virtualbox.org

I have successfully installed several games, but none of them will run. They either freeze before starting, or crash while starting. Some say that I am missing files, like DirectDraw and Direct3D. How can I install them? Do I need a new driver?

You install the guest additions (in the guest) while in safe mode.

How exactly do I go about doing that?

You click on the link just below my post and go to Chapter 4. Guest Additions and follow the instructions.

Ok. I installed the guest additions in safe mode, reinstalled the game, and it still froze on startup. Is it just the games problem then? Will guest additions only fix my DirectDraw and Direct3D problem?

It very well could be the game. Some require more than VirtualBox can offer at this time. I know they are working on improving this and something should be out in beta soon.

It would also help if you can tell us which games you want to play, or what the system requirements are. You can't expect to play a game that's recently released. VMs give a big overhead, so even if the game would not have any reason to fail to start (due to video driver, directx, etc.) it will run slow and possibly up to a point where you get only a few fps.

Roller Coaster Tycoon 2
Seaworld Tycoon
Red Alert 2
Zoo Tycoon

All games made in the early 2000s...

Should be no problem with those. Make sure you have the GA installed with 3D support in safe mode and that you have 3D enabled in the VM settings. That's about it. Of course, the Host must be able to provide hardware accelerated OpenGL. Without that, 3D won't work on the Guest.

If all fails, grab and compile Wine from www.winehq.org for OSX and run the games through that.

I installed GA in safe mode. Did I need to do something special to install it with 3D support? Also, 3D is enabled in VM settings. I'm thinking my MBP (Early 2010) supports hardware accelerated OpenGL. Maybe not? I guess I will try Wine.

All you had to do is enable 3D in the GA installer to get actual DirectX in the VM. If you're not sure if you did that, you can install the Guest Additions again.

I will try to reinstall it. I feel like maybe something is wrong with how I installed VirtualBox, or that something is missing, because why would every game fail? Even the older ones..

I just reinstalled GA, making sure to check Direct 3D Support. Reinstalled another game, still no luck. Is there another setting I need to enable/disable? Am I missing a driver?

No idea what could be wrong. Check the Guest's Event Viewer for any errors you have. It might give some more information why it fails.

How/where do I check the guest event viewer?