Space Cadet Pinball is the classic game bundled with Windows XP. I remember playing it when I was younger and invested many hours clanking the metal ball around. In Space Cadet you have to complete missions for extra points which usually means hitting targets or successfully aiming the ball into hard-to-reach areas. Its quite rewarding for such a simple game.



Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Space Cadet Pinball in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Tips & Specs:

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

Mint 18.3 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.12
Wine: 3.0

Wine Installation

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"


Look for the Wine Version: 3.0
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right


Click Next

Downloading Wine


Extracting

Downloading Gecko


Installed


Wine 3.0 is installed and you can close this window

Search Online for Space Cadet Pinball Download
It should be about 1.4 Megabytes
Download the EXE installer and save to your Desktop

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: spacecadet
Click Next


Check all three options:

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

Click Next


Select Wine 3.0
Click Next


Select "32 bits installation"
Click Next


Wine Configuration

Windows Version: windows XP
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_d3dx9
• POL_Install_tahoma

Click Next


Note: All packages should automatically download and install

Click Browse

Select Space Cadet Installer
Click Open


Click Next again...

Click Install


PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select "pinball.exe"
Click Next


Name the Shortcut: Space Cadet Pinball
Click Next


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


PlayOnLinux Configure

Select "Space Cadet Pinball"
Click Configure


General Tab
Wine version: 3.0


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

Click Run


Note: Click debug to see errors and bugs

Conclusion:
I couldn't find an offical Space Cadet Pinball download from Microsoft, so I had to download it from other hosting sites. Be careful where you download it from and even scan the download on antivirus websites to be extra sure its safe. Other than that, it ran perfectly. The resolution is super small like 640x480 and it will only play in a window.