Emulator is the software that helps us to run multiple OS on a single hardware. It typically helps one OS to behave as another for as much amount of time as we want and then switch back to our original OS. This in turn helps people to run different apllications exclusively for various OS on a single platform. Like if you have an Windows PC emulator, or the iOS one, you can run Windows or iOS appliactions on your Mac computer, especially good for app developers.
Mac PC is now common around the world, and it’s not surprising that some people would want to play game with it. But there are some games that only built for Windows, Nintendo or other devices, and hence you may need the game emulator for these games to run on Mac OS. So, here in this article, we will show you some of the best Game Console Emulators for macOS.
Jun 15, 2020 Search for iOS simulator using the Search app As for me, this is the easiest way. I use Alfred, but you can use the standard Mac application Spotlight Search. Just type the simulator word in the. Xamarin TestFlight is an iOS emulator that lets you run iOS apps on Windows PC and also lets you airplay iPhone to Mac as well. And it runs on both really well! For the moment the app is owned by Apple, so, it is very reliable.
These are the settings i use for CXBXR in 2020. My system is a GTX1070, and I7-7700. Download CXBXR here https://github.com/Cxbx-Reloaded/Cxbx-Reloaded/relea. Xbox emulator for Mac. Anyone know how I can download an Xbox emulator for Mac (Catalina OS)? I'm dying to play The Godfather game again. Save hide report. Log in or sign up to leave a comment log in sign up. No comments yet. Be the first to. Emulators » Browse by Platform » Emulators that run on Xbox One Select a system to see emulators that work on Xbox One Bandai Wonderswan Bandai Wonderswan Color Neo Geo Pocket - Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPx) Nintendo 64 Nintendo DS Nintendo Entertainment System Nintendo Game Boy Nintendo Game Boy Color Nintendo Gameboy Advance PC Engine. Nintendo 64 Emulator for Mac. Mupen64 is the most popular emulator for Nintendo 64. This is by far the most stable and compatible emulator. This is a cross-platform plugin-based N64 emulator which is capable of playing most of the games accurately. However, the user must install a GTK+ for the emulator to work properly.
Tips: If you ever lost important notes or messages on iPhone, you can also use Gihosoft iPhone Data Recovery for Mac to get them back easily even without backup.
Also read: 6 Best iOS Emulator For Windows To Build & Run iOS Apps
Top 15 Gaming Emulators for Mac Computers
1. Virtual PC for Mac
This emulator by Microsoft aims to emulate Windows OS on your Mac giveing you the freedom to run those programs specifical for Windows OS that you can not use on your Mac OS.
This game emulator will successfully take out your worry about the fact that you cannot run your Windows games on Mac. This Windows emulator will work as Windows 7 version, which may be a bit outdated but still it can do your job perfectly.
Download: Virtual PC for Mac
2. XBOX 360 Emulator for Mac
As the name suggests this is an XBOX oriented emulator completely made for Mac OS. For playing XBOX games, XeMu360 emulator is the most widely used emulator. This is comparatively a new software and it does support almost all XBOX games.
This is a very powerful emulator so that Mac OS users can enjoy playing XBOX games on it flawlessly.
Pdf to tiff for mac. Download: XBOX 360 Emulator for Mac
3. Playstation Emulators for Mac
PCSX-Reloaded is one of the the best emulator that can be installed on your Mac OS ideal for playing Playstation games. As an open source software, this emulator gives you the freedom to install it on all versions of Mac OS. Things become much simpler and easier after its installation process has been modified recently.
It would be better to keep all your playstation games inside one folder on Mac. Then after installing PCSX-Reloaded all you have to do is to drop the game you want to play in it. The emulator also has a built-in BIOS and the ability to edit memory cards as well.
Download: Playstation Emulators for Mac
4. Nintendo 64 Emulator for Mac
Mupen64 is one of the well-known emulator for Nintendo 64 to use on Mac OS. This emulator is very stable and compatible with all types of Mac OS.
