Gaming on OSX vs linux

[Maximilian]

Which is easier/better? For OSX i mean the x86 version rather than the PPC version.

Im more than satisfied with windows 7 but having inherited a G4 mac its just got me thinking about other OS's and im curious



Moved from PC Gaming

Anandtech PC Gaming Moderator
KeithTalent

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

I was under the distinct impression that gaming on either was a polite euphemism for reboot into windows.

 

[jlee]

You have Windows 7 and you want to game on OSX or Linux..? That's like saying you have a Corvette but want to race your Metro...

 

[Schadenfroh]

Windows is THE operating system for gaming and I am typing this from Linux.

 

[Maximilian]

You have Windows 7 and you want to game on OSX or Linux..? That's like saying you have a Corvette but want to race your Metro...

Never

"its just got me thinking about other OS's and im curious "

 

[lxskllr]

I'd say Linux is more feasible. Not because it's any easier, but there's more people hacking around with it getting stuff to work.

 

[KeypoX]

osx has more native games even some newer like dragon age: origins. Linux runs wine better so if your playing older games that wine supports linux would be better.

 

[Scotteq]

Very few modern titles are ported to OSx. And if I recall correctly, (like many virtualized environments) BootCamp doesn't support hardware level graphics acceleration.

So while you can game on OSx, you are limited to titles purchasable at the Apple Store.

I believe gaming support on Linux (through WINE) is a bit better, but...

 

[ViRGE]

Honestly, it depends. Virtually no-one releases commercial games for Linux, so if you're talking about "gaming" on Linux you're either talking about platform-independent gaming like Flash, or you're using WINE. The Mac on the other hand does get a major release every now and then, however few of those releases are ports - most of them are the PC game bundled with Transgaming's Cider, a WINE-derived wrapper.

As it stands the performance of WINE under Linux is much better than under Mac OS X, and that more or less extends to Cider too. If something can run under WINE (which is usually the case for most Cider games), then it's going to run better on Linux than it will Mac OS X. So in that respect if you're willing to do a bit more legwork, you're better off going Linux and buying PC games to run under WINE. Mac OS X's only real advantage is a few native ports, a few games that run under Cider but not WINE, and the fact that all of the above are fully supported solutions that you can install and play without doing any work. Mac games tend to be expensive though, so you're going to be paying for that luxury.

Very few modern titles are ported to OSx. And if I recall correctly, (like many virtualized environments) BootCamp doesn't support hardware level graphics acceleration.

So while you can game on OSx, you are limited to titles purchasable at the Apple Store.

I believe gaming support on Linux (through WINE) is a bit better, but...

Bootcamp isn't a virtualized environment. It's a true Windows environment, so it's no different than running Windows on a PC.

 

[sourceninja]

A lot of PC games are getting ported to OSX. None (virtually) are being ported to linux. In terms of running games via emulation, both use the same tool (wine). They work exactly the same in that situation.

I have a small bootcamp partition I use for playing games not ported to osx. But I'm happy to pick up any game that has been ported. The sad part is many OSX ports are done poorly (like dragon age) using this piece of garbage called cider, then they are never supported. EA is awesome at this.

My advice is to still use windows if you are a gamer, or switch to a console.

 

[Nothinman]

Which is easier/better? For OSX i mean the x86 version rather than the PPC version.

Of the two I'd have to go with Linux since that's where WINE gets the most love. But it's still pretty hit or miss. If you want you can check out the appdb on winehq.

A lot of PC games are getting ported to OSX

A lot?

 

[mmntech]

Very few modern titles are ported to OSx. And if I recall correctly, (like many virtualized environments) BootCamp doesn't support hardware level graphics acceleration.

So while you can game on OSx, you are limited to titles purchasable at the Apple Store.

I believe gaming support on Linux (through WINE) is a bit better, but...

As ViRGE said, Bootcamp isn't a virtualization. It's a set of drivers that allows Windows to work on Mac hardware. It runs natively on the platform as a dual-boot OS. It most certainly supports hardware level graphics acceleration.

I have a few games running through Windows 7 on my Macbook. Mostly older ones since the 9400M isn't fast enough for newer titles. Sins of a Solar Empire, KotOR, Sim City 4, Sam & Max Seasons 1 and 2, Trine, Empire at War. All run perfectly fine.

 

[Maximilian]

I see, so OSX gaming is higher quality but with very few choices, linux gaming has much more choice but its a bit hit or miss.

 

[Scotteq]

Re: Boot Camp comments


Dutifully Corrected in my little pea brain.. Thanks!

 

[sourceninja]

I see, so OSX gaming is higher quality but with very few choices, linux gaming has much more choice but its a bit hit or miss.

No, osx has native titles and the exact same non-native options as linux.

If you were not going to use windows for gaming, osx makes more sense then linux (cost not included).

It's simple

OSX:
Has big name native games (EA, Blizzard, etc)
Can use wine

Linux:
Can use wine.

I've also never seen a native linux game that didn't also have a mac version. So with osx you get everything linux gives you, plus all the native mac games.

