Where are you suppose to place your mac games at?

[Shadowspirit6]

I know , I know...its a really dumb question..but...

My friend also has a mac and when he installs games that he bought from the apple store and such he just places them in his Documents folder...I used to think that misplacing games in the wrong folder could cause problems/errors in the game.

In other words does placing games in Documents cause errors?

 

[iBookG4user]

Mac OS X likes you to put all the apps and games in the Applications folder, but there shouldn't be any problems with apps or games being in the Documents folder.

 

[66217]

Nope, you can put them wherever you want.

But it is recommended to use your Applications folder. I mean, you never open a game from the icon that is in the Applications folder. You normally use Spotlight or QuickSilver or the Dock.

So deciding where to install your apps (including games) shouldn't be an issue. Just put them in the /Applications folder. That way you always know where all your apps are.

 

[Gymnut]

Perhaps maybe create a "Games" folder and place it in your home directory or in the left column in the finder and linked to the dock.

 

[Shadowspirit6]

ok thanks for your help everyone =D

 

[FriarTuck]

I encountered problems with Call of Duty 2 when I installed the game to a "games" folder within Applications. Aspyr support specifically advised to put it in Applications directly, not in a subfolder.

That's the only time I've encountered an issue when using a "games" folder.

 

[Gymnut]

Could you provide a link to Aspyr's support page where it advises to install their games within the Applications folder? After a brief look, I'm not too fond of Aspyr's support page.

 

[FriarTuck]

Could you provide a link to Aspyr's support page where it advises to install their games within the Applications folder? After a brief look, I'm not too fond of Aspyr's support page.

Alright, my memory is not what it should be. My apologies, I had it wrong.

Here's the message I got from Aspyr in response to an e-mail to Aspyr Support:

"

avoid installing the game to
Applications or the Desktop; there are permissions conflicts that can
arise when games are installed here. Games work best when they are
installed in a separate games folder on the top/root level of your hard
drive.

My mis-memory was due to the fact that I had been storing the game within a games folder within Applications, and that was not right.

Thanks for allowing me to correct my error.

 

[eXan]

Just install all applications in the Applications folder, save documents in the Documents folder, store pictures in the Pictures folder....... you get the idea?

Dont try to go against the OS. Those folders are there for a reason.

 

[whooleytoo]

Just install all applications in the Applications folder, save documents in the Documents folder, store pictures in the Pictures folder....... you get the idea?

Dont try to go against the OS. Those folders are there for a reason.

FriarTuck's message above suggests some developers recommend against installing to the Applications folder. This suggests they're writing to files in the application folder, which they shouldn't do. Preference/config files should go to ~/Preferences, any other writable files should go to ~/Library/Application Support/.

Still, putting your games in a folder with write access is the best bet.

 

[Kosh66]

Never had any problems putting games in a "Games" folder.

 

[MongoTheGeek]

I prefer to put a games folder inside of my applications folder. If the game wants/needs write access to where it lives it goes in ~/applications.

 

[killerrobot]

Is there any real need to install it outside of the Application folder?

You can make all the shortcuts on the dock that you want.

 

[penter]

Nope, you can put them wherever you want.

But it is recommended to use your Applications folder. I mean, you never open a game from the icon that is in the Applications folder. You normally use Spotlight or QuickSilver or the Dock.

So deciding where to install your apps (including games) shouldn't be an issue. Just put them in the /Applications folder. That way you always know where all your apps are.

I'm not much of a spotlight user....... i only use it to delete preference files of apps that i wish to completely remove.
Makes sense to use it, though, since I've already been complaining (to myself) about having to look through all my aps in order to find my desired app in the Applications folder.
I'll make better use of it now that you mentioned that. thnx

 

[maxrobertson]

Most people put them in the Applications folder.

I make a separate Games folder and give it a custom icon, but I'm weird like that.

The thing that makes the Applications folder the place to store apps is that if the application wants to put a service in the services menu, it won't show up unless it's in there. I don't think many games have services, so it wouldn't matter in that case.