Head Over Heels - missing libX11.so.6 ?

**Carl H** · January 16th, 2014

I've just installed the Linux remake of Head Over Heels (all-time classic ZX Spectrum game) from here http://retrospec.sgn.net/games/hoh/

It's about 10 years old now, and I've previously installed it on loads of Linux distros over the years with no problem.

However, on my 64 bit Xubuntu 13.04, when I try to run it I get this error (HoH is the executable that the startup script runs) :- ./HoH: error while loading shared libraries: libX11.so.6: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

A quick search on the net shows that libX11.so.6 is in the package libX11-6, however apt-get install libX11-6 returns with libx11-6 is already the newest version.

So I already have the library that's missing - I've found it in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu

What do I need to do?

**mastablasta** · January 17th, 2014

is the game compiled for 64bit? if not then you need libraries to run 32bit programmes.: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/32bit_and_64bit

i didn't know they've made these for linux. i need to check them out.

**kostkon** · January 17th, 2014

Originally Posted by Carl H

A quick search on the net shows that libX11.so.6 is in the package libX11-6, however apt-get install libX11-6 returns with libx11-6 is already the newest version.

Try like that to get the 32bit version:

Code:

sudo apt-get install libx11-6:i386

**Carl H** · January 17th, 2014

Originally Posted by kostkon

Try like that to get the 32bit version:

Code:

sudo apt-get install libx11-6:i386

That's got it working, thank you! Unfortunately, there's no sound.... it was made in the days of OSS, and doesn't work with ALSA. Don't suppose there's any way to add OSS, is there?

BTW, this is by no means the first 64 bit distro I've played this game on, and none of the others needed 32 bit libraries installing. I've just checked on my Debian 7.3 box and the i386 libraries are there already. Must be an new-ish Ubuntu thing to remove them?

**kostkon** · January 17th, 2014

Originally Posted by Carl H

That's got it working, thank you! Unfortunately, there's no sound.... it was made in the days of OSS, and doesn't work with ALSA. Don't suppose there's any way to add OSS, is there?

Actually, there is. PulseAudio provides a utility that can "emulate" OSS for you, just run the game like this:

Code:

padsp game_executable

**Carl H** · January 17th, 2014

So close, but ...

ERROR: ld.so: object '/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/pulseaudio/libpulsedsp.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded: ignored.
Failed to initialise sound driver!
Insufficient digital voices available

**Carl H** · January 18th, 2014

Code:

sudo apt-get install pulseaudio-utils:i386 osspd:i386

This crashed and raised an error report, but running the game through padsp does produce sound now. The game sound effects seem more or less alright but the background music is a bit odd.

Thanks for your help, kostkon.