Any recent plans to port for OSX?

[istara]

I searched the forums and found that about a year ago, there was a discussion on the possibility of porting to Mac OSX.  I wondered if anyone has attempted this, or has any plans to?

I am fortunate enough to use both a Mac and a PC, and have greatly enjoyed the AGS games that I have played.  I am aware though that there are many Mac users who don't have access to a Windows platform, and for their sake - and for mine, as I vastly prefer gaming on my Mac! - I think it would be brilliant if some form of Mac port, or emulation machine, was available.

If anyone has managed to get an AGS game working in OSX (or any Mac OS) then please post.  I realise VirtualPC is one option, but that is commerical software that I don't currently have.

Many thanks and I look forward to people's responses.

[edmundito]

You can use the AGS editor with Virtual PC... That's how Rodekill's Rode Quest II: The Sweet Smell of Stenchie was conceieved.

This has also been discussed many times, but the problem of porting the AGS runtime to MacOS would mean to do a complete rewrite of the graphics and music engine from scratch, because the libraries are only available for PCs, and also (I think) there's the whole retrieval of data because Macs store digits backwards from PCs, I believe.

It would be a mighty task, and no one has been found to do it. There is someone who did a pretty good linux port, but that wasn't as hard as porting to MacOS X. The mac os developer would also have to keep up with the AGS updates, too.

[juncmodule]

If I'm not mistaken there is a version of Linux out there that will boot from the CD. Perhaps you could use that if they make the same version for MAC?

I've never really heard of a Linux emulator (or looked) but perhaps you should attempt to find that instead of a Windows emulator.

Odds are the Linux version will be developed more fully before a OSX port ever even begins. Hopefully the editor will be ported to it soon.

Is there a difference between Linux for MAC hardware and Linux for PC hardware?

eh, just some ideas.

what the heck is up with this -->

[LGM]

They DO happen to have Linux for PowerPCs, but even then, I'm not sure the Linux port of AGS will work with it.

It's worth a try.. Or you could just buy Virtual PC...

[Gregjazz]

Yeah, I've seen Linux on Macs. It should work fine with AGS.

[Dennis Ploeger]

Hi there!

I understand that the Linux port runs using the Allegro library.

Allegro itself is also released as a Mac OS X-Port.

So, if I would have the sources of the linux port I could give it a shot...

But, looking at the FAQ, the sources are hard to get.

Chris? Chris? Do you hear me? ;-)

Regards,
deep

[edmundito]

I've heard that allegro is indeed available for OS X, which is cool... but I think EvilTypeGuy who does the linux/freebsd ports should have a shot at the mac version. I don't know if he has access to a mac, but he could try.

Some of the things that would have to be changed for a mac version would be the way the games handle resolution because I doubt a mac would go less than 640x480. It would probably have to go to that resolution and then scale the graphics up. Also, widescreen issues because most macs are now widescreen, too.

[LGM]

So basically, what it comes down to is: Macs are horrible, over-complicated, messy pieces of machinery intended only for simpleton's, fanboys, and production companies..

[Dennis Ploeger]

Hmm..

not to start a flamewar here, but I think, you've never tried to work with a mac. I'm currently testing one out and really think, that I should buy me this one...

So I take your post as "I am not interested in a Mac-Port". Let's leave it to that, shall we?


Regards,
deep

[edmundito]

So basically, what it comes down to is: Macs are horrible, over-complicated, messy pieces of machinery intended only for simpleton's, fanboys, and production companies..

No.

Ps- http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=36

[Adamski]

So basically, what it comes down to is: Macs are horrible, over-complicated, messy pieces of machinery intended only for simpleton's, fanboys, and production companies..

I think you should re-word your post, unless you want to sound like a silly person regurgatating the words of the "we hate macs for no good reason" sheep-parade

[AGA]

And to remove the apostrophe from "simpleton's". It's not wise to call people stupid using mis-spelled words...

[MrColossal]

It's just a joke calm down...

LGM, it's not fair to attack someone for their computer purchase... Especially when they are obviously of lower intelligence that they didn't know they were buying a crappy computer... Ok?

Spoiler

yes jokes... I personally would like a mac port because that just means more games and everyone loves those

[close]

[lgm]

Yes. Don't get me wrong. I adore Macs for their production values and speed.. But they are no good for personal computing.

I've USED Macs alot, so I know from experience. But it mostly WAS a joke.

I wouldn't mind owning a dual-processor G5 and a copy of Premiere.

[scotch]

buh? I mac is almost the same as a PC these days, but with a bit of a different (perhaps a bit better) processor.  It just doesn't run windows, that's the only difference for personal computing.
If AGS was ported to a mac it'd work just the same.  They are not over complicated, you could probably say because of the control apple has on both the hardware and software they are much more elegant.

Now too expensive and proprietary, is one thing they are

CJ, the editor uses WxWindows, right? Would it be too much work to make it cross platform in (perhaps the distant) future?

[Scummbuddy]

I'm pretty sure the hassle to handle mouse clicks the same as a right mouse click of a windows on a mac would complicate matters so much that you would need some sort of re-mouse-clickulator, which is a concept so rediculous that it would make me want to laugh out loud.

[scotch]

Well there's nothing stopping you using a two button mouse, or making a control click activate right click on single button mice, or something.

[eric --]

Yeah, I've seen Linux on Macs. It should work fine with AGS.

no it can't be unfortunately : those binaries for linux are for x86 only, not for power pc processors.
The source code should be recompiled.

[simulacra]

I would be very happy if there could be a MacOS X port of the run-time engine. You see, several prospective players of the game I have been developing for the last two years have asked me about it and I have been turning them down.

I realize that 98% of the AGS users are using PCs (as CJ states in the FAQ), but I believe that the reason for this is that the editor and the runtimes aren't available for Macs. As a PC user, I wouldn't use Mac-only software too.

Due to the large number of requests for this, I wonder if this could be accomplished somehow. I mean, it is not as if it would harm the AGS community - quite the opposite: games would reach a larger audience (and would have to be designed for one mouse button or alt-clicks).

Heck, I even have programmers in my beta-test team that are hassling me to do a port. (And no, I didn't develop a game for two years just to steal it or distribute "how to hack your savegames" tools on the web.) Allegro seems compatible with MacOS X... so what are we waiting for? Let's give it a shot. Or is there something I have missed?

Ben Jordan ... go create! (Oh, got carried away there. Sorry.)

[edmundito]

You know, the only reason that's stopping from switching to Mac is AGS. But now that this PC can run it anyway, what's stopping me from buy an extra computer?