Celestian Diaries, Number 2 (Rant Included!)

At least I'm not the only blogger who's found it hard to balance blogging and Wizard101 lately. It seems that Friendly is yet again realizing that "less talkee, more playee" is quite important.

However, it's been a few days since Celestia's launch, and David and I aren't even Level 51 yet! Yep, that's right. We're taking it extremely slow - not even out of the Grotto!

I would have pictures for all of you... But I've been so immersed in game play that it's just not happening. Sorry, Print Screen...

Well, not necessarily Print Screen. Folks, it's time I broke it to you. Something has been seriously frustrating me... Besides the fact that KingsIsle took out two very excellent Solar Spells because of PvP imbalance rather than just banning them in PvP.

All right, let's face it: the Mac destroys the PC any day. The Mac has better software, better hardware, and is downright better than a PC. I KNOW, I know, the PC is "a better gaming computer". I must say, though, that the PC is only a better gaming computer right now because the industry makes it so.

Let's take Wizard101 (a game) and Livestream (a great tool for gamers and online communities) for example, here.

Wizard101 is only compatible on the PC currently. Why is this? Only the people at KingsIsle will really know why Wizard101 only runs on PC's. Now, I've gotten Wizard101 to run on my Mac through fairly expensive software. Even then, the game doesn't run the way I want it to. It glitches often, and is not compatible with software like...

Livestream. An excellent tool for gamers who want to share their experience in games without the toil of creating a blog or a podcast. All you have to do is press "Go Live", and you're broadcasting your game to the world... On a PC. On Mac, however, there is no version of Procaster (Livestream software) that allows the user to specifically broadcast a game they play. I would, then, after having to go through all the trouble of using pretty annoying third party software, be disappointed because Livestream for Mac will not recognize games. This means desktop broadcasting, which is entirely different than game broadcasting, because it usually takes much less to power. If you try to broadcast a game with desktop broadcasting software, you will not be as successful as you might have been otherwise.

Here is my point: Why do people not make PC and Mac equal on software and hardware? Honestly. Why won't Livestream recognize games on Mac, and why won't KingsIsle pull out a Mac version of Wizard101?

Think about it from a business perspective: You have several million PC user's playing your game... There's several million Mac users out there who would love your game, too, KingsIsle! They'd buy subscriptions and Crowns and Mega Snack Packs and with those Crowns and so it all unfolds and comes back down to-

Money. It's what makes the world go 'round, folks.

And that's my rant of the day! Enjoy Celestia! (Coming to your Mac soon? Oh, I wish.)

Oh, right, and before I sign off, I might as well notify everyone that my Livestream channel is up and running: The Dustin MoonCatcher Network. I know, I've got a gigantic ego and have been renaming it a bunch of crap names every other minute, but it's here to stay now just a channel. David and I might be broadcasting some Celestia on it later tonight. Check it out (click here) and STAY TUNED!

Keep on Casting,
D. MoonCatcher

Mac Users Across the Spiral, Rejoice!

Well, I can officially say to you all today that there's an easy and efficient way to get Wizard 101 on your Mac. It's hinted in the July edition of the Ravenwood Bulletin.

My goodness, I can't believe I was able to say that. Wizard 101 works on Mac, and I am proud!

*pinches self*

But wait, folks! Before you start loading up your Mac and download Wizard 101, I've gotta tell you something important.


Wizard 101 isn't officially supported on Mac. The only way to get Wizard 101 on your Mac is through an easy to use, not-to-expensive third party software called... CrossOver Games! 


All you've gotta do to get Wizard 101 on your Mac is download CrossOver Games. Once this is done, have the CrossOver Games application open on your computer and proceed to download the Wizard 101 game as you would normally do on a PC. CrossOver Games automatically converts the download to a Mac download, then converting the game to a Mac game. To access Wizard 101 once it has been downloaded, find the CrossOver Games folder in your Finder (usually under Applications, but try searching CrossOver Games in Spotlight if you can't find it). From here, you'll be able to access all the games you "CrossedOver" seamlessly to Mac OSX. 


You know why I love screenshots? They can tell the truth... Unless you're Friendly, of course. (Note to Friendly: Link me in your post about how Wizard 101 can now run on a Mac! There is no post like this, you say? Make one, you silly Necromantic friendly Necromancer, MAKE ONE *winks*.) Two hours of Skeletal Warrior farming from Tumok ring a bell, David?

click to enlarge

That, my friends, is the first time I ever saw Dustin on the screen of an Apple computer.

*wipes tear from eye*

Anyway, this is a fantastic third party feature that really does work seamlessly. I'm definitely going to make the most of my free trial with CrossOver Games and then invest in a copy of it for permanent use!

Hope this helps... I think it will... *wink wink* 

Oh, and I hear Stephen, Leesha, and Icywiz beat the Warehouse with the help of the almighty and awesome Kevin BattleBlood, blogger, podcaster, and artist extraordinaré. 

Keep on Casting,

D. MoonCatcher