SH3 - Mac - Parallels

[usaric]

Hi guys,

needless to say that back in 2005, I used to play SH3 for hours and not noticing the time passing by. I had a PC and managed to play it the first version for almost 6 months. It is by far my favorite PC game (never played SH4 nor SH5 (heard bad things and never gave a try) Well, a lot of things happened since then: my PC broke, I graduated in law school, studied a lot, got a job, got married, bought a mac...

Well, recently i realised I could run windows applications on a mac. Instantly my thoughts went back 8 years ago: i have to try SH3 again.

Did a lot of research, downloaded SH3 with GWE3.0 on it and first tried using Crossover. The game started and I managed to play a little, but game often crashed (mainly on ports and near convoys) and had some serious graphic issues (i.e red, green sky during bad weather, etc.).

Then I tried using bootcamp, but my 2011 macbook pro would not accept my copy of Windows XP.

Then I downloaded Parallels Desktop 9 and installed Windows XP on my mac. And YES!, the game runs nice, i can exit ports, get near convoys and the colored sky is gone.

But - always a but -, I noticed some new, yet minor, graphic issues that weren´t there using Crossover. The smoke that comes out of factories and ships and the foam that forms behind the sub when it is moving, are kind of filled up with really annoying squared particles, as if the game was from the 80´s :haha:.

Not sure if thats because the game is modded, or there´s some video configuration i´m missing, or something else.

Please, any ideas on how to solve this? I´m really excited that i´m finally back with my late night patrols :D

I´d appreciate any help, and please forgive my english since that´s not my native language.

Thanks.

[Sephiroth]

My recomendation is to ditch Parallels and use VirtualBox to run either XP Pro or XP Pro x64. You will be fine after that. Just remember to install the virtualized drivers.

Why VBox? Hardware 3D and 2D acceleration, for starters. I work in the IT industry and my entire company runs on Linux. It saves us thousands every year and when we need to test Windows software or setups we use VBox due to how powerful and flexible it is. We can even test out hardware which comes with only Windows software, such as our phone system, due to USB-passthrough (makes it like the USB device is plugged into Windows, not the host OS). It is a GREAT piece of software and is out for all major OSes.

After all, when Apple was about to die in the late 90's/early 00's, they essentially took Unix, cut out all of the security, and laid their UI on top. Unix and Linux are very similar (almost identical, except you pay for Unix) and with that in mind I imagine your issues will go away if you use a decent piece of virtualization software.

[usaric]

Thanks man! I was going to try out Vmware fusion and Virtualbox after my Parallels free trial. By the way, I did install XP Pro with parallels.

Tried everything within my powers: changed resolution, video settings, the cfg file, etc.. none worked for me.

Not sure about the drivers you mentioned though. Just put the XP inst disc and followed the steps basically... can you be more specific? I'd appreciate.

[Paulebaer1979]

Then I tried using bootcamp, but my 2011 macbook pro would not accept my copy of Windows XP.

Bootcamp needs a XP with minimum S(ervice)P(ack)2 - versions without SP2 are not useable. That´s silly because most people have Xp with SP1 and are not able to activate them (because bootcamp) and without activation they can´t install SP2 and SP3. Because XP has EOL now it´s very cheap to buy now - cheaper than any professional VM-software.

I don´t know your machine at all but i would prefer bootcamp with windows XP SP2 for installation and then update to SP3. Virtual box is a nice tool - but with standard-driver for emulated hardware it is slower than XP with apple driver on bootcamp. If you want to play SH3 with a supermod you need the power from bootcamp. Apple/bootcamp give´s you the right driver for all your hardware - VM`s are using standard driver for the emulated standard hardware.

My machine (http://www.sysprofile.de/id115494) is able to run 4 VM´s (VM wareplayer) with WIN7 and SH3 LSH 5.1 inside - but with lowest graphik in window mode and slow. But the basic is WIN7 with window driver for all hardware.

[Sephiroth]

Once you install XP into VirtualBox, there is an option to install guest additions. I believe the hotkey is HOST+H or HOST+D. Not sure off the top of my head. You must boot into safe mode to install the 3D drivers.

