As Brett noted in February, the long-in-development next installment of the classic Mac game Dark Castle has been expected "any day now" for years. Rent fans sing along with me: No Day But Today -- the release of Return To Dark Castle has finally happened, and you can buy the game at this moment from the SuperHappyFunFun site. Unfortunately, the planned level editor will not be included with this version of the game.
On the one hand, I'm very excited to revisit this diversion from my childhood; on the other, I wonder what my jaded offspring will make of the throwback fun of pitching rocks at bats and jumping off of ropes. $30 says they'll enjoy it as much as I did back in the day.
Today Apple announced a new Scrabble iPod game and updated the Mini Golf game, both released by EA games. Mini Golf was one of the first iPod games, originally released in 2006, which allows you to "putt" through many different mini golf-like levels. Scrabble allows you to play a crossword-style game of creating words from the letters on a 15x15 game board.
Both games are available for iPod Classic, iPod nano, and iPod with video (5th generation). You can download them from the iTunes store for $4.99.
The original Dark Castle came out on the Macintosh that year, and immediately became a side-scrolling, rock-throwing, rope-swinging hit. In 1987 it was followed by Beyond Dark Castle, and a helicopter backpack and an excess of explosives kept things interesting, if not addictive. Various versions and ports came out in years following, extending the longevity of the classic game even further. 1994 even saw a Color Dark Castle, still playable in Classic under 10.0 and 10.1, and 2006 brought a mobile version.
Now, for all of us who get nostalgic at the mention of the Black Knight, Return To Dark Castle is almost ready for prime time after being announced 7 years ago. New levels, new secret rooms, and 5 times the orb collecting fun might just make me waste a little more time than I can afford.
Reported finished by Z Sculpt, the previously released beta has expired, but info on the upcoming release and some QuickTime trailers are available at publisher Super Happy Fun Fun's website. There were hopes for a release today, but it didn't happen. If you're anxious, you can join the waiting throngs at the Dark Castle Blog or express your fervent desire at the forum. It could, it seems, turn out to be a wait as cruel as the Black Knight himself.
This Apple tech doc is making the rounds on the Macblogstoday. That's right folks, more than 5 years after Steve declared OS 9 dead (that's Classic to those of you who have only known OS X) it seems that Classic really is dead. Leopard will no longer run Classic apps, and Apple suggests you upgrade to OS X compatible applications.
Are people out there still using OS 9 applications? If so, what are you forced to run in OS 9?
While a lot has been said about the iPod Touch, not much has been said about the new old standard, the iPod Classic. Kirk McElhearn has written a pretty scathing review of a feature that I didn't even notice-- that album artwork on the side while you're browsing music. Apparently it's not related to what you're listening to at all (which is what I originally suspected it was): it's completely random.
Why would this be the case? I thought it was a cool feature to put what you're listening to on the side, so even while you browse through the music, you could have a static reminder of what's playing. But no. Kirk says it's flashy and moving and random-- just like (gasp) a Flash ad. Apparently you can turn it off, and have just a static graphic sit there. But that doesn't explain why anyone thought it was a good idea in the first place.
To be completely fair to Apple, I haven't actually used the iPod Classic myself yet-- maybe there's some useful function that can come out of showing random, moving art (suggestions for what to listen to next, maybe?). But flash for flash's sake like this seems a weird decision on Apple's part, especially in a device that's supposed to be a Classic iPod.
While the iPod Touch will probably get all of the attention today, the iPod isn't going anywhere. Apple has rebranded it the iPod Classic, made it thinner, added more memory, put the CoverFlow interface in it, and turned it into a lean, mean music playing machine.
But the best reason to buy the iPod Classic over the Touch is actually inside: it's the memory. The Touch only reaches a disappointing 8gb and 16gb, and for any respectable music fan, that just doesn't cut it. Fortunately, the Classic has room for everything in your music collection, and then some: $249 for the 80gb model and $349 for 160gb. Sure, a shiny interface and a WiFi connection are nice and all, but if all you're looking for is a way to carry all of your CDs in your pocket at once, the iPod Classic (in silver or black) is what you're looking for.
When we first got tipped this story (by RP-- thanks!), I was like "Oh boy, another guy who found a Newton on eBay and calls himself a Mac collector." But no, this guy is the real deal. He's got 100 Macs in his basement, including 30 Mac Classics and 18 original iMacs, as well as both a Lisa and a 20th Anniversary Macintosh. And these aren't just sitting around on shelves with cords all over the place-- oh no. These are set up just as Jobs would want them to be-- booted, running, cleanly placed, in an immaculate workspace, gently lit from above. If there's a Mac heaven, it's in this guy's basement in Missouri.
