NWN2 for MAC OS X

[KociPazur]

Hi all,

Apparently NWN2 has been (YES) released for Apple Mac OS X as well (it is available from Amazon.com).
I am a photographer so like Macs more anyway and was going to get one soon (next week probably) and it put a big smile on my face that I don't have to worry about running Windows ever again! But ...

Has anybody got any experience with playing multiplayer NWN2 on a Mac?
Will Sundren Updater work on Mac OS X?

I am sure I can play with PC users ... or can I not?

I am not an IT type but not bad with computers on the non-geek level but some help here would be great.

Also - here questions to our DM team - I guess with my new copy of NWN2 I will have new passcode so new account ... so ... yeah ... any chance of rebuilding my character(s)?

Cheers

[Saulus]

Sundren does not support Mac, you will not be able to play with a Mac because our updater only runs on Windows. If the donations for Sundren ranged in the thousands of dollars then perhaps I might be able to divert enough resources to support a niche market but as it stands it's just not going to happen.

Furthermore I would never run NWN2 on a mac for a simple reason, it's running through emulation, which is bad.

[KociPazur]

It would not be running through emulation mate ... well, as far as I know.
There is a new Mac OS X version of NWN2. The new Macs run Windows better than PCs by the way and I can have two operating systems - Mac OS X and Windows ... but then W would be there only for NWN2 - all my other software is better on Mac OS - Aperture, Photoshop etc. I was just so happy to hear that I will not have to run Windows (not just emulation but a full Windows - it needs to chose when rebooting the machine) after I get the new one.
I thought that NWN2 for Mac must be organised similar way to PC version so if I get a way of loading Sundren files - even if its FTP than I would be sorted.
If all that does not work than it is still worth trying for me for the joy of saying bye bye to Windows.

[KociPazur]

Right after I posted the previous one I realised there may be a compromise - not best option but I cannot just ftp the files than will do - I will run not NWN2 but the updater only on Windows - and here emulation not full boot will be enough so just the skinniest install of my old Windows (but shame that I still have to do that) will do.
Still if possible to ftp the files instead or post them in NVN Vault (hmm ... if not too restriced there with size) - PLEASE.

There is still a question whether I can redo my char(s) with a new account.

Cheers

[Saulus]

Well we only change certain files so the updater has to manage the hashes of everything to know the differences between the file versions.

And unless the NWN2 for Mac is being remade again and not by Aspyr, it is emulation. Aspyr has been porting several games over to Mac from Windows doing this.

Also, saying a Mac runs Windows better is really dependent on hardware too.

It's just not feasible for me to spend time or effort providing a secondary manual download location for our files. You have to remember we are a non profit mod team and it's not easy for us to suddenly support Multi-OS configurations. Especially when you are probably the only user out of thousands that will actually attempt to play here on a Mac.

You will need Windows to run the Sundren Updater. Any other problems that might arise between NWN2 and Mac can be brought to the distributor. That's the best we can do for anyone.

If you lost your login password you should seek Obsidian to get that reset so you can get access to your characters. Having a new key does not stop you from playing with your previous account.

Macs have their place and they are great for productivity. They just aren't great for gaming and I don't really think they ever will be.

[Verrath]

That's kind of sad, cause I've been nagging at my friend who has a Mac to come play.... of course, he is still trying to figure out if he will be able to install the expansion.

Nevertheless, I've heard quite a few people ask lately if there wasn't an alternate way to grab the files... I realize bandwidth is an issue with the sheer amount of things, and I personally think the updater is all right (despite not being a fan of .NET 3.5) but if it would help ~not~ turn away some potentially really good players, I'm all for finding some way.

[Saulus]

There is an easy way -- run Windows. Why anyone would want to run NWN2 on a Mac OS escapes me regardless (OSX is not a gaming OS). And it seems that KociPazur is using the Mac because of preference, not because he is incapable of running Windows.

People ask for an alternative to get the files because they can't use the updater on some occassions. This is related to not having .NET 3.5 installed. If the installation is flaky, I suggest going to the Microsoft site. If there is problems downloading it's going to be related to your router/firewall/av setup or even your ISP. The downloads work fine for me and many people.

There are always going to be flaky connections out there, it happens. Even if I had another server to host files (which I don't, plus it costs money), I wouldn't do it. It effectively doubles all the work I have to do. Not to mention the fact that as it stands, when I upload the updater files to the FTP it slows down the server because of the bandwidth required.

I'm sure everyone would love if I had to sit here uploading files to two different sources every single update. Worse yet if I put an alternative location for the files and a way to download them "manually" I am then faced with the issue of explaining to everyone how this mess of files is supposed to be stored in their respective directories. This is why we use the updater because any other way ends up being too cumbersome for both us, and the user.

Not to be mean, but it's really easy for anyone to just say "oh well just do this". You guys don't have to do it, we do. As it stands we are doing the best we can out of our own pockets, and I think we do fairly well.

Our updater supports 2000 (SP4), XP, Vista. Now if you look on the NWN2 box it actually says it supports Windows XP only. So I think we do fairly well considering. If programmers were free and so was hosting space this wouldn't be an issue, but they aren't free.

So unless someone can step up and cover the tab it's just not going to happen guys. I don't know what other answer you are looking for.

[Leaving Hope]

Any intel Mac can run Windows. Dual boot with Boot Camp. It's easy.

[KociPazur]

Hmm ... I didn't mean to cause so much trouble with my questions.

First thing - great news - thank you - I didn't know that when I buy NWN2 again for my new Mac I can still use old player account with new passcode - thanks - that's pretty much solving the problem of playing old chars with new Mac version.

Saulus is right - my new machine will be able to run Windows well - it is only my preference not to put it on my Mac. I will try to figure something out. Sorry I gave you a headache!