On Thursday, Insignia Solutions and TechWorks announced a free downloadable 3Dfx enabler for Insignia's SoftWindows 95 5.0 and RealPC products.

　　SoftWindows allows Macintosh owners to run a Windows 95 virtual machine inside their Mac. RealPC is Insignia's DOS game emulation program (or Windows 95 programs if the OS is placed on the Mac as well). TechWorks' Power3D 3Dfx-based graphics card is needed to use the download.

　　Previously, Mac gamers had to wait a considerable amount of time as popular PC titles like Quake were recoded for the Mac operating system. By using this new card and software combo, the wait is virtually eliminated. This is probably the best news that Mac gamers have heard in a long time.

　　"This is the breakthrough Mac gamers have been waiting for," said Joseph A. Taglia, Insignia's senior vice president for sales and marketing. "With the 3Dfx enabler installed, Mac gamers will be able to run any PC 3Dfx-based game directly from the TechWorks card and will experience gaming performance similar to that of PCs with 3Dfx cards installed. We expect this product to blow the gaming market wide open for both developers and gamers and have a positive impact on the sales of both companies' products."

　　SoftWindows 95 5.0 will sell for around US$189 and RealPC will sell for about $89. The Power3D video card is currently available at a new lower price of $224.95.

　　"This development is truly a breakthrough and finally removes the barriers that have kept Mac gamers from enjoying the very latest in 3Dfx gaming," said Craig Fryar, "Game Guy" and director of products at TechWorks. "Playing Tomb Raider II on a Mac G3 system rocks!"

　　TechWorks' next big jump will be producing a Voodoo2-based Mac graphics card.

　　The download can be acquired from Insignia's web site.