Civilization V Mac FAQs, V2

Nov

Civilization V Mac FAQs, V2

Posted by Russ Looney

You’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers! We’ve been gathering up all of the questions directed our way and have done our best to answer them. You can check out the latest batch of questions and answers below.

If you have questions about the game that are not answered below or in our previous Civilization V Mac FAQs post, please send them our way! You can comment on this post, tweet to @Civ5Mac, post to our Facebook wall, or send your inquiry to gameagent@aspyr.com. Finally, please note that many of your questions regarding Steam are still being worked out, but we promise to get them answered before the Civilization V Mac release of November 23!

What languages can I play Civilization V Mac in?

We are supporting French, German, and English for both the Audio and Text.

Will there be a demo?

A demo for the Mac is not currently planned.

For multiplayer, will Mac and PC gamers be able to play together?

Yes, although this feature is dependent on versioning. The released Mac version will not be able to see the internet PC multiplayer games that are currently available in the lobby. Mac users will be able to see LAN games that are available and will be able to play Mac-to-Mac multiplayer. Once we are patched to the point where we match the PC version, then this will be possible.

Will Civilization V Mac require the disc?

The boxed version will require the disc for install, but after installation and authentication, the disc will no longer be required.

What are the system requirements for the game?

You can find projected system requirements in our previous post, “Want to play Civ 5 Mac? Here’s what you’ll need…“

What do system requirements mean?

Minimum System Requirements

These are the very lowest possible specs you can have before you start to experience performance issues with the game. Being below the minimum system requirements can cause problems we cannot fix. If you just meet the Minimum Requirements, you should be able to enjoy the game on minimum graphics settings. We DO NOT recommend purchasing a game if you do not meet the Minimum System Requirements.

Recommended System Requirements

If you meet these requirements, you will have a better experience of software usability. These guidelines are set to suggest what hardware a user might need to get optimal performance our of their game.

What if I’m just below the minimum specs? (i.e. 2.26 GHz v 2.4 GHz) We DO NOT recommend purchasing a game if you do not meet the Minimum System Requirements. If you purchase a game without meeting minimum system requirements we will be unable to provide support from a customer care perspective.

What sorts of problems or performance issues can I expect if my hardware does not meet minimum requirements?

Performance issues could include slow downs, crashes, graphical issues, and not launching, among other problems. It is impossible to predict specific problems for individual users.

Will there be support for the game after launch? Patches?

Yes, Aspyr is working hard at incorporating PC patches into the Mac version and plans on supporting the Mac version fully through its lifecycle.

Will patches released by Firaxis on the PC also patch the Mac version?

No, the Mac will have its own set of patches.

Will the game come pre-patched?

Civilization V Mac was ported from the shipped version of the PC release with some additional bug fixes that were released via later PC patches. We are already hard at work at incorporating the latest patches into the release version and hope to be caught up quickly with the PC version.

What about DLC?

Aspyr plans to fully support Civilization V via DLC.

Is there a Special Edition for the Mac?

There is currently not a Special Edition for the Mac for sale to the public. Aspyr has a very limited number of Special Editions signed by Sid Meier himself which we are giving away as part of our pre-order incentive. Preorder your copy of Civ V Mac (either boxed or digital) at GameAgent.com to be entered to win. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more opportunities to win in the coming weeks.

Tags: Civ V, Civilization, Civilization 5, Mac FAQs Posted Civilization, Mac FAQs, Mac Gaming |

Amy

Are the system requirements available?
- http://www.gameagent.com Loondogiv
  
  So far only projected system requirements have been made available, though final system requirements should be fairly close. You can find them in our NonBlog post here, or you can check them out on the Civ V product pages (either boxed or digital).
Xyth

What about third party DLC? Are we getting the full SDK? Many of us are fearful that mod support is going to be as bad as or even worse than it was for Civ4.
- http://www.gameagent.com Loondogiv
  
  We’ll be providing more information on mod support and the SDK in our next Civ V Mac FAQs post which will likely be published some time next week.
Cougar

Still nothing regarding if we can buy it from Steam…

Very disappointing there isn’t going to be a demo. That’s a mistake. I would very much like to experience how it runs in OS X, since my graphics card is the minimum. It’s like you guys are encouraging pirating…
- http://www.gameagent.com BlogLady
  
  We’ll look at the scope and timeline of a possible demo in the new year.
James Shiell

Seconded, would love to know if we can buy via Steam. As I’ve no objection to paying a bit more for a Mac release, but I’ve no intention of installing any other digital distribution system.
- http://www.gameagent.com BlogLady
  
  Because the title utilizes SteamWorks and requires the Steam application for authentication there is no difference in purchasing the game from gameagent, at stores in a box, or elsewhere. It is the same application across the board.
  