However, you will require to install the GTK+ for this Nitendo 64 emulator to work smoothly. GTK+ is a graphical toolkit that needs to be installed on the Mac to process graphics. GTK+ will remains in the background and rightly handles the graphics of the N64 ROMS on Mac.
Download: Nintendo 64 Emulator for Mac
5. GameCube and Wii Games Emulator for Mac
Dolphin is one of the best game emulator for macOS to run GameCube, Wii and Triforce games. This emulator is very much compatible with multiple platforms including the macOS. It is also free to use as an open source project. The emulator works well with macOS 10.6 to 10.8 and is very user friendly as well.
The only thing the user needs to do is to specifiy the BIOS file which comes always with the ROM. When you start playing the game, Dolphin emulator automatically senses the game file and starts playing it on Mac.
Download: GameCube and Wii Games Emulator for Mac
6. OpenEmu
OpenEmu emulator is one of the most reliable emulators in the market, compatible with Mac OS 10.7 and higher. Being very user friendly, it also has an iTunes type menu. This is the ultimate gaming emulator that detects the game Roms according to their requirement.
OpenEmu – How To Run Emulators on a Mac N64 PSP SNES NES And More!
OpenEmu supports a great number of consoles like:
- Game Boy
- NeoGeo Pocket
- Game Gear
- Sega Genesis and lot more
Download: OpenEmu
7. RetroArch
RetroArch seems to be an all-in-one emulator for macOS that helps the users to play any kind of retro games. The emulator even can be used to play PlayStation 1 games and older ones as well. In the handheld game console RetroArch even supports Game Boy Advance games. It is totally based on the number of cores with each of the core emulating a console.
Download: RetroArch
8. PPSSPP
The name PPSSPP stands for Playstation Portable Simulator Suitable for Playing Portably, which is an emulator for playing PSP games. The emulator was originally created by Dolphin developers and is widely used across the globe. PPSSPP is very easy to install and to use on Mac, and also it supports a wide number of PSP games.
Download: PPSSPP
9. ScummVM
This emulator is speifically designed for those people who like to play point-and-click games. SucmmVM is supported by macOS and uses the Scumm scripting language shown as its name. The emulator also supports many of the adventure games like the Monkey Island 1-3, Sam & Max and much more.
Download: ScummVM
10. DeSmuME
DeSmuMe is another emulator for macOS that helps users to play with the dual screens of Nintendo, i.e. by simulating dual screens on the monitor itself. The emulator also supports games that we want play on the devices sideways.
The best part of this emulator is that its constantly being modified by developers and new features are getting added to it on a regular basis. And now over the years this has become one of the best game emulators for Mac in the market.
Download: DeSmuME
11. DosBox
As the name suggests this emulator is purposefuly made for DOS based programs. Many DOS based games are still played by users; so to make those games available even on macOS this emulator has been created.
Download: DosBox
12. Xamarian Android Player for Mac
This is an Android emulator that can be run on macOS so that you can play the millions of Android games onto your Mac. Xamarain Android player also supports OpenGL and actually virtualizes the device instead of simply emulating it.
This also helps to enhance the performance of your Mac. The emulator has a great integration with both the Visual Studio and the Xamarin Studio, and this one has a native user interface.
Download: Xamarian Android Player for Mac
13. PS3 Emulator for Mac
PS3 emulator typically supports macOS and allows users to play PlayStation 3 games on Mac. It is completely free and only need you to have any PS3 supported game. This gives complete freedom for users to choose whatever PS3 game they want to play on their Mac.
Download: PS3 Emulator for Mac
14. iOS Emulator iPadian for Mac
As its name suggests, this is an emulator that helps you run iOS applications on your Mac. By downloading this simulator, users can use iPad applications on a Mac as well. The best iOS emulator currently available is the iPadian.
This emulator is based on Adobe AIR and readily creates an interface similar to iPad on your Mac. iPadian is a very good emulator if you are just looking to run iOS appliactios and games on your Mac flawlessly.
