Apache

Thanks. I had a feeling the Steam installs will all be v4. I have used my CMSF keys (finding one that works) and got the Steam key for CMSF 2. Bit stumped on NATO though. I thought I'd bought that after CMSF 2 but might be wrong. I'll have to see if there's a specific NATO upgrade I've missed, though I thought you upgraded the base games, not the forces add-ons. I actually raised this as a support ticket as I wasn't sure this would be picked up here, there's much more detail in the support ticket so hopefully I'll get to the bottom of the NATO issue.

I have been using a MacBook previously with CM games but recently bought a new Windows laptop given the Mac is now 8-9 years old and there are a few other games I'd like to play that Macs won't, seems the new Apple Silicon with combined CPU/GPU is creating further problems on the ever problematic Mac gaming front. As such I'm process of preparing to install all of my CM games on the new laptop. At the moment I plan to go the Steam key route, getting the keys from Slitherine. When obtaining Steam keys for purchases via the Slitherine site, do you need to input every key you have for a game or do you need to apply the version upgrade keys after you have downloaded and installed via Steam (or even, can you)? As an example I have keys for the following CMBN CMBN Commonwealth Forces CMBN upgrades 2, 3 & 4 (3 separate keys) At the Slitherine site I tried to use all of the keys to retrieve corresponding Steam keys. CMBN and Commowealth base worked, I got the Steam keys and have added the games to my library on Steam. The upgrade keys did not work though and returned an error message along the lines of not being the correct keys for the game. I haven't even got round to installing yet but how do I get the game from whatever base version Steam will download to v4 or is the version that Steam will download already v4? Are the upgrade keys still needed for Steam installs and how do you use them given Steam keys are not available to them, install the game and then upgrade each install? Not sure how the Steam / upgrade combination is supposed to work. I also have a key for CMSF v1.21 retail upgrade which has given me the CMSF Steam key but I also have a BF key for NATO forces which, like the CMBN upgrade keys, doesn't work when I select CMSF 2 NATO. Is there some version compatibility issue with NATO and CMSF 2? I'm even wondering whether it will just be easier to download all the installers from BF again and patch them up but if Steam does it all in one stop that will be much easier.

Resolved by Help Desk ticket.

Thanks, good to hear. I really fancy an Air, just because of the weight etc, but the 14" Pro is an option and that of course would be M3 vs the M2 on the Air. Cost isn't an issue as I find these things last me 8-10 years. I do hate big screen laptops though, I've had 17" in the past and it'e like sitting with a TV on my lap, just can't stand anything over 15" and that's maximum. CM is the only game family I will ever play on them and I do no video editing or anything like that so I'm not considering the M3 Pro or Max. The only thing that bothers me is whether the Air, having no fan, will throttle with bigger games / maps but I don't think CM is that intensive. I also have a REALLY old Mac Mini (basically a movies server) that I might upgrade to a new M2, using that with an Apple keyboard and mouse I could even play on the 65" TV the Mini is connected to. Having the option of the Mini or the Air might make the Air the better choice, use the extra cost that would be needed for the 14" MBP for the Mini.

Interesting. I've been a Mac user for years now and I am just about to change a 10 year old MBP. For the better gaming performance I was considering a Lenovo Legion but, given CM are the only games I'll likely play, I wonder if the better gaming experience is worth the cost of the worse OS experience (or at the very least, different, requiring me to learn it again). If CM runs OK on the M2 I might consider an Air or a Pro again after all. It's too easy to talk myself into "think of all the other games you can play" only to never do it and then think "why did I buy this?".

Thanks, I wondered if that was the case. I have them all still, somewhere LOL.

As above. Got past the Apple can't check the app for malware by doing a Control + Open and now get the licensing message? Any ideas on what hoops I need to jump through to get this to work on a Mac? The demo was from the BF link and dated 2018. I find Macs a PITFA for gaming and will shortly be able to load the games onto a Windows gaming laptop, just fancied taking a look at CMFI first. While I like the fact that Apple produces frequent updates I do sometimes wonder if they get ahead of companies that are unable to keep up with whatever their last update broke!

Ah that explains it then, thanks. I didn't actually check the game page for CMFB on Slitherine, was just going through my keys and selected CMFB from the drop downs. Bit confused as to how the keys work TBH. I have various game keys and v4 upgrade keys. Do I just need the latest upgrade key or do I need to register every key for every game?

Just got my 3 Steam keys for CMBN, CMSF2, and CMBS. I've tried all the keys I have for CMFB though and Slitherine site returns 'key not valid'. Not sure if that's because I bought from BF as a direct Mac only download or what. I don't even know if the Mac download options are on Steam for the other games or not? I've hardly ever used Steam other than for one Civ game I tried (and quickly binned) so it's not a resource I'm used too. I tried a copy / paste of the activation code direct from the BF store Orders page too so the code is definitely correct. Are the keys being rejected because it's a BF direct / Mac only purchase and, if so, is there any way to get a Steam key for it? Or is it the date of purchase (2016) being before some relevant policy change? I've only bothered with the keys so I can get pain / hassle free installs in the future.

Hmmm. Interesting. Just got my 3 Steam keys for CMBN, CMSF2, and CMBS. I've tried all the keys I have for CMFB though and Slitherine site returns 'key not valid'. Not sure if that's because I bought from BF as a direct Mac only download or what. I'll have to contact support to get a key, that said, I don't know if the Mac download options are on Steam for the other games or not? I've hardly ever used Steam other than for one Civ game I tried (and quickly binned) so it's not a resource I'm used too.

Thanks for that.

I have CMBS v2.0 installed. Checking the 'Readme' on the CMBS patch link it tells me that 2.14 must be installed over a game patched to 2.12. How does one find the 2.12 patch as I can't find it anywhere? I've seen a post above saying that 2.14 provides all you need, does that mean the Readme is wrong? If so it might be worth updating the Readme to indicate what versions 2.14 can be installed over, rather than making reference to a previous patch that doesn't seem to exist.

Sorry. Currently overseas working so no chance to even try yet. Will update here when I do.

Thanks!!!! I'll test them out over the weekend.

Thanks Mord. Been away on holiday, will have a look. Thought something was odd LOL.