Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19

Thread: Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Beans
    6

    Question Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

    Hello,

    I don't currently have Ubuntu installed but I was wondering about playing some older & newer games on my PC once I do install Ubuntu 12.04. I really don't want to install it unless I can play these games. All of these games I have purchased as CDs unless otherwise stated.

    Here are the games I'd like to play-
    Zoo Tycoon 2 Ultimate Collection
    Zoo Tycoon 1
    Roller Coaster Tycoon Loopy Landscapes
    Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
    The Sims 3 (with all of the expansion packs) purchased through Origin (http://origin.com/)
    The Sims 1 Complete Collection *
    Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds Clone Campaigns
    Star Wars Battlefront 2 *
    Sim City 2000 & 3000 *
    Sea World Tycoon 3D
    Total Annihilation
    Deus Ex *

    The games with stars are not deal breakers when it comes to installing linux but I would like to have the option of installing them.

    I did use WINE in the past (as I installed Linux then reinstalled Windows for the games) but I couldn't get it to run Origin so I gave up. I would rather not dual boot my system as I want to settle on having one or the other. I would like to install linux so that I don't have to worry about viruses/trojans (at least not as much).

    I have the HP Pavilion p7-1534 with AMD vision graphics card. If you want to see more about it this is the link to where I purchased it-http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Pavilion...ion&cp=1&lp=13


    Here is my DxDiag. I literally just ran this as I am typing this post.
    ------------------
    System Information
    ------------------
    Time of this report: 9/7/2013, 12:45:55
    Machine name: ERIN-PC
    Operating System: Windows 8 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9200.win8_gdr.130531-1504)
    Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
    System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
    System Model: p7-1534
    BIOS: 8.14
    Processor: AMD A8-5500 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics (4 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
    Memory: 8192MB RAM
    Available OS Memory: 7576MB RAM
    Page File: 2809MB used, 5918MB available
    Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
    DX Setup Parameters: Not found
    User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
    System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
    DxDiag Version: 6.02.9200.16384 64bit Unicode
    DxDiag Previously: Crashed in Direct3D (stage 2). Re-running DxDiag with "dontskip" command line parameter or choosing not to bypass information gathering when prompted might result in DxDiag successfully obtaining this information


    ------------
    DxDiag Notes
    ------------
    Display Tab 1: No problems found.
    Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
    Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
    Input Tab: No problems found.


    --------------------
    DirectX Debug Levels
    --------------------
    Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
    DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
    DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
    DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
    DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
    DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
    DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)


    ---------------
    Display Devices
    ---------------
    Card name: AMD Radeon HD 7560D
    Manufacturer:
    Chip type:
    DAC type:
    Device Type: Full Device
    Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9904&SUBSYS_2AE0103C&REV_00
    Display Memory:
    Dedicated Memory: n/a
    Shared Memory: n/a
    Current Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)
    Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
    Monitor Model:
    Monitor Id:
    Native Mode:
    Output Type:
    Driver Name:
    Driver File Version: ()
    Driver Version:
    DDI Version:
    Feature Levels:
    Driver Model: WDDM 1.2
    Graphics Preemption: DMA
    Compute Preemption: DMA
    Driver Attributes: Final Retail
    Driver Date/Size: , 0 bytes
    WHQL Logo'd: n/a
    WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
    Device Identifier:
    Vendor ID:
    Device ID:
    SubSys ID:
    Revision ID:
    Driver Strong Name: oem6.inf:cb0ae414908b30cb:ati2mtag_Trinity_Desktop :8.982.10.0ci\ven_1002&dev_9904&subsys_2ae0103c
    Rank Of Driver: 00E00001
    Video Accel:
    DXVA2 Modes:
    Deinterlace Caps: n/a
    D3D9 Overlay:
    DXVA-HD:
    DDraw Status: Disabled
    D3D Status: Not Available
    AGP Status: Not Available


    -------------
    Sound Devices
    -------------
    Description: Speakers / Headphones (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
    Default Sound Playback: Yes
    Default Voice Playback: Yes
    Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_7676&SUBSYS_103C2AE0& REV_1001
    Manufacturer ID: 1
    Product ID: 100
    Type: WDM
    Driver Name: stwrt64.sys
    Driver Version: 6.10.6429.0000 (English)
    Driver Attributes: Final Retail
    WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    Date and Size: 10/12/2012 04:37:00, 543744 bytes
    Other Files:
    Driver Provider: IDT
    HW Accel Level: Basic
    Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
    Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
    Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
    HW Memory: 0
    Voice Management: No
    EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
    I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
    Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No