Also, the 3D driver, when installed correctly is light years faster than BootCamp due to allowing hardware access. I have played UT3 in VirtualBox on XP SP3 with no issues, and it is much more intense graphically than SH3.

[usaric]

My XP version has SP2 already. But my bootcamp assistant only allows the installation of windows 7 or newer versions. I saw a guy posting a video tricking his machine by putting a windows 7 disc and then replacing it by the xp one.

Well, I'll try the virtualbox with your tips and post the results as soon as possible.

By the way, i know it's kind of off topic, but i was on my first patrol with a type IIA sub and put the boat to depth test. It says it has a 100m maximum depth, but I went much deeper, managing to dive at about 160m with it off the coast of norway. Are the subs depths messed up even with GWE 3.0 or i'm missing something??

[usaric]

Nah, it says 100m operational and 150m maximum. Let's say that a 10m variation is acceptable.

[usaric]

Nope! Installed latest Virtualbox, then installed guest additions. The game runs but on bridge, external e periscope views it gets really slow - unplayable. I enabled both 2d and 3d accelarations, but it did not have any effect. The maximum video memory it allowed me to set was 256mb.

So far, the best vm software to play SH3 on a mac is parallels, but it keeps that squared shape particles on smokes and foam :down:

Any thoughts?

My Macbook Pro 2011 has 8gb RAM, 512mb video memory Intel HD graphics 3000 and core i5 processor

[Paulebaer1979]

Nope! Installed latest Virtualbox, then installed guest additions. The game runs but on bridge, external e periscope views it gets really slow - unplayable. I enabled both 2d and 3d accelarations, but it did not have any effect. The maximum video memory it allowed me to set was 256mb.
That´s because the grafikcard has to do two jobs: your desktop for MAC OSX*** and your desktop for the virtuell machine. Twice workload but same resources -> slow.

So far, the best vm software to play SH3 on a mac is parallels, but it keeps that squared shape particles on smokes and foam :down:
So parallels has problem using your hardware proberly. That´s a pitty.

Any thoughts?
My Macbook Pro 2011 has 8gb RAM, 512mb video memory Intel HD graphics 3000 and core i5 processor
Try to get WIN7 cheap and test it with your actual bootcamp. Or try to get a early version of bootcamp - my MacBookPro in 2007 had bootcamp for WIN XP (SP2 or later).

[Sephiroth]

Did you install the guest additions? Checking those boxes does nothing unless you install the additions. I have a Core2Duo with 4GB of RAM that I can play SH5 on in VBox. Once you install the OS, you *MUST* install the guest additions. You *MUST* install them in safe mode to get full 3D hardware support.

In other words, boot XP into safe mode using F8. Once there, go to the VBox menu, normally on the bottom of the screen. One of the menus has the option "Install Guest Additions". Use that. Now if the installer does not start by itself you need to go to the CDROM and run setup in XP. Once it finishes, reboot normally and enjoy!

[usaric]

Well, first I clicked twice at the guest additions file on the mac osx. It said it was installed, but I tried to run the game and it failed. Then I did some research on how to install at safe mode, since my F8 key was doing nothing, even though I used the actual F8 function. Then I ran the virtualbox and on the XP environment, put it on safe mode and installed the additions. The game was launched but on external views it got real slow. Put the memory to 2gb ram and video to 256mb, but it did not make a difference. Maybe there´s some incompatibility b/w my video card (intel hd graphics) and virtualbox, since in parallels the game runs fine but has the particles issues I mentioned before.

I really thought i´d be successfull using VB. But there´s something there it is not "clicking".

Next step is trying bootcamp as suggested above, but then i´ll have to find someone with a Windows 7 to share or try to find it cheap. I really want to get rid of the squared particles. If it doesn´t work, oh well, I´ll have to cope with it and try to forget looking at the foam and smoke.

By the way, i bought the vanilla version of the game from gamersgate and tried to run in parallels. The squared stuff are still there, so it´s not the GWE mod´s fault.

