How to install games on macbook pro. How to play cool games on Mac. "Cider": commercial solution
Let's figure out which MacBook will show itself.
As an example, let's take the popular version - World of Tanks.
No wonder it has become one of the most popular online games. Extensive arsenal military equipment, exciting gameplay with excellent social integration and the ability to feel like in a tank even if you didn’t serve in the army - all this was appreciated by hundreds of thousands of players from all over the world :)
But is it for Windows? We understand how things are with the Mac and consider 7 MacBooks you can play WoT on.
Macbook Air mid 2013
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 1.3 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel HD Graphics 5000 (1536 MB)
Not old yet, but not the newest Mac either. And besides, there is also an Air model with an integrated video card. Will it be possible to launch? You can play without problems, but there will always be a feeling of a lack of FPS in a couple of dozen. You can forget about 60-70 FPS, but it's easy to have a couple of tactical battles.
Macbook Air mid 2011
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i7 1.8 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel HD Graphics 3000 (384 MB)
This model will be exactly 5 years old in a couple of weeks. And it is still compatible with World of Tanks. We personally tested the performance of the game on these characteristics and we can draw conclusions. The settings, of course, are all on minimum: Built-in graphics card with 388 MB of memory - not an option for a serious tanker. But the amateur will be saved by the powerful i7 processor. FPS- 18–25 . Quite a playable option for those who really want to. Get ready to live with the sound of the cooler hyped to the maximum.
MacBook 2015
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 1.3 GHz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel Iris Graphics 5300
Even during the announcement of the 12-inch MacBook, Apple emphasized that this is not game option laptop. It's the perfect workhorse for the journalist and the person who needs a computer on the go. But you can also play WoT on this ultrabook. Install medium graphics settings and get FPS at the level 18–24 . We lower it to a minimum and half the value rises to 28–35. Let's not forget that the MacBook does not have a cooler and keeping it on your lap during the launch of World of Tanks is not the best solution.
Macbook Pro mid 2014
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 2.6 GHz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel Iris Graphics 5100
This is not the latest MacBook Pro model. But that's why it's Pro and the hardware is brighter here. At startup, medium settings will be automatically set, but it is still advisable to set the graphics to a minimum. This is how you can achieve 50-55 FPS, which is more than enough for serious gaming. Iris graphics do their job well.
MacBook Pro 15'' early 2013
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i7 2.7 GHz
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Nvidia GeForce GT650M
A powerful beast that will remain relevant for several more years. At the maximum graphics settings, you can easily achieve an FPS of 30-35. Want a smooth picture? Pacify your ardor and set the rendering to medium. On the minimum requirements FPS values go off scale above 100. Ideal for World of Tanks.
MacBook Air early 2015
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 1.6 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel HD Graphics 6000
The ultra-thin MacBook Air, which is still current (perhaps the last) model, performs well in World of Tanks. Graphics level - short with an FPS gap of 50–60. Not bad for an office setting! The picture is smooth, there are no brakes, the cooler is full.
MacBook Air 11'' mid 2013
Model characteristics:
- CPU: Intel Core i5 1.3 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphic arts: Intel HD Graphics 5000
This option is chosen by those who want to carry their tank with them. The 2014 11-inch model also handles WoT. It is categorically not recommended to raise characteristics above average, but at low and minimal ones, the kid pleases with a completely edible picture. 40-50 on minimum requirements is a great opportunity to crush the enemy.
As you can see, it is not at all necessary to chase a top-end car and hang loans on yourself. For your favorite game, even models that have exchanged their first five years are perfect. The main thing is to choose correctly and understand what you want to get from the game. More options can be found on our Flea market. Strong armor to you and a full clip.
P.S.: I heard that soon the tanks will play in football ?