    Description: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
    Default Sound Playback: No
    Default Voice Playback: No
    Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_7676&SUBSYS_103C2AE0& REV_1001
    Manufacturer ID: 1
    Product ID: 100
    Type: WDM
    Driver Name: stwrt64.sys
    Driver Version: 6.10.6429.0000 (English)
    Driver Attributes: Final Retail
    WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    Date and Size: 10/12/2012 04:37:00, 543744 bytes
    Other Files:
    Driver Provider: IDT
    HW Accel Level: Basic
    Cap Flags: 0xF1F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
    Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
    Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
    HW Memory: 0
    Voice Management: No
    EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
    I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
    Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No


    ---------------------
    Sound Capture Devices
    ---------------------
    Description: Stereo Mix (IDT High Definition Audio CODEC)
    Default Sound Capture: Yes
    Default Voice Capture: Yes
    Driver Name: stwrt64.sys
    Driver Version: 6.10.6429.0000 (English)
    Driver Attributes: Final Retail
    Date and Size: 10/12/2012 04:37:00, 543744 bytes
    Cap Flags: 0x1
    Format Flags: 0xFFFFF


    -------------------
    DirectInput Devices
    -------------------
    Device Name: Mouse
    Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
    Vendor/Product ID: n/a
    FF Driver: n/a


    Device Name: Keyboard
    Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
    Vendor/Product ID: n/a
    FF Driver: n/a


    Device Name: USB Receiver
    Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
    Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC517
    FF Driver: n/a


    Device Name: USB Receiver
    Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
    Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC517
    FF Driver: n/a


    Device Name: USB Receiver
    Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
    Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC517
    FF Driver: n/a


    Device Name: USB Receiver
    Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
    Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC517
    FF Driver: n/a


    Poll w/ Interrupt: No


    -----------
    USB Devices
    -----------
    + USB Root Hub
    | Vendor/Product ID: 0x1022, 0x7809
    | Matching Device ID: USB\ROOT_HUB
    | Service: usbhub
    | Driver: usbhub.sys, 2/2/2013 06:19:44, 496872 bytes
    | Driver: usbd.sys, 9/20/2012 02:55:32, 21736 bytes


    ----------------
    Gameport Devices
    ----------------


    ------------
    PS/2 Devices
    ------------
    + HID Keyboard Device
    | Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC517
    | Matching Device ID: HID_DEVICE_SYSTEM_KEYBOARD
    | Service: kbdhid
    | Driver: kbdhid.sys, 7/25/2012 21:28:49, 29184 bytes
    | Driver: kbdclass.sys, 7/26/2012 00:00:52, 48368 bytes
    |
    + HID-compliant mouse
    | Vendor/Product ID: 0x0461, 0x4D0F
    | Matching Device ID: HID_DEVICE_SYSTEM_MOUSE
    | Service: mouhid
    | Driver: mouhid.sys, 3/1/2013 21:15:53, 26112 bytes
    | Driver: mouclass.sys, 7/26/2012 00:00:55, 45808 bytes
    |
    + HID-compliant mouse
    | Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC517
    | Matching Device ID: HID_DEVICE_SYSTEM_MOUSE
    | Service: mouhid
    | Driver: mouhid.sys, 3/1/2013 21:15:53, 26112 bytes
    | Driver: mouclass.sys, 7/26/2012 00:00:55, 45808 bytes


    ------------------------
    Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
    ------------------------
    Drive: C:
    Free Space: 809.2 GB
    Total Space: 946.2 GB
    File System: NTFS
    Model: WDC WD10EZEX-60ZF5A0


    Drive: H:
    Model: hp DVD A DH16ACSHR
    Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.02.9200.16384 (English), 7/25/2012 21:26:36, 174080 bytes


  2. #2
    ibjsb4 is offline Ubuntu addict and loving it
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Beans
    4,987

    Re: Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

    I do not do games, but a search on "Zoo Tycoon linux" came up with this:

    http://zootekphoenix.com/forums/inde...showtopic=5388

    Also an easier way (at least easier for me) is to use "play on linux" instead of just wine.

    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PlayOnLinux

    Its in the software center, and also in the software center for old dos apps:

    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DOSBox

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Beans
    6

    Re: Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

    Okay, does "play on linux" work better than wine?

    Thanks for the links!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Sweden
    Beans
    307
    Distro
    Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr

    Re: Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

    PoL is "just" an manager that does Wine-stuff for you.

    Normally with Wine you have a .wine -folder in your home-folder. Everything you install in Wine ends up in the same Windows-env. under /home/user/.wine.
    PoL creates a .playonlinux -folder, and with each new Windows-app installed thorough POL a new Windows-env (in a new folder) gets created below .playonlinux.

    Each Windows-env. is called a Wineprefix, and using wine you can create any amount and anywhere, but it's more complex using wine. So you'r best of using PlayOnLinux, or CrossOver (not free, but good).

    In PoL make sure you install each new game in it's own wineprefix, you can choose that during the install-process. Having different games (that req. different settings to work) in the same prefix can mess up things for you.
    Think of each Wineprefix as yet another Windows-computer, it has C:\ and perhaps other partitions as well. Just like in Windows.


