Can't get Creatures 2 to run.

[TestingLinux2]

I hope someone here can help me out.

I installed Creatures 2 with Lutris (GOG) and that worked without a problem, but when I start the game no windows actually opens. I only see the a symbol of the game for a few seconds on the right side of the bar and then it's gone.

Code: Select all

https://lutris.net/games/creatures-2/

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.8.0-49-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.2.0 clocksource: tsc
  Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.2.9 tk: GTK v: 3.24.41 wm: Muffin v: 6.2.0 vt: 7 dm: LightDM v: 1.30.0
    Distro: Linux Mint 22 Wilma base: Ubuntu 24.04 noble
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: B450 TOMAHAWK MAX (MS-7C02) v: 1.0
    serial: <superuser required> uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends LLC. v: 3.F0
    date: 07/23/2022
CPU:
  Info: 8-core model: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D bits: 64 type: MT MCP smt: enabled arch: Zen 3+ rev: 2
    cache: L1: 512 KiB L2: 4 MiB L3: 96 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2821 high: 4450 min/max: 2200/4549 boost: enabled cores: 1: 2200 2: 3559
    3: 4450 4: 4450 5: 3560 6: 2200 7: 2200 8: 2200 9: 2200 10: 3559 11: 2200 12: 2200 13: 2200
    14: 3560 15: 2200 16: 2200 bogomips: 108805
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Navi 22 [Radeon RX 6700/6700 XT/6750 XT / 6800M/6850M XT] vendor: Tul / PowerColor
    driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: RDNA-2 pcie: speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: DP-1,DP-2
    empty: DP-3,HDMI-A-1,Writeback-1 bus-ID: 28:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:73df class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6 driver: X: loaded: amdgpu
    unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,radeon,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 4480x1440 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 1185x381mm (46.65x15.00")
    s-diag: 1245mm (49.01")
  Monitor-1: DP-1 mapped: DisplayPort-0 pos: primary,left model: AOC AG241QG4 serial: <filter>
    res: 2560x1440 dpi: 123 size: 527x396mm (20.75x15.59") diag: 659mm (26") modes: max: 2560x1440
    min: 720x400
  Monitor-2: DP-2 mapped: DisplayPort-1 pos: right model: VG245 serial: <filter> res: 1920x1080
    dpi: 92 size: 531x299mm (20.91x11.77") diag: 609mm (24") modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0 drv: radeonsi device: 1 drv: swrast
    surfaceless: drv: radeonsi x11: drv: radeonsi inactive: gbm,wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: amd mesa v: 24.0.9-0ubuntu0.2 glx-v: 1.4
    direct-render: yes renderer: AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (radeonsi navi22 LLVM 17.0.6 DRM 3.57
    6.8.0-49-generic) device-ID: 1002:73df
  API: Vulkan v: 1.3.275 layers: 7 surfaces: xcb,xlib device: 0 type: discrete-gpu driver: N/A
    device-ID: 1002:73df device: 1 type: cpu driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD Navi 21/23 HDMI/DP Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: 16 GT/s
    lanes: 16 bus-ID: 28:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:ab28 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: AMD Starship/Matisse HD Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    pcie: speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 2a:00.4 chip-ID: 1022:1487 class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Texas Instruments PCM2902 Audio Codec driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
    type: USB rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 1-2:2 chip-ID: 08bb:2902 class-ID: 0300
  API: ALSA v: k6.8.0-49-generic status: kernel-api
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.5 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    RTL8111/8168/8411 driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: f000
    bus-ID: 22:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp34s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-1: docker0 state: down mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-2: surfshark_ipv6 state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: <filter>
  IF-ID-3: surfshark_wg state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: N/A
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 5.46 TiB used: 1.55 TiB (28.4%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 980 PRO 1TB size: 931.51 GiB speed: 63.2 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 3B2QGXA7 temp: 36.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sda vendor: Crucial model: CT1000MX500SSD1 size: 931.51 GiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 033 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdb vendor: Crucial model: CT2000MX500SSD1 size: 1.82 TiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 046 scheme: GPT
  ID-4: /dev/sdc vendor: Crucial model: CT2000MX500SSD1 size: 1.82 TiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 023 scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 915.32 GiB used: 587.42 GiB (64.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 511 MiB used: 6.1 MiB (1.2%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/sda1
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 file: /swapfile
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 10 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-2:2 info: Texas Instruments PCM2902 Audio Codec type: audio,HID
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid interfaces: 4 rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 08bb:2902 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: 1-4:3 info: Microsoft Xbox360 Controller type: <vendor specific> driver: xpad
    interfaces: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 power: 500mA chip-ID: 045e:028e class-ID: ff00
    serial: <filter>
  Device-3: 1-6:4 info: MCT Elektronikladen QUADRO type: HID driver: aquacomputer_d5next,usbhid
    interfaces: 2 rev: 2.1 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 power: 2mA chip-ID: 0c70:f00d class-ID: 0300
    serial: <filter>
  Device-4: 1-8:5 info: Razer USA Basilisk V3 type: mouse,keyboard,HID driver: hid-generic,usbhid
    interfaces: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 power: 500mA chip-ID: 1532:0099 class-ID: 0300
  Device-5: 1-9:6 info: CHERRY G83 (RS 6000) Keyboard type: keyboard driver: hid-generic,usbhid
    interfaces: 1 rev: 2.0 speed: 1.5 Mb/s lanes: 1 power: 100mA chip-ID: 046a:0011 class-ID: 0301
  Hub-2: 2-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 4 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s lanes: 1 chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-3: 3-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-4: 4-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 4 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s lanes: 1 chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 50.8 C mobo: N/A gpu: amdgpu temp: 46.0 C mem: 44.0 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A gpu: amdgpu fan: 0
Repos:
  Packages: 2731 pm: dpkg pkgs: 2708 pm: flatpak pkgs: 23
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https: //dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb https: //ftp-stud.hs-esslingen.de/pub/Mirrors/packages.linuxmint.com wilma main upstream import backport
    2: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb http: //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http: //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ noble-security main restricted universe multiverse
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera-stable.list
    1: deb https: //deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam-beta.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam-stable.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64,i386 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/steam.gpg] https: //repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam
    2: deb-src [arch=amd64,i386 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/steam.gpg] https: //repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/surfshark.list
    1: deb https: //ocean.surfshark.com/debian stretch main
Info:
  Memory: total: 32 GiB available: 31.26 GiB used: 4.56 GiB (14.6%)
  Processes: 421 Power: uptime: 1h 54m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep wakeups: 0
    hibernate: platform Init: systemd v: 255 target: graphical (5) default: graphical
  Compilers: gcc: 13.2.0 Client: Unknown python3.12 client inxi: 3.3.34