 

[Nothinman]

I admit I don't pay close attention these days, but besides WoW what "big name native games" exist for OS X?

 

[sourceninja]

Dragon Age
Spore
Heroes of Newerth
Savage 2
Guitar Hero
Warhammer online
startrek dac
red alert 3
jade empire
prince of persia and two thrones
Civ4
bioshock
quake4
doom3
quake live
sims 3
starwars force unleashed
eve
lego batman/jones/starwars
City of heros
WoW
All blizzard games (warcraft 3, diablo 2, etc)
Neverwinter nights
Neverwinter nights 2
Call fo duty 4
age of empires 3
UT2003
UT2004
quakewars


Just a few I found with a quick google.

 

[MStele]

I admit I don't pay close attention these days, but besides WoW what "big name native games" exist for OS X?

OSX gets a small handfull of games each year. Of those games, they are usually ones that expect to hit a broad demographic. The average Apple user isn't a core gamer. If your running MacBook, Mac mini, or Imac (which are all pretty much the same chipset), your ability to upgrade is pretty much limited to harddrive and memory. They rely on integrated graphics to get the job done, which is a limiting factor for game developers who are thinking of developing for OSX. If your using one of the ridiculously expensive mac pros (not counting hackintosh) there are upgrade routes, but you have to buy special apple versions of graphics cards (they need the compatible bios) which are more expensive than PC versions.

If Apple would ever release its deathgrip on OSX and license it out to normal PC users, you might see a large increase in OSX gaming. Until then, OSX will always be a second rate gaming platform. Not because it can't do it, but because there isn't any money in it. Apple users might balk and moan about how untrue this is and how much they can do with they precious gemstone of a computer, but when it comes to gaming, statistics don't lie.

 

[lxskllr]

Dragon Age
Spore
Heroes of Newerth
Savage 2
Guitar Hero
Warhammer online
startrek dac
red alert 3
jade empire
prince of persia and two thrones
Civ4
bioshock
quake4
doom3
quake live
sims 3
starwars force unleashed
eve
lego batman/jones/starwars
City of heros
WoW
All blizzard games (warcraft 3, diablo 2, etc)
Neverwinter nights
Neverwinter nights 2
Call fo duty 4
age of empires 3
UT2003
UT2004
quakewars


Just a few I found with a quick google.

I know UT2k4 has a native Linux client, and ID games have always been penguin friendly, but I don't know specifically about the ones you mentioned.

 

[Nothinman]

Dragon Age
Spore
Heroes of Newerth
Savage 2
Guitar Hero
Warhammer online
startrek dac
red alert 3
jade empire
prince of persia and two thrones
Civ4
bioshock
quake4
doom3
quake live
sims 3
starwars force unleashed
eve
lego batman/jones/starwars
City of heros
WoW
All blizzard games (warcraft 3, diablo 2, etc)
Neverwinter nights
Neverwinter nights 2
Call fo duty 4
age of empires 3
UT2003
UT2004
quakewars


Just a few I found with a quick google.

That list is longer than I expected, but I wouldn't consider it "a lot" and just about all of them are 2+ years old.

 

[Fayd]

Very few modern titles are ported to OSx. And if I recall correctly, (like many virtualized environments) BootCamp doesn't support hardware level graphics acceleration.

So while you can game on OSx, you are limited to titles purchasable at the Apple Store.

I believe gaming support on Linux (through WINE) is a bit better, but...

maybe you're thinking of parallels. bootcamp most assuredly allows hardware graphics acceleration.

 

[sourceninja]

That list is longer than I expected, but I wouldn't consider it "a lot" and just about all of them are 2+ years old.

Well EA seems to be releasing more and more of their games for OSX (via cider). It is growing, there is usually a lag time of a few weeks. That was just a quick list I was able to find. There are a lot more, especially if you don't want just a list titles.

By no means is OSX a great gaming platform compared to windows. But compared to linux it is superior. Only because it has a lot more native A list titles and it has wine.

Linux has few A list titles (typically only quake/doom/ut) and wine.

Most importantly Starcraft 2/diablo 3 are going to have mac versions.

 

[TheStu]

With the introduction of Cider, developers can more quickly create a Mac port of their game, without the need to strip all the DirectX and replace it with OpenGL equivalents, so more games are being brought over, especially in the last 2-3 years. Obviously the game houses are more oriented to PC and console, and then handsets (PSP, DS, iPhone) and finally maybe the Mac.

And, as sourceninja pointed out, you have more options with OS X since most everything that will run on linux can be brought over, but the same cannot be said in the opposite direction.

 

[Nothinman]

Well EA seems to be releasing more and more of their games for OSX (via cider). It is growing, there is usually a lag time of a few weeks.

Looks to me like Cider is just an OS X specific fork WINE so those don't count as native to me.

With the introduction of Cider, developers can more quickly create a Mac port of their game, without the need to strip all the DirectX and replace it with OpenGL equivalents, so more games are being brought over, especially in the last 2-3 years.

They're not porting now, Cider is just another version of WINE. And if those developers had used something like SDL in the first place they wouldn't have to worry about 90% of the porting process.