Mac OS 8.6 and Mac OS 7.6 - Older Game Software - Need Help!

Hi, melrosepoint -

Welcome to Apple's Discussions.

What is the exact model of your iMac? Is it an iMac G3, G4, G5, or an Intel-processor model?

Hi, melrosepoint -

From the specs you've given it would appear that you have one of the new Intel-processor iMacs. You should be able to confirm that in System Profile - not sure where that's located in OSX, perhaps in the Apple menu.

If that is the case, then you would be able to use only those games which run in OSX.

Earlier Macs, those with a G5 or earlier processor, could use OS 9 as Classic, which provided an environment in which many OS 9 programs could be run. Most G4 and earlier models could also boot into OS 9 (use OS 9 as the Operating System). In all of those cases OS 9, either as a bootable OS or as Classic-only, was installable from the original disk set that came with the machine.

However, Apple does not support Classic for the Intel-processor Macs - and so it is not included with the original disk set for those machines.

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There is a possible work-around. Although Apple does not support the use of OS 9 or Classic with Intel-processor Macs, there is at least one third-party emulator, SheepShaver, which allows the use of OS 9.0.4 on such machines. You can read up on it here -
SheepShaver

Caution - many games insist upon having direct access to the hardware, primarily to the graphics card. Any such program does not fare well, if it runs at all, in Classic; since Classic is OS 9 used as a program while OSX is running the machine, a program run in Classic does not have direct access to the hardware. It is probable that such a program would not do well in SheepShaver either.

You should be able to confirm that in System Profile - not sure where that's located in OSX, perhaps in the Apple menu.

To access the System Profiler in Mac OS X, double-click it in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder, or select About this Mac in the Apple menu and choose More Info.

(17321)

My apologies for intruding.

Caution - many games insist upon having direct access to the hardware, primarily to the graphics card. Any such program does not fare well, if it runs at all, in Classic; since Classic is OS 9 used as a program while OSX is running the machine, a program run in Classic does not have direct access to the hardware. It is probable that such a program would not do well in SheepShaver either.

Any way to know which games like to have direct access to hardware?

Hi, R.Bud.U. -

That's hard to answer.

I would suspect that games whose requirements state certain graphic cards are needed would be in the group that won't run well in Classic.

I would also assume high-end games, such as UnrealTournament or those from Blizzard, would also not do well in Classic. Many of those, though, have OSX options - for example, Blizzard has patches available to allow runnning its games in OSX.

You may be able to find out the answer for that about a specific game by going to the game publisher's website - they often will have some FAQs available, and sometimes support forums. There are also separate gaming forums where such info should be available - googling the game's name may locate one or more appropriate site.

Thanks Don,

My father bought my kids a few games that will only run in Classic and Windows. I will do a google search for them as you suggested.

Do you have any idea how to actually use the Sheepshaver program. I downloaded it, but its SO confusing...

Hi, ThomasO -

Welcome to Apple's Discussions.

No, I don't. The instructions on the SheepShaver page seem straight forward, although lengthy, and includes links for extra items that may be necessary.

I've never used it (all the Macs I have at the present time are OS 9 bootable) - perhaps someone who has will step in and address specific questions about it.

R.Bud.U,

Something to keep in mind. Years ago a friend bought a Barbie Doll game at the closeout price of $9. He then proceeded to spend $125 on a ram upgrade to play the game.

It is cheaper now to buy a second computer dedicated to that era of games than to configure a new computer.

Jim

Ouch! All that for 1 game. I hope he's getting his $$ worth. We have a Mac, my brother got it from his school, that can run OS 9 but it gets a flashing ? mark in a floppy(?) card. I don't know if it's worth fixing, we don't have a floppy or CD that we can boot from. I don't even know the specs on it.
Thanks.

They may have wiped the hard drive. If you want to play around with older Macs, find an external hard disk drive and use it to do maintenance. BTW, if you have a flashing ? mark, it does not need fixing, just a new system folder.

Find a local computer recycler and get some more toys and tools to work with. Post back with the model of the computer.

Ji˜m

Hi Jim,

There is no computer recycler here, nor within 2000 miles I think, I never really looked for any though. Anyway, the Mac is a Power Mac 5260/120. How would I do maintenance with a external disk drive? I don't have a Mac OS 9 CD.

Have a Happy New Year.

I have a lot of kids' software on CDs, bought over several years, and have since upgraded almost all the Macs to OS X.

On the slightly older G3, G4, or G5 Macs that preceded yours, when you tried to run CD software that was not OS X aware, it would cause the Mac to launch "Classic" -- an emulation of many (but not all) of the features of OS 9. That made most of the well-behaved CD software completely happy.

But my Macs can all still run Classic. Your Intel Mac can NOT run Classic.

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Many vendors software requires the CD to be in the drive, but install a portion of the program onto the Hard Drive the first time it is run. It is therefore essential that the Administrator account is the one to first run the program. (If you have not already set up separate accounts for each of your kids, please do that now, even if you do not password them.)

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If a CD says "OS X" it generally requires Mac OS X 10.2 or later, and will work fine on your Intel Mac.

If a CD says "OS 8.6–9.2, OS X" That means it requires a minimum of 8.6, but will also run under 9.1 or 9.2 or Classic or Mac OS X. Sometimes these programs will install a slightly different Hard Drive resident portion if installed under Mac OS X. If the program gives you a problem, the vendor's web site may set you straight with a quick download, which will modify the Hard Drive portion of the software to solve the problem.

If a CD says "7.6.1 or later", "8.5 or later", "9.1 or later" it has not acknowledged the existence of Mac OS X, and will not run on your Intel Mac. That is why the suggestion of getting a slightly older used Mac is a perfectly reasonable one.

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It has always seemed bizarre to me that great kids software still followed the same cycle as new games. An initial rush at high prices, a slowing and discounts, and then not being able to find it anywhere. Great stuff like Reader Rabbit, Carmen SanDiego series, and the ClueFinders series, should never really "go out of style."

I am hoping that the coming of the new Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System for PCs will encourage educational software developers to "freshen" their best software for that environment, and that as long as they have it apart they will fix it up to run under Mac OS X, if they haven't done it already.

Chaps,

Is it worth mentioning the Macintosh Garden ? For those interested in older Mac games. (Put it into Google to find the site if you don't already have it in your favourites).

If you have anything that the site doesn't already have, uploads are greatly appreciated.