25 réponses à ce sujet

[TJrad]

 Just recently Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition was released for PC. It has Dragon Age Origins and Awakening and all of the DLC. Great! There are now versions of the original game, expansion, and DLC, for Mac. Great! But, Mac users have to buy each game and piece of DLC separately at a much higher price than PC users. Why? Because there is no Ultimate Edition for Mac! Does anyone know why there is not a Mac Ultimate Edition? 
(and no I am not going to play through bootcamp, I love this game but not enough to buy windows) 

[Marvin_Arnold]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Mac gaming. Be happy that we don't get DA:O at the original price after it has been out on the PC for five years, while at the same time you can find the PC version in the bargain bin by then. Things are starting to change, but they take time. One day, they will even port the toolset for a new game...

Yes, and still no word about DA2...

Modifié par Marvin_Arnold, 09 novembre 2010 - 08:55 .

[TJrad]

I just don't understand why when the games are already available for Mac why they can't just put them together under one title. I understand that developers don't want to code for mac for some reason, but when the game already exists.....

[Marvin_Arnold]

I don't know. Laziness. Trying to get more people to buy the Windows version, so they won't have to bother with future ports...

[Marvin_Arnold]

Really?

If you're having us on, I'll eat you!



I'm still wondering why they can't just say so from the beginning...

"Yes, Dragon Age: Origins will be available for the Mac, too."
"Yes, we are working on the patches and will hopefully have them ready by..."
"Yes, Awakening will be available for the Mac"
"Yes, Ultimate Edition will be available for the Mac"

That would build so much trust...

Now, of course they already know if they are planning to release DA2 for the Mac or not. If they would just say a word...

Modifié par Marvin_Arnold, 11 novembre 2010 - 10:56 .

[Marvin_Arnold]

I was just kidding with the eating. Thanks for the info!

[Marvin_Arnold]

Sooner or later, good games come to the Mac. But the support for DA:O was terrible in the beginning, with the mac version being announced several weeks AFTER the windows version hit the stores, so many bought DA:O for windows and played it on BootCamp (which lets you run Windows on Macs, but you have to create a separate HD partition, buy a Windows license and have to re-boot to Windows every time).
Then, patches took several months longer than windows patches to materialize, without a word from EA if they would ever be made at all, same thing with DLC (the community worked out how to install RtO months before an official Mac version was offered), and with Awakening. So many reviews actually classified DA:O as "Abandonware".
In the end, we are now at par with Windows users, but the lack of communication is really troublesome and it now starts again with DA2... that's why I complained "if they know they are doing it, why not say so in time".

Generally speaking, things have improved, because in former times, games took years to get ported to Mac, and then you could buy it at the original price while the PC version could already be found in the bargain bin for $10...

Modifié par Marvin_Arnold, 14 novembre 2010 - 12:40 .

[TJrad]

I am no computer programer so this may sound ignorant. But, what is it that makes the two platforms so different. I would have a little more sympathy if it was required to actually recode the ENTIRE game to release on mac. However it seems like the hang up is simply how the game is stored and how its' directories are accessed that is the difference. If that is the case I find it frustrating that there isn't some larger program that could act like an "emulator," for lack of a better word to fix the issue. Like I said I am getting my degree in art not computer science so I might be completely off base here.



Just hurry up the Mac Ultimate Edition Please!

[Latharion]

TJrad, each OS requires different commands to be used to access data, communicate with hardware, etc. Unfortunately, there isn't a standard for how OSes communicate with hardware, and there is absolutely no standard for programming (nor should there be). Since each system has to be coded individually, and that takes time and resources to accomplish, some companies just don't predict enough sales to outweigh the costs involved with converting a given piece of software to a given platform.

With the Mac, Apple keeps a pretty tight reign on software releases. Their verification process takes time, and that usually means a longer waiting period before release on that platform. Also game companies typically do not code primarily for the Mac first, as the percentage of possible customers is much higher with a PC than a Mac. Because of this, the Mac programming is usually done after the PC version is finalized, thus adding more waiting time. That's just the way the market works.

I can guarantee that if there is a market for it, the Mac Ultimate Edition will most certainly be released! Bioware, like all good financially stable companies, really, really likes to make money! As long as the potential for profits exists, they will cater to that market.

Modifié par Latharion, 16 novembre 2010 - 12:55 .

[TJrad]

Latharion, Thank you for the information. That does make a lot of sense. I understand that it all comes down to the all mighty dollar. Thank you for explaining the programing differences in detail.



I do feel like I am beating a dead horse here so I apologize to all, especially the horse. But, what I just don't get is why when the games and DLC all already have mac versions, why there isn't an ultimate edition or at the very least a promotional offer to download them all at the same price afforded to PC users. The qualification process you spoke of would still apply. To make a mac ultimate edition I am sure there would be hoops to jump through including receiving apple's seal of approval. What is frustrating is in exploring this topic further I have found several press releases, podcasts, and articles confirming from bioware that there would be an Ultimate Edition for Mac. If plans change, so be it. All I am asking for is notice. I have posted on the forums and received this response. Upon contacting Bioware I was told that EA has ultimate control over the release. and EA then informs me that I need to contact Bioware. So that was a wonderful dead end.



Ok I'm rambling here, sorry. My point is Bioware/EA/ whomever this concerns, simple question for you; Is there or is there not going to be a Mac Ultimate Edition, yes or no, straight answers please.





Latharion I appologize if that felt as though my ramblings were aimed at you. I did not intend it that way. I do appreciate your input and thank you again for the info on programming differences. It helped me understand much better

[Latharion]

@TJrad, no offense was taken. I do understand your frustration with waiting for what should be a simultaneous release for PC and Mac. If I were to speculate, I'd bet that the hold up is on the Apple side of things. EA most certainly want's the holiday profits generated on black friday, and that includes Mac sales. I'd bet they are just a frustrated as the Mac users regarding this release. Honestly, there isn't a valid financial reason to hold back the release of a product if it will generate sales, and meet market demand, unless there is a bottleneck somewhere that is preventing the release.



Again, I can only speculate at this time, but I suspect the reason why no vouchers are being released for the content has more to do with the copy-protection scheme used, or the way the DLC is measured by download (which would tend to confuse bean-counters). It was probably more trouble than it was worth to try to issue vouchers or some other downloadable scheme.



Glaucon, eventually things might improve, but I don't see this happening any time soon. Each console and platform has a very strong financial backing, and each has a very viable and lucrative proven financial model. The result is multiple platforms for games. True, certain standards could be created, but then who would control said standards?



I can see that the PC and Mac platforms are possibly going to increase in popularity again, as the console platforms begin to cater more and more to the "casual" gaming market. The PC (and Mac) has never been and probably never will be, targeted at the "casual" market. These things just take more effort to use than a console. Because of this, the PC and Mac game creaters would begin to focus their attention on that platform, because of the rising demand, and because of the new void created in the platform market as "hardcore" gamers are, for the most part, abandoned. Nature abhors a vacuum, and so do good businesses. It might take a year or two, but it will happen.

[Latharion]

Glaucon, the unfortunate, sad truth is, the "casual" market has far more resources, derived by shear numbers, than anything we "hardcore" gamers can ever even come close to. For every "hardcore" gamer, there are a hundred "casual" gamers (probably a LOT more than that, but you get the idea). That being said, there IS a market for "hardcore" games, and thus there will be a supply. It might not come from "the big ones", i.e. EA, Ubisoft, Microsoft, Sony, or SquareEnix, but it will exist. I'd be on the lookout for some lesser known company to become the next Bioware, Blizzard, or Insomniac. Those companies were built on a certain reputation for excellence, whether it be on customer relations, very high quality games (meaning less bugs), or a workplace that is unequalled. There is currently a void in those areas, and it will be filled. Big companies simply cannot afford to have good customer relations, or spend that extra bit of time to get the code "just right". Large companies depend on investments, and thus fast turn-around. Smaller companies, however, have a bit of an edge in these areas. With the right investors, smaller companies, can create higher quality products, in a reasonable time, and can usually work much more closely with customers. The resulting product may not be the huge blockbuster features that we've seen recently, but the quality of the product will be far superior.

[Marvin_Arnold]

Latharion wrote...

With the Mac, Apple keeps a pretty tight reign on software releases. Their verification process takes time, and that usually means a longer waiting period before release on that platform.

Latharion, a lot of what you say is true, but I have to "burst your bubble" on this one.

The verification process applies only to iPhone and iPad apps sold via the Apple store. (And if you want to have your Mac PC software hosted on the Apple store, too) You can write (and use) any program you like (and many/most people do) without asking Apple for permission.
In fact, go for example to sourceforge.org and you'll find a plethora of Open Source Apple programs...

No game release has to be reviewed by Apple.  So the problem doesn't lie with Apple's verification process (which doesn't apply), but somewhere else (I'd say TransGaming's slow porting process...)

Which of course only applies to new releases, not re-bundled ones line the Ultimate Edition. So, again, disinterest? Laziness?

And I still don't understand EA' reluctance to announce whether they are planning to release DA2 AT ALL OR NOT!

Modifié par Marvin_Arnold, 23 novembre 2010 - 07:22 .

[alipsett]

 Also very curious about the Ultimate Edition for the Mac.  

Came across this: http://www.walmart.c...Games/15195289 

according to the customer questions this box contains disks for BOTH PC and Mac, can anyone confirm/whatever?

[TJrad]

I actually purchased the version because of the similar ad against my better judgement from gamestop. No, It is not compatible unfortunately..... But reading the questions and answers section does make me curious though I am not willing to risk my money again. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Modifié par TJrad, 01 décembre 2010 - 06:27 .

[Elencia]

HA HA HA MAC... Oops did I say that outloud... sorry...

[TJrad]

Aiomon, Those posting on this thread as to date have been wonderful in providing information on the topic. Part of the reason why I posted the topic in the first place is because I am required to use a Mac because of my professional and educational needs. Before this turns into a stream of nerd rage because of what you are implying about Mac users I would ask that your next post be constructive and add to the discussion, or simply start your own topic about Mac as a platform where you are free to expand on your opinion. Thank you very much....and apology accepted

[Appolo90]

TJrad wrote...

Aiomon, Those posting on this thread as to date have been wonderful in providing information on the topic. Part of the reason why I posted the topic in the first place is because I am required to use a Mac because of my professional and educational needs. Before this turns into a stream of nerd rage because of what you are implying about Mac users I would ask that your next post be constructive and add to the discussion, or simply start your own topic about Mac as a platform where you are free to expand on your opinion. Thank you very much....and apology accepted

They go away faster when you ignore them.

I also need a Mac for professional and educational needs (don't really NEED them but the school requires them for whatever profit-related reason) but I don't have too much sympathy for Mac gamers considering it's so easy to set up Boot Camp or other Windows program that works 100% fine on "Mac hardware". You can argue that buying a Windows license is the deal-breaker but come on... if you have the money to buy Macs, you can find money to buy a Windows license.

But there's a Mac version so why should we have to accomodate to the Windows version? Well, because the market is laughable. PC gaming is already somewhat thinned out so where does that leave Mac users? Bioware hired out a separate company to code over DAO to Mac. The fact that they didn't use their internal development resources to do it suggests to me that the Mac version is somewhat of an afterthought. I can't really blame them, either. Not much profit to make and a lot is banked on DA2 and ME3 development.

EVEN SO, I dunno why a lot of complaining is being done. I have a Macbook Pro and Dragon Age runs pretty darn good. Once every 10-ish hours, I encounter a nasty bug but it's very much playable. Heck, I can even install all my mods the same way as on the PC. I have it set up so that my savegame uploads to my Dropbox automatically and I can play my character on either platform whether I'm at home on my PC desktop or on-the-go on my MacBook.

Anyway, the point: DAO for Mac support has been slow, but the quality has not been sacrificed. I can't complain.

[Marvin_Arnold]

My point, as I have stated before and will not tire to state again is that surely Bioware plan their business longer than a few days ahead, so why not tell Mac users that things are in the works for them or not? Why let everybody buy the Windows version and THEN release the Mac version? So that you can say: "See, everybody bought the Win version and almost nobody the Mac version"?

Appolo, I am what you may call a "casual gamer". I don't want to sacrifice several GB of hard disk space and money for an OS that I have no other use for and I simply don't want on my sleek and shiny Mac PC. Would you invite a dog in that isn't house-trained? </flame>