Aspiring screenwriters and playwrights can now use the Mac App Store for procuring their favorite tool, as the number one selling scriptwriting software in the world is finally available in Apple’s storefront -- and Final Draft 8 arrives at a 20 percent discount until October 31.
Final Draft Inc. has released Final Draft 8 to the Mac App Store, another coup for Apple’s virtual storefront. The software is a staple for writing movie and television scripts, stage plays and even new media, combining powerful word processing with professional script formatting to become the entertainment industry’s leading application for such work.
What makes Final Draft 8 so great? First and foremost, it’s 100 percent cross-platform, meaning scripts written on Windows can be shared with Mac users without problems. A Format Assistant feature makes sure that your completed first draft is laid out exactly the way it should be, and Scene View allows writers to outline their script and even rearrange scenes using a simple drag-and-drop interface.
First-time screenwriter? Don’t worry, Final Draft 8 makes it easy to get started with built-in story templates so you’ll always have the correct formatting, regardless of what media you’re writing for. Once your masterpiece is complete, you’ll have access to extensive printing features, including saving as a PDF file -- and thanks to the included Final Draft Courier font, your script will always look sharp and clean no matter what.
Final Draft 8’s arrival in the Mac App Store ends the tyranny of the software’s stringent copy protection, perhaps the only blemish in an otherwise excellent product. Standalone versions require internet or telephone activation in order to fully utilize the software, a barrier that limits installations. Mac App Store apps are installable on any Mac you own which is tied to your Apple ID, which also helps publishers like Final Draft deter piracy.
Of course, all of these great features don’t come cheap -- a standalone version of Final Draft 8 retails for $249, but until October 31, 2011 you can buy it in the Mac App Store for only $199.99. But that’s a small price to pay for folks ready to take on Hollywood or Broadway, don’t you think?
Final Draft 8 is available on the Mac App Store; the 17.3MB download requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later and is compatible with OS X Lion.
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