Timeframe Mac Client

[snokion]

Hi! Is there a timeframe where the mac client will be available?
Just because some users are waiting for subscriptions and others like me, (only owning mac's) are in doubt of installing the Windows version through bootcamp again or is that just a waste of time?

plz some info! Days? Weeks? Months?

hope ofcourse it's days, but understand that the client must be reliable before it is released, but if its weeks then at least i know that for me its best to install bootcamp again and run from windows.

greets Snokion!

Hope to get some answers ---Soon---

[Petremir]

I doubt we'll get more than a soon.

My experience of the mac client in beta suggests its a lot more stable than many are finding the PC client at the moment.

[snokion]

didn't realy encouter big problems in the mac beta as well... thats why i removed my bootcamp... hoping in would come out with the release of ROR.

[Beruthiel]

I run lotro on an Imac using bootcamp and have had zero problems for 2 years. Just thought I'd toss that out there

[snokion]

have been doing the same thing... but having to reboot and have a partition especially for lotto is not what i want if there is a mac client available

but it looks like i will install bootcamp again to get the taste of ROR!

[Maegilmir]

Yes, been looking for ANYTHING with a timeframe for the Mac Client. We need to pressure them into at least telling us something, and to stop treating us like the kooky, red-headed, &&&&&&& step-children of the year 1984. It's gotten beyond old, and please don't throw out platitudes of our "rarity" in gaming. They didn't have to make or announce one in the first place but they did due to issues with Windows 8 sucking MUCH, and needing to branch out.

[Lythlyn]

Can someone please let us know something? I pre-purchased the Legendary pack for Riders of Rohan. I just re-upped my VIP status on the release date. I patched everything and went to run the game through Crossover and .... nothing. Upon looking further, the game will not work with the Wine emulator. I'm stuck. Please let us know whether we are looking at a few days, a few weeks, a quarter, whatever, so I can make a decision on buying bootcamp now too.

Please!!!!???

[Thor1966]

I've made several attempts to find something out over Twitter, but they've been very unresponsive to my queries... I've resolved to be patient. I prefer the mac, but I do have a few laggy pc options at my disposal. The file planet unofficial client worked nicely, and I have exhausted several "trial" periods on Crossover (which doesn't even work now as many have said). I haven't been desperate enough to explore bootcamp or wine options.

"Soon" is good enough for now, I guess. Like we have another choice.

[Maegilmir]

Been 2 weeks now. We should have heard something by now. All we know is "Not months...." etc. WHat does that mean? I'm doing my best to deal with BootCamp and Windows xp 32 bit edition, and I'm not up for reinstalling BootCamp to use a 120 dollar copy of Windows 7.

Can we get a more definite date? Because as of this moment I see no reason to continue my Membership until the CLient appears as it already cost me 50 dollars to get, I'm not shelling out 120 MORE.

[Flatlineldir]

Look ant the bright side: it's better not to hear anything than to hear the usual corporate &&&& talk (aka: "soon")

[Yula_the_Mighty]

Been 2 weeks now. We should have heard something by now. All we know is "Not months...." etc. WHat does that mean? I'm doing my best to deal with BootCamp and Windows xp 32 bit edition, and I'm not up for reinstalling BootCamp to use a 120 dollar copy of Windows 7.

Can we get a more definite date? Because as of this moment I see no reason to continue my Membership until the CLient appears as it already cost me 50 dollars to get, I'm not shelling out 120 MORE.

I work in software development not for Turbine. I can't say that our practices work the same way as Turbines. There is good chance they are similar.

When we are forced into a fixed delivery date, our customers are not happy. We deliver what every dung we have at the moment. We often use a flexible delivery date. We have no idea what that date will be until the decision is made to ship the release candidate to the customers. Depending on the size of the software application we will build one or two release candidates a week. Each candidate gets put thru a series of tests to see how many remaining or new problems exist. The test results are sent to the launch team for analysis. They will make a go no go decision.

It is never a easy prediction. As soon as you think two more builds. We will be done. Something terrible happens. The fixes do not work. They break something else. Turbine is no doubt closer than we have been sometimes. It is three months after the tentative date. We done 25 release candidates. None have been cleared for launch. Finally 26, get a go for launch.

Often this is the choice:

1) Launch on schedule with a defective product.

2) Apply a hold at launch minus - 2 days. Have periodic attempts to lift the hold.

[Amarram]

As much as I'd like to know when it'll be here, chances are - if Turbine hasn't given an answer yet - is because they don't know or it's against their policy.

So thinking more realistic thoughts ... how about possibility to sign up for a mailing list or something - so we'll get a mail once the Mac client is out?
That way we can all go back to trying to install Bootcamp, Windows, patches, patches, patches ... Lotro, more patches, etc.

[Apukjij]

hi all found this on the Ubergizmo site this morning. ..."According to Turbine’s VP of Product Development, Craig Alexander, who spoke to the folks at TUAW, it seems that the Mac client for Lord of the Rings online will be coming this week. Apparently why the Mac version of the game took so long was because the developers were trying to build a native port, rather than depend on emulation or other methods. The Mac version is expected to be identical to the PC version, and it seems that the expansion for the game, Riders of Rohan, was developed with the Mac’s client in mind. The client will be downloadable as a beta and will be able to be downloaded directly from Turbine’s website when available."...

[Sapience]

As much as I'd like to know when it'll be here, chances are - if Turbine hasn't given an answer yet - is because they don't know or it's against their policy.

So thinking more realistic thoughts ... how about possibility to sign up for a mailing list or something - so we'll get a mail once the Mac client is out?
That way we can all go back to trying to install Bootcamp, Windows, patches, patches, patches ... Lotro, more patches, etc.

Or you could download it here.