Speaking of which, some modifications in my oppinion were really unnecessary, such as the really dark ambient at night on external views, the suppression of the arrow marking the sub on F12 view when underwater, and the suppression of the color of the ship´s representation on navigation mode (F5) - now they are all black. Is it possible to reverse these things?

[Sephiroth]

Intel HD graphics is your issue. You have an integrated card. That explains the issues in parallels and most likely other software as well. You need an actual video card to play 3D games. The onboard/integrated graphics may work for some old games that use only basic 3D functionality, but you need an ATI or nVidia card to actually use a game to its max potential.

Let me put it this way, I have a Dell Latitude E6400 with a Core2Duo chip, Intel integrated graphics (I cannot remember the model), and 8GB of RAM. Even when I dual-booted XP, I had issues with games including SH3. In SH3 I had triangles showing up and other oddities. The laptop is now my work laptop and runs Debian GNU/Linux and performs wonderfully, but it does not game worth a cuss.

If you have a desktop system, get a real video card and you will be fine with VBox for your gaming needs.

[usaric]

Hmmm, funny thing is when i ran SH3 via Crossover, even though the game would often crash, it did not have the squared particles as in Parallels. Same video card - go figure.

I´ll try my last shot: my Windows 7 installation via Bootcamp is underway.

If that doesn´t help, i´m planning to buy a decent imac and put the macbook exclusively as a portable work station for my wife.:hmm2:

[desertstriker]

I never got SH3 to run properly on my mac with parallels or any other VM. Just broke down and boot-camped the thing now Mac is my work partition and windows is my play partition:D

I really would recommend boot camping and if you have an intermediate level of computer skill I recommend the use of rEFInd to make transitioning from each OS seamless.:know:

[usaric]

Thanx man, i´ll look at that.

Finally I have installed Windows 7 64bit via Boot Camp and managed to install SH3. Set it to 1024 X 768 res., put the 3D at maximum and ran in Windows Xp SP2 compatibility. It runs quite good, but have to pay attention to set the screen to 60Hz, otherwise the game crashes at some point. Also, when playing with headphones, i can´t plug it out when the game´s launched and vice-versa, otherwise it will crash too.
Well, the squared particles are gone (YES!), but noticed some minor issues: When on Bridge and External Views, one of the edges of the screen gets a little distortion along the water surface, as if the sun light was having a bad reflection. Got used to it and bothers less than the previous issue - the squared particles. Any thoughts on that though?

[desertstriker]

If its what I think it is I never noticed it before but I have it too of course I never really mess with any of my computers settings anymore so if I find a fix I will let you know, and if you find one please let me know.

[Kip Chiakopf]

I'm running Windows 7 on Boot Camp on my iMac. I haven't noticed any problems running SH3 on it, but I'm still doing some testing.

[Aktungbby]

WELCOME ABOARD usaric! :Kaleun_Salute:we appear to have missed you on your first few posts!

[Jimbuna]

Welcome to SubSim Matey :cool:

[usaric]

Thanks for the welcoming...

Yup, tried everything to get rid of the reflection issue. None worked.

Funny thing is: with parallels and Windows XP SP2 installed I had this annoying squared particles on the smoke of ships and factories and sea foam but reflection was ok.

With Boot Camp and Windows 7 64 bit installed and in XP SP3 compatibility mode I have the reflection issue on the left edge of the screen but the squared particles are gone.

Anyway, do you know how to restore the "male symbol" (circle with a direction arrow that represents the u boat when in F12 view) that is present on the stock game? I really enjoy that just for night external views to help me out escaping from the bloody depth charges. I know it´s kind of cheating but then if had to go realistic i´d have to eliminate the external view with or without the arrow. Plus, better have this auxiliary tool rather than having to abandon the carrer and reload the game several times :dead:

Speaking of modded game, I recently spent 500 renown changing my U-2 type IIA for the type IID - But it kept the U-2 designation. Is this an issue of GWE 3.0 or what?

Thanks in advance.

[desertstriker]

There is a mod somewhere that restores the U-marker.

