Nightdive have responded to reports of users being unable to play their Wine-bundled Linux build of System Shock 2.
The SteamOS icon to indicate Linux support has been removed from the store page, which hopefully will be temporary. This isn't the usual situation of a developer removing support, since Nightdive have supported Linux quite well with ports. In this case, the game was never actually ported to Linux since Nightdive said themselves they "didn't have the source code for the game".
Speaking about it, they said how they've been aware of the issue for some time now, having spent a lot of time trying to solve it and nothing they've tried has worked. They think it was an update to Steam itself that has caused it, as they've tried older versions and none now seem to work.
At this point, I'm at a loss on what to do. This version of the game was created by a third-party, well known (at the time, we were told) for their excellent WINE ports. We didn't have the source code for the game, so this was the only route we could go in.
A few months ago, we were able to get in contact with somebody who is VERY well versed in porting games to Linux (15+ year experience at this point). I asked them to take a look at the game, and they couldn't work out what the problem was. That also soured things.
They might look into a portable version of Proton and put that up if it's possible. The obvious problem with relying on Steam Play, is they don't get to advertise any Linux support until Valve eventually add Steam Play somehow on store pages.
They said they will try to fix it and they have a few options to explore. It's nice to see them really put effort into it. On that note, user dubigrasu already mentioned a fix they tried still works so perhaps they will look into that too.
See their full post here.
Hat tip to mphuZ.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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15 comments
Userwithaname Nov 2, 2018
Is it really worth using a version of Proton that's frozen in time just to get the store to claim that it's built for Linux? It just makes it seem like the game has Linux support when it really doesn't. It's odd that the developers now have to choose between better Proton support and a Linux/SteamOS logo on their store page.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: UserwithanameIs it really worth using a version of Proton that's frozen in time just to get the store to claim that it's built for Linux? It just makes it seem like the game has Linux support when it really doesn't. It's odd that the developers now have to choose between better Proton support and a Linux/SteamOS logo on their store page.Well, it's also about control isn't it and stability. If they get a version that works and works well, then ideally you want that to stick don't you. You don't want random updates to Steam Play to come along and break it a couple times a year.
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Userwithaname Nov 2, 2018
Quoting: liamdaweYes, but on the other hand, what if the version of Proton they use becomes incompatible with Steam in the future? Then they will be in the exact same situation.Quoting: UserwithanameIs it really worth using a version of Proton that's frozen in time just to get the store to claim that it's built for Linux? It just makes it seem like the game has Linux support when it really doesn't. It's odd that the developers now have to choose between better Proton support and a Linux/SteamOS logo on their store page.Well, it's also about control isn't it and stability. If they get a version that works and works well, then ideally you want that to stick don't you. You don't want random updates to Steam Play to come along and break it a couple times a year.
1 Likes, Who?
I wonder if they have a source code of the game. Perhaps Icculus would make a native Linux port of it .
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Yeah, I guess I was being optimistic about using a stable Proton version and sticking to that. If they find the issue though with Steam though, what I said still applies.
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Quoting: KayKay91I wonder if they have a source code of the game. Perhaps Icculus would make a native Linux port of it .For System Shock 2 the source code specifically doesn't exist and that's why the Wine port was made. And I think it's a case of _nobody_ having the SS2 source code, nobody apparently kept tabs on it.
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The Wine wrapper I made for it still works fine though :p
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Quoting: GuestAbsolutely. I think "Proton" (I _still_ can't not use quotes for that name!) is probably a good target to test against, even for GOG releases, because it is something that Valve will theoretically support, and has less chance of updates and/or changes breaking things. Plus, it is open source, so there's no reason particular release tags can't be downloaded, compiled, and used. Or official wine releases. Or both.
I just quickly tested System Shock 2 with Proton 3.16-3 using my wrapper. It looks like it works but I wouldn't recommend it as it doesn't seem to perform any differently from regular Wine except that you can't change the display gamma if it's too dark/too bright (it does this by changing the system's display gamma settings, but this is not allowed by Proton).
It's good that Proton doesn't allow the display resolution to be changed since that can be a huge PITA but it would be nice if there was some way of configuring it to still allow display gamma changes, as there are a lot of games that need to do this - even some newer games.
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I remember trying to make work this game and I was able to run it.
Here are my game launch options:
I had to add LD_LIBRARY_PATH due to some missing library. As far I can see, I have two symlinks:
Worth mention: Ubuntu 18.04 with Mesa 18.2.2
Here are my game launch options:
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$HOME/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/SS2/bin LIBGL_DRI3_DISABLE=1 %command%I had to add LD_LIBRARY_PATH due to some missing library. As far I can see, I have two symlinks:
libsteam.so -> $HOME/.steam/ubuntu12_32/libsteam.so
libX11.so.6 -> $HOME/.steam/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime/i386/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libX11.so.6Worth mention: Ubuntu 18.04 with Mesa 18.2.2
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Well my wrapper scripts are all MIT-licensed anyway, so if ND wants to adopt it as the basis for an official release then they are free to do so :)
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Quoting: GuestAh well, I would like a way to prevent all the games (under Wine or not) from changing the gamma! Don’t touch my gamma!! :p
Hence it would be nice to have as an option that can be enabled/disabled on a per-game basis (and overridden by the user)... display gamma changes are much less of a problem than changing display resolution though. Just use xgamma to restore the original setting & it's all fine, whereas something changing the display resolution can really screw things up depending on the desktop environment, drivers etc.
Currently I work around it in my scripts by having them record the initial gamma settings on startup and then restore it after Wine exits (and for Proton wrappers for games that normally alter the system's display gamma their scripts include an option to preset the gamma to work around the inability to change it ingame).
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Quoting: PatolaIs this the old problem with g17_wine which conflicts with fontconfig 2.12 on Ubuntu and other distributions? Because if it is, I've mentioned it a lot of times and it also screws up Enclave, Jagged Alliance, Gorky 17, Two Worlds and a number of other titles.
Do these people fear engaging the linux community for help? For a number of these winewrapped games I tried to help on the forums and ask the developers, and had no responses, like if they weren't even trying. In the case of System Shock 2 there was no FAQ, nothing about that problem, and I was kind of convinced to return the game.
g17 is a version used by GOG and Topware wrappers, System Shock2 is using crossover.
The problem is with a Steam update that rendered it unusable (both original and the patched versions).
They are working on it though, as of right now there's a beta branch that works for me without issues (tried only on Ubuntu 18.04 so far).
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TheLinuxPleb Nov 2, 2018
It works for me after fiddling. I just think it's ridiculous to have a wine game in the store and advertise that as Linux. It's bullshit and think that it only gives Nightdive worse reputation. Kind of a dumb move from them from the beginning if you ask me.
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Quoting: ImnotarobotIt works for me after fiddling. I just think it's ridiculous to have a wine game in the store and advertise that as Linux. It's bullshit and think that it only gives Nightdive worse reputation. Kind of a dumb move from them from the beginning if you ask me.Are you using the beta branch?
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Quoting: ImnotarobotIt works for me after fiddling. I just think it's ridiculous to have a wine game in the store and advertise that as Linux. It's bullshit and think that it only gives Nightdive worse reputation. Kind of a dumb move from them from the beginning if you ask me.
There's nothing wrong with Linux releases of old games using Wine wrappers; it's little different to old games using DOSBox, or more recent games with some of VP's eON ports. The important things are that it works like a Linux game, runs well and is actually supported.
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