KOTOR2: TSL ON MAC
Step by step guide to make The Sith Lords fully working on your Mac, with Mods and Fixes
Introduction(scroll for actual guide)
Couple years ago Bioware and Aspyr released a Steam version Mac compatible of Kotor1. The game is working well and i finished with pleasure on my macbook.
Unfortunately Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords has not received the same treatment, and in fact it's not available for Mac.
But after some research on the internet, I have finally made my Steam version of Kotor2 perfectly working on my mac machine, with complete widescreen support, anti-aliasing and movies. For a complete version of the game i've also installed the TSLRCM (1.8.3) and several other mods.
This guide claims to contain all information needed to operate the most important features and fixes you can do on the Windows version, carefully noting that several advices given here are already available on various web sites: what I wanted was just to put together everything I learned (adding some of my own) and share with you all the pleasure to relive the amazing game experience that is Kotor2.
So, let's start!What to expectFully working game in widescreen, you can install quite all mods available.
Things are not going to work:
Frame Buffer Effects (Camera filters for recordings, hologram effects, invisible camouflage),
Soft Shadows (although normal shadows and grass actually work),
Tricky Anti-Aliasing (Depending on driver used -see below-, you may be able to select only 4x,8x or none at all)
Brightness blue tint (as before, it depends on driver used. Most users should not encounter this issue)
Any Shader-Graphic effects Mod (Could work with Nvida gpu powered Macs)
Personal Hardwdare:
MacBookPro 13" mid 2012 NON RETINA
(As you can see mine it's not the most powerful mac available, in fact the gpu is an intel 4000 HD, similar to MacBook Air's.)GoG VersionI do not own this version, although some people said that sometimes is going to be more stable than Steam version.
Actually the only way to install this game on your Mac trough GoG is to install Paul The Tall's Porting Kit you can find here (go under Gog version)
Simply open the program, select Library tab, and search for Star Wars - KotOR2 on the left, and click Download.Steam VersionActually there are two types of software that allows you to install Steam on your Mac: Wineskin, and Crossover. Praising the last one for its immediacy and user friendly configuration, Wineskin seems to be the only working for this particular game.
First thing you need is the Kotor 2 Wrapper made by 1Leonard you can find on PortingTeam.com: Link
Download and place it on your desktop. Double click on Knights of The Old Republic II.app
Click on Advanced, and then Tools
Click on Winetricks, and type steam in searchbox. Program is under apps. Check it and click run.
Now wineskin will download and install Steam for you.
**NOTE**:If you get an error during this operation, there is another way (open spoiler):
Install Kotor 2Now that you have installed Steam, the program should launch automatically. If it doesn't, exit Wineskin and open wrapper again (Knigts of the Old Republic II.app).
Access with your account, open library, and install your game. Apparently you have to purchase game first .
If everything is gone right, whenever you will click on Knights of the Old Republic II.app, Steam will launch, and you just have to select the game, and click play. Game will launch (in 4:3 indeed), movies will show up, and you are able to play without any glitches!!!
**Missing texts in Steam application**: check Known Issues section below
**Game not launching/Steam won't allow you to play because game is "already running"**: check Known Issues section below.WidescreenThe most important fix you're going to do is Widescreen indeed. I learned these steps from Xuul youtube video Link
Here revisited for Mac.
Overwrite swkotor2.exe
First thing you need is this file This File from widescreenforum by Squ1zZy.
You need only swkotor2.exe file. Copy it, throw the rest.
Go to Knights of the old Republic 2 directory. This folder is crucial for installing any mod or fix you want, so here how to find it:
Right click on wrapper (Knights of the old Republic II.app) and click show package content. Here you will find 3 files. One is Wineskin, which we have just used before to install the Steam software, one si Contents (we are not going to use it), and an alias to drive_c. This folder correspond to C: main hard drive of a windows pc. Open it.
Now as using windows, go to the kotor2 directory:
drive_c/Program Files/Steam/steamapps/common/Knights of the old Republic II/
Here you find the original swkotor2.exe. Rename it swkotor2.exe.old, allowing to backup in any moment. Paste squ1zzy’s .exe.
Launch the game, go to options and set resolution to 1280x960. Exit game.
