Virtualization: FPS BBPro 98

MJ4H · 07-29-2009, 07:48 PM

So I have this really bad itch to play this game, but it doesn't work on Vista or XP. Assuming I want to play it on this machine, what is the best solution? I have a Win 98 CD, and I've tried installing it in VirtualBox. I finally got it working (super-pain) but it runs HORRIBLY (mouse cursor isn't visible when moving, 3D view and game simming incredibly slow).

Is there a virtualization solution that doesn't kill performance so much? Is the only solution dual-booting? I'm hesitant to dual-boot windows OSes based on some things I have read. What do you guys think?

sovereignstar · 07-29-2009, 07:56 PM

Hmmm, I swear I got the game to work on Windows XP a few years ago and I'm pretty sure without a fuss. For whatever reason I decided to load up the game as soon as I bought a new video card a few years ago. Definitely had XP at that point. Can't see the pic now, but I took a screenshot of the game and shared it in post #19.

Yes, I realize this doens't help you AT ALL. Sowwy.

sovereignstar · 07-29-2009, 07:59 PM

What happens exactly when you try to run the game in XP or Vista?

Edit: It's also possible that I installed Baseball Pro '94 instead. I believe that was DOS-based and maybe that's why it had less problems.

MJ4H · 07-29-2009, 08:03 PM

Oh it runs, you just can't do leagues with it because it crashes after simming games. I can get mine running (and it looks quite beautiful in full detail on a modern machine). It's so frustrating to not be able to play a league with it though. In Vista it crashes after every game. XP, too, but I think it does it at even more inopportune times in Vista.

sovereignstar · 07-29-2009, 08:05 PM

So you can do batting practice and stuff? I'm sure that's all I did when I last installed it.

MacroGuru · 07-29-2009, 08:05 PM

I had it running in XP using compatibility mode...and it worked and never crashed.

MJ4H · 07-29-2009, 08:06 PM

You ran a league with it? Because there are message boards full of people that can't do this, including me.

MJ4H · 07-29-2009, 08:09 PM

Just verified it doesn't work in Vista in compatibility mode. (for the record, working in XP won't help me anyway--but no one I've seen has gotten it to work since it requires a DOS framework)

MacroGuru · 07-29-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ4H

You ran a league with it? Because there are message boards full of people that can't do this, including me.

Don't think it was a league...I will have to find the game and see. I have an XP box right here.

MJ4H · 07-29-2009, 08:16 PM

Totally not necessary since I'm positive it crashes when it tries to update league stats and XP won't help my situation anyway.

chinaski · 07-29-2009, 10:49 PM

Get a copy of VMware, that should run Windows 98/FPS:98 just fine.

MJ4H · 07-29-2009, 11:02 PM

OK, I will try that. Hopefully it will run smoothly.

MJ4H · 07-29-2009, 11:17 PM

Um, it looks like VM Ware is not free. Maybe I should have specified that I'm not going to purchase software specifically to run a game I already bought.

I've spent the better part of today trying to play this game and I'm getting pretty frustrated.

Any free solutions that don't degrade performance severely like virtualbox did or am I just out of luck?

Glengoyne · 07-29-2009, 11:21 PM

There are virtualization options that aren't VMware. Xen comes to mind. Never done it at home, but it seems fairly reliable.

MJ4H · 07-29-2009, 11:25 PM

Well, the issue is finding one that doesn't degrade performance so that the game is unplayable, which Virtualbox did. I'm really looking for a recommendation from someone that can say they've used x option and the performance was really good or something like that. My first attempt at this was such a catastrophe it took like 4 hours to even get the game to work and when I finally got it to work it was unplayably slow. I'm trying to avoid wasting another 4 hours like that, if possible.

Fidatelo · 07-30-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ4H

Well, the issue is finding one that doesn't degrade performance so that the game is unplayable, which Virtualbox did. I'm really looking for a recommendation from someone that can say they've used x option and the performance was really good or something like that. My first attempt at this was such a catastrophe it took like 4 hours to even get the game to work and when I finally got it to work it was unplayably slow. I'm trying to avoid wasting another 4 hours like that, if possible.

How much memory did you supply to the virtual machine? How much does your host have? Not enough RAM in either scenario will make your VM perform like crap because it will be thrashing to disk all the time.

Tasan · 07-30-2009, 08:40 AM

Dosbox maybe? I haven't run into anything old I haven't been able to get going in it.

Sun Tzu · 07-30-2009, 09:15 AM

I'm in the same boat as Macro on this one. I still own BBpro 98, and I've installed it several times throughout the years and gotten it to run without a hitch.

I miss that game.

MJ4H · 07-30-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

How much memory did you supply to the virtual machine? How much does your host have? Not enough RAM in either scenario will make your VM perform like crap because it will be thrashing to disk all the time.

I'm not sure, but I guess this is valid. I will look into this.

MJ4H · 07-30-2009, 10:28 AM

Just tried allocating 1 GB of system RAM and 32 MB of video RAM and same result. Runs like molasses.

Daimyo · 07-30-2009, 11:17 AM

VMWare offers a free version, called VMWare Player. You'll have to do some searching to find a plain VM you can load and install Win98 on because the free VMWare Player doesn't let you create VMs only run them.

MJ4H · 07-30-2009, 11:21 AM

Yes I tried VM Player and did some searching and found nothing really useful. I think I'm just giving up on this. Shame, such a great game.

