Been awhile since I posted here. Rather, been awhile since I had to. Usually I figure stuff out on my own, being a programmer and all, but I'm all but lost when it comes to games. The only thing I've got going for me is a thorough knowledge of C++, but OpenGL...not so much.
I haven't played OA in a while because I have the worst luck in the world and am currently trying to RMA a graphics card, replace an entire computer case, and replace a defective and completely dead PSU that was sent to replace the first one, which exploded. So I haven't really had a gaming machine, period. But I have a MacBook Pro, which I use primarily for programming, photo work, and music composition. It's got a GT 650M, and runs OpenCL-enabled GPGPU stuff pretty well for a laptop. I also got a ridiculous discount out of sheer luck.
In the olden days, I played OA 0,8,1 on a second-gen MacBook (black) with Intel GMA 950/965. It worked. Somehow. Now I've got this thing. Oh also it's got a 1650x1050 display, which is interesting. OA works at that resolution, but has trouble remembering...
So playing 0,8,8 is easy enough. Practically glitch-free thus far. Yes I chmod +x 'd the executables to make it work. Not an inconvenience.
I want to play mods, though. Specifically older mods, which may be my problem. But that doesn't explain why OA content that has been in OA for years and years would suddenly just not work. In this case, it doesn't look right at all, and obviously so. I'll show you with pictures, since that's a lot easier. Sorry I have to link to them instead of inserting them. They'd stretch the page into oblivion.
0,8,8 "pure" looks like
this.
Trying to play a mod (oatmeal) on oa_ctf2 (a pretty old map if I recall) looks like
this instead. Worse, I can't even use the console easily because it looks like
this! And it's awfully annoying having projectile trails that look like
this, too.
I've not really changed or modified anything at all. Just put the mod folder into /Users/me/Library/Application\ Support/OpenArena/. Is it as simple as a permissions problem...? OS X really cares a lot about permissions and sometimes won't let you access things regardless, such as /Users/me/Library.
Lots of the time it's saying something about null polymaps, which leads me to believe that a variable isn't being initialized somewhere, or the renderer is attempting to operate on a memory object either to which it does not have access or does not exist to begin with. If that's the case, I'm surprised the renderer/game isn't just crashing straight out, but I guess we've come a long way from the C-style "you wanna put this array at this memory address? but there is a Chrome tab open there! okay sure what the hell let's do it."
Use as much jargon as you want. I am a programmer and also work as a computer repair technician. I'm not "married" to Mac, either, so if you can only describe a potential solution in Linux/Windows terms, chances are I can "translate" it well enough.
Sorry if I didn't include enough information. I just kinda want to know what's going on and if it's even something that can be corrected!
Thanks