Linux and Myth II - Running Myth II (Win) under Cedega

[Alexian]

Recently found a version of Cedega (formerly WineX) for Linux on the Web and decided to give my Myth II (Win) version a go.

I'm running on an Athlon K7 / 1Ghz machine with an nVidia geForce mx 440 video card, and 256 mb of memory. I know -- not top of the line, but way beyond the box specifications for Myth II.

I uploaded Myth new from my CD into Linux (using disk that came with Myth II Worlds) and upgraded to 1.5.1c.

It seemed to install fine and ran the tutorial beautifully (there seemed to be a slight lag sometimes on the spinning of the windmill, but nothing that hampered play).

After going through the tutorial, I tried to start a new game. It choked and dropped me back to the desktop after showing the opening cartoon movie (just before loading Willow Creek).

Unmounting the CD-ROM actually helped, even if I don't get to see the cartoon movies for each level (no loss there). But I still have a persistent problem. I can play through one level, but when it tries to load the next level, the game drops back to the desktop. It updates everything to the point where I can start a new game from the main menu with the next level, but since I have to start new game with each new level, I do not have the advantage of seasoned troops.

Dropping back to the desktop after each level makes me think maybe there's a memory leak somewhere.

Sorry I can't be more specific. If there's a log file somewhere that I can check -- let me know and I'll pass it along.

Thank you all very much for keeping this great game alive! And I'm happy I didn't have to spend more cash to get the outdated Loki version.

Kudos!

[lank]

you can keep the cutscenes if you have the hard drive space, by dragging the "cutscenes" folder from the myth 2 cd into your myth 2 folder.

as for logs, check the myth 2 folder for "myth_log.txt" and tell us what it says when it crashes.

[Alexian]

I'm copying the log here, although I didn't find it particularly helpful. However, it may be needed to help decode the messages I've listed below...
------------------------------------------------------------
2005-04-28 05:57:48
Myth II Build 261 running under Win98 ----------------------------------------------
Scanning for software devices...
Found 1 to use
Scanning for Direct3D devices...
Found 1 to use
Scanning for 3Dfx devices...
Found 0 to use
Scanning for OpenGL devices...
Found 1 to use
Using GDI for Input
Mouse appears to have 5 buttons and 3 axes.
Initialized for DirectSound3D using COM
Loading Patch Files...
Patch 1.2
Patch 1.3
Patch 1.4
Patch 1.4 Interface
Patch 1.5
Loading Patch Files Succeeded
Warning: Unable to find cutscene 'prologue.smk'.
Running OpenGL at 1024 x 768, 60 Hz, 16 bit
Starting mesh "A Long Awaited Drinking Party"...
Running OpenGL at 1024 x 768, 60 Hz, 16 bit
Starting mesh "Into the Breach"...
------------------------------------------------------------

When I run cedega "Myth II.exe" from the command line, I receive the following output after the crash:
------------------------------------------------------------
mmtime pid=8374 tid=8386
X Error of failed request: GLXBadDrawable
Major opcode of failed request: 145 (GLX)
Minor opcode of failed request: 11 (X_GLXSwapBuffers)
Serial number of failed request: 4632
Current serial number in output stream: 4673
------------------------------------------------------------

[:) Da Cid (: McCl]

Well, I dunno if it means anything, but it does say it can't load the cutscenes. I myself have never had a problem with not having cutscenes, but that's the only thing I can see in that. Wait for a real person to answer. XD

I dunno what I'm talkin' 'bout.

[Alexian]

I'm not too worried about the cutscenes at this point. As I recall, when it *was* loading the cutscenes (when I had my CD mounted), it was not able to even get into the level at all. The question here is why didn't it load "Into the Breach"? It tried, as shown by the log. But before the level came up I was dropped back to the desktop.

Now if past experience is any example, I can start a new game with "Into the Breach", and I'll be able to play the level to completion just fine. But when I go to next level, I'll get the same thing (dropped to desktop). Everything will be set up so I can reload Myth II and "Start New Game" with the new level, but I can't continually play from one level to the next.