  Likewise, if Aspyr chooses to support Steam Play (buy one get one free), this too will be universal and will not be dependent on where the game was purchased.
ltcommander.data

First I want to encourage you to continue releasing these FAQ posts for Civ V and future games since they are very informative and helpful.

Second, will the DLC that has been free on the PC version likewise be free for the Mac version, like the Mongol civilization? Likewise will Babylonia also be free, implying more of an equivalency between the Mac version and the PC Deluxe edition as has been the case in some past Mac games which included expansions or additional content to offset the later Mac release date? Will the retailer specific pre-order DLC map packs also be available either via those same retailers, bundled or later made available for free for Mac users or as paid DLC?
- http://www.gameagent.com BlogLady
  
  Right now our version is the Vanilla Civ V. There is not currently a special edition or additional DLC available. Once we’re released on Mac and patched to be on par with PC, we’ll move to DLC and formally announce the release plan, costs, etc. thereafter.
  
  And thanks for the positive comments!
James

SteamPlay? Guys?
evan

I have no idea how to compare video cards that seem to be numbered arbitrarily.
Which Macs (that are currently listed in the Apple online store) meet minimum requirements and which macs meet recommended ones?
Please tell me what to buy so I can play Civ 5!
Cougar

BlogLady, so this means that even if we buy the digital version from GameAgent, we will be able to re-download the game as much as we want via Steam? This is important to know since GameAgent has download limits.

Evan, all macs except the air meet specifications. They haven’t announced “recommended” yet, but I expect anything but the low-end MacBook with the 320m will meet recommended too. I’d recommend an iMac.
Proud

Looking for mention of a 5-letter word starting with S and ending with M.
http://www.gameagent.com BlogLady

@Cougar, the game will not be encrypted with Software Passport Mac (The DRM that we typically use for GameAgent digital products), the game utilizes Steam for DRM which means it is account based, not download based. So yes – you buy the digital (or boxed version, for that matter) and you can re-download the game as much as you want. As I mentioned, the game is the same no matter where you get it from. This is the first Mac game to ship to retail using SteamWorks so there is a lot to learn!

And we are working on getting our GameAgent Application updated to include newer hardware and Civ 5 to help out folks with solving the system requirement mystery!
Cougar

Thanks, you should really advertise that fact clearer. I know many people who steer clear of GameAgent because of that DRM.
Dave K

Can we get a simple yes or no on Steamplay?
Sven

Yes, really hoping for SteamPlay here.
- http://www.gameagent.com BlogLady
  
  Hi Guys
  
  We obviously have had a lot of people inquire about SteamPlay, which is buy the PC version get the Mac version free (and vice versa). As I’m sure most folks would understand, as a company who invests heavily in the licensing, development and support of great Mac content giving content away for free is a difficult business model to support.
  
  We are still weighing the options but out of curiosity, how many of you have already purchased the PC version and expect a free Mac version? Did you purchase it on the PC to play via BootCamp in hopes you’d get the Mac version? Or did you purchase on the PC and just assumed you’d get a Mac version? Wondering what the expectation is out there.
  
  Thanks
Dakota

Please support modding, it is one of the key things that makes Civ great
mp

Have way more than all the minimum requirements, except for 2 ghz instead of 2.4. Very frustrating — my computer is not that old.
Oscar

Hello BlogLady,

I did indeed buy the game on Steam PC and played it for some time on my Mac. This was a week or so after release, before the Mac version was announced. Since no Mac version was announced, I didn’t assume anything. But certainly, yes, I hoped that 2K would port the game (no offense!) and release it on Steam, like all other Steam titles.

Over the years I have bought many, many Aspyr titles. I fully appreciate that it is very difficult to make a living on air and good will alone. When I read that Aspyr would be porting the game it struck me as unlikely that it would be released for dual download on Steam, even though that does of course make me sad. I liked Civ V (the method I used to play it on my Mac no longer works, so for now I’m without it), but I regret to say I’m not sure I’ll be willing to pay for it again, even if Aspyr certainly deserves the money for the effort (if nothing else).

On a grander scale, I suppose more than anything it’s a problem for Valve. They have made a serious commitment to the Mac platform, where cross-platform availability makes Steam appear as a platform unto itself. With different companies publishing the same game for different computer formats over Steam, that image starts falling apart. Clearly not ideal, particularly with Macs currently gaining in popularity in many places.