Any ideas how to get it working? I'm new to Linux and have no idea how to move forward to fix the problem.

Thanks in advance.

[Teadrinker]

Hello and welcome.

First usually gaming on Linux (for newer games that use OpenGL and later) is very easy, so please do not feel overwhelmed when reading the below! Some games may require some tweaking to work on Linux (and these are the exceptions, usually it is not this hard!)
Still, it is also possible to just install a Windows VM to play older titles like Creatures 2... I know this does not look beginner friendly... sorry for that.

Now let the wall of text begin!!

you can try to acquire logs to see what is happening. In Lutris, you can right click on the game -> Show logs. Now press Play and see if anything of use can be seen in there. If not, maybe click on Wine icon on the bottom -> Wine Configuration -> set to oldest Windows version possible. You can also try downloading older Lutris runners (Wine 6 versions and older) and see what happens.

although on ProtonDB, two people have tried and failed to run it on Linux, on WineDB it is confirmed to run but with some bugs (last time it was tested with Wine 3.3 which is very old). To run it:

You still have to run the game in Xephyr, because of the 16bit color requirements and you have to make sure Wine is using GDI as its DirectDraw implementation (OpenGL will just crash the application)

But since Xephyr is discontinued, I'm not sure what can be done. Maybe you can try older Lutris versions (older than 0.5.11. you can simply download the source code of any lutris version, then go to the downloaded folder -> bin -> lutris). Also the other part, I also don't know how to do it, but found this on Codeweavers forums through googling (but don't use it yet, see below):
Click on Wine icon -> wine registry -> HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> wine -> now if entries named "Direct3D" -> "DirectDrawRenderer" do not exist, create them yourself (case sensitive) -> Inside DirectDrawRenderer create (or set if already existed) "String value" to "gdi".