Download: iOS Emulator iPadian for Mac
15. Visual Boy Advance
The Visual Boy Advance, also known to be the Mac Boy advance, can play almost all games of the Nintendo consoles on Mac. This GBA is written and developed specifically for the OS X and is compatibile with almost all kinds of macOS.
Download: Visual Boy Advance
So, here are our top 15 picks of game consloe emulators that you can readily download onto your Mac and seamlessly enjoy Android, DOS, Windows, iOS and much more experiences. By this way, you do not have to buy other kinds of OS, but just an emulator that will help you to run other applications on the single macOS.
Each of these emulators for Mac has its own advantage, and gaming on them is another treat to be honest. With such wide variety of support for games, you can download each of them and find out your favorite one and play all along. If you have any other good suggestion or question, welcome to comment down.
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Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Playing games on any console is better done with a Controller. If you are a gamer, then you should probably already know that, which is why I would be giving you the Best Xbox Controller Emulators for PC. There are several emulators available to make use of when it comes to Controller emulator for pc. Most of the emulators have really delivered more than expected to most users, as it helps them Emulate other controllers to work as Xbox controller on PC. A lot of people make use of this, and if you wish to be one of them, then read this content.
In this context, I would not just be giving you Emulators for windows alone, so if you are making use of Windows or a Mac OS PC then this content would be useful to you. If you have been gaming for some time now then you could agree with me that there is more experience to Controller than making use of your keyboard and mouse. For Windows, the Xbox controller already works freely without the use of an Emulator. But if you choose to make use of a controller that is not Xbox 360, and it does not connect automatically then you would need an X360 Emulator to run it both on Windows and Mac OS.
Best Xbox Controller Emulators for PC
There are several emulators available on your, and below I would be giving you the best you can make use of. They include:
For Windows
For windows, there are several options to try out, and you would be amazed by how useful the settings are. For windows, the controller emulator for PC includes:
– X360ce (TocaEdit Xbox 360 controller Emulator)
This emulator is really useful as it makes the connecting controller easier. This emulator works on every single USB controller, so whatever controller you are making use of, with X360ce, there would be no problem at all. I have used the Emulator a lot of times, and it has proven to be very useful to me, and it can be to you too. You can get the emulator via this link.
– Xenia
Xenia is rated to be one of the best emulators available for PC as it has so few incidents of lags and other performance-related defects. This emulator is compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8.
– DXBX Emulator
This emulator is another amazing Xbox 360 emulator for PC. And, the emulator also works very well with Xbox one games too. This emulator would enable you to play every game on your Windows PC. The emulator is compatible with every version of windows but is only available for the 32-bit operating system.
– EX360 Emulator
This emulator happens to be a great emulator available for Windows PC. This emulator also enables the user to play Xbox one games. this Xbox emulator provides users with smooth gaming experience, but it lacks some incomplete implementations of D#D, storage, and APIs. This emulator is only available on Windows and runs on a 64-bit operating system.
For Mac OS
There are not so many emulators for Mac OS, but the one available is very useful when connecting c controller to your Mac OS. With that stated, Xbox controller Emulator for Mac OS includes:
– Enjoyable
This emulator is very useful when it comes to connecting controllers to Mac OS. The best part of this emulator is that it does not just connect controllers only but also connects your Mouse, Keyboard, gamepad, or joystick to your Mac OS PC. The emulator does not require much, you just need a Mac OS X 10.7+ and one of more HID compatible input devices to get it working. Getting Enjoyable on your PC is not so hard, just follow this link. and there you would find the emulator for download.
Connecting via the Xbox emulator does not have so many options, but there is a console controller that would work perfectly well on Mac OS PC. These controllers would not require you to go through a lot of processes to set them. They include:
– Sony DualShock 4 for PlayStation 4
Xbox 360 Emulator For Mac Download Free
To make use of this one all you have to do is to purchase the $60 DualShock 4 USB wireless adapter, plug it to your Mac, and your DualShock 4 controller should work perfectly well. But if you do not want to make use of the $60 USB, then you can plug the controller directly into your Mac with a Micro USB cable.
