Suggestions for running Windows games inside Linux

[ICMike]

Have tried wine without success. I do not wish to pursue a wine solution.

Have tried VirtualBox and although it runs surprisingly well, it does not do 3D games very well. Even after enabling 3D effects, installing Virtualbox guest additions and trying a different video card, I have not been able to get Age of Empires 2 or Rise of Nations to work. Most likely some of the Directx or OpenGL functions aren't working. I realize the Virtualbox guest additions are labeled "experimental" but they aren't working for my configurations.

Does anyone have any suggestions for another FREE virtual OS program that supports 3D effects?

[Vistaus]

Re: Suggestions for running Windows games inside Linux

Age of Empires 2 works fine here under Wine, so I don't see that problem.

[Snowhog]

Re: Suggestions for running Windows games inside Linux

Does anyone have any suggestions for another FREE virtual OS program that supports 3D effects?

When running an OS inside of a VM (Virtual Machine), the real GPU is 'virtualized' as well. A virtual GPU doesn't have the 3D capabilities of the real GPU. That is why 3D games usually don't/won't run on a compatible OS running in a VM.

[oshunluvr]

Re: Suggestions for running Windows games inside Linux

You can try vmware rather than virtualbox, but since both these games don't run perfectly using the preferred linux way to run a windows program (wine), maybe you should just dual-boot and forget about it.

Vistus: If you have Age running perfectly - you should post over at WineHQ AppsDB. No one there posted it above silver

[ICMike]

Re: Suggestions for running Windows games inside Linux

I've tried all the suggestions for installing Age of Empires under wine
http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManage...ication&iId=99
but they do not work for me. I'm guessing my video cards are not compatible.

While I understand the virtual machine concept, has anyone got 3d working under vmware?

[oshunluvr]

Re: Suggestions for running Windows games inside Linux

http://alromero.posterous.com/runnin...n-virtualbox-3

From what I read about Age of Empires, it works perfectly in vbox since version 2.1. If you do some more web searching, I bet you can find what you need to do.

Sorry, I don't have those games or I'd be more help

[Yuri sss]

Re: Suggestions for running Windows games inside Linux

I've tried all the suggestions for installing Age of Empires under wine
http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManage...ication&iId=99
but they do not work for me.

The latest Wine 1.3.4 works just fine for me, on Lucid as well as on Maverick with latest Catalyst 10.10 from the repos
https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-wine/+archive/ppa

Install winetricks as well, then use winetricks d3dx9 to install the DreckX 9 runtimes.

I'm guessing my video cards are not compatible.

The old low-end GeFarce card could indeed be a problem.

[Vistaus]

Re: Suggestions for running Windows games inside Linux

@Yuri: I don't think so. Age of Empires 2 needs a videocard of 64 mb at minimum, so his videocard is good enough.
@oshunlvr: Will file a test report on WineHQ ASAP.

[ICMike]

Re: Suggestions for running Windows games inside Linux (Solved)

Thanks all. I've tried all your suggestions, most of which I had already tried once before but no go. Thanks Vistaus for filing a report on winehq. Let me see if I can find another video card.

For anyone interested PlayOnLinux works fine to install and run Age of Empires III. PlayOnLinux is a fronted to wine which does all the configuring for you. It's available in the repo's.