But I think this method in Codeweavers forum maybe outdated, since it seems after Direct3D, there is now a "renderer" entry which can be set to "gdi". So first do this, if didn't work, try Codeweavers method:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> wine -> Direct3D -> renderer -> (edit and set to) gdi

Important: after either method, you will need to use this in the Command prefix of System Options (right click on game -> Configure -> System Options -> enable advanced settings -> Command prefix under the table) so vulkan-based DXVK is disabled:

Code: Select all

env WINEDLLOVERRIDES="*d3d9,*d3d10,*d3d10_1,*d3d10core,*d3d11,*dxgi=b"

Lastly, there is a Creatures Wiki which has a guide for Linux but for Creatures 1. For Creatures 2, it seems you may need to install and use a game engine?

The only option for running Creatures 2 without Windows seems to be the highly experimental openc2e.

Still we know it is not true as Wine 3.3 has been able to run this game. Only 2 things are needed:
1- 16-bit mode (use old Lutris with Xephyr support).
2- Make Wine use GDI.

At this point, installing a Windows VM could also be considered an easier option! If you needed any help with steps above, feel free to tell us.

[TestingLinux2]

Click on Wine icon -> wine registry -> HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> wine -> now if entries named "Direct3D" -> "DirectDrawRenderer" do not exist, create them yourself (case sensitive) -> Inside DirectDrawRenderer create (or set if already existed) "String value" to "gdi".

But I think this method in Codeweavers forum maybe outdated, since it seems after Direct3D, there is now a "renderer" entry which can be set to "gdi". So first do this, if didn't work, try Codeweavers method:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> wine -> Direct3D -> renderer -> (edit and set to) gdi

Can you tell me if it did it correctly?



I first tried them both on their own and then together. All three options didn't work for me. I took the screenshots after attempt 3, which why you can see both in the screenshots.
I know a lot of German, but things like the Type should be the same as in English.
Not sure if the "folders" are correct and same with the new entries.

Protocal says the following:

Code: Select all

Started initial process 2863 from gamemoderun /home/ichtestedasmal/.var/app/net.lutris.Lutris/data/lutris/runners/wine/wine-ge-8-26-x86_64/bin/wine /home/ichtestedasmal/Games/gog/creatures-2/drive_c/GOG Games/Creatures 2/start.exe
Start monitoring process.
gamemodeauto: 
fsync: up and running.
wine: RLIMIT_NICE is <= 20, unable to use setpriority safely
Monitored process exited.
Initial process has exited (return code: 0)
Exit with return code 0

And according to the GitHub openc2e doesn't sound to be valid option. Creatures don't work yet and Creatures 2 without creatures seems pointless.
Was already having a look how it would work. Sounds like an interesting idea.

Even if I can't get Creatures 2 to run, atleast I already learnt a lot about what is possible with Lutris/WINE. So thanks.

[Teadrinker]

Can you tell me if it did it correctly?

You are almost there. First I confirm that the "renderer" method works. No need for "DirectDrawRenderer" so you can delete it.
Now please delete "renderer" and re-create it. Then, right click on it -> new -> string value -> name it "gdi". No need for any other modification like this image:


Then, please go to Lutris and right click on the game -> Configure.

In System Options please add that env variable inside Command prefix:


In Runner Options disable everything (except fsync and esync, maybe try disabling these 2 one by one to see if the game works).


Now please try again and hopefully it works!

[TestingLinux2]

Now please try again and hopefully it works!

No joy.

First I tried with only fsync and esync enabled, then fsync only, then only esync enabled and at the end everything disabled.

Then I tried it again with different "windows versions" (Wine Configuration) - didn't make a difference.

[Teadrinker]

What about the 16 bit mode using Xephyr? Also enabled that?

[TestingLinux2]

What about the 16 bit mode using Xephyr? Also enabled that?

When you said that is was discontinued, I thought that wasn't an option anymore.

I just tried to turn on the option and it says Xephyr can't be found. Looks like it might be because I have it installed as Flatpak. I used it because it was newer than the system package. Sounded good for gaming.

I might try the .deb from their GitHub page later on and see if it works with that.

