I have been attempting to Load Foobillard & Billard-gl without any success. I am wondering if the fact that I have a dual processor that this could be the problem. Billard-gl will display the opening screen but without any other information. When clicking on the screen all that happens is that a segment of the image is removed and that my desktop shows through. Continued clicking will totally remove the image from the screen and will show my usual desktop. None of the usual options like File View Help etc etc are displayed at all.

Foobillard will display but in this instance the table is in view with the white ball with a vertical line from the ball to the top of the screen. Again nothing happens with any clocking of the screen other than one option which when clicked on will only give a quick flash to what would appear to be display options. Again File, View Help are not displayed.

Can anyone offer any guidance on these problems or alternatively if there are any other suitable billiard or pool games that will work with my system.

I am using an Intel Dual Core T2390 1.86Ghz; Intel GMA x 3100 graphics, Atheros AR242x802.11 a/b/g. 1GB RAM.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Do you have any problems with other games like Emilia Pinball or Neverputt that require 3D acceleration?
cheers,
jdk

unfortunately it isn't really foobillard's fault it isn't running well on your system, and it isnt only foobillard that won't run well, just about any program that requires 3d accelleration (such as foobillard) prolly won't run well
unfortunately the open source drivers provided with the linux kernel
you might find help here
http://intellinuxgraphics.org/
to get development versions of the drivers from intel

Actually with Ubuntu 8.10 he should already have pretty up to date 'intel' video drivers.. Version 2.4 (released July 2008) I believe, and the latest is 2.6.. the drivers in Ubuntu are not all that old.

apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-intel to check the version of the intel drivers, and ensure they are installed.

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -i driver - to ensure the 'intel' driver is actually being used

glxinfo | grep direct - to see if direct rendering is working. (if this command doesn't work, sudo apt-get install mesa-utils


FooBillard FAQ
Q: I can't see the menu and some of the textures, what is wrong ?
A: Foobillard uses rather big texture sizes e.g. for the cue and especially for the menus and text stuff. So for some cards this might be a problem. (e.g. the Voodoo 3dfx only supports maximum texture sizes of 256)


Have you tried launching either or both from the command line to see if it gives you any error messages ?

Have you tied launching billard-gl with minimal settings ?
billard-gl -t 8 -tt 0 -at 2 -g 3

Many thanks for your assistance.

I followed the suggestion regarding the graphics and the following was shown:

" ian@ian-laptop:~$ apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-video-intel
xserver-xorg-video-intel:
Installed: 2:2.4.1-1ubuntu10.3
Candidate: 2:2.4.1-1ubuntu10.3
Version table:
*** 2:2.4.1-1ubuntu10.3 0
500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com intrepid-updates/main Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
2:2.4.1-1ubuntu10 0
500 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com intrepid/main Packages

ian@ian-laptop:~$ cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -i driver
X.Org Video Driver: 4.1
X.Org XInput driver : 2.1
(II) Scanning /usr/share/xserver-xorg/pci directory for additional PCI ID's supported by the drivers
(==) Matched intel for the autoconfigured driver
(==) Assigned the driver to the xf86ConfigLayout
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//intel_drv.so
Module class: X.Org Video Driver
ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 4.1
(II) intel: Driver for Intel Integrated Graphics Chipsets: i810,
ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 4.1
ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 4.1
ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 4.1
ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 4.1
(II) [drm] loaded kernel module for "i915" driver.
(II) intel(0): [drm] framebuffer mapped by ddx driver
(II) EXA(0): Driver registered support for the following operations:
(II) AIGLX: enabled GLX_texture_from_pixmap with driver support
Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 2.1
Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 2.1
(II) Synaptics touchpad driver version 0.15.2

ian@ian-laptop:~$ glxinfo | grep direct
direct rendering: Yes
ian@ian-laptop:~$ "

Looking at that it would appear that things are OK but as a total new boy I would ask for confirmation that my thoughts are right.

If they are then what do I do to get the game(s) to work.

Once again thanks

Try this game called Cue Club. It's addictive as hell ...

You are right all that information looks correct.

The Intel Driver is installed.
The intel Driver was selected by the auto-configuration system.
Direct rendering is enabled and functioning.

