Guild Wars 2

While I do support the call for a native OSX client, there are 2 things I like to point out:

1. Your last point (app store) is likely not valid. There are already Cider ports on the app store, the majority of ported PC games on there actually uses Cider or similar technology. There are probably other reasons why the game isn’t on the app store (profit margin, account purchase model, in-app purchase restrictions)

2. Petitions are not allowed on these forums. You were smart and didn’t call this a petition, and you didn’t call for people just to /sign or any such nonsense. So please everyone, make sure this is a discussion, not a petition. Thank you.

Naqaj.6219:

While I do support the call for a native OSX client, there are 2 things I like to point out:

1. Your last point (app store) is likely not valid. There are already Cider ports on the app store, the majority of ported PC games on there actually uses Cider or similar technology. There are probably other reasons why the game isn’t on the app store (profit margin, account purchase model, in-app purchase restrictions)

Hi Naqaj. About your point 1, probably you’re right. Anyway most of Cider games i know are not on the Mac App Store, so i was thinking about issue there.

I’m not creating a petition, just i want to know how much users desire a native client.

Oh, I very much prefer a native client! The current performance difference and additional limitations mean I still have to keep a Windows installation at hand for any prolonged game session. Even though a native client still would perform slightly worse due to OSX, the current solution cannot be their long-term plan.

I should probably retract ‘majority’ concerning the ports, as I haven’t made the count, but there definitely are Cider ports on the app store, Assassins Creed 2 for example. There are a few companies that specialize in buying game licenses and making Cider ports for OSX.

I would love a native client (worked great for WoW) but for now I am thankful with the current client.

I would like a more optimized OSX client. Whether this is realized by improving the cider port, finding a better port technology, or by writing a native client doesn’t matter much to me.

One should not forget that asking for a native client might be too much. I don’t know how the GW2 engine is set up, but it might rely heavily on Windows libraries and technology (DirectX) that is just not available on OSX and might make a native client very unlikely.

The OSX compatible graphics acceleration option is usually OpenGL/OpenCL. As far as I know, this is not as optimized as DirectX for gaming, so overall the gain from having a native client might not be that much, while the cost could be significant for Anet.

Also they could rely on Apsyr and Feral, they have both an incredible experience to bring games to Mac (native!!).

Aspyr and Feral ports are not native, and sometimes not even decent (Borderlands 2 comes to mind).

I agree with the others that asking for a native client is probably too much—from the blog post with the 2013 roadmap, it looks like they have their hands full—, and I’m glad this client exists and works reasonably well.

I just want Anet to be a little more supportive. It would be nice to see a red post here once in a while.

All games ported by Feral and Aspyr are native as far i know, usually high quality. I don’t have problems with Borderlands 2 but you can see many other games ported greatly by these 2 company on Mac, Rage, Deux Ex Human Revolution, Dirt2…

I think looking forward a native client will be needed or at least this one must be very well optimized… for sure needing to edit my amount of VRAM in a config file is quite strange even for a beta.

A native client would be awesome !

The current one, thought working, still have lots of problem, including the fact that you can’t resize the window…

I’m happy that I can play the game at all without having to boot into BootCamp.

But it’s so completely unlikely that there will ever be a native Mac client. Why? Because DirectX and OpenGL are not similar. The problems that the Cider wrapper solves are the problems that arise from the differences between DirectX and OpenGL, and the Cider team is 100% dedicated to translating DirectX calls into OpenGL calls. So the Cider wrapper is actually the best possible solution unless they rewrite the entire client targeting OpenGL. Which is extremely unlikely.

I myself would just like to see the existing client improved and fine tuned ….

I know we won’t get a native client but at least some sort of updates and glitch changes to the existing one is not too much to ask.

I used to run this game on PC and hated it to death as my PC for the lack of words is crap compared to my MAC and having a client for it that runs is much appreciated. But seriously seeing “BETA” as its name forever is not something that appreciate seeing (needs to step out of the beta stage at the least) …
Ok enough rambling :P

Mac user UNITE!

I vote for native client!!!

I vote for native client!!!

I would absolutely love a native client for my Mac!!!

I too think that they should at least update the beta (even take it out of beta) and fix the bugs every once in a while.
I don’t think an update every few weeks is too much. Now they’re only giving me the impression of ignoring whatever is going on with the mac-client.

ikir, I play Borderlands 2 on Windows in 1600×900 with mid-high graphics settings. The Aspyr port on the same computer can’t handle 720p on low without hiccups. Definitely a terrible port.

