Mac Appstore vs. Steam Version

[Methos]

For those of you with both the Steam and Mac Appstore version, or have seen, or have knowledge of them both, can you say whether either version appears to be better then the other?

Basically, I am currently playing Civ V using Steam on a 2009 MBP 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 4 GB of Ram with the 9400 Nvidia. The problem is even in the ancient age with only a few cities the screen is very choppy. I'm just starting to mess with the video options to see what works, but I was curious about whether the Mac Appstore worked any better.

The price has dropped on the Appstore, so I'm tempted to buy it from there.

 

[AlanH]

I have both, as I wanted to be able to advise people on how to use either version.

I really don't think there's any significant performance difference once they are running. It's the exact same software under the hood. So if it's choppy at the moment, spending a few bucks on the other one will not make your life any different.

I seldom play either of them, but when I do need to launch one, the App Store is my preferred one. I guess it's mainly a knee-jerk reaction to my general dislike of Steam. The Steam system just hates me sometimes. It either won't let me log in, or it says I'm already logged in somewhere else, or it insists on pushing ads at me, or it wants me to upgrade something before I can get on with my life (a bit like Firefox!).

One plus point for Steam: My main Mac is still on Snow Leopard. The App Store version of Civ5 says I need Lion in order to buy DLC - but I'm still not sure I would be able to get any even if I did. But buying DLC is relatively straightforward in Steam.

 

[jmelnick]

Appstore Civ5 also does not have the SDK modding tools or any other softwares like World Builder and Modbuddy.

 

[AlanH]

Neither does the Steam Mac version.

However, the Steam version does give you a free option to download and run the Windows version if you have Bootcamp or another Windows capability.

 

[Methos]

Just to be clear, my question isn't about which is better, but whether the Appstore version has better stability then Steam. If so, then I would have bought the Appstore version too. My intent was not to start a war between the two versions.

 

[AlanH]

Hence the main point I made in my reply. Perhaps I should have quit after my second para.

 

[Frederico]

Steam consumes about 16% CPU power on my 3.2. GHz dual-core i3 iMac when the Steam window is both closed and no game is running. I've also been unable to launch the game due to error with Steam. I would go for the App Store version.

 

[Redgoast]

It runs choppy in osx regardless. Nvidia drivers are.crap in osx... bootcamp run steam version in.windows gives.much better.performance. no choppyness or lag... heavy heat wise and Cpu intensive though.

 

[Lachlan]

the fact that you can choosing between steam and appstore versions, but instead to have the possibility to play online or not...

If you have steam, you must have to relogging all the time you play Civ 5 even offline...

In Appstore version no need to relogging because the appstore version have a file well hidden which teach what is the owner...
Appstore need only to log once, after you play without logging...

Steam = multiplayer online Civ 5 and others modes of multiplaying...
Appstore = Lan only multiplayer and 2 players hot seat...

 

[AlanH]

If you have steam, you must have to relogging all the time you play Civ 5 even offline...

This may be a language issue. You should be able to run Civ5 Steam version offline. Once you have logged into Steam on line, go to the Account menu and select Go Offline. The Steam system "checks out" your account to that computer for as long as you want, and you can then play non-networked Civ5 games with no Internet connection.

You'll have to get back on line if you subsequently want to transfer your account login to another computer.