– Steam Controller
The steam controller offers an amazing experience for steam’s staggering library of PC and Mac games. more importantly, it functions fully with steam on the Mac out of the box. Just connects the Mac adapter and it should work perfectly and immediately.
– Nintendo Pro Wireless Controller
If you have purchased a Nintendo Switch, you should be able to make use of the controller on your Mac OS. This controller is very easy to set up, here you would find support for the wireless controller under preference> Controller, where you’ll select Use Nintendo icon layout so that you do not have to deal with the confusion of Nintendo controller acting like one for the Xbox.
Xbox One Emulator Games Download
– DualShock 3
Xbox 360 Emulators For Mac
This controller is good, but the process for making it work is a bit complicated. most people making use of its claims it does not work, so the DualShock 3 should not be an option for you.
Xbox One Emulators For Mac
So, with this content, you should be playing your Favorite game using a controller in a Mac of windows PC using an Emulator or just the controller.
Want to run yesterday’s Macintosh software on your modern Mac or PC?
Since my DOSBox post, where I demonstrated classic MS-DOS software, I’ve wanted to find and use a classic Mac emulator to experience the classic Mac experience – to run classic Macintosh software, experience the user interface and see what has and hasn’t changed.
The Macintosh operating system’s history is often split into two sections: the classic Macintosh OS, and the modern macOS. macOS has evolved since Apple introduced it back in 2001 as Mac OS X, but it is very different from its precursor. (For instance, macOS is based on BSD UNIX; the classic Mac isn’t.)
The website E-Maculation is dedicated to classic Macintosh emulators.
There are three “main” classic Macintosh emulators: Mini vMac, Basilisk II and SheepShaver.
Mini vMac emulates compact Mac models (such as the Macintosh Plus, although it also supports models from the 128K to Classic.) Therefore, you’ll only get a black-and-white display and limited power.
SheepShaver, on the other hand, emulates the PowerPC-based Macs. In 1992, Apple started switching from using the Motorola 68K processors to the PowerPC chips. The PowerPC chips were designed by the AIM Alliance (Apple, IBM and Motorola) and were used until 2006. SheepShaver is the best option if you want to run Mac OS 8 or Mac OS 9.
Basilisk II, the software I’m going to be demonstrating, fits snugly in the middle. It still emulates a 68K-based Mac, but emulates a modular model that was capable of displaying color, offered more power and could run later versions of the Macintosh hardware. Specifically, Basilisk II mostly emulates a Macintosh Quadra 900 (circa 1991) running System 7.5.3 (circa 1996.)
With all of this out of the way, let’s talk about getting our emulator up and running.
Installing/Configuring Basilisk II
Unlike DOSBox, where everything came ready-to-go, Basilisk II requires a lot of work to get it up and going.
I decided to install Basilisk II on my early 2014 MacBook Air, running macOS 10.14.5 “Mojave.” Not only are you running a Macintosh emulator on a true modern Mac, but I found installation was somewhat easier on a Mac.
I’m not going to provide step-by-step configuration instructions. For that, E-Maculation has you covered. They have the detailed instructions for configuring Basilisk II in macOS here. They also have instructions for use with Windows and Linux.
Basilisk II requires downloading a ROM file to work. Because the classic Macintosh operating system only works on a true Mac (whether it be a true Apple Macintosh or, later, a clone) it requires this ROM file to start and work.
In addition, Basilisk II requires downloading the operating system files (obviously) and setting up a place to store the files and setup an emulated drive volume.
Once you get everything set up and the Basilisk II GUI configured properly, you can then start the Macintosh and install the operating system.
After running the System 7.5.3 installer and allowing the software to copy the files onto the system volume, the emulator will restart. Then, System 7.5.3 is ready to go.
