Quake 2 Guide

Quake 2 is a highly nostalgic sequel to Quake by ID Software. They did release native Linux binaries, but I found it runs perfectly in PlayOnLinux and looks absolutely beautiful with the Berserker engine texture mods.

Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Quake II in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Note: This guide applies to the retail version of Quake II. Other versions may require additional steps.

Tips & Specs:

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

int 17 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.2
Wine: 1.6.2

Wine Installation

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"

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

Click Next

Downloading Wine

Extracting

Downloading Gecko

Installed

Wine 1.6.2 is installed and you can close this window

PlayOnLinux Setup

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install

Click "Install a non-listed program"

Click Next

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

Name your virtual drive: quake2
Click Next

Check all three options:

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

Click Next

Select Wine 1.6.2
Click Next

Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next

Wine Configuration

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

Installing Quake II

Click "Select another file"
Click Next

Click Browse

Navigate to your Quake II CD ROM
Select "Setup.exe"
Click Open

Click Next

Click Install

Click Next

Click Yes

Click "Register Later"

Click Maximum
Click Next

Click Install

Click Finish

PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select "quake2.exe"
Click Next

Name your shortcut: Quake 2
Click Next

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

Download Patch 3.20 Full

Go to: http://www.3dgw.com/hellsgates/files.htm
Click q2-3.20-x86-full-ctf.exe

Navigate to your desktop
Click Save

Back to PlayOnLinux
Click Configure

Click Miscellaneous Tab
Click "Run a .exe file in this virtual drive"

Navigate to your desktop
Select q2-3.20-x86-full-ctf.exe"
Click Open

Folder should have: c:\quake2
Click Unzip

Click OK

Installing Berserker Quake 2

Go to: http://www.moddb.com/mods/berserkerquake2/downloads/berserkerquake2-138-full
Click "Download Now"

Navigate to your Desktop
Click Save

Go to your Desktop
Double-click berserkerquake2_138full.zip
Click Extract

Navigate to your quake2 virtual drive
\home\username\.PlayOnLinux\wineprefix\quake2\drive_c\
Note: replace "username" with your login

Click "Create Folder"
Name it "berserker"
Open berserker
Click Extract

Copying pak files

Open both baseq2 and BaseQ2 in your Quake2 and berserker game folders
Copy all the files from baseq2 to BaseQ2

Berserker shortcut

Backto PlayOnLinux
Click Configure

Click General Tab
Click "Make a new shortcut from this virtual drive"

Select "Berserker.exe"
Click Next

Name your shortcut "Berserker Quake 2"
Click Next

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

Close Configure

Run Berserker Quake 2

Select "Berserker Quake 2"
Click Run

!IMPORTANT!
At first launch a Quake command line will appear
It will require 15-20 minutes to create all of the bsp maps and files
Please wait and then keep waiting
This will only happen once.

When Berserker Quake 2 finally launches You should already see the new textures and lighting in the demo

Press Esc
Click Video

Adjust the video mode to match your Linux desktop
Most of the other default settings should work unless you are on a laptop
Click More Options...

Adjust optional video settings to gain more frames per second
Click Esc to apply

Rule of Thumb:
Higher settings = More detail, lower frame rates
Lower settings = Less detail, higher frame rates

Conclusion:
I know there are native Linux binaries available for Quake 2, but I found that executable requires installing game files in /usr/local/games and the config in /etc
It gets kinda confusing and requires admin access. Not to mention the Berserker mod is not Linux compatible.
The Berserker mod is very optimized and ran extrememly well on my GeForce 550 Ti. Quake 2 now has modern textures, normals, specular maps, particle effects and lighting.

Screenshots:

 

 

Excelent game, good guide

 

Agreed! I admit I've never played through the whole game. I always hated the graphics, but now this modern look gives Quake II a whole new look.
I love it!

 

I think it is 15 years since I played this game if my memory is correct. Of course it didn't look this good then, the graphics were good for the time.

We actually used to play this game over the school network in computer class, instead of doing actual school work

Computers were still a mystery to most people back then and the school didn't have any proper security measures in place. Internet access was restricted on those machines, yet you could still go into system settings and enable full internet access. Ah the memories, haha.

 

I'm surprised those computers had a video card that would run Quake II.
Specially at school. I didn't have my own computer back then but I had a few friends in college who had computers and were playing Quake, Duke Nukem and other games over the network.
I always said "if someone taught me all the capabilities of computers when I was young, I would have majored in Computers for sure"

I finally had a friend help me build my first computer in 2003. My first video card was a GeForce MX 440. He gave me a copy of Windows 98 for free (cause there is no online activation) and I didn't have internet anyways.

 

That is another thing I love about computers vs consoles... Old games like Quake can be modded to look beautiful and run great on modern video cards.

 

I just noticed that my screenshots look darker than it does in game.
Not sure why, I think Linux desktop has brightness turned up, but the game is set for normal brightness.