BTS for Mac.

[dutchking]

Maybe you don't need to wait for the Mac version:

http://blogs.pcworld.com/gameon/archives/004546.html

Gee, thanks, I have a question though (of course). Are they saying that I don't need Windows to run Windows Games on my mac using Parallels? That would be AWESOME
Tunderfall
I searched there and there's another app called "CrossOver" which apparently allows you to run windows apps without needing windows. Anybody heard of this before?

 

[AlanH]

No. They are lying about it being an OS emulator. You have to buy and install Parallels 3 ... which isn't released yet ... then buy and install Windows in it as a virtual machine (VM) ... then see if it will install and run the Windows game of your choice.

That last step will depend on whether the 3D emulation is complete and fast enough. If it isn't up to the requirements of the game then the game will not run at all. If it is not a high enough performance emulation then the game may not run fast enough.

Installing Windows will be the same as ever. You will need to ensure that it's patched to the latest security levels and either isolated from the Internet or suitably protected.

PS. Some rumours are suggesting that Apple may have other options up their sleeve on June 11 at the WWDC, however.

 

[dutchking]

Installing Windows is too complicated, I'd rather just wait for the mac version to come out...if it even does come out in a few months.

 

[AlanH]

I just saw your comment about Crossover. That doesn't require Windows to be installed, as it *does* implement a Windows OS interface. It's a Mac OS implementation of WINE (short for "WINE Is Not an Emulator"). However, like the Parallels and Fusion virtual machine systems, it doesn't provide full 3D graphics support yet.

 

[5150]

None of this will be any comfort for the large numbers of Mac users still running PowerPC systems.

To be fair, expecting most PPC systems to run next year's games is quite the stretch.

Companies like Aspyr are responsible for their own fate. When they crank out poorly done ports, it's not surprising that people look to better alternatives. They have no one but themselves to blame.

 

[5150]

That last step will depend on whether the 3D emulation is complete and fast enough.

It's not emulation.

 

[5150]

Installing Windows is too complicated, I'd rather just wait for the mac version to come out...if it even does come out in a few months.

Have you ever installed Windows? It's not at all complicated.

 

[AlanH]

It's not emulation.

Do tell ......

 

[dutchking]

Have you ever installed Windows? It's not at all complicated.

No, but it is a pain... you have to get the copy... install it... get the microsoft security stuff... get the game... install the game... Play the Game! And just to do all that stuff you have to get bootcamp, parallels, or crossover. It is a pain in my arse and my mind. On top of that it's a lot of money down the tubes... when they release it for Mac... I'd rather just save my money up for something better and wait for it to come out for mac... I'm twelve years old... I don't have a job to earn money or anything. But I'm half Christian/Jewish so I make a lot of dough from the holidays.

 

[Eio]

None of this will be any comfort for the large numbers of Mac users still running PowerPC systems.

I keep holding on... but won't be able to much longer. Especially now with the massive video card update in the new MBPs, I won't be waiting long at all now.

 

[AlanH]

Now that Parallels 3 is out, it's been confirmed that Civ4 for Windows doesn't run with it, which is not really surprising.

By all accounts, Parallels 3 does a pretty good job of passing OpenGL through from Windows to Mac OS X, so OpenGL games are quite likely to run at some level of performance. However, it installs WINE DLLs in Windows to convert DirectX calls to OpenGL, and WINE only supports a limited DirectX 8.1 set of acceleration calls. [I'd call that "emulation", but what do I know ]. So DirectX-based games are less well supported.

Parallels are promising Vista Aero support in a future maintenance release. This presumably means they expect to find a way to support a more complete DirectX 9 or 10 facility set. That should also improve game compatibility if and when it happens.

... and we have to contend with Steve's Reality Distortion Field later today

 

[MacDude]

I can't imagine that Warlords has sold well. Aspryr's putrid quality control has shot themselves in the foot.

sorry, I'm late to the party. Could you kindly point me to the problems with mac warlords/quality control issues? I'd love to get more info. Thanks!

 

[5150]

Read the forum. Play the game.

 

[willpax]

Read the forum. Play the game.

I've had a few random CTDs, usually after playing for a long time and switching in and out of the game (command-H). Otherwise, I haven't had any problems--certainly not to the level of thinking that the whole port is a botch.

I haven't been commenting in these complaint threads because I don't really have many complaints, but I also don't want others to get the impression that everyone is having massive problems here.

2 gHz iMac G5, 1 gig memory, running 10.4.9.

 

[dojoboy]

I've had a few random CTDs, usually after playing for a long time and switching in and out of the game (command-H). Otherwise, I haven't had any problems--certainly not to the level of thinking that the whole port is a botch.

I haven't been commenting in these complaint threads because I don't really have many complaints, but I also don't want others to get the impression that everyone is having massive problems here.

2 gHz iMac G5, 1 gig memory, running 10.4.9.

Same here. My [infrequent] CTDs occur when I'm running the HoF mod (latest version), including slow downs in the late game. Plying on a C2D iMac, w/ a 128Mb VRAM card.

 

[dutchking]

I've got a Macbook 2GHz dual intel GMA950 graphics 1 gig RAM etc. and an iMac G5 2GHz dual intel ATI Radeon ~~~(cant remember) 1 gig RAM. I dunno if I want to get Windows on my macbook, the other one is the family comp. Any tips? Or warnings about Windows? I was thinking about getting XP cause Vista sucks so far...(not much is compatible with it yet)

 

[dutchking]

I asked the guys in the chat about BtS when it'll come out for mac, they said "soon" after the release of pc! I dont know what that means...But its sounds good...

 

[promethean_beta]

I asked the guys in the chat about BtS when it'll come out for mac, they said "soon" after the release of pc! I dont know what that means...But its sounds good...

From the Pre Release chat with Firaxis:

<Gogf> Okay, dutchking wants to know about the future of Civ4 on Macs

<FXS_jsmith> there will eventually be a mac version of BTS

<FXS_jsmith> its not contracted yet, but it usually follows pretty close to the release

 

[dutchking]

From the Pre Release chat with Firaxis:

<Gogf> Okay, dutchking wants to know about the future of Civ4 on Macs

<FXS_jsmith> there will eventually be a mac version of BTS

<FXS_jsmith> its not contracted yet, but it usually follows pretty close to the release

Yepp, there it is...I kinda wanted more but I'm content with that, atleast we know there will be a mac version of BtS.

 

[gallego]

Just found this thread in a search. It's October already....no news?


And also, I was wondering if a correctly ported BTS will retroactively fix the problems with the other mac ports? Is it possible to do so or will the game still be unstable no matter how good a job they do with BTS?