Got FO running under wine - success

posted on October 31st, 2010, 8:52 pm

Yeah, result.  Tried a long time ago and FO just wouldn't work.

Got latest wine (1.3.5), downloaded directx with winetricks, made sure I had the latest drivers and ran.  Getting wine to recognize the iso required a little trick using symbolic links, but then could launch the game.

Overall: Performance in menus is horrible.  However, once game loads its not too bad (full detail, 1025x768, window mode).  Not as good as under Windows and I didn't stress test it (ie: 7 opponents, just did a 1v1).  Will try and see how it runs tomorrow under full screen and 1280x1024 with lots of opponents on big map....

The only bug that seemed to exist, and it was an annoying one, that units seemed to have their own mind.
1) Scout decloaking randomly.  Seemed to fix after setting all AI settings to Green/Low/Low.
2) Ships forgetting target if it enters FOW.  This was quite annoying even after i manually targetted, if the target moved into FOW would stop following.  Most strange.

Anyway, quite happy with this result.

posted on October 31st, 2010, 10:08 pm

You didn't get the ctd sound issue?

posted on November 1st, 2010, 6:14 am

Actually was playing without my speakers switched on because kids were asleep, but I didn't change the sound settings or anything like that.  Just made sure sound was configured using ALSA in wine and that was it.  No crashes.

[Zebh]

posted on November 2nd, 2010, 1:38 pm

Last edited by Zebh on November 2nd, 2010, 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I tested this and the sound crash still occurs. I got one installation problem: the installer wasn't able to copy all the sound files (Too many files open), so it might be possible that you didn't get the files that cause the crash. I copied those sounds from my windows install. The easiest way to encounter the bug (at least it works for me every time) is to play as Mayson Feds, the game usually crashes before I can build any stations.

posted on November 2nd, 2010, 2:22 pm

No, pretty sure sound is ok (even though not tested) as ran the game from my existing install on my NTFS partition.

Will try to run the installer at some point though and see if I get the same problem you report.

Played as Fed (Mayson) last night from copied install to ext3 partition.  Worked very well.  Played on Nirvana II vs 7 opponents.  1280x1024, high detail, full screen (didn't try AA).

Performance was fine, only lagging exactly like it does under XP, for example, first time it loads new models when you jump around on the mini map by scrolling.

One new issue found.  Mouse edge detection in full screen on the left and right was not working.  I could scroll up-left, up-right, down-left, down-right, up, and down.... just not left or right.  That is really strange.  I have a suspicion though this is a Compiz conflict as I have edge detection ONLY on left/right borders set for the Compiz Cube... will try deactivating this and see what happens.

So, tasks remaining.
Test installer
Test AA
Test LAN networking

[Zebh]

posted on November 2nd, 2010, 2:38 pm

Last edited by Zebh on November 2nd, 2010, 2:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Compiz cube is probably causing the edge-detecting issue. I have that too when using Compiz, Metacity doesn't have that issue.

I tested the game with both Pulse Audio and ALSA drivers, and it crashed in both cases.

posted on November 2nd, 2010, 4:46 pm

if running fo/a2 in linux can be fixed then it might be possible to have them portable. Maybe put them in knoppix, or a similar portable usb distro and run them on any computer lol

posted on November 2nd, 2010, 8:10 pm

I have Puppy Linux on a USB key that may just be used for that... 

posted on November 3rd, 2010, 7:16 am

Confirmed it was Compiz conflicting with the edge detection.  I don't use this feature of Compiz anyway so disabled it and all was ok.

Didn't do anymore tests because I started playing a game... and couldn't stop 

posted on November 3rd, 2010, 2:13 pm

i have made changed already that may also fix some the problems that newer fleet operations versions have with wine

posted on November 3rd, 2010, 2:21 pm

I have sent a crash report

posted on November 3rd, 2010, 2:31 pm

yes, i have received it. these wine crash problems are already known.

posted on November 28th, 2010, 10:11 pm

Now if only Tunngle could install using wine (it gives one error message twice, the other three times, Tunngle does not install.)

posted on November 29th, 2010, 2:40 pm

i have heard that a tunngle client for linux is in development. you should be able to use it with a wine version too. however you are not able to use the tunngle client api with it then which means that you just have to use the lan button instead