[How2] Basic Installation Guide [MacOS - Intel]

[WanderingAries]

---File links are Current as of 01/20/2024---

***Tested on Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura (Installation Only)***

 

I'll try to keep this up to date, but make sure to check Manga's original thread for the most current file (should it be updated again). This guide is a visual walk through of "Method 2".

 

Backup Island Rum (If you're moving from an old version)

 

Spoiler

 

1. Begin by Renaming the \Applications\coh to \Applications\CoX_Old
   • This can honestly be whatever you want so long as you give Island Rum the correct path
2. Launch Island Rum
3. Click the Settings button in the top left of the Launcher
   • The button looks like a tree
4. Change the Root folder to CoX_Old
5. Follow the prompts and Click the "Install" buttons that pop-up until the process completes
6. You can now continue to use the old launcher as is, but may need to update any custom shortcuts to the new destination

 

 

Install New Launcher (Up through Monterey)

 

Spoiler

 

1. Download the appropriate launcher using the link in the original post, Method 2
   • Homecoming Launcher for Mac / Link to the Island Rum Installers for Older versions of MacOS, Linux, and Windows
   • 
2. Unpack the Installer (double click)
   • 
3. Launch the Installer
   • 
4. You'll get a popup "Can't be opened because it's from an unidentified developer"
   • 
5. Click the "Ok" button
6. Launch the System Preferences app from the Dock (bottom of screen) or the Apple Menu (top left corner)
   • 
7. Open the "Security & Privacy" app
   • 
8. Make sure you're in the "General" tab
   • 
9. Click the "Open Anyway" button under the "Allow apps downloaded from" section
10. A popup will ask for the account password
    • 
11. Enter the password and Click the "Modify Settings" button 
12. A popup will ask if you're "Are you sure you want to open" the file
    • 
13. Click Open
14. The Mac Client Installer will then launch
    • 
15. Click "Continue" to proceed
16. The "Standard Install" section will display
    • Unless you have a different drive/partition you wish to install this to, then leave it to the default [DRIVE NAME] setting
    • 
17. Click "Install"
18. A popup will ask for the account password
    • 
19. Enter the password and Click the "Install Software" button
20. Once complete, you should get the "Installation Complete" message
    • 
21. Click the "Close" button
22. A popup will ask if you wish to keep or dispose of the installer
    • 
23. Unless you have a reason to keep the file, then Click the "Move to Trash" button to continue

 

 

Install New Launcher (Ventura and up)

 

Spoiler

1. Download the launcher using the link in the original post, Method 2
   • Homecoming Launcher for Mac
   • 
2. Unpack the Installer (double click)
   • 
3. Launch the Installer
   • 
4. You'll get a popup "Can't be opened because it's from an unidentified developer"
   • 

5. Click the "Ok" button

6. Launch the Settings app from the Dock (bottom of screen) or the Apple Menu (top left corner)

7. Click on the "Privacy & Security" option from the left

    

   • 

8. Click the "Open Anyway" button under the "Allow apps downloaded from" section

9. A popup will ask for the account password

10. Enter the password and Click the "Modify Settings" button

11. A popup will ask if you're "Are you sure you want to open" the file

    • 

12. Click Open

    Note: At some point later you'll get a popup asking for permission to access files in the Downloads folder. Click the Ok button.

    • 
13. The Mac Client Installer will then launch
    • 
14. Click "Continue" to proceed
15. The "Standard Install" section will display
    • Unless you have a different drive/partition you wish to install this to, then leave it to the default [DRIVE NAME] setting
    • 
16. Click "Install"
17. A popup will ask for the account password
    • 
18. Enter the password and Click the "Install Software" button
19. Once complete, you should get the "Installation Complete" message
    • 
20. Click the "Close" button
21. A popup will ask if you wish to keep or dispose of the installer
    • 
22. Unless you have a reason to keep the file, then Click the "Move to Trash" button to continue

 

Create a Launcher Shortcut

 

Spoiler

 

1. The Applications folder now contains both the Launch CoH.app (the new launcher) and the coh folder that now houses the new game files
   • 
2. Right click on the Launch CoH.app and Choose "Make Alias"
   • 
3. A new shortcut will be created (I labeled mine "New Launcher")
   • 
4. Move the shortcut to your desktop for easy access to the game launcher
   • 

 

 

 

First Launch

 

Spoiler

 

