Tallquasimodo on 24/6/2008 at 02:18
Ok, got my laptop (HP Pavilion) before traveling abroad for a year and having enjoyed on this computer and my last Deus Ex, SS2 and T3:DS I decided now was the time to give old Thief Gold and T2:TMA a whirl, since I never made it through either in the past, given that the zombies in the mines freaked me the hell out.
Since I had recently gotten sick of Vista that came with my laptop and give the finger to all things Vista by installing Ubuntu while drunk, I knew my easiest bet was to give it a shot via WINE. First some specs:
Processor: AMD Turion x64 2x 1.9 GHz
Memory: 2 gigs, DDR2
Graphics: Nvidia Geforce Go 7150m
Display: 1440x900 Widescreen
So i knew I would have some trouble getting TG going for the first time. I had to wipe everything and reinstall, which may have affected my performance, but this time around I recorded the order in which I did everything.
First: I am installing from .ISO files: I can't be arsed to bring two fragile, already scratched CDs across the ocean from home. The easiest program I have found for this on Ubuntu is AcetoneISO, which doesn't need sudo access.
Not sure what to say about dual core processors, I had some issues with it on my first install, I think, but nothing that I could reproduce on my second. Search around a bit if you're having trouble, there is enough info here and elsewhere to get past it.
The next few things I tried I got from (
http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1731189) this post.
1. NVidia-Fix (fixed exe that prevents black screen on NVidia cards)
Didn't work: couldn't see the mounted ISO, had to forge on without it.
2. DDFix (fixes the broken dithering, game may also be more stable / crash less)
EXE works, but gives an error about needing DirectX 6. Only runs windowed and generally looks horrible. I'll pass.
3. Darkloader
Installs and runs under WINE. Can't launch the game due to lack of WINE compatibility, but makes life easier for the next few steps by optimizing the install for graphical mods and upgrades.
4. Daemonite Model Patch
Installed, tested the tutorial level, quit after seeing the first Keeper looking better than before.
5. Orgy's Texture patch
Same as above, dumped it in my ThiefG directory and tested the tutorial. Saw some prettier graphics, then quit.
6. Thief Object (and texture) Enhancement Pack
Installed, marveled at the pretty torches, quit.
7. Thief 1/2 Sound Effects Enhancement Pack
Installed, enjoyed the new footstep sounds, then quit, satisfied.
Somewhere in there, probably after the DDFix and before all the graphical upgrades I successfully applied the newest (v6) Dark Widescreen patch, which is also worked under WINE/Ubuntu.
Currently on the second mission, Was going to post a question about why my game was crashing on shooting a zombie with holy water arrows, but after a reboot I tried it again before I posted and was unable to reproduce the error. Now it's crashed on activation of the elevator(?) though I haven't tested extensively, it probably won't happen next time.
I wish cutscenes worked, but alas, 'tis not to be. Youtube fills the gap nicely enough though. I could go to the trouble of figuring out which package to install to watch the AVIs from my HD, but I probably won't.
Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there for anyone with similar problems to mine. Not too bad for a taffer such as I, right?
