Parallels 3.0 and game compatibility...

Make DirectX checked by default

Andrew @ Parallels said:
Guys,

Please don't forget to check on DirectX checkbox in Video tab in VM config for DirectX games. Video RAM size is not relevant - keep it default. Both OpenGL and DirectX support use native video RAM on your host video card. Video RAM settings is relevant only for Windows GDI resolution.
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I recommend that Parallels set the DirectX on by default in the next build. AND, make the setting easier to find. Even knowing it was there took me a while to locate!

MacBook-2GB-10.4.9-Build4142-XPsp2
 
framerate said:
You must have had DirectX turned off, because even running it in fullscreen like you say it's just a black screen with music and sound.

If there's another fix, please let us know!
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I did have it turned on. I had the same symptoms as you trying to run it in Windowed mode. I would love to remove Boot Camp if someone can get FFXI running. I'm going to take another shot at it tonight.
 
KrisKT said:
I tried to play RealFlight R/C Flight Simulator G3.5 and it doesn't work.

I get the same error message that I got before I upgraded to Parallels 3-

3D rendering is not supported by your 3D graphics card

I have a MacBook Pro Core2Duo with 3GB RAM and all software is updated. Games native to Macs with graphics intensive programs run great.

The RealFlight software runs great on a very basic 2 year old PC laptop which has an older graphics card and only 512 MB of RAM.

What gives? Since this isn't a popular title, will it likely not work for a long time. That is the only reason I upgraded Parallels.

Oh well...
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I am also really interested in getting RealFlight 3.5 to work under Parallels (apparently it works fine under BootCamp 1.2, and presumably 1.3). I too got this error at first, but sure enough the DirectX checkbox option (under VM configure:Video tab) was not checked by default, and it needs to be for the graphics to work. After turning on DirectX the simulator did start up, and got to the plane on the runway with sound and motion but immediately threw up an error saying something was incompatible with the HAL and will fail... 3 secs later the program crashed. At least there is hope... someone from Paralells probably needs to look at the specifics though. Maybe it will get fixed along with all of the other problems with games. It just has to be one of the major markets for Parallels, though, wouldn't ya think?

MacBook-2GB-10.4.9-build 4124-XPsp2
 
evanhatesspam said:
Sid Meier's Pirates

Crashes following main menu of game, when clicking on 'Start Game'

Direct X enabled in Parallels
Patched-up Win XP SP2
Latest Parallels b4124
MacBook Pro 17" Core Duo, 2GB RAM
OS X 10.4.9 patched-up
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I've been able to run Pirates without crashes. However, it runs too slowly to be playable.

Direct X enabled in Parallels
Patched-up Win XP SP2
Latest Parallels 4124
MacBook Pro 15" Core Duo, 2GB RAM
OS X 10.4.8

Shepherdboy
 
I'm guessing evanhatesspam is another user who hasn't turned on DirectX support in the VM video config options.
 
akp said:
Enabled DirectX3D support in 3.0, but cannot run Joost (not a game, but a video app that requires DirectX) nor can I run "7 Wonders of the Ancient World" - a simple Bejeweled like puzzle game.
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why not run the mac version of joost.
 
Slowduck said:
HAHAHAH!!!! I get farther than you! I get to hit the play now button and watch as the screen goes blank and listen to leonard Nimoy drone on and on about lava flows and intelligent life finally hatching....then.... NOTHING.

I don't know which is worse...being disappointed right away or having a glimmer of hope dashed on the rocks 20 minutes later...
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Hmm, yeah I'm not sure who got the better experience...okay, let's face it, we're debating who lost worse :)

AlanH said:
I hesitate to ask, since it's come up frequently in this thread already, but have you enabled DirectX support in the VM video configuration? You didn't mention it in your post.
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No harm is asking, you never know when someone has missed the obvious! But in this case I do have it checked. I presume you're the same AlanH who moderates the Mac section on CivFanatics? I lurk there frequently *wave*!
 
crag said:
*waves*

So tell me have you gotten Civ4 to run?
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I haven't even tried. I don't even have Civ4 for Windows, as I refuse to dual boot.

I wasn't at all surprised to learn that it won't run in Parallels. It has crazy graphics demands for a turn based strategy game, and matching those in a virtualized environment will not be easy. I certainly didn't fall for the hype and drop $40 for v3 on the off-chance that it might. I'll wait and see.
 
I can't even get HL2 to give me more than 0.5fps at 800x600 with the -dxlevel 70 option. I only upgraded because I was led to believe I could play HL2 on it. I want a refund.
:mad:
 
I find it slightly amusing that the video on the Parallels site and the webpage vaunts World of Warcraft as one of the games you can now run through virtualisation. Why not just run the Mac native version?
 
MacBook 2ghz Core 2 Duo with 2GB ram.
Ragnarok Online: Runs best in windowed mode, runs full speed with high settings, but walls don't render no matter what. I'll tinker with it some more.
Guild Wars: Must run in -dx8 mode or almost nothing shows. Very low framerate with some rendering problems.
 
City of Heroes works, but it requires some tweaking - here's how I got it working:

1) Edit the City of Heroes shortcut. Add -compatiblecursors 1 in the Target Box. Under the Compatibility tab, set compatibility to Windows 2000.

2)Download the TweakCOH tool. Use it to set City of Heroes to run windowed. I also turned down the graphical options in here.

I just got it working with these settings. Probably some of them aren't necessary, and I'll be testing to see what I can turn back on. If anyone is interested in my results or has questions, send me a PM. I'm getting decent preformance with a 1600x1000 window on my MBP 17".

Edit:

Windowing isn't necessary to get the game to run, after all. However, at 1680x1050 (MBP 2.13 Core Duo, X1600), I'm getting about 10 FPS with all graphical options turned down/off. Even throwing Rendering Scale all the way down only gets me to about 15 FPS full screen.
 
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enicholas said:
SimCity 4 complains that it can't initialize DirectDraw.

I get the exactly same thing here. This is an old game by today's standards and was really surprised that it doesn't run.

At this point IM very dissapointed and probally will ask for a refund.

I don't expect miracles BUT if they state, run the latest greatest 3-D games and we can't run software that requires direct X 7 that was purchased 3 or more years ago, well what more can I say.

I don't think my expectations were that high to run old direct x software.

Oh well! Live and learn. I won't make this mistake again!
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@Da_Brain & myflyertrains: Did you enable DirectX in the VM video settings?

(I need to get a record made of this question!)
 
Another game for the list - Myst URU

MYST Uru (Complete Chonicles) launches the setup tool OK, but when you go on to play the game, it plays the usual sounds for the startup screens (broken up, but their), shows the progress bars for the initial loads, then ends up with a black screen with the white cursor.

So, it also is not yet able to be played with this initial release.
 
enicholas said:
SimCity 4 complains that it can't initialize DirectDraw.

AlanH said:
@Da_Brain & myflyertrains: Did you enable DirectX in the VM video settings?

(I need to get a record made of this question!)
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Sure did! BTW I bet a lot of ppl are buying this JUST for gaming, I would suggest this be the default.
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