Macbook Pro

[xanvar]

Was thinking about getting a new laptop and I need it to be able to play this game well. I do not want a vista computer and was thinking about getting a Macbook pro. Does anyone know if it will play well on mac or should I stick with microsoft? Oh and if I put this in the wrong forum, sorry couln't figure out where to put it.

[Umbra]

Was thinking about getting a new laptop and I need it to be able to play this game well. I do not want a vista computer and was thinking about getting a Macbook pro. Does anyone know if it will play well on mac or should I stick with microsoft? Oh and if I put this in the wrong forum, sorry couln't figure out where to put it.

I play on a macbook pro, the hardware runs the game great. However DDO is a windows only game, so I have to run some software from Apple called bootcamp which lets me boot into windows XP on my macbook pro in order to play DDO. So either way you're stuck with Microsoft, but the Macbook Pro is a great laptop.

Umbra

[Mhykke]

I also play on a macbook pro, and have been very happy w/ the game.

As stated above, you need to run windows on it through bootcamp, and play the game in windows, but it's a very easy process, and it runs great.

The game runs on high setting for me w/ no issues at all.

[xanvar]

Thanks for the reply. I don't mind booting into XP so much as Vista. I might give mac a try.

[DeadlyGazebo]

Was thinking about getting a new laptop and I need it to be able to play this game well. I do not want a vista computer and was thinking about getting a Macbook pro. Does anyone know if it will play well on mac or should I stick with microsoft? Oh and if I put this in the wrong forum, sorry couln't figure out where to put it.

I play at home on a Mac Pro (the big desktop one...). I use a program called parallels, which lets you run windows programs in a window while the MacOS is still running. As another poster pointed out, boot camp from Apple also lets you boot into windows directly.

Parallels has the advantage that you can still be running mac things in the background while you play, and when you're done you don't have to reboot to get back into mac-land. It does have a big disadvantage, however -- it's a massive resource hog, so the game will be slower and the graphics settings will have to be turned lower than you'd expect. It also took some fiddling with the graphics settings before the game ran at all. So if rebooting before you play isn't a big issue for you, boot camp is probably the better option.

Parallels and Boot Camp both do require that you own a copy of Windows XP (or vista...) to install on your mac; keep that in mind while figuring out how much mac you can afford :)

[Mhykke]

I play at home on a Mac Pro (the big desktop one...). I use a program called parallels, which lets you run windows programs in a window while the MacOS is still running. As another poster pointed out, boot camp from Apple also lets you boot into windows directly.

Parallels has the advantage that you can still be running mac things in the background while you play, and when you're done you don't have to reboot to get back into mac-land. It does have a big disadvantage, however -- it's a massive resource hog, so the game will be slower and the graphics settings will have to be turned lower than you'd expect. It also took some fiddling with the graphics settings before the game ran at all. So if rebooting before you play isn't a big issue for you, boot camp is probably the better option.

Parallels and Boot Camp both do require that you own a copy of Windows XP (or vista...) to install on your mac; keep that in mind while figuring out how much mac you can afford :)

Wow, you run the game on parallels? That's kind of funny.....

[xanthus]

I use bootcamp on my macBook Pro as well. Runs great.

[Umbra]

I play at home on a Mac Pro (the big desktop one...). I use a program called parallels, which lets you run windows programs in a window while the MacOS is still running. As another poster pointed out, boot camp from Apple also lets you boot into windows directly.

Parallels has the advantage that you can still be running mac things in the background while you play, and when you're done you don't have to reboot to get back into mac-land. It does have a big disadvantage, however -- it's a massive resource hog, so the game will be slower and the graphics settings will have to be turned lower than you'd expect. It also took some fiddling with the graphics settings before the game ran at all. So if rebooting before you play isn't a big issue for you, boot camp is probably the better option.

Parallels and Boot Camp both do require that you own a copy of Windows XP (or vista...) to install on your mac; keep that in mind while figuring out how much mac you can afford :)

Interesting, I tried running it in VMWare Fusion (which claims to have better directx support) and the game wont won't even load stating that it can't find a compatible video card. Any details on what you had to tweak to get it run in Parallels? I might have to switch, as DDO is one of the only apps I need to boot into windows now for.