You can adjust settings to your liking, such as enabling color and installing software.
Acquiring Software
Speaking of installing software, you will need to either download software or copy them from your own library.
For someone like me, who doesn’t own any classic Macintosh software, there are some websites out there archiving classic Macintosh software. The one I frequent is Macintosh Garden – which has a lot of classic Mac games, utilities and productivity software.
Most files are preserved in StuffIt compressed files. Most of the time, uncompressing the file will reveal an outdated disk image that requires conversion using the macOS Disk Utilities utility. After conversion, you can access the disk image contents and drag the files into the folder that can be accessed in the emulator.
Now, let’s take a look at some software I tried out. I tried to find and try the Macintosh version of the software I used in my DOSBox demonstration.
Software Demonstrations
All of these can be found on Macintosh Garden, where I found them. Click the header to go to the Macintosh Garden page for that program.
Arnold’s MIDI Player
In DOSBox, one of the first programs I tested was a MIDI player that used DOSBox’s OPL2 emulator. DOSMID was what I expected… and DOSBox’s OPL2 emulator wasn’t that good.
For the Mac, Arnold’s MIDI Player (AMP) is a good option. AMP uses QuickTime to actually produce the music. AMP provides a GUI for playback controls (unlike DOSMID) and other views, such as a synthesizer view, track listing, karaoke, etc.
One nice thing about AMP is I could import my entire MIDI library and open any file I wanted – no renaming needed. While DOS required each file to be renamed (to have a filename of 8 or fewer characters), Macintosh didn’t have the same requirements.
I recorded AMP’s output for a couple files. Below is AMP’s rendition of the William Tell Overture, along with the recorded version from DOSMID running in DOSBox.
AMP has a feature for recording audio to a .mov file through QuickTime. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to find a way to open the file using modern software.
Therefore, recording the output was tricky. First, I tried using Soundflower. (Soundflower is a macOS utility that records the system’s sound output.) While Soundflower worked for recording a couple songs, it stopped working about three or four songs in. (Soundflower is very touchy and unstable, at least on recent macOS versions.)
I ended up recording the sound output using the MintTin and Audacity.
Ford Simulator II – 1990
In DOSBox, I tested Ford Simulator 1988. Ford Simulator was a program released every year by the Ford Motor Company to provide details about their vehicles, offering a “virtual showroom.” Ford Simulator 1988 even included a driving game.
Ford Simulator II isn’t much different from the 1988 DOS version, although the user interface is obviously different for the Macintosh – and the vehicles have changes. There are more vehicles in Ford Simulator II for the Macintosh.
Ford Simulator II only consumes the top left corner of the screen and is only in black-and-white. The program was likely written for compact Macintosh models – such as the Macintosh SE – which were more popular at the time the program was written. (Considering the program released in late 1989, the only color Macs at that time were the Macintosh II, IIx and IIcx.)
Mac Emulator Ios 13
Ford used the simulator to provide information about each model. In the “Electronic Showroom,” many Ford/Mercury/Lincoln models are available with a graphic and description. The “Buyer’s Guide” section allows you to view in-depth details about all Ford/Mercury/Lincoln models offered in 1990, with their specifications, options, window sticker and even a spreadsheet for making financial calculations.
Like the 1988 DOS version, Ford Simulator II has an “Infocenter” section, which has details about many of the features Ford offered on their vehicles in 1990. The Macintosh version includes nice graphics and animations about many of the features.
Ford Simulator 1990, just like all of the other Ford Simulators, includes a driving game. Unlike the 1988 DOS version, the Macintosh version is much trickier to play.
Lastly, Ford Simulator II has a feedback section. Users could fill out the form on their computer, print it out and send it Ford.
Aldus PageMaker 4.0
Now that we’ve bought a “new” car, let’s do some work.
