A little backstory on why I created this thread: I made this thread because I have been using VMware Fusion (it is like running another operating system on your computer without having to dual boot) for playing BeamNG, and I do not get a good frame rate (without removing the vehicle from the map and just roaming in the free camera). I was thinking with Mac OS compatibility, it could save me some storage from a virtual machine (but probably not AS much space due to having 150+ mods installed) and I could possibly get a better frame rate. Sure, there may be another way around, like using wineskin winery, which is a program that allows you to run Windows programs on MacOS. However, this would only let me use BeamNG version 4.0.6 (the last DirectX 9 compatible version of BeamNG). But sadly Wineskin Winery does not want to work for me any more. My Setup (as noted from BeamNG's Performance tab and on Host OS) MacBook Pro 13" with Retina Display (Late 2013) 2.6 GHz Intel i5 4288U - CPU Intel Iris* 1536MB - GPU 16GB DDR3 RAM** * - The game recognizes it as a VMware SVGA graphics card since I am using a virtual machine ** - I had to limit the amount of RAM to 12GB for the Virtual machine. I can not use the entirety of my RAM for the Virtual Machine, otherwise it will negatively impact the performance of my main computer Why I feel Mac OS Support would be a great idea I believe people that play video games on Macs, like myself, should be able to experience the gems of BeamNG as people on Windows would be able to. Sure, it will probably take a long time to add the compatibility for BeamNG, as MacOS and Windows don't use the same software for 3D gaming. For example, MacOS uses OpenGL and Metal API whereas Windows uses DirectX and Direct3D (if I am not mistaken). While my Hardware may be slightly limited at the moment, which based on the specs provided is near top-of-the-line for late 2013, the Torque Gaming Engine build support is provided for Windows as well as Mac. I also feel as if it could lead to a boost in sales, both on Steam and on HumbleBundle. The more copies sold, the higher the profit, and the more money that could be put towards the development of the game. I'm not saying the game is not developed well, it is one of the best soft body driving simulations I have played, but I'm saying that it could be a potential to improve the game even further. For example, we could have some vehicles that were suggested/posted as mods by numerous members and make them official vehicles/maps/props. The money made from those sales can also be put towards improving the website and forums. Gaming on Macs can also open up new opportunities, many of which are being a possible reduction in Mac compatible torrents of your games that are laced with viruses, and save game sharing. For example, if you play the career mode on the Mac, and you are moving somewhere where a Windows equipped computer is available with BeamNG installed, you can log in with the steam account or registered account, and you can resume your career progress from the Windows computer.*** *** - The save game sharing would only be recognized via a certain profile key, and can't be changed. For example, if someone was using the game and they wanted to have a 100% save game from another profile, they would have to progress through the career mode because the game would be able to recognize someone else's game. Need For Speed Carbon, for example, didn't load someone else's profile if the CD key and Profile token (can't remember if it was those two or something else) didn't match. If there was a login feature for the career mode (such as entering email, username, and password), you can be able to resume your progress on the career mode. There are probably more reasons that I can think of, but I don't want to make this post too long. Feel free to leave your beliefs on MacOS Compatibility down below! I would appreciate if @Nadeox1 @tdev and @gabester saw this.
The reason you get a poor framerate is not because you are running it in a VM, but due to the very lackluster specifications of your laptop. It doesn't even come close to the minimum specifications dictated by the BeamNG team. Apple makes very few computers that have the hardware capable of meeting the minimum spec, let alone getting near the recommended spec. Due to that, and the general small percentage of people who use Apple computers, it is very likely not worth the devs time to try to port it. I'll also point you to the FAQs: https://wiki.beamng.com/BeamNG_FAQ#...e_Mac.2FLinux.2FXbox.2FPlayStation_support.3F
Apple's highest end laptops, are lackluster. But no it wouldn't boost sales. Check the steam hardware surveys. Mac users are a hilariously tiny minority and would represent a fractional increase in sales at best, and probably a high return rate due to the average spec for an apple device being far below what game requires You would also be better off with bootcamp than virtualizing.
@ClassyClassic Well apparently I'm blind and didn't even consider looking at the FAQs. You two are both right that I have a very low-spec'd Mac, but I was used to the simplicity of how MacOS works (It may be different for you guys; I've been using a Mac since 2010, and I've found it to be easier to use than Windows). However, I looked at the minimum requirements, and 1) I am running Windows 10 Pro x64 2) I do have 16 GB of RAM onboard (see * for more information) 3) I have an Intel i5. Although it is a dual core, on certain maps with certain vehicles I do get a better frame rate, but it is a "Once in a Blue Moon" occurrence. But I will admit, it is smoother than the Tech Demo that I played before buying the game. To reply to @SixSixSevenSeven's suggestion on using BootCamp, I have tried to use it, but when I backed out of it I messed up the partition table and had to do a factory reset of my computer (and I don't want to mess that up again. I apparently unmounted the boot loader last time). That doesn't mean I won't take what you said into account, as I am still debating on whether or not to use a VM or use Bootcamp. I have had trouble installing Windows 10 as a Guest OS to run alongside MacOS X (I may be doing something wrong as far as installing the OS on the BootCamp setup). Thank you both so much for your replies, really do appreciate it! Now I just need to get some glasses...
The CPU about on par with a desktop i3, but you have ignored the GPU portion of the requirements. (Something I see quite often for some reason) Only very modern integrated graphics (and only the high end ones like the Iris Pro 580) are able to keep up with the circa-2011 mid-range GTX 550 TI.
I forgot to mention that it was a Intel Iris 1536, as mentioned in the first post. Would that graphics card be on par with anything else?
Your integrated graphics are similar to the GT 545, but the lack of a proper VRAM buffer limits it further. The newest 15-inch MacBook Pro has an option for a Radeon Pro 550/560 which does have a proper VRAM buffer. This model would match the minimum graphics requirement. The true quad core would also be much better than the dually you have.
The pro 560 is still incredibly sub par for any meaningful load with gaming benchmarks not much beating the iris --- Post updated --- Integrated. Good for integrated. But integrated
What do you call "good frame-rate"? 20 FPS? 30? 60? Because I've got a $400 Dell laptop that I can play Beam just fine with at between 25 and 45 FPS, even with the 0.10 update slowing it down to between 20 and 35 FPS.
Sometimes I get 10-15 FPS, sometimes 20-30 if I’m using certain maps with certain vehicles. But that is when I’m running 1280 by 800. When the game runs at full resolution (2560x1600 in my case) it really lags down. Sometimes it bogs down below 10 FPS as well. Another strange thing I’ve noticed is when I have multiple vehicles in game or if the game decides to run faster, the menus take a long time to open.