Sorry for extending the off-topic.

That’s why I would love to see a native client:
1) I don’t want to play with medium settings on high-end systems
2) I don’t want to play with low settings on mid-range systems
3) I don’t want to play a slideshow on low-end systems that meet the minimum system requirements published here https://en.support.guildwars2.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1119

I expect an officially supported client allowing to run this game with similar performance compared to the Windows version.
No one with just some experience in running games with wrappers like Wine or Cider can believe that this graphically demanding game runs with satisfying performance on an Intel HD3000 and it does not run well on an Intel HD4000 either.

As long as developers keep using DirectX, it’s going to make porting to MacOS very difficult if not impossible (basically involving a rewrite of all the graphics and sound code).

I wish people would just use OpenGL and then porting wouldn’t be nearly as big of a problem. OpenGL works on pretty much every OS.

Really, we’re lucky to have a Mac version at all, and one that works reasonably well. The Mac client for EVE is also done with a emulation wrapper and its performance isn’t as good.

Blizzard was enabled to make a Mac version of WoW because the game was compiled using both D3D and OGL calls. It was written in from the ground up.

To go back now for A-Net would likely cost them more than it would make them and it all comes down to the almighty “buck” in the end.

If they can’t get us a native client, then they need to at least finish this ridiculous beta and get us a fully working copy of the game. It’s disappointing to see the last post from ANet going back 4 months ago. We’re still here! I love this game but it’s really starting to get frustrating with them delaying this so long.

I would strongly discourage pushing taking “Beta” off because if ANet is anything like most development organizations, the client would then enter a different stage of the lifecycle and would likely receive very little attention.

Provide feedback, push for changes, but be careful about removing the Beta status. All that being said, if we haven’t seen any changes in 4 months, that a discouraging sign.

And while I would LOVE a Native client, this would most likely introduce more problems than it would solve. We “might” get a little performance gain, but as mentioned by others it would have to be reworked from the ground up (likely introducing countless new “Mac only” bugs).

As it is now, they appear to be writing special things into the Mac client that accounts for the platform, so although I would rather have something native; I’m totally ok with this approach because they aren’t just porting and dumping, they’re actually writing some things into the client (which shows attention).

As i can see a many users would love a native client, others point to the difficult for this for a company like NCSoft. I think we will need a native client if the game will be a huge success similiar to WOW… if we play this game for years i hope they will investigate this possibility after a while.

Anyway a fixed, optimized Cider beta is easier to obtain. NCSoft has been little active and some things like this crazy VRAM bug must be fixed… How to get this? Is this forum monitored by someone at NCSoft?

Just a tid bit of info, 50% of college students at UC plan to buy a mac for their use on campus.

“According to consumer research firm Student Monitor, about one in eight college students plans to buy a computer this year. When asked if they’d buy a Mac or PC, students were split about 50/50.”

Source:

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/apple-microsoft-duke-it-out-over-college-student-computer-market

I vote for native client!!!

I vote for a native client too. Im very addicted to this game lol. I only have 1 lvl 80 and i already purchased char slots to make room for the rest.

I want a Native OS X client please. I am a dedicated gamer. And contrary to other opinions, I think this being in the app store would get more mac downloads. The fact that it wouldn’t be running in a ‘simulator’ would make a huge difference. I’m on a 2011 iMac kitten out on all except the hhd because i got the ssd and i don’t get above 30 fps.

or keep us more updated on the beta. i don’t even care if its still in beta, as long as they are giving us some attention. I just LOVE playing this game. I’ve invested in gems myself, bought an extra hero slot. now i’m trying to figure out if i want armor kinds, boosts or another hero slot.

I’m very happy to see so many users who wants a better beta updates or native client!

While we wait try this for better performance:

-Go to Library/Application Support/Guild Wars 2
-Edit config file with TextEdit
-Find this

[x11drv]
"AllocSystemColors" = "100"
"CopyDefaultColors" = "0"
"PrivateColorMap" = "N"
"PerfectGraphics" = "N"
"Managed" = "Y"
"Desktop" = "No"
"UseDGA" = "N"
"UseXShm" = "Y"
"DXGrab" = "Y"
"UseXVidMode" = "Y"
"UseXRandR" = "N"
"DesktopDoubleBuffered" = "Y"
"TextCP" = "0"
"VideoRam" = "256"
"AGPVertexRam" = "128"

-Put your VRAM value (MB) in “VideoRam” = “xxx”
-Put the half of your VRAM in “AGPVertexRam” = “xxx”

Enjoy more fps and boost gfx Probably you need to do it/check every patch.

