How to know what games in the App Store are 64-bit ?

[Rod]

Yesterday I downloaded an updated version of a game I have previously played from the Mac App Store. On completion it would not open and did not appear in the Launcher. I found it in the Applications Folder with the circle and diagonal line on it meaning it is unplayable on this device, I assume because it is a 32-bit version.
This is odd because the App Store page declares it is playable on this device and no information is provided about compatible (or non compatible) operating systems.
The game details do not say if it is 64 or 32-bit and I had assumed (rightly or wrongly) that all apps currently on the Mac App Store were now 64-bit.
Attempts to contact MOALABLLC support all result in this message;
Warning! Domain mapping upgrade for this domain not found. Please log in and go to the Domains Upgrades page of your blog to use this domain.

 

[chscag]

You asked about this before Rod (sometime ago), and we confirmed at the time that if the store says the game is compatible with your machine then it should work. If the game doesn't work then you need to contact customer service and get a refund.

It seems odd that the game is 32 bit when Apple has required all apps submitted to their app store be 64 bit.

 

[Rod]

You are correct, I did ask about this and after you reply I assumed that what you proposed was correct, it seems I have discovered an exception. I cannot lodge an inquiry with Apple until I receive a receipt which is listed as pending. They may discover their error and not bill me in which case I cannot lodge a complaint. I am now looking at another similar game but I'm a bit wary in case this one has the same problem. It would be helpful if the bit value was listed.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Yeah, last I checked, there is no way to know if any particular app or game on the App Store is 64-bit. One game in particular I have from there, Unstoppable Gorg, was last updated 7 years ago. The App Store claims it is compatible with the 2019 MacBook Air I'm on at the moment and claims Compatibility is 10.6.6 or later. However it most certainly is 32-bit and not Catalina-compatible. It's just downright shameful that Apple hasn't accounted for this sort of thing in their listings. Just another reason to avoid anything from the MAS like the plague.

 

[Rod]

Yes, well since the introduction of Catalina and subsequent culling of old games like Doom, Quake, Bioshock Infinity and many others I could name the choice of stand alone downloadable games as apposed to streamed games via Steam and Valve has shrunk dramatically which just makes it all the more annoying to think that games like The Fall Trilogy is still there, states it will work on my MBP yet hasn't been updated for 6 years and clearly does not work with macOS 10.15.
Apple is obviously now concentrating on Arcade which does not interest me for the same reason that I do not play online games from Steam. They rely on fast unlimited internet connections which I do not have and are often team games while I prefer solo versions.

 

[chscag]

@Rod:

If you're a Doom or Quake fan, there are 64 bit Mac apps for both.

Here's one for Doom:

ZDoom - Downloads

 

[Rod]

THANK YOU ! I'll take that as my Christmas present. Are there any other mac game sites like that you know of? Like Quake, or Bioshock? The first Episode has been remastered on the App Store but Infinity and the second episode are now gone from the App Store.

 

[chscag]

I'm fairly certain the same author has a rewrite of Quake for the Mac and it's 64 bit. I'll do some looking around for it later on tonite. I still have my original copies of Doom (all versions from Id Software) and Quake. What I like about the "gzdoom" app is that you can use all the old versions of Doom with it and it will automatically install them into the app and it becomes a Mac 64 bit app. No recompiling necessary.

 

[chscag]

@Rod:

Here's the Mac version of Quake, it's called "Quake X" and it's 64 bit

Quake X for Mac - Free Download Version 1.2.1 | MacUpdate

 

[Rod]

Wow! Thanks again, I can exercise my inner child over the holidays.��