Load Runner for modern Mac OS?

February 19, 2013 7:44 AM

Hi all, I have a project I'd like to do that involves the use of Broderbund's Load Runner game. I have a 4 year old Macbook Pro running Mountain Lion. I have found various sites to download the game, but so far none of the downloads work.

I do have an older pre-unix Macbook that is still (barely) functional, but I'd rather use the MBP if at all possible.

I am open to a clone or other very similar game; graphics are less important than actual gameplay in similarity.

"N" is a superfun game, but will not work for this project.

The project is just for my own use playing around with physical computing and alternate control mechanisms.

Thanks!

posted by LizardOfDoom to Technology (10 answers total)

It would be helpful if you described why it doesn't work, but I'm guessing because Rosetta was killed in Lion? If so, take a look at some of the links posted in my recent question about a Mac game--some of the answers were about emulators for Lion.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:04 AM on February 19, 2013

I am open to a clone or other very similar game; graphics are less important than actual gameplay in similarity.

Golden Runner?
posted by I EAT TAPAS at 8:14 AM on February 19, 2013

Off-the-cuff, I'm thinking Dosbox + a DOS version?
posted by Alterscape at 8:27 AM on February 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Download Boxer.
Download the DOS version of Load Runner.
Enjoy.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:29 AM on February 19, 2013 [2 favorites]

If you don't mind a different port, then I'd suggest picking an emulator.

My childhood computer of choice was a Commodore 64, so I'd suggest grabbing a copy of the Frodo C64 emulator and then you can download a disk image of Loderunner.

Both are free, but some would consider the game download to be questionable ethically (I'd argue that as it sounds like you had an old copy of the game you can't play anymore, you are exercising a form of format shifting).
posted by NordyneDefenceDynamics at 8:31 AM on February 19, 2013

You want to play an emulated version. For me the Apple ][ version is canonical. You can play it right in your browser (with a plugin). With a bit of research you should be able to download the disk image and run it in Virtual ][ or the like.
posted by Nelson at 8:36 AM on February 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Another option is Lode Runner Classic on iOS; I believe it's a faithful port of the Apple ][ version, not a reinterpretation.
posted by Nelson at 8:37 AM on February 19, 2013

You can also emulate older Macs, if you're for some reason attached to a Mac version of Lode Runner. Here's the place to go for Mac emulation. Feel free to MeMail me if you need help getting it working.
posted by vasi at 6:17 PM on February 19, 2013

I'm running Mac OS 10.6.8, so I'm not sure if it still works on Lion/Mountain Lion, but OSXII was a nice Apple ][ emulator that I use whenever I get the hankering to run Beyond Castle Wolfenstein or something. OSXII is discontinued now, but if you can't find a working download for it, I could send the tiny app to you.

Then you'd just need to download the Apple ][ Lode Runner disk image (lode_runner.dsk) from

ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/... and then—wallah!

Also, like Choplifter, Lode Runner was also made into a coin-op arcade game, so if you wanted to play that version... but then I don't know if there's a Mountain Lion compatible version of Mame...
posted by blueberry at 9:57 PM on February 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

You could run the Apple II original, as noted. Virtual ][ is not free but it is a stunningly good emulator for the Mac. The only one I've used that I consider better is an ancient DOS program called Apple PC. Which you could run in a DOS emulator, thereby earning you a nerd merit badge for "Nested Emulation".
posted by chairface at 10:37 PM on February 20, 2013