If you love Sci-fi over-the-shoulder shooters with an immersive story, role playing elements, amazing voice acting, epic themes, squad based action, weapon customization and stunning graphics... Mass Effect is your game!

On top of all that, it runs GREAT in Linux!
Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Mass Effect in PlayOnLinux.



Note: This guide applies to the Retail version only. Downloaded and Steam versions may require additional steps.

Tips & Specs

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

Mint 14 32-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2
Wine: 1.5.25

Installing Wine with PlayOnLinux

Installing different versions of Wine is necessary for running different games because one Wine doesn't work for them all. PlayOnLinux makes it possible to download, install and test your game in all the versions of Wine until you find the right one for your speicific game.

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Tools
Click "Manage Wine Versions"

Wine versions manager
Select 1.5.25
Click the right-arrow


Note: Try using stable Wine 1.8 and 1.8-staging

Wine wizard

Click Next


Downloading...


Extracting


Complete


Thats it! Try downloading other stable versions like 1.41

Copying DVD data

Before we actually get to the installation, its a really good idea to copy all of the data from both DVD's to a folder on the desktop and install from there.
I've experienced issues with installing from multiple CD ROMs and DVD ROMs.

Begin by creating a new folder on your desktop. Name it "masseffect"

Insert DVD Disk 1 and copy all data from the disk to your new "masseffect" folder on the desktop.


Finished copying Disk 1 data


Insert Disk 2
Select the following files:

• french.rar
• german.rar
• isact_de.rar
• isact_fr.rar
• isact_it.rar
• italian.rar

Copy to your new "masseffect" folder on your desktop


When finished the folder should be at least 12 Gigs in size.

Note: Re-insert Disk 1 to allow the game to launch properly later

Finished


Setup PlayOnLinux

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click "Install"


Click "Install a non-listed program"

Manual Installation
Click Next


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


Name your Virtual Drive (no spaces): masseffect
Click Next


Select all three options:

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

Click Next


Note: If you are running a 64-bit system, PlayOnLinux will prompt if you want to use a 64-bit or 32-bit virtual drive.
ALWAYS SELECT THE 32-bit VIRTUAL DRIVE

Wine Setup

Wine Version
Select Wine: 1.5.25
Click Next


Wine Configuration


Application Tab
Windows Version: Windows 7
Click Apply


Graphics Tab
Check: Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows
Check: Emulate a virtual desktop
Desktop Size: 1024x768
Click OK


Install Libraries
Check: POL_Install_d3dx9
Check: POL_Install_vcrun2005
Click Next

Installing Libraries


Manual Installation
Select: Select another file
Click Next


Click Browse


Navigate to your "masseffect" folder on the desktop
Select: setup.exe
Click Open



Click Next


Installing Mass Effect

Installer Language
Select Language
Click OK

Welcome
Click Next

License Agreement
Select "I agree"
Click "I agree"

Registration Code
Enter the Registration Code from the insert in the Retail box
Click Next

Install Type
Select: Express Install
Click Install

Installing...

Note: I got a crash error with Wine. Just click close on the error and PlayOnLinux will continue

Configure PlayOnLinux

Shortcut
Select: MassEffect.exe
Click Next


Name the shortcut: Mass Effect
Click Next


Optional Shortcut
Select: MassEffectLauncher.exe
Click Next


Name optional shortcut
Name the optional shortcut: Mass Effect Launcher

Note: The launcher allows you to setup options before launching the game

Click Next


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


PlayOnLinux Configuration

Go back to PlayOnLinux
Click "Configure"


Select your "Masseffect" Virtual Drive
Click Display Tab


Direct Draw Renderer: opengl
Video memory size:the size of memory on your video card
Offscreen rendering mode:fbo

Reboot Windows
Click Wine Tab
Click Windows Reboot



First Launch

Launch Mass Effect


Whenever I select the Mass Effect shortcut in PlayOnLinux I would get this error.
Click OK
Ignore the error and click "Run"

Note: Launch your Mass Effect Launcher first to configure your video options.

Options
Click Options


Click Settings


Click Graphics


Graphics Settings

I started with a resolution of 1360x765 16:9
Textures on Ultra-High
Motion Blur On
Film Grain No

Note: If you are getting graphical artifacts or extremely slow frame rates, experiment with these Graphics settings. Also try adjusting them with the Mass Effect Launcher first. It may take some time to get the setting just right.

Conclusion:
Mass Effect ran perfectly in Linux Mint with PlayOnLinux. I played for several hours and didn't have any crashing, errors or artifacts.

One side-effect of playing games in Linux is after you quit the game, your desktop resolution will stay the same resolution set in-game. Just set it back with Linux Preferences.

Screenshots: