Phantasmagoria...for Mac?

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Level 1

6 points

Phantasmagoria...for Mac?

I have a game from 1995 called Phantasmagoria that I love very much. It is the only video game I ever really truly enjoyed playing, and I played it a lot (and still do!). The problem is that in order to be able to play it, I have to keep around an old hunk-o-junk PC with Windows 98 on it, which I am dying to trash. On my MacBook I have installed Parallels, but my husband only has the installation discs for Windows XP, which is well known to be highly unstable and basically incompatible with this particular game (sadly, the game is DOS-based, which is the main problem).

So, here's my real question - I recently found on eBay someone selling the original Mac version of Phantasmagoria. My question is - will it work on my OS X Tiger MacBook? Is there a way to make it work? Or is installing Windows 95 or 98 in Parallels my only option?

Does anyone else have this game? Has anyone had any luck with this or a similar older game installing in either a newer Mac or in XP in Parallels?

Thanks!

Lisa

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.4.10), an 8GB iPhone and (my husband's) iMac

Posted on Jul 27, 2007 6:05 AM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,972 points

Jul 27, 2007 6:23 AM in response to ilsaingrid

Lisa

If the game dates from the Mid-90's then it will br a Classic app, designed for OS 7 or 8. This will not run on an Intel Mac such as the one you have. You could try install Sheepsaver, which might allow the game to run, or not.

Regards

TD

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Answer 2

ilsaingrid Author

Level 1

6 points

Jul 27, 2007 6:46 AM in response to Yer_Man

I was afraid of that. So since I already have the Windows version of the game, my best bet is to get Windows 95 or 98 and install it in Parallels?

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,972 points

Jul 27, 2007 7:23 AM in response to ilsaingrid

Assuming Parallels supports 95 or 98, yes.

Regards

TD

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Answer 4

ilsaingrid Author

Level 1

6 points

Jul 30, 2007 3:51 PM in response to Yer_Man

So one other thing...if I got a Mac that was the last version before the Intel ones were released, would the Mac version of Phantasmagoria work on that? Or is it still too old even for that?

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Answer 5

ilsaingrid Author

Level 1

6 points

Aug 3, 2007 7:18 AM in response to ilsaingrid

Well, as it turns out the alleged "Mac version" of the game is nothing more than the exact same version I already had, but with a little folded paper insert telling how to install it on a Mac. I am disappointed. But at least now I have a backup copy in case I damage the other one.

Is there anyone out there using Windows XP in Parallels to play older PC games like Phantasmagoria? I've heard for ages that Phantasmagoria will not install in XP, but now I've heard of some people that have gotten it to work. Also, I've heard of people having a lot of trouble/difficulty installing Windows 95 and 98 in Parallels.

I feel stuck. I really, REALLY want to trash that old PC, but it seems I just can't find a way to get the things I use on it to work on my MacBook. I'm frustrated beyond belief!

Any help from anyone would be GREATLY appreciated!

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Answer 6

ilsaingrid Author

Level 1

6 points

Aug 4, 2007 8:06 PM in response to ilsaingrid

Well, I finally got Windows XP installed in Parallels on my MacBook. And amazingly, in XP I got the game to install without a single problem! I'm still in shock! My husband had WIndows XP Media Center Edition, and apparently that is much more compatible with older games than the other versions of XP.

Or so I thought, anyway. My favorite game installed, and I'm very happy about that. However, I also have Phantasmagoria 2, Ripper and Harvester, all three of which will not even install. I'm frustrated with that, but at least now I can vent those frustrations through playing my Phantasmagoria!

Thanks anyway for your help guys! And if anyone has any ideas about how I can get the other three games to work, please let me know!

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