I would totally LOVE a native mac os x client.

But there are a few things you do need to know before jumping to this question.

I am not sure what GW2 uses for engine, but for a native client, this engine also needs to be native, if this engine needs porting too, well time/money consuming.

There are alot of good working cider ports out there, tweaking and debugging can take you quite far. The fact that they started a mac port means they are at least seeing a serious possibility for mac gamers. now we just have to convince them we need stability and performance as well

I have posted on these forms with alot of frustration for them not giving ANY news about the Mac or anything regarding updates for the Mac, but I have updated from 10.5.6 to 10.7.5 and I’m running all on low and still looks good I did change some setting to medium to try it but haven’t logged in today but I’m pulling 20+ frames in DR and LA on a 2006 Mac Pro 1.1. I can only image what a native mac client would do!!!!! Come on Anet you thought about this game for over 6 years and just 6months ago you thought about the Mac.

edit:

For those people that say it takes along time to design for the Mac yeah but when you create the artwork and modeling of the toons and backgrounds THATS when you code for both PC and Mac at that time Marketing should have asked are we going to make a Mac client not going off a few guys in the office have a Mac Air.

ikir.4923:

While we wait try this for better performance:

[x11drv]
"AllocSystemColors" = "100"
"CopyDefaultColors" = "0"
"PrivateColorMap" = "N"
"PerfectGraphics" = "N"
"Managed" = "Y"
"Desktop" = "No"
"UseDGA" = "N"
"UseXShm" = "Y"
"DXGrab" = "Y"
"UseXVidMode" = "Y"
"UseXRandR" = "N"
"DesktopDoubleBuffered" = "Y"
"TextCP" = "0"
"VideoRam" = "1024"
"AGPVertexRam" = "512"

Enjoy more fps and boost gfx Probably you need to do it/check every patch.

Trying this, wonder if it works…

The Older Scrolls Online confirmed they will have a native client of the game. GW would be the major MMO without a native Mac client. EVE online is native, WOW is native, LotRO is native…

Eve actually seems to be a Cider port too, so is Warhammer for example. And did ESO really confirm a native Mac port? I only saw that it will be released for Mac, but not info towards technology used.

Edit: found the info, proper multi-platform engine, no cider port for ESO. Nice!

I’d love a native mac client too, but as it’s been said above by a few, I’m not so sure this is such a good idea, or even removing beta status for that matter.

We have a working mac client already, granted not the best, but still far better than I ever expected from a beta.

Beta means they’re still working on it (supposed to anyway),
whereas out of beta would mean a lot less attention to us.

And as for native, I’m afraid it would make the mac version veer away so much from its windows counterpart that it might almost become a “different” game, so to speak.

What I think they should do is to simply update the client every now and then, edit out a few bugs, that kinda thing, that will get it outta beta eventually, without risking to mess it up completely.

They shouldn’t try to go too fast: Anet should forget about all those “events” they’re so found of for a little while, and concentrate on game bugs and updates instead.

That’s what I think anyway.

usually the reason for a wrapper wine/cider whatever as another pointed out is DirectX. DirectX is a microsoft technology and will likely never be supported on OsX.

I’m not sure if this engine is bought third party or wholly built in hours by arena net but usually it comes down to what the engine is built on. so much is invested in either licensing and customizing or building an engine from the ground up that once you’ve committed to either directX or openGL you will not see a change as its not worth the time invested for the company.

I am hopeful we see more engines in the future build with calls to both like blizzard has or a wholly openGL game that would truly be cross platform. thanks to the rise in iOS gaming we are seeing a lot more of a push towards openGL engines but outside of blizzard I have yet to see a solid native game of any substantial size. they are all using a wrapper..

The beta open for ESO two days ago and it is available for both windows and mac osx. I don’t know if they are just already using the Cider engine. But I’ve been through the signup already!
As far as mac beta updates. I’m still getting crashes about 3 times a week. And this funny little thing where I’ll go to move, on any hero, the animation goes a half step and then freezes completely. Hero won’t move unless you tap the botton again. Anybody else get this?

ikir.4923:

I’m very happy to see so many users who wants a better beta updates or native client!

While we wait try this for better performance:

-Go to Library/Application Support/Guild Wars 2
-Edit config file with TextEdit
-Find this

[x11drv]
"AllocSystemColors" = "100"
"CopyDefaultColors" = "0"
"PrivateColorMap" = "N"
"PerfectGraphics" = "N"
"Managed" = "Y"
"Desktop" = "No"
"UseDGA" = "N"
"UseXShm" = "Y"
"DXGrab" = "Y"
"UseXVidMode" = "Y"
"UseXRandR" = "N"
"DesktopDoubleBuffered" = "Y"
"TextCP" = "0"
"VideoRam" = "256"
"AGPVertexRam" = "128"

-Put your VRAM value (MB) in “VideoRam” = “xxx”
-Put the half of your VRAM in “AGPVertexRam” = “xxx”

Enjoy more fps and boost gfx Probably you need to do it/check every patch.

ok, how the hell do you do this? I’m sure i’ll mess something up.

So, you created a Mac Beta client, released 3 (THREE!!) Updates since the release and the performance is still incredibly bad. What is going on? No updates, no news postings, nothing. Are you still working on this client at all? I don’t think so. If you would be, you would care for better PR management by responding to forum posts and posting about the progress. Instead – nothing, silence.

You knew from the start, that a client using Wine/Cider would never deliver the performance, that your customers expect. So the question would be: Was this an intermediate solution? Are you working on a Mac/Linux native client?

With valve releasing more and more games with Steam for Mac and Linux, you should consider a native OpenGL based Client, which would deliver the best performance on every system. Perhaps you could not use some of the latest DircetX11.Trash shaders or features, but seriously – who cares for those?

With the current release, we cannot run the game as it’s meant to be played on our systems, even with very powerful cpu’s, graphics cards and a kittenload of ram.

If I see this correct, the cider version even runs in 32 bit mode, what would mean that the emulated system would also be a 32 bit system and most of our ram would not be accessible for the game. I think this is the true reason, why we can’t enable high detail textures – the game runs in 32 bit.

So please:
- Post update notes
- Post about your progress
- Consider a native port instead of a Cider “wannabe” port.

If we can’t get proper support and updates in the current client to make it bearable, of course id love to see a native client. However if the support was better id wouldn’t be necessary.

I am surprised Anet has not said anything even though there are tons of threads similar to this one with outraging fans. PLEASE ANET LET US KNOW SOMETHING!

new patch… no Mac specific changelog.

Yes – It was surprising to see so many changes for GW2 with the latest update, but no mention of any mac changes.

At least both clients were updated, so that is good news for mac users.

DonQ, actually the Mac Beta Client is the Windows client started by a wrapper named Cider. So of course “both” clients were updated. As far as I can see the wrapper wasn’t updated with this patch.

Magoo.5726:

DonQ, actually the Mac Beta Client is the Windows client started by a wrapper named Cider. So of course “both” clients were updated. As far as I can see the wrapper wasn’t updated with this patch.

Yes, no mac specific change….. it is becoming a joke.

Magoo.5726:

DonQ, actually the Mac Beta Client is the Windows client started by a wrapper named Cider. So of course “both” clients were updated. As far as I can see the wrapper wasn’t updated with this patch.

Don’t expect it to be for a very long time. Transgaming has a history of updating once every year and a half or more.

Bump, because they should just do a kittening native client. I don’t care if ITS still in beta. But I have a kittenING BEAST comp and i just did the VRam tweek. and my game just crashed 4 times and my comp 2. This is just not funny. This game is great, and a lot of people i meet, not including this thread, are playing on retina MBP or iMacs (mostly MBP) so i see it as a missed opportunity with other studios doing more mac osx support. I even signed up for ESO beta because it was available for mac osx.

I would love a native version of GW2. Since the release of the game there as been only two updates. What are the mac support guys doing? Unless..they are working on a native version now?!
Someone ask why GW2 mac hasnt’t gotten a update on their Twitter. I believe someone asked already but didn’t give much detail.

Thats embarrassing…. now i’m trying to contact them via Twitter.

The forums is full of users complaining about performance and bugs. If these things won’t change i will quit playing for sure, it seems ESO mac client is native and well supported.

Yes! I vote for native client for Mac! Please NcSoft/ArenaNet make it Real!