Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, Odds and ends
Battlefield 3 on Vista (not XP) and OS X simultaneously?
Battlefield 2142 is already on the Apple Store, along with all the other games EA has released on the Mac, but we haven't heard anything official about Battlefield 3 yet, for any platform. That's why DigitalBattles was so surprised to find a list of Battlefield 3 features in a document meant for investors. And the most interesting "feature" on the list was this: "Windows Vista and OS X." That's right, if the leaked document is true, it appears EA wants to release Battlefield 3 simultaneously on OS X and Vista. And not on XP. That's what I'm talking about!Of course, EA wasn't real happy with all the speculation, but they didn't actually deny anything. And as DB points out, the investor document didn't say that XP wouldn't be supported, it only specified Vista and OS X.
But still, if you told me earlier this year that Battlefield 3 would be released on OS X and not XP, I would have laughed in your face. If EA really is planning to bring out a top tier, anticipated title like this simultaneously on OS X, they might be able to redeem themselves to Mac gamers yet. Sure, I'm still angry at them for buying out BioWare, but brand new games on the Mac is good for everyone.
[via IMG]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
bob said 8:18AM on 10-12-2007
"Battlefield 2142 is already on the Apple Store, along with all the other games EA has released "
maybe on your side of the pond, this is the 21st century and its taking ages in uk.
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DaiMac79 said 9:03AM on 10-12-2007
Umm, why are you angry at them for buying BioWare? Does not that make the chances of Mass Effect, Kotor III, etc coming to Macintosh much higher? Admittedly EA can suck at times, but it sounds like their relationship with BioWare isn't going to involve them messing up the development side of things, more of an "exclusive publisher" type thing.
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JC said 10:02AM on 10-12-2007
I hope it plays/performs A LOT better than BF2142.
BF2142.....what a waste of $39.95.
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PistolPeet said 10:21AM on 10-12-2007
@bob: I agree! I've been waiting for these games to arrive in the UK for a while.
We shouldn't get too excited though, I can't imagine they'd release BF3 as an actual OS X app, it'll just be Cider-wrapped again :( Better than nothing, but still not good.
It's a shame, more game studios should follow Blizzard's example. The OS X WoW client has some features the Windows client doesn't have.
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tim said 1:12PM on 10-12-2007
"i have windows xp on my work machine, but i boot into my mac for gaming"
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sjmills said 1:21PM on 10-12-2007
I too think BF2142 is a big ol' waste of cash. The Cider crap stinks. Just build a real OS X binary. It's not that hard.
I'm also very disappointed with BF2142's focus on online gameplay. I just don't dig it; trying to find a server that isn't full of Red Bulled-up teenagers who will spank me repeatedly when all I want to do is have some fun in the evening, being booted from servers for no reason at all, the ever-present lag, etc. Just give me a FPS that I can play by myself. I don't know how many times I went completely through BF1942 and still get a kick out of it.
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cwaldrip said 2:46PM on 10-12-2007
BF2142 is a major disappointment. But a friend of a friend is playing a ciderized BF2 and it plays great. Only the occasional crash (weekly, rather than hourly with BF2142). No network play with the illicit version, but single-player is real stable. Now if only EA would start selling a ciderized version of BF2 I'd buy it (and hope that they don't break it like they did 2142)
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Philometalist said 3:08PM on 10-12-2007
It's nice to see a large gaming company like EA work towards bringing more native titles to Apple Computers. Hopefully other bigger brands will follow suit and finally admit that OS X is just as much a gaming platform as any version of Windows, if not infinitely better.
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Quix said 3:36PM on 10-12-2007
I haven't been impressed with any of the Battlefield games. Weird bugs, sketchy graphics, rampant cheating...meh.
Personally I'm excited for Unreal Tournament 3. Too bad my iMac's X1600 graphics chip will probably be too wimpy to run it, as are the weak graphics chips in the brand new iMacs. Shame...
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Jt Hollister said 4:06PM on 10-12-2007
Fucking sweet! This would be so awesome.
And TUAW's back in its groove! Lots of great content today :D THANK YOU!! :)
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Mike said 6:02PM on 10-12-2007
Bleh, itll be a shit port using cider... Nothing new here folks, move along
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Jt Hollister said 9:18PM on 10-12-2007
Alright guys, you have to understand: this is a lot more important than just YOU being able to play the game on your Mac. This is about the fact that a huge game developer is releasing for the Mac, and that means others will follow. This is a step towards an era when games are developed for the Mac and the Windows versions are just shitty ports.
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mrtotes said 5:09PM on 10-13-2007
Not only have EA not bothered to stick a few of those games on a ship over to the UK they also haven't bothered to even list Mac as one of the platforms they have games for on their web-site. Considering their CEO stood up at WWDC and told teh world his daughters had MacBooks the Mac showing so far have been worse than shoddy.
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almond said 12:25AM on 1-06-2008
Battlefield 3 will be intense!
http://enterbf3.com
I just got this in my email!
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/Biggles4221/IMG.jpg
If anyone gets PCGamer, there was a statement of "Stay tuned for the next issue, you won't want to miss it!" Ha! This is awesome, also the graphics in the background are not from the game, an actual soldier.
A few points:
- "Our spies tell us..." That's a good sign.
- The new engine will be expanding on the current frostbite one (exploding buildings and long view distances.)
- MEC and NATO forces verified
- Ranks, Commanders, the good 'ole stuff!
Article in typing: http://www.enterbf3.com/viewtopic.php?p=22#22
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