Populous: The Beginning

What works

As before, almost everything works. Multiplayer even works through the MatchMaker.

D3D mode no longer freezes when the game returns to the menu. However, the process hangs after the D3D window is closed. A workaround is to end the process through the OS's task manager or command line.

Framerate is a bit smoother than in Windows, especially when you pass the -frameratepointer option to the D3DpopTB.exe executable.

D3D mode works best in Compiz when you Allow DirectX applications to stop the mouse leaving the window, and uncheck window manager control & decorations for D3DpopTB.exe.

For D3D in Metacity, allow the WM to control the window (but do not decorate it). Read the section below to find out why.

What does not

In Metacity, D3D has some mouse pointer problems. The mouse pointer suddenly stops short. After moving it back and forth, however, edgescrolling fails to work.

This can be fixed by allowing the WM to control the windows, pressing alt-tab whilst in-game, moving the mouse, and then switching the WM back to the game. For this reason, under Metacity, it is suggested to use Software mode when playing online.

Compiz doesn't suffer from this issue, but the drastic resolution change can cause other windows to disappear. Switch to metacity and back to solve this.

Bottom Line
Use software mode (prefferably in metacity) with this registry hack if you are going to use the Reincarnated MatchMaker to play online. (Warning: Resolutions > 800x600 slow down the software renderer)

Workarounds

What was not tested

Levels with a shaman prison. Extended online play.

Hardware tested

Graphics:

• GPU:
• Driver:

Additional Comments

To install, open a terminal in the "setup" directory or your CD and run "wine setup.exe". In Ubuntu Jaunty, clicking the installer doesn't work.

This game works with Wine 1.1.29, but not with the newer versions until 1.3.32, which works even better!

Additional infor for 1.1.29:

• Make sure you have the MouseWarpOverride registry key (if it does not exist, you will have to create it).
  
• Do not attempt to use hardware acceleration - unfortunate things will happen.
• In my experience, it works a lot better to run it in a window.
• If you have difficulty with a non 1:1 mouse movement ratio (e.g. your mouse sometimes pops out of the window before it reaches the edge), try moving your mouse rapidly to another portion of the window, and then slowly approach the portion you wish to reach.

• Install in win98 mode: when running the installer do not use the autorun, Navigate to $CDROM/setup/English (or whatever your language is) and run the SETUP.EXE found there.
• Apply patch 1.03
• Run in win98 mode

Mouse override is not needed anymore!

I suggest to play the game inside a wine desktop due to low resolution supported by the game, however fullscreen should works too