Dirt 3 Guide

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DiRT needs not introduction!
Racing outdoors is the game....

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Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Dirt 3 Complete in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Note: This guide applies to the Steam version of Dirt 3 Complete. 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 17.3 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.10
Wine: 1.8.4

Wine Installation

Note: Wine versions older than 2.0.2 and 2.12-staging no longer work with Steam.


Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"
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Look for the Wine Version: 1.8.4
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right
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Click Next

Downloading Wine
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Extracting

Downloading Gecko
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Installed
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Wine 1.8.4 is installed and you can close this window

Downloading Steam

Go To: http://www.steampowered.com
Click Install Steam
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Do not click "Install Steam Now"
It will automatically install Linux Steam
Select Windows Steam instead
click "Windows" under the green button
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Navigate to your desktop
Click Save
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PlayOnLinux Setup

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install
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Click "install a non-listed program"
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Click Next

Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next
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Name your virtual drive: dirt
No spaces
Click Next
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Select all three options:
  • Use another version of Wine
  • Configure Wine
  • Install some libraries
Click Next
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Select Wine 1.8.4
Click Next
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Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next
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Configure Wine

Applications Tab
Windows Version: Windows 7
Click Apply
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Graphics Tab
Check: Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows
Check: Emulate a virtual desktop
Desktop size: 1024x768
Click Ok
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PlayOnLinux Packages (Libraries, Components, DLL's)

Check the following libraries:
  • POL_Install_corefonts
  • POL_Install_d3dx9
  • POL_Install_tahoma
  • POL_Install_vcrun2010
Click Next
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Note: All packages will automatically download and install

Installing Steam

Click Browse
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Navigate to your desktop
Select: SteamSetup.exe
Click Open
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Click Next

Click Next

Check: I accept the license...
Click Next

Click Next

Click Next

Click Install

Click Finish

Updating Steam

Click the "X" to close Steam login
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PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select Steam.exe
Click Next
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Name your shortcut: Dirt 3 Complete
Click Next
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Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next
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PlayOnLinux Configure

Back to PlayOnLinux
Click Configure
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General Tab
Arguments: -no-dwrite
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Note: Click the + to download other versions of Wine. Click the down-arrow to select other versions of wine

Display Tab
Video Memory Size: Select the size of Memory your video card/chip uses
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Close Configure

Setting DirectX 9

Without forcing Dirt 3 to run in DirectX 9 it will crash because Wine does not support DirectX 10/11 yet.
Go to:
Code:
/home/username/Documents/My Games/DiRT3/hardwaresettings/

Note: Replace username with your login

Open
hardware_settings_config.xml
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Look for these lines
Code:
<directx forcedx9="false" />
Change to
Code:
<directx forcedx9="true" />
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Save it

Launching Steam

Select Dirt 3 Complete
Click Run
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Note: Click debug to see errors and bugs.

Click "Login to existing account"
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Login
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Go to your Library
Select "DiRT 3 Complete"
Click Install
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Uncheck "Create desktop shortcut"
Uncheck "Create start menu shortcut"
Click Next
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Click Finish
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Wait while Dirt 3 Complete downloads
Click Play
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Optimization

Click Options
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Click "Graphics Options"
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Adjust:
  • Resolution
  • Refresh Rate
  • Multisampling
  • Vsync
  • Aspect Ratio
  • Gamma
  • Detail
  • Night Lighting
  • Shadows
  • Particles
  • Mirrors
  • Crowd
  • Groundcover
  • Distant Vehicles
  • Objects
  • Trees
  • Vehicle Reflections
  • Water
  • Post Processing
  • Skidmarks
  • Ambient Occlusion
  • Cloth
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Rule of Thumb:
High settings = More detail, lower frame rates
Low settings = Less detail, higher frame rates

Conclusion:
Dirt 3 Complete ran really well on my Geforce GTX 950 in PlayOnLinux. I didn't change any of the default graphical settings and it still ran perfectly. Unfortunately it didn't recognize my Logitech Dual-Shock controller. So I had to play with the keyboard. I was also told that you can boost the frame rates by renaming the effects.xml in postprocess folder, but I didn't test this due to great frame rates.

Gameplay Video:

Screenshots:
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Last edited:
I posted these specs in the Youtube video.
Mint 17.3 64-bit
GeForce GTX 950
Nvidia 370
PlayOnLinux 4.2.10
Wine 1.8.4

I don't remember what frames per second I was getting, but it ran smoothly.
 
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