profile any mobile games, so be sure to visit games.usatoday.com for reviews of the year's finest.

Action Movie FX

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Bad Robot Interactive's free app for Apple devices lets anyone add Hollywood-like special effects to their real surroundings. First, use your device's camera to record something around you — perhaps a co-worker smiling in the office — then initiate a virtual missile strike, which rains down on their desk. There are dozens of effects, some of which require an in-app purchase for 99 cents apiece. When you like what you've captured, share the humorous video clip with the world — right from your device. Video gamers might also like the explosive Call Of Duty: Black Ops II-themed options found inside this fun app.

Songza

Available on Apple iOS, Android and Kindle Fire, the free Songza is an excellent music streaming service with custom playlists created by music experts. These collections of songs are meant to 'play you the right music at the right time.' You can tap to select a playlist based on your mood or location, as well as by genre and decade. Examples include 'Music While Working' (with or without lyrics), 'Music for a Weekday Dance Party,' 'The Holidays' or even ones like 'Songs in Apple Commercials.' You'll see album artwork and information per track; save all your favorite playlists and share them with friends; or skip forward between tracks (with some limitations on how often you can do it). Did we mention it's completely free?

Google Maps

As the old saying goes, 'You don't know what you've got until it's gone.' Apple replaced Google Maps — the awesome navigation app for mobile devices — with its own Maps app this past fall. But after numerous complaints about its inaccuracies and a lack of features (such as no public transit info), not only did Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly apologize for the kerfuffle, but a new-and-improved Google Maps app was allowed back in the App Store in mid-December. Along with getting accurate turn-by-turn directions to a destination, the new Google Maps — also on Google's Android devices (of course), and BlackBerry — also offers smart local searches (with reviews and ratings), a 360-degree Street View and the option to sync your searches and directions between your computer and your phone.

Snapguide

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While the YouTube app still rocks for its sheer quantity of videos, those looking for user-created 'how-to' guides need look no further than the free Snapguide app for iOS. Learn to make beef jerky at home, how to open a beer bottle without an opener to perform a magic trick. A number of holiday-themed Snapguides are also available, such as 'How to Make a Wine Cork Wreath' and 'How to Make Spiced Chocolate Cupcakes With Eggnog Icing' (yum). Each guide offers a step-by-step lesson with photos or videos, along with written descriptions at the bottom of the screen. Simply swipe to the left to turn to the next page or swipe up for a list of what you need to perform the task. If you sign up for a free account, you can also leave comments, privately message other users, 'follow them' to be alerted when there's a new lesson or start your very own Snapguide.

Pocket

Quite simply, Pocket lets you easily save content you like — such as an article at usatoday.com — so you can read it later. It's not bookmarking: You don't need an Internet connection to access the content at a later time. Pocket works inside many hundreds of apps, and you can access your saved content on multiple devices by signing into your free account. Consider it a DVR for any online content you want to check out when you have the time. Formerly Read It Later, Pocket also includes a simplified user interface with fewer toolbars; new filters that let you switch between videos, images and text; and easier-to-organize content, including adding favorites, bulk editing and tagging options for simpler searches.

SwiftKey 3

Typing on a smartphone or touchscreen tablet is a challenge for many, but apps like Swype make the task faster and more accurate while e-mailing, texting, note-taking or posting to social-media sites. And now there's something even better: SwiftKey 3 ($1.99). Arguably the best Android keyboard to date, SwiftKey 3 cleverly makes real-time corrections and predictions as you type. Mac bowl games 2020. Even if you're sloppy and miss some spaces between words, this app can help. SwiftKey 3 also learns the words and phrases you use often, making it more accurate the more you use it. There are more than 50 supported languages, and the app supports various 'skins' to change up the look of the keyboard. IPhone users might consider Path Input Pro ($3.99) or Swype as alternative keyboards to Apple's default one.

Older, but 'must-have' apps

While these apps didn't make their debut over the past year, consider them essentials for your smartphone or tablet:

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• Skype (iOS, Android and Windows Phone) and FaceTime (iOS) let you video chat for free with friends and family, anywhere in the world, by using your device's front- or rear-facing camera. Both apps work over Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity.

• Flipboard is like your own personalized magazine. Select topics that matter to you and then flip through various articles and media. You can post your favorite pieces to social media. Created for iOS (especially iPad) and Android.

• A 'cloud' storage app is a must, so you can access files stored securely elsewhere. After all, your smartphone or tablet is limited in the amount of files it can house internally. Recommended free apps include SkyDrive, SugarSync, Box, Dropbox and Google Drive.

• Watch thousands of streaming movies and TV shows on your smartphone or tablet with Netflix (free, but service costs $8/month). Especially ideal for larger screens, the app works on iOS, Android and Windows-based smartphones and tablets.

• Got a million-dollar idea while on the go? Write, type or speak it inside of Evernote (free), a powerful tool for all major mobile platforms. Not only does Evernote help you flesh out your ideas and stay organized, but the app is cloud-enabled, therefore everything is immediately synchronized with many other Evernote-supported platforms, such as your PC or Mac.

• Those who want news, views and reviews while on the go should snag the recently-updated USA TODAY app (free), designed for iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and Windows Phone. Along with its articles and photos, there are digital diversions on the iPad like the daily crossword puzzle.

• Now that the company has addressed issues over photo rights, the free Instagram app (iOS; Android) is an excellent tool for adding fun filters to your smartphone or tablet pictures, sharing them with the Instagram community and following others you admire.

• Facebook and Twitter have both updated app offerings in 2012, and are key ones to download and use if you're a fan of these social networks — opposed to logging into these services via the mobile Web browser. Smartphones and tablets also offer integrated support for these major players, therefore you upload text and media to your circle of friends while in other apps.

• Not only does TuneIn Radio Pro (99 cents; for all major platforms) give you more than 50,000 radio stations from around the world — from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe — but most versions of the app also let you record songs you like to listen to at a later time, and also play, pause and skip around programming like a DVR.

• One of the best apps for kids is the free Toontastic (iPad), which lets you create and narrate your own animated cartoon. Choose the backdrop and characters — or create your own — and animate the story in real time. When the work is completed, parents can allow the video to be shared on the kid-friendly ToonTube.