Linux Support#50

I run Age of Empires 2 DE on Linux with Steam Proton.
It would be great to be able to use the best™ spectating tool with that setup as well.

The things we do to the poor Windows APIs are kinda disgusting.

No promises, but could you describe your current efforts and the issues you face when trying to get it to run?

I tried to get it to run using wine but failed. I created an entry in the wine appdb to track any progress: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=39970

I tried it too.. It would be amazing if it worked but I could see it being a pain

I tried installing CaptureAge through proton on linux/fedora and it launches fine
the problem is it doesn’t find the paths for replays nor the actual aoe2 installation
if it was configurable I think I might work out of the box
have you guys considered adding an option in settings to set the game installation/replays path?
I’d be happy to test if needed

I managed to have CaptureAge and AoE2DE talk to each other by duplicating the compatdata directory for AoE2DE, and using the duplicata as a base in order to launch both programs at the same time. Using the same 813780 directory results in only one of the two programs launching, the other one hangs.

So, basically, I would run Age Of Empires 2 DE the “normal” way, using the steam launcher with GloriousEggroll 6.5; then, once the game is running, I would launch CaptureAge this way, using the duplicated compatdata folder (here called “test”):

STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=”/home/user/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/test/“ /home/user/.local/share/Steam/compatibilitytools.d/Proton-6.5-GE-2/proton run /home/user/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/test/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Local\ Settings/Application\ Data/Programs/CaptureAge/CaptureAge.exe

or, if it’s the first time and I want to install CaptureAge:

STEAM_COMPAT_DATA_PATH=”/home/user/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/test/“ /home/user/.local/share/Steam/compatibilitytools.d/Proton-6.5-GE-2/proton run /SOMEFOLDER/CaptureAgeSetup.exe

This works up to a point. I can see the replays, use the filters, select the one I want to watch. Once I click “watch”, the already running AoE2DE starts the replay automatically, and after about 15-30 seconds the loading screen “Waiting for Interface” appears in CaptureAge. Then, an error message in the bottom right appears, “Unexpected error encountered in application”, and the loading screen hangs forever.

Woah, how are you starting it with proton? That would probably be a great start!

@Ian Main: actually, the easiest way would be to do this:
1) copy the 813780 folder in “/home/user/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata” to a folder named “test” in directory compatdata
2) run Age of Empires 2:DE using the steam launcher (with proton) as you would do normally
3) run CaptureAgeSetup.exe this way in a terminal:
env WINEPREFIX=”/home/user/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/test/pfx” wine /SOMEFOLDER/CaptureAgeSetup.exe
(replace “user” by your user folder)

That would be a game changer indeed, since the main problem so far is with the sync between CA and the game.

However, how do you create “CA:DE Recordings” with the Pro version? by replaying an AoE2 game with CA while “recording” it so you can then pass it around to players who don’t have AoE2 installed?

I would definitely get the Pro version if there was a means to create those recordings from my replays without resorting to Windows.
Like an online converter or something

Wow. Can someone confirm this work please?

Hey people, it seems this is now possible!! Cannot try yet in my PC. Check this:
https://gist.github.com/Kjir/dadb0a2bc1a71aa265cfdbecaf7569b8

This seems to do the trick!
Works for me on Arch Linux running Wayland/Plasma 6.
I have been trying to get it to work over the past few days, but it never did until today for some reason.
Also, the path of the CADE executable seems to change every now and then, depending on the version you first installed, so keep that in mind when adjusting the script.

So, I did manage to get it to run. It Wonky still, as I need to figure out how to feed the replays correctly, but it did work with Lutris.

I clicked on watch with CA, then dled it, installed it via lutris and then it automatically opened my file I wanted. But to properly install it, I had to install quit it. Afterwards clicking on watch with ca and yes, close the website and open capture age wine seems to do the trick.

I am still working on how to hard or symlink the replay directory from steam into my ca wine prefix or how to tell caw ine prefix goo look there for replays, but i am getting there.

Just wanted to add here to the discussion.
I love AoE2 and am a heavy long-time linux user.
The Kjir script did the trick for me, and it runs, loads my replays, and i can spectate with it, pretty cool!
My setup was a bit different from usual, but the Kjir approach should work for both running the setup, and running the executable.
It`s wonky and shows errors in multiple interactions, but overall working for me, i can watch replay and can spectate multiplayer, enough for me.

For my setup, i also use the Heroic Game launcher for gog and epic games, but recently I have been using it more to have a better GUI for me to perform those wine related tasks without having to remember the commands and all those wine/proton-tricks and unstable utilitaries. I know it can be done on steam, adding steam app manually, but imho, Heroic is doing a GREAT job on this end (wine and UX).

• I added the AoE2 game to heroic launcher, selected Proton Experimental, is the one i usually go for, specified the wineprefix path, and go for it, on Heroic there`s a RUN EXE ON PREFIX button, which allows us to run arbitrary exe files on a given prefix easily.
• Then i ran the captureage setup
• After that i created Kjir script, correcting with my paths, and set it to run the CaptureAge.exe
  that was it
  first i run the captureage from the shell script, then i launch the game

Clicking Spectate with CA does not work for me, it always tries to open CA and errors (regardless if already open or not), but just spectate normally, and CA will pick it up (i guess this is default behavior, dunno, first time using CA).

Its wonky for sure, but works well enough!