linux noob ...what do i need to do to run CoH? sry for dumb questions.

[shortguy on indom]

as the heading says....

 

fresh linux mint (cinnamon) install:

• read that some folks use 'wine' to run the game
• others using 'lutris' to run the game

 

• so, i am supposed to download 'wine' and/or 'lutris' first..... then download 'homecoming install'?
• ....then open up 'wine' and/or 'lutris' and run the installer within those?... or are those just for playing the game?

 

liking the linux mint so far.  should have done this years ago.

 

thx .

 

[Luminara]

 

[shortguy on indom]

Thanks for that.

 

The above link was way above my linux knowledge... so this is how a linux noob got it to work without much fuss at all.

So this is how I installed the 'homecoming launcher' and CoH game on my linux mint (cinnamon) full version.. as of 11/02/2023:

*In mint, start/administration/software manager... search for and download 'wine'... there will be a choice in a dropdown to opt for 'app package' or whole thing.
I downloaded the whole thing and all the separate app packages to be safe....version 8.02 stable.  Clicked launch.

*Could not get this to work (wine) by itself, so I went back to start/administration/software manager... searched and downloaded 'winetricks.'
Clicked launch when done.  All good, winetricks is working.

*Next went to homecoming forum site to download the 'homecoming launcher.'
It downloads in the 'downloads folder' by default in mint.

*Next, open the start/administration/software manager... and click the "..." three dot thing and choose to open 'installed software.'

*Click and open the "winetricks.".... if it's not already running.

*Create a new folder in your C:/programs/game folder... i called mine 'hc launcher.'

*Locate the 'homecoming launcher' which you downloaded from the site, in your 'mint' downloads folder...
*Copy paste the 'homecoming launcher file into the folder you just made in 'winetricks.'

*All you need to do now is 'double-click' to open the 'homecoming launcher', and you should be all set, with internet connected.

*Works better after a restart of computer.

Hope it helps someone.

[uninventive]

Most concise instructions are here: https://homecoming.wiki/wiki/City_of_Heroes_on_Linux
 

Bullet list summary:

• Install Wine, create a wine prefix.
• Install Homecoming Launcher (Windows installer) in some folder inside that prefix.

That's it.  Helpers (winetricks, Lutris, etc.) for Wine are available but not required.  Neither is Mono or Gecko libraries when Wine asks to install those libraries in the prefix.  There's also a link to the Steam Deck install script from Faultline if you have one of those (also a Linux device) because Wine is already on the device in a custom install location.

Edited November 6, 2023 by uninventive

[shortguy on indom]

cool. thx for that.

 

I thought copy/pasting HC Launcher into winetricks was easy as well. 

No idea what you are referring to about 'pre-fix'.... I'm just starting out on linux mint.

Liking it a lot, can customize it to be whatever you want it to be without all the ridiculous bloatware of windows.

Starting to learn about the terminal commands and such.  Vcool.

 

may switch over to arch linux in the future once i am more confident in my terminal activity... but for now the 'mint' seems most windows like to get my toe in the linux water.

[Darth Killer]

Personally, I run CoH (as well as the maps overlay) in a bottle. Bottles is a tool that allows you to set up isolated WINE environments with ease, and send a shortcut to your desktop start menu

[uninventive]

Bottles is (are? Not sure because program name...) very handy for Flatpak running distros, like Arch, Manjaro and even the Steam Deck. 

 

The Ubuntu-based distributions a user would have to add that on first before they can use it, since those distros put their fortune in with Canonical's Snaps. (Most could be as simple as a command line job, but it's still a few lines to enter.)

 

The old XKCD joke about standards rears it's ugly head: 

Before - There are eight competing Linux App Packaging Standards.

Linux Users - This is terrible! Even Linus Torvalds says Linux apps are the worst! Windows and MacOS are easier by comparison to install apps with.  Something has to be done about this!

Today - There are now 13 competing Linux App Packaging Standards.

 

Circling back to Shortguy... if you figure out something that works for you, do it. 

 

There's always going to be someone (not Darth above, they're right for Arch-based installs...) on YouTube or Gaming Discords claiming that "X" distro and "Y" method is superior, and suggesting you start over to do it their way.  And of course, flushing what works to start over always runs the risk of "now it doesn't work anymore." Those videos are great for AAA gaming and FPS play.  To keep it candid, most methods to game on Linux won't eke out more performance than you already see out of what you're already doing... using Wine on a nearly 20 year old OpenGL game that's two years away from being able to drink.

Edited November 29, 2023 by uninventive