Gaming in / on Linux

[Altster]

I left Winderz because of broken promises made by them (M$oft) regarding their software working AND properly updating (no further discussion needed here).

So now I miss my flight simulator that I was using (FSX) since it won't run on Linux Mint 17.3. Yes there are (supposedly) other flight sims which will work on Linux, but I've yet to find one that will run (comfortably.)

So anyone out there have any ideas about this? I'd be appreciative for suggestions.

Oh and BTW, I do still support Winder$ here at home and at my clients locales. I can't get people to move away from it.

 

[Markverhyden]

Have you been over to WinHQ? Plenty of gamer's there.

And yes, I do not bash M$ much. Without their incredibly complicated and insecure OS's I'd have to work part time else where to make a living. LOL!!!

And I do think there is prejudice in the dev world when dealing with major software companies. After all you can get Tux Racer for Windoze.

 

[Altster]

Unfortunately (for me at this time at least) FSX won't work with any flavor of Linux (that I can find). Sure, FlightGear is supposed to work with Linux but it is so danged sensitive in the way it works with Linux (I've tried - unsuccessfully I might add.) And there are other (good) sims which "might work with a release of "pure" Ubuntu ???."

I just can't satisfy my craving for a good Flight simulator with the options I have at my disposal (including my physical hardware.)

I've got an old Windows XP computer in the other room that I used before I moved up to my current desktop. I may drag it out and use it for the games that I'm missing - if only to satisfy that crave for those older games, etc.

 

[NJW]

Sure, FlightGear is supposed to work with Linux but it is so danged sensitive in the way it works with Linux (I've tried - unsuccessfully I might add.)

What have you tried? Flightgear is in the Mint repositories, so

sudo apt install flightgear

will install it and give you a menu entry to start it.

Admittedly, it's an older version (v3.0.0 for Mint 17; v3.4.0 for Mint 18; latest is 2016.4.3, but you will have to build it yourself) and it has limited support files (scenery, aircraft, ...), but it works fine. There is a PPA for newer versions if you want to try them.

 

[Altster]

What have you tried? Flightgear is in the Mint repositories, so

sudo apt install flightgear

will install it and give you a menu entry to start it.

Admittedly, it's an older version (v3.0.0 for Mint 17; v3.4.0 for Mint 18; latest is 2016.4.3, but you will have to build it yourself) and it has limited support files (scenery, aircraft, ...), but it works fine. There is a PPA for newer versions if you want to try them.

Try using a Logitech Extreme 3D joystick with it and see how much fun you have trying to get that Cessna 172 off the ground.

Then report back to me with your findings.

NOTE to the Admins..... I've already visited the FlightGear website / forums for this issue. And believe me, it is a MAJOR issue that I'm sure has turned many people away from this game. It does the same thing even when using FG with Windoze.

 

[NJW]

I don't have a joystick, I'm just flying with mouse & keyboard. However ...

I've already visited the FlightGear website / forums for this issue.

Have you seen, for example, this thread? The system-wide joystick profile is in /usr/share/games/flightgear/Input/Joysticks/Logitech/extreme-3d-pro.xml but it can probably go somewhere under ~/.fgfs/ for per-user override to the system default (not tested).

This is open-source software – find a better solution and contribute it.

 

[Altster]

Have you seen, for example

No I hadn't but will certainly look into it!

Thanks for the info. Time to re-install and see what happens.

 

[LordIntruder]

user-based configurations are always higher in the priority than system-wide ones if we talk about linux. And because of the fact that user-based configurations are always kept in directories with a leading dot in their names. You will not see them in dolphin or other file explorer (the leading dot makes them invisible... so if you want to hide the directory with your favorite pr0n you know what to do next *evil grin*) if you doesn't check "show invisible directories and files" in the config of your favorite file manager. If you were looking from a terminal, "ls -a" is your friend.
Any changes in configurations should be done in the user's configuration files when using linux because that's the preferred way.

 

[Altster]

user-based configurations are always higher in the priority than system-wide ones if we talk about linux. And because of the fact that user-based configurations are always kept in directories with a leading dot in their names. You will not see them in dolphin or other file explorer (the leading dot makes them invisible... so if you want to hide the directory with your favorite pr0n you know what to do next *evil grin*) if you doesn't check "show invisible directories and files" in the config of your favorite file manager. If you were looking from a terminal, "ls -a" is your friend.
Any changes in configurations should be done in the user's configuration files when using linux because that's the preferred way.

Yep, I've done a lot of work in the CLI - set up an Ubuntu server many years ago and had to learn how to use the CLI and also NANO (my preferred text editor.)

"Crtl-h" in Linux Mint 17.3 will show the hidden folders - has come in handy, too!

@NJW - been flying with the keyboard and am still quite disappointed unless I first start with the autopilot set to hold heading and keep the wings level. I'm thinking now that I might try to re-compile the source code on my unit to see if it helps with the operation of program. Haven't done this yet, though.

 

[NJW]

been flying with the keyboard and am still quite disappointed unless I first start with the autopilot set to hold heading and keep the wings level. I'm thinking now that I might try to re-compile the source code on my unit to see if it helps with the operation of program.

Well, I'm the novice of novices – I only started looking at Flightgear last Sunday, with a view to helping someone move off XP, and I have nothing to compare it with. Never used a flight sim.

I think keyboard scanning is probably too slow for flight controls. It's fine for, e.g., throttle, brakes, etc. that aren't split-second critical. I'm using the mouse for yoke control (and ground steering with left-button down), but it's very touchy. I suspect that the mouse calibration is still set on 1990s mouse resolution and a modern device has a much higher pulse rate (wag). However, I can now manually take off and climb to a couple of thousand feet without crashing, though I'm getting through sick-bags quite fast. I did compile the current version (2016.4.3) from git sources – see Flightgear wiki – and it behaves exactly the same.

I suspect that Flightgear responds very accurately to control inputs, but that the control inputs it receives are pretty wild (same with your joystick experiences). Incidentally, there's a section on joystick calibration under Linux in the Flightgear wiki.

 

[Your PCMD]

So your no in tuned to Wine?

 

[Altster]

So your no in tuned to Wine?

Wine won't work for my application unfortunately. I've already checked their database for information regarding FSX.

 

[LordIntruder]

Just one question: FSX == M$ Flight Simulator X? If yes then it should work with wine otherwise I am just too stupid to interprete what i read here

 

[Altster]

oK, so I was doing some reading up on why I couldn't get wine to install on my system and after trying to "fix" the issue(s) all I did was manage to "hose the O/S."

No boot anymore.

So now I sit here using my HP laptop (Windows 7 on it,) communicating this all of you while downloading PCLinuxOS64-mate.iso. It's a learning experience that's for sure and once I have my desktop back up and running Linux I'll come back and let you know.

 

[Altster]

Ok, I'm back up and running with Linux Mint 18 this time. I was able to properly install and setup wine this time (with gecko and mono.) I've also added some proggies I had the first time around with some others. I still have Virtual Box to load and I'm sure I've left some other good things out.