Thanks for all the info, Mark. The game package indicates that it should run on OS 7.5, I believe. However, I was trying to use a program called "Sheep Saver," which requires that I have the old Mac system ROMs, which I was unable to find. There was some complicated mess about downloading a file and using TOME, or something to that effect, but I didn't have the patience to sweat through it.
I also had this problem with my Myst games that claim to be Mac compatible. Apparently, nothing is compatible out-of-the-box with the new Macintels (I'm running OS 10.4.8) except Universal Binary and very recent software. It's a real disappointment, really, especially considering how excruciatingly difficult it is getting those stupid ROMs and running them in a classic Mac emulator. I guess that Apple must be a real bear about tracking down people distributing the old system ROMs and sending them threatening legal notices. How ()*$@& stupid can they be? I can't think of a single reason why preventing me from running my Myst games on this iMac is helping Apple.
Apple may do a lot of things right, but they should really make it easier for folks to run older software on the new Macs. I hardly see what the problem is in releasing those old Mac ROMs for legitimate reasons like this. If anything, not being able to run classic Mac software is a damn good reason NOT to go with Mac!
At any rate, I don't want to have to install another OS. I setup some dual booting before and later regretted it, because it's nearly impossible to revert back once you've taken that step. I don't want to mess around with partitioning my drive, and I shouldn't have to. Really, though, I can see why so many people who enjoy classic software tend to keep an old PC around. A solid Pentium machine equipped with Windows 95 might really help me out of a few jams, and it wouldn't hurt to have a 486/66 in good working order. Sadly, I know so little about the Mac that I'm not even sure which model would be the most accomodating to older software.
Thanks for all the info, Mark. The game package indicates that it should run on OS 7.5, I believe. However, I was trying to use a program called "Sheep Saver," which requires that I have the old Mac system ROMs, which I was unable to find. There was some complicated mess about downloading a file and using TOME, or something to that effect, but I didn't have the patience to sweat through it.
I also had this problem with my Myst games that claim to be Mac compatible. Apparently, nothing is compatible out-of-the-box with the new Macintels (I'm running OS 10.4.8) except Universal Binary and very recent software. It's a real disappointment, really, especially considering how excruciatingly difficult it is getting those stupid ROMs and running them in a classic Mac emulator. I guess that Apple must be a real bear about tracking down people distributing the old system ROMs and sending them threatening legal notices. How ()*$@& stupid can they be? I can't think of a single reason why preventing me from running my Myst games on this iMac is helping Apple.
Apple may do a lot of things right, but they should really make it easier for folks to run older software on the new Macs. I hardly see what the problem is in releasing those old Mac ROMs for legitimate reasons like this. If anything, not being able to run classic Mac software is a damn good reason NOT to go with Mac!
At any rate, I don't want to have to install another OS. I setup some dual booting before and later regretted it, because it's nearly impossible to revert back once you've taken that step. I don't want to mess around with partitioning my drive, and I shouldn't have to. Really, though, I can see why so many people who enjoy classic software tend to keep an old PC around. A solid Pentium machine equipped with Windows 95 might really help me out of a few jams, and it wouldn't hurt to have a 486/66 in good working order. Sadly, I know so little about the Mac that I'm not even sure which model would be the most accomodating to older software.
Matt Barton, Managing Editor
Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA
Email: matt@armchairarcade.com