Linux graphical mode

[Otherlander]

As per the title, I am running gearhead2 off of a repository package in ubuntu. (on the REALLY off chance you recognize me, new computer, and that's why I've dropped out of existence)

And, I can only seem to get it to run ASCII in the terminal, and I'm curious if the package even has the graphical mode.

So, how do I go about getting ahold of graphical mode?

(Postscript to the hardcore ASCII types: Yeah yeah I know)

[Joseph Hewitt]

Wow, I didn't even know there was a repository, but then I opened up the package manager and there it was... Cool!

Unfortunately, it looks like only the ASCII mode has been made available. To get the graphics version, you're going to have to install it manually. Make sure you have the following installed from the Synaptic Package Manager:

libsdl-image1.2
libsdl-ttf2.0-0
libsdl1.2debian

Then download the latest compiled version of GH2 for Linux, unpack it wherever you want it (I usually put it in my [Home Folder]/Programs folder), and it should work.

[Otherlander]

Fortuitously, all of those packages came with my ubuntu install.

Setting up. . .

Okay, so, question:

Can you think of any particular reason the gearhead executable (as opposed to gearhead-2D) generates a black screen which persists until the user performs input, which causes a CrashToDesktop?

gearhead-2d works fine so far, thanks :]

A query - one version of gearhead2 I was using back on windows had an isometric viewpoint which always aimed to be "over the shoulder" of the player avatar. That is, what was in view was always what was in front of you. Currently, the viewpoint remains fixed, and I was wondering if there's a way to set the camera to follow the avatar's orientation currently?

[Joseph Hewitt]

Ah, for that version you also need OpenGL installed. I should also mention that that interface has been discontinued- it was my favorite too, but I can't get it to run on my laptop and I couldn't find anyone to take over the programming of it.

[Otherlander]

Which, to be specific? I have some OpenGL installed, at least (enough to run Dwarf Fort in that mode), do I need libsage2 (OpenGL SDL support)?

And, I would help you on that point if not for the fact my expertise does not lie with any programming languages except rudimentary java (enough to get by on website creation) and I'm learning python and bash in my spare time.

[Rowanthepreacher]

Otherlander, it's nice to know that there's somebody else in the universe with only rudimentary Java skills.

Why not grab yourself every library anything ever says it might need, so that you'll always have the right library for the job (although most of them will be useless save for one programme). If you've got the space, it never harms to have tools on hand.

[Otherlander]

I would do that, but for two issues:

This does cause minor slowdown
I genuinely don't have the space. Despite having 231GB harddrive, I'm down to about 70 free, and want to keep it floating high for as long as possible.

That said, I'll see what throwing in some random OpenGL libs can do for it.

[Rowanthepreacher]

You could try storing them all zipped up and labeled. then when something needs one, you do a quick search and unzip it. When you're done, either cull it or rezip it.