" Mike, I just picked up a copy of Jedi Academy tonight. It appears that the Aspyr team did a much better job at porting this game as compared to JKII. The game play is very smooth and the game is rock solid with all options maxed out on my G5 1.8 GHz system.
The multi-player is much better than JKII. I am very surprised at how fast they were able to get this game out and the quality. I hope we see the same or better with the Lord of the Rings.
BTW, I am also wondering when the developers will be able to take advantage of the newer IBM compilers? I hear the new compilers should improve performance of Power PC apps by up to 50%.
Very Best Regards,
Jeffrey M. "

I forgot to mention the recent Jedi Academy 1.0.1b update which has these changes/fixes mentioned:

• Fixed visual glitches with the About box.
• The game could randomly crash when switching between levels - this is now fixed.
• The background of the Mac console window in the MP app was drawing improperly in Panther.
• Fixed hitching/suttering framerates in the single-player app.
• Performance in the MP app has been improved.

There's also a download of bonus multiplayer maps.
Programmer Brad Oliver replied to the reader comments on Jedi Academy:

" Hi Mike, I just saw on your front page the news about Jedi Academy. It's amusing to think that I did a much better porting job on this one than Jedi Knight 2, given that they're essentially the same engine and code underneath. I suspect most of that praise is perhaps due to the writer having a 1.8GHz G5 now, but I'll take what I can get. ;-)

Anyway, a few points bear mentioning.

1. The 1.01a "updater" doesn't update properly. You'll end up with an app that claims to be 1.01a but in reality is just the same app as before. We've put out a new 1.01b updater that fixes that as well as another issue with weather cache files that most notably fix an issue with the first Vjun level's acid rain:
http://www.brad-oliver.com:8080/~boliver/JKJA_101b_1220.sit

This is the "official" patch, and it should also be appearing on MGF and the Aspyr web site within a few days, once the holidays are over.

2. There is a patch for Jedi Knight 2 that rolls in a bunch of fixes made during development of Jedi Academy, released around the same time. (I already posted that Jedi Knight II update in last Friday's news page.-Mike)
-Brad Oliver "

(added 6PM ET.)
" Mike, I just wanted to give you some feedback on trying the nap mode via chud. I have a dual 1Ghz MDD G4 which usually runs around 61.x constantly with the verax kit(s) installed and a pci slot fan.
Last night I turned on the nap option via System Preferences/Hardware, the temp did indeed take a plunge down into the 40 range. Upon coming back to my computer a few hours later, the computer was locked up solid, forcing a hard shutdown and reboot. Doesn't look like this will be an option for me on my machine.
Jeff
(I asked for OS and CHUD tools version)
Running 10.3.2 and CHUD 3.0.2."

(added 3PM ET.)
" I have not gotten freezes yet while working but have total system freeze when restarting. Turning off napping allows a normal restart, but I cant figure out how to run a script to turn it off at logout just like turning it on at login. I need to do actual work today so ive got it turned off but will test more in the next few days. The temp differences are really dramatic. The "idle" temp this morning was 110F (normal 140F)after sleeping all night (woke up at 86F)
thanks, Peter H.
(he later wrote with more info, CHUD version, etc.)
Yes (CHUD) v3.02, system 10.2.6 Dual 1.25, 2GB ram, 2 deskstar 120GB (1 ea bus), 2x60GB hardware RAID 0 (Siig 133UltraRaid)
Its possible my freezes are intermittent, frankly i havent tried each possibility 10 times yet like i would to be sure."

(added 3PM ET.)
" I had the very same problem happen, with regard to hard freezes when using the nap mode. I tried it on a Dual 1.25GHz machine, running 10.2.8 and received two system lockups as well. Force quit would not fix anything and a cold reboot was necessary. Were the other people running Panther or Jaguar? If you check the link (original reader's thread) that you listed on Tuesday, you will find another user, (Moogle Boy), who is also having the same problem.
Shane
(he later wrote he was using CHUD v3.0.2) "

(added 3PM ET.)
" No problems here Mike. MDD Dual 1 Gig. I installed the tools this AM after reading the posts. My system normally warmed rapidly to 57.3 C and stayed there. Idling now at 36.6C. Been running for 7 hours since enabling NAP.
Thanks for your site.....
Happy Holidays, Dave B. "

(previous reports follow)

" About your CHUD Tools tip to cool Dual G4s yesterday, it is true that enabling Nap reduces the temperature. But it also resulted in two hard system freezes (no mouse or keyboard response, no ability to Force Quit, no nothing) in less than 5 hours. Both freezes resulted in minor drive directory problems which were fixed with fsck and DiskWarrior (overlapped files). So count me out on this one.
John G.
(he later wrote with more details)
MDD Dual 1.25 GHz, 2GB RAM, Boot ROM Version: 4.48f2, OS X 10.3.2 (7D24), CHUD Tools 3.02 "

The first two reports (below) didn't mention any problems so far but if anyone else sees this let me know. (include system/OS/CHUD tools version info. thanks.)

