Gaming on the Mac

[crappingpegasus]

I can't speak for what your friends do on your MBP but I can only give my account, if you want to call BS, that's your problem.

Also, the "accusation" that you so say was not an accusation, it was an observation and a conclusion from that observation. If it's different to you, then fine, that's what a discussion is all about, there's no need to be calling anything BS.

Also, my friend always talks about how amazing the dual graphics processors (that thing that computers have been doing for a hella long while now), so i think he knew about switching to the high performance GPU.

Look, I'm sorry if my observation hurt your feelings because it didn't speak of MBP's up to the standard you want to believe, but this was just my account. But you keep thinking what you want to think, it makes my observations no less valid.

it did hurt my feelings.

i've been crying ever since.

 

[Griffolion]

I can't speak for what your friends do on your MBP but I can only give my account, if you want to call BS, that's your problem.

Also, the "accusation" that you so say was not an accusation, it was an observation and a conclusion from that observation. If it's different to you, then fine, that's what a discussion is all about, there's no need to be calling anything BS.

Also, my friend always talks about how amazing the dual graphics processors (that thing that computers have been doing for a hella long while now), so i think he knew about switching to the high performance GPU.

Look, I'm sorry if my observation hurt your feelings because it didn't speak of MBP's up to the standard you want to believe, but this was just my account. But you keep thinking what you want to think, it makes my observations no less valid.

it did hurt my feelings.

i've been crying ever since.

My general opinion of these things are that Windows will do anything any user wishes. The only reason to get a MBP is because certain creativity industries have it as a cultural standard, and as such, rocking anything other an a MBP will get you laughed off the scene; not based on any difference in ability to get stuff done, but simply because you don't have a MBP. There's no point going onto a platform that only holds ~10% market share for anything other than the ultra specialised things only it can do that is considered an industry standard.

 

[crappingpegasus]

My general opinion of these things are that Windows will do anything any user wishes. The only reason to get a MBP is because certain creativity industries have it as a cultural standard, and as such, rocking anything other an a MBP will get you laughed off the scene; not based on any difference in ability to get stuff done, but simply because you don't have a MBP. There's no point going onto a platform that only holds ~10% market share for anything other than the ultra specialised things only it can do that is considered an industry standard.

Oh, you'll get no argument from me that gaming is better on the PC. This is why I dualboot my iMac with Win7.

that said, hardware is hardware. right now there is little to no difference between the guts of a 2009 MPB and a high-end 2009 Dell Laptop. What's different is the design and operating system - which creates issues for some users depending on what they want.

Sure, Mac only holds 10% of the market. but it's the only computer market that's still growing (and i'm not just talking iPads here). further more, laptop sales favor macs these days as well.

to be honest tho, it does depend on the industry. the one I'm in - you NEVER see PCs. but the opposite is true in others.

my initial point is, its easy to discount the Mac because people think of it as alien. Its not.

so to the OP, DualBoot, or run Virtualization - you'd be surprised how much you can get away with.

 

[skywolfblue]

Blizzard and Valve titles are your best best.

StarCraft 2 and WoW will run on that 'book just fine. Diablo 3 might run as well if you turn down the graphics.

There are quite a few games out there with Cider ports, they'll run a whole lot slower, but hey at least they run. EVE comes to mind.

 

[Cowabungaa]

that said, hardware is hardware. right now there is little to no difference between the guts of a 2009 MPB and a high-end 2009 Dell Laptop. What's different is the design and operating system - which creates issues for some users depending on what they want.

See, that's just not true, not at all. Spend about ?800-900 (probably less if you shop smart) on a Windows-based laptop and you'll get, basically, the same amount of hardware as you'll get for a ?1700 MBP. Yeah.

I just looked up the specs of a 2009 model MBP, and quite frankly, that's the same amount of hardware you'd find in a medium-budget model Windows laptop from the same year.

 

[epicguy25]

PC gaming on a mac guide

1. Unplug Mac

2. Take mac to nearest store

3. Sell Mac

4. Buy Windows

5. Enjoy

 

[crappingpegasus]

I just looked up the specs of a 2009 model MBP, and quite frankly, that's the same amount of hardware you'd find in a medium-budget model Windows laptop from the same year.

right, hence my point: the guts are the same.

i said nothing about the price point.

PC gaming on a mac guide

1. Unplug Mac

2. Take mac to nearest store

3. Sell Mac

4. Buy Windows

5. Sit around looking at your copy of Windows, since you forgot to buy a PC in this equation, and now you have less than you started with. But hey, you bought a copy of Windows. Good for you.

6. Profit?

fix'd

 

[epicguy25]

^ Thx for fixing mt screw up

 

[JochemHippie]

Steam tends to offer a relatively wide selection of Mac games. Lot's of games will work with Crossover, Wine or Cider ports.

Personally I just play CoD4 over the LAN or Beat Hazard (Awesome game BTW), but then again I barely use it for gaming anyway.

 

[crappingpegasus]

Steam tends to offer a relatively wide selection of Mac games. Lot's of games will work with Crossover, Wine or Cider ports.

Personally I just play CoD4 over the LAN or Beat Hazard (Awesome game BTW), but then again I barely use it for gaming anyway.

it's getting better, but it will never be as good as the PC.

although, Mountain Lion will be a big change for Mac gaming. With Game Center coming to the desktop, and the ability to play cross platform titles between iPhone, iPad, and now OS X - you're gonna see a much different environment. It might not be MW3, but I suspect more interesting to average users.

