EQ2 on Ubuntu or other Linux/Unix Platforms

[NerissaRavenHeart]

I am just curious to know if the EQ2 team @ Sony are possibly thinking about making EQ2 available to the general public who use Linux/Unix/Ubuntu and other platforms of unix to be able to play everquest through that particular operating system. That would be a great round about and flexible addition to be able to play on a linux box. Just a thought and idea, don't know if anyone else would enjoy the fact of being able to play on their unix boxes or not. I would.Nerissa<div></div>

[Rijacki]

As much as -I- would love it....I think they would cross platform to OSX first.. but I don't know how successful the Mac version of EQ1 was, but it was also on it's own unconnected servers.But..... I would -love- EQ2 on q *nix. I think, though, the big issue is the graphics engine..<div></div>

[Maranatha]

Throw another vote in the hat for Linux-based EQ2.  Would jump at the opportunty.<div></div>

[Corasik]

<div></div><p>EQ1's graphics engine had alot of openGL in it, because the original release of EQ1, had full support for Voodoo2 Graphics cards using GLide. So it wouldnt surprise me if the Mac version of EQ1 was GL based.</p><p>On the other hand EQ2's graphics engine is pure DX9, it would probably envolve a complete rewrite of the client to be compatible, and as EQ2's client gets updated most patches, the other platforms would probably have to play on their own servers, and always be a patch or two behind the main servers.</p><p>Probably not a big enough market to be cost effective for SOE to bother with.</p>

[Wingrider01]

<div></div><div></div><blockquote><hr>Corasik wrote:<div></div><p>EQ1's graphics engine had alot of openGL in it, because the original release of EQ1, had full support for Voodoo2 Graphics cards using GLide. So it wouldnt surprise me if the Mac version of EQ1 was GL based.</p><p>On the other hand EQ2's graphics engine is pure DX9, it would probably envolve a complete rewrite of the client to be compatible, and as EQ2's client gets updated most patches, the other platforms would probably have to play on their own servers, and always be a patch or two behind the main servers.</p><p>Probably not a big enough market to be cost effective for SOE to bother with.</p><hr></blockquote><p>Don;t recall opengl support at all in eq1, original client support glide and directx, glide was removed abot 2 years into the release of eq1. right now it is pure directx now.</p><p>It would probably require a huge market share to even be considered, since it would require a complete rewrite of the graphic routines in th client. Still cannot get it to run in the transgamer package, where that runs eq1 with no issues</p><p>Message Edited by Wingrider01 on <span class="date_text">04-08-2006</span><span class="time_text">09:15 AM</span></p>

[demetrius77]

<div></div><p>I know you can play WOW with linux, but don't know for EQ2 but i don't think so.</p><p>You could always check the site of a company that trys to make directX games compatible on linux machines.</p><p>I'm unluckily at work now and don't know the URL from it.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

[WAPCE]

I would love such a release (EQ2 is the only reason I reboot into Windows currently, other than the periodic Word-specific resume update), but I don't see it ever happening. In addition to the time-consuming task of porting everything from DX9, there's simply no RoI on such a move. Everyone that currently plays the game does so on Windows, and the number of people that don't play the game because it's only available on Windows _and_ would pay for and play the game extensively on Linux has to be very small.<p>Message Edited by WAPCE on <span class="date_text">04-08-2006</span><span class="time_text">04:48 PM</span></p>

[Cyber_Cowb]

An old guildy of mine (in guild Clan of the Damned on Blackburrow server, I'm no longer with them, so can't get exact post) stated he DID get it to work w/ WINEX but took massive tweaking....  I'd love to see it as well.... how bout it devs? any chance you'd work with the WINEX group to get this working?<div></div>

[demetrius77]

<div>I also know that SWG worked on Linux but also with a lot of tweaking :smileysad:</div>

[Corasik]

<div>Well, unless I am much mistaken GLide was a subset of OpenGL, and while not 100% compatible, converting a GLide engine to OpenGL would be easy compared to converting a DirectX game.</div>

[demetrius77]

<div></div><div>found the site. Check out www.transgaming.com</div>

[Wingrider01]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>demetrius77 wrote:<div></div><div>found the site. Check out www.transgaming.com</div><hr></blockquote>EQ1 works fine on their subsystem, have been using it for about 3 years, still have not been able to get eq2 working on it yet