This is the MAC Client ONLY. It is a big, and I do mean big, download. It is a direct download, no Pando, no happy cloud, etc. It's going to take a significant amount of time to DL it all. If I recall correctly it's 16GB give or take.

We're still sorting some issues with the MAC client so please report bugs you see using the bug reports. You'll also find we've opened a new forum for MAC Technical Support.

[JanTATW]

Or you could download it here.

This is the MAC Client ONLY. It is a big, and I do mean big, download. It is a direct download, no Pando, no happy cloud, etc. It's going to take a significant amount of time to DL it all. If I recall correctly it's 16GB give or take.

We're still sorting some issues with the MAC client so please report bugs you see using the bug reports. You'll also find we've opened a new forum for MAC Technical Support.

Is this download a kind of BETA thing? Or is it a final client that will be just updated once the final version of the Mac Game Version is released? I mean I don't wanna download this 16GB now and than have download it again in some weeks. Anyone?

[Celestrata]

Is this download a kind of BETA thing? Or is it a final client that will be just updated once the final version of the Mac Game Version is released? I mean I don't wanna download this 16GB now and than have download it again in some weeks. Anyone?

This is a full client, and it will continue to patch up as we go forward.

[furtim]

Huzzah!

As a side question, will the Mac client ever be available through Steam?

[Petremir]

Is this download a kind of BETA thing? Or is it a final client that will be just updated once the final version of the Mac Game Version is released? I mean I don't wanna download this 16GB now and than have download it again in some weeks. Anyone?

Fairly sure the BETA labels just a way for them to excuse a few extra bugs.

The way things tend to work with turbines patcher is that different eco systems don't mix (3 lotro patch eco systems are known about live, bullroarer and Palantir) though this is labled as BETA its on the Live eco systems so should patch happily as long as Turbine support a Mac Client.

[Toddlepip]

Huzzah!

As a side question, will the Mac client ever be available through Steam?

Quote from Turbine on this;

Alexander said that as the client moves out of beta, the company will consider making it available on Steam or other downloadable platforms. The Mac App Store probably isn't a possibility just yet, because Turbine depends on the game's microtransactions for profit, and running those through Apple's marketplace would just cost too much at this point.

source: http://www.tuaw.com/2012/10/31/lord-...-a-mac-client/

So something which may come in the future.

[Samaelh]

Instead of downloading the full Mac client and data, would it be possible to download just the client and to use data files from Windows client ?

[Toddlepip]

Instead of downloading the full Mac client and data, would it be possible to download just the client and to use data files from Windows client ?

Because the Mac client is a native application it is basically all built into the actual 'The Lord of the Rings Online app which prevents this being done (i.e. downloading the launcher only part even if you can view the actual contents) Also, until I d/l it I can't be sure but it's very likely to file structures etc. are different.

I did think it may be possible to alter the bullroarer to live from the closed beta version but it doesn't seem to work and anyhow, a fresh install of a new native application seems a good thing to do to avoid copying over any potential corruption etc.

[Yula_the_Mighty]

I did think it may be possible to alter the bullroarer to live from the closed beta version but it doesn't seem to work and anyhow, a fresh install of a new native application seems a good thing to do to avoid copying over any potential corruption etc.

You can't use any Bullroarer files in live. There is marker in the header of each file that defines what installation is for such as Windows Palantir, Windows Bullroarer, Windows Live, Mac Bullroarer ... If all the files do not match, you get a data corruption error. You have to put the right file back. Or uninstall. Reinstall with one of the correct installers.

It is done this way because each installation is hard coded to connect to a different set of servers. In some cases like Windows Live and Mac Live - they will share the world servers. The patch service, patch files and perhaps even the patch servers will be different.

[Toddlepip]

You can't use any Bullroarer files in live. There is marker in the header of each file that defines what installation is for such as Windows Palantir, Windows Bullroarer, Windows Live, Mac Bullroarer ... If all the files do not match, you get a data corruption error. You have to put the right file back. Or uninstall. Reinstall with one of the correct installers.

It is done this way because each installation is hard coded to connect to a different set of servers. In some cases like Windows Live and Mac Live - they will share the world servers. The patch service, patch files and perhaps even the patch servers will be different.

Thanks for the info. I guessed as much but was just looking along the lines of the hack used on;

lotro on Mac...

But there is little point as a fresh install just makes sense.

My only problem is that the download speed has been 50kB/sec or less for me since I first started to d/l a few hours ago. Speedtest gives my normal 256kB/sec so not sure if it is just bandwidth load on the file server or something else.

Anyone experiencing slow download speed? Would help me diagnose it.

[Yula_the_Mighty]

My only problem is that the download speed has been 50kB/sec or less for me since I first started to d/l a few hours ago. Speedtest gives my normal 256kB/sec so not sure if it is just bandwidth load on the file server or something else.

Are you sure you are downloading:
http://www.tuaw.com/2012/10/31/lord-...-a-mac-client/
and not something else. I am getting over two Megabytes a second. I've downloaded at least 250 Megabytes in the time it took me to write this post. I will be downloaded in under two hours.

[Toddlepip]

Are you sure you are downloading:
http://www.tuaw.com/2012/10/31/lord-...-a-mac-client/
and not something else. I am getting over two Megabytes a second. I've downloaded at least 250 Megabytes in the time it took me to write this post. I will be downloaded in under two hours.

Yes, well at least from the link provided on that site which is the same from the Turbine site;

Turbine Support - How do I download and install LOTRO onto my computer?

It's unusual for downloads to be slow and why I asked so very helpful to know it's working fine for others. I can only guess it's an issue d/l from Europe or my ISP is traffic shaping http traffic downloads though I have not seen it before. Or an Akamai thing.