The guy, named Jeremy Mehrle, says he started buying them when he was single to fill the space in his house. I don't know if he charges admission, but if so, I'd pay.
Abandonware is commercial software that is no longer sold, generally for obsolete platforms. Many of us have fond memories of hours whiled away years ago on classic (pre OS X) Macs playing games like Sim City 2000 or Indiana Jones that have since become abandonware. It's now possible get ahold of many of those old games thanks to Macintosh Garden. I suspect sites like this are of somewhat dubious legality, yet they're generally left alone since this software is not available for purchase. Just don't blame me for time you waste reliving your misspent youth. [Via Digg]
We have covered SheepShaver before here on TUAW, the PowerPC emulator that makes running Classic a possibility on Intel Macs so, but we just pointed out that it exists. The good folks at UNEASYsilence have gone through the trouble of putting together a tutorial on how to get Classic up and running on your Intel Mac using SheepShaver.
Check it out if you still need a Classic app or two, but you crave the speed of the latest and greatest Mac hardware.
Inside Mac Games reports that GameRanger, the online Mac gaming service, will stop supporting booting GameRanger client in OS 9 at some point this year. This should surprise no one since OS 9 hasn't been commercially available for years. Now, for you game crazy OS 9 holdouts, fear not. The client will still run in Classic (which itself isn't supported on newer Macs, but lucky there are solutions for that).
I'm curious, how many TUAW readers are still using OS 9? Do you have plans to upgrade any time soon?
Damien found SheepShaver last February, and at the time this PowerPC emulation environment (great for running Classic on Intel Macs) had 'experimental' attached to its explanation. While I don't know if it can be referred to as a solid powerhouse environment even still, it seems to have come quite a ways since February; up to version 2.3, to be exact. The latest version has support for up to 1 GB of memory, many bug and crash fixes, clipboard updates, performance enhancements and more.
While it still might not be pretty, SheepShaver is one of the few, if only, methods I've heard of for running Classic on an Intel Mac.
Today's rig shot
features a MacPlus, SE, SE/30, and a Classic adorning a bookshelf. I have to say the look nice up there. I may have a
to add a couple to the bookshelf in my own office. I just really like the look of these compact Macs.
For the
month of April, the theme for our Rig of the Day will be "Vintage Macs" in honor of Apple's anniversary. If
you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. Let's see your vintage Macs (Apples and Newtons,
too)! We'll select an image every day to highlight.
One of
disadvantages with Apple's migration to Intel processors will be the loss of the Classic (Mac OS 9) environment. Apple
has said many times that the Classic environment will be incompatible with their Intel Macs. While this probably won't
be a problem for many users, organizations like schools (who may have limited money to upgrade their sofware) will
likely encounter a few situations where their new Intel Macs need a Classic environment to run a few applications.
Apple may have dropped support for Mac OS
7.x --> Mac OS 9.x applications with their move to Intel, but the open source community has provided us with a
decent solution. When my Intel iMac finally arrives, I'll give this a whirl. Maybe C.K. can check it out in the
meantime.
I especially like the
black "Mac Minitosh" version by Lee on http://destruc.tv found today by Eliot on hack a day. This black beauty uses a black wired apple
laser optical mouse and a black keyboard (I would have used a compact hhk2 lite in black instead, that being my everyday keyboard of
choice). Oh and don't worry, no Classic Macs were harmed in this example; the Mac Lee used was already dead.
If you would like more information about how to perform a hack like this yourself, check out these two Japanese
sites. The first is a site Damien linked to before but which has since then been translated. The second link was
submitted by TUAW reader Arlo:
Ivan at
creativebits has composed a list of application types that just won't work with Rosetta. From his list:
The
Classic environment (and hence, all pre-OS X apps)
Screensavers written for PPC
Code that
insert preferences into the Preferences Pane
Kernel extensions
Apps that depend on one (or
more) PPC-only kernel extension
There are a few more, check them out. I said "See ya" to
Classic a long time ago, so I'm not really concerned about the Mactel being the official nail in that coffin. As Ivan
suggest, just look for the universal logo above when making purchases for your Mactel, just to play it safe.
As Brett noted in February, the long-in-development next installment of the classic Mac game Dark Castle has been expected "any day now" for years. Rent fans sing along with me: No Day But Today -- the release of Return To Dark Castle has finally happened, and you can buy the game at this moment from the SuperHappyFunFun site. Unfortunately, the planned level editor will not be included with this version of the game.
This 
While a lot has been said about the iPod Touch, not much has been said about the new old standard, 
We have covered 
Inside Mac Games 
Damien 
Our own 
Ivan at
creativebits has composed a list of application types that just won't work with Rosetta. From 