[Wingrider01]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Cyber_Cowboy wrote:An old guildy of mine (in guild Clan of the Damned on Blackburrow server, I'm no longer with them, so can't get exact post) stated he DID get it to work w/ WINEX but took massive tweaking....  I'd love to see it as well.... how bout it devs? any chance you'd work with the WINEX group to get this working?<div></div><hr></blockquote>IIf he/she did, a lot of us would love ot know exactly what he or she did to do this, have not seen anyone else state they got it working yet. Have them post a general explination of how they did this

[Solaran_X]

<div></div><div></div><blockquote><hr>Rijacki wrote:As much as -I- would love it....I think they would cross platform to OSX first.. but I don't know how successful the Mac version of EQ1 was, but it was also on it's own unconnected servers.But..... I would -love- EQ2 on q *nix. I think, though, the big issue is the graphics engine..<div></div><hr></blockquote><p>All the new Macs with the Intel processors (pretty much everything made after January of this year) are now able to be loaded with a new program (by Apple) called 'Boot Camp' that lets you load a fresh copy of Windows XP on to the Macs to run alongside/overtop OSX. And starting in fall (I believe), all new Macs are shipping with 'Boot Camp' as a standard part of the OS.</p><p>Personally, I never liked unupgradable disposable computers that cost more than an upgraded computer.</p><p>EDIT:</p><p><a href="http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/</a></p><p>Enjoy. If only we can convince Macintosh to let people actually upgrade and/or build their own Apple systems. Then they'd definately get above a 3% market share (most of which are schools that get Macintoshs almost for free).</p><p>Message Edited by Solaran_X on <span class="date_text">04-09-2006</span><span class="time_text">04:28 PM</span></p>

[NerissaRavenHeart]

I like the MAC and all but soon as Microsoft started touching them and stuffing there product in them is when I turned the other cheek. As far as I know since they have stuck their product in the MACS it's needed more patches than it ever has before. Pfft.Masuimi<div></div>

[Pins]

<blockquote><hr>Corasik wrote:<div>Well, unless I am much mistaken GLide was a subset of OpenGL, and while not 100% compatible, converting a GLide engine to OpenGL would be easy compared to converting a DirectX game.</div><hr></blockquote>GLide is a propriatary 3D Rendering system, similiar to OpenGL, but completely non-standard and only supported by the Voodoo cards.

[Ceruline]

<div></div><p>I *highly* doubt there will ever be a native release of EQ2 for a *nix platform.</p><p>I could see a possibility of making changes especially to make it play nice with WINE though...</p>

[NerissaRavenHeart]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>demetrius77 wrote:<div></div><div>found the site. Check out www.transgaming.com</div><hr></blockquote>I've read forums that says that doesn't work with EQ2 at the moment so many conflicts and issues that it just wont work. I may be wrong but I believe that it wont.Masuimi</span></div>

[Corasik]

<div>Actually I checked up on GLide, its a stripped down version of openGL, designed to be 'easy to implement in hardware' using the features most 'suitable for gaming'. Written specifically for the Voodoo graphics cards. There was even a miniGL wrapper which could sit ontop of Glide, to make it even closer to openGL, which is what Quake used.</div><div> </div><div>From what I can tell converting a GLide game to OpenGL is relatively straightforward. While converting a Direct3D game to OpenGL would be a complete engine rewrite.</div>

[NerissaRavenHeart]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>Corasik wrote:<div>Actually I checked up on GLide, its a stripped down version of openGL, designed to be 'easy to implement in hardware' using the features most 'suitable for gaming'. Written specifically for the Voodoo graphics cards. There was even a miniGL wrapper which could sit ontop of Glide, to make it even closer to openGL, which is what Quake used.</div><div> </div><div>From what I can tell converting a GLide game to OpenGL is relatively straightforward. While converting a Direct3D game to OpenGL would be a complete engine rewrite.</div><hr></blockquote>Which would be a LOT of work not to mention a lot of headaches with debugging when the time came or when things went sour. =(Masu</span></div>

[ksux]

I've used Transgaming before with moderate success.  Some games it works great, some are buggy, and some just plain don't work.  I haven't tried it with EQ2, but my experience has been that if a game has a "launchpad" type interface before the 3D actually loads, that's usually the point where it's going to fail.The subscription to Transgaming is a bit odd too.  Last time I checked it was like $5 a month, but you're not really paying for the program, the way it was explained to me was that you are paying for the opportunity to vote on which games you would like Transgaming to put forth the most effort into making work.<div></div>

[NerissaRavenHeart]

that would take a lot of eq2 players and thier votes =)Masu<div></div>

[MadLordOfMilk]

