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Elder Scrolls Arena Guide

Discussion in 'Guides' started by booman, Dec 22, 2018.

  • by booman, Dec 22, 2018 at 2:18 PM
  • booman

    booman Grand High Exalted Mystic Emperor of Linux Gaming Staff Member

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    arena94.png

    he original 8-bit Action Role Playing game from Bethedsa Softworks. Before any of the famous Skyrim and Elder Scrolls Online, it started with Arena. Cast spells, complete quests, explore cities and wilderness with weather effects and day/night cycle and lots of NPC dialog.

    arena86.png

    Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Elder Scrolls Arena in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

    Note: This guide applies to the GOG version of Elder Scrolls Arena. Other versions may require additional steps.

    Tips & Specs:

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

    Mint 19 64-bit
    PlayOnLinux: 4.3.3
    Wine: 3.0.3

    Wine Installation

    Click Tools
    Select "Manage Wine Versions"
    wine01.png

    Look for the Wine Version: 3.0.3
    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 3.0.3 is installed and you can close this window

    We are using PlayOnLinux to install Arena initially, but later we will have an optional step using Linux DOSbox to play the game.

    PlayOnLinux Setup

    Launch PlayOnLinux
    Click Install
    elderscrollsarena01.png

    Click "Install a non-listed program"
    elderscrollsarena02.png

    Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
    Click Next
    elderscrollsarena03.png

    Name the virtual drive: elderscrollsarena
    Click Next
    elderscrollsarena04.png

    Check all three options:
    • Use another version of Wine
    • Configure Wine
    • Install some libraries
    Click Next
    elderscrollsarena05.png

    Select Wine 3.0.3
    Click Next
    elderscrollsarena06.png

    Select "32 bits windows installation"
    Click Next
    elderscrollsarena07.png

    Wine Configuration

    Applications Tab
    Windows Version: Windows XP
    Click Apply
    elderscrollsarena09.png

    Graphics Tab
    Check "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
    Click OK
    elderscrollsarena10.png

    PlayOnLinux Packages

    Check the following:
    • POL_Install_corefonts
    • POL_Install_d3dx9
    • POL_Install_tahoma
    Click Next
    elderscrollsarena11.png

    Note: We probably don't need any of these packages since Arena is a DOS game, but I install them anyways. Each package should automatically download and install.

    Click Browse

    Select "setup_tes_arena_2.0.0.5.exe"
    Click Open
    elderscrollsarena13.png

    Click Next again...

    Click Options
    Check "Yes, I have read and accept EULA"
    Uncheck "Create desktop icon"
    Click Install
    elderscrollsarena15.png

    Click OK on all errors
    elderscrollsarena16.png

    Click Exit
    elderscrollsarena17.png

    PlayOnLinux Shortcut

    Select "DOSBox.exe"
    Click Next
    elderscrollsarena18.png

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

    Go back to PlayOnLinux and click Run to play Arena

    Linux DOSBox option

    Install DOSBox in your software manager or package manager

    Create a folder in your /home/username
    Name it dosgames
    Copy the Arena game folder into dosgams
    Full path:
    Arena:
    Code:
    /home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/elderscrollsarena/Program Files/GOG Games/Arena
    dosgames:
    Code:
    /home/username/dosgames
    elderscrollsarena19.png

    DOSBox Install

    Launch DOSBox
    type:
    Code:
    mount C: /home/username/dosgames
    elderscrollsarena20.png

    Note: In place of "username" use your Linux login
    Code:
    Type:  c:
    Type:  cd arena
    Type:  Install
    
    elderscrollsarena21.png

    Press Enter
    elderscrollsarena22.png

    Go to Exit
    Press Enter
    elderscrollsarena24.png

    Note: No need to configure game or audio. We'll add that later in the launcher

    Now you will see two folder in dosgames
    • Arena
    • ARENA_CD
    Open Arena, copy all the files
    elderscrollsarena25.png

    Paste all the files in ARENA_CD
    Click Skip on duplicates
    elderscrollsarena26.png

    Back to DOSBox
    Type: mount d /home/username/dosgames/AREANA_CD -t cdrom
    elderscrollsarena27.png

    Code:
    Type:  cd arena_cd
    type:  d:
    type:  acd
    
    elderscrollsarena29.png

    Elder Scrolls Arena should now run without audio
    You can skip the prompts and exit the game
    elderscrollsarena30.png

    DOSBox Shortcut (Linux Mint)

    Go to the .dosbox directory
    Full path:
    Code:
    /home/username/.dosbox
    Copy dosbox-0.74.conf
    Rename it to: arena.conf
    elderscrollsarena32.png

    Open arena.conf
    Scroll down to the very bottom
    Enter the following commands:
    Code:
    mount c ~/dosgames -freesize 1000
    c:
    mount d ~/dosgames/ARENA_CD -t cdrom
    d:
    acd -Ssbpdig.adv -IOS220 -IRQS7 -DMAS1 -Msbp1fm.adv -IOM220 -IRQM7 -DMAM1
    
    elderscrollsarena33.png

    Note: These commands mount the C: drive, add extra hard drive space, mount the D: drive and add the audio options. Without -freesize 1000, you would get a hard drive error and the game gets buggy.

    You can also scroll up to the top and set fullscreen to "true"

    Right-Click Menu
    Click Configure
    Click Menu Tab
    Click "Open the menu editor"
    elderscrollsarena34.png

    Click Games
    Click "New Item"
    elderscrollsarena35.png

    Name: Elder Scrolls Arena
    Command: /user/bin/dosbox -conf /home/username/.doxbox/arena.conf
    Comment: whatever you want to add
    Click the Icon to set the games icon
    Click OK
    elderscrollsarena36.png

    Click Close
    elderscrollsarena37.png

    Now click Elder Scrolls Arena in your Menu under Games
    This will automatically launch DOSBox and start Arena
    You should also hear the MIDI audio

    Also, use Ctrl+F12 to speed up the CPU for a better frame rate

    Conclusion:
    Also all DOS games can be installed and run in this way using PlayOnLinux and DOSBox. I initially had a problem with a "hard drive space" warning and the game had graphical artifacts and was unplayable. But the switch -freesize 1000 fixed it. Now I can play fullscreen in 640x480, but the game will run really slow. Use Ctrl+F12 to speed up the CPU usage and it will run really well.

    Gameplay Video:


    Screenshots:
    arena80.png

    arena81.png

    arena83.png

    arena89.png

    arena92.png

    arena100.png

    arena102.png
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2018
    cloasters likes this.

Comments

Discussion in 'Guides' started by booman, Dec 22, 2018.

  1. cloasters
    You do SO much work for the good of the gaming and computing communities, I must say THANK YOU booman!

    Merry Christmas!
    booman likes this.
  2. booman
    Of course! I love helping gamers play all generations and genre's of games... specially in Linux. Who knew?

    Have a Merry Christmas as well!
    cloasters likes this.

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