There are many myths in the world of Apple laptops. In general, the same thing happened before with the iPhone smartphone. For example, in the past, many people thought that the iPhone was a status dummy that actually represented nothing. To be honest, the first generation was just that. Then no one had such phones with an “apple”, so they were considered unusual. Although everything seems to be clear with the iPhone, the same cannot be said about the MacBook yet. The biggest misconception people have is that games and other heavy tasks don't run on MacBooks.
Rumors and truth
The myth that games don't run ended its existence already in 2011, when the powerful MacBook Pro entered the arena with a powerful modern 4-core i7 processor and a 1 GB video card. Surely you know that you can install other systems on OS X using BootCamp. So, through this application, indifferent testers installed Windows 7 on a powerful new product. After testing apps on a MacBook Pro, these same games were tested on one of the most powerful Windows desktop PCs around. The result surprised everyone: the games ran better on the Mac than on the PC.
What games have been tested? For example, GTA 4. Installing a powerful SSD hard drive added performance. The MacBook Pro computer pleases with its work for 3 years, the performance is good even today. What is he capable of? For example, while the video is being processed in Finnal Cut Pro X (the video is being stabilized or exported), you can switch to the Aperture program and start viewing the processed files. Dreamweaver mail, mail, Photoshop, browser, iTunes, etc. can be opened at the same time as these applications.
There are no so-called "lags". Nothing freezes, any program works in almost 1 second. By pressing tab+command, you can instantly switch between Photoshop and Finnal Cut Pro X. Today, this MacBook comes with modern games on high settings, the average values here are only anisotropy and antialiasing. But few people will consider the difference between these unknown parameters. Even to remove them to a minimum, games will still look great. What games are on? dota 2, Far Cry 3, Battlefield 3, BioShock Infinite, Metro: last light and much more. In these products, you will see an excellent picture without any lags.
MacBook performance these days
But with the release in 2012-2013, the famous Retina display appeared. Then gamers with MacBooks had problems. If earlier a powerful video card coped well with games and produced a high-quality picture, now it had to give most of its resources to the Retina display. And in terms of performance, these MacBooks are inferior to the 2011 MacBooks.
If you invest in additional SSDs, it's possible that modern 2014 games will run just fine on your MacBook. But what's the point of doing this if you can buy a really powerful Windows PC for the money you pay for a brand new MacBook? The point is that people will have to overpay for their love of Apple. But this does not stop some, so Apple technology is worth the money. As for the MacBook, it was built with powerful and demanding software in mind. The games were an added bonus. So, what games can you play on this ultra-thin MacBook?
You can install the most popular games of the Moba genre on your MacBook - League of Legend, Dota 2. It is recommended to install them for fans of MMOs, these games will work on ultra-high graphics. As for powerful new products like Battlefield 4, Crysis 3, etc., they are unlikely to work fully for you at high rates. You can also install such a subsection of games as "Indie". Usually these games are not endowed with chic graphics, they rely primarily on the plot.
Installation
Now another question appears - how to install applications on a macbook? This is done very simply. What Apple product does without iTunes. That's right, none. in iTunes or App Store you can choose all new games, and the description will also indicate whether it makes sense to put them on our macbook of the model that you have in your hands. You can also install games from Steam. You probably know about this system. A huge social gaming network where you can purchase various applications, chat with friends and follow the news of the gaming industry.
Now you know how to download games to your macbook. You need to understand that an Apple laptop is primarily a work machine. And if you set out to install and play the most modern things, then you need to look towards personal computers on the Windows operating system. If you work on a MacBook, but sometimes want to devote time to games, then the MacBook is suitable as the main computer. The choice of products is so large that you are sure to find applications that will be optimized for your computer. How to do it - you now know.
Games and Macs have not always been on good terms. It is believed that the optimal for games is a computer on the Windows operating system. Perhaps in this regard, the characteristics of OS X are not as good compared to the PC. However, the gaming market for Mac exists, and recently there are more and more projects available on the "apple" platform. Their number is constantly growing, and at the same time it becomes more difficult to choose games that are worth the money spent. Below is a selection of the top 10 projects available to Mac users.