 

[Cowabungaa]

I just looked up the specs of a 2009 model MBP, and quite frankly, that's the same amount of hardware you'd find in a medium-budget model Windows laptop from the same year.

right, hence my point: the guts are the same.

i said nothing about the price point.

Ah, but you mentioned "high end." And the guts of a high end Windows laptop will most likely surpass a MBP, not match it.

 

[crappingpegasus]

I just looked up the specs of a 2009 model MBP, and quite frankly, that's the same amount of hardware you'd find in a medium-budget model Windows laptop from the same year.

right, hence my point: the guts are the same.

i said nothing about the price point.

Ah, but you mentioned "high end." And the guts of a high end Windows laptop will most likely surpass a MBP, not match it.

lol. um, okay. whatever you want to think, man.

 

[Cowabungaa]

lol. um, okay. whatever you want to think, man.

What? That's just how it is. If I compare, a ?1600 MBR with, say, an MSI GT780DXR laptop, which is just as expensive, I get, for the same amount of money, a bigger screen, a 50% bigger harddrive, twice as much RAM and a Blu Ray player. Has nothing to do with 'thinking'.

 

[applesandoranges]

edit

 

[knhirt]

lol. um, okay. whatever you want to think, man.

What? That's just how it is. If I compare, a ?1600 MBR with, say, an MSI GT780DXR laptop, which is just as expensive, I get, for the same amount of money, a bigger screen, a 50% bigger harddrive, twice as much RAM and a Blu Ray player. Has nothing to do with 'thinking'.

Please. This has nothing to do with the thread. I assure you, anyone using a Mac around here has seen countless posts just like this one. Nobody cares.

OT:
I don't have much experience with Macbooks (I've always gone for low-end Power- or Macbook Pros, or more recently, an entry level Mac Mini) but I recommend anything OS X native released by Ambrosia software. Spiderweb Software makes a bunch of great retro-feeling RPGs if you're unaware, and they're mostly pretty dang good! Stuff like Binding of Isaac should run pretty good too, I think. A lot of great games have been Cider-ported in recent years, like the Baldur's Gate series and HoMM - I recommend trying that out, too!
I don't know how familiar you are with the EV: Nova modding scene, but somebody released the older EV's as mods for Nova and you can get both from the Ambrosia website. I'll add more suggestions when they come to me, good luck!

 

[crappingpegasus]

Please. This has nothing to do with the thread. I assure you, anyone using a Mac around here has seen countless posts just like this one. Nobody cares.

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

Oh, you'll get no argument from me that gaming is better on the PC. This is why I dualboot my iMac with Win7.

that said, hardware is hardware. right now there is little to no difference between the guts of a 2009 MPB and a high-end 2009 Dell Laptop. What's different is the design and operating system - which creates issues for some users depending on what they want.(snip)
so to the OP, DualBoot, or run Virtualization - you'd be surprised how much you can get away with.

If OP hadn't excluded that route, I would have to second that notion. Thing is, you'd have to accept this route knowing well you'll end up with two OS's that will inevitably both crave for some of your attention, and you'd have to rethink your approach to the daily chaos that makes up your digital life. You'd have to collect and/or actually remember all your passwords, and you'd have to have a plan of where all your music/samples/files/data/love-letters are actually stored. This in itself is too much for what seems to be the majority of users already.

Another risk is this: After I first installed Bootcamp - way, way back - I ended up being one of those that actually did 'somewhat' hose their OS X installation. Long story short, I ended up preferring Windows as main OS on Apple portables. WinXP was jolly good fun, but Windows 7 is so darn efficient I only use OS X for specific tasks these days, because I just don't have enough personal time to tinker with all available OS's all the time... Win7 (and WinXP) are where it's at, OS X has some superb niche functionality and unique programs I wouldn't want to and can't miss, Linux pretty much all boiled down to Mint for me these days. If OS X were a bit... less OS X, it would probably be my Linux of choice.

Basically, if you intend to dual boot, you either do it right when you get a new machine, or make it your weekend project with very little sleep inbetween sessions of setting it up and shoving your personal data where you really want to end up having it... and you're still bound to make mistakes the first time around.

Oh, another thing: Have there ever been any of those "High Resolution Patches" for the early Fallout titles on Mac? I think not... all the patches I've seen come in .exe form... and playing those games in 640x480 makes my eyes bleed.

 

[crappingpegasus]

Thing is, you'd have to accept this route knowing well you'll end up with two OS's that will inevitably both crave for some of your attention, and you'd have to rethink your approach to the daily chaos that makes up your digital life. You'd have to collect and/or actually remember all your passwords, and you'd have to have a plan of where all your music/samples/files/data/love-letters are actually stored.

1Password and Google Chrome will solve the bulk of these issues

 

[BlitzkriegHawk]

Since I'm not a Mac gamer I can't help you much there but the variety has vastly increased in the last few years and is only going up (depends on how long you're going to be living there you could be stuck with a smaller library for awhile but nothing excruciating since a lot of games have/are being ported) if you have a large music collection I would suggest you back up all your songs on an external drive as to make sure they don't get lost (just in case).

 

[redisforever]

Generally, the Humble Bundle games work on everything, so there's a good thing to use.

I had a cheap ($375) laptop, worked great with many of my games.

I really don't know too much about Macs, except that my friend "plays" TF2 on it. By that I mean, it lags like an arse, and he complains about it. It's a proper iMac, too.