" Based on the report on your site i got Chud 3.02 and installed on a Dual 1.25 MDD. Previously the computer would run at about 140 F all the time (Temperature Monitor)maybe 3 degrees +/-. With "nap" turned on in the Hardware prefs pane, it would "idle" (not doing anything ) at 123 F. Starting work in Photoshop caused the CPU heat to slowly return to 140F-ish. The other benefit is the fan behavior, At 124F the fans run no louder than my Sawtooth next to it. At 140 F they were pretty loud. I'm using the applescript to turn it on at boot time. This seems like a pretty good tip Thanks!
Peter H. "

Another MDD owner wrote:

" Good god! It works great. in my office my FW800 (Dual 1.25) would run at about 45C. had it nice and warmed just minutes ago, 42C. Within 2 minutes, it is at 33-35C and still falling. I have 2 PCI Slot coolers, and a blower on my Radeon (Still super quiet). Room temp is 20C
Thanks for links!
Mike C. "

As I mentioned yesterday, the Systems page, G4 macs section here also has other MDD cooling tips/articles such as installing the Copper dual 1.42GHz model heatsink (appx $65.) in dual 1GHz/1.25GHz models and using a cheap PCI slot cooler.

Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal 2.1:
"This patch will only work with the installation of the Throne of Bhaal expansion. It contains the following two fixes:

Fixes Umar Hills area loading conflict

Fixes Dual Processor compatibility issues

OS X Notes: Due to current issues with all versions of OS X, turning on 3D acceleration will cause the game to run very slow. Please turn off 3D acceleration if you are running in OS X"

Neverwinter Nights 1.61 (60MB):

added in 1.61 support for all game versions - with and without SoU and with and without HotU

added Demonflesh Golem to game resources

added support for custom TLK files for single-player games. Multiplayer support for custom TLK files will be added in a future update.

Made damage reduction for DD and barbarians stack.

Added dm_visualeffect console command. first param is int for vfx #, second is duration in seconds (float, optional). Can target ground, doors, creatures and placeable objects.

Fixed NPCs trying to use items that they were not usable due to race, alignment or class restrictions and standing around looking dumb.

and many more fixes...

"Hi, just a note of advise on the VGA Silencer from Artic cooling ($29.99) for the ATI 9800 card. I purchased one and tried to install it. It simply does not fit.
As you pointed out the back plate is different. (I mentioned in the past news post that the VGA Silencer bracket is cut for the -retail- 9800 pro card ports (VGA/video/DVI), not the Mac OEM/BTO 9800 model (ADC+DVI Ports)-Mike)
That would not be such a problem because if you take out the plate next to it you can keep the original back plate, BUT it has a big piece of metal and plastic in the back of the card that holds the heatsink against the GPU and that it simply does not fit in the space between the card and the metal partition that separates the PCI cards space from the CPUs (in the G5). I think it would be possible to change to a different plate to hold the heatsink, but the space is really tight in there.
At the end I simply gave up and put the original fan back on. So it seems that the Verax fan, albeit more expensive ($69 US) is a better choice.
Michele F
"

I can barely hear the Verax G03 (at first I thought it was literally silent). It's definitely a lot quieter than the OEM 9800 fan I had on this card. See my previous Verax G03 install guide for the OEM/BTO 9800 Pro card.

• Powerlogix G3/900 in B&W G3 (rated 3)
• Powerlogix G3/900 in Beige G3 (rated 8)
• Technowarehouse G4/500 in iMac slot-loading (rated 10)
  (My reviews of G4 and G3 upgrades w/apps/game tests, install info, etc. are linked here. OC/CPU module articles are on the Systems page.)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

CDRW Drives:
• Firewire (IDE drive in FW case) Liteon LTR-52246S (52x24x52x) used w/Dual G4 (OS X)
  
  DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• IDE Pioneer DVR-106D in Dual G4 (OS X 10.3)
  (strange - reported correctly but not showing native burn support. DVR-106D drives have native OS X burn support from 10.2.8 and later)
  (Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT and B&W G3 Macs)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE Hitachi Travelstar 7K60 60GB in Powerbook G3 2000 (OS X 10.3)
  (PB G3 pismo illustrated HD install guide here. IDE Topics page, HD section has full review of this drive.)
• IDE Maxtor 80GB in B&W G3 (OS 9.2)
  (Illustrated guide to adding a 2nd HD here in B&W G3 rev2 and G4 towers up to the QuickSilver models.
  IDE articles page RAID section has an illustrated guide for adding 2 more drives in the side bays.)
• IDE Toshiba MK4019GAX 40GB in Powerbook G3 wallstreet2 (OS X)
  (PB G3 wallstreet illustrated HD install guide here)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. (If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.)
(Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

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