I'm running VO on OS X 10.5.1. I updated to VO version 1.8.2 fine and played for a few hours.

Later I tried to log on again but the program froze at the updater. I deleted and reinstalled the game and now it updates to 1.8.1 then asks me to restart the updater. When the updater restarts it says "connecting to update.guildsoftware.com..." but doesn't actually download the update.

I've tried starting the program manually but I cannot log on as my version is out of date. I have submitted a bug report but is there anything else I could try?

A friend with a 10.5.1 mac just tested this for me and I tested it on linux when i first saw your thread. I think it must be a problem specific to your computer; do you have at least 150M free disk space?

Yes, over 30gb of free space. I had assumed it was something to do with my computer because it had worked earlier.

I have had problems connecting to VO over this internet connection before so I'll try it at a friend's house later and report back.

Yeah, I just tried it on a different network and it worked.

Im having the same issues, just with 10.3.9 OSX

Have you:
1) try changing the MTU in the network options of the game (to "compatibility mode"), (does not apply here)
2) try bypassing a router if present,
3) ping majikthise.guildsoftware.com,
4) tracepath majikthise.guildsoftware.com,

5) Let us know the results of 3 & 4 and how 1 & 2 affect your situation.

try reseting/turning your internet on and off

worked for me!