[iron]

What happens if you choose Software or Direct3D rendering? From what you posted it looks like cedega's not liking something in the opengl renderer.

[xknight]

Hey,

Is your install of Cedega registerd? if so you probably wont get those GL/GLX errors, AFIK there is alot left out in the free release.

The best solution would be to pay like $10 for a Linux copy of MythII off of ebay.

TBH my milage of wineX and other Wine'e implimentations have varied quite a bit.

HTH

Nige

:embarassed:

[Doobie]

The problem with the linux version of m2, is that we haven't been able to provide an update for it yet, meaning you can't play online with the vast majority of the mything community as they are all using version 1.5.1 (as opposed to version 1.3).

[Alexian]

I apologize for taking so long to respond. Sometimes, finding "free time" can be quite difficult.

I tried using Direct3D. The opening description plays, and the level appears to load. I can even drag-select my men. Problem is, the screen is black! All black! (gamma is set to about half) So, that's completely unusable. At least OpenGL showed me what was going on.

I can use software rendering. But even at 800x600, it's annoyingly choppy. So, if I play with software rendering, I have to drop it to 640x480 to make it viewable.

Confession: this is an unofficial version of cedega. Hmm. that's something to look into. Now I have to decide whether to buy cedega or whether to play Myth on my virus- and spyware-prone Windows system.

Can anyone with an official version of cedega weigh in on their results with Myth II using the latest updates?

[capital]

Now I have to decide whether to buy cedega or whether to play Myth on my virus- and spyware-prone Windows system.

Any computer is vulnerable.

Anways, have you checked google for an answer?

[Alexian]

Really? Linux, by its very nature, is practically immune to viruses and spyware. Windows, by its very nature, is open and welcoming to such attacks.

Because the core programs of a Linux system are not updatable by the common user, under normal use, a Linux system is not vulnerable to the common passive attacks made by most virus / spyware programs. Because all programs on a Windows system are equally updatable by anyone, its a simple task for an outside program to update critical files in anyone's Windows system.

Also, because Windows is so popular, it *begs* to be hit by viruses and spyware. If an attacker wants to do the most damage to the greatest number of people (especially the greatest number of barely-competent computer users), why not attack the most popular operating system? Especially when that system, by its very nature, is begging to be attacked?

It's no wonder so many people find their Windows systems slogging, while Linux users see no performance impact even on systems that have been running for one, two, even three years continuously. How many Windows users could keep their computers running continuously, connected to the Internet, for even an entire month without any performance impact? Now how about Linux? http://counter.li.org/reports/uptimestats.php

As far as Myth goes -- I've even been on the Cedega websites. Although I have found references to Myth II, there is no indication as to how well Cedega works with Myth II.

[Doobie]

Windows files are not universally modifiable by any user, many require administrator access. The unfortunate part, is that most windows users use the administrator account by default. This is a problem with the user, not the operating system (although the OS could certainly do more to encourage the use of a non admin account).

Linux most certainly IS vulnerable to viruses. The permissions system IS more robust and will (I believe) offer more protection from rampant, unchecked spreading of viruses, but the threat remains. In fact, I have written a simple linux virus in a malicious software class back in university, it wasn't that hard, certainly no harder than writing a windows virus. Now writing a GOOD virus, that takes some mad skillz, and while I don't think they serve a useful purpose, I DO have a lot of respect for anyone who is capable of it.

[Doobie]

Oh, and I frequently leave my computer up for a month or more with internet access. It's not problematic unless you don't take adequate steps to protect yourself.

[Myrd]

Any computer can be vulnerable. A Linux box can be comprimised, as can a Windows box or a Mac box.

The difference is how secure each system is by default (without extra configuration required by the user), and how much existing malware is out there for that system. These two areas are where Windows loses.

However, with enough configuration, a Windows box can be made secure enough to compare to Linux and Mac OS X boxes. However, since Windows is generally targetted more (since there are more users), an equally secure Windows box is more likely to be comprimised as a similarly secure other operating system setup. And, Windows does suffer from other issues as well.



Edited By Myrd on 1115150002

[Doobie]

Agreed.