One of the things I’ve done a lot of is page layout. I’ve always used Adobe’s InDesign page layout program as opposed to Quark XPress, although at one time I did get to play around with Quark XPress.
Before Adobe InDesign, there was Adobe (Aldus) PageMaker. PageMaker was a very early page layout program, released in 1985 for the Macintosh (the PC version was released in December 1986.) Quark XPress, on the other hand, was released in 1987.
Desktop publishing is one of the things that put the Macintosh on the map. With it’s advanced GUI, users could easily produce page designs, illustrations, slideshow presentations, etc. quicker than before. With this, many applications for desktop publishing were released for the Macintosh in the 1980s – from PageMaker to PowerPoint and Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
PageMaker 4.0 was released in 1990 for the Macintosh, with a PC version following in 1991.
As with other WYSIWYG page layout programs of the era, samples and lessons were included to allow users to learn the program.
Many features found in PageMaker 4.0 can also be found in modern page layout programs like InDesign and Quark XPress. Color swatches, paragraph styles, grids, guides, etc.
PageMaker 4.0 also included samples for different types of publications, such as newsletters and cards.
Unfortunately, unlike modern page layout programs – there is no option for publishing the document as a PDF. I tried to “print to PDF” but that option was unsuccessful.
Lemmings
Perhaps one of the most popular game titles of the late 1980s/early 1990s, Lemmings was released on almost every platform. From the IBM PC, Commodore 64, Apple II, NES, SNES, and many other gaming consoles, there was a Lemmings version for that platform.
The Macintosh also had its own version.
Gameplay is almost identical to the MS-DOS version. The levels, graphics and controls are very similar.
The biggest difference is the music and sounds. I prefer the Macintosh version’s music and sounds over the MS-DOS version.
Tetris
In addition to Lemmings, Tetris was another popular title from the late 1980s/early 1990s that made it on to almost every platform available.
Gameplay of Tetris is no different from what you would find on any other version – back then or now. (In other words, there is not much to discuss here.) It’s just bricks that you can rotate and position by using different keys on the keyboard.
Iphone Simulator Mac
The thing that I did like about the Mac version are the nice backgrounds.
Oregon Trail
Now to a game that almost every kid born between 1980 and 2005 has likely played… the Oregon Trail.
I was too young to experience the Apple II version of this game, but I did get to experience the graphical Windows XP version in elementary school. It was a very fun game, and I can remember my class spending a lot of time playing the game.
Now I got to experience the Macintosh version.
The Macintosh version of The Oregon Trail is very similar to the Windows XP version I played in elementary school. The graphics, interface, gameplay and almost everything else was identical to what I remember.
Obviously, the interface is nice. I liked how there was a map of the route with the landmarks you would pass on this version. I also liked how you could do things like “take a rest” at any point – instead of waiting for the game to catch up at a river or landmark.
One interesting thing about Oregon Trail is how it affects the desktop wallpaper. The desktop wallpaper will rapidly change colors at the splash screen, and will also display a slightly different color while playing the game. While likely a bug, it’s actually a pretty bug.
This concludes my demonstration of Basilisk II, a classic Macintosh emulator that allows you to enjoy the classic Macintosh operating system along with its software from the comfort of your modern computer. Although installation is more difficult when compared to DOSBox, Basilisk II is compatible with almost all games that were compatible with Macintosh System 7.5.3.
In-Browser Emulators
If you just want to play around in the classic Macintosh environment and some period software but don’t want to install an emulator or go through the hassle of setting one up, there are options – although its more limited.
James Friend created PCE.js – a website featuring an emulator of a Macintosh Plus running System 7 in black-and-white mode. There are a couple different emulators, one with many different games and programs, one with just KidPix, etc.
As previously mentioned, these in-browser emulators have many limitations. Friend’s emulators are emulating a Mac Plus – which only offers black-and-white graphics. Also, since it is in-browser, there is no way to upload files to (or download from) the emulator.