[Jimbuna]

Copy and paste the Umark into data>Misc folder.

[usaric]

Ok, I´m assuming i´ll get the umark file in the stock game, right? I´ll try it out. Thanks.

[usaric]

By the way, any thoughts on the u-boot designation number as stated above?

[Jimbuna]

Ok, I´m assuming i´ll get the umark file in the stock game, right? I´ll try it out. Thanks.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ezdgd3x6pm1swme

[usaric]

Thanks, it worked fine.

So, back to the main issue, I installed SH3 recently on a Dell notebook with Windows 7 and an Intel integrated graphics card to test it out... see if some of the graphics issues were present, just to compare with my mac.

Well, no sign of the squared particles, but the reflection issue was there too. So I was wondering: since using Parallels the game did not have the reflection issue, but the squared particles one, and using both bootcamp on a mac and a Dell computer presented the reflection issue, and both had Windows 7 installed (in Parallels I installed Windows XP SP2), I refuse to accept that the problem resides in my graphics card. Could the problem then rely on the OS???

By the way, on my MAC I ran Windows 7 with Windows XP compatibility mode on. On the Dell, off.

Any ideas? Is there a way to advance configure anything on my windows 7 to make the reflection issue go away?

Thanks.

[Paulebaer1979]

So I was wondering: since using Parallels the game did not have the reflection issue, but the squared particles one, and using both bootcamp on a mac and a Dell computer presented the reflection issue, and both had Windows 7 installed (in Parallels I installed Windows XP SP2), I refuse to accept that the problem resides in my graphics card.
That could be the graphic card. Because the integrated graphic cards don´t have as much power as an extern one, they do things different than extern. Integrated cards have all qualifications but they do some exercises in different way.
So the only way to avoid this problems is to use SH3 on a PC with AGP/PCIe graphic card installed. You can use a notebook with any mobile version of an desktopchip, too.

[usaric]

YES!!!

Finally i solved all the issues! As stated before, it was not my graphics card, as I suspected. I simply reinstalled parallels 9, but this time I created a VM out of my windows 7 bootcamp. Surprisingly, the squared particles did not show up, and the reflection distortion too!!! Go figure... Running Windows 7 via bootcamp had the reflection issue, but running it on parallels did not.

And to think this procedure was not intentional...

[usaric]

Only thing i can think of are the drivers. Maybe bootcamp drivers had some incompatibility and the newest drivers of parallels tools did not, I really don´t know. I did notice one thing though. On my previous Parallels installation, running my VM with Windows XP, i did not get to make any option about 3d acceleration. Now it shows me Directx9, Directx10...

Now I´m back with my patrols, running the game with no issues on my 2011 Macbook Pro with an Intel HD graphics card.

Woohoo!

[Denise3755]

OK, so I've read the thread. I'm still a bit unclear. So, may I ask what may be a totally stupid question?

Do I understand correctly that the best option for me - running a MacAir - would be to install BootCamp, running XP Pro? I've been running Parallels for my Windows software, with Windows 8.1 Pro? Where can I get a copy of XP Pro? Will the $9.95 downloadable version of SH3 from Ubisoft work?

I miss - oh, how I MISS - playing my submarine games.

If there really is a solution, I would be one happy camper.

Thank you, folks!

[Jimbuna]

I can't answer your post unfortunately but hope you get a positive response....and welcome to Subsim :sunny:

[desertstriker]

Do I understand correctly that the best option for me - running a MacAir - would be to install BootCamp, running XP Pro? I've been running Parallels for my Windows software, with Windows 8.1 Pro? Where can I get a copy of XP Pro? Will the $9.95 downloadable version of SH3 from Ubisoft work?

I miss - oh, how I MISS - playing my submarine games.

If there really is a solution, I would be one happy camper.

Thank you, folks!
If you want to dedicate nearly EVERY system resource to SH3 you will need to bootcamp. You can run parallels but just remember you are also running a program inside a program so you may not be able to run a heavy mod profile.
You CAN run SH3 on windows 8.1 pro. Just don't use the default install directory and yes the copy from ubisoft will work