[Horsepoo!!!]

OpenGL is still unplayable when necros have lots of minions. People tell me I just stand around an do nothing doing Baal runs...and I have to tell them my computer can't keep up with all the crap going on. This is a Dual 800 G4.

The CD-ROM spins up and down at certain times, making the game lag for 5-7 seconds and causing me to die miserably before I can do anything about it.

I think Mac users playing hardcore is pretty much unheard of because the performance problems are so bad under OS X.

I still don't understand why Blizzard is using 'special tricks...only available under 10.2 and 10.3...QUARTZ EXTREME!!!111' to get performance closer to what it was under OS 9 or Windows. What's so weird about OS X that prevents Diablo 2 from running decently.

Please, Rob Harris, answer my question because I really want to know why performance (while better in 1.10 in OS X) still sucks.

[rbarris]

If you would like to mail me more details of your system we can check it out. Which OS version, what video card, how much RAM/VRAM - a system profiler report would be best.

If your CDROM is spinning up and down, this might be indicative of not having all the data files installed onto your hard drive - it depends which option you chose at install time. The music file is a good example. At times we recommend playing with the music off (volume at zero) just to see if a difference is noticeable.

Rob rbarris "at" blizzard.com

[redJag]

Use a no-cd deal so that you don't have to spin up the CD. You should be able to create an image of your CD.

Rob: is the decision to use copy protection (CD in drive) above all the people designing the game (ie: administration)? All copy protection does is inconvenience the user that actually does buy the game, and make them feel like a criminal. I completely understand the CD Key issue, you gotta get paid But, I think CD keys are plenty, and needing the CD in the drive is ridiculous. Unless the user opts to do a partial install, of course.

[Horsepoo!!!]

Originally posted by rbarris:
If you would like to mail me more details of your system we can check it out. Which OS version, what video card, how much RAM/VRAM - a system profiler report would be best.

If your CDROM is spinning up and down, this might be indicative of not having all the data files installed onto your hard drive - it depends which option you chose at install time. The music file is a good example. At times we recommend playing with the music off (volume at zero) just to see if a difference is noticeable.

Rob rbarris "at" blizzard.com

Hardware Overview:

Machine Model: Power Mac G4
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (2.1)
Number Of CPUs: 2
CPU Speed: 800 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
L3 Cache (per CPU): 2 MB
Memory: 640 MB
Bus Speed: 133 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.24f1
Serial Number:
Sales Order Number:

Radeon 8500

Mac OS X 10.3.

Full D2 install.

I'm mostly happy with 1.10 but those little instances where the CD spins up make me mad since I lose a ton of xp when I die. God knows what I'd do if I was playing hardcore.

Anyways...I'll try with the music off to see.

[a2daj]

1. Switch to software mode for the time being.

2. Copy the Expansion Music and Movie files from the LoD CD to the Diablo II Files folder. This should keep the game from trying to access the CD when it needs to play some music. There are times, even if the music is turned off, that the game will still play music, like after killing Schenk for the first time.

[Horsepoo!!!]

Originally posted by a2daj:
1. Switch to software mode for the time being.

2. Copy the Expansion Music and Movie files from the LoD CD to the Diablo II Files folder. This should keep the game from trying to access the CD when it needs to play some music. There are times, even if the music is turned off, that the game will still play music, like after killing Schenk for the first time.

Gonna try that.

[SteevAK]

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
I think Mac users playing hardcore is pretty much unheard of because the performance problems are so bad under OS X.

I play hardcore. I've been very satisfied with the performance. Of course, things do lag out when there's lots going on, but usually these are times I play careful anyway because my eyes can barely keep up with what's going on. I only have a Radeon 9000.

[joe]

Originally posted by SteevAK:
I play hardcore. I've been very satisfied with the performance. Of course, things do lag out when there's lots going on, but usually these are times I play careful anyway because my eyes can barely keep up with what's going on. I only have a Radeon 9000.

Ditto. I've played on Nightmare and Hell in Software mode. I haven't tried OpenGL lately. But if the latest update still seems to bog down in OpenGL then give Software mode a try. Don't go by the benchmarks - just try it in the secret cow level and see if it bogs down. Software rendering benchmarks lower than OpenGL - but was always faster when there was a lot of monsters running around on screen. Also, unlike most 3D games, DiabloII graphics still look great in software rendering mode.....joe