Beam is a sci-fi platform puzzle game where you control a pressurized metal sphere. This sphere can travel across light beams to progress through the ship by modifying their properties. Beams can be used in different ways to solve puzzles and reach areas of the ship.
Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Beam in Linux with PlayOnLinux.
Note: This guide applies to the itch.io demo version of Beam. Other versions may require additional steps.
Tips & Specs:
To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual: PlayOnLinux Explained
Mint 19 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.3.4
Wine: 4.0
DXVK: 1.0.1
Wine Installation
Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"
Look for the Wine Version: 4.0
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right
Click Next
Downloading Wine
Extracting
Installed
Click (amd64) Tab
Select 4.0
Click the arrow pointing to the right
Downloading Wine 64-bit
Installed
Wine 4.0 32-bit and 64-bit is installed, you can close this window
Download Beam on itch.io
https://binaryimpact.itch.io/beam
Save to your Desktop
PlayOnLinux Setup
Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install
Click "Install a non-listed program"
Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next
Name the virtual drive: beam
Click Next
Check the following:
- Use another version of Wine
- Configure Wine
- Install some libraries
Select Wine 4.0
Click Next
Select "64 bits windows installation"
Click Next
Wine Configuration
Applications Tab
Windows version: Windows 7
Libraries Tab
Type the following:
- d3dx10
- d3dx10_1
- d3dx10core
- d3dx11
- dxgi
Change to: Native (Windows)
Click Apply
Graphics Tab
Check "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
Click OK
PlayOnLinux Packages (DLLs, Libraries, Components)
Check the following:
- POL_Install_corefonts
- POL_Install_d3dx10
- POL_Install_d3dx11
- POL_Install_d3dx9
- POL_Install_tahoma
Note: All packages should automatically download and install
Do not Click Browse
Beam demo does not have an installer
Click Cancel
Open Beam_Demo.zip with Archive Manager
Click Extract
Navigate to the Programs Folder in your beam virtual drive
Full Path:
Code:
/home/username/wineprefix/beam/drive_c/Program Files/Type: beam
Click Create
Click Extract
DXVK
Prepare your Linux for DXVK
Download DXVK 1.0.1
https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/releases/tag/v1.0.1
Save to your Desktop
Extract and Open the directory
Copy all the DLLs in x64 folder
Paste the DLLs in the Beam folder you created earlier
Full path:
Code:
/home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/beam/drive_c/Program Files/beamPlayOnLinux Configure
Back to PlayOnLinux
Click Configure
General Tab
Click "Make a new shortcut from this virtual drive"
Select "Beam.exe"
Click Next
Name the shortcut: Beam
Click Next
Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next
General Tab
Wine version: 4.0
Note: Click the + to download other versions of Wine. Click the down-arrow to select other versions of Wine
Display Tab
Video memory size: Enter the amount of memory your video card/chip uses
Close Configure
Select "Beam"
Click Run
Note: Click debug to see errors and bugs
Unity Launcher
Adjust resolution and Quality
Click Play
Conclusion:
Beam demo ran perfectly the first time I tested it because of DXVK. I was able to load the demo levels and play without any performance issues and the controls were very responsive.
Gameplay Video:
Screenshots:
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