MAC Version upon release?

**Duyster** · August 18, 2012, 01:05 PM

Dear Creative Assembly, please release a Mac version at the same time as the PC one.
I really think there is a growing gaming community on the mac. Companies like Blizzard (WoW, Diablo, etc.) have proven that it works.
And now with Steam for Mac, this should be more easy maybe.

I really love Rome Total War (the first one), and I play it all the time on my Macbook.

What do you think?

**Crazyeyesreaper** · August 18, 2012, 01:13 PM

wont happen

Mac = OpenGL
and not the good kind either Apple does NOT do performance updates for OpenGL so while Windows and Linux could run an OpenGL version of the game just fine Apples ignorant strategy of refusing performance updates and only offering compatibility means two things

1) Creative Assembly would have to completely rewrite the Engine for OpenGL, warscape isnt Unreal, or ID tech etc its in house proprietary and its uses Direct X only older versions had OpenGL functionality but that was a long time ago, As it stands the OpenGl option for warscape is probably pitiful and limited to DX9 in terms of output visuals so while it can be done it would cost hundrends of thousands to properly develop the game engine for Mac OSX and even then performance would be abysmal compared to Windows.

2) even if they did port it it would run like crap do to Apples refusal to change from the compatibility only motto for Open GL.

if you want Rome II on your mac use bootcamp and install windows so you can dual boot and play games thats pretty much your only option.

2 years ago Phoronix did a test of Windows Mac and Linux Open GL performance
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...ws_part3&num=2

In most Open GL tests Mac machines tend to come up very short compared to Windows.
http://themacgamer.com/2010/05/28/ha...nce-mac-vs-pc/

in this test
iMac (3.06 GHZ Intel Core2Duo with 4GB DDR3 RAM and the rather paltry ATI HD 4670 with 256MB VRAM using Bootcamp to run Windows
Half-Life 2 which is old as dirt now
Windows = 55 fps
Mac OSX 10.6 = 20 Fps

so depending on the game or benchmark you can expect a native Mac version to be 20-110% slower than Windows in most cases this doesnt hold true for ALL titles of course but something to keep in mind as most AAA games do run worse in comparison on OSX than Windows. mostly because Apple again doesnt do performance updates for OpenGL case in point OSX 10.5.8 Leopard usually has better GPU performance then 10.6 and later Snow Leopard, that and the Mac user base is still tiny in relation to Windows which means adapting code and games for the OS is not cheap.

In summation while it WOULD be nice to see it happen its highly unlikely.

**Duyster** · August 18, 2012, 01:48 PM

Ok, thanks Crazy! Your explanation sounded very logical to me.
I guess it's probably Bootcamp then, but I still find it to be a bit cumbersome to reboot every time I want to play a game.

But why is it that Blizzard manages to do it? (I don't know a lot about game engines, so I apologize for my ignorance). My Blizzard games run just fine on my mac (but then again I didn't compare to Windows versions via Bootcamp...).

**Crazyeyesreaper** · August 18, 2012, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by Duyster

Ok, thanks Crazy! Your explanation sounded very logical to me.
I guess it's probably Bootcamp then, but I still find it to be a bit cumbersome to reboot every time I want to play a game.

But why is it that Blizzard manages to do it? (I don't know a lot about game engines, so I apologize for my ignorance). My Blizzard games run just fine on my mac (but then again I didn't compare to Windows versions via Bootcamp...).

Depends on the Company

you have to remember Blizzard makes MILLIONS every month off SUBSCRIBERS, they also make money off every single item sold in the real money auction house in Diablo 3 they pretty much make more money than CA ever will everything comes down to money CA doesnt have as much as everyone thinks.

also blizzard games are not resource intensive when it comes to graphics thus the Mac games run just fine

most games today have MINIMUM requirements that are HIGHER than World Of Warcrats Recommended lol. and yes i had to use caps like i did to meet my quota of stupidity today

**Arbitio** · August 18, 2012, 02:38 PM

No. Get a real computer.

**General George S. Patton** · August 18, 2012, 05:08 PM

Get a PC

**TLG** · August 18, 2012, 05:12 PM

Sadly if you want to play games and you bought a Mac you're going to have to get used to it

**The_King** · August 18, 2012, 06:17 PM

Macs are not the OS to go with for gaming, it mainly for company work and musical stuff, I hate macs, everything is messed with them.
I suggest getting a windows computer, it can do both company things and gaming.

**Okuto** · August 18, 2012, 09:18 PM

Nope.......you should of known what you were getting into when you bought a Mac

**Raimeken** · August 19, 2012, 03:02 AM

Originally Posted by Duyster

Dear Creative Assembly, please release a Mac version at the same time as the PC one.
I really think there is a growing gaming community on the mac. Companies like Blizzard (WoW, Diablo, etc.) have proven that it works.
And now with Steam for Mac, this should be more easy maybe.

I really love Rome Total War (the first one), and I play it all the time on my Macbook.

What do you think?

Not to hammer in some more injury to the insult but...

The only TW game ever on a Mac was RTW, and it wasn't even done by CA themselves, and it was 5 years after release. The only TW game that has a chance to make it right now is M2TW

**Destraex** · August 19, 2012, 03:22 AM

Get a PC. Actually a MAC "is" a PC. Just put windows on it like every other MAC owner.

**emperor77** · August 19, 2012, 04:31 AM

Apple is evil, avoid their products.

**Ne Obliviscaris** · August 19, 2012, 07:44 AM

Leave Apple alone, at least people buy their products because they like them not because they're cheap! And the less said about trading organs the better. Now, Before the inevitable torrent of abuse I concur with the previous assessments. Sega, as we know, needs money. It would spend too much time and resources on a product that would not create a enough revenue to compensate them for that effort. Therefore it is unlikely. But you never know. Perhaps they my take an unusual marketing risk to boost sales.

**Crazyeyesreaper** · August 19, 2012, 10:36 AM

It also goes without saying that if they follow valves and others leads buying a PC version would get you a Mac version as well so for free so there not really getting the full moneys worth out of the effort needed.

**karamazovmm** · August 19, 2012, 11:50 AM

its best to install windows on mac to play games, it avoid headaches

**ObiWan86** · August 19, 2012, 10:54 PM

and thats why people turn their profits on a PC, mate.. its hard to make Mac-based games...

**Fallenempire** · August 26, 2012, 11:13 AM

I dont know why apple just doesn't open their OS, its not like they would lose money and imagine how much mony they could make if they sold their OS seprate from their overpriced PC's. Poor business management in my opinion.

**Destraex** · August 26, 2012, 08:05 PM

Because then it would be a PC. With all of the problems gay being social with an open community of developers brings. Its why the PC is so popular. At the end of the day apples appeal is in making this simple or dumber Down. Its rock solid because it does not let people do whatever they want.