1. Run the New Launcher and you'll be met with a EULA
   • 
2. Click "Accept" to proceed
3. The Launcher has now opened for the first time
   • 
4. Complete the Game installation process by Clicking the download arrow next to each Game Type you wish to have
   • 
5. When the download completes you can Click the game button to launch City of Heroes

 

See the Windows Guide for information on the launcher itself

 

 

Post Install Migration

Spoiler

If you had the old launcher installed, then follow my guide to manually copying/moving your user files to the new launcher

 

 

Edited January 20 by WanderingAries
Updated for Settings App

[WanderingAries]

MacOS 11 Big Sur

 

Yeah, got to finally test it. on my Unsupported MBP 2012! No wifi, but I'm not planning on gaming on it really. Really not much to say as installing the OS was the hardest part of it all really. The process is essentially the same except for an extra permission or a slightly different looking window (new UI on this OS version). I might right something more fully later if something changes (hopefully me getting the wifi driver fix). I "did" try it using Parallels 16, but 3Mb of vRAM (as reported by the Guest OS) was really painful, especially the visual and input lag in general.

 

The only notable things to mention are that you may get more popups and simply need to hit the Close, Complete, Install, etc. I've attached the ones that appear to be new, but they occur near the end of the installation process and I 'think' this happened during the original process as well. This is the sequence that these appeared, but I'll have to test it later to remember where in the process they fall. So long as you just click the buttons, then you should end up with a working game.

 

1. Click the "OK" button
   • 
2. Click the "OK" button
   • 
3. Click the "Install" button
   • 
4. Click the "Install" button
   • 

 

 

Edited February 21, 2021 by WanderingAries

[WanderingAries]

Following up with a few things:

1. Game runs fine on Big Sur natively on Intel Macs with the little testing I've done
2. Game runs fine on an M1 Mac as well, see the corresponding Guide for the quirks of the installation you'll want to know about
3. When trying to copy/paste while in the Launcher's settings, use the standard Windows key combos, not the MacOS translated key combos
   • IE: To copy you have to use Control+C not Command+C

Edited February 22, 2021 by WanderingAries

[BALAKÉ]

On 11/2/2020 at 10:52 PM, WanderingAries said:

---File links are Current as of 11/02/2020---

***Tested on Mojave and Catalina***

 

I'll try to keep this up to date, but make sure to check Manga's original thread for the most current file (should it be updated again). This guide is a visual walk through of "Method 2".

 

Backup Island Rum

 

  Hide contents

 

1. Begin by Renaming the \Applications\coh to \Applications\CoX_Old
   • This can honestly be whatever you want so long as you give Island Rum the correct path
2. Launch Island Rum
3. Click the Settings button in the top left of the Launcher
   • The button looks like a tree
4. Change the Root folder to CoX_Old
5. Follow the prompts and Click the "Install" buttons that pop-up until the process completes
6. You can now continue to use the old launcher as is, but may need to update any custom shortcuts to the new destination

 

 

Install New Launcher

 

  Hide contents

 

1. Download the launcher using the link in the original post, Method 2
   • https://islandrum.eekstudio.com/mac-installer.zip
   • 
2. Unpack the Installer (double click)
   • 
3. Launch the Installer
   • 
4. You'll get a popup "Can't be opened because it's from an unidentified developer"
   • 
5. Click the "Ok" button
6. Launch the System Preferences app from the Dock (bottom of screen) or the Apple Menu (top left corner)
   • 
7. Open the "Security & Privacy" app
   • 
8. Make sure you're in the "General" tab
   • 
9. Click the "Open Anyway" button under the "Allow apps downloaded from" section
10. A popup will ask for the account password
    • 
11. Enter the password and Click the "Modify Settings" button 
12. A popup will ask if you're "Are you sure you want to open" the file
    • 
13. Click Open
14. The Mac Client Installer will then launch
    • 
15. Click "Continue" to proceed
16. The "Standard Install" section will display
    • Unless you have a different drive/partition you wish to install this to, then leave it to the default [DRIVE NAME] setting
    • 
17. Click "Install"
18. A popup will ask for the account password
    • 
19. Enter the password and Click the "Install Software" button
20. Once complete, you should get the "Installation Complete" message
    • 
21. Click the "Close" button
22. A popup will ask if you wish to keep or dispose of the installer
    • 
23. Unless you have a reason to keep the file, then Click the "Move to Trash" button to continue

 

 

Create a Launcher Shortcut

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

1. The Applications folder now contains both the Launch CoH.app (the new launcher) and the coh folder that now houses the new game files
   • 
2. Right click on the Launch CoH.app and Choose "Make Alias"
   • 
3. A new shortcut will be created (I labeled mine "New Launcher")
   • 
4. Move the shortcut to your desktop for easy access to the game launcher
   • 

