SimTunes

SimTunes

Developers
	Toshio Iwai
Publishers
	Maxis
Release dates
Windows	1996

Key points

Installer is 16-bit only, but a workaround is available. See Running the game on 64-bit Windows

General information

MobyGames entry

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		Entire game can be copied to the hard drive.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	<path-to-game>\Tunes

This is the default location used. An alternate save game data location can be chosen via the options menu.

Standalone saves are saved under <path-to-game>\Alone

Video settings

In-game options menu.

Windowed

Although not a true windowed mode, the game can be run to give the impression. If the desktop resolution is greater than the game, the game will be centered in on the desktop at 640x480.
Here is how to toggle it should it become unusable:

Disable windowed mode[citation needed]
Right click on the SIMTUNES.EXE file (located in the installation folder) and select "Properties". Go to the "Compatibility" tab and enable "Run in 640x480 screen resolution". Run the SIMTUNES.EXE file to play the game.

Alternatively, you can go to SIMTUNES.INI (located in C:\Windows) and change UseDirectDraw to TRUE.

Audio settings

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English

Issues fixed

Running the game on 64-bit Windows

Although the game installer is 16-bit, the actual game is 32-bit. The only way to play it is to use an alternate installer:

Installing the game via alternate installer

Setting up the game with an alternate installer[citation needed]

Somewhere on the computer (ex. the Desktop), create a new folder called "SETUP". Copy the contents of the SimTunes CD and paste them into the folder that was created before. When everything has finished copying, go to <Setup Folder>\SETUP and delete the SETUP.EXE file. Download the generic 32-bit installer and add it to the folder. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Once the installer has finished, go to the installation folder and run the SIMTUNES.EXE file to play the game.

While the main game will work, the tutorial is 16-bit and will not run

"SimTunes requires your computer to be set in 256 color mode"

Setting up compatibility settings[citation needed]
Right click on the SIMTUNES.EXE file (located in the installation folder) and select "Properties". Go to the "Compatibility" tab and enable "Run in 256 colors". For Windows 8 and later, enable Reduced Colour Mode (set to 8-bit color). Run the SIMTUNES.EXE file to play the game.

Enabling DirectDraw (this will help fix drawing problems on newer graphics cards)
Open the file SIMTUNES.INI (located in C:\Windows) and change UseDirectDraw to TRUE.

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
DirectDraw

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	95	98
Processor (CPU)	Intel 486DX2	Intel Pentium
System memory (RAM)	8 MB	16 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	2 MB	53 MB
Video card (GPU)	SVGA, XGA