[msykes]

Just a heads up to any NWN2 players who pop in here (I know there are a few), there is finally a Mac-specific forum over at the official NWN2 forums site.

http://nwn2forums.bi....html?forum=139

So far there are only a couple of posts (literally), but over time this should be a good resource for Mac-specific NWN2 information. Just a heads up to check it out sometime,

msykes

[Bernie]

Since getting my new Mac, I've been considering getting NWN2. It is good to know that this resource is there.

[devSin]

Since you have a new Mac, you probably want to look at the PC version and a copy of Windows XP instead (it will run just as badly, but at least it'll get some support as far as multiplayer and expansions and official downloadable content).

[Bernie]

It is not the first time I've considered running XP just to play a few games; but, I seriously don't want to let Windows anywhere near my computer.

[msykes]

It's unfortunate that the NWN2 experience on the Mac doesn't live up to the NWN1 experience where at least the patches followed the PC versions quite quickly. Right now, performance of the Mac version is worse (as tested by people running on the same machine dual-booting), we don't have access to the latest patches, and only the first expansion works (albeit not officially).

That said, if you don't already own Windows it's not cheap, and if you aren't interested in online gaming, picking up NWN2 for the Mac is probably worth it. You can pick up the PC version of Mask of the Betrayer and play through that as well. Hopefully when a new patch for Mac NWN2 is released, we'll be able to play Storm of Zehir natively too.

If you are interested in Persistent Worlds, then running under Boot Camp is the only viable option.

msykes

[Bernie]

Thank for the tips.

[Sargiel]

Well a new patch has been released for PC (1.22) - hopefully we'll hear some word from Aspyr soon. I was looking into the timelines of release for the original NWN and we're at about the same juncture that MacSoft announced the expansions (just over 1 year since the release of the core game). Here's hoping !

[Rubel]

While Aspyr seems to be making some hard choices about committing the resources to expansions, they do have a good track record for long-term patch support. Just this past weekend, I played some Civ4: Warlords multiplayer with a Windows-using friend. While I still grumble about missing Civ4: Beyond the Sword, I say good for Aspyr that I had the latest Warlords patch and that it worked great online crossplatform.

So I bet we'll get a new NWN2 patch someday.

[doh123]

a new NWN2 patch wont help much when there's all the expansions that never get ported...

its a bit of a pain, but you can get the Windows version and expansions running with Wine on OSX.. so no need for the Mac version or Windows... the toolkit doesn't seem to run right, but theres no Mac version of that anyways.... so many uses of Wine and Cider now.. they almost run better than a "real port" that is done so bad it just sucks. I have the Mac version of NWN too, and its sad that I can make the Windows version in Wine actually run smoother than the Mac version...

[CrescentMoon]

Bioware isn't going to help Mac users with tech support, so I while I think it's great they have a section for us, what we need is a discussion board on Aspyr.

I've been using Macs for a more than decade now. I remember when this site was brand new. I remember the enthusiasm I had in Mac gaming. I remember Marathon, Myth, Wolfenstein, Duke Nukem, Sim City, Pathways into Darkness.

I bought NWN 2, and I neglected to see the deliberately fine print of not supporting my video card. I blew 50 bucks and was hopeful that maybe someday a patch will be available. That was in September 2008. KOTOR doesn't work. Diablo 2 works if I use a hacked older version of the video driver (that will screw up other apps). I have to google for hours just to find the right answers to problems relating specifically my laptop model (Penryn). It seems like there are about 50 of us Penryn users on the planet that plays games, and less than half of them know the problems.

I feel pretty cheated out of my money when Aspyr and other companies deliberately utilize the most legally minimal effort of informing its customers what is not supported. The package design, their website, their support networks are a smokescreen and we all know it, but because we are Mac gamers we are hush about it as well, hoping that on the surface, this market is happy, neat and tidy and the less informed public should know less the better. This is the same mentality that brought down the overall economy in the first place. It's a short-term solution that has outlived its usefulness. So if you companies want to survive, or perhaps do better, I suggest you be accountable the responsibilities that are given to you. If you can't convert for a video card, just say so clearly so the public won't buy the product that will useless for them. If you can't do a patch because you don't have time or money, just say so and move on. Stop beating around the bush just say what you can or cannot do instead of spin your way out of it for a few months to buy you that extra earning quarter.

You guys know that there are incentives to make patches and be compatible as much hardware as possible: more people will buy your stuff, more people will recognize your reliability meter vs. the cost and time of making those patches. Start identifying what is the core obstacle you are facing and plan out a solution to that goal. If it means losing money for 3 quarters but will elevate your company to a new level then go for it. We are also here to support you as well, so don't hesitate to ask us for help. Just stop with the posturing and open yourselves up.