Extreme Newbie to Sheepshaver/Emulators-Already struggling

This page is a wiki. Please login or create an account to begin editing.

20 posts / 0 new

Last post

2011, June 10 - 5:27am

Rhazya

Offline

Joined: 2011 Jun 10

Posts:

Extreme Newbie to Sheepshaver/Emulators-Already struggling

So, I've been wanting to play old Apple games for the longest time, at one time I did have a PPC, but the only Classic Game I had was Power Pete and it ran slow. I was going to try a favorite I hadn't seen in forever-Fine Artist. I have the disc, but it won't show up in the emulator, but I read that's fairly common. So I got the software, managed to mount in OS X, then moved everything into my actual shared folder on OSX, which Pseudo OS9 can find, though it couldn't find the folder I was told to make.

So... I installed the Chunny Bunny version, changed a few settings based on watching this video somewhat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqgw4z_r2sE

Since I have no OS9 discs and I'm clueless when it comes to this that looked the easiest.

My Unix folder, is apparently the actual shared computer folder, so I put Fine Artist, in that, but when I try to install it, I get this message shown here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/Rhazya/SSFineArtistError.png

Can anyone help me figure out what I must have done wrong somewhere, and explain it to me what I need to do to fix this in layman layman layman terms?

I figure once I have one game working fine, then hopefully from there this will start to make sense. Thanks in advance!

Comments

2011, June 10 - 7:21am

MikeTomTom

Offline

Joined: 2009 Dec 7

Posts:

@Rhazya: Looking at that screenshot tells me you are trying to run this program from your shared Unix drive. This drive probably should be only used for sharing files. That is, moving files from your emulated Mac's drive to your host Unix drive and vice versa - but not for running programs from or installing or writing files to.

You should 1st try moving any programs you want to run (including program installers) onto your emulators drive before trying to run them.

Also, if some games are particularly old such as those that display in B&W (mono), there is also a possibility that your SheepShaver's OS is too new even for them. For the real old games you may have to look at other emulators such as Basilisk II and Mini vMac.

2012, April 24 - 12:44pm

Rhazya

Offline

Joined: 2011 Jun 10

Posts:

Wow, how did I never see this reply? I think I understand what you said (maybe) but I need to start over from scratch. My setup is an intel Macbook Pro from 2008 running 10.6.8.

Two games I want to run are:
Fine Artist (94/95): I have the physical disc for it.

Power Pete (95-though I think what I have actually is Mighty Mike). It's sitting on my computer right now.

I'd prefer to use the same emulator for both if possible. Any opinions as to whether or not Basilisk or Sheepshaver would be better to use? I did manage last year to get Sheepshaver set up.. but nothing running on it. I also can't seem to find the old Apple OS that apple had on their site in the laundry list of files here: http://www.info.apple.com/support/oldersoftwarelist.html

I don't have any tech savvy Apple friends in real life, so if someone would be willing to hold my hand every step of the way through this I'd greatly appreciate it.

2012, April 28 - 2:28pm

watchsmart

Offline

Watcher

Joined: 2009 Apr 10

Posts:

If those are 68K programs, use Basilisk II since it emulates a 68k machine (one assumes that it is best to run the programs on the system they were made for). If they are PPC programs, try SheepShaver.

There are some detailed setup guides and support forums over here:

http://emaculation.com/doku.php

2012, April 28 - 6:03pm

(Reply to #3) #5

Mulder

Offline

Joined: 2012 Jan 29

Posts:

What!?! You don't have any Mac-savvy friends in real life? Expand your horizons, young Padawan learner. Turn away from those on the Dark Side and embrace those who use their powers only for good, never evil.

2012, April 28 - 6:06pm

IIGS_User

Offline

Joined: 2009 Apr 8

Posts:

They all are using windy operating systems, by default.

2012, April 29 - 12:26am

(Reply to #3) #7

MikeTomTom

Offline

Joined: 2009 Dec 7

Posts:

The only complete Mac OS at Apple SW downloads that would have the slightest chance of running on SheepShaver is System 7.5.3 (SheepShaver would require an Old World ROM too, to run such an early OS). All other System softwares there are updaters that require an already installed OS or are earlier complete sets that would not install on SheepShaver. Basilisk II and Mini vMac would be OK for those though. You can locate those earlier OS's and softwares by clicking the "Parent Directory" link in the above 7.5.3 links page.

For running a Mac OS on SheepShaver it would be better/easier to use a retail install, of a Mac OS from Mac OS 7.6.1 to 9.0.4 (Old World ROM) or Mac OS 8.5 to 9.0.4 (New World ROM). That is, an OS install CD that you can boot up to in SheepShaver and run the system installers from.

