You can now play Freelancer under Linux with 100% compatibility by running it under VirtualBox with Direct3D acceleration!
Thanks to the OpenGL support in VirtualBox, and the awesome WineD3D work by Robert Millan, Freelancer, which is a 2003 Direct3D 8.1 game, runs perfectly in VirtualBox.
All you need is the latest VirtualBox (2.1 or 2.2 will do), a copy of Windows to run inside it, and the latest WineD3D for Windows. I tested on both XP and Vista — it ran smoother on Vista (ironically), but both were playable.
Freelancer has worked in Wine on Linux without virtualisation for some years now, but multiplayer support is something that has never worked properly. With virtualisation, Freelancer can use the native Windows networking, and thus works perfectly with multiplayer.
(Well, actually, if you use Windows Vista, you have to disable IPv6, otherwise multiplayer doesn’t work, but that’s a different story.)
The game runs much smoother than back when I ran it in VMware: the speed was inconsistent, and I used to get booted off multiplayer servers for allegedly using “speed mods”. With VirtualBox, performance is extremely consistent. (Although Moore’s Law may have something to do with that.)
Have fun!
also tried it today, because I would like to switch to ubuntu completly when jaunty is out. For me it is lagging like hell, but may also be my wlan connection I have problems with.
As soon as Jaunty is installed I will try it again!
In what way is it lagging? Is the game generally unresponsive, or are there networking problems?
both but mainly it was network problems, but some people on the server said that the server was that all week for them so maybe its not on my side
I get into the net via WLAN(Asrock Mainboard with wifi) and Ubuntu disconnects after some time, some sites say that it is fixed with Jaunty, dunno because I’m still running Hardy.
But Jaunty is downloading now, so ill test is later.
i’m new in Linux (Ubuntu 9.04) – my Freelancer runs only with ca. 1 FPS (detail: min)
i installed ‘virtualbox-ose’ – Windoof XP Pro + 2 Extentions (Geast + Wined3d)
I run 1,2 GHz to 2 GHz E4400 – the FPS are the same !
What is your configuration ?
schöne Grüße aus Deutschland
I’m running Freelancer in Wine now. It’s running fast and I’m also able to play online.
If you have further questions you can contact me on icq: 248-310-737
Hey, that’s awesome! I don’t have ICQ (and never will, unless they add a Jabber transport), but thanks for the info anyway.