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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.
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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"
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Look for the Wine Version: 3.0.3
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 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
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Click "Install a non-listed program"
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Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next
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Name the virtual drive: elderscrollsarena
Click Next
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Check all three options:
Click Next
- Use another version of Wine
- Configure Wine
- Install some libraries
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Select Wine 3.0.3
Click Next
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Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next
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Wine Configuration
Applications Tab
Windows Version: Windows XP
Click Apply
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Graphics Tab
Check "Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
Click OK
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PlayOnLinux Packages
Check the following:
Click Next
- POL_Install_corefonts
- POL_Install_d3dx9
- POL_Install_tahoma
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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
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Click Next again...
Click Options
Check "Yes, I have read and accept EULA"
Uncheck "Create desktop icon"
Click Install
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Click OK on all errors
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Click Exit
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PlayOnLinux Shortcut
Select "DOSBox.exe"
Click Next
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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:dosgames:Code:/home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/elderscrollsarena/Program Files/GOG Games/ArenaCode:/home/username/dosgames![]()
DOSBox Install
Launch DOSBox
type:Code:mount C: /home/username/dosgames![]()
Note: In place of "username" use your Linux login
Code:Type: c: Type: cd arena Type: Install![]()
Press Enter
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Go to Exit
Press Enter
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Note: No need to configure game or audio. We'll add that later in the launcher
Now you will see two folder in dosgames
Open Arena, copy all the files
- Arena
- ARENA_CD
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Paste all the files in ARENA_CD
Click Skip on duplicates
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Back to DOSBox
Type: mount d /home/username/dosgames/AREANA_CD -t cdrom
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Code:Type: cd arena_cd type: d: type: acd![]()
Elder Scrolls Arena should now run without audio
You can skip the prompts and exit the game
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DOSBox Shortcut (Linux Mint)
Go to the .dosbox directory
Full path:Copy dosbox-0.74.confCode:/home/username/.dosbox
Rename it to: arena.conf
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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![]()
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"
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Click Games
Click "New Item"
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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
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Click Close
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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:
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Comments
Discussion in 'Guides' started by booman, Dec 22, 2018.
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