1. XCOM 2
XCOM 2 - Sequel popular strategy about the war of mankind with aliens who have captured the Earth. This is one of those rare occasions when a new game project became available on the Mac platform at the same time as the PC release.
XCOM 2 is set in the aftermath of Earth's surrender to an alien threat. 20 years have passed since then, with the help of super-technologies and the highest standard of living, aliens have turned people into pampered and weak-willed cattle, for whom only one fate is destined: to fall victims of alien experiments and, perhaps, even accept it as their destiny.
2.Homeworld Remastered
With release Homeworld Remastered the story of a people of exiles who search among the stars for their once-lost homeland has gained a second wind. Having not lost a drop of its relevance and attractiveness in 15 years, the updated project flaunts excellent graphics.
The Homeworld Remastered Collection combines both numbered parts of the space saga under one icon, each in two versions: updated and classic. At the same time, the old and new versions of the same game are not “linked” to each other, that is, switch between graphics modes on the fly, as it was, for example, in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, it won't work.
3 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Knights of the Old Republic was released by LucasArts in 2003, having its North American premiere on the Xbox in July, and by December the project had made its way to PC. The game has gained immense popularity: for example, over two million copies have been sold on the console alone.
The story of the game takes place four thousand years before the events described in " Star Wars". Darth Malak, the dark lord of the Sith, has gathered a huge army and struck at the Jedi order - the guardians of peace and order in the galaxy. The monstrous battle weakened the Jedi and brought the order to the brink of destruction. This is the beginning of the game: we go on a journey through the famous corners of the MCU; as a result of our wanderings and actions, the hero will join either the dark or the light side.
Download Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic you can .
4. The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
Released by popular demand, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition is a masterful reimagining of the internationally successful classic game that will appeal to fans of the original and new audiences alike. The development team at LucasArts reworked the game to modern standards, taking a new style direction for the hand-drawn material, rewriting musical accompaniment, fully voicing the characters' lines and, finally, introducing a hint system. Purists won't be left out either, offering seamless switching between the updated hand-drawn graphics and the original classic version.
You can download The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition.
5. Limbo
In this exciting and dark puzzle game, you play as a boy looking for his missing sister. Like many traditional 2D platformers main character runs left or right, jumps, climbs small indents, pushes and pulls various items. Despite simple controls, it takes time to fully master the game mechanics.
Beyond the gloomy storyline, Limbo has an eerie heartbreaking soundtrack. The dark color scheme of the game hides a huge number of deadly traps. Limbo came out in 2010 but is still an excellent game to this day.
6. Alien: Isolation – The Collection
At one time, Feral Interactive, a company involved in porting Windows games to Mac, announced that Alien: Isolation will soon also learn this dark magic. During the porting process, the company encountered some difficulties, due to which the release had to be delayed, but in the end everything ended well, and now all fans of playing on computers running OS X will be able to tickle their nerves on cold autumn and winter nights.
Alien: Isolation is played from the perspective of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Helen Ripley. 15 years after the disappearance of her mother, Amanda is sent with a small team to the Sevastopol space station, with which communication has been lost. On the spot, it turns out that the station is being terrorized by the Alien, and the desperate survivors do not trust anyone and are ready to shoot at everyone.
Download Alien: Isolation - The Collection can .
7. Braid
Braid is a painterly styled puzzle platform game that lets you manipulate the passage of time in a variety of weird and unusual ways. Starting from the city mansion, you will visit various worlds and solve many.
Each World begins with an introductory "Pit" level, where you learn another feature in games against time. For example, objects that are not subject to the passage of time are highlighted in greenish. After finding all the stars, you will collect the entire Andromeda constellation and you will be able to see an alternative ending, as well as receive a carriage and a small cart of food for thought.