Celeval · 07-30-2009, 11:54 AM

EasyVMX!: Virtual Machine Creator will let you build your VM for VM Player.

MJ4H · 07-30-2009, 12:09 PM

OK I'll try that.

MJ4H · 07-30-2009, 12:18 PM

Installing Win98 on a VM now.

edit: it is installing about 10x faster than on VirtualBox so that's promising.

MJ4H · 07-30-2009, 12:43 PM

Wow, it runs like a dream. Celeval and chinaski win the internets.

07-29-2009, 07:59 PM	#3
sovereignstar Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2004	What happens exactly when you try to run the game in XP or Vista? Edit: It's also possible that I installed Baseball Pro '94 instead. I believe that was DOS-based and maybe that's why it had less problems. Last edited by sovereignstar : 07-29-2009 at 08:00 PM.

07-29-2009, 08:03 PM	#4
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Oh it runs, you just can't do leagues with it because it crashes after simming games. I can get mine running (and it looks quite beautiful in full detail on a modern machine). It's so frustrating to not be able to play a league with it though. In Vista it crashes after every game. XP, too, but I think it does it at even more inopportune times in Vista. __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona

07-29-2009, 08:05 PM	#6
MacroGuru Coordinator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Utah	I had it running in XP using compatibility mode...and it worked and never crashed. __________________ "forgetting what is in the past, I strive for the future"

07-29-2009, 08:06 PM	#7
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	You ran a league with it? Because there are message boards full of people that can't do this, including me. __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona

07-29-2009, 08:09 PM	#8
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Just verified it doesn't work in Vista in compatibility mode. (for the record, working in XP won't help me anyway--but no one I've seen has gotten it to work since it requires a DOS framework) __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona

07-29-2009, 07:56 PM	#2
sovereignstar Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2004	Hmmm, I swear I got the game to work on Windows XP a few years ago and I'm pretty sure without a fuss. For whatever reason I decided to load up the game as soon as I bought a new video card a few years ago. Definitely had XP at that point. Can't see the pic now, but I took a screenshot of the game and shared it in post #19. Yes, I realize this doens't help you AT ALL. Sowwy.

07-29-2009, 08:16 PM	#10
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Totally not necessary since I'm positive it crashes when it tries to update league stats and XP won't help my situation anyway. __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona

07-29-2009, 10:49 PM	#11
chinaski College Prospect Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon	Get a copy of VMware, that should run Windows 98/FPS:98 just fine. __________________ CCFL - Buffalo Bills IHOF - Houston Mustangs GML - San Diego

07-29-2009, 11:02 PM	#12
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	OK, I will try that. Hopefully it will run smoothly. __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona

07-29-2009, 11:17 PM	#13
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Um, it looks like VM Ware is not free. Maybe I should have specified that I'm not going to purchase software specifically to run a game I already bought. I've spent the better part of today trying to play this game and I'm getting pretty frustrated. Any free solutions that don't degrade performance severely like virtualbox did or am I just out of luck? __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona Last edited by MJ4H : 07-29-2009 at 11:19 PM.

07-29-2009, 11:21 PM	#14
Glengoyne Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Fresno, CA	There are virtualization options that aren't VMware. Xen comes to mind. Never done it at home, but it seems fairly reliable.

07-29-2009, 11:25 PM	#15
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Well, the issue is finding one that doesn't degrade performance so that the game is unplayable, which Virtualbox did. I'm really looking for a recommendation from someone that can say they've used x option and the performance was really good or something like that. My first attempt at this was such a catastrophe it took like 4 hours to even get the game to work and when I finally got it to work it was unplayably slow. I'm trying to avoid wasting another 4 hours like that, if possible. __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona

07-30-2009, 08:40 AM	#17
Tasan College Starter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Houston, or there about	Dosbox maybe? I haven't run into anything old I haven't been able to get going in it. __________________ 2011 Golden Scribes winner for best Interactive Dynasty Last edited by Tasan : 07-30-2009 at 08:41 AM.

07-30-2009, 09:15 AM	#18
Sun Tzu Pro Starter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In the thick of it.	I'm in the same boat as Macro on this one. I still own BBpro 98, and I've installed it several times throughout the years and gotten it to run without a hitch. I miss that game. __________________ I'm still here. Don't touch my fucking bacon.

07-30-2009, 10:28 AM	#20
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Just tried allocating 1 GB of system RAM and 32 MB of video RAM and same result. Runs like molasses. __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona

07-30-2009, 11:17 AM	#21
Daimyo College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Berkeley	VMWare offers a free version, called VMWare Player. You'll have to do some searching to find a plain VM you can load and install Win98 on because the free VMWare Player doesn't let you create VMs only run them.

07-30-2009, 11:21 AM	#22
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Yes I tried VM Player and did some searching and found nothing really useful. I think I'm just giving up on this. Shame, such a great game. __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona

07-30-2009, 11:54 AM	#23
Celeval Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Cary, NC, USA	EasyVMX!: Virtual Machine Creator will let you build your VM for VM Player.

07-30-2009, 12:09 PM	#24
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	OK I'll try that. __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona

07-30-2009, 12:18 PM	#25
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Installing Win98 on a VM now. edit: it is installing about 10x faster than on VirtualBox so that's promising. __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona Last edited by MJ4H : 07-30-2009 at 12:30 PM.

07-30-2009, 12:43 PM	#26
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	Wow, it runs like a dream. Celeval and chinaski win the internets. __________________ My YouTube channel My Twitch channel My Sharona

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