winepak [Official Site] is another interesting Wine-related project. One that aims to package up an assortment of Windows-only games that work in Wine using the power of Flatpak packages.
I'm not going to get into the politics of Snap vs Flatpak, mostly because I don't care for the arguments surrounding it and end-users shouldn't care as long as they work and work well.
Much like today's previous post about Track Mania Nations Forever having an easy to use Snap package, winepak seems to aim a bit higher and offer a repository of games. The advantage of using such packages (Snaps or Flatpaks), is that it should come with everything you need to get the Windows game running on Linux, without having to mess around with configurations. It's a new project though, so there's likely a fair amount of kinks to work out.
Their listed goals are simple:
- Package wine applications via flatpak
- Make installing and running applications Just Work
Currently it seems to offer: League of Legends, Path of Exile, Blizzard's BattleNet client along with, Overwatch, Starcraft II and World of Warcraft, World of Tanks and more. The full list can be found on GitHub here, although some don't work like Fortnite. Obviously, it does depend on Wine and what Wine build they include with each game.
Testing it myself, it seems that both League of Legends and World of Tanks had no issues with their launchers downloading, logging in and updating using this Flatpak method.
For those wondering how legal this is, well, it doesn't have to include any of the installers itself. It will just download them for you, so it's not actually redistributing stuff it's not supposed to.
Curiously, it seems the mind behind winepak, Julian Richen, is the same developer who we chucked some bucks some time ago to help re-design our website (which turned into our current theme). Always nice to see more from someone you've worked with before.
Will be fun to see how far this project goes, as I said it's early days yet. If projects like this can help bridge the gap, for people moving over to Linux so they don't lose access to some of their favourite games and have an easy way to play them—I'm all for it. It can help ease the transition until they become fully fledged Linux gamers. A lot of potential here.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
After all, Wine's biggest problem is that is simply doesn't "just work". There's always some fiddling around required.
That's look really cool to not have to tinker with wine anymore.There are three titles that work so far saw this on OMG ubuntu yesterday and mentioned it in the wine post but the games are overwatch fortnite and wow
Wait Fortnite is working on Linux ? I really want to play this one, i looked at winehq and its rated as "garbage".
I have not personally tested it so i couldnt say for sure but if wine is listed it as garabge i imagine if it works it doesnt work terribly well.
Last edited by Shmerl on 13 June 2018 at 4:00 pm UTC
Wait... Are they going to offer this to developers for purpose of Steam distribution? If so, sounds interesting. If not, I don't get it. How are they going to distribute Flatpaks of copyrighted titles?
They don't distribute titles, they just offer bundles where something is installed from a known isntaller that you provide. Same idea as PlayOnLinux scripts I suppose, except in Flatpak.
Wait... Are they going to offer this to developers for purpose of Steam distribution? If so, sounds interesting. If not, I don't get it. How are they going to distribute Flatpaks of copyrighted titles?
Possibly the way lutris does it you have to link your steam profile at some point so you can only play the games you have discs/steam licence for.
That's look really cool to not have to tinker with wine anymore.There are three titles that work so far saw this on OMG ubuntu yesterday and mentioned it in the wine post but the games are overwatch fortnite and wow
Wait Fortnite is working on Linux ? I really want to play this one, i looked at winehq and its rated as "garbage".
However there is a lutris script works the only warning is that only save the world mode works
Wait Fortnite is working on Linux ? I really want to play this one, i looked at winehq and its rated as "garbage".
Fortnite PvE used to work way back. Fortnite Battle Royal has (as far as I know) never worked due to BattlEye. And last time I checked, the Epic launcher stopped working, so I couldn't even check whether the non-BattlEye version for PvE was still a thing. Something may have changed, but I still doubt that it works.
Comandante Ñoñardo Jun 13, 2018
PlutonMaster Jun 13, 2018
I have Bioshock DRMFREE from Humble, How to WINepak it?
Well, that's the point. If it's not already winepaked, why do you need to winepak it? Just install it in regular fresh Wine prefix, it will take less time for you.
Last edited by Shmerl on 13 June 2018 at 4:37 pm UTC
That's a good idea, but my hope is that such functionality should be made official and implemented within Wine itself.Not quite... all software from this page Just Works (tm):
After all, Wine's biggest problem is that is simply doesn't "just work". There's always some fiddling around required.
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&sTitle=Browse+Applications&iappVersion-ratingOp0=5&sappVersion-ratingData0=Platinum&sOrderBy=appName&bAscending=true
buenaventura Jun 13, 2018
Well, no. My understanding is, Platinum means it works perfectly if you set the fiddly stuff correctly, not that you can ignore the fiddly stuff. In this discussion at least, I think people are using Just Works to mean you just click something and it installs properly and happens, rather than having to figure out how to configure it first.That's a good idea, but my hope is that such functionality should be made official and implemented within Wine itself.Not quite... all software from this page Just Works (tm):
After all, Wine's biggest problem is that is simply doesn't "just work". There's always some fiddling around required.
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&sTitle=Browse+Applications&iappVersion-ratingOp0=5&sappVersion-ratingData0=Platinum&sOrderBy=appName&bAscending=true
There is probably some Platinum stuff that Just Works in that second sense as well, but plenty that doesn't. So things like this, and PlayonLinux and so on, have always been welcome initiatives and I really hope at some point one becomes really solid--achieves critical mass so most stuff is there, and is easily maintainable so it doesn't rot.
Definition of the Wine Platinum ranking: "Applications which install and run flawlessly on an out-of-the-box Wine installation"Well, no. My understanding is, Platinum means it works perfectly if you set the fiddly stuff correctly, not that you can ignore the fiddly stuff. In this discussion at least, I think people are using Just Works to mean you just click something and it installs properly and happens, rather than having to figure out how to configure it first.That's a good idea, but my hope is that such functionality should be made official and implemented within Wine itself.Not quite... all software from this page Just Works (tm):
After all, Wine's biggest problem is that is simply doesn't "just work". There's always some fiddling around required.
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&sTitle=Browse+Applications&iappVersion-ratingOp0=5&sappVersion-ratingData0=Platinum&sOrderBy=appName&bAscending=true
There is probably some Platinum stuff that Just Works in that second sense as well, but plenty that doesn't. So things like this, and PlayonLinux and so on, have always been welcome initiatives and I really hope at some point one becomes really solid--achieves critical mass so most stuff is there, and is easily maintainable so it doesn't rot.
Gold is the one you described: "Applications that work flawlessly with some special configuration"
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