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.



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"


Look for the Wine Version: 3.0.3
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right


Click Next

Downloading Wine


Extracting

Downloading Gecko


Installed


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


Click "Install a non-listed program"


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


Name the virtual drive: elderscrollsarena
Click Next


Check all three options:

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

Click Next


Select Wine 3.0.3
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"
Click OK


PlayOnLinux Packages

Check the following:

• POL_Install_corefonts
• POL_Install_d3dx9
• POL_Install_tahoma

Click Next


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


Click Next again...

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


Click OK on all errors


Click Exit


PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select "DOSBox.exe"
Click Next


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

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


Go to Exit
Press Enter


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


Paste all the files in ARENA_CD
Click Skip on duplicates


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

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


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


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"


Click Games
Click "New Item"


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


Click Close


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: