Can I use a software program for a more up-to-date version of OS X than mine, without upgrading my entire computer?
May 7, 2009 3:42 PM Subscribe
Can I use a software program for a more up-to-date version of OS X than mine, without upgrading my entire computer?
Basically I bought a computer game that they made available only for the newest version of OS X. Is there some way I can get it to play without upgrading anything? Maybe some kind of "emulator"? I wouldn't know where to begin looking, so maybe you guys can help.
Basically I bought a computer game that they made available only for the newest version of OS X. Is there some way I can get it to play without upgrading anything? Maybe some kind of "emulator"? I wouldn't know where to begin looking, so maybe you guys can help.
In general, no. If an application requires some specific version of OS X, it's usually because it makes use of some feature (a 'framework', or an 'API') that is only available in that specific version of OS X.
posted by cobra libre at 3:51 PM on May 7, 2009
posted by cobra libre at 3:51 PM on May 7, 2009
From a purely non-tech standpoint, there's no reason a company would limit possible sales of their game by classifying it as for X only if it ran on Y also. So I'm going to say that I think it's unlikely that you could get it to work.
posted by djgh at 3:57 PM on May 7, 2009
posted by djgh at 3:57 PM on May 7, 2009
No. You could ask the responsible game company if they really need 10.5 and if they don't, they should be building against the 10.4 SDK. But that's probably not gonna happen unless they feel they are losing sales.
posted by chairface at 4:11 PM on May 7, 2009
posted by chairface at 4:11 PM on May 7, 2009
There is a slight possibility that they claim compatibility with a specific version of OSX because that's the only version they tested against. Testing costs a fair amount and adding platforms adds costs. If you can't return it, it would be worth trying anyway.
posted by doctor_negative at 4:47 PM on May 7, 2009
posted by doctor_negative at 4:47 PM on May 7, 2009
Response by poster: It's called The Path--short horror game, got it cheap.
I don't think it'd be worth it to do a whole upgrade on a laptop I don't really use for gaming, just so I can play a ten dollar game.
Thanks for the help, guys!
posted by world b free at 6:31 PM on May 7, 2009
I don't think it'd be worth it to do a whole upgrade on a laptop I don't really use for gaming, just so I can play a ten dollar game.
Thanks for the help, guys!
posted by world b free at 6:31 PM on May 7, 2009
the path runs with windows "pretendulation" software from a company called transgaming, I'd avoid it like the plague, personally. But most likely it really requires the newest version of the OS.
posted by TimeDoctor at 12:32 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by TimeDoctor at 12:32 AM on May 8, 2009
It won't work, because they are probably using low-level functionality not available in the older operating system. (APIs only available in Leopard, not in Tiger, for example.)
posted by chunking express at 8:04 AM on May 8, 2009
posted by chunking express at 8:04 AM on May 8, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Tomorrowful at 3:47 PM on May 7, 2009