[Teadrinker]

BTW I'm sorry... I forgot one important step that had to be done BEFORE everything else... one needs to specify a prefix directory for a game in order for Lutris to apply custom Runner Options. Any directory can work. You can create a folder on Desktop and choose it. If Wine Prefix is empty, it is possible none of the changes you had done are even applied (I'm not 100% sure though): right click on the game -> Configure -> Game Options -> choose a Wine Prefix directory.
Then do all the steps again lol... (since this new Wine prefix is created with default settings)...
sorry again...

I might try the .deb from their GitHub page later on and see if it works with that.

It is discontinued only in newer versions of Lutris, you can download the source code of old versions of Lutris and simply run the downloaded binary by using ./lutris or even double click it. It is inside Lutris/bin/ folder (it does not need any compilation).

I admire your patience... many who are new to Linux, if faced with these difficulties, would go back to Windows!! Normally for most games you can just press Play! These difficulties are exceptions.

[TestingLinux2]

Then do all the steps again lol... (since this new Wine prefix is created with default settings)...
sorry again...

No worries. It's a journey but one with lots of knowledge to be gained.

I admire your patience... many who are new to Linux, if faced with these difficulties, would go back to Windows!! Normally for most games you can just press Play! These difficulties are exceptions.

I'm testing Linux right now and it was clear to be that not everything is going to smooth sailing. Although most stuff just works fine.
I chose a few games of mine to try them on Linux and this is one of them. It's older and probably not mainstream so it was expected to be possibly more challenging. Even if it's not going to work in the end, the knowledge gained is going to help a lot with future problem.

So back to the problem/game at hand:
So I added the folder redid everything and get this error window:

Code: Select all

Translation: Specifically: Datei nicht gefunden. -> ...: File not found.

I guess that is progress and game icon on the right side of the bar stays there now. So i guess it's running, but nothing to see.
So clever me thought, let's have a look if the file is acutally in the folder - yes it is. Both .exe-files are in the same folder.

I also tried to use the launcher.exe as the executable/starter (no idea how to translate it) and get no error and nothing happens.
But the protocol shows the following:

Code: Select all

Started initial process 800 from gamemoderun env WINEDLLOVERRIDES=*d3d9,*d3d10,*d3d10_1,*d3d10core,*d3d11,*dxgi=b /home/ichtestedasmal/.var/app/net.lutris.Lutris/data/lutris/runners/wine/wine-ge-8-26-x86_64/bin/wine /home/ichtestedasmal/Games/gog/creatures-2/drive_c/GOG Games/Creatures 2/launcher.exe
Start monitoring process.
gamemodeauto: 
gamemodeauto: 
fsync: up and running.
wine: RLIMIT_NICE is <= 20, unable to use setpriority safely
Monitored process exited.
Initial process has exited (return code: 13568)
Exit with return code 13568

I already switch back from launcher.exe to the original start.exe in the settings. I just thought that it was worth a try.

[Teadrinker]

I also tried to use the launcher.exe as the executable/starter (no idea how to translate it) and get no error and nothing happens.

So nothing changed? You still got this error before when you tried game.exe?

Translation: Specifically: Datei nicht gefunden. -> ...: File not found.

I wonder why file cannot be found... it is not even trying to start at this point. I agree with you, it seems it is looking for "Launcher.exe"! (thank you for your detailed responses btw)
Is there any text file/script in the folder?

I already switch back from launcher.exe to the original start.exe in the settings. I just thought that it was worth a try.

I was just about to suggest that lol.

[TestingLinux2]

So nothing changed? You still got this error before when you tried game.exe?

No the error message only appeared since using the prefix folder.

Is there any text file/script in the folder?

I don't see any .bat, .sh or something like that.
The Tips.txt in it's variations only describe how the game works. Same with Manual.pdf and Help.chm.

goggame-1207662243.info:

Code: Select all

{
    "gameId" : "1207662243",
    "rootGameId" : "1207662243",
    "standalone" : true,
    "dependencyGameId" : "",
    "language"         : "English",
    "name"             : "Creatures 2",
    "playTasks"        : [
        {
            "isPrimary" : true,
            "type"      : "FileTask",
            "path"      : "start.exe",
            "workingDir" : ""
        }
    ],
    "supportTasks"     : [
        {
            "name" : "Support",
            "type" : "URLTask",
            "link" : "http://www.gog.com/en/support/creatures_the_albian_years"
        },
        {
            "name" : "Manual",
            "type" : "FileTask",
            "path" : "Manual.pdf",
            "workingDir" : ""
        }
    ]
}

goglog.ini:

Code: Select all

[1207662243_dircopy]
Files=1
File_0=C:\users\ichtestedasmal\Documents\Creatures\Creatures 2\World.sfc
[1207662243]
Dirs=1
Dir_0=C:\users\ichtestedasmal\Documents\Creatures\Creatures 2

[TestingLinux2]

So, I installed the system package of Lutris, did all the steps again, plus also trying Xephyr.