8. Doom 3
Doom 3 is a sci-fi first person shooter game. The gloomy technogenic surroundings are flooded with the dim light of neon lamps, playing with glare on the illusory relief surface of the walls. In the corridors, you can hear the low snoring of a zombie crouched at a combat post and the radio chatter of non-living infantrymen. The bizarre machinery, which did not notice the death of its owners, continues to work for the benefit of people, turning the Martian soil into useful elements. You bounce in your chair as a barrel falls behind you with a loud clang, and fire a burst into the shadow that flickers under the stairs.
9. Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery
For a random person who downloaded Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery out of boredom, this game may seem like a rambling retro-muddle. A bunch of pixels, in which a human figure is hardly guessed, turns out to be among the pixel mountains and is looking for something there. From the explanatory inscriptions, we learn the gender (female) and nationality (Scythians) of the aforementioned bunch of pixels, and the pixel mountains, in turn, turn out to be the Caucasus. It doesn't get any easier than that, though.
If you have been playing traditional, simple and understandable games all your adult life, then in Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery you will feel like a collective farmer in a museum of modern art: something is going on around, nothing is really clear, but you feel that behind all this some grandiose idea. In fact, this idea may not be there, and it is not necessary to look for it - the game is not about that at all. Ideologically, it is closer not to modern quests, but to relaxing vignettes. Accordingly, the potential aesthetic pleasure depends entirely on whether you can, in principle, digest such products.
You can download Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery.
10 Cities: Skylines
Cities: Skylines is a city-building simulation game developed by the Finnish company Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive on March 10 last year. In Cities: Skylines, the main task of the player is to build their own city. The gamer is engaged in the planning of building zones, the placement of roads, taxation, organizes the work of city services and public transport. He needs to maintain the level of the city's budget, population, health, happiness, employment, pollution environment(air, water and soil), traffic flow and other factors.
All newly minted MacBook owners in the very first days of working on a new computer are faced with the fact that a lot of things work here differently than on the usual Windows. For example, the installation of most programs differs quite noticeably. Let's figure out how to install what you want on your MacBook. In this article, we will tell you about installing Adobe Flash Player, Steam, Viber, Skype and all kinds of popular games, as well as what buttons you can use to quickly exit Skype.
As soon as you visit a site with Flash elements from your MacBook, a warning will appear that Adobe Flash Player is not installed. Let's put it in, it's easy.
- Download Flash Player from the official Adobe website, click "Install Now".
- We go to "Downloads", we find the program file with the extension .dmg. Launch it by double clicking.
- In the window that appears, double-click on Install Adobe Flash Player.
- In the new window, click "Open".
- Then we drive in the user's password and confirm - "OK".
- Select the type of update to your liking, click "Next".
- We see the process of downloading and installing components.
- The Safari browser will display a "Close Program" warning. Quit Safari (Cmd+Q) and click Continue.
- When finished, click "Finish".
- We start Safari and check sites with flash elements - now everything should work.
Specify the parameters of your system - and go ahead, download!
Installing Steam
Steam is a huge portal computer games and applications suitable for Windows, Mac and Linux. So if you plan not only to work on your MacBook Pro, but also to play, you just need to install this service.
- We go to the main page of the official Steam website and click "Install".
- On a Mac, an image is downloaded, which we send to the programs folder.
- The next step is to create an account. Enter your username, password, email and security question. We keep them for ourselves so as not to lose.
- We are restarting the application.
- Steam asks to confirm registration via mail. We go there and click on the link received.
- Steam is installed and ready to go.
Downloading and installing games
Installing an application on a Macbook is as easy as installing it on a computer with a different OS. It is especially easy to do this for those who used our previous instructions and downloaded Steam for themselves. Find in this client interesting game and put it on the MacBook Pro.
- Open Steam and go to the Store tab.
- Click on the "Games" button, select, say, the "Free" option there.
- On the right side of the display we find the menu column and at the very bottom we mark the desired OS - Mac OS X.
- Now select the game of your choice and click on it.
