Host OS: Microsoft Windows Server x64, Service Pack 1Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q9550 2.83GhzMemory: 6.00 GBSystem type: 64-bit Operating SystemGuest OS: Windows XP 64-bit, Service Pack 1Memory: 1.5 GB
Running Maplestory on a mac, The Guide:
Welcome, and thank you for reading my guide! This guide can help you as a mac user to play Maplestory, and will lead on a step by step basis. There is little time to waste as there is much training to be done, so let us begin!
Minimum System requirements:
To play maplestory on a mac, your mac must meet these minimum system requirements:
-Intel core CPU or better (note: Power PC will NOT work)
-512 Megabytes of ram
-5 Gigabytes of Hard Drive Space
-A Legal copy of Windows
If you are unsure on your CPU type, click the top left apple button on your screen, and go to "About This Mac". Within the "About this Mac" window, it will specify whether it is a Power PC or Intel Mac.
2. Methods
There are many different ways that one can play Maplestory on a mac. I for one have chosen three of the best methods, and they will be described below:
Note: For all of these methods, you must have a valid copy of Windows 98 or greater.
-You can use a virtual machine, such as vmware Fusion, or Parallels to run windows as a virtual machine. From there, you can install, and play maplestory. Unlike the Bootcamp method, the virtual machine allows you to run windows side-by side along with your main OS (in this case, would be Mac OSX). The downside is that because this is a virtual machine, your VM and your games that run in it will be slower than a bootcamp method. Also, you must purchase a copy of either VMware or Parallels.
-You can use Apple’s Bootcamp assistant utility to natively install Windows. As before, you must have a legal copy of windows. Like the Virtual Machine method, this allows you to run windows (and maplestory) on your mac. The Windows OS will be able to take full advantage of your hardware. Unfortunately, you will be unable to run OSX at the same time, due to the fact that Windows via bootcamp will be running physically on your machine without a Host OS (in this case, Mac OSX). Bootcamp comes on Leopard, and will not work in Tiger.
Playing Maplestory through VMware Fusion/Parallels:
This section of the guide will show you how you can get maplestory to run via VMware fusion or Parallels. By using these virtual machines, you will be able to run windows and mac OSX side by side. Unfortunately, your game-play may be slower than a native install of windows.
Recommended requirements for VMware Fusion/Parallels:
-Intel Dual Core or better
-2 Gigabytes of Ram
If you have anything less than a Dual core, or less than 2 gigabytes of ram, it would be better to play through bootcamp. Each OS should have around a gig each to play maplestory comfortably. Anything less than that, and you may experience major lag. A dual core will be able to streamline your many processes on your computer. A single core machine will struggle with virtual machines.
Instructions and setup guide:
A. First off, you must obtain a copy of VMware Fusion or Parallels. You can do this by downloading their respective programs from their official websites.
B. Once you have downloaded, and installed the program, insert your Windows installation CD.
C. When you first start VMware/Parallels, you will be given the option to install a new operating system. In these options, select the operating system you will be installing, and insert your windows product key, name, and such. VMware/Parallels will automate your installation without interference after you have given necessary information.
D. After you install a Windows Virtual machine, you will be able to run windows as a guest operating system right on top of your main OS. You must however, install the “vmware” tools or Parallels tools (depending on which VM product you installed) to be able to use your guest OS to it’s fullest. You can do this by going to VIRTUAL MACHINE in the task pane, and selecting INSTALL VMWARE TOOLS/INSTALL PARALLELS TOOLS.
E. Once you have installed VMware tools/Parallels tools, you must set up your machine so it can run maplestory to it’s fullest. You can do this by selecting VIRTUAL MACHINE in the task pane, and selecting SETTINGS in VMware. In Parallels, go to the VIRTUAL MACHINE CONFIGURATION window, and select HARDWARE.
F. In the settings window, you will be given multiple options, including ram amount, processor cores, and such. In order for Maplestory to run, change the ram amount to about 1/4th to about a half of the ram that your entire machine holds in the PROCESSORS AND RAM settings window. If you have a dual-core machine or more, allow the VM to utilize all of the cores.
F. Once you have set this up, you will be able to run maplestory.
Note: For VMware, there is a “white-screen” graphics issue when running maplestory in unity mode. To avoid this, only play Maplestory in Vmware’s Windowed mode. Fortunately, Parallels does not have this problem, but runs unbearably slow in Maplestory’s windowed mode. Therefore, you must run Maplestory without coherence mode.
Playing Maplestory through BootCamp:
This section of the guide will show you how you can get maplestory to run via Bootcamp assistant.
Recommended requirements for BootCamp:
-Intel core 2 ore better
-1 Gigabytes of ram
Instructions and setup guide:
A. Unlike Vmware or Parallels, Bootcamp comes free on leopard (not tiger). This method allows you to run maplestory natively on your hardware, but will not give you the freedom to run both OSX and the Windows OS at the same time. In bootcamp, only windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista will work.
B. Set up a new partition in Boot camp assistant. Windows xp will need at least 5 gigabytes of HD space, while vista will need at least 20 (for Home basic and Home Premium)
C. Once you have set up your partition, insert your Windows installation disk and press START INSTALLATION in bootcamp assistant.
Your computer will restart, and will begin the installation. This installer for bootcamp is manually controlled, so you will need to tell the setup which partition you want to install windows on. WARNING: If you reformat the hard-drive other than your bootcamp disk, the contents of that disk will be completely erased. This means that you will lose whatever data you have kept on that disk.
D. Once you have installed windows, you must install your drivers. Your drivers will be located on your mac OSX install DVD.
Once you have installed your drivers, you are free to play maplestory, (as well as running any other windows program that you may need to use).
I will be updating my guide when needed. If necessary, please comment on issues you have faced in Vmware or Parallels, so I can identify the problems. Once again, thank you for reading my guide, and happy Mapling on your mac!
source:
Getting Maple Story Working on VMware
