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Adventure Game
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Frequently Asked Questions about Adventure Game Studio for Linux / FreeBSD  
Q: How do I use these binaries?
A: Easy example, here's how to play Apprentice by Herculean Effort Productions.
  1. Download midiptch.tar.bz2 from the Downloads section.
  2. Download the latest AGS runtime for Linux or FreeBSD from the Downloads section.
  3. Download Apprentice from here.
  4. Open a Terminal
  5. Type cd ~/
  6. Hit enter
  7. Type mkdir apprentice
  8. Hit enter
  9. Type cd apprentice
  10. Hit enter
  11. Type unzip -x /whereidownloaded/apprentice.zip
  12. Hit enter
  13. Type mv App.exe ac2game.dat
  14. Hit enter
  15. Type rm *.exe
  16. Hit enter
  17. Type tar -xjf /whereidownloaded/ags-v2_56_636.tar.bz2
  18. Hit enter
  19. Type tar -xjf /whereidownloaded/midiptch.tar.bz2
  20. Hit enter
  21. Type ./ags-setup
  22. Hit enter
  23. Check Use digital music pack if available
  24. Select 640x480 from graphics settings (you may need to check force alternate letterbox resolution)
  25. Click the Save button
  26. Type ./ags
  27. Hit enter
That's it! It seems like a lot because it is. I hope I can make this process easier in the future by offering downloadable game packs, but for now things will have to work this way. By the way, expert users: you can symlink to the ags executable that way you can use it to run many different AGS games without having a copy of it for each game.
Q: How do I build and install Allegro 4.1.11 on RedHat 7.3, 8.0 or 9.0?
A: This is a bit involved unfortunately, but it's pretty easy.
  1. Download the Allegro 4.1.11 Source RPM.
  2. Open a Terminal
  3. Change to the directory where you downloaded the source RPM to.
  4. Then type su
  5. Hit enter
  6. Then enter your root password
  7. Then type rpmbuild --rebuild allegro-4.1.11-1.src.rpm
  8. Hit enter
  9. Take a coffee break
  10. After it's done (it should finish successfully), type cd /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/
  11. Then type rpm -Uvh allegro-4.1.11-1.i386.rpm
  12. Hit enter
Close your terminal, because that's it!
Q: How do I decompress the files I downloaded?
A: tar -xjf filename.tar.bz2 or tar -xyf filename.tar.bz2 depending on your distribution.
Q: So, who's responsible for this mess?
A: Chris Jones is the original and current author of the AGS runtime engine and editor. Shawn Walker is currently the Linux port maintainer. All comments and issues regarding the Linux version of AGS should be directed here.
Q: So, what games will these binaries work with?
A: Almost any AGS game that was built with v2.5x of the engine will work. Basically, most newer windows based AGS games. Games that rely on or use plugins will not work due to things beyond my control.
Q: You're evil! These binaries don't support my favorite old AGS game!
A: I'm sorry, but this port is based on 2.5x and I just can't provide binaries that allow you to run older versions of those AGS games. 2.5x made major changes to file formats and other things. In the future, when AGS moves to 2.6x and so on, I will continue to provide binaries that work with each major revision. I'm not completely ruling out 2.4x game support at this point, it's just unlikely until I have a lot of spare time.
Q: What Linux distributions will these binaries work with?
A: As of v2.54.514 I've provided a dynamically linked version of AGS ("ags.dynamic") that should work on RedHat 8.x systems and other GCC 3.2+ based systems. I've also provided a statically linked version of AGS ("ags") that should work on any recent Linux distribution. (I've personally tested Debian "woody" and RedHat 8.0). The setup program is dynamically linked as well, so it's possible you might have some problems with it. If you do have problems running the binary, such as complaints about missing libraries or anything else, please contact me and make sure you tell me specifically what distribution and what version of that distribution you're using.
Q: AGS won't run, something about unable to initialize synth.
A: Either you have picked the wrong MIDI/MUSIC driver in the setup program, in which case you should go back into setup and select "Autodetect". Or, you need to download the Allegro DIGMID patches file I've provided above and decompress it to the game directory. It's also possible that you're using the ALSA driver, which I wasn't able to test as my system doesn't have ALSA support.
Q: Games like KQ2VGA don't play their videos.
A: Yes, I'm aware of this. At this current time the Linux port only supports FLI/FLC video, just like the DOS version of AGS. In the near future I'm trying to add some video playback support so that the videos in KQ2VGA will work at the very least.
Q: Where can I find out more about AGS?
A: The official Adventure Game Studio Site.
Q: When are you going to get off your lazy bum and port the AGS editor? I want to create my own AGS games blast it!
A: When I have time, and if it can be done. See the answer to the question below.
Q: This webpage sucks, it's ugly, and you don't tell me how to run *insert favorite game here* with the binaries you've posted!
A: Well sorry, but I do have Real Life™ to attend to. I work full time as a programmer. However, please contact me about any issues you have and I will do my best to help you. I will be posting repackaged versions of popular AGS games for easy download and installation "soon". I will have to obtain each of the game author's permission first before I can do this.
Q: Is AGS freeware? What's the license? (Chris Jones)
A: AGS is officially "swap-ware". What this means is that I give you AGS to use, for free. However, if you enjoy it, I'd appreciate you letting me know. Whether this is just an e-mail to say thanks, posting your game on the forums or anything really, it doesn't matter. However, if you wish to make money from your game you should read the Legal Information page to be clear on the license agreements of AGS components.
Q: Then can I have the source code, to port it myself? (Chris Jones)
A: Sorry, AGS is not open-source. There are many reasons for this which I will not go into here. The main two are:
  1. I made another application open-source in the past, and someone took it, changed the copyright and tried to release it as their own
  2. The AGS file formats are proprietary to make it harder for people to "hack" other people's games. If the source code was available, it would be easy for someone to write some sort of de-compiler for use with other peoples games.
Q: But the GPL will protect you... go on, can I have the source? (Chris Jones)
A: No it won't. In theory it does, but what happens when someone goes and breaches it? I don't have the time or energy to waste chasing up lamers who have blatantly ignored the license agreement. Now stop asking for the source code or for a port, please. And no, posting on the forums about it or e-mailing me won't help. Interestingly, from the website stats, 98% of the AGS website visitors are using a Windows system. As this is a one-man project, the extra effort required to support 2% of the users doesn't seem worth it.
Q: My Question isn't answered here!
A: Sorry about that. This is not quite yet an authoritative FAQ. I will be expanding it as I have time. In the meantime, feel free to contact me with any questions you have and I will try my best to answer them as I have time.