- We find the “Play” button there, press it, then “Next”. The installation has started.
- We accept the terms of the agreement and wait for the completion of the process.
- The last step is to select "Play". All is ready!
Installing Viber
Let's put Viber on the MacBook Pro so that it is synchronized with Viber on the smartphone.
- First of all, let's check which version of Viber is on the smartphone. Everything will work correctly with version 6.0 and higher.
Download Viber for Mac OSX. - Double click on the Viber.dmg shortcut.
- Drag Viber to the application folder, go there and double-click Viber.
- A window will ask if this application is installed on the smartphone. We answer "Yes".
- Do you have Viber installed on mobile phone? Click Yes.
- We drive in the phone number in accordance with the prompts.
- Open the QR scanner and scan the QR code or send yourself a secret identification key.
- Done - the application is installed!
Installing Skype
- We go to the official website of Skype, select "Download".
- Select Mac OS from the list.
- Click "Download". Attention: check that the file extension is .dmg.
- Double-click on the shortcut that appears and move it to the "Programs" folder.
- Skype is ready to go. We add contacts and communicate with pleasure.
How to log out of Skype?
Another question tormenting MacBook owners is how to log out of Skype. The knowledge gained on Windows will not help with this, because you will need to use Apple's proprietary keys. So, to exit, click on the application window and press Cmd + Q.
The settings are completed, you can use the programs, play for fun, chat and watch videos. If our instruction helped you, leave comments - we will be very happy!
It's a common misconception that Macs aren't good for gaming. But is it really so? The founder of the Snazzy Labs project, Quinn Nelson, conducted an experiment by running it on an iMac GTA game 5 at max settings at 2560 x 1440 to prove that Apple PCs can be gaming PCs.
Recently, external graphics cards like the Razer Core for Windows laptops have become popular. In theory, the Razer Core supports Macs, but most models don't come with a Thunderbolt 3 port, with the exception of the new 2016 MacBook Pro. Instead of Razer, you can purchase the Thunderbolt 2-powered BizonBox. The BizonBox is essentially a modified version of the AKiTiO Thunder2 PCIe Box. Thunder 2 converts standard PCIe accessories such as SSDs to Thunderbolt for use with a Mac. But it is worth noting that there is no official support for video cards. A few minutes with a soldering iron and ATX, and you can easily turn AKiTiO Thunder2 into a Razer Core. The cost of AKiTiO Thunder2 is $350, which is quite a lot.
Let's assume that $350 is a reasonable price for most people. How technically can an external graphics card affect a Mac's gaming performance? Many PC games are only available for Windows due to DirectX, so the first step is to install the OS from Microsoft through Boot Camp. If after that you just connect an external video card, nothing will happen, the computer will still use the built-in one.
On the Bizon website you can find a large list of models that are not compatible with the BizonBox. Some Macs don't work well with BizonBox on macOS but are fine on Windows, others don't work well on Windows but are fine on macOS. There are even devices that don't work with Bizon on any OS. In the case of Mac, absolutely all models have at least one compatibility limitation. The only iMac that will have the least problems is the 2014 iMac 5K. On this computer, Windows detects an external video card, but it still does not work directly. Since the iMac uses a discrete graphics card, you will need to connect another monitor for the external graphics card anyway. So is it possible to play on a Mac?
Nelson tested GTA 5 with the GTX 1060 and GTX 980 Ti at 1080p. The GTX 1060 hits 96fps on PC and 82fps on Mac. The result on Mac is of course lower, but not as bad as 22 fps with a standard AMD 295x. With the GTX 980 Ti, the story is somewhat different - 147fps on PC and 88fps on Mac, which is only 60% of PC performance. And this applies to all tested games.
So technically you can play comfortably on a Mac. Although this is not recommended due to compatibility and driver issues, the need to connect an external monitor, and the price being too high. It is much easier to buy a powerful PC or PlayStation.
