Joystiq

Half-Life now runs on Mac OS X and Linux, we assure you

David Hinkle — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:30:00 EST

Now with a Steam page that doesn't expressly list Mac as a supported platform, we understand your skepticism regarding the headline to this very post. Indeed Half-Life has been ported to both OS X and Linux today.

We tried it on OS X and it totally worked, though we've yet to try it on Linux. Odds are if you have a Steam account, you probably already own Half-Life - but if for some reason you need to purchase this iconic shooter, it'll set you back $9.99 on Steam right now.

Half-Life now runs on Mac OS X and Linux, we assure you originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Limited Origin for Mac alpha client launches, includes free copy of Bookworm

Mike Schramm — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

EA has announced an alpha version of the Origin client for Mac is available for testing to a limited number of users in the US and UK. Origin for Mac will eventually evolve, offering a similar experience for Mac users as already seen on PC. In its current form, however, the Mac client does not include the ability to stream gameplay directly to Twitch or purchase software. According to the Origin FAQ, those features will be added soon.

Origin for Mac requires OS X 10.6.8 or newer, with an Intel Core Duo 2 processor or better.

As a reward for those willing to test the client, EA is giving away a copy of Popcap's Bookworm to all downloaders, so log in and download it while you can. Spaces are limited.

Limited Origin for Mac alpha client launches, includes free copy of Bookworm originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GOG launches Mac support, 50 games available now

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:35:00 EST

Good Old Games is expanding to include not only Mac games, but PC games for Mac. Right now GOG has 50 games available for Mac, 28 of which are only on GOG. Games include: Syndicate, the Ultima and Wing Commander franchises, The Witcher 2 (all out for the first time on Mac today), Machinarium, FTL, Syndicate, Sim City 2000, Dungeon Keeper, Tiny and Big: Grandpa's Leftovers and Crusader: No Remorse. Find the complete list of Mac games on GOG here.

GOG is hosting a Mac sale today, which includes The Witcher Enhanced Edition, Crusader: No Remorse, Theme Hospital, Little Big Adventure, Postal Classic and Uncut, and Simcity 2000 for half off.

All GOG games are hybrid, meaning both Mac and PC versions come for one price: Buy it for PC, own it for Mac and vice versa. GOG hosts a native OS X downloader app as well. There are eight free games available for Mac users to test out the system, including Beneath a Steel Sky, Tyrian 2000, Ultima 4 and Warsaw.

Thanks for not making liars out of us, GOG.

Continue reading GOG launches Mac support, 50 games available now

GOG launches Mac support, 50 games available now originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: The 7th Guest free on iOS and Mac App store today

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:45:00 EST

In 1993, we were too busy getting our chat room trolling on to play classic adventure games like The 7th Guest. Thankfully for us, modern technology lets us revisit older works via new platforms. The 7th Guest, for instance, has been available for quite some time on iOS and OS X.

But hey, maybe you - like us - have yet to purchase Trilobyte's seminal work? You'll be glad to hear, then, that the OS X and iOS versions of The 7th Guest are totally free today in celebration of May Day. We're not second-guessing it either! Free game!

PSA: The 7th Guest free on iOS and Mac App store today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 May 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next OS X update blocks unsigned apps by default, unless security adjusted [update]

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST

[Update: The original version of this article incorrectly conveyed the restrictiveness of the default security in this OS X update, and has been edited to reflect the scope of software affected. Joystiq apologizes for the error.]

Apple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, which just started its "Developer Preview" period and will be released to the populous sometime this year, features a security protocol called Gatekeeper, which prevents unsigned applications from running, depending on user preferences. Gamasutra reports Gatekeeper is set to only allow applications from the Mac App Store and from developer who've registered with Apple.

This means that, for any games and apps made by designers who have not registered with Apple, you will have to adjust Gatekeeper's initial restrictions.

Since you can allow content from unidentified/non-App Store sources, it doesn't seem like the system itself is inherently malicious or anti-gaming. It is, however, prohibitive, and may affect off-store apps downloaded by users unfamiliar with Gatekeeper.

Next OS X update blocks unsigned apps by default, unless security adjusted [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game Center coming to OS X Mountain Lion

David Hinkle — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST

Since its introduction to iOS 4.1 back in 2010, Game Center hasn't evolved much. Other than dumping Game Center onto iPad later that same year, Apple has been content to just let it linger there. Now almost two years later, Game Center will finally be on every Apple product you own. There is no escaping it.

Our sister site Engadget got some hands-on time with the upcoming OS X update, OS X Mountain Lion, dissecting it down to the molecule. Of particular note to gamers is the availability of the Game Center app on the OS X platform, including all of its major features: voice chat, leaderboards and online multiplayer. The iOS service has over 100 million registered users.

