With the impending doom of the subpar (sorry, but I have to call a spade a spade here) Macintosh client, there needs to be a transition away from the Mac client. Now, the easiest way is to have a Windows partition using Boot Camp and boot there when you want to play STO, but not everyone can do this method for varying reasons. So, let's assume this isn't an option and solve it to where you are playing natively under Mac OS X.
NOTE: Keep the OS wars to yourself. I have a Windows partition. I use Windows. I also use Mac OS X. There are times where I even use Linux! I'm hoping to eventually have a MorphOS box from an old Mac mini G4. Each OS is nice, but it's ridiculous to start an argument over the internet (and we all know the analogy so it's not worth mentioning). So I'm asking nicely (which won't work) to keep it to yourself.
YOU WILL NEED:
1. Some form of WINE. I personally use CrossOver, which I got from a Stack Social deal iirc. You can also use a free one called PlayOnMac. I'm going through this from a CrossOver point of view, but PlayOnMac will be very similar if not identical to this process.
2. A Steam account, which can be created as you do this.
3. Time. Lots and lots of time.
HOW TO DO IT:
1. Install your WINE client by dragging CrossOver or PlayOnMac to your main Applications folder.
2. Start it up once you get it installed. From here on out, I will be detailing this in CrossOver, so you might need to search for the equivalent items in any other WINE client.
3. On your menu bar in CrossOver, select "Configure" and then "Install Software."
4. In the search box, you will type "Star Trek Online" without the quotes.
5. Highlight STO if it isn't highlighted already and click "Continue" at the bottom of the Window.
6. Click "Install Via Steam." For some reason, this works better than any other option I tried, but your mileage may vary. Then click "Continue."
7. If it asks for the type of WINE bottle needed, make sure "New Windows XP Bottle" is selected. It will work and other bottles might not work with STO. Then click "Continue."
8. You're at the final tab now. Check to make sure everything is correct with this HOW TO and then click "Install."
9. Wait. And wait. And wait. This is going to take a while, because everything you need is downloading. Go make a sandwich. Watch some Star Trek episodes/movies on Netflix.
10. While it's all downloading, some dialog boxes will spring up. So check back for a minute or two and say yes. Internet Explorer will ask you to reboot and it's ok to say yes to this. WINE does a simulated reboot, so don't worry.
11. Once Steam is installed, it will ask for your username and password. If you don't have one, now is the time to do it. When you do this, the STO launcher should download and be ready.
12. Open your new "Windows" STO launcher from Steam and put your username/password in. For some reason, this took two separate launches for me. Give it a bit of time to work up. If it doesn't come up, Force Quit STO and then do it again. This is about the only time this will ever happen, so don't get frustrated. Then...
13. Wait. And wait. And wait. This is going to take a while, because everything you need is downloading. Go make a sandwich. Watch some Star Trek episodes/movies on Netflix.
14. Once it's all downloaded, click "ENGAGE." Just like with Step 12, this first run could take two tries and under normal conditions it's the only time it'll happen. It's all right. Don't get frustrated. Once it starts up, configure the graphics like you always have to do on the first run.
15. Enjoy Star Trek Online!
RESOURCES:
CrossOver for Mac:
https://www.codeweavers.com/products/crossover-mac (CrossOver is $59.99)
PlayOnMac:
https://www.playonmac.com/en/ (PlayOnMac is free)
Comments
1) Playonmac is simple to install. Follow the instructions.
2) You can play S.T.O through Perfect World International and Steam, which will be listed in the Games category or install a non-listed program, such as Arc. For me S.T.O did not work through Perfect World International or Arc. I installed Steam through Playonmac. Once that is complete you will have to sign in as usual then download the entire patches released for S.T.O.
3) After downloading the patches you should be able to click on the "Engage" button. For me it took between 5 to 10 minutes for the game to load to the character section. After the game does the graphic settings.
4) Personally I would put the display settings on window and you can expand the STO window. The reason I do this because when you are switching between windows, such as looking at the e-mails, the game freezes but you can expand or compress the window slightly and the game will unfreeze or double click on the top of the window, which will expand to full screen then double click again will go back to the previous window and the game will unfreeze. Also for me when the game is in full screen, if you want to change the graphic settings or any other setting the game will freeze and you will have to close it by other means and re-open Steam and S.T.O.
5) Enjoy Star Trek Online.
If you received an email and redeemed a code, the ship is under the Promotions tab of the Store.
To rob a line: [quote: Mariemaia Kushrenada] Forum Posting is much like an endless waltz. The three beats of war, peace and revolution continue on forever. However, opinions will change upon the reading of my post.[/quote]
It did that for me after I downloaded the latest patch. I waited for several minutes, closed then re-open programs. Since my STO window is set to window I can click on the top part of the screen which will expand then click on it again goes back to the previous size window. STO eventually started to work.
For some reason when you go in to the customise starship and try to save and load a design. It does not work. Those with Playonmac are you experiencing the same problem?
I've had that happen only once. It took a force quit and redo. It doesn't normally do this for me under CrossOver.
If there are posts here that do not appeal to you, or opinions you disagree with, the best way to deal with that is to resist the urge to add comments. Instead, engage with the content you like! Don't feed the trolls!
I'm getting that with the tailor. Not loading any pre-PlayOnMac outfits or outfits saved whilst i've been using PlayOnMac.
Also Dyson Ground BZ seems to crash to desktop intermittently mainly at the point the V-rex battle starts or during. It is intermittent as i've managed to hope zones and play through several before the crash or spend 20 plus mins capturing a zone only for it to crash when the v-rex spawns. Doesn't seem to crash anywhere else.
Cryptic likes to use postprocess. A lot. Switch it off if you have further issues. Some maps will be very dark but use /unlit there to compensate.
http://www.arcgames.com/en/forums/startrekonline#/discussion/1213173/sto-on-osx-using-wineskin-another-option
It would likely have to be moved to support for a sticky. General Discussion topics DO NOT get the sticky treatment.
If there are posts here that do not appeal to you, or opinions you disagree with, the best way to deal with that is to resist the urge to add comments. Instead, engage with the content you like! Don't feed the trolls!
---Update---
Well there you go boys!
http://sto.gamepedia.com/Linux_OS_and_Mac_OS_X
I installed Steam on PlayOnMac because at the the time S.T.O launcher was not working on PlayOnMac. About 2-3 weeks ago every time I login in on the sto launcher through Steam, when it says patching on the bar it will still show patching for a long time. When I click on the options button the launcher freezes. I have checked that I have updated software on the Mac and checked my firewall. Last week I installed S.T.O on PlayOnMac and it was working that one time and now it crashes, even after verifying. I have reinstalled both S.T.O and Steam on PlayOnMac but still get the same problem. Anyone else experiencing this problem on PlayOnMac? I know Wine users are experiencing a problem on the Wine software for playing S.T.O.
@raj011 One more try, then no more.
Thank you again for showing me something I already know now. Even then it was not that helpful. Back to the discussion. Anyone else using PlayOnMac having this problem?