[SOLVED] [It wasn't a bug]: How to play RedAlert2 on Ubuntu22.04 via Bottles

[stulluk]

this issue is solved. TL;DR: Install CNC-DDRAW Dependency in the Bottles menu.

Here are my steps to play RedAlert2 with bottles on Ubuntu22.04

1. Install Ubuntu22.03 and install flatpak. Then install bottles app.

2. Install RedAlert2 in a Windows VM from official installation CD

3. Create a new bottle ( I used 64bit one, but it seems irrelevant ). Name it as "RA2".

4. Copy whole RedAlert2 directory from your VM into following directory : ~/.var/app/com.usebottles.bottles/data/bottles/bottles/RA2/drive_c/Program Files (x86) This is where bottles store application data in my system.

5. Click "ADD SHORTCUTS" button in the button and select RA2.EXE in this path: ~/.var/app/com.usebottles.bottles/data/bottles/bottles/RA2/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/RedAlert2/Ra2.exe

Do not start press PLAY button yet.

6. to have 1920x1080 fullscreen play, edit ra2.ini file and make its Video section as belows: [Video] VideoBackBuffer=no ScreenWidth=1920 ScreenHeight=1080 StretchMovies=no

This will cause a side effect: In Options menu when you enter the game, resolution setting will be empty. Also, before start playing a Skirmish, all menus will appear in the middle of the screen with a black bezel. But this is normal. But when you start playing Skirmish mode, you will see that game will play 1920x1080.

7. Most important one that fixes my issue: In bottles menu, under DEPENDENCIES, find CNC-DDRAW and install it manually. Without this, all below issues that I mentioned below happens.

8. Press Play button. First, your monitor will go blank for a while, and then fullscreen intro will start. And then, Game launcher will appear in the middle of the screen. Just navigate to start playing skirmish mode. I prefer Paris Revisited with 4 brutal enemies. And then start playing. Loading screen will be also in the middle but after start playing, it will go fullscreen.

Here is the video of the play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6dt6pA4YA4

Tested on both WAYLAND and X11 (Xorg) on Ubuntu 22.04

There are only one minor issue I observe: High CPU Usage: Please notice htop terminal on the bottom of might right side monitor. Is there a way to reduce CPU usage @mirkobrombin ? Do you have any suggestions ?