But there are a lot of upsides to the in-browser emulator. There is no need to download or install any emulation programs like Basilisk II, SheepShaver or Mini vMac. The in-browser emulator also runs comfortable on mobile devices. The screenshots were taken using my iPad. Navigating around the emulator and using it on the iPad was very easy, and it ran fine with no real hiccups that I encountered.
Since the in-browser emulator is emulating a Mac Plus, the graphics are very similar to what you actually would’ve found on the ubiquitous “Compact Mac” models of the late 1980s. Color graphics, higher-resolution displays and other “luxuries” didn’t come until 1987 with the introduction of the Macintosh II – which itself was extremely pricey.
Overall, emulators are a great way to experience the computers of yesterday without actually owning one. Vintage computers are often expensive and unreliable, especially vintage Macs. While it is fun to own older hardware, this is the next best thing…
Emulated on the early 2014 MacBook Air.
Windows Update (August 6, 2019)
M1 Mac Ios Emulator
Today I finally got the Windows version of Basilisk II to work on my ThinkPad W541 (daily driver machine)… somewhat.
After checking my volumes and installation again, I tried things one more time. I managed to get a black box to appear, but nothing inside. I was unable to close the black box, forcing me to force quit out of it.
Apparently, I’m not the only one with this problem. Emaculation said that the solution is to use an older, more stable version of Basilisk II.
After downloading Basilisk II and starting a new system volume from scratch, things went more smooth. This time, I got the infamous Macintosh start up chime followed by the blinking question mark. There’s something wrong with the system volume, as it isn’t seeing it.
Going back to the settings screen and comparing it with the one found on the Emaculation installation guide, I found the problem. I mounted the wrong disk file. After fixing this, the Mac “booted” up.
Once the emulation began, the system software installation process is identical to running Basilisk II on a modern Mac.
After “ejecting” the system install disk and restarting the system, it was official.
But I noticed some oddities. After changing the display settings to color, the desktop pattern chooser only displays black-and-white options. When changing the color setting back to gray in the “Monitors” system preferences window, everything but the Apple menu icon remains in color – although the system should be displaying in grayscale. Really odd.
It works, but not very well. Obviously some odd issues here and there.
Installing Basilisk II on my daily driver was something I wanted to do as it makes things just much simpler. For instance, audio recording. The output of DOSMID in DOSBox was easily captured as I was running the emulator on my ThinkPad W541, which runs Windows 10 – which allows you to record the sound output from your computer without any cables, dongles or third-party programs. (Which is nice, since most modern computers don’t feature a microphone or line-in jack.) Unfortunately, macOS doesn’t have anything like that without installing a third-party app like Soundflower. As I mentioned previously, Soundflower is fairly unstable and can even cause the entire system to crash. So to capture the audio from Basilisk II/Arnold’s MIDI Player, I had to plug my MacBook Air into my MintTin.
The second reason I wanted to install Basilisk II on my daily driver is the convenience. I could easily open it up and start playing without having to go and grab my MacBook Air, which my dad uses as his daily driver. When I return to school in a couple weeks, I will no longer have easy access to the MacBook Air.
But it seems like Basilisk II is more stable and easier to setup and run in macOS, at least in my experience.
While likely best left to a separate post, I was planning on bringing the late 2014 MacMini out of retirement/storage to be my main Basilisk II host. (Kind of like how the T42 is my main DOSBox host machine.) But, unfortunately, the late 2014 MacMini still refuses to boot.
Basilisk II on macOS Catalina (August 3, 2020)
When I first received my 2019 MacBook Pro back in March, one of the things I tried to install was Basilisk II. However, I wasn’t able to install it. I gave up after tinkering with a beta setup GUI designed for Catalina and using a third-party app to create the HFS volumes for the virtual machine to run from.
Thankfully, tonight I was able to get Basilisk II to run on Catalina. Turns out the whole issue may have been the fault of your’s truly rather than an incompatibility with Catalina. Last time I forgot to extract the System 7.5.3 setup files. Now all is well.