Wing Commander Saga: The Darkest Dawn Guide

Battle the Kilrathi in open space, fight in skirmishes or full-scale fleet battles and complete missions for the Terran Confederation to save Earth.

commander82.png


commander84.png


Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Wing Commander Saga: The Darkest Dawn in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Note: This guide applies to the Downloaded version of Wing Commander Saga: The Darkest Dawn. Other versions may require additional steps.

Tips & Specs:

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

Mint 17 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.4
Wine: 1.6.2

Wine Installation

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"
wine01.png


Look for the Wine Version: 1.6.2
Note: Try using stable Wine 1.8 and 1.8-staging

Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right
wine02.png


Click Next

Downloading Wine
wine04.png


Extracting

Downloading Gecko
wine05.png


Installed
wine06.png


Wine 1.6.2 is installed and you can close this window

Download Wing Commander Saga: The Darkest Dawn

Go to: http://www.gamershell.com/download_87172.shtml
Or other mirrors: Darkest Dawn
Click Download
wcommand01.png


Navigate to your Desktop
Click Save
wcommand02.png


Note: You will need to extract the game files to your desktop

PlayOnLinux Setup

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install
wcommand03.png


Click "install a non-listed program"
wcommand04.png


Click Next

Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next
wcommand06.png


Name your virtual drive: wingcommander
Click Next
wcommand07.png


Check all three options:
  • Use another version of Wine
  • Configure Wine
  • Install some libraries

Click Next
wcommand08.png


Select Wine 1.6.2
Click Next
wcommand09.png


Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next
wcommand11.png


Wine Configuration

Applications Tab
Windows version: Windows 7
Click Apply
wcommand12.png


Graphics Tab
Check "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
Check "Emulate a virtual desktop"
Desktop size: 1024x768
Click OK
wcommand13.png


Installing Packages (Libraries, Components, DLL's)

Check the following:
  • POL_Install_corefonts
  • POL_Install_d3dx9
  • POL_Install_dotnet20
  • POL_Install_gdiplus
  • POL_Install_tahoma
Click Next

Note: All libraries will automatically download and install

Installing Wing Commander

Click Browse
wcommand14.png


Navigate to your Desktop
Select darkest-dawn-setup.exe"
Click Open
wcommand15.png


Click Next

Click Next
wcommand17.png


Click Next
wcommand18.png


Check "I agree to these terms..."
click Next
wcommand19.png


Click Install
wcommand20.png


Installing...
wcommand21.png


Leave "Install OpenAL" checked
Click Finish
wcommand22.png


Open AL Installation
Click OK
wcommand23.png


Complete
Click OK

PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select "wcsaga_sse2.exe"
Click Next
wcommand25.png


Name your shortcut: Wing Commander Saga
Click Next
wcommand26.png


Click Next

PlayOnLinux Configure

Back to PlayOnLinux
Select Wing Commander Saga
Click Configure
wcommand27.png


General Tab
Wine Version: 1.6.2
Note: Click the + to download other versions of Wine
Note: Click the down-arrow to select other versions of Wine
wcommand28.png


Display Tab
Video Memory size: Select the amount of memory your video card/chip uses
wcommand29.png


Wing Commander Resolution

Wine Tab
Click Registry Editor
wcommand30.png


Go To: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Volition/WingCommanderSaga
wcommand31.png


Right-click and select: New, String Value
wcommand32.png


Name it: VideocardFs2open

Double-click VideocardFs2open

Value data: OGL -(1920x1080)x32bit
Click OK
wcommand33.png


Note: Enter the resolution to match your Linux desktop

The entry should appear like this
wcommand34.png


Close the Registry

Wine Tab
Click Windows Reboot
wcommand30.png


Close Configure

Launching Wing Commander Saga

Back to PlayOnLinux
Select Wing Commander Saga
Click Run
wcommand35.png


Note: Click debug to see console errors and bugs

Click Options
wcommand36.png


Click detail
wcommand37.png


Adjust Model, Nebula, textures, particles, impact effects, shield effects, stars, lighting, planets, weapon extras
Click Accept
wcommand38.png


Conclusion:
Wing Commander Saga: Darkest Dawn runs great in PlayOnLinux with my GeForece 550 Ti. Once you get past setting the fullscreen resolution in the registry, everything looks beautiful. I'm also pleased with the mouse integration. Very professional for a free game.

Screenshots:
commander80.png


commander81.png


commander83.png


commander85.png


commander86.png
 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
U
I see that this guide was written over four years ago, but maybe someone might still have an answer. I have followed the guide to the letter, but when I get ready to make changes to the registry, there is no

Code: 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Volition/WingCommanderSaga

I have removed and re-did this install from beginning to end, but each time, there is Volition/WingCommanderSaga to make any changes. Is there anyway to create a Volition/WingCommanderSaga directory in order to add the key?
 
booman
Hmm, strange... so you don't see a Volition folder?
Yes you can create it, but if its not there, it probably didn't install correctly.
Can you play it in the original resolution? 800x600
Maybe the game has to be launched one time for the Volition folder to populate.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top