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Marvel Heroes begins Mac open beta
The Mac open beta for Marvel Heroes started yesterday, welcoming a new community of wanna-be superheroes into the fold. The open beta includes all of the content that PC players get, including the recent Battle of Muspelheim raid. Gazillion is selling two special packages to go with the beta that include heroes and costumes. The packs are available for purchase by both PC and Mac players. Currently, Marvel Heroes is celebrating its first anniversary with a month-long in-game celebration.
Pirate101 begins testing on Mac client
A life of adventure on the high seas is the sort of thing that appeals to everyone, even people who choose to buy a Macintosh instead of a Windows computer. That's why Pirate101 is adapting the game to a native Mac client, with the test realm version of the client available now. Players will be able to download and install the game at their leisure, although the new client is not currently hooked up to the live servers. There's no need to sign up for the testing, but not everyone is eligible. Active members and players who have made at least $6 worth of purchases in the last 30 days may download and try the new client; free-to-play players may not. Still, it's easy to become eligible if you really want to jump into some Mac-based piracy, so you can free your computer from having to run at least one game via Boot Camp.
Mac users join the League of Legends fray as open beta starts today
Just over a month ago, Riot Games announced that the long-desired Mac version of League of Legends was not a pipe dream but actually in active development. Today the studio threw open the beta doors and invited Mac users to grab the client and experience the same exact service that the PC players enjoy, from features to bug fixes to new content. Of course, Riot would appreciate all feedback, as the client is still in beta. Skeptical about the validity of this beta claim? Understandable, since the last attempt at creating the Mac platform disappeared almost a year and a half ago. To assuage your doubts, Dr. Mundo offers this video endorsement, viewable after the break. [Source: Riot Games press release]
Mac client in testing now for League of Legends
Although League of Legends sports a hefty player base, Mac users have been noticeably absent since the previous Apple-only beta shut down in September of 2011. Associate Producer Steve Mieczkowski has announced that a new Mac version is on its way. And once it goes live, both versions of the client will receive all content, features, and bug fixes simultaneously. The Mac client is currently playable on the game's Public Beta Environment, and it will enter an open beta phase when developers are confident with the results from the PBE test. However, players needn't wait for the open beta to try it out; in fact, Mieczkowski encourages folks to download the PBE from the official site now and help by offering feedback and finding bugs.
Dungeons and Dragons Online releases Mac client info
With Turbine creating a Mac version of Lord of the Rings Online, it probably shouldn't be a surprise that Dungeons and Dragons Online was next on the to-do list. The studio announced that it's developing and testing a Mac client for DDO, and has invited players to give it a try. DDO's Mac version doesn't require software like Wine or Bootcamp to use, but runs natively on the platform. It currently supports OSX 10.7 and 10.8, and it needs a fresh install if a Mac user was playing on a Windows client. The beta is available for everyone, and Turbine has posted a short FAQ with system requirements and other pertinent information.
The Road to Mordor: Delay, delay, delay
Earlier this week, I was working on this column with the title "Preparing for Riders of Rohan." What a change a day or two makes because the body of that article quickly got changed to "Sit on your thumbs." Yes, the LotRO community got thrown for a loop this week, as Turbine announced that Riders of Rohan has been shoved back a month and a half for additional work. So we've gone from a mere two-week countdown to nearly two months, and that takes a bit of mental adjustment. On top of all that, the studio demolished the NDA wall, which sort of seems like a risky move when you've just disappointed players with news of a delay. I think we should talk about it, don't you? I'll say this up front: It's actually a very good thing.
Turbine lifts LotRO's Rohan NDA, unveils Mac client
On the flip side of the news earlier that Turbine is delaying Riders of Rohan until October 15th is the word that the studio has dropped the NDA for LotRO's fourth expansion. Community Manager Rick Heaton announced the lift on the forums: "Today we have officially released Riders of Rohan beta testers from their NDA. Beta testing will continue as we move towards our new release date of October 15th. In the meantime, those beta testers who wish to share their thoughts and experiences thus far with the general community are encouraged to do so here." With the NDA lift comes news that Turbine has been secretly working on a native OSX client for Mac players. It remains to be seen whether or not this client will be available with Riders of Rohan's launch.
Burning Dog announces cross-platform plans for Origins of Malu
We've got some more Origins of Malu news today courtesy of the team at Burning Dog Media. A new press release on the sandbox MMORPG's official website is touting a partnership with Dell and Alienware that will generate awareness of the sci-fi title as it heads into its beta phase and eyes a 2012 launch. The release also mentions cross-platform functionality, and though it doesn't elaborate, we contacted lead developer Michael Dunham for clarification. As it turns out, the Origins team is aiming for both PC and Mac clients, and some sort of mobile/tablet functionality is in the works as well. We'll keep you up to date on that as we learn more, and in the meantime you can head to the Origins website to read up on the game. Before you go, be sure and check out Massively's exclusive interview with the dev team.
Microsoft announces Windows Phone 7 sync software for Macs due this year
Even though we kind of saw this coming, it's still nice to hear. Microsoft has gone and done the (nearly) unthinkable, announcing this evening plans for a Mac compatible sync client for its soon-to-be-launched Windows Phone 7 devices. According to a statement from the company issued late in the day, beginning some time "later in 2010" Mac users will be able to live the dream along with their PC counterparts by downloading a beta OS X application which will allow you to sync "select content" from a Mac of their choosing to a Windows Phone. The company was short on details, but hopefully we can pry more info out of the big M in the coming days. For now, we can all bask in the shocking open-mindedness of this news, and give the folks in Redmond a golf clap for finally acknowledging that yes, some Mac owners may actually want to get in on the Windows Phone party. As for Hell, there haven't been any reports of recent temperature changes, but we'll keep you posted as we get more information. For your perusal, the full statement: Later in 2010 Microsoft will make a public beta available of a tool that allows Windows Phone 7 to sync select content with Mac computers.