I certainly don’t mean to give the impression that I blame Aspyr for any of this. On the contrary, I think it’s a sterling effort to keep releasing Mac games!
Oscar

Edit…

(end of first paragraph: “release it on Steam for free download regardless of platform, like all other cross-platform Steam titles (that I’m aware of).”
Oscar

Oh, and I admit. I just checked again, and my PC version purchase was also motivated in part by the fact that Civ IV was available for cross-platform download. Since Aspyr ported Civ IV as well, I figured there was at least a chance that some sort of deal was going to be made. Absolutely no expectation, mind you, only frivolous speculation and a desperate man’s hope!
James

Hi BlogLady,

Put it this way. In the run-up to release, hundreds of Mac owners asked and asked whether Civ V would make it to the Mac in the short term. All we got was the typical brush-off, ‘no comment’ response and pointers to previous release trends, clearly implying it would be a year or more before the Mac version would come out. So, lots of us bought the PC version for Boot Camp.

Obviously, to now find out that a Mac version was obviously in the works all along is very annoying. Most of us would have skipped the PC version and waited. If only we were told when we asked many, many times. But we were kept in the dark.

So it’s fine to talk about expectations. I don’t mind paying for things and have paid for hundreds of different apps for my Mac, every song and TV show in my iTunes library, etc. However, this smells like a deliberate fake to me. Civ V for Mac can’t possibly have only been started after the PC release, so it would have been quite possible to tell Mac users to wait for the Mac version. Instead, it feels like we’ve been tricked into buying the game twice.

My expectation is that if you (or 2K, Firaxis or anyone else involved) knew that the Mac version was coming, you should have said so.
http://www.gameagent.com BlogLady

Well put, guys Thanks so much for the feedback. We’re not trying to “no comment” everyone to death, it’s just a big decision with multiple players and we hope to have clear resolution very soon. Our goal entirely is to make great games and support our community – so disappointing on that front is pretty much the opposite of our intent.

Thanks again for talking to us!
evan

Thanks Cougar!
I’m guessing the Mac Mini Server won’t be powerful enough (because it also has the 320m)?
Xyth

I think people are misunderstanding the relationship between Valve and Aspyr and both companies should have done something to clarify things when the port was first announced. Aspyr shouldn’t be giving their work away for free just because it is on Steam. However Aspyr should have done a lot more to communicate much sooner.

To me the biggest issue has been the near total silence on anything related to mod and SDK compatibility. After the lack of support and endless delays with Civ4 and its expansions I simply will not pay full price for a Mac port of Civ5 unless it has every feature of the Windows version. If it’s not going to happen I’d expect a substantial discount compared to the Windows price. And clear advertisements that people are buying an inferior product.
Justin

Hi BlogLady,

I think it’s incredibly decent of you all at Aspyr to bring up the question of SteamPlay, and whether the purchase of the Windows copy should allow us to install the Mac version once you’ve released it. You want and deserve fair compensation for your effort. We want a fully functional, I dare say /identical/ version of Civ 5 on Mac. Ideally, we don’t want to pay for the same game twice, either.

Above all, please, please, please, please love and support this game long in to the future. Keep up with the patches, be timely with the expansions. If the business end says the only way that’s going to happen is to charge some of this series’ biggest fans twice, so be it. Consider, though, that the Mac market share is growing. I suspect your sales are going to be pretty good. If you need to charge the committed handful of us again, do it. If you don’t, don’t.

I appreciate your candor in the matter. It reflects well on you all, and thank you so much for asking us.
Brandon Lebow

BlogLady,

I’m not sure how this would work logistically, but if there is a way that Aspyr can confirm who had the PC version from Steam (upon user request), and especially when, it may be possible to do something like the following:

-Offer the game for free to those who purchased the PC version before the official announcement that Asypr was developing the Mac port, and perhaps a affordable discounted rate after that date ($10-$20 for the port) up until the actual date of port. If the date of purchase is inaccessible, consider a promotion on day or week prior to, or of the release of the actual Mac port release date where the port is released for free or extremely discounted rate.

-If unlocking DLC content is within the foreseeable future for the mac port, the revenue from the inevitable later DLC content will help offset any “losses” from offering free/severely discounted ports to those who purchased the PC version before the Mac release date. Offering the free port will recruit MANY more people to using the Mac version, and hence create a greater revenue source for DLC.

If Aspyr decides that it would not be financially feasible to release a free version of the Mac, it would MOST DEFINITELY be advisable to at least offer a big discount to make sure people obtain the port.
Anonymous

Civ IV uses Steamplay. The same business parties are involved in Civ V. Thus, it is quite reasonable for a consumer to expect Steamplay for Civ V — which is why I have already purchased it on Steam.