You definitely can't do it using WINE or Cedega... but it actually came up in channels once that someone was playing eq2 on linux, though I forgot how they said they managed it... I'd probably be able to figure it out if I used Linux more (I've got SuSE 10 on this particular comp but with the newer version of the kernel it messed up my ability to run my network card the way I do and of course SuSE's network config scripts don't work right so my card won't work even if configured right [probably not set as the primary interface or something stupid like that, but I forgot how to mess with that]). Ok, enough of my rambling and complaining that I can't get my card working with linux <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span><div></div>

[Sirlutt]

i wish they would.. EQ2 is the only reason I am still using Windows.<div></div>

[Kaknya]

 yes, same here.. I actually had cedega for about 6 months.. ver. 5.0.1 i think it was,.. ran wow pretty decently.. and your correct about the voting, unfortunatly it only seemed like me and maybe 2 others voting for eq2.. unfortunatly i got tired of waiting for it,.. and was running short on funds.. so canceled both cedega, and wow.. and a couple other subscriptions.. doesn't take long before they all start adding up<div></div>

[Valasule]

I have a reply to one of the everquest2 threads on the cedega forums.  I did some testing and debugging to see where eq2 was failing and essentially it boils down to some dx9 calls that aren't being redirected to OpenGL calls.  Since they're not being redirected they can't execute and eq2 crashes.On the latest polls one of the higher items was better dx9 support so hopefully if they fix some of those issues we'll see eq2 under Cedega.It would be nice if the SoE devs tossed the cedega guys a scrap or two now and again, perhaps we'd see better support for everquest...<div></div>

[Madboy]

EQ2 on a Mac?*cough*boot-camp*cough*(btw anyone have any benchmarks for this? Thinking about getting a Mac Mini as a third box and want to know how it holds up.)<div></div>

[Hella_Nervous]

If I could get EQ2 to run under SuSE I'd have no reason to keep windows on my machine <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span><div></div>

[NerissaRavenHeart]

<div><blockquote><hr>irishharp2m6 wrote:If I could get EQ2 to run under SuSE I'd have no reason to keep windows on my machine <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span><div></div><hr></blockquote>amen to that. And it would run much smoother, do you not agree?</div>

[Toshikii]

<DIV>I have a friend who likes EQ2, but he is a Linux lover and Windows hater so he does not buy the game since he would be forced to play in windows. He would if EQ2 worked for Linux.</DIV>

[NerissaRavenHeart]

Yes I can understand that, I know a few hard core unix only fans out there. And when it comes down to a program that is only window they will totally do without. Just so they don't have to touch anything Microsoft or windows related.<div></div>

[Hukklebuk]

/vote for a Linux platform -- my understanding (probably incorrect to a degree) is that the entire back end world of EQ2 is Linux based anyhow....  can anyone confirm or deny that with some proof?<div></div>

[Hukklebuk]

<div></div><p>Message Edited by Hukklebuk on <span class=date_text>04-26-2006</span> <span class=time_text>01:47 PM</span>

[NerissaRavenHeart]

<div><blockquote><hr>Hukklebuk wrote:/vote for a Linux platform -- my understanding (probably incorrect to a degree) is that the entire back end world of EQ2 is Linux based anyhow....  can anyone confirm or deny that with some proof?<div></div><hr></blockquote>the only confirmation I would trust would be either from a Developer who is associated with SoE and the A) The design Team B) coding C) Art Design team.Who knows.</div>

[sirmamabe]

Throw in one more vote for eq2 to run on linux.   At least make it wine freindly, with now offical sapport : ).   I would love to get windows off my computer for good.Doloris<div></div>

[ebm7]

Literally, the only reason I run windows at home is because of EQ2.  AMD will be releasing hardware virtualization processors this year, however, that will allow me to have a Linux box run a full install of XP virtually with full privileges (Ring 0) and very little overhead.  Can't wait!<div></div>

[Rathious]

<P>I have been researching linux a llitle and have about 3 different versions including the 64 bit release of ubuntu. I also have a Mac. I would like to see more games come out for different operating systems. I would buy it,even if it cost me a few more bucks to buy it. I have recently started using Knoppix and ubuntu haven't really messed with whax and i like the OS. Put me up for a vote on linux based games.</P> <P> </P>

