Everquest on the Mac

Zhakrin · 06-23-2003, 04:48 PM

I see that Everquest for the Mac was released, anyone out there a closet mac user going to be trying it out, for the total EQ start over?

Anyone know if its different in any way from the PC version or a direct port?

dak · 06-23-2003, 04:54 PM

Personally Im amazed that the current Everquest Team knows the games code well enough to do a port....

Ddoof · 06-23-2003, 04:56 PM

Quote:

top-notch customer service

No comment

Heales · 06-23-2003, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dak
Personally Im amazed that the current Everquest Team knows the games code well enough to do a port....

They didn't, but don't tell that to the Mac users :P

Kashmiir Battlekat · 06-23-2003, 05:08 PM

God help us all.

Zhakrin · 06-23-2003, 05:11 PM

They must have changed the interface somewhat, since on a mac there is no 'right click' and 'left click' wonder how that whole thing was handled?

Cuellar · 06-23-2003, 05:49 PM

Quote:

They must have changed the interface somewhat, since on a mac there is no 'right click' and 'left click' wonder how that whole thing was handled?

That's a big assumption that they "must have changed the interface". This is the EQ dev team... I'd be suprised if they even tested this shit on a mac...

-Cuellar

AdroitCelerity · 06-23-2003, 05:52 PM

Yes they did test it... a friend of mine of did the beta for it, loves it.

Wrathcaster · 06-23-2003, 07:01 PM

Am I correct in the assumption that this EQ will have its own Mac-only servers and players?

If so, wouldn't that make for a fairly desolate gameworld?

It could be intriguing playing from scratch, with a brand new uber-free environment, this time with the existing huge, post expansions gameworld.

I doubt there'd be as many zergfests with the lack of population due to mac-only players, but maybe I'm wrong, maybe more people who own macs will play eq, but it seems like most hardcore gamers wouldn't be caught dead owning a mac, mainly for lack of games and compatible hardware.

Again, it could be cool having such little competition, but I wonder just how well a server with so few players will go over?

Arwyn · 06-23-2003, 07:47 PM

As the NDA lifted today with the betas conclusion yesterday I can fill in some details on EQ Mac.

1. EQ PC code was branched about 3 weeks after Planes of Power shipped. That means EQ Mac doesn't include ANY changes that have come since then... No LoY, no content tweaks, maps, story window, nada.

Thats all coming with subsequent patches/expansions to EQ Mac. Beyond that its Everquest.. same quests.. same zones.. same content.

2. EQ Mac is its own world. The server name is "Al'Kabor". I can hear the mac-hating wizard players snickering now... They said they will add more mac servers when the load dictates it.

3. Mac EverQuest itself is very similiar to the PC version. Directory structure is the same, but EQ itself is two programs under MacOS X.

A rewritten patcher/launcher called "Everquest LP". EverQuest LP IS very cool and I'd imagine that some of that technology will trickle back into SoE to be reintegrated with the PC side. As PC laucher is showing its age. This is everything you experience from application launch to the server select screen.

On a mac, once you get past the launchpad application the game hands off to EverQuest proper and the character select screen for your server comes up. Once inside EQ, its just like you would expect... Skins and two-button mice work if you have them.

4. No, you can't play your PC server characters with the mac-client, or play on mac servers with the pc-client.

There are alot of technical reasons why, but the main reason is one of sycronization... the PC side doesn't stay still long enough with patches and new features for the mac side to catch up. This may sound like suckage for the mac world, but look at this way -- we're all beta testing content and game features for it..

EQ mac will likely get the most popular features once they are popular and proven on the EQ PC side.

Basically EQ Mac is its own, self-contained version of Norrath as it was some time ago. It performs pretty well considering Verant said that such a port was impossible several years ago.

Any other questions about it?

Wrathcaster · 06-23-2003, 09:33 PM

Yeah, just one, I don't know if you can answer it though... Is there really that big of a demand for a mac only server? I'm a newbie to everything mac but I was under the impression that mac gamers are really really rare...

I guess my question is somewhat answered by the simple fact that SOE did put forth the effort to port Everquest to mac... For if they would go through all that time and money and investment in another server, there must be a pretty big demand.. So it's not really a question anymore I guess, I just wonder if the server will live up to expectations as far as population goes?

Arwyn · 06-23-2003, 11:09 PM

Based on what I saw in the beta, yes. It should do ok... There are enough Macintosh gamers to make this a safe bet.

Obviously its not the rich gaming environment that the PC has, but occasionaly original games show up on the Mac, and the good stuff either ships dual platform (Blizzard gets it...) on launch, or eventually get ported.

Its stupid to go to the effort to craft a game and not capitalize on it.

Pops · 06-24-2003, 04:41 AM

Most companies do not port games to the mac because the cost of development is greater then the profit margin.

EQ unlike other games charges for the game itself, then charges you to play it. There for it is different then other games and is able to absorb the development costs.

You need to remember, even if the same percentage of Mac users played games as PC users do there is still 20 to 30 times more PC users. Developing for PCs is capitalizing on it. Would you run up a mountain for a berry bush or stay down in the orange grove?

Planiar Thunderblade · 06-24-2003, 05:18 AM

cool, i can finally post

Dr. Funkenstein · 06-24-2003, 06:25 AM

And way to take advantage!

06-23-2003, 04:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zhakrin Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 146 -2 Internets	Everquest on the Mac I see that Everquest for the Mac was released, anyone out there a closet mac user going to be trying it out, for the total EQ start over? Anyone know if its different in any way from the PC version or a direct port? __________________ Zhak, Undead Priest of Zealous, WOW Thrall Akrhan, Undead Warlock of Zealous, WOW Thrall Zhakrin, Retired Templar of Eternal Chaos, EQ2 Befallen Astifas, Retired Enchanter of Paridigm, EQ1 Solusek Ro

06-23-2003, 04:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
dak Uhhhng Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: France Posts: 4,269	Personally Im amazed that the current Everquest Team knows the games code well enough to do a port.... __________________ Only Douche bags mess with the "Internets" points. RIP Spiderman-Troupe 2002-2008

06-23-2003, 05:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kashmiir Battlekat Tauren Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 61 -1 Internets	God help us all. __________________ Khrash 60 Tauren Hunter Demonikhan 60 Orc Shaman Vox Immortalis Hyjal Server

06-23-2003, 05:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Zhakrin Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 146 -2 Internets	They must have changed the interface somewhat, since on a mac there is no 'right click' and 'left click' wonder how that whole thing was handled? __________________ Zhak, Undead Priest of Zealous, WOW Thrall Akrhan, Undead Warlock of Zealous, WOW Thrall Zhakrin, Retired Templar of Eternal Chaos, EQ2 Befallen Astifas, Retired Enchanter of Paridigm, EQ1 Solusek Ro

06-23-2003, 05:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
AdroitCelerity Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Emarr Posts: 33 -1 Internets	testing Yes they did test it... a friend of mine of did the beta for it, loves it. __________________ Sensei Adroit Maladroit Erollisi Marr

06-23-2003, 07:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Arwyn Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 3 +0 Internets	EQ Mac As the NDA lifted today with the betas conclusion yesterday I can fill in some details on EQ Mac. 1. EQ PC code was branched about 3 weeks after Planes of Power shipped. That means EQ Mac doesn't include ANY changes that have come since then... No LoY, no content tweaks, maps, story window, nada. Thats all coming with subsequent patches/expansions to EQ Mac. Beyond that its Everquest.. same quests.. same zones.. same content. 2. EQ Mac is its own world. The server name is "Al'Kabor". I can hear the mac-hating wizard players snickering now... They said they will add more mac servers when the load dictates it. 3. Mac EverQuest itself is very similiar to the PC version. Directory structure is the same, but EQ itself is two programs under MacOS X. A rewritten patcher/launcher called "Everquest LP". EverQuest LP IS very cool and I'd imagine that some of that technology will trickle back into SoE to be reintegrated with the PC side. As PC laucher is showing its age. This is everything you experience from application launch to the server select screen. On a mac, once you get past the launchpad application the game hands off to EverQuest proper and the character select screen for your server comes up. Once inside EQ, its just like you would expect... Skins and two-button mice work if you have them. 4. No, you can't play your PC server characters with the mac-client, or play on mac servers with the pc-client. There are alot of technical reasons why, but the main reason is one of sycronization... the PC side doesn't stay still long enough with patches and new features for the mac side to catch up. This may sound like suckage for the mac world, but look at this way -- we're all beta testing content and game features for it.. EQ mac will likely get the most popular features once they are popular and proven on the EQ PC side. Basically EQ Mac is its own, self-contained version of Norrath as it was some time ago. It performs pretty well considering Verant said that such a port was impossible several years ago. Any other questions about it? __________________ Arwyn Arrowmang Ring of Valor Officer and Artillery Specialist.

06-23-2003, 11:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
Arwyn Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 3 +0 Internets	followup Based on what I saw in the beta, yes. It should do ok... There are enough Macintosh gamers to make this a safe bet. Obviously its not the rich gaming environment that the PC has, but occasionaly original games show up on the Mac, and the good stuff either ships dual platform (Blizzard gets it...) on launch, or eventually get ported. Its stupid to go to the effort to craft a game and not capitalize on it. __________________ Arwyn Arrowmang Ring of Valor Officer and Artillery Specialist.

06-24-2003, 04:41 AM	#13 (permalink)
Pops Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 23 -1 Internets	Most companies do not port games to the mac because the cost of development is greater then the profit margin. EQ unlike other games charges for the game itself, then charges you to play it. There for it is different then other games and is able to absorb the development costs. You need to remember, even if the same percentage of Mac users played games as PC users do there is still 20 to 30 times more PC users. Developing for PCs is capitalizing on it. Would you run up a mountain for a berry bush or stay down in the orange grove? __________________ I want Eager!

06-24-2003, 05:18 AM	#14 (permalink)
Planiar Thunderblade Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Norway, you know, up north. Posts: 2 +0 Internets	cool, i can finally post __________________

06-24-2003, 06:25 AM	#15 (permalink)
Dr. Funkenstein Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 687 -7 Internets	And way to take advantage!

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