Fallen Earth Mac beta updates
Heads up, all you Apple-obsessed wastelanders! Icarus has updated their OS X Fallen Earth beta client, and they want you to take it for a spin. Notable fixes for this version include a Wine core update to 1.2RC2 (which includes a lengthy list of technical optimizations), and a tweak for the updater executable file which corrects the "initiating download sequence" error that has hamstrung some testers. If you're already using the Fallen Earth Mac Beta client, you can update by downloading new versions of the FallenEarth.app file as well as the FEUpdaterMac.exe file. You can also peruse the Mac Beta FAQ on the official site, as well as pick up the new 500 MB download that includes the latest Wine binary and Mac updater. Additionally, you can check out the original press release and accompanying forum post.
Third video out for City of Heroes and Villains
Thanks to the team at NC NorCal, we have a bit of superhero and supervillain fun for your Friday. They're winding up their three-video set to celebrate the launching of the Mac client for City of Heroes and City of Villains with this video titled "I'm a Hero, I'm a Villain: Sidekick." This time we get to meet the new sidekick - and thank the stars that being a sidekick in the game is much more fun! The final video in the heroic Mac-themed trio is behind the break for your viewing pleasure. If you missed either one of the earlier videos, be sure to check out "I'm a Hero, I'm a Villain", or the follow up "Day Jobs" as well. Also, if you're a Mac player and have been considering checking it out, be sure to read our hands-on with the Mac City of Heroes client.
EVE Online kicks off Mac open beta for high-res graphics engine
The next EVE Online expansion, called Apocrypha, will launch on March 10 and promises to bring a long-missing feature to the Mac client: high res graphics. The Trinity graphics engine (aka Premium graphics) has been available to players using the Windows client since December of 2007. As of today, all active accounts using the Mac client can opt to download a second enhanced client to try out EVE's Premium graphic content on the Singularity test server.EVE's Community Manager CCP Wrangler says, "This is the culmination of over a year of effort on the part of development teams at both CCP Games and Transgaming and we are extremely happy to see EVE running in all its splendor on the Mac OS." That splendor, however, may not be coming for some EVE players running older Mac hardware.
NC NorCal brings on another Hero vs Villain video
To celebrate the Mac client going gold, NC NorCal has produced a trio of videos showing off City of Heroes in the style of the Mac commercials. Last week we got to meet their hero and their villain, who gave us a few giggles as they introduced themselves. This week, NC NorCal has expanded it just a bit to tell us about our hero's secret identity; his Day Job. Of course, the villain thinks this is pretty funny - and we do too! See if you can guess what our hero's Day Job is from the above image, then check behind the break for the video to find out if you're right. For those curious about the new Mac client, be sure to check out our hands-on, and if you missed the prior video, you can check it out in all it's silliness right here.
Next EVE Online expansion named Apocrypha, launches March 10
The other day we picked up on a video interview with the CEO of CCP Games, who announced a firm March 10th release date for the next EVE Online expansion -- but until today, that expansion wasn't given a name. CCP Games announced the "Apocrypha" expansion this morning, and a bit of what it'll bring to EVE.The Apocrypha feature page isn't up yet -- so more details are likely to emerge -- but thus far they've confirmed two new game mechanics will be coming to EVE in March. Wormhole exploration is an upcoming feature that will allow EVE's explorers to discover new technology, used to create the next iteration of ships in New Eden -- Tech III. These modular ship designs will potentially allow for thousands of different configurations of ships to suit different purposes, and are a far cry from the Tech I and Tech II ship hulls currently flown in New Eden. In addition, Apocrypha will bring Epic Mission Arcs. The release states: "These branching, far-reaching mission strings are full of meaningful stories and more intelligent and deadly adversaries."
City of Heroes to get Mac Special Edition
NCsoft just announced that City of Heroes will soon have a Mac client, joining the likes of World of Warcraft and EVE Online as MMOs that can played on OS X. It'll be made possible through partnership with Transgaming, the creators of the Cider portability engine, which acts as a 'wrapper' for the standard PC client, allowing it to run within OS X on an Intel Mac. While Blizzard's Mac client for World of Warcraft was written from the ground up, NCsoft's newest City of Heroes 'Good vs. Evil edition' client will be playable through Transgaming's Cider, and thus will be the same client gamers are accustomed to on the PC. This method of bringing the PC client to Mac without porting or rewriting is the same avenue CCP Games took with their EVE Online client for OS X. The City of Heroes Mac Special Edition includes two exclusive items:
WoW 2.2 Mac client in-game video capture
It really seems like Blizzard is taking leaps and strides in their efforts to support some of the fun things we've been doing outside of the game and putting them actually *in* the game.When I read the patch notes and saw that the Mac client was getting in-game video recording, I immediately started my PTR client download. I was not to be disappointed. With the new "Mac Options", I can choose the resolution to record at (600x400 in this case), the framerate, and the compression. I left these as defaults, but chose to turn off the UI, cursor, and sound.Click through for a little more about the process for making the video, or just watch the video above to get an impression of what in-game recording is like.
