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Mass Effect Guide

Discussion in 'Guides' started by booman, Jul 5, 2013.

  • by booman, Jul 5, 2013 at 9:35 PM
  • booman

    booman Grand High Exalted Mystic Emperor of Linux Gaming Staff Member

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    If you love Sci-fi over-the-shoulder shooters with an immersive story, role playing elements, amazing voice acting, epic themes, squad based action, weapon customization and stunning graphics... Mass Effect is your game!

    On top of all that, it runs GREAT in Linux!
    Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Mass Effect in PlayOnLinux.

    masseffect47a.png

    Note: This guide applies to the Retail version only. Downloaded and Steam versions may require additional steps.

    Tips & Specs

    To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual:
    PlayOnLinux Explained

    Mint 14 32-bit
    PlayOnLinux: 4.2
    Wine: 1.5.25

    Installing Wine with PlayOnLinux

    Installing different versions of Wine is necessary for running different games because one Wine doesn't work for them all. PlayOnLinux makes it possible to download, install and test your game in all the versions of Wine until you find the right one for your speicific game.

    Launch PlayOnLinux
    Click Tools
    Click "Manage Wine Versions"

    Wine versions manager
    Select 1.5.25
    Click the right-arrow
    wine01.png

    Note: Try using stable Wine 1.8 and 1.8-staging

    Wine wizard

    Click Next
    wine02.png

    Downloading...
    wine03.png

    Extracting
    wine04.png

    Complete
    wine05.png

    Thats it! Try downloading other stable versions like 1.41

    Copying DVD data

    Before we actually get to the installation, its a really good idea to copy all of the data from both DVD's to a folder on the desktop and install from there.
    I've experienced issues with installing from multiple CD ROMs and DVD ROMs.

    Begin by creating a new folder on your desktop. Name it "masseffect"

    Insert DVD Disk 1 and copy all data from the disk to your new "masseffect" folder on the desktop.
    masseffect01a.png

    Finished copying Disk 1 data
    masseffect02a.png

    Insert Disk 2
    Select the following files:
    • french.rar
    • german.rar
    • isact_de.rar
    • isact_fr.rar
    • isact_it.rar
    • italian.rar
    Copy to your new "masseffect" folder on your desktop
    masseffect03a.png

    When finished the folder should be at least 12 Gigs in size.

    Note: Re-insert Disk 1 to allow the game to launch properly later

    Finished
    masseffect04a.png

    Setup PlayOnLinux

    Launch PlayOnLinux
    Click "Install"
    masseffect05.png

    Click "Install a non-listed program"

    Manual Installation
    Click Next
    masseffect08.png

    Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
    Click Next
    masseffect08.png

    Name your Virtual Drive (no spaces): masseffect
    Click Next
    masseffect09.png

    Select all three options:
    • Use another version of Wine
    • Configure Wine
    • Install some libraries
    Click Next
    masseffect10.png

    Note: If you are running a 64-bit system, PlayOnLinux will prompt if you want to use a 64-bit or 32-bit virtual drive.
    ALWAYS SELECT THE 32-bit VIRTUAL DRIVE

    Wine Setup

    Wine Version
    Select Wine: 1.5.25
    Click Next
    masseffect11.png

    Wine Configuration
    masseffect12.png

    Application Tab
    Windows Version: Windows 7
    Click Apply
    masseffect13.png

    Graphics Tab
    Check: Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows
    Check: Emulate a virtual desktop
    Desktop Size: 1024x768
    Click OK
    masseffect14.png

    Install Libraries
    Check: POL_Install_d3dx9
    Check: POL_Install_vcrun2005
    Click Next

    Installing Libraries
    masseffect17.png

    Manual Installation
    Select: Select another file
    Click Next
    masseffect18.png

    Click Browse
    masseffect19.png

    Navigate to your "masseffect" folder on the desktop
    Select: setup.exe
    Click Open

    masseffect20.png

    Click Next
    masseffect21.png

    Installing Mass Effect

    Installer Language
    Select Language
    Click OK

    Welcome
    Click Next

    License Agreement
    Select "I agree"
    Click "I agree"

    Registration Code
    Enter the Registration Code from the insert in the Retail box
    Click Next

    Install Type
    Select: Express Install
    Click Install

    Installing...

    Note: I got a crash error with Wine. Just click close on the error and PlayOnLinux will continue

    Configure PlayOnLinux

    Shortcut
    Select: MassEffect.exe
    Click Next
    masseffect29.png

    Name the shortcut: Mass Effect
    Click Next
    masseffect30.png

    Optional Shortcut
    Select: MassEffectLauncher.exe
    Click Next
    masseffect31.png

    Name optional shortcut
    Name the optional shortcut: Mass Effect Launcher

    Note: The launcher allows you to setup options before launching the game

    Click Next
    masseffect32.png

    Select: I don't want to make another shortcut
    Click Next
    masseffect33.png

    PlayOnLinux Configuration

    Go back to PlayOnLinux
    Click "Configure"
    masseffect34.png

    Select your "Masseffect" Virtual Drive
    Click Display Tab
    masseffect35.png

    Direct Draw Renderer: opengl
    Video memory size:the size of memory on your video card
    Offscreen rendering mode:fbo

    Reboot Windows
    Click Wine Tab
    Click Windows Reboot
    masseffect36.png


    First Launch

    Launch Mass Effect
    masseffect37.png

    Whenever I select the Mass Effect shortcut in PlayOnLinux I would get this error.
    Click OK
    Ignore the error and click "Run"

    Note: Launch your Mass Effect Launcher first to configure your video options.

    Options
    Click Options
    masseffect38.png

    Click Settings
    masseffect39.png

    Click Graphics
    masseffect40.png

    Graphics Settings

    I started with a resolution of 1360x765 16:9
    Textures on Ultra-High
    Motion Blur On
    Film Grain No masseffect41a.png

    Note: If you are getting graphical artifacts or extremely slow frame rates, experiment with these Graphics settings. Also try adjusting them with the Mass Effect Launcher first. It may take some time to get the setting just right.

    Conclusion:
    Mass Effect ran perfectly in Linux Mint with PlayOnLinux. I played for several hours and didn't have any crashing, errors or artifacts.

    One side-effect of playing games in Linux is after you quit the game, your desktop resolution will stay the same resolution set in-game. Just set it back with Linux Preferences.

    Screenshots:
    masseffect43a.png

    masseffect44a.png

    masseffect45a.png

    masseffect46a.png

    masseffect48a.png

    masseffect49a.png
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2019

Comments

Discussion in 'Guides' started by booman, Jul 5, 2013.

  1. booman
    High Quality Screenshots:

    masseffect43.png

    masseffect44.png

    masseffect45.png

    masseffect46.png

    masseffect47.png

    masseffect48.png

    masseffect49.png
  2. ChrisBondWindows
    Fabulous game, I just finished the third one in the series!
    booman likes this.
  3. booman
    I have always heard really good reviews about the whole series! I finally found them on sale at Amazon. So I picked up 1 & 3. Then I got 2 for Christmas.
    i've only played enough to verify that its running in Linux, but i'm planning to start Mass Effect 1 in the next few weeks.
    I love the dialog an epic story! The graphics are stunning and the weapons/abilities just add to the fun.
    I can't wait to dive in!
  4. Dreizehn
    I have just registered to say thank you so much for this. I always had problems understanding wine and also playonlinux but your tutorial helped me to install and run Mass Effect.
    I did not find out how to use it on fullscreen but that's so minor. ^^ It is awesome as it is.
    booman likes this.
  5. booman
    Welcome to the Forum! And... you are welcome.
    Usually for fullscreen I check the Wine configuration for virtual desktop, then I set the desktop size the same as my Linux desktop... ex: 1680x1050

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