I first tried as is and then also not in fullscreen. Both 16bit and also 24bit (just in case).



In both case it's just black with possibly the beginng of window in the top left side. Plus of course the already known window with the error message.



So Xephyr doesn't seem to be the solution.

[Teadrinker]

I think you should try to launch the game with "launcher.exe" as "start.exe" fails to even locate the game files...
However since you said "launcher.exe" results in nothing, I think this means game is now reading all the files and then trying to launch but fails. The original user who ran this game on Wine, used a very old version (3.3)... so our last option could be to somehow acquire Wine 3.3 lol. Many would call us insane if we try to do so...

You can go here for Wine 3.3 to download and then to compile it, you will need to first install a billion libraries (also called the Wine Dependency Hell)... at the end you will most likely lose any sanity you have left... . Then to compile: ./configure and then make (but do not use "make install" lest Mint loses its sanity too!) and finally a wine binary will be created inside bin folder (where you downloaded wine). Now you have a local Wine 3.3 build that can be introduced to Lutris as "Custom Wine Executable" (Configure -> Runner Options) to be used instead of default Lutris Wine...
At this point if you have not turned into the joker, you have to re-apply all of the changes to Wine registry (for activating "gdi") as before lol. Then you can finally press Play and see that it won't work and you will definitely turn into the joker...

Alternatively you can try a Windows VM.

Another option is to keep the current Wine, but try to know why it is failing. Activate wine debug log to find the root problem it is failing. Use this in the Command Prefix section at the end of the previous command (space separated):

Code: Select all

WINEDEBUG="+timestamp,+pid,+tid,+seh,+debugstr,+module"

Now if you see the game logs (right click -> show logs), you can copy it and paste here. Also you can show this log to someone with experience/knowledge or even file a bug report with it to Wine developers or discuss it in Wine forums... I'd even try reporting it in Proton git as this log is basically equivalent to PROTON_LOG=1 so it is possible proton devs can also help you...

[TestingLinux2]

I tried the debug thing.

But the log is over a million characters and over 200kb - so can't post it here.

Code: Select all

Your message contains 1416324 characters.
The maximum number of allowed characters is 60000.

I'm not sure if it's ok to post links to some filehost. If it's allowed I could upload it somewhere and post the link here.

EDIT: I just thought about compressing the file. Gonna probably open a thread on the wine forum tomorrow.
EDIT2: I started a thread in the wine forum, but it's still awaiting approval. Will post the link here, ones approved.

[Teadrinker]

Don't worry about long log files... it is normal. Your log is exactly 9999 lines btw lol.

There is only one error in your log file (in line 2455):

Code: Select all

49845.523:0060:0080:err:hid:udev_bus_init UDEV monitor creation failed

I searched a little and indeed this is a fatal error (as opposed to harmless errors)... BTW this is with "launcher.exe" right?

I wonder why it didn't occur to me earlier, but there is actually Proton 3.16 and Proton 3.7 available for download on Steam (which use Wine 3) that you can download and install (Steam -> Library -> search for "proton") and add your game as a non-steam game, then choose 3.16 from the proton menu... this way you now have Wine 3! Then you can apply the gdi change to it as follows:

1. First choose Proton 3 and then press Play once so its wine prefix is created. it will be inside /.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/[a very large number] (Please open this directory before pressing Play to see which new folder is created after play is pressed).
2. Then open a terminal and access the prefix regedit to apply the gdi change:

   Code: Select all

   WINEPREFIX="$HOME/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/[a very large number]" regedit

3. Now restart Steam.
4. Finally add the env variables inside the Launch Options in Steam to disable DXVK:

   Code: Select all

   PROTON_LOG=1 WINEDLLOVERRIDES="*d3d9,*d3d10,*d3d10_1,*d3d10core,*d3d11,*dxgi=b" gamemoderun %command%

   alternatively you can also try this instead (PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 also disables DXVK but above method is possibly more guaranteed to work... I'm not sure):

   Code: Select all

   PROTON_LOG=1 PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 gamemoderun %command%

5. Now press Play... you are now using Wine 3 with gdi set as renderer as WineHQ recommended...

[TestingLinux2]

This the link to the wine thread:

Code: Select all

https://forum.winehq.org/viewtopic.php?t=39759

I'm going to try the steam thing later.

