The PlayOnline Viewer is used to access the PlayOnline service. Tetra Master is a card game from Square Enix that is included with Final Fantasy XI.
Selected Test Results (selected in 'Test Results' table below)
What works
What works
Everything and I mean everything, I tested every option possible
What does not
What does not
N/A
What was not tested
What was not tested
N/A
Additional Comments
Additional Comments
The PlayOnline Viewer installed and ran without any hitches in my tests.
The installation and runtime test was performed on an absolute clean installation of Ubuntu Jaunty( 9.04 ) with nothing but 3D graphics and sound configured.
There is absolutely no need for any native dll files or registry tweaks.
The PlayOnline Viewer was tested using the following graphics cards:
NVIDIA GeForce FX5200 DDR 256MB PCI (with dual vga and s-vid)
NVIDIA GeForce 6200 DDR2 256MB PCI (with vga, hdmi, and s-vid)
NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS DDR2 512MB PCI (with vga, hdmi, and s-vid)
NVIDIA GeForce 9400 DDR2 1GB PCI-E (with vga, hdmi, and s-vid)
Proprietary 3D graphics drivers tested:
180
173
Recently within one of the threads for Final Fantasy XI there was question as to why Final Fantasy XI had a Platinum rating( as of Sep, 6th 2009 ). For any others that may ponder this same question but do not read my response to this question, I feel I should convey the rating system within a more public note.
The overall rating of any application( Final Fantasy XI included ) within Wine's application database is automatic and based on the most recent test results submitted by testers. The platinum rating that prompted this initial question is/was based upon the last couple of submitted test results of which happened to be Platinum. Combine a Gold rating with Platinum rating as the last two test results submitted and the overall rating is Gold not Platinum.
The overall rating is based on the last two submitted results. Additionally, the current Wine version is reflective of the lowest of the last two submitted test results if both test results give different ratings. Otherwise, if both results are the same rating the latest version of Wine is given as overall version.
Maintainers DO NOT have control over the overall current rating of any application. The overall rating given in the database listing is based on submitted test results BY YOU the test result submitters. Therefore if an application is listed as Platinum does not mean that you may find such a great experience installing and running the application.
If an application has a high Gold or Platinum rating, check the submitters postings to see if they listed their hardware/software they used for their tests. Which leads to the following:
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR SYSTEM SPECS IN YOUR TEST RESULTS AS THIS HELPS OTHERS TO GET FINAL FANTASY XI UP AND RUNNING!
Let us fans of Final Fantasy XI hope that future revisions of Wine continue to further improve the in-game game-play!
Jeremy Riley
HOWTO
HOWTO: Final Fantasy XI Vana'Diel Collection 2008
Wine-1.1.29
UPDATES:
Update: Sun Sep 6, 2009
After researching and performing tests on Window's XP I have found that many similar graphics issues are also prevelent on Window's. Most notable of my concerns was the displaying of sky in the far distance as opposed to the actual background that should be there. This appears to simply be limitations imposed by the max the background resolution is set at. The smaller the background resolution, the less background objects are drawn and thus replaced by the sky texture of the given area you are currently in. This issue is common for all 3D games and not limited to Final Fantasy XI.
Jeremy Riley
Update: Sat Sep 5, 2009
Recently spent the better part of 18 hours testing Wine-1.1.29.
Wine-1.1.28 was good, but Wine-1.1.29 definitely improves performance
on slower graphics cards. The following HOWTO has been updated to
reflect the latest Wine version tests along with a few additions to
tested hardware and other misc..
Jeremy Riley
Overview:
This HOWTO covers installing Final Fantasy XI from the retail box "VANA'DIEL COLLECTION 2008" DVD using Wine-1.1.29
NOTE: This
HOWTO is based on a clean installation of Wine-1.1.29 on Ubuntu Jaunty(
9.04 ) using NVIDIA GeForce based graphics cards. Results may vary if
other applications are currently installed within Wine, or a different
operating system platform is used and/or a different graphics card is
used. --This HOTO will be notated about alternative methods for
operating system platforms and hardware where alternatives are known to
be required. --Please help expand the hardware/software list by
supplying your system hardware/software info and any alternative
tweaking required for them. Thank You --Jeremy Riley
Known Working Hardware/Software providing a pleasant experience:
NOTE: The
following hardware is known to provide a pleasant playable experience
and based on the Platinum test results . Final Fantasy XI via Wine is
not perfect! But at present, the game suffers very few installation and
runtime issues. Hopefully future versions of Wine will increase to
perfection. HOWTO is based on 'zero-config' installation, no tweaking of anything within Wine aside from setting Wine to VISTA mode.
Processors:
Intel Pentium 4 single-core ( x86 )
-- ( Desktop CPU )
Intel Pentium 4 single-core with hyperthreading ( x86 )
-- ( Desktop CPU )
Known Hardware/Software that fails to provide a usable experience:
Graphics Cards:
ATI RADEON HD 4350 1GB GDDR2 PCI-E--
Some crazy glitches all over the place with this card. Textures fail to
draw or become 'rainbowed'. Will be performing tests with this card on
other games and 3D applications to see if this is just trouble with
Final Fantasy XI or this card in General upon Linux. The card works
fine with Compiz 3D desktop but definitely fails running Final Fantasy
XI using Ubuntu Jaunty, Wine-1.1.29, with the Catylist(version 9.8) ATI
3D driver installed for this card.
Graphics Card Drivers:
ATI CATALYST (9.8) --This driver was used to test the ATI RADEON HD 4350 1GB GDDR2 PCI-E card that failed to perform. Unless other ATI cards are tested and use this driver that perform great, this driver is listed as non-supported until such time. If you know this driver to work on an ATI graphics card other than the one listed as failing, please let us know.
Intallation:
Make sure your Graphics and Sound cards/drivers and installed and running properly.
Download and install Wine-1.1.29 if necessary( For best results remove prior versions of Wine )
Set Wine to VISTA mode!
Insert the Final Fantasy XI Vana'Diel Collection 2008 DVD
Open the DVD browsing window and double-click or right-click-select-open-with-wine on the file labeled Autorun.exe
Upon the Autorun navigation menu select Install PlayOnline and Tetra Master, follow the installation choosing all the defaults. Continue till finished and back at the Autorun navigation menu.
Back at the Autorun navigation menu select Install Final Fantasy XI, follow the installation choosing all the defaults, Continue till finished and back at the Autorun navigation menu.
Repeat
this process for each of the expansion packs on the DVD. Completely
ignore the Install DirectX 8 option as there is no need for this!
Optionaly, feel free to run the system stat program also included on
the DVD. This stat test will give you basic information about the
registry entries the installation process has made etc.. Perhaps useful
for debugging if you encounter errors.
Once
installation is complete select the Final Fantasy XI Configuration
utiltiy from the start menu shortcut or alternately from with the
"FINAL FANTASY XI/ToolsXX/" folder. Where 'XX' represents country code
e.g. 'ToolsUS' for the English language configuration utility. This
step, like setting Wine to VISTA mode is extremely important! Failing
to perform this step will result in unecessary non-working items that
will result in erronous runtime and ultimately erronous test result
postings. --Within this configuration utility set the main video resolution to match your screen resolution.
Failing to do so may cause a crash when Final Fantasy XI enters
fullscreen mode! --Keep in mind the power of your system hardware for
the rest of the options! If you have a low-end graphics card simply set
the main video resolution and exit. You can always run the tool again
before the next time you start Final Fantasy XI and see how additional
enhanced settings work for you.
Now that the configuration tool has been set, start up Final Fantasy XI. The PlayOnline viewer will update and restart.
Once
PlayOnline has restarted, enter your login credentials or create new
ones and navigate your way to the start Final Fantasy XI option. Final
Fantasy XI will now update, grab some coffee and snack this can take
hours depending on your connection speed and time of day you perform
this task.
When the update is completed, login to Final Fantasy XI and rejoice in exploring the wonderful world of Vana'Diel via Wine!
Known Issues:
Shadows suffer from a 'Mini-Blind' affect. (NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards)
(Also known to affect certain NVIDIA cards on Windows)
Occasionaly
there is a 'twinkling' effect where textures meet where there appears
to be a light shining through small holes. This issue is definitely
prominate on smaller NVIDIA graphics cards although their are a few
places where this occurs on 1GB NVIDIA graphics cards but less
noticible unless your looking for them.(Also known to affect certain NVIDIA cards on Windows)
ATI
cards appear to suffer a lot of undesired issues, especially when it
comes to drawing to the screen. Textures fail to load altogether and/or
take on a rainbow effect of patterns ranging from straight
multi-coloured lines to multi-coloured blotches.(Also known to affect certain ATI cards on Windows)
Improvements with Wine-1.1.29:
Overall performance; smaller graphics cards benefit greatly with less noticible lag.
Noted
issues about slight delay of audio within prior versions of Wine not
corresponding to the current action has improved slightly upon smaller
graphics cards. --This issue does not appear to occur upon 1GB graphics
cards, even the ATI RADEON 4350 that was tested and fails miserably
graphically, does not produce lag with audio to action.
NOTE:
The following HOWTO immediately following is based on Wine-1.1.12 and slightly outdated with the current version of Wine(1.1.29). Certain portions
will be pulled into this HOWTO.
Until then it will be left as an 'alternate' method of installation for those of whom cannot seem to get the simple point and click once on the Autorun.exe as outlined in this HOWTO.
MAINTAINERS OF THIS HOWTO:
Maintainers:
Please add your name if you help expand this HOWTO so proper credit is
given and provide a brief update note at the top with items you
added/altered. --Thank You Jeremy Riley
Jeremy Riley*
*
F.Y.I. I have enjoyed my entire stay in Vana'Diel Via Wine and Ubuntu
Linux since 2007! There once was a time when every minor PlayOnline
and/or Final Fantasy XI update would require a complete
reconfiguration. Sometimes days, weeks, and even the occasional month
would go by before I had the ability to rejoin my friends exploring and
adventuring. Any issues we have now are mere speed bumbs compared to
the old days! ENJOY FFXI !! Peace!
Note
HOUSEWORK
Going to perform some house work here the next few days as a lot of this information is outdated and could easily be condensed and/or eliminated altogether. If anything, having everything neat and trim will make me happy and no doubt fellow viewers interested in getting Final Fantasy XI up and running via Wine will appreciate as well.
Jeremy Riley
NOTE: PlayOnline Viewer and Tetra Master
The PlayOnline Viewer along with the bundled Tetra Master is key to accessing and running Final Fantasy XI. Without the PlayOnline Viewer, there is no accessing Final Fantasy XI.
At current( wine-1.1.29 ), the PlayOnline Viewer retains a Platinum rating and currently appears that all aspects of this application function smoothly and as natively as possible. This does not mean that this application is 100% as there are many operating system distributions that have not been reported and potentially hardware may play a role as well.
Ideally this should not be an issue for any application running on Wine, so long as the version of Wine in use is the same.
Hopefully further tests results come in verifying the current Platinum rating of the PlayOnline Viewer!