 

 

 

First Launch

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

1. Run the New Launcher and you'll be met with a EULA
   • 
2. Click "Accept" to proceed
3. The Launcher has now opened for the first time
   • 
4. Complete the Game installation process by Clicking the download arrow next to each Game Type you wish to have
   • 
5. When the download completes you can Click the game button to launch City of Heroes

 

See the Windows Guide for information on the launcher itself

 

 

Post Install Migration

  Reveal hidden contents

If you had the old launcher installed, then follow my guide to manually copying/moving your user files to the new launcher

 

 

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! This post was my life saver. Much appreciated.

[WanderingAries]

15 hours ago, cohoriginal said:

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! This post was my life saver. Much appreciated.

 

Well, more so to @Manga and those that have helped root out the pathing for it, but it's good to see it's helping. ^.^

[Boricua]

I'm receiving an error that the installer is damaged after installing CoH. 

[WanderingAries]

Just updating a couple minor thing at the beginning as I've now tested it all the way through Monterey on raw hardware (plan on testing the beta OS just as soon as my onedrive downloads my VM fodder). I haven't launched the game yet (kinda downloading a ton of stuff to this newer Mac RN), but the launcher installed like a breeze.

 

Everyone give a round of applause to @Manga for keeping this thing functional and optimizing it over time. Also, don't forget that donation link on the IR download page. 😉

Edited August 29, 2022 by WanderingAries

[Xiddo]

On 11/3/2020 at 3:52 AM, WanderingAries said:

---File links are Current as of 06/24/2022---

***Tested on Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, and Monterey***

 

I'll try to keep this up to date, but make sure to check Manga's original thread for the most current file (should it be updated again). This guide is a visual walk through of "Method 2".

 

Backup Island Rum

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

1. Begin by Renaming the \Applications\coh to \Applications\CoX_Old
   • This can honestly be whatever you want so long as you give Island Rum the correct path
2. Launch Island Rum
3. Click the Settings button in the top left of the Launcher
   • The button looks like a tree
4. Change the Root folder to CoX_Old
5. Follow the prompts and Click the "Install" buttons that pop-up until the process completes
6. You can now continue to use the old launcher as is, but may need to update any custom shortcuts to the new destination

 

 

Install New Launcher

 

  Hide contents

 

1. Download the launcher using the link in the original post, Method 2
   • https://islandrum.eekstudio.com/mac-installer.zip
   • 
2. Unpack the Installer (double click)
   • 
3. Launch the Installer
   • 
4. You'll get a popup "Can't be opened because it's from an unidentified developer"
   • 
5. Click the "Ok" button
6. Launch the System Preferences app from the Dock (bottom of screen) or the Apple Menu (top left corner)
   • 
7. Open the "Security & Privacy" app
   • 
8. Make sure you're in the "General" tab
   • 
9. Click the "Open Anyway" button under the "Allow apps downloaded from" section
10. A popup will ask for the account password
    • 
11. Enter the password and Click the "Modify Settings" button 
12. A popup will ask if you're "Are you sure you want to open" the file
    • 
13. Click Open
14. The Mac Client Installer will then launch
    • 
15. Click "Continue" to proceed
16. The "Standard Install" section will display
    • Unless you have a different drive/partition you wish to install this to, then leave it to the default [DRIVE NAME] setting
    • 
17. Click "Install"
18. A popup will ask for the account password
    • 
19. Enter the password and Click the "Install Software" button
20. Once complete, you should get the "Installation Complete" message
    • 
21. Click the "Close" button
22. A popup will ask if you wish to keep or dispose of the installer
    • 
23. Unless you have a reason to keep the file, then Click the "Move to Trash" button to continue

 

 

Create a Launcher Shortcut

 

  Hide contents

 

1. The Applications folder now contains both the Launch CoH.app (the new launcher) and the coh folder that now houses the new game files
   • 
2. Right click on the Launch CoH.app and Choose "Make Alias"
   • 
3. A new shortcut will be created (I labeled mine "New Launcher")
   • 
4. Move the shortcut to your desktop for easy access to the game launcher
   • 

 

 

 

First Launch

Realised I was still running Island Rum on Monterey and thought it was time to update. I get to this point and then the new launcher opens in the dock but... nothing happens on the first launch? The new installer doesn't appear or launch at all.

