Wow... its finally here, the Linux client. I knew it was in the making but I wasn't sure when it would be out. Now that its here, I'm very curious to see how well it would run on other POSIX systems but I think it would be cool to start with something simple first. So my first distributions I tested on was Linspire (formerly Lindows) version 5.0. For those of you unfamiliar with this distro, it is a commercial distro you can buy off the shelf at Best Buy and other stores. It is configured with much of its own proprietary software to make it easy for non-experienced users to use (which is obvious because it aims to be an easy alternative for Windows users). Its primary (easy to use) method of installing software is a service of their own called CNR (Click n Run) which costs $19.99 year for normal server and $49.99 for gold service (gives discounts on commercial packages such as Cedega, StarOffice, etc). The other available method is by using the Debian package system which comes with it and you can also download and install RPM if want..
Lindows, regarding the evolution of its easy to use interface for non-geeks (while not sacrificing the important flexibilities it needs) has a way to go but its doing very well thus far (my parents use it with no problem).
So here we go.
tar zxmvf SecondLife*.gz (yes im lazy)
cd Second*
./secondlife
Uh oh... First problem... libz (or zlib) cannot be found which is Linspire Annoyance #1
Annoyance #1: Linspire by default is missing many libraries which some external apps may need. However, CNR has most of them available for download but there may be complications for those who do not have CNR service and must use the Debian package system instead
Solution: I looked for libz in CNR. It came up with a wide range of packages with the same first 4 letters. Its "zlib-bin" which is a compression library an some example code. After installed the problem was solved.
Wow.... there was that beautiful login screen Ive been waiting a long time for. I enter my information and the game loads every bit as well as it does on Windows; so far so good. My avatar comes up as well as the rest of the world and then Annoyance #2 came up..... I couldn't move! Well, actually I could when I found out I needed to use the arrow keys.
Annoyance #2: AWSD keys do not work for movement keys. If you're like me and commonly use the keys to move (and EC to fly up and down), I have bad news. You'll have to use the arrows keys and page up/down to move and fly which is an annoying reach. I'm sure that annoyance will be fixed down the road.
Ok, I'm moving around the world now saying hi to friends. As I'm going around I'm noticing the textures are dithered. Though I know objects at a distance take longer to render it was concerning to me when I got up close to each object and they were taking forever to become clear at any distance (I changed around my settings quite a bit to experiment but the problem remained. I have a GeForce4 FX5600 256MB DDR AGP (see my computer specs in the next post).
Annoyance #3: Slow Texture Rendering. I don't know if its my system or the alpha client. Only time will tell that. Don't ask me for a solution because I just don't know for sure. Maybe later when I become a programmer.
Still with the slow texture rendering problems, the game ran very smooth with no flickering and very little lag in most places in which I was very impressed, if not, excited! And I would cheer in game if I could however, there is no sound which is (surprise) Annoyance #4. However, this is an annoyance that could affect gameplay for Linxpire users in the future so I hope the Linden catch this.
Annoyance #4: No sound. That and JACKD sucks!! I'm sure the no sound issue will be fixed quite soon as for my guess, its just not implemented completely in the Linux Alpha Client. My concern is more based on what Linspire loves to use as its sound system. Linspire uses jackd which in turn uses ALSA. It sucks because it tends to drain down your CPU when something goes wrong and doesn't work well with some cards if at all. There are many games I can't play with sound because of it. In many cases Linspires plays many games with sound by adding an audio wrapper to the executable. For example, if I were to click on Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory it would literally run it as this on the command line: "/usr/bin/audiowrapper --alsa /usr/games/enemy-territory/et". I hope this doesn't become an issue but jackd loves to hog up the audio device for itself leaving other programs to generate errors staying the device it busy. Grrr!
Solution: Burn jackd!!! Ok! seriously... You're best bet is to do a "kill -9" on jackd before running SecondLife.
So thats how it stands. I love it so far as it is usable out of the box err-- well, off the main site. I can work on my condos, do business, and talk to friends.
Thats all for Jan 5, 2006. FreeBSD to be tested soon. Lets see how its Linux compatibility fares.
(Still grabbing all my specs. They will be posted below)
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