[moorewr]

Wow, you run the game on parallels? That's kind of funny.....

I'm told, but have not tried, that there's a hack available for VMware server on a Windows or Linux hots to convince games there is an appropriate video card available. In a normal setup the DDO installer stopped and told me it could not run on my video card (the generic VMware device).

Wow, though, that's a lot of extra latency. I know people who use boot camp (or grub in my case) and run real native windows to game.

[moorewr]

Let me add that I got SO FRICKIN' CLOSE to being able to run this game in Linux - LOTROinterface.com provides a nice mono front end for DDO and it runs pretty well with plain wine. Some shading was missing, but the speed was fine. I never got typed party or guild chat or voice working. :mad:

[xanthus]

I'm told, but have not tried, that there's a hack available for VMware server on a Windows or Linux hots to convince games there is an appropriate video card available. In a normal setup the DDO installer stopped and told me it could not run on my video card (the generic VMware device).

Wow, though, that's a lot of extra latency. I know people who use boot camp (or grub in my case) and run real native windows to game.

Try loading up in windows from bootcamp and install the driver from the nvidia website(I think you have to force it to use the right driver from a list - it won't do it automatically). You can look at your hardware under the mac side to see the exact video card you have in order to match up the drivers.

When you restart in mac mode and use fusion it should work (I can run ddo in fusion and that is what I did).

[JayDubya]

I play on a Macbook pro, using Bootcamp. It works very well.

On the other hand, I cannot replicate DG's success with Parallels. I tried it - (it was, in fact, the very first program I tried to load via Parallels 3.0) but it failed miserably.

This was about a year ago, perhaps I should re-examine the configuration.

[oronisi]

I always get a chuckle out of how far mac people will go to play a video game. Just reformat the computer and install vista already. You will be assimilated, resistance is futile. Your funny commercials will only get you so far.

[dejafu]

I always get a chuckle out of how far mac people will go to play a video game. Just reformat the computer and install vista already. You will be assimilated, resistance is futile. Your funny commercials will only get you so far.

Bah. It's really not so much to go through anymore (speaking as a life-long Mac user). Bootcamp really is the way to go - no harder than installing Windows on any other computer, and it means I can keep Microsoft in the dirty little gaming corner that it deserves :p

Seriously, though, I run Bootcamp on my plain ol' MacBook (not Pro) and it works great. I can even run the game at a relatively decent graphics setting without too much lag or loading delays.

[Karr]

Please tell how you got Parallels to run DDO?? I too am looking at upgrading soon, and dont want to be forced into Vista. While I dont mind messing around with Linux, and have a few flavors lying about, sometimes you just want things to WORK. Mac would be my first choice. Parallels doesn't have DirectX 9 support yet.

[Tanka]

A lot of premade laptops do still have the option for XP, you just might have to call in the order instead of ordering it online.

Last time I checked, Dell still offers XP if you call them and specifically request it.

[xanvar]

I am definatly going to try parallels first thing when the laptop comes in. I think the 4 gigs of ram will let me run it fairly well. If that doesn't work then its off to boot camp. Thanks again for all the input.

[Josh]

I play at home on a Mac Pro (the big desktop one...).

Proof that as I have said all along the developers (well at least one) aren't gamers. Mac's are great for content creation and all that, but it's well established in the gaming community that they are teh sukk for games.

[moorewr]

Proof that as I have said all along the developers (well at least one) aren't gamers. Mac's are great for content creation and all that, but it's well established in the gaming community that they are teh sukk for games.

In 1999, maybe. That Mac is an intel system with a high end Nvidia card. Booted to Windows (with bootcamp) it will perform on par with a higher-end Dell or HP laptop with an Nividia or ATi video card.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt"

[Ustice]

I play at home on a Mac Pro (the big desktop one...). I use a program called parallels, which lets you run windows programs in a window while the MacOS is still running. As another poster pointed out, boot camp from Apple also lets you boot into windows directly.

Okay, spill the beans... What did you have to do to get it to work? DDO was the reason that I upgraded Parallels to 3.0. I was upset when I found out that it didn't work. I know that BootCamp will work, but I will take the performance hit to be able to do other things, since I mostly want to do it to check on the Auction House while at work.

