City of Heroes on Mac: Difference between revisions

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== Overview ==
== Overview ==
There are various ways to operate the [[Game Client]] on the Apple Macintosh.
There are two game clients supported to play Homecoming:


== Mac Client ==
*[[Homecoming Launcher]], which works on older and newer Mac systems from Intel to Apple Silicon (M1, M2, etc.)
'''City of Heroes for Mac OS X''' was made possible using TransGaming's Cider Portability Engine, which acts as a "wrapper" around the game software, enabling it to run seamlessly on Intel-based Macs.
*[[LaunchCat]], which works on MacOS versions from High Sierra all the way to Sonoma.


TransGaming, Inc., is a leader in the development of unique software portability products that facilitate the deployment of games across multiple platforms. TransGaming's portability technologies significantly reduce the time-to-market for and costs associated with multi-platform game releases.
== Requirements ==
Essentially any post-shutdown (ie, post-2012) Mac will work.


November 7, 2008, saw the beginning of the Mac Client's closed beta testing. [http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Number=12449959#Post12449959]
Specific to Macs using Apple Silicon, the Rosetta 2 library will prompt to install when playing City of Heroes.  This is required as Rosetta 2 contains X86 emulation instructions City of Heroes needs to function.  Graphics support from Rosetta 2 will emulate the Intel HD Graphics package (with similar options that aren't supported on Rosetta 2 disabled such as Depth of Field and Bloom).
<!-- Closed beta updater: ftp://client.coh.com/US/CoH_MacClosedBetaUpdater_US.dmg -->


=== What do we know? ===
== LaunchCat ==
* The client will be available at no extra cost (as a download) for anyone that has an active CoH Account. [http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Number=12373095#Post12373095]
Mac players can get started on Homecoming: City of Heroes by installing [[LaunchCat]]. The author supports the installer [https://forums.homecomingservers.com/forum/12-help-amp-support/ on the Help & Support forums].
* Those who use the Mac Client will connect to the same servers as those connecting with the PC Client. [http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Number=12373095#Post12373095]
* It is not actually a full client written natively for the Mac; it is a "wrapper" program like [[#Wine|Wine]] and [[#CrossOver|CrossOver]], but more specialized.
* Purchasing the Mac Special Edition or the Goodie Pack (available separately in early 2009) will unlock special items: [http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Number=12371355#Post12371355]
** [[Mission Teleporter]]
** [[Unlockable Costume Pieces#Valkyrie|Valkyrie-themed costume set]].


=== What don't we know? ===
== Historical pre-shutdown ==
* Everything else.
=== NCSoft Mac client ===
 
{{historical|type=section|customreason=that no longer applies: the TransGaming Mac Client is unusable to play}}
=== Mac Client Links ===
:''Main Article:'' [[Mac Special Edition]]
* [http://www.plaync.com/us/news/2008/10/ncsoft_and_tran.html Official News Release]
The '''Mac Special Edition''' was implemented with TransGaming's Cider Portability Engine, which acted as a "wrapper" around the game software, enabling it to run on Intel-based Macs running Mac OS X. November 7, 2008, saw the beginning of the Mac Client's closed beta testing. The edition was short lived, as in 2009 Cedega was shut down and TransGaming went out of business shortly thereafter.
* [http://www.cityofheroes.com/macbeta/ Sign up for the Mac Beta]
* [http://www.gametreeonline.com/NCsoft/City-of-Heroes/ Pre-Order City of Macintosh]
* [http://www.transgaming.com TransGaming]


<!-- Don't get into a lot of detail on the rest of these...beyond the scope of a wiki! -->
<!-- Don't get into a lot of detail on the rest of these...beyond the scope of a wiki! -->
== Boot Camp ==
Overview on running with Boot Camp.
=== Boot Camp Links ===
[http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html Boot Camp]
== Parallels ==
Overview on running under Parallels.
=== Parallels Links ===
[http://www.parallels.com Parallels]


== WINE ==
=== Boot Camp ===
Overview on running under WINE/Wine.
{{historical|type=section|customreason=that no longer applies: Boot Camp has been deemed End-of-Life by Apple. At this time it is generally easier to use WINE to play}}
Running City of Heroes through Boot Camp is exactly like running it under Windows. Because it is running it under Windows. '''Boot Camp''' is Apple's officially supported method of [[Wikipedia:Dual Boot|dual booting]] a Mac computer.


=== WINE Links ===
Prior to the Mac client, Boot Camp was the preferred method of running City of Heroes as there were no extra emulation layers.
[http://www.winehq.org Wine]


== CrossOver ==
After you've installed/patched Windows on your Boot Camp partition, you can copy the client from an existing installation location or DVD, or grab the updater and download the current version.
Overview on running under CrossOver/CrossOver Gaming.


=== CrossOver Links ===
Read about the Windows [[Game Client|game client]] here.
[http://www.codeweavers.com CrossOver]


== See Also ==
== See also ==
* [[City of Heroes on Linux]]
* [[City of Heroes on Linux]] - Additional technical info on Wine, which is common to both.
* [https://archive.paragonwiki.com/wiki/City_of_Heroes_on_Mac Paragon Wiki Archive version of this same page]


[[Category:Game Client]]
[[Category:Game Client]]

Latest revision as of 14:24, 12 March 2024

Overview

There are two game clients supported to play Homecoming:

  • Homecoming Launcher, which works on older and newer Mac systems from Intel to Apple Silicon (M1, M2, etc.)
  • LaunchCat, which works on MacOS versions from High Sierra all the way to Sonoma.

Requirements

Essentially any post-shutdown (ie, post-2012) Mac will work.

Specific to Macs using Apple Silicon, the Rosetta 2 library will prompt to install when playing City of Heroes. This is required as Rosetta 2 contains X86 emulation instructions City of Heroes needs to function. Graphics support from Rosetta 2 will emulate the Intel HD Graphics package (with similar options that aren't supported on Rosetta 2 disabled such as Depth of Field and Bloom).

LaunchCat

Mac players can get started on Homecoming: City of Heroes by installing LaunchCat. The author supports the installer on the Help & Support forums.

Historical pre-shutdown

NCSoft Mac client

This section contains information that no longer applies: the TransGaming Mac Client is unusable to play City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.

Main Article: Mac Special Edition

The Mac Special Edition was implemented with TransGaming's Cider Portability Engine, which acted as a "wrapper" around the game software, enabling it to run on Intel-based Macs running Mac OS X. November 7, 2008, saw the beginning of the Mac Client's closed beta testing. The edition was short lived, as in 2009 Cedega was shut down and TransGaming went out of business shortly thereafter.


Boot Camp

This section contains information that no longer applies: Boot Camp has been deemed End-of-Life by Apple. At this time it is generally easier to use WINE to play City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.

Running City of Heroes through Boot Camp is exactly like running it under Windows. Because it is running it under Windows. Boot Camp is Apple's officially supported method of dual booting a Mac computer.

Prior to the Mac client, Boot Camp was the preferred method of running City of Heroes as there were no extra emulation layers.

After you've installed/patched Windows on your Boot Camp partition, you can copy the client from an existing installation location or DVD, or grab the updater and download the current version.

Read about the Windows game client here.

See also