Battlefield 2142

What works

Installer

Loading the game (must be under windows 2003 or it does not load)

All the Menus

Connecting to a Server

What does not

Gameplay, after connecting to a server the rendering becomes unusable and extremely glitchy.

The mouse

Workarounds

What was not tested

single player mode, but if rendering failed in the game online it will probably fail here.
i did not have time to test punk buster due to the graphics errors.

Hardware tested

Graphics:

• GPU:
• Driver:

Additional Comments

This game seems to have a bad record with this particular linux distribution. It could be SELinux, but I am not sure.

These notes were last updated: 20 February 2018

Follow these guidelines to avoid embarrassment when your Test Submission is immediately rejected!!

• Ensure the version of Wine you have installed is update-to-date and supported (hint: if it isn't - then it won't be in the drop-down list).
• Put your PC specifications in the Extra Comments section e.g. like your CPU and system memory.¹
• When adding test results please specify video card and driver version you are using.²
• It's also useful to mention what Desktop Environment you are using (e.g. KDE/Plasma, Gnome, Xfce, Budgie, Mate, Cinnamon, ...)
• Specify if you installed the Battlefield 2142 into a fresh Wineprefix (or not), and what other programs and games you have installed (for existing Wineprefix's).
• Specify what version of the Windows compatibility you use for your Wineprefix (e.g. Windows XP, Windows 7). Specify if you override this for the Steam client executable.
• Specify whether you installed into a 32-bit or a 64-bit Wineprefix.
• Add detailed comments about what is not working for you.
• Please check known issues which may vary by graphics card vendor / driver version.
• Please indicate if you've applied additional patches to the version of Wine you are using.
• Please, don't submit test results like "Everything is working" or "Everything isn't working".

These guidelines ensure your submitted test results are actually relevant to other users of Wine and WineHQ.

¹ The console version of the lshw utility is your friend. This command will dump your System hardware specification in a clean format. Post command and output in the Extra Comments section:

sudo lshw -short | egrep -v '(volume|disk|bus)'

² glxinfo can be used to display your OpenGL and graphics driver versions. Post the command and output in the Extra Comments section:

glxinfo | egrep '^[[:alpha:]]'

1. Ensure you are using a 32-bit Wineprefix on a 64-bit OS (see Wine FAQ if unsure how to do this).

2. Ensure your Battlefield 2142 DVD is mounted within your Linux filesystem. You can do this quite easily, in most Desktop Environments, via udisks 2.

3. Wine should map this drive to '${WINEPREFIX}/dosdevices/d:'
   (the mapped drive letter may vary depending on how many drives your system has).

4. Check drive is mapped using:

   winecfg

5. Open a Terminal and launch the setup:

   wine 'D:\setup.exe'

   (Replace D: with whatever drive letter you have your DVD mapped to in winecfg)

6. ☐ Uncheck  GameSpy Comrade installation

7. When the main (disc) installer has finished do not launch the game!

Battlefield 2142 should now be installed successfully (hopefully). The Battlefield 2142 DVD uses SafeDisc v4 disc check. This DRM mechanism is supported under Wine. The game should run without a no-DVD crack - but will require your disc to be in the drive and mounted.

If you subsequently patch Battlefield 2142 to version 1.51 this disc check will be removed. The game can be launched without the disc being present in your optical disc drive. This is highly recommended and required for online play!

Online play will not be possible without following the steps to set up a Battlelog.co Revive account and patching your copy of the game to version 1.51. This follows the shutdown of all the Gamespy Master Servers on May 31st, 2014.

1. Update the game to version 1.50 using the BF2142_Update_1.50.exe , e.g.:

   cd ~/Downloads
   wine BF2142_Update_1.50.exe

   Note: this is a full patch and can be applied to any previous / earlier version of Battlefield 2142

2. Update the game to version 1.51 using the BF2142_Patch_1.51.exe , e.g.:

   cd ~/Downloads
   wine BF2142_Patch_1.51.exe

   Note: apply the 1.50 patch first!!

Ensure your WINEPREFIX variable is set correctly before following these instructions.

Wine Virtual Desktop

Run:

winecfg

• select the Graphics tab
• check Emulate a Virtual Desktop
• set your native monitor resolution (or a suitable lower resolution) in the Desktop Settings

or manually add the registry entries:

wine reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wine\Explorer" "/v" "Desktop" "/t" "REG_SZ" "/d" "Default" 
wine reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wine\Explorer\Desktops" "/v" "Default" "/t" "REG_SZ" "/d" "1920x1080"

... replace resolution with your native screen resolution.

Launching Battlefield 2142 Game

cd "${WINEPREFIX}/drive_c/Program Files/EA GAMES/Battlefield 2142/"
wine BF2142.exe +menu 1 +fullscreen 1 +widescreen 1 +szx 1920 +szy 1080

Widescreen support requires at least version 1.50 of Battlefield 2142.

If you have a 4:3 aspect monitor then omit widescreen parameter.

Gamespy, which provided the Master Servers for many games, including Battlefield 2142, was officially shutdown in May 2014. See Gamespy Wikipedia for more information about this.

Various community supported efforts have sprung up to provide alternative Master Servers for the various games affected by the server shutdown.

Detailed below are installation instructions for various alternatives - to use in place of the original Gamespy Master Servers. Sadly no alternatives, to the previously excellent Revive Network servers, are currently available.

(1) Battlelog Servers

Update: the Battelog/Revive crew were served a takedown notice by EA. So this only remaining solution, to full online play for Battlefield 2142, is no longer available...

Pros

• ☑ Supply reliable alternate Battlefield 2142 Master Servers
• ☑ Transparent/simple command line wrapper executable to your original BF2142.exe
• ☑ Works with Punkbuster
• ☑ A few active Servers still remain online

Cons

• ☒ The Battlelog Launcher client frontend applications is a bit unstable under Wine
  (see Wine Bug 41925)

Getting Started

1. Visit Battlelog.co Website
2. Setup an account

Guide to Installing the Windows 7 Revive Launcher

The installer for the Revive Launcher doesn't currently work under Wine. This issue can be worked around however.

Ensure you are using a 32-bit Wineprefix on a 64-bit OS (see Wine FAQ if unsure how to do this).

Download the Revive Launcher installer.

Then manually extract the installer - to use it:

winetricks win7
winetricks 7zip dotnet452
cd "${WINEPREFIX}/drive_c"
mkdir -p Battlelog.co
cd Battlelog.co/
mv ~/Downloads/Setup.exe .
wine 'C:\Program Files\7-Zip/7z.exe' x Setup.exe
wine 'C:\Program Files\7-Zip/7z.exe' x bf2battlelog-*-full.nupkg

Then to run the Revive Launcher:

cd "${WINEPREFIX}/drive_c/Battlelog.co/lib/net45"
wine 'Revive-Launcher.exe'

The Revive Launcher largely works:

• ☑ you can set BF2142 launch options
• ☑ you can download and install the full BF2142 game (including all expansion packs)
• ☑ Revive Network status, etc. works
• ☒ Applying CD Keys crashes when the Revive Launcher calls: BattlelogBootstrap.exe
  See below for a manual workaround.
• ☒ The Revive Launcher consistently crashes - when you exit it

Tested with Wine Staging - version 2.3.

Revive Game CD Keys

It is necessary to edit (specific) Registry keys, to set a special (allocated) Revive CD-key, for your Battlefield 2142 install. This step will become mandatory when the Revive team enable game key verification on their Servers.

Refer to this Battlelog.co forum post: How to fix CD-Key issues (applies to both BF2 & BF2142).

1. Enter Wine registry editor:

   wine regedit

2. Backup existing Wine registry:
   Click on Registry (menu)
   Select Export Registry File...
   Select All checkbox
   Save backup registry file
3. Exit regedit
4. Visit your Revive Personal Profile page to obtain your personal Revive CD-key
5. Insert your Revive CD-key into the (Wine) Registry for Battlefield 2142:

   export REVIVE_KEY="❚❚❚❚-❚❚❚❚-❚❚❚❚-❚❚❚❚-❚❚❚❚"
   wine reg.exe ADD "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Electronic Arts\EA Games\Battlefield 2142\ergc" \
       "/v" "" "/t" "REG_SZ" "/d" "x9392${REVIVE_KEY}" "/f"

(1) Singleplayer / Offline Patch (Gamespy Master Server Shutdown)

With the shutdown of the Gamespy Master Servers it is not even possible to play Battlefield 2142 offline in Singleplayer mode... A game that you have (hopefully) legally paid for!!

Well this mini-guide will fix this... Tested with all available versions of the Battlefield 2142 retail DVD (1.00-1.51).

Note the executable patch will NOT work with the DEMO version of Battlefield 2142 (as this does not offer an offline gameplay mode / requires Internet access to work).

1. Create the following BASH script:

   "${HOME}/BF2142_offline.sh"

   #!/bin/bash
   
   exe="${1:-BF2142.exe}"
   
   hex_search_replace()
   {
   	search="$(echo "$2"  | sed -e 's/[[:xdigit:]]\{2\}/\\x&/g')"
   	replace="$(echo "$3" | sed -e 's/[[:xdigit:]]\{2\}/\\x&/g')"
   	sed -i -e "s/${search}/${replace}/" "$1"
   }
   
   mkdir "Backup" &>/dev/null
   cp "${exe}" "Backup/${exe}"
   
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "0083c1158bc1"\
   				"00b815000000"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "000067616d657370792e636f6d004f6e6c696e650000"\
   				"00002e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e0000"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "7374656c6c612e70726f642e67616d657370792e636f6d2f007374656c6c612e70726f642e67616d657370792e636f6d"\
   			"302e302e302e302f2e302e302e302e302e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "65617075736865722e646963652e7365"\
   				"6e6577732e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e636f6d"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "617661696c61626c652e67616d657370792e636f6d"\
   				"2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "6f74642e67616d657370792e"\
   				"6f74642e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "3235352e3235352e3235352e323535"\
   				"302e302e302e302e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "6d61737465722e67616d657370792e636f6d"\
   				"302e302e302e302e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "7075626c6963706f7274"\
   				"6c6f63616c706f72742e"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "7075626c69636970"\
   				"6c6f63616c69702e"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "2e67616d657370792e636f6d00ffff"\
   				"2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e636f6d00ffff"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "6665736c2e6561"\
   				"2e2e2e2e2e2e2e"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "2e65612e636f6d002e6665736c"\
   				"7379702e636f6d002e67616d65"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "67616d6573746174732e67616d65737079"\
   				"67616d6573746174732e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "6770636d2e67616d657370792e636f6d"\
   				"6770636d2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e636f6d"
   hex_search_replace "${exe}" "677073702e67616d657370792e636f6d"\
   				"677073702e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e2e636f6d"
   

2. Run your script in the main Battlefield 2142 install directory:

   cd "${WINEPREFIX}/drive_c/Program Files/Electronic Arts/Battlefield 2142"
   chmod +x "${HOME}/BF2142_offline.sh"
   ./"${HOME}/BF2142_offline.sh"

   This script will create a Backup directory ( "${WINEPREFIX}/drive_c/Program Files/Electronic Arts/Battlefield 2142/Backup" ) with the vanilla BF2142.exe executable backed-up in it.

3. Download a pre-made Battlefield 2142 Singleplayer Profile.

4. Extract Singeplayer profile into your WINEPREFIX user profile directory.
   Set PLAYER_NAME variable to the name of your desired in-game solider (your dummy EA account name will also be changed to this).

   cd "${WINEPREFIX}/drive_c/users/${USER}/My Documents"
   rm -rf "Battlefield 2142"
   unzip ~/Downloads/Battlefield__2142_generic_profile.zip
   export PLAYER_NAME="singleplayer"
   find . -type f -name "*.con" -print0 | xargs -0 sed -i -e "s/singleplayer/${PLAYER_NAME}/g"
   

5. Launch Battlefield 2142 (see above). The game will think you are offline (even if you are online).
6. Sign in with your dummy EA account name (pre- completed field) and just leave the password field blank. The game should give you the opportunity to play with your Singleplayer Profile.

To disable the Battlefield 2142 introductory video:

cd "${WINEPREFIX}/drive_c/Program Files/Electronic Arts/Battlefield 2142/mods/bf2142/Movies"
mv Intro.bik Intro.bik.bak

To disable the Battlefield 2142 Dice, EA & Legal information videos:

cd "${WINEPREFIX}/drive_c/Program Files/Electronic Arts/Battlefield 2142/mods/bf2142/Movies"
mv Dice.bik Dice.bik.bak
mv EA.bik EA.bik.bak
mv Legal.bik Legal.bik.bak

Moving any these 3 videos may cause issues launching Battlefield 2142.

See also PCGamingWiki: Battlefield 2142 Guide for further tweaks.

These are the currently supported, maximum, in-game Video settings.

Note: for older AMD (<5xxx)/Nvidia GPU's (<8xxx) and Intel GPU's it is recommended to set:

• LIGHTING
  Low
• DYNAMIC SHADOWS
  Off
  
• DYNAMIC LIGHT
  Off

Note: for all GPU's it is recommended to set:

• ANTI-ALIASING
  Off

Turning on AA may cause the game to crash or may result in it running with a completely black/blank screen
(all in-game elements will therefore be invisible!)