Installing Star Wars X-Wing

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Level 1

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Installing Star Wars X-Wing

Hey, I'm not sure where to go with this question, but I figured maybe someone here could help me out. I just got the Macintosh CD-ROM version of Star Wars X-Wing (The classic flight sim that came on floppy discs) and am now trying to install it onto a version 10.4.11 PowerPC eMac. So far I've opened up OS 9 Classic and moved the "X-Wing Maximum Install" folder from the disc to my Hard Drive, but when I open the folder and try to play the game, the screen goes all fuzzy and I can hear the game's music, but there's no video. Is there another way to install the game or is this game just too old for this computer?

Thanks in advance for the help.

eMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Dec 24, 2009 3:17 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 24, 2009 10:41 PM in response to wagnerpryde

Hi, wagnerpryde -

Welcome to Apple's Discussions.

Although many OS 9 programs will run okay in Classic under OSX, not all will - some won't run at all. In particular, if the OS 9 program requires direct access to the machine's hardware (such as to the video), it won't fare well in Classic The reason - OSX retains control of the hardware when Classic is running, and won't release that control to a request from a program written for OS 9.

Unfortunately games are often in this last group, the ones that won't run well or at all.

Although I've not tried X-Wing, I suspect that is the reason for the absence of usable video.

Another possibiity is that the game requires a much lower color depth than that which you are using. OS 9 can respond to such calls from a program, but OSX may not. If you haven't done so, before running the game try setting the color depth to 256 colors (if possible) or at least to thousands. If you know the screen resolution the game will want to use (such as perhaps 800x600), try also setting the monitor to that before launching the game.

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Answer 2

Dec 31, 2009 10:42 PM in response to wagnerpryde

I think that the X-Wing (and Tie-Fighter) CD edition can only run on a machine booted into OS 9 and will not run in the Classic emulation mode under OS X.

Macs older than the G4 MDD (without FW 800 ports) can boot OS 9. You could probably even find a really cheap G3 or G4 on your local craigslist if you want to get an older OS 9 machine to try out some of those older "classic" Mac games.

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Answer 3

Network 23

Level 6

12,351 points

Jan 17, 2010 2:43 AM in response to wagnerpryde

I have X-Wing and I don't think I ever got it to run under Classic, it had many of the symptoms described. But the same CD certainly runs great on some old Macs that boot in OS9. I agree with the assessments above - the way to run this game is to acquire an actual OS9-booting Mac unless you have the earliest eMac that is bootable in OS9. If you can't boot that eMac in OS9, the good news is, once you find a Mac that does, it's going to be dirt cheap.

I hope you get it running, I love that game. Especially the missions where your squadron blows up a Star Destroyer or several frigates. So very satisfying.

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