[Eileithia]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Madboy81 wrote:<BR>EQ2 on a Mac?<BR>*cough*boot-camp*cough*<BR><BR>(btw anyone have any benchmarks for this? Thinking about getting a Mac Mini as a third box and want to know how it holds up.)<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Mac mini will run it without any problems at all.. you will need to cap out the ram on that machine though.. now.. if you want a REALLY KICKIN system.. get a 20" iMac .. (ATI X1600 Graphics, CoreDuo 2ghz, Max out 2gb Ram.. and a SWEET 20" LCD to boot :smileyvery-happy:&nbsp<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Oh.. and doing testing between running windows on your typical PC.. even a gamer box.. and running it on Mac hardware.. it runs better on the Mac hardware by far.. =)</P> <P> </P>

[Wingrider01]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Duntzzzz wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Madboy81 wrote:<BR>EQ2 on a Mac?<BR>*cough*boot-camp*cough*<BR><BR>(btw anyone have any benchmarks for this? Thinking about getting a Mac Mini as a third box and want to know how it holds up.)<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Mac mini will run it without any problems at all.. you will need to cap out the ram on that machine though.. now.. if you want a REALLY KICKIN system.. get a 20" iMac .. (ATI X1600 Graphics, CoreDuo 2ghz, Max out 2gb Ram.. and a SWEET 20" LCD to boot :smileyvery-happy:&nbsp<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Oh.. and doing testing between running windows on your typical PC.. even a gamer box.. and running it on Mac hardware.. it runs better on the Mac hardware by far.. =)</P> <P> </P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Would be curious to see how you determined that it runs better on mac hardware - since according to all the technical specifications that are published there is no difference between the design of the hardware for the PC and for the new mac's

[Eileithia]

<P>From running 2 systems (one Mac / one PC) with the same specs side by side and doing benchmarking tests.. One of the reasons is that the Apple systems use proprietary hardware / chipsets.. and every piece in that system is optomized to work with every other.. that's part of the reason that Apple hardware has a long history of being a staple for the Graphics industry.. the Stability of the hardware, alongside the stability of the OS is a requirement of a lot of professionals.. Not to say that the white-box system was not fast, but in general the Apple hardware out-performed the identically spec'd white-box PC.</P>

[Marrs]

<div><blockquote><hr>Wingrider01 wrote:<div></div> <blockquote> <hr> Duntzzzz wrote: <div></div> <blockquote> <hr> Madboy81 wrote:EQ2 on a Mac?*cough*boot-camp*cough*(btw anyone have any benchmarks for this? Thinking about getting a Mac Mini as a third box and want to know how it holds up.) <div></div> <hr> </blockquote> <p>Mac mini will run it without any problems at all.. you will need to cap out the ram on that machine though.. now.. if you want a REALLY KICKIN system.. get a 20" iMac .. (ATI X1600 Graphics, CoreDuo 2ghz, Max out 2gb Ram.. and a SWEET 20" LCD to boot :smileyvery-happy:&nbsp<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p> <p>Oh.. and doing testing between running windows on your typical PC.. even a gamer box.. and running it on Mac hardware.. it runs better on the Mac hardware by far.. =)</p> <hr> </blockquote>Would be curious to see how you determined that it runs better on mac hardware - since according to all the technical specifications that are published there is no difference between the design of the hardware for the PC and for the new mac's<hr></blockquote>It's due to the intel core processer combinded with the uberly fast ram Apple uses. Try running it on one of their 20" iMacs. Amazingly fast. :p</div>

[Deathspell]

Old thread, but I'd still like to see EQ2 be compatible with a Linux distro.Having to pay $300-$400 for an OS to play a game...

[ratdeath]

The reason Microsoft has its grip on the home consumer market is mostly because games are made for Windows only. I have tried SWG on Debian using cedega and it runs pretty ok, would say it runs at 95% compared to Windows. But I still need Windows for so many other games that its not possible to use Linux as the OS of choice for a gamerstation.So until developers/publishers try to release for multiple platforms people dont really have much of a choice if they want to enjoy gaming on their PC's.

[thepriz]

Direct X is one of the main problems. If developers embrace other technologies like OpenGL then it would be easy to port games to Linux. Neverwinter Nights did this and had Linux versions. I ran a NWN server on my linux server for a long time.

[wyretrip]

I've been trying to get this to go for a long time.. Finally the planets aligned and it is working! Check this write up to get you started!<a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=396323�" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...23�</a>

[quasigenx]

/voteEq2 will never have native Linux support unless they re-write the client from scratch. However, for the love of god make your new games cross-platform. Do it at release or it will never get done!

[Morningside]

Since this this doesn't discuss content that is currently on the Test Servers and there's now a link to another thread on the appropriate board with a possible solution to this issue, I'm going to go ahead and lock this thread. Please feel free to continue the discussion in a constructive manner within the thread linked above.Thank you.