Game Center coming to OS X Mountain Lion originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Vita's Feb. 8 update adds video capture, OS X support, GPS tracking

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

PlayStation Vita firmware version 1.60 is set to drop on February 8 (as least in Japan), and it'll bring several major features when it arrives. Among those features are standards like GPS tracking via a newly added Maps application, the ability to capture video, and the release of a support application for Mac OS X. It can also now serve mixed vanilla/chocolate froyo swirl. Finally!

Additionally, the update will banish mentions of the the phrase "PlayStation Network" from various services and replace it with the newly renamed "Sony Entertainment Network" branding. Considering that the PSP is still supported by Sony but has yet to receive any form of Mac support for content management, we're gonna go ahead and call this a big step forward.

PlayStation Vita's Feb. 8 update adds video capture, OS X support, GPS tracking originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free, open source FPS 'Red Eclipse' hits version 1.0

Mike Schramm — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 05:00:00 EST

Red Eclipse is a full-featured, Quake 3 Arena-style first person shooter with, as you can see in the trailer after the break, some nice touches, including a wallrunning system, lots of bright colors exploding around and what looks like pretty good ragdoll physics. Oh, and one more thing: It's completely free and open source.

The game, based on the Cube Engine 2 system, has just hit version 1.0 -- and, outside of any actual gameplay, just having a fully-built FPS game available to the open source community is a nice bonus. With a code library like this, developers might be able to hook it up to a Kinect, port it to any number of platforms, or do whatever else those crazy coders dream about at night.

Or you can just download and play it for free -- the game's available on Windows, Linux or Mac OS X. This is all thanks to the hard work of volunteers, so if you do like the game and/or use it in one of your own projects, we're sure donations to their cause would be much appreciated.

Continue reading Free, open source FPS 'Red Eclipse' hits version 1.0

Free, open source FPS 'Red Eclipse' hits version 1.0 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source SDK being patched for mods on Mac

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:20:00 EST

Since Steam launched for Mac earlier this month, those of us enjoying the service have been seeking the answer to one crucial question: Will we ever be able to shoot Nazi dinosaurs like everyone else? It appears our answer is "yes, eventually," as one Valve employee took to the publisher's forums to respond to fans questions about whether Source mods would be available on Mac, saying, "We are working on a code update so you can compile your mods for OS X."

The employee doesn't go into specifics, but MacStories guesses we could see the update as soon as WWDC. Frankly, it's possible that the update will arrive around then, but we'll probably be so ensconced in news about the new iPhone that Nazi dinosaurs will be far from the top of our priority list. Oh, who're we kidding? Killing Nazi dinosaurs is always near the top of the priority list.

[Via MacStories]

Source SDK being patched for mods on Mac originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 May 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Half-Life 2 for Mac hits Steam on May 26

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:30:00 EST

Wait, isn't that ... tomorrow? Why yes it is! Turns out that the third week of Mac releases on Steam will include Gordon Freeman's second adventure against the Combine in Half-Life 2. Rather than simply release a press blurb about the game's forthcoming availability, Valve has created this parody of Apple's "1984" advertisement featuring Alyx Vance. It is, much like the original, rather impressive (especially if you're Half-Life dorks like we are).

Valve has not revealed the price for Half-Life 2 for Mac nor confirmed if Episodes 1 & 2 will also be made available tomorrow. The PC version of HL2 for Steam is currently priced at $20.

Half-Life 2 for Mac hits Steam on May 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 25 May 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sam & Max voted as next Telltale series for Macs

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:20:00 EST

[GinnyN]

With Guybrush Threepwood fans taken care of, Telltale's adventure game-lovin' enthusiasts have voted Sam & Max as the next title to get Mac-ified. The Telltale blog confirmed the choice yesterday, saying that the other two titles up for porting (Wallace & Gromit and Strong Bad) will be playable on OS X "within the course of this year." Alongside the announcement (which didn't include a release date), the site posted a handful of "propaganda" created by voters to sway others to their side. We've posted one of our faves above, but we suggest checking out the whole lot.

Sam & Max voted as next Telltale series for Macs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Windows? Use Linux, Intel Macs for PC Gaming with CrossOver

Ross Miller — Fri, 23 May 2008 09:32:00 EST

Filed under: Mac, PC

Sure, Mac gaming is becoming less of an oxymoron these days, but if you want to game with a keyboard, Windows is still the way to go. Fortunately, Codeweavers' has concocted a solution for those who want the PC gaming experience on Mac (and Linux!) without using Boot Camp or partitioning drives. Introducing CrossOver Games.

We're not going to get into the technical side of it because, quite frankly, we don't understand it all. The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) has an extensive hands-on and gallery walkthrough (see below) of the $40 program, and found the software satisfying overall, especially for use with Steam. (You can view a compatibility list here.) There's also a 30-day free trial available.

Gallery: TUAW's Hands on with CrossOver Games

No Windows? Use Linux, Intel Macs for PC Gaming with CrossOver originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 May 2008 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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