[moorewr]

Okay, spill the beans... What did you have to do to get it to work? DDO was the reason that I upgraded Parallels to 3.0. I was upset when I found out that it didn't work. I know that BootCamp will work, but I will take the performance hit to be able to do other things, since I mostly want to do it to check on the Auction House while at work.

Heh! My desktop cranks away for me in openSuSE, and the company laptop gets booted to Windows for lunchtime DDO.

[Hambo]

I always get a chuckle out of how far mac people will go to play a video game. Just reformat the computer and install vista already. You will be assimilated, resistance is futile. Your funny commercials will only get you so far.

Not trying to create a flame war, but a recent independent study showed that Apple's recent OS release has had approximately 30% MORE security issues than Vista, contrary to the "yoga" commercial. Don't get me wrong here... I'm a HUGE unix fan and that's what MacOS is, with a pretty interface added. Heck, now that Macs are Intel chip based I almost wish Apple would sell MacOS for clone hardware, but I guess that would be hypocritical on Apple's part, considering the way they responded to the "Apricot" and othe Apple II clones in the early 80's.

Also, if you want to run XP on any hardware and need to buy it you had better hurry... Yesterday (4/25) Microsoft confirmed that XP is coming off the market by July.

I run Vista (Ultimate, 64 bit) and actually get better performance than i did with XP running on the same hardware (specifically built to run Vista), and have yet to see any kind of issues. Granted, there are some new things to get used to but if that weren't the case we'd all still be loading software using toggle switches or paper tape. Microsoft didn't help anything with their Vista Capable "compatability" level created to let Intel slide by with a chipset that really doesn't run Vista well at all.

[moorewr]

Not trying to create a flame war, but a recent independent study showed that Apple's recent OS release has had approximately 30% MORE security issues than Vista.

Ha ha! Gartner Group strikes again!

[Ustice]

Hambo, just know that is that study is debated. Since it has nothing to do with DDO, I won't bring it here.

They are about the same when it comes to security. It really comes down to which you prefer. I prefer OS X. Why? Apple has a killer UI (and that is, of course, my personal opinion).

To get back on topic, DDO on OS X would be perfect.

So, DG... what's the secret?

[DeadlyGazebo]

Please tell how you got Parallels to run DDO?? I too am looking at upgrading soon, and dont want to be forced into Vista. While I dont mind messing around with Linux, and have a few flavors lying about, sometimes you just want things to WORK. Mac would be my first choice. Parallels doesn't have DirectX 9 support yet.

The newest version of parallels (3.0) does do DirectX 9 (though they do warn of not being 100% compatable with some DX9 games).

I use XP under parallels, so this may or may not work on vista (at a minimum, you'll miss out on the DX10 part of vista when we support DX10, because parallels doesn't), but...

1) Make sure you've got the latest version of parallels -- especially if you have the latest OS X, they suggest you go to the parallels website and download the current build.

2) Crank memory to the max for parallels, both the regular mem and the video mem. My mac has 4gig, parallels is configured to have 1.5 gig normal and 64 meg of video.

3) After installing DDO, try running it. If it works, great. If not, go to My Documents -> Dungeons & Dragons Online and open up UserPreferences.ini in notepad.
Find the [Display] section.
Here's what I have. I think the vital portion is "AllowFakeFullScreen=False", which stopped it from crashing on me; the other portions you can set as you like.

[Display]
Resolution=1024x768
SyncToRefresh=False
Antialiasing=Disabled
WindowedResolution=59048589
TripleBuffering=False
FullScreen=False
AllowDesktopCompositing=False
AllowWindowResizing=True
AllowFakeFullScreen=False
ConfineFullScreenMouseCursor=True
RefreshRate=Auto

I also set the overall graphics quality as low as possible, and then tweaked it up a little at a time til I found a setting the Mac was happy with. It's still pretty low compared to what I expected; you do lose a lot of graphics speed going through the virtual video card on parallels.

Sorry it's taken so long to reply to all of you; I've been a bit busy for the past few days...

