The Command and Conquer RTS games started in 1995. The First title was Command & Conquer. Shortly afterwards another version Red Alert was released. Both games are God View and require base building and resource mangement. Command & Conquer are based on Sci-Fi and Red Alert is a sort of alternative history.

Command & Conquer is the Global Defense Initiative vs. the Brotherhood of NOD.
Both versions got updates and expansions. Up to and include Command & Conquer 4 and Red Alert 3. Also in the Command & Conquer series is Generals. Generals is a more realistic near future game played much the same way as Command & Conquer and Red Alert.
Last release date for any of these titles was around 2010 with the exception of C&C Tiberian Alliances that was released for free in 2013.



Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing C&C: Red Alert Uprising in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Note: This guide applies to the Steam version of C&C Red Alert 3 - Uprising. Other versions may require additional steps.

Tips & Specs

Try SteamPlay before using this guide as Valve now uses a fork of Wine called Proton and should run most Windows games.

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

Mint 14 32-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.1
Wine: 1.7

Installing Wine

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"

Look for the Wine Version: 1.7
Note: Try using stable Wine 1.8 and 1.8-staging

Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right


Click Next

Wine Download Wizard


PlayOnLinux will automatically download it and save it in this directory:
/home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wine/linux-x86

Note: username is where you put your login name

Its a good idea to backup this directory to another computer because you won't have to keep downloading wine versions when you need them.

Extracting


Gecko downloading


Installed


Wine 1.7 is installed and you can close this window

Downloading Steam

Go To: http://www.steampowered.com
Click Install Steam


Do not click "Install Steam Now"
It will automatically install Linux Steam. Since Red Alert 3: Uprising isn't made for Linux, we will download the Windows Steam instead.
click "Windows" under the green button


Navigate to your desktop
Click Save


Setup PlayOnLinux

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install


Click "install a non-listed program"


Click Next

Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next


Name you virtual drive: redalert3
No spaces
Click Next


Select all three options:

• Use another version of Wine
• Configure Wine
• Install some libraries

Click Next


Select Wine 1.7
Click Next


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 32-bit virtual drive.

Configure Wine

Applications Tab
Windows Version: Windows XP
Click Apply


Graphics Tab
Check: Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows
Check: Emulate a virtual desktop
Desktop size: 1024x768
Click Ok


Install Libraries

Check the following libraries:

• POL_Install_corefonts
• POL_Install_d3dx9
• POL_Install_registeredfonts
• POL_Install_tahoma
• POL_Install_vcrun2005
• POL_Install_msxml3

Click Next
All libraries will automatically download and install


Installing Steam

Click Browse


Navigate to your desktop
Select: SteamInstall.msi
Click Open


Click Next

Click Next

Check: I accept the license...
Click Next

Click Next

Click Next

Click Install

Click Finish

Updating Steam


More updating, extracting and installing


When Steam is done installing the login screen will pop up. You probably won't see any text because there is a font bug.
Click the "X" to close Steam login

PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select Steam.exe
Click Next


Name your shortcut: Red Alert 3 Uprising
Click Next


Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next


More PlayOnLinux Configuration

Back to PlayOnLinux
Click Configure
Select Steam virtual drive

General Tab
Arguments: -no-dwrite -no-cef-sandbox
This fixes the missing font and store problem


Note: -no-dwrite only works if you launch Steam from PlayOnLinux. Steam is automatically set to launch when Windows starts, which means if you do a "Windows Reboot" from the Wine tab -no-dwrite won't execute. Just close Steam and try again.

Display Tab
Direct Draw Renderer: opengl
Video Memory Size: size of memory on your video card
Offscreen rendering mode: fbo


Wine Tab
Click "Windows reboot"
Close Steam because it will automatically launch when Windows reboots and won't execute -no-dwrite.


Close Configure

Launch Red Alert 3 Uprising

Select Red Aleart 3 Uprising
Click Run


Login to Steam

Select: Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising
Click Install


Click Next

Click "I agree"

Click Next

Click Finish

Wait for download to finish

Click Play


Click Play


Wait for Microsoft VC Redist Package to install


Create a profile name


Optimizing Red Alert 3 Uprising

Click Options


Click Settings


Select a resolution
If your computer can't handle the same resolution of your desktop, then you will have to change the Linux desktop resolution to match the game for full screen. Or go back to Wine configuration and uncheck "virtual desktop"
Click Confirm


Graphics Presets
Select a preset for all the graphical settings. I suggest starting low and working your way up. If the game has really high frames per second, then move it up one. If you are satisfied with the frame rate and visual appearance, then its a good setting for game play.
Click Confirm


Conclusion:
Steam installed and work great as usual. Don't forget if you do a Wine Windows Reboot and Steam will launch without fonts. The argument -no-dwrite fixes this problem with almost any version of Wine. Red Alert 3 Uprising ran perfectly with high resolution and video settings on high.

Screenshots: