Mac client?

[Illya]

Since all Macs can run Windows with Bootcamp, developing a native client would be a waste of precious time and resources.

[ArkhamNative]

Quite a lot of people were vocal on the SWTOR site about why that MMO should be on Mac. During all that I looked to a Mac games blog's forums. The site's members had adopted a policy of not promoting/pleading for Mac versions on forums. They said that it basically did nothing to change developer's minds. Worse, it usually devolved into senseless platform wars and statistics.

I can see their point, sort of. Some developers decide to do Mac-native versions, some don't. Recently we've seen Borderlands 2, Diablo 3, Walking Dead, BioShock Infinite, Game of Thrones, Tomb Raider (2013), and dozens more launch or port to Mac without any prompting from Mac faithful. Even indie developers are porting to Mac-native and making money. And obviously The Elder Scrolls Online MMO is launching Mac OS-native in a few months. (How better to entice whole cross-platform WoW guilds to switch?) Mac gamers have plenty to play, and an increasing number of games each year. Boot Camp and WINE is a niche "power user" hobby, like people who assemble their own PCs. The majority don't and never will.

So as for FFXIV for Mac... In a sense SE has already made their decision by not offering Mac at launch, and again by not launching with a Mac version on Steam. If Mac support is really important, then people might do best to lend their support the developers who do support the Mac.

[Bossycow]

Quite a lot of people were vocal on the SWTOR site about why that MMO should be on Mac. During all that I looked to a Mac games blog's forums. The site's members had adopted a policy of not promoting/pleading for Mac versions on forums. They said that it basically did nothing to change developer's minds. Worse, it usually devolved into senseless platform wars and statistics.

I can see their point, sort of. Some developers decide to do Mac-native versions, some don't. Recently we've seen Borderlands 2, Diablo 3, Walking Dead, BioShock Infinite, Game of Thrones, Tomb Raider (2013), and dozens more launch or port to Mac without any prompting from Mac faithful. Even indie developers are porting to Mac-native and making money. And obviously The Elder Scrolls Online MMO is launching Mac OS-native in a few months. (How better to entice whole cross-platform WoW guilds to switch?) Mac gamers have plenty to play, and an increasing number of games each year. Boot Camp and WINE is a niche "power user" hobby, like people who assemble their own PCs. The majority don't and never will.

So as for FFXIV for Mac... In a sense SE has already made their decision by not offering Mac at launch, and again by not launching with a Mac version on Steam. If Mac support is really important, then people might do best to lend their support the developers who do support the Mac.

This guy gets it.

That last post above this one... saddens me.

[SolusekRo]

As an old PC turned Mac user I can understand this issue. Played everquest 2 from launch until 2 years ago ( fried my computer 4 times) but honestly it would lead to more maintences, patches, and crashes. There is a limit to how open one game can be.

[Bakiraka]

I gotta be honest, I think I would rather them spend time making butts bigger like all those threads in general discussion were asking for than make the game more inviting to *shudder* ... Mac users.

[Captaindownsyndrome]

i would like see it on mac and linux as more who can play ffxiv the better , but best chance get on linux is the steam os as for mac wine has gold rating for game and even installs without work around unlike linux you may give it shot

[ArkhamNative]

From the Feb 20 2014 GameWatch interview with Yoshi-P translation by Reinheart (as ever, it's greatly appreciated):

GW: Personally I was curious about the Mac version from today’s presentation. I believe this was the first time you mentioned about the Mac version. How much can we expect for that happening?

Y: Right now it’s still at a level where I’m joking about it to the development team (laugh).

GW: You’re saying that now, but in actual you guys are secretly working on it?

Y: No (laugh)

GW: You sure?

Y: Within the development team there are talks like “Why aren’t we going to do Xbox One?”. Just like how we said that as long as Xbox doesn’t change their closed network policy it’s going to be hard. It’s same here, Mac’s demands are pretty big, right now I’m just mumbling to myself “I want Mac version”, that’s about it for now (laugh).

GW: I would like to see it happen, but doesn’t look like it’s something that’s going to happen this year.

Y: That’s not possible. Sadly, we don’t have any margin in the current development line.

Edit: Oh, just to clarify the above and an earlier post: There's no "Apple approval" process required for Mac software. There are many distribution systems other than Apple's Mac App Store. Apple has no involvement with those (no restrictions, no revenue sharing, etc). Steam is one, and most online Mac stores offer downloads directly. Plus with MMOs, most of the game is downloaded by the launcher directly from SE anyway (just like with the Windows version).

[Gramul]

There's no "Apple approval" process required for Mac software. There are many distribution systems other than Apple's Mac App Store.

I'm not 100% clear on the details, but Apple usually requires ports to go through an approval process.
And it's very rare you'll see a big name port not on Mac App.

[ArkhamNative]

I'm not 100% clear on the details, but Apple usually requires ports to go through an approval process.
And it's very rare you'll see a big name port not on Mac App.

If developers go through Apple's App Stores, there are rules, definitely, and an approval process, and Apple takes a percentage (just like stores like Best Buy, Amazon and Steam do), but none of this would keep most games out.

But Mac software doesn't have to use the Apple store. MMOs like WoW and probably TESO sell their stuff separately. The reason most games do go through the app store is they already follow all the rules and the store has a huge customer base. But what I said above is true. If devs don't use the App store, Apple gets no say and no cut.

[Marishi-Ten]

If developers go through Apple's App Stores, there are rules, definitely, and an approval process, and Apple takes a percentage (just like stores like Best Buy, Amazon and Steam do), but none of this would keep most games out.

But Mac software doesn't have to use the Apple store. MMOs like WoW and probably TESO sell their stuff separately. The reason most games do go through the app store is they already follow all the rules and the store has a huge customer base. But what I said above is true. If devs don't use the App store, Apple gets no say and no cut.

Fun Fact:

Apple charges developers who wish to update/patch their programs on the App Store. The devs have to PAY APPLE to fix their own software. It gets better. If Apple deems the patch to be in violation of their ToS, they reserve the right to refuse the update while not offering reimbursement to the dev. You're essentially paying an absurd amount for an Apple employee to look at your patch so he can tell you if it's up to their standards or not.