2012, April 29 - 1:01pm

(Reply to #4) #8

Rhazya

Offline

Joined: 2011 Jun 10

Posts:

How exactly would I tell whether they were for 68k or PPC? I'm guessing PPC as I started using Apple in the mid 90's, which is when both of those were released but honestly I have no idea.

2012, April 29 - 1:09pm

(Reply to #7) #9

Rhazya

Offline

Joined: 2011 Jun 10

Posts:

I could be misunderstanding this, but to even get Sheepshaver running (if that's what I went with), wouldn't I need an older OS anyway? But yet once in Sheepshaver I'm supposed to run install system discs? Sounds like a catch-22.

I think I at least get the difference of Old World vs New World.. but not sure which those two games would best fall under/run under best.

Either way, any suggestions as to where (online) would be best to purchase one of those older OS install discs?

I'm not sure what is the highest priority, whether it's ease or price.. that being said I wonder if it'd be more cost effective to just look into say buying an older computer and pray it doesn't die on me right after I got it.

2012, April 29 - 6:54pm

#10

watchsmart

Offline

Watcher

Joined: 2009 Apr 10

Posts:

Well, no. If you check out the setup guides for SheepShaver, you'll realize that you can boot from a Mac OS disc. After booting from them, you run them and install the OS.

You don't have to purchase the Operating System. Note that there are a lot of websites online that provide old software for free. They call this "abandonware." Just look around.

I don't know what ROM will be best for your software. Probably it won't make a huge difference. We do have a compatibility list with a huge amount of software listed:

http://www.emaculation.com/doku.php/compatibility_sheet

2012, April 29 - 6:56pm

#11

watchsmart

Offline

Watcher

Joined: 2009 Apr 10

Posts:

One more note. The compatibility sheet says:

"Power Pete

(Basilisk II)
w/ Quadra 650 ROM – It runs just a little too slow for me.

(Sheepshaver)
w/ New World ROM - Sometimes, it runs way too fast to be playable. The game seems to be OK otherwise."

(fine artist is not listed... you can mail in a report, perhaps!)

2012, May 5 - 8:15am

#12

Rhazya

Offline

Joined: 2011 Jun 10

Posts:

Okay so update.. wasn't sure if I should start a new topic or not. I have Sheepshaver up and running. My issues are as follows.

Power Pete/Might Mike issues.
1: Game won't take up the entire Sheepshaver window... well technically it does but as soon as I start playing the game.. the window shrinks quite a bit. I have Sheepshaver set to windowed mode, but yet maximum dimensions. I've heard running Sheepshaver fullscreen is a huge pain to get back out of.

2: Various key settings won't work inside the game, and when I try to go to adjust settings it seems like they are locked.

3: Suddenly I'll be stuck, or suddenly I'll be moving a direction I didn't intend to move until I hit a wall.

Fine Artist:
I can get into the game, however to access any of the sounds, clip art, and a bunch of other features it asks for the disc. I've tried both inserting the disc once Sheepshaver is running, and before I boot up Sheepshaver. Neither works. It immediately tells me that it has no idea what it is, and would I like to initialize it. I say yes, giving it the name of the game disc and the same size. Immediately it says it's going to erase and would I like to continue. Whether I click yes/no it immediately ejects the disc. Any tips as to how I can get it to recognize the disc as it seemingly requires it? I took everything visible to the naked eye off the disc, and moved it to where it needs to be on the emulator, but it still asks for the disc.

2012, May 6 - 1:28am

(Reply to #12) #13

MikeTomTom

Offline

Joined: 2009 Dec 7

Posts:

@Rhazya: I haven't tried Power Pete/Mighty Mike on SheepShaver, but I think there are custom keyboard controls you can use by editing the "BasiliskII_keyboard" file, a plain text file which should be in with the SheepShaver files when you install it. Requires knowing something about keyboard codes tho... Does Power Pete have any custom key settings in its options?

I'd like to install Fine Artist on SheepShaver to see what it does. I don't have a copy of it tho' and the file that was here, under "MS Fine Artist" in the Games section, was only put up at MegaUpload - so its not available for DL until someone puts a copy of it back up again.

Could you upload the copy you have to here to that MS Fine Artist page? This would solve that MU issue for us and perhaps be able to help in getting a definitive answer to why its not working for you, too.

2012, May 6 - 12:46pm

#14

Rhazya

Offline

Joined: 2011 Jun 10

Posts:

How much space Sheepshaver currently takes up: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/Rhazya/Sscreenspace.png

I think I found that file, but hesitate to edit it when I don't know what I'm doing. There is a way to change controls within Power Pete, but it literally won't let me touch anything like it's frozen, and the only way back out of that screen is if I hit enter/return, it won't let me edit anything. Screenshot of Power Pete controls screen: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/Rhazya/PPControls.png

Various keys are:
Apple key: Weapon change (works)
Arrow keys: Directions/moving (works)
Spacebar/Mouse Firing weapon (works)
R: Bunny Radar (Works most of the time)
Escape Button: Resume Playing/Quit playing but not quitting program: (occasionally works)
P: Pause. (NEVER WORKS)
S: Toggling effects on/off. (Never knew if that worked either.)
Apple Key + Q: Quitting: (Always works.)
Apple key + N: Supposedly a cheat to skip levels, never knew about it originally so don't know if it's supposed to work or not.

Screenshot of how much Power Pete takes up: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/Rhazya/PPspace.png

Regarding Fine Artist, that too isn't full screen (pretending Sheepshaver is the screen size. Here's what I get when trying to access sounds and images: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/Rhazya/FineArtistIssue.png

I've got all the game files sitting on my desktop, not sure how much good it'd do anyone else as it asks for the disc. But if you want it re-uploaded I can.. just need to know where I should upload it too?

2012, May 7 - 10:56am

(Reply to #14) #15

MikeTomTom

Offline

Joined: 2009 Dec 7

Posts:

@Rhazya: I can't offer a suggestion with that stuck Control Panel. It may be an incompatibility with the emulator. My copy of Mighty Mike (vers. 2) looks earlier than the one you're using too, as it is keyboard driven only - it has no options for mouse control (and I don't get a mouse/keyboard options dialog).

Besides the arrow keys for direction I also get the numeric keypad for direction, using the keys:
7,8,9
4,5,6
1,2,3

And on the keyboard itself, the keys surrounding the "K" can also be used for direction, as in:
U,I,O
J,K,L
M,(comma),.(period)

Perhaps those keys are still used in the version you're using and may help if the arrow keys lock up?

[Edit] Oops no, sorry. I was unwittingly running the earlier Power Pete from here - My copy of Mighty Mike does have the mouse & keyboard set-up. It works for me, but I'm running it on actual G3 hardware, not SheepShaver.

Its possible that SheepShaver locks up on that screen because it too want to control the emulated ADB mouse, there would be a conflict if Mighty Mike wants to have its own set of controls. Perhaps you could try the the earlier Power Pete from here, which doesn't require a mouse setting.

As for the screen size. Try increasing the memory allocated to Mighty Mike, that is, select the Mighty Mike icon (before you run it next) and choose "File" menu "Get Info --> Memory" (or "Apple key + I" then click "General Info" and select "Memory"). In the "Preferred Size" field, increase whatever the setting is there by about 10 MB. See if that changes how large the screen appears when you next launch it. If it does nothing, then your Mac is detecting a 640x480 resolution SheepShaver window and is displaying it as such (not stretching the emulated display). You may need to temporarily decrease the display resolution of your Mac's display in order to see a larger Mighty Mike window, which is a bit naff. Or run SheepShaver at full screen (which on Mac OS X may be problematic in itself).

The MS Fine Artist problem is interesting. Does it have an audio CD partition on it? That would likely cause it to fail to mount in SheepShaver.

I would like to try it for myself. So if you can make a .cdr of this and post it up (further compress it as .sit or .zip before you send it up). If you're unsure of how to create a .cdr from the CD using Disk Utility on the Mac, see this brief instruction set. Note: in the given instructions they say for step 5. "In the Save dialog, rename the disc as necessary and add the .iso to the end..." This should be named "add the .cdr to the end..." at this point and not ".iso". The given step "5" is wrong.

If you have another CD tool you can use that instead. Toast for example.

Once completed and the CD image is then further compressed, if the file size is under 400MB upload it to the MS Fine Artist page, that way it gets archived here. To upload here, log in, go to that link and choose "Edit this page" you will see a button for uploading pics and another button in the page for uploading files. It can be placed elsewhere later. Or you can upload it to a free hosting site such as rapidshare, etc. It would be nice to have it archived here, too.

Also, once you have an image of the CD, you might be able to mount that directly in SheepShaver by dragging the image onto the SheepShaver window after you start it up.

2012, May 7 - 12:52pm

#16

Rhazya

Offline

Joined: 2011 Jun 10

Posts:

Regarding Fine Artist, I tried uploading it here twice (after turning the .cdr into a .zip) but I think it failed, not sure why as it was under the MB limit.

It would let me drag/drop anything into the Sheepshaver window. Also having the .cdr sit on the desktop as Fine Artist was running didn't fool it though either

Yeah what I actually have on here is Mighty Mike, the full version that required a license key (which I had purchased). Do you know if the Power Pete version is here is just the demo or the entire game? I might try that but I imagine I'll run into the same issue.

My keyboard doesn't have a number keypad. It's not the arrow keys that lock up, it's that control panely screen for Mighty Mike that's locked. And what keys do work in-game aren't always consistent.

I'm not sure what "bit naff" means? However changing it to 10MB didn't do anything to the size. Just for the sake of curiosity I tested the so called Fullscreen version of Mighty Mike and the regular version. They end up being the same size. I changed my actual computer's resolution to 640 by 480 and interestingly enough Mighty MIke *Was* full screen, but he immediately walks towards quit and quits the program LOL. Same with just about any other screen resolution. I guess he's not a fan;)

2012, May 7 - 9:10pm

#17

Thundersock

Offline

Joined: 2010 May 20

Posts:

You can determine something's architecture using NativeChecker.
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/nativechecker

2012, May 8 - 12:27am

(Reply to #16) #18

MikeTomTom

Offline

Joined: 2009 Dec 7

Posts:

@Rhazya: I just tried Power Pete from here, on SheepShaver. It plays nicely (if not a bit too fast for my old brain). It is the full game.

I set my SS display to 800x600 at 256 colors and gave Power Pete 12 MB RAM to play in. You get as well as the arrow keys for movement the other keys described in a previous post. The numeric keyboard suits me the best, as the arrow keys on my book are fairly compact. No mouse to cause conflicts, it seems to play well and didn't get stuck while I played it.

It appears to be the same game as Mighty Mike, so perhaps you will have better luck with Power Pete, too.

A pity about uploading Fine Artist. Did you get any error messages? You didn't check any boxes near the Browse & Upload buttons? The check boxes dismiss/remove the upload. [Edit] There is also a "Save" button you need to scroll down the page to and click, once the uploading completes (Just below the field for "Log Messages", before the "Comments" section). Thanks for trying to get it up here, anyway.

2012, May 8 - 11:29am

#19

Rhazya

Offline

Joined: 2011 Jun 10

Posts:

I made sure it was actually uploaded before hitting save, not sure why it won't show as soon as I hit save, also any edits I do don't take place either. Anyway it's located here: http://www.mediafire.com/?kj8tz16axak8fpc

If you want to actually upload it to the Fine Artist page as well, be my guest:)

I think surely you must have been kidding on Power Pete playing nicely.. I just tried it myself, runs WAY TOO FAST to be playable at all, I literally died within seconds because the game was on fast foward meth. The window stayed bigger (for the game) however there was tons of empty black space. So sadly Power Pete isn't remotely playable for me.

2012, May 9 - 6:23am

(Reply to #19) #20

MikeTomTom

Offline

Joined: 2009 Dec 7

Posts:

Don't give up on Power Pete just yet. Normally you wouldn't do this, but for apps that run too fast on SS, turn off JIT in the emulator. That is, before running SS, in the launcher for it under "Miscellaneous" tab, uncheck "Enable JIT Compiler" then launch the emulator. This slows down everything quite a bit and Power Pete will be just about OK for playing. It is for me anyway. Just remember to reset JIT back on if you want to use the emulator for other tasks.

Thank you very much for sending Fine Artist up to mediafire. The ".zip" and enclosed ".cdr" were in perfect condition (and no OS X artifacts). Great! I have since archived it here on the MS Fine Artist page and included your mediafire link there too as an alternative DL for others while the DL from here waits to become activated (usually takes about a week).

I was able to burn it on Windows (by changing this ".cdr" to ".iso", it becomes available to burn to CD for Windows and Linux users too). I then mounted the CD in Basilisk II and installed it on that. It installed great and I was able to use all of the features. I removed the CD and started up Fine Artist again ~~and did not get that error that you have been getting. There was no problem for me to use this without a CD being present~~.

However I have only tried it on Basilisk II so far. I thought that because it so old a software it might behave better on an OS that would have been around when it was new, so I installed it on a B2 system running "System 7 Pro" (Mac OS 7.1.1). This may be how it will run best and without problems. I don't know for sure as I haven't tested it for too long as yet.

Its great to get a copy of it archived. Its a lot of fun, too. Thanks.

[Edit] Have since installed Fine Artist on SheepShaver running Mac OS 7.6.1 (Old World ROM). Installs OK from mounted CD in SS ~~and does not ask for CD after installation is completed~~.

[Edit 2] I actually read what you had written earlier:

however to access any of the sounds, clip art, and a bunch of other features it asks for the disc.

Duh. So it does.

I can mount the CD on both Basilisk II & SheepShaver's desktop so I don't have that problem. But if you cannot, then here is a work around (I just tried it in SS and it works).

Copy the ".cdr" file of Fine Artist into a drive used by SS (not the Unix drive if you have that feature enabled). Use the "Virtual DVD-ROM CD Utility" from here to mount the .cdr that you've copied over. When you see the MS Fine Artist icon appear on the SS desktop you can start using all of the features available to Fine Artist.

BTW, click the long button named "Mount Toast .ati file as Virtual DVD-ROM", this gives you a dialog to navigate to where you saved the .cdr to. This utility will mount any valid CD image so you don't need to change the .cdr to anything else, it is fine to mount as is.