And the log was not with launcher.exe. But can do that too, when I try the steam thing

EDIT: I tried the Steam, no visible improvement. And I attached the log out of Lutris - running the Launcher.exe.

[Teadrinker]

I saw your Wine topic. It would've been better if you included the error pictures too I think (and also this latest log). As you can see your log is already downloaded by 63 people in there!

Also from your new log, this is useful:

Code: Select all

err:module:import_dll Library mfc42.dll (which is needed by L"Z:\\home\\ichtestedasmal\\Games\\gog\\creatures-2\\drive_c\\GOG Games\\Creatures 2\\launcher.exe") not found

You can solve this in Lutris by right clicking on the game -> pop out Wine menu -> winetricks -> choose the default prefix -> install a dll file -> find "mfc42.dll" in the list (alphabetically sorted) and install it. Then again try to run the game with launcher.exe and please include the log as well...

[TestingLinux2]

I saw your Wine topic. It would've been better if you included the error pictures too I think (and also this latest log). As you can see your log is already downloaded by 63 people in there!

Yeah posting the pictures would have been better. But I can't edit the post anymore. I already had made a second post for the new log, but that one is still awaiting approval.

Also from your new log, this is useful:

Code: Select all

err:module:import_dll Library mfc42.dll (which is needed by L"Z:\\home\\ichtestedasmal\\Games\\gog\\creatures-2\\drive_c\\GOG Games\\Creatures 2\\launcher.exe") not found

You can solve this in Lutris by right clicking on the game -> pop out Wine menu -> winetricks -> choose the default prefix -> install a dll file -> find "mfc42.dll" in the list (alphabetically sorted) and install it. Then again try to run the game with launcher.exe and please include the log as well...

Thank you, this resulted in a big change.
There is actually a window that opens. You can see the first window, where you choose your world/savegame.

Code: Select all

OK starts the savegame; "Spiel erstellen" would create a new savegame.

Then a new window opens, unfortunately also with an error message.

Code: Select all

Translation: An error occurred at program start.Creatures 2 possibly doesn't function correctly. Please restart the computer and try again.

When clicking OK the game closes.

A new world/savegame results in the same problem.

I attached the new log - it's the biggest yet.

And a big thanks to you for sticking with me through all this.

[Teadrinker]

No problem bro!
So it has launched! Did you try activating Xephyr 16 bit mod as well?
Also it is possible new Wine cannot run it and Wine 3 could be needed... then we need to use Proton 3.7 or 3.16 and run the game with it. you need to go to prefix in Steam and install "mfc42.dll" there as well...

Code: Select all

WINEPREFIX="$HOME/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/[a very large number]" winetricks mfc42

if this error still occured using Proton 3, then look for a log file of the game itself to know why it is failing. Your latest Lutris log is again showing the "UDEV monitor" error as before so it won't help us. But since game itself is now able to run, there could be a game log either inside the prefix or in the game folder where launcher.exe is located...

[Teadrinker]

I did some search in GOG forums and indeed Creatures 2 is notorious for being unable to run even on Windows!!

The original version of Creatures 2 and its Albian Years counterpart will run on Windows 2000, Windows Millenium Edition and Windows XP, but not on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10

Apparently there are already some fixes to play this on Windows 10. Maybe you already know these:

1. DX Wrapper (maybe set winecfg to Win 10 if wanted to try)

   When using dxwrapper, the game may fail to load several times in a row with various weird errors. Ignore these.

2. A community patch.
3. A Remastered patch!
4. Another registry edit could possibly be needed:

   Looks like one of the issues is that there is a key called "Loading Flags" in the registry. For some reason, when this is set to 0, the game always crashes for me.

   Code: Select all

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Gameware Development\Creatures 2\1.0]
   "Loading Flags"=dword:00000001" 

Lastly, in case all else failed, there is one final hope as well!
https://github.com/openc2e/openc2e