Problems with SCD on Fusion

[maremet 0]

As a Mac user after playing the Mac version of the game, because of all known problems, I have switched to windows version on a boot camp configuration for many year in the past with far less problems then before. Then had a hard disk replacement and never installed bootcamp again for more than two years probably. Now I am trying to come back again and enjoy this amazing game once more hopefully with my son.

This time instead of bootcamp, I decided to go with Fusion. I successfully install the Windows XP pro. with the Fusion and also installed SCD with its official update. Then problems started...

First of all I am getting "Configuration file (Graphic Rules:gr) cannot be parsed. Using built-in rules." message at the start. I do remember same problem before but not sure if it was with Mac version or PC version on bootcamp and also have no idea how to sort out this problem now. The game some how starts after this message but with other problems.

I got the My Sims panel at the bottom of the game panel and when I try to close, it crashes to the desktop. Beyond this some of the windows like save the game window do not have any text on the buttons.

All these problems directs me to graphic card problems but as a mentioned before as I played the game with the same iMac but with bootcamp without any serious problem, I believe there is a solution for these and other problems, I am experiences.

Please help if you can... Should I try bootcamp again or am I missing something which will sort out all these problems. Is there any one out there running Fusion or Bootcamp who can give me some advise.

My configuration is; iMac 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB ram, Mac OS X 10.6.7, ATI RadeonHD2600...

Please, please help. And please don't tell my wife that I am using my boy as an excuse.

[catty-cb 4,402]

It may be your ATI Radeon HD2600 that is causing the problem, I've just had a quick search on the internet and found this

ATI: http://www.ati.com

ATI Radeon 7000, 7200, 7500, 8500, 9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800

Known Issues: Due to hardware limitations with the ATI Radeon series, some buildings and graphic effects will be temporarily turned off while scrolling. There is a known ATI driver defect that results in SimCity advisor animations dropping polygons. To fix this, please download ATI driver 7.79 or later (also referred to as CATALYST 02.4) from http://www.ati.com on the Internet.

don't know that it will help, but worth checking out

[Mister Maggot 0]

(u) Won't help; not the right card.

@OP:

Don't use a vm to play games... D:

Use bootcamp + xp.

[TEG24601 32]

The issue is related to the emulated Video Card that Fusion, Parallels, VirtualBox, and even VirtualPC have used, which aside from not properly supporting 3D there is little to no actual hardware acceleration. So using Hardware acceleration in Fusion, on SC4 becomes software emulation. You might be able to fix your issue by telling SC4 to use software acceleration, but As Mr. Maggot said, you're barking up the wrong tree, as VMs are not designed for gaming. You might have some success with Cider, Wine, or crossover, but considering the Mac defects aren't major, and are mostly visual, just use the Mac version.

TEG

[maremet 0]

Thanks for your replays people.

After Fusion I tried Bootcamp but no luck with that too. Snow Leopard, Bootcamp 3.2 and the video card were not very friendly to each other I guess. After spending nearly 2 full days with the unfamiliar graphic rules, graphic cards and the inhospitable windows environment, I call it quits. Windows was working good though. Anyways, I decided to leave my beloved Mac unspoiled and try to find a old PC to set-up the game. As you can see, it is an obsession now. Any ideas on that department, which $150AU second hand machine will do the job? Question, question...

Cheers to you all.