I will not re-buy Civ V for mac but I am likely to buy future expansions and DLC. If you want a cut of that money, make it Steamplay.
Cougar

@evan: the 320m Meets minimum specs; what’s the server’s Ghz?
evan

@cougar: it has a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (http://www.apple.com/macmini/server/specs.html)

if it weren’t for Civ5 i’d prefer this machine, but i don’t want to get it if my Civ5 experience won’t be so great…

thanks again for your help!
Oscar

Evan,

I think Civ 5 will eat anything you throw in its general direction. Once you start playing on big maps with many AI opponents the game will start taking its time between turns, regardless of your setup.

What I’m trying to say is that while the Mini will probably run Civ 5 just fine to start with, you’ll find it more pleasant in the long run with a more powerful rig. Like Cougar, I’d recommend an iMac. We just bought one for our home and we’re very happy with the way it performs.

By the way, the Mac Mini is a great machine – but are you looking at the server version because of a particular dislike of dvd drives, or do you really want the server software? If you don’t need the server software and are looking at the machine just for the better specs, I’d recommend buying a regular Mac Mini with a souped-up processor. That will give you about $150 to buy more memory from a third party (Apple is a great company and all that, but their memory prices have always been completely exorbitant). I wouldn’t worry about the hard drive size – once you need more drive space you’ll be able to get a terabyte’s worth of drive space for the money you’ve saved.

Of course, I’m still recommending you buy an iMac!
Mikel

I have deliberately held off on purchasing Civ V from Steam because I feared that I would end up having to buy it twice. My primary use would be on my iMac (which is flirting with the minimum specs as a barely 1 year old machine), but I also would play on a PC. After purchasing Supreme Commander 2 immediately only to be ‘burned’ when the Mac version was not offered through Steam and would not be updated and expanded in synch with the PC version, I was a bit gun-shy.

I don’t NEED to get the PC version for free with a purchase of the Mac version, but it sure would be nice to get a discount, at the very least. I assume that part of the cost f the Mac version is a licensing fee that goes to Firaxis. I don’t see a reason for them to get the full fee for both versions… Just add 10-20 dollars as an option to get both.
Daniel

Myself I bought the PC version as we had not (as mentioned several times above) heard any official word about the Mac version coming at all.
One or two months passed since the PC release when the Mac version was announced and me going about installing boot camp and purchasing the PC version seemed like a waste when I gladly could have waited a few months to play Civ 5 on my Mac.

As others have suggested I would expect the game to be SteamPlay but I do understand the reasons if it weren’t.
In that case I’d suggest a nominal fee to “upgrade” and to cover the porting expenses, but on the other hand I will also buy expansions so you’d make money in either case.

For good will I definitely suggest the game to be released as SteamPlay, or we’ll most likely end up hesitating at the next big game release for fear of a similar situation.
Ari

Just a (maybe silly) question about this: “Mac users will be able to see LAN games that are available and will be able to play Mac-to-Mac multiplayer.”

Did I get it correctly that you can play multiplayer between Mac and PC in LAN but in the internet only Mac-to-Mac? Or only Mac-to-Mac in LAN?

Will the initial Mac version be incompatible (different version) than the PC version so that you cannot play them together even in LAN? If so, what’s the expected date where they would be patched to the same version?
- http://www.gameagent.com Russ Looney
  
  Hi, Ari, thanks for the question. Mac-to-PC multiplayer, whether over LAN or TCP/IP, will require an upcoming patch. There’s currently so set ETA on the patch, but rest assured that our dev team is working feverishly to ensure the Mac version is compatible with the PC version.
  - WTF
    
    4 months later, the Mac version is still not compatible with the PC version. We’re at least two patches behind.
    Way to hype the game and then let down the community once they’ve made the purchase.
    - Ari
      
      *sigh*
Ms. Pacman

Hi, BlogLady

I just wondering if the current 13″ macbook pro with GeForce 320M would be able to play the game? I am clueless as to whether 320M is higher than 8600.

Thanks
- http://www.gameagent.com Russ Looney
  
  @ Ms. Pacman: The GeForce 320M is supported. You can find expanded system reqs either on the GameAgent product pages (box, digital), or on our updated Civ V Mac FAQs, V3.
Will the conqueror

Why on earth does the Mac version have so much higher GHz requirements than the PC version? I honestly don’t know much about specifications but IMO it is ridiculous that my 1 1/2 year old macbook aluminium can’t run the game! Before I bought that I couldn’t play CIV4 and I am AGAIN losing out because of way high specs.
Polyfather

Are you ever going to patch the game so that the multiplayer can be played with PC users? It seems like that’s a huge oversight and poor faith on the devs part for not announcing the issue.

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