**1280x960 Resolution not available**: check Known Issues below
UniWS Patcher
Now you have an executable compatible with UniWS patcher, download it here: Link
**NOTE**:As you can see this is a windows program. To run an .exe file you need to open it with Wineskin, so open package content of wrapper then open Wineskin (or just cmd+DownArrow key on wrapper), and select install software. Choose your file and it will simply run as in windows. This method allows you to install any mod and fix you want, TSLRCM included.So at this point all steps are identical to a windows version. The only difference is that your C:\ drive is a folder inside Knight os the Old Republic II.app
Launch UniWS with Wineskin, choose Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The sith Lords under "game", set game installation folder as seen above, and set your new resolution. Best solution is to set native resolution of your monitor. In any case you should never go under 785 height value. In my case I set 1280x800.
Click Patch.
Go in game directory (where you find swkotor2.exe) and open swkotor2.ini. You will probably get an error, so tell mac to open file with TextEdit.
Find width and height values under [Display Options] and [Graphic Option] and set them at the same resolution you used in UniWS. Save file.
Now game will run in fullscreen widescreen!
**Mouse is stuck/Messing with menus and gui**: Check Known Issues below
Fixes you may need for Widescreen
Widescreen UI Fix by Achilles for unstretched HUD in game (Just follow installation guide, put your files in Override folder inside game directory)
This guide for widescreen movies by RenegadeSniper7(You don't need to convert your movie files since Steam version already contains high resolution videos, so jump to step 9 and install HxD as you have done already for UniWS)
Installing TSLRCM 1.8.3B and other ModsTo complete your Steam version of Kotor2 you definitely need the Restored Content Mod.
At this point, installing this mod is not difficult at all, since you just have to install an .exe file.
Download TSLRCM 1.8.3B
Open Wineskin (cmd+DownArrow on Knights of the old Republic II.app) and click Install Software
Choose Setup Executable and then select TSLRCM 1.8.3B.exe.
Follow on screen instructions, and when the installer asks you directory's path, remember to search inside drive_c. Path usually appears like this:
C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\Knights of the Old Republic II
Launch game and you will see the new main menu logo.
Installing M4-78 and other mods with TSLPatcher
Installing M4-78 (that came with an executable installer) and all other mods that requires a TSLPatcher installation will just work exactly as TSLRCM. Just open Wineskin, Install software, choose executable, and find directory inside drive_c (Path may change in your computer):
Desktop\My Computer\Users\*yourname*\Program Files\Steam\Steamapps\common\Knights of the Old Republic II\
**NOTE**: any issue, bug or glitch of any mod that not interfere with game graphic functions are not caused by the fact you are playing on a mac. Rather should be caused by incompatibility between different mods.
Installing mods without TSLPatcher
For all mods that requires to overwrite some files in Override folder or Directory folder (New textures, new sounds, new models, new movies...), just follow instructions given and drag files into right folder following the path inside drive_c:
Knights of the Old Republic II.app\drive_c\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\Knights of the Old Republic II
Installing KotorTools and KSE
If you want to create your own mod you need KotorTools. Forgetcanon made a guide to make it work on Mac through Wine. Link
For editing your kotor (1 & 2) save files you can use KSE. This video made by Rece explains how to use it with Wineskin.
Known Issues
**Missing Texts**: Usually texts in Steam program don't appear at all in your first run. If you got this issue follow this steps:
**Game not launching/Steam won't allow you to play because game is "already running"**:
**1280x960 Resolution not available**:
**Mouse is stuck/messing with menus and gui**:
**2x,4x,6x Anti-Aliasing options not available**:
**Blue tint appears when launching game**:
**Black screen after character creation**
I tried to be clear enough for non expert users too, so please tell me if you have any question.
Hi Rece, referring your first problem, the cause was surely the swkotor2.exe. In fact recently the executable has been updated and may cause the exact issue you had. Using the .exe you download with Squ1zzy file, usually fix the problem. About resolution: that's quite strange since you should at least have 1680x1050 option available. What machine are you using? However for now just try to set it at 1024x768, close game and patch it at 1920x1200 (Remember to modify swkotor.ini)