17 réponses à ce sujet

[KimboJones]

Hey folks,

I actually bought the game at steam for windows when it was released.
But I would prefer if I could play it under OSX.

So is it possible to download the mac-version of the game and use the "old" CD-Key I already have?

Cheers

[jsachun]

I doubt it. I've never heard of any software company that has multiplatform serial number without charging for all the platforms under the "Multi" platform.

[Marvin_Arnold]

Maybe you can ask them nicely if they'll give you a new serial number? Should be worth a try...

[Lormalcar]

jsachun wrote...

I doubt it. I've never heard of any software company that has multiplatform serial number without charging for all the platforms under the "Multi" platform.

Well it works like that with Wow. One serial that's validated online and they don't care what platform you are running from.

Given the online connection for DA I'm sure that they could do that, I just don't think that they care to.

[TraxusIV]

the serial number for the windows version would almost certainly work on the mac version, I think.. The mac version is just the windows version wrapped in a Cider shell, which is essentially just emulating all the windows specific runtimes and APIs. The bigger issue is getting your hands on the actual files for the mac version. Track those down or grab them from a friend, and try the experiment.

[HaloKT]

jsachun wrote...

I doubt it. I've never heard of any software company that has multiplatform serial number without charging for all the platforms under the "Multi" platform.

There are a couple, actually.

1.) Blizzard has always released their game on both platforms. If you own a game, you're free to download any client available. I can download the Mac client for Diablo 2. The Windows client for WoW. In any language I want. 

2.) Electronic Arts have done it themselves. Spore, Sims 3 and Warhammer Online are 3 examples of games where you own both the Mac and the PC version if you bought one. Of course, Spore and Sims 3 were released on a hybrid DVD with both versions included already. Warhammer Online received its Cider port afterwards, but free of charge. Probably to help kick in a bit of life into an already dead horse, but still... no charge.

3.) Telltale Games. The ones who did the new Sam & Max series and the new Monkey Island. Tales of Monkey Island has now been released for  Mac OS. Very much like Blizzard (and unlike EA I might add) they didn't just go for a comparatively cheap Cider port. ToMI is an actual "real" port. Graphics quality, game performance and stability are top notch. Because I own the PC version, I could just log into their service and download ToMI free of charge. They're currently working on porting the Sam & Max series over to the Mac. Once they're done, I can download them as well, because I already own the PC version.  I could ramble on about how awesome I think the guys at TTG are when it comes to putting the customer first, like my freebie Sam & Max DVDs... but eh, whatever.

4. ) And since Steam has been mentioned. Valve's port to Mac will be complete soon. I have bought the Orange Box a while back. A soon as their Mac Steam is launched, I will be able to log on to Steam, and install HL2, Portal and TF2 on my Mac. Free of charge.

Anyway, I do feel a bit cheated. It's not as if DA:O were an actual port. I don't know how much they have to pay for Cider. But it sure is less than they'd have to pay for an actual port. Given the absolute gutted performance of any Cider port and the downright ugly graphics (since Wine cannot do any high-end D3D stuff) I even tend to think that if Transgaming isn't paying EA for the privilege to slap a Cider logo on their games, they're overcharging.
Anyway, I digress. Given the examples above, it actually is not only possible to do real game ports and offer them as freebies to existing customers, but 2 immensely successful companies (and one niche company) are actively doing just that. Blizzard has been doing it for years now, and Valve seems to be following suit. It does give me hope. But I feel short of violated by companies still charging twice for what is a great deal less  than what other companies offer for free.

[ilkelma]

Is Cider just a fancy way to charge tons of money for wine? I was under the impression that it was an engine based PC API call -> Mac API call translator...well of a different type than Wine Is Not an Emulator that is. Perhaps I just hope for too much.



The sad fact is that unless the company has a distinct history of porting or even better side-by-side development which Maxis (EAxis), Blizzard and Telltale (as LucasArts) have had then there seems to be very little likelihood of mac support. With Cider now that seems to be changing since Cider is undoubtedly cheaper than hiring say (God forbid) Aspyr to port it for you. The Mac userbase is also ever expanding which companies like Valve that have always seen far far ahead of slow moving titans like EA have clearly come to realize.



Business sense 101 is keep your customers happy and they will keep coming back. I only hope that a company with a great track record and wonderful products like BioWare will realize that charging people twice for the same game does not make for happy customers, especially when one is of inferior quality & unequal in support.

[Janichsan]

ilkelma wrote...

Is Cider just a fancy way to charge tons of money for wine?

Spot on. Cider is a spin-off of Transgaming's Cedega which in turn is a commercialised and slightly modified version of Wine.

And unlike Codeweavers (who also sell a commercialised version of Wine under the name CrossOver), Transgaming does not even properly contribute back to the Wine project – although they would be obliged to do so by Wine's license.

[MrJeaz]

If you just get the Mac version, the key should work. At least it works the other way around. You can download DA:O for Windows using EAs downloader and then use the key you got from Gametree.

[Supersirlink]

Where do you download the windows installer? It would be nice to use my mac key in bootcamp!

[Supersirlink]

My brother has the PC version, so I will try loading his copy and using my mac key in bootcamp.

[DrMoebius]

Supersirlink wrote...

Where do you download the windows installer? It would be nice to use my mac key in bootcamp!

I'd love to do this too.  It would be nice to play with patches!

[Supersirlink]

I can confirm the same key works for both versions. I was able to use my key to do a pc install, and once I logged in with my bioware login I was able to install the add on content...

[ilkelma]

Now if only we had access to the digital download version that doesn't require the CD check and just needs the account, then we truly would have access to both without...... other solutions.

[DrMoebius]

If you go to EA's website and download the EA downloader program, you can enter you serial key and it will start downloading the windows digital version. I just did it myself last night.



Now, does anyone know how I can transfer my characters over to the windows side of my computer?

[Supersirlink]

Cool will have to try that tonight.

[ilkelma]

@DrMoebius -> just follow the reverse of one of the questions in my "Answers to some mac questions" thread, it's actually incredibly simple to do. All the character and save files are in one folder so it's not a difficult task. and thanks I will have to try that!

EDIT: It works! awesome DrMoebius you rock!

Modifié par ilkelma, 15 mars 2010 - 03:23 .

[Supersirlink]

One of my thoughts ( if it will work ) would be to redirect the mac and pc version to the same folder for the character/saves so i could go back and forth.