Hackers get AppleTV running WoW
by Mike Schramm 
Mar 29th 2007 at 10:54AM
Reader Randomdruid sent along this tip that might interest you if you've picked up Apple's new AppleTV set-top box (I'm too busy working on Sha'tar rep to watch TV, but our good friends at Engadget and TUAW have been doing almost nothing but since the thing came out). Apparently, hackers have already gotten WoW up and running on it.It's not too big a deal, since I'm pretty sure the box is running a specialized version of OS X anyway, and of course WoW runs on that. The guys at Tutorial Ninja have worked up detailed instructions on how to get any number of applications working on the AppleTV (including Firefox and Centerstage, the open source Mac media center). Scroll down to the middle of the page there, and on the list of "confirmed working apps," you'll find World of Warcraft.
But there is one catch: it looks like pretty much everything has to be installed onto the hard drive by plugging it into another computer. So not only will you have to crack open your pretty new AppleTV, but odds are that you'll have to somehow run WoW from a text interface. And I don't know how you'd actually play it even if it is running-- one of TN's goals is to "get USB working so people can play WoW comfortably." So it's not as easy as throwing the WoW disc in and jumping into Azeroth.
Of course, if you're someone with the time and talent to do all this, you're probably not playing WoW anyway. But if you've got an AppleTV and are already cracking it open to put all the other cool stuff on it, it's good to know that you have the option to get WoW running on your TV screen. Now all we have to figure out is how to get WoW on the iPhone...
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Tricks, How-tos, Fan stuff, Odds and ends
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kahja Mar 29th 2007 11:30AM
Still an apple.
GamerJunkie Mar 29th 2007 11:45AM
Question is why? A mac mini makes more sense here and less work.. AppleTV $299 and you only get a 1GHZ Pentium M and 256MB ram, 40GB HDD, crappy specs for $300..
kbanas Mar 29th 2007 11:44AM
Judging by the stats on the AppleTV, I have to believe the game runs just a hair shy of complete and total ass.
Still, it's neat to see things like this.
I guess.
Sort of.
Eli Hodapp Mar 29th 2007 1:57PM
The Mac Mini uses the Intel GMA850 onboard integrated graphics, the Apple TV has an actual NVIDIA GPU. As unbelievable as it may seem, the frame rates on the Apple TV are going to be much, much higher than a Mac Mini.
Sterling Mar 29th 2007 1:17PM
I've noticed you guys are usually pretty fast about finding stuff in the forums and posted on other sites, but you're a little late posting this story. According to the exact same people at TutorialNinjas.net, Apple has started to supply updates to the AppleTV to prevent mods to the software. They're suggestion? "Deny internet access to it." So, no WoW on your AppleTV. http://tutorialninjas.net/2007/03/28/apple-vs-apple-tv-modrs/
Larawen Mar 29th 2007 1:07PM
@GamerJunkie:
You have to understand the mindset of someone that likes to do this sort of thing. Once you do you will notice you have answered your own question. "A mac mini makes more sense here and less work.." is the answer. Yes it does take less time and is a cost effective option, however you can't say that you have WOW running one something that CLEARLY wasn't made to run it, like the appletv. Its more of a sense of accomplishment and a "because I can" mentality.
Mike Schramm Mar 29th 2007 1:27PM
Those bastards!
Larawen Mar 29th 2007 1:37PM
Hey, if I have an idea for a post is there a email that I'm supposed to send it to? Like I'm shure you already know about the WOW arena web page (http://armory.worldofwarcraft.com/arena-tournament.xml)
but if I had an idea for the breakfast topic is there a way to submit that?
Mike Schramm Mar 29th 2007 1:54PM
Hey Larawen, you can always use our tips page (on the sidebar, or at wowinsider.com/tips) to contact everyone on the team with tips, questions, suggestions, whatever.
Eli Hodapp Mar 29th 2007 2:01PM
Also, while I still find it to be hard to believe that Apple has any kind of back door on Apple TV units that allows them to lock them down remotely without your consent... it should be fairly simple to block such attempts with even the simplest of firewalls.