    And you'r computer is more than capable to play any of those games you'r listed, old age can be good as the chance is higher that someone has written a PoL-script for it.

    Good luck!
    Last edited by DarkAmbient; September 7th, 2013 at 09:10 PM.
    This is my signature

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Norwich CT
    Beans
    2,659
    Distro
    Ubuntu Mate

    Re: Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

    I am a purchaser of Crossover Pro from CodeWeavers, and I have found that some Windows games work better with PlayOnLinux than Crossover. I don't mind, since Crossover sales help fund Wine development, which makes it money well spent IMHO. PlayOnLinux, of course, is free.

    I drink my Ubuntu black, no sugar.
    Ubuntu user 28819

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    /Europe/Netherlands
    Beans
    378
    Distro
    Kubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

    Have you tried any of them? I had mixed succes with Roller Coaster Tycoon 1 and 2 on Wine. For RCT1 I needed a patch, RCT2 was fine without patches. I did notice that the game started to slow down with higher number of guests in the park (> 1000) on Windows there was no slowdown in that stage. It's unlikely that you get that whole list to run flawless, there will always be some issues. Dual booting is certainly not ideal but it's still the best option for gamers I'd say. As the games on your list are old a Windows VM with hardware acceleration might work too for some of them.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Beans
    6

    Re: Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

    Quote Originally Posted by DarkAmbient View Post
    PoL is "just" an manager that does Wine-stuff for you.

    Normally with Wine you have a .wine -folder in your home-folder. Everything you install in Wine ends up in the same Windows-env. under /home/user/.wine.
    PoL creates a .playonlinux -folder, and with each new Windows-app installed thorough POL a new Windows-env (in a new folder) gets created below .playonlinux.

    Each Windows-env. is called a Wineprefix, and using wine you can create any amount and anywhere, but it's more complex using wine. So you'r best of using PlayOnLinux, or CrossOver (not free, but good).

    In PoL make sure you install each new game in it's own wineprefix, you can choose that during the install-process. Having different games (that req. different settings to work) in the same prefix can mess up things for you.
    Think of each Wineprefix as yet another Windows-computer, it has C:\ and perhaps other partitions as well. Just like in Windows.


    And you'r computer is more than capable to play any of those games you'r listed, old age can be good as the chance is higher that someone has written a PoL-script for it.

    Good luck!
    That is really confusing but if that works, I'm sure I could deal with it.

    Quote Originally Posted by oldrocker99 View Post
    I am a purchaser of Crossover Pro from CodeWeavers, and I have found that some Windows games work better with PlayOnLinux than Crossover. I don't mind, since Crossover sales help fund Wine development, which makes it money well spent IMHO. PlayOnLinux, of course, is free.
    Quote Originally Posted by Euroman View Post
    Have you tried any of them? I had mixed succes with Roller Coaster Tycoon 1 and 2 on Wine. For RCT1 I needed a patch, RCT2 was fine without patches. I did notice that the game started to slow down with higher number of guests in the park (> 1000) on Windows there was no slowdown in that stage. It's unlikely that you get that whole list to run flawless, there will always be some issues. Dual booting is certainly not ideal but it's still the best option for gamers I'd say. As the games on your list are old a Windows VM with hardware acceleration might work too for some of them.
    Yeah, I wasn't looking for flawless...Just as long as it works. My current Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds stops responding while I play so I just keep saving...I don't care about that.
    I really just want them to run.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Ohio
    Beans
    465
    Distro
    Kubuntu

    Re: Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

    Quote Originally Posted by dudethatserin View Post
    That is really confusing but if that works, I'm sure I could deal with it.
    It sounds harder than it is, really. (Mostly because DarkAmbient is describing what PoL does for you) PoL does a lot of the Wine configuration in the background, and all you really need to do is go through a set of dialog boxes to help install each game.

    A good resource for these games would be the Wine AppDB. Click on "Browse Apps", then search for the name of the game, and see how people are rating it, what tweaks that had to do to make it run right, etc.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Sweden
    Beans
    307
    Distro
    Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr

    Re: Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

    Sorry if I confused you, a basic understanding of how Wine and Wine-prefixes works can help a lof if you run into trouble.

    But as mentioned, PoL handle that for you.

    I use CrossOver myself, for my Heroes of Might and Magic -games. But they'd probably work just as well using PoL.
    This is my signature

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa

    Re: Playing older PC games on Ubuntu

    windows games are best played in widnows. trouble is even some older windows and dos games don't work in new windows. sometimes they do in linux or you need a virtual mashcine anyway (even in windows).
    Read the easy to understand, lots of pics Ubuntu manual.
    Do i need antivirus/firewall in linux?
    Full disk backup (newer kernel -> suitable for newer PC): Clonezilla
    User friendly full disk backup: Rescuezilla

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •