SH4 on Steam, Running Linux

BarracudaUAK · 07-26-16, 05:10 PM

Before I start (again).
If you are running it on another linux distro, or a Mac, and have anything to note:
glitches, errors, or tricks to get SH4 -Steam version or not- to run, by all means, please, post 'em up.

-----------------

Running SH4 via Steam, through WINE on Linux.
currently on Fedora 23 x86_64, WINE 1.9.12, With FGLRX (Crimson 15.12) drivers.

EDIT: Now on Fedora 24 x86_64, WINE 1.9.17, with Kernel 4.6.6 and FGLRX (Crimson 15.12) drivers
I'm running through a 32bit "prefix", since steam tries to install DirectX9. I have yet to try running through a 64bit "prefix".

SH4 will install, and run.

The Museum will load and you can manipulate the view, etc. without trouble.
The menus all work as they should. (Based on what a menu item SHOULD do, not what it may in fact do in windows.)

I started a new game, and played the first patrol in a Gar class. (the Gar to be exact). All works well except the models for head/eyes are a bit off, giving them a 'creepy' look, especially in the red light for night time.
WINE 1.9.17: This no longer occurs with V1.5, This problem was also NOT present in 1.9.12 with V1.5 of the game. Probably a V1.3 glitch, and not a WINE bug.

Loading a save game near shore can, but not always will, move docked ships slightly. After several loads over several hours to creep into, and out of, a harbor, the Heavy Cruiser (previously sunk) was sittitng in the middle of the nearby town. Other ships were unchanged (Both sunk and not).
WINE 1.9.17: No update to this, I haven't gone into a harbor lately.

As far as patching the game to version 1.4...

I keep getting a "No previous version installed" error on from the patch .exe when it tries to update.
A bit of digging via google, and very few can get it to work. (even in windows.)
So I started investigating , and there are no Registry entries for SH4.
I think this is why the patch fails to install.

I found a steam related install file with the Registry entries for SH4 (in the main SH4 directory), and I manually added them (not including the steam entries) to the registry with wine's REGEDIT, and still could not get the patch to work.

WINE 1.9.17: I have not attempted to install the V1.4 patch since I got the Uboat addon (which is V1.5), So I have no further information on this.

Everything I can find in all my searching suggest that the best way to update SH4 is to get the Uboat mission addon (v1.5) and it automatically patches it.
Which unfortunately is additional $.

---1.5---
I got the Uboat addon, I have (still) yet to run a Uboat.

High TC near land (above 1024-15xx) can make my system "chug" a little with heavy traffic.
Which is probably a limitation of the 32bit nature of the game.
(I know the system is more than enough.)

My first 'career', started in V1.3, kept crashing on the 2nd 'patrol' as I moved away from land. No warnings at all. I started it after I updated to 1.5, but I was "in port" so that should not have caused any problems, it may ultimately be the cause.

A new 'Career' plays fine, several 'patrols' into this one and all is good.

---I also noticed a few graphical errors:
When depth charges are dropped, you can see the splashes, but not the explosion effects. Torpedoes, although they cause the water splash, do not show any "foam" similar to SH3.---

I found the reason for the problem, the "particles" slider in the Graphics Options menu was turned all the way down. I moved it all the way to the right, and now I get fire and bubbles when depth charges go off, and same for torpedoes as well.

---

Barracuda

BarracudaUAK · 07-27-16, 01:45 AM

I'm putting all relavent "current" info in the first post. As I figure it out.

Barracuda

propbeanie · 07-27-16, 06:43 PM

I'm not remembering hardly ANY of my Linux days, but in Windows, the SH4.exe file is often set to "Read Only". I do remember that Linux had *way* stronger security and even more file attributes than Windows, so check that, and if possible, get rid of the "Read Only", and see if it won't update after that... maybe. Computers can be so frustrating, eh?... |;^)

BarracudaUAK · 07-27-16, 11:12 PM

I checked, SH4.exe is only set to "archive".

And the "drive" is a directory in my /home/[login-name] directory, so as far as linux is concerned, I "own" it all, so I can read/write/execute any file on the "drive".

thanks for the suggestion...

Barracuda

BarracudaUAK · 09-16-16, 12:58 AM

Edited to show the most recent updates concerning the "playability" of SH4.
I do plan on going into more detailed steps concerning getting steam installed, and SH4 installed. Although there are MANY (Better) "HOWTO"s out there concerning that.

A quick request (IF possible): Could an Admin or Moderator change the title to :

"SH4 on Steam, Running Linux/WINE"

Since I am using WINE, but WINE works on a Mac also.
It's just a "compatibility layer" for Windows programs to run on UNIX/Linux based Operating Systems.

Barracuda

Gray Lensman · 09-16-16, 03:22 AM

When my current portable computer needs replacing, I'll be replacing it with a Linux/Wine capable computer. There is no way I'm buying any computer with a Windows Op system newer than Win7.

My wife bought one of those new laptops that came with Windows 10 on it (Toshiba something or other) and then asked me to help her set it up. After 2 frustrating days, I got it to working good enough for her to use. (she doesn't game), but never could get it to recognize an Epson Stylus C88+ printer. I even called Epson for help with a stand alone driver and they said they don't support standalone drivers anymore. They have to be loaded thru Windows 10. That does it for Epson also. I presume I'll have to shop/buy a printer supported by standalone drivers for a computer running Linux/Wine?

07-26-16, 05:10 PM	#1
BarracudaUAK Captain Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 520 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	SH4 on Steam, Running Linux/WNE Before I start (again). If you are running it on another linux distro, or a Mac, and have anything to note: glitches, errors, or tricks to get SH4 -Steam version or not- to run, by all means, please, post 'em up. ----------------- Running SH4 via Steam, through WINE on Linux. currently on Fedora 23 x86_64, WINE 1.9.12, With FGLRX (Crimson 15.12) drivers. EDIT: Now on Fedora 24 x86_64, WINE 1.9.17, with Kernel 4.6.6 and FGLRX (Crimson 15.12) drivers I'm running through a 32bit "prefix", since steam tries to install DirectX9. I have yet to try running through a 64bit "prefix". SH4 will install, and run. The Museum will load and you can manipulate the view, etc. without trouble. The menus all work as they should. (Based on what a menu item SHOULD do, not what it may in fact do in windows.) I started a new game, and played the first patrol in a Gar class. (the Gar to be exact). All works well except the models for head/eyes are a bit off, giving them a 'creepy' look, especially in the red light for night time. WINE 1.9.17: This no longer occurs with V1.5, This problem was also NOT present in 1.9.12 with V1.5 of the game. Probably a V1.3 glitch, and not a WINE bug. Loading a save game near shore can, but not always will, move docked ships slightly. After several loads over several hours to creep into, and out of, a harbor, the Heavy Cruiser (previously sunk) was sittitng in the middle of the nearby town. Other ships were unchanged (Both sunk and not). WINE 1.9.17: No update to this, I haven't gone into a harbor lately. As far as patching the game to version 1.4... I keep getting a "No previous version installed" error on from the patch .exe when it tries to update. A bit of digging via google, and very few can get it to work. (even in windows.) So I started investigating , and there are no Registry entries for SH4. I think this is why the patch fails to install. I found a steam related install file with the Registry entries for SH4 (in the main SH4 directory), and I manually added them (not including the steam entries) to the registry with wine's REGEDIT, and still could not get the patch to work. WINE 1.9.17: I have not attempted to install the V1.4 patch since I got the Uboat addon (which is V1.5), So I have no further information on this. Everything I can find in all my searching suggest that the best way to update SH4 is to get the Uboat mission addon (v1.5) and it automatically patches it. Which unfortunately is additional $. ---1.5--- I got the Uboat addon, I have (still) yet to run a Uboat. High TC near land (above 1024-15xx) can make my system "chug" a little with heavy traffic. Which is probably a limitation of the 32bit nature of the game. (I know the system is more than enough.) My first 'career', started in V1.3, kept crashing on the 2nd 'patrol' as I moved away from land. No warnings at all. I started it after I updated to 1.5, but I was "in port" so that should not have caused any problems, it may ultimately be the cause. A new 'Career' plays fine, several 'patrols' into this one and all is good. ---I also noticed a few graphical errors: When depth charges are dropped, you can see the splashes, but not the explosion effects. Torpedoes, although they cause the water splash, do not show any "foam" similar to SH3.--- I found the reason for the problem, the "particles" slider in the Graphics Options menu was turned all the way down. I moved it all the way to the right, and now I get fire and bubbles when depth charges go off, and same for torpedoes as well. --- Barracuda Last edited by BarracudaUAK; 09-16-16 at 01:13 AM. Reason: updating post as I work through this.

07-27-16, 01:45 AM	#2
BarracudaUAK Captain Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 520 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	I'm putting all relavent "current" info in the first post. As I figure it out. Barracuda Last edited by BarracudaUAK; 07-27-16 at 02:15 PM.

07-27-16, 06:43 PM	#3
propbeanie CTD - it's not just a job Join Date: May 2016 Location: One hour from Music City USA! Posts: 10,117 Downloads: 451 Uploads: 2	I'm not remembering hardly ANY of my Linux days, but in Windows, the SH4.exe file is often set to "Read Only". I do remember that Linux had way stronger security and even more file attributes than Windows, so check that, and if possible, get rid of the "Read Only", and see if it won't update after that... maybe. Computers can be so frustrating, eh?... \|;^) __________________ "...and bollocks to the naysayers" - Jimbuna

09-16-16, 12:58 AM	#5
BarracudaUAK Captain Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 520 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Edited to show the most recent updates concerning the "playability" of SH4. I do plan on going into more detailed steps concerning getting steam installed, and SH4 installed. Although there are MANY (Better) "HOWTO"s out there concerning that. A quick request (IF possible): Could an Admin or Moderator change the title to : "SH4 on Steam, Running Linux/WINE" Since I am using WINE, but WINE works on a Mac also. It's just a "compatibility layer" for Windows programs to run on UNIX/Linux based Operating Systems. Barracuda Last edited by BarracudaUAK; 09-16-16 at 01:14 AM.

07-27-16, 11:12 PM	#4
BarracudaUAK Captain Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 520 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	I checked, SH4.exe is only set to "archive". And the "drive" is a directory in my /home/[login-name] directory, so as far as linux is concerned, I "own" it all, so I can read/write/execute any file on the "drive". thanks for the suggestion... Barracuda

09-16-16, 03:22 AM	#6
Gray Lensman Frogman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 308 Downloads: 104 Uploads: 0	When my current portable computer needs replacing, I'll be replacing it with a Linux/Wine capable computer. There is no way I'm buying any computer with a Windows Op system newer than Win7. My wife bought one of those new laptops that came with Windows 10 on it (Toshiba something or other) and then asked me to help her set it up. After 2 frustrating days, I got it to working good enough for her to use. (she doesn't game), but never could get it to recognize an Epson Stylus C88+ printer. I even called Epson for help with a stand alone driver and they said they don't support standalone drivers anymore. They have to be loaded thru Windows 10. That does it for Epson also. I presume I'll have to shop/buy a printer supported by standalone drivers for a computer running Linux/Wine?