Also, please avoid turning this thread into a mac/windows debate. Keep it civil and informative.

[moorewr]

VMWare says:
http://vmfaq.com/?View=entry&EntryID=5

So, obsolete DirectX on VMWare workstation, and no acceleration on VMWare Server. Maybe they will implement DX9 support for Fusion and back-port it.

[dameron]

The newest version of parallels (3.0) does do DirectX 9 (though they do warn of not being 100% compatable with some DX9 games).

I use XP under parallels, so this may or may not work on vista (at a minimum, you'll miss out on the DX10 part of vista when we support DX10, because parallels doesn't), but...

1) Make sure you've got the latest version of parallels -- especially if you have the latest OS X, they suggest you go to the parallels website and download the current build.

2) Crank memory to the max for parallels, both the regular mem and the video mem. My mac has 4gig, parallels is configured to have 1.5 gig normal and 64 meg of video.

3) After installing DDO, try running it. If it works, great. If not, go to My Documents -> Dungeons & Dragons Online and open up UserPreferences.ini in notepad.
Find the [Display] section.
Here's what I have. I think the vital portion is "AllowFakeFullScreen=False", which stopped it from crashing on me; the other portions you can set as you like.

[Display]
Resolution=1024x768
SyncToRefresh=False
Antialiasing=Disabled
WindowedResolution=59048589
TripleBuffering=False
FullScreen=False
AllowDesktopCompositing=False
AllowWindowResizing=True
AllowFakeFullScreen=False
ConfineFullScreenMouseCursor=True
RefreshRate=Auto

I also set the overall graphics quality as low as possible, and then tweaked it up a little at a time til I found a setting the Mac was happy with. It's still pretty low compared to what I expected; you do lose a lot of graphics speed going through the virtual video card on parallels.

Sorry it's taken so long to reply to all of you; I've been a bit busy for the past few days...

Also, please avoid turning this thread into a mac/windows debate. Keep it civil and informative.

I'm betting if Turbine were to look into Cider (http://www.transgaming.com/products/cider/faq/), Transgaming would do most of the work for you. It might cost you a bit, but if there's really a market for DDO or LOTR on OSX this would certainly be one way to go.

[Umbra]

VMWare says:
http://vmfaq.com/?View=entry&EntryID=5

So, obsolete DirectX on VMWare workstation, and no acceleration on VMWare Server. Maybe they will implement DX9 support for Fusion and back-port it.

Fusion now has DX9 support http://www.vmware.com/support/fusion/doc/releasenotes_fusion.html going to try it in the latest beta by importing my bootcamp partition into a VM, and using DeadlyGazebo's ini edits... Will update thread with results.

[Umbra]

The High-res game runs great in Fusion Version 2.0b1 (89933) with DeadlyGazebo's ini settings. Even with the res and detail cranked up and post processing video effects on.

XP SP3 VM with 1 gig ram dedicated on a Macbook Pro 2.4 Core 2 Duo, 4 Gigs of RAM

/cheer!! goodbye bootcamp! DDO was my last reason ever to boot directly into Windows, I am now free!! =) Until Turbine wakes up and makes a cross platform client anyway, then I can dump windows for good.

[Umbra]

Ok, so it gets a little choppy once the spells start flinging, so I did have to scale back the detail levels, but frame-rates are staying up now. However, driving the camera with the mouse completely blows for some reason, the camera responds excellent to moving via the keyboard, but for some reason trying to hold down the left mouse button to move around the camera is horrid, I assume it's something with vmware's mouse driver, but who knows. Played around with the mouse settings and couldn't really get any improvement. So unless anyone has any ideas, it looks like I will be back into bootcamp for actual play sessions, vmware will be relegated to AH checking and selling sessions.

Umbra

[Brianius]

So if your going to load xp on a mac why even get a mac it already shows that the mac operating system is limited. And saying it is better for art and graphic design is not viable because adobe has its software on windows and is just as viable to use its software there. show me something truly important that a windows machine can't do that a mac can(doing something better is different and is not what I'm asking and how they run software is a matter of opinion).

[moorewr]

So if your going to load xp on a mac why even get a mac it already shows that the mac operating system is limited. And saying it is better for art and graphic design is not viable because adobe has its software on windows and is just as viable to use its software there. show me something truly important that a windows machine can't do that a mac can(doing something better is different and is not what I'm asking and how they run software is a matter of opinion).

Two scenarios for that Mac on their desk:
a) for whatever reason you already have the Mac, and you don't always use Windows. The fact that I have windows on my PC doesn't make my Linux install less useful.
b) you want a PC that has looks that make you want to lick it.

OS<Applications and OS<Interface, but if your app runs in the OS of your choice then really you are seeking the interface of your choice to go with it. Linux+Gnome are the platform I can do my job in best, and Windows.. well, Windows is where I run DDO.

[Umbra]

So if your going to load xp on a mac why even get a mac it already shows that the mac operating system is limited. And saying it is better for art and graphic design is not viable because adobe has its software on windows and is just as viable to use its software there. show me something truly important that a windows machine can't do that a mac can(doing something better is different and is not what I'm asking and how they run software is a matter of opinion).

Go away troll!

[xanvar]

Ok, I really didn't want this to turn into a Mac vs PC argument. I wanted advice and got some great stuff that helped alot. I did get the Mac Book Pro. And Honestly I really love it. Took a few days to get used to it but over all its a great system. I have had zero problems with running XP with bootcamp and DDO runs better on my laptop now than it does on my desk top. Why did I want a Mac? I wanted a change, try new things and not let myself get stuck in brand loyalty. If you don't want a Mac great, enjoy your PC. If you hate PC and live for Apple products thats good too. I was just happy to get advice and help. Thanks again for all the productive posts.

See you in Stormreach

[Brianius]

I'm not trolling I do have a osX machine at home but i rarely ever use it because I can do everything on windows. Macs aren't terrible I never said they were, but enjoy your macbook pro. I looked at the new super thin mac the other day and I am super clumsy so it defiantly not for me I thank the gods for my warranty on my regular laptop or i would have been out of luck 4 of them ago.

[~Duck]

I play at home on a Mac Pro (the big desktop one...). I use a program called parallels, which lets you run windows programs in a window while the MacOS is still running. As another poster pointed out, boot camp from Apple also lets you boot into windows directly.

Parallels has the advantage that you can still be running mac things in the background while you play, and when you're done you don't have to reboot to get back into mac-land. It does have a big disadvantage, however -- it's a massive resource hog, so the game will be slower and the graphics settings will have to be turned lower than you'd expect. It also took some fiddling with the graphics settings before the game ran at all. So if rebooting before you play isn't a big issue for you, boot camp is probably the better option.

Parallels and Boot Camp both do require that you own a copy of Windows XP (or vista...) to install on your mac; keep that in mind while figuring out how much mac you can afford :)

Any hints on where to go if it keeps crashing at load up. The error i keep getting is: The Game encountered a fatal Windows API issue while attempting to start...(etc, etc). I'm running a iMac 2.66 Core 2 Duo with 4 GB Ram.

[tihocan]

Any hints on where to go if it keeps crashing at load up. The error i keep getting is: The Game encountered a fatal Windows API issue while attempting to start...(etc, etc). I'm running a iMac 2.66 Core 2 Duo with 4 GB Ram.
Using Boot Camp or Parallels?

[TravelinDan]

I am getting the same API error on my iMac with the Nvidia 8800 GS video card in it. Turbine tech support suggests installing the May drivers, but on the Windows side, the Nvidia setup wizard errors out, saying "The Nvidia setup program could not locate any drivers that are compatible with your current hardware. Setup will now exit". And sure enough, the current drivers are 1/24/2008 6.14.11.6763. Latest are May 08.

Suggestions?

[Zodwallop]

I'm getting the same error message about the API, and I'm running it from Boot Camp. Official tech support forum says they do not support Mac, so I guess I'm stuck. Its too bad... every other game I've tried so far on my iMAc (Everquest 2, Tabula Rasa, City of Heroes, Age of Conan) has run great, until this one. I'll check back periodically to see if something changes, but I guess for now I have to cancel.

[kudesnik]

I got MacBook pro mmm, two days ago... I tried first CrossOver Games since they support very impressive list of games.
DDO installation went fine. - i.e. no errors, however on start it crashes. So I was forced to use BootCamp

[moorewr]

I got MacBook pro mmm, two days ago... I tried first CrossOver Games since they support very impressive list of games.
DDO installation went fine. - i.e. no errors, however on start it crashes. So I was forced to use BootCamp

Because Turbine uses .NET you can't launch the game using the regular launcher. Take a look at http://lotrolinux.com for a linux game launcher for DDO and LotRO.

[kudesnik]

It's too much manual work. What I don't understand why MS Office 2007 for the most part working under crossover ( and uses .NET ) and DDO is not.

[moorewr]

It's too much manual work. What I don't understand why MS Office 2007 for the most part working under crossover ( and uses .NET ) and DDO is not.

Meh. Us Linux folks are used to compiling A to run B. :)

[Lorz]

I always get a chuckle out of how far mac people will go to play a video game. Just reformat the computer and install vista already. You will be assimilated, resistance is futile. Your funny commercials will only get you so far.

Ok quit spewing what you do not understand. Had you any clue at all you would not even start with that crud.
Those of us that use Macs also enjoy having full Unix systems not to mention no need to run Virus protection or put up with any of the VISTA bs.
You sir have just shown that all you know is playing games and NOTHING about real computing. Heavy lifting in the computing world is done in Unix not windows. Remember that next time your client crashes or windows does.

Now back on topic and leaving behind he who does not know his back end from a hole in the ground (that would be you oronisi)

The mac book pro is still the "Best" notebook available and also the best bargain for features/performance...see PC WORLD review for why. (Similar Dells cost quite a bit more...HAHA and have no where near the build quality...not to mention no sense of taste)

The mac pro is more than capable of running DDO in Parallels. Heck you can run Solid Works and Autocad even in Parallels.

Dont try running it on the Mac Book Pro except in Bootcamp....remember it is a notebook.

The neat thing about running DDO on the Mac Pro in Parallels is that when the windows crashes (and it will as all windows OS versions do) you simply kill it and relaunch. Only those that do not have an understanding of OS architecture try to claim Winblows is better or even worth running. Plain and simple the architecture of OSX is decades ahead of MS. And is by far the most elegant Unix system currently available. Never forget that Mac OSX is based on BSD (one of the most secure OS's in existence)

I always get a chuckle when people start pumping up windows and slamming the Mac....there ignorance betrays them.

[Lorz]

It's too much manual work. What I don't understand why MS Office 2007 for the most part working under crossover ( and uses .NET ) and DDO is not.

.net is an abomination.

[moorewr]

.net is an abomination.

Naw. Mono is fine. It's the windows implementation of .NET that sucks.

[Lorz]

Naw. Mono is fine. It's the windows implementation of .NET that sucks.

Ok ill give you that fine point. But considering that 90% of .net references are to windows..thats the suck part.

MS can screw up anything.

:)

Funny how many people dont realize that Apple is now building intel systems and by far has one of the highest quality systems at any price...and in notebooks its a great deal.

And for power the Mac Pro is the fastest horse out there in big iron.

Compared to the junk being produced by Dell and HP

:)

[moorewr]

Nothing wrong with those Intel Macs, but the actual components (as opposed to the aesthetic elements) are the same as HP/Dell, so you can have your Mac and I'll take my Dell with the same innards for 15% less. Either will run openSUSE or Ubuntu just fine, and Dell will even pre-load Ubuntu for me if I ask them to.


Ok ill give you that fine point. But considering that 90% of .net references are to windows..thats the suck part.

MS can screw up anything.

:)

Funny how many people dont realize that Apple is now building intel systems and by far has one of the highest quality systems at any price...and in notebooks its a great deal.

And for power the Mac Pro is the fastest horse out there in big iron.

Compared to the junk being produced by Dell and HP

:)

[kudesnik]

MacBook Pro better "PC" :)))
As usual Apple to things together way better then anyone else.

[Zodwallop]

Has there been anyone that has been able to get a fix for this error running bootcamp?

Game Error [127] The game encountered a fatal Windows API issue while attempting to start.

Try rebooting your machine and starting the game again. [127]