Any help appreciated!

[WanderingAries]

8 hours ago, Xiddo said:

Realised I was still running Island Rum on Monterey and thought it was time to update. I get to this point and then the new launcher opens in the dock but... nothing happens on the first launch? The new installer doesn't appear or launch at all.

Any help appreciated!

 

So you have the launcher installed, but it won't load? What're the Mac specs? Older Macs may take longer for stuff to load. Most common stumble point is that you have to manually check the System Preferences to allow everything to run. I only had to do that for the installer itself when I first launched it on today's retest. Sometimes you get a corrupted download, so it's always worth trying again and if it fails, then redownload it. Just make sure you're using the mac-installer file since you're on the newer OS. I've not tried the older version of the file on Monterey, but I've also not had issues (anymore) with it since whenever @Manga last tweaked it.

[Xiddo]

On 8/29/2022 at 9:58 PM, WanderingAries said:

 

So you have the launcher installed, but it won't load? What're the Mac specs? Older Macs may take longer for stuff to load. Most common stumble point is that you have to manually check the System Preferences to allow everything to run. I only had to do that for the installer itself when I first launched it on today's retest. Sometimes you get a corrupted download, so it's always worth trying again and if it fails, then redownload it. Just make sure you're using the mac-installer file since you're on the newer OS. I've not tried the older version of the file on Monterey, but I've also not had issues (anymore) with it since whenever @Manga last tweaked it.

Have finally gotten round to doing this so I can try out the beta server proper.
Just realised am on Monterey 12.5.1 so things might be different I guess?

 

[WanderingAries]

9 hours ago, Xiddo said:

Have finally gotten round to doing this so I can try out the beta server proper.
Just realised am on Monterey 12.5.1 so things might be different I guess?

 

 

Hopefully. Aside from the initial testing, I've yet to really hit the issues that some get. The only thing I can think of is that I really don't customize the OS by installing lots of other things that may interfere with apps. Sure, I have my tech tools, but they don't put anything extra on the system besides their core app.

[Xiddo]

20 minutes ago, WanderingAries said:

 

Hopefully. Aside from the initial testing, I've yet to really hit the issues that some get. The only thing I can think of is that I really don't customize the OS by installing lots of other things that may interfere with apps. Sure, I have my tech tools, but they don't put anything extra on the system besides their core app.

have spent the last few/several hours going and back and forth sending screen records with @Manga who has been amazing. Sadly, I can’t get it working.

We got to “I'm out of ideas then” and I’m gonna call it for today.

considering a little factory reset tomorrow to see if that shifts it. Something weird with my permissions.

I just wanted to test for once 😭

[WanderingAries]

MacOS 13.0.1 Ventura (Tested in an Intel VM)

 

Everything is basically the same as the original guide above, but some of the images are different due to the new Settings App (ick):

 

Install New Launcher

 

4. You'll get a popup "Can't be opened because it's from an unidentified developer"

• 

5. Click the "Ok" button

6. Launch the Settings app from the Dock (bottom of screen) or the Apple Menu (top left corner)

7. Click on the "Privacy & Security" option from the left

• 

8. Click the "Open Anyway" button under the "Allow apps downloaded from" section

9. A popup will ask for the account password

10. Enter the password and Click the "Modify Settings" button

11. A popup will ask if you're "Are you sure you want to open" the file

• 

12. Click Open

 

At some point later you'll get a popup asking for permission to access files in the Downloads folder. Click the Ok button.

• 

 

Beyond that, I really can't test Ventura further until I feel comfortable upgrading my 2019 MBP. TBH, I'm not a fan of the changes in Ventura (the Settings app sucks!), so that may be a while. That said, I 'did' run into the following error when first running an instance, but I'm pretty sure it's related to my gimped VM and not what a Host OS would do. I couldn't really troubleshoot it and did not leave it sit there in hopes that it would just go away.

• 

Edited December 1, 2022 by WanderingAries

[mxsmash007]

4 days ago, I installed the game and have been playing without any issues running Monterey 12.6.3.

 

But now it stopped working for some reason and I'm unable to get the game to run at all.

 

When I try to run Island Rum, the loading bar just states "Creating Holding Area" and just hangs at 98, 99 or 100% and I can't seem to get past it.

 

I've reinstalled several times. and I always get the same results. Not sure exactly why it suddenly stopped working. I haven't updated or installed anything that would interfere with the game.

 

If anyone could advise on how i can get this resolved, please help. I'm not sure what more I can do to fix this.