Mac client needs to be reborn..? :(

[Nemna]

What was your procedure to request refund? I've had open tickets for a few days now asking for the same. Thanks

Mine were also open for a few days. I sent one in through the FFXIV general support system and another through the Square-Enix store. I'm not sure which one actually accomplished the desired outcome.

[Avenger]

There are aspects of the thread process scheduling for program parallelization that can be tuned by the Windows version that cannot be tuned by the Mac version. Due to this, situations arise where performance will not be elicited for portions of the game’s parallelization processing and the processing time for frames will be unstable.

Having some experience with parallel programming on the Mac as well as other platforms, I'm a bit puzzled by this, since the Mac has nice instruction and data parallel programming support via Grand Central Dispatch and OpenCL. Moreover, thread priority can certainly be adjusted, and real-time scheduling is also supported.

[Delily]

Having some experience with parallel programming on the Mac as well as other platforms, I'm a bit puzzled by this, since the Mac has nice parallel programming support via Grand Central Dispatch and OpenCL. Moreover, thread priority can certainly be adjusted, and real-time scheduling is also supported.

The question is how well Cider translates those calls.

[Avenger]

The question is how well Cider translates those calls.

Yep, Cider is the problem, no doubt.

[Gix]

All Blizzard games run better on Windows than they do on the Mac; but the Mac versions are native apps and, therefore, don't run like shit.

Guildwars 2 runs better on Windows than it does on the Mac. The Mac client is labeled as a Beta, it's free for all account owners, it also uses a Cider wrapper and it still doesn't run like shit.

The Elder Scrolls Online runs better on Windows than it does on the Mac. In fact, the Windows version features facial animations that aren't available on the Mac (yet). The Mac client came packaged with the Windows copy. It also uses a Cider wrapper and it still doesn't run like shit.

Final Fantasy 14 runs better on Windows than it does on the Mac. Final Fantasy 14 runs better on Windows (even when that Windows is in a virtual environment) on the Mac than the Mac client itself. The Mac client also uses a Cider wrapper but it runs like shit.

[Kerwin]

We don't simulate running Window with Boot Camp, we run it directly. Boot Camp modifies the MBR so BootX (the name for the boot loader) can load Windows as opposed to OS X. Before virtualization, having multiple OSs on single computer was a pretty common thing for most developers and advanced computer users. It's neither inferior nor superior.

Tell me what programs windows can't run that macs can at the same efficiency then.

[Avenger]

I just started the Mac FFXIV client up, and in the game start screen when I scrolled between "Configuration" and "Exit" I noticed large red text that would momentarily flash in the middle of the screen. The text read:

ß Version ß Version ß Version


Perhaps this explains why it's not quite ready to be played.

I think it would make sense to declare the current Mac client an open Beta version and to stop selling it until performance issues and bugs have been addressed.

[Delily]

Tell me what programs windows can't run that macs can at the same efficiency then.

I'm assuming you're not a developer.

[FayKayuun]

I just started the Mac FFXIV client up, and in the game start screen when I scrolled between "Configuration" and "Exit" I noticed large red text that would momentarily flash in the middle of the screen. The text read:

ß Version ß Version ß Version


Perhaps this explains why it's not quite ready to be played.

I think it would make sense to declare the current Mac client an open Beta version and to stop selling it until performance issues and bugs have been addressed.

This is really the most groan-worthy part. It was clearly not ready to go, much less be paid for.

I think the best move is to offer it for free alongside a PC License as a beta. I hardly think anyone would object to that.

[Lemage]

OpenGL 4.1, is not inferior to Direct3D9. It's pretty much on par with Direct3D11. My 2013 Macbook Pro is more than capable of handling a DX9 game. While I have nothing to say about thread scheduling, the Transgaming Cider middleware you're using is definitely something you could factor out if you did a native port. I know a native port is out of the question, OS X users aren't worth the effort, this would just be a quick easy way to bring FFXIV to Mac users, but really, I would have to preferred to wait A LOT longer for something that was done right than quick and easy. I know I'm beating against a wall with this, but please, consider a native client.

This is why I just use wine and get better performance....