I don't think there is much that you can do.. unfortunately the integrated intel cards are not the greatest in the world. although I would have expected a bit more from one as new as the X3100, since the 3000 and 4000 series are the newest in the intel line.

Did you try launching billard-gl from the command line with minimal settings as I indicated above ? just to see what happens. from checking the faq's it could be due to texture size, so limiting the texture size might be one option...

You could also look to see if you can share a bit more of your system memory with the card, this is done in the xorg.conf file or automatically now.


you could try adding the following BOLD line to the device section of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf..
Reference

you will need to restart X after making that change. CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE will force X to immediately restart..


Replacing the video card with something better (nVidia or ATI) would be a much bigger help.

Have you tried any other OpenGL Games to see if the issue is with all ? maybe planet penguin racer

sudo apt-get install planetpenguin-racer

If that runs like a slide show as well, then the only conclusion we can come to is that the integrated graphics are woefully underpowered for gaming.

This seems out of place in this thread---What exactly is you point and how does it relate to this thread?

Hi Pix,
No, actually the OP did ask this:
I assume the game mentioned would render correctly on the OP's card.
cheers,
jdk

indeed

i also would have to agree, onboard video just plain sucks, mine has an ATI onboard video card with dvi and hdmi, but onboard video tends to dhair system ram and tend to be lesser video cards then what you can buy separatly, and a separate video card doesn't hog part of your system ram just to display video, it has it's own vram

sureshsujatha

I had a quick look for your suggestion but it did not seem to be available from Ubuntu 8.10 list or Synaptic. Initial look on google did not indicate that it was compatible with 8.10. I will have to take a closer look but unless it works with linux I would totally prefer something that does. I am attempting to keep well away from Windows and only have 1 programme that it totally dependant on doz.

farslayer

Firstly thank you for taking the time to confirm that what I thought was right. This is an area that I have great difficulty in understanding so your assistance is most appreciated.

I will see what happens with billard using the terminal and report back on how that works.

Again my thanks to each and everyone for all their assistance.

farslayer

Billard was a complete failure. I hope the attachment assists.

I had a look at your suggestion that I add to the X11 file but had what we in Scotland describe as a lucky white heather moment. That is to speak that what should happen did not. I found that I could not marry up your bold addition to that displayed.

The following was what faced me on opening the file:

"# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection"

I am assuming that the item that I have highlighted in bold was where I should add your "Option "AperTexSize" "32768" except the items that you detailed before the option are not shown.

Am I doing something wrong or what should I do now.

Thanking you in anticipation

Attached Images

~.png (50.3 KB, 0 views)

I followed your suggestion about the racer only to end up totally confused.

OK it loaded and I was able to do a trial race which on my first attempt 1 landed 3 fish. On my second 5. Both of these achievements were more luck than better judgment as I had no idea what I was supposed to do.

I have no idea of how many trees the poor beast clattered into as I was not in any control as I could not see my mouse pointer nor any movement of the mouse seemed to exercise any degree of control.

Yes the pengiun got from A to B and it looked graphically OK as the trees looked good as did tux.

Is any of this of assistance? I will be most surprised if it was !!! I felt that all I could do was admire the graphics, was that the object of the exercise?

The object of the exercise was to see if that game would run smoothly, with a decent frame rate. I believe you steer tux with the right and left arrow keys, and maybe space to jump.

It sounds like from your description that tux flew down the hill with no trouble other than lack of steering Which sounds like the graphics card did perfectly well with that openGL game. So now I have to ponder why it works fine with that game but not with either of the Billard games..


Yes you correctly identified the section that Option would go in..
Without knowing what your file looked like I could only post an example from one of my systems as a representation.


As for my earlier reply, thanks. I was trying my meager abilities at teaching as well as providing the answer you requested. I figure if I point out the information that I am looking for so you can see it, you will retain a fraction of that knowledge for the future as your learn to troubleshoot the system on your own. It certainly took me a long time to learn Linux and my mind is no longer the steel trap it was years ago, more of a rusty sieve now days. I wish I had LinuxQuestions.org as a resource back then, instead I just had rude 'flossies' on irc that could do nothing more than bleat "RTFM !!" (I believe that's how you refer to sheep over there, although my usage is probably incorrect.. )

farslayer

After posting to you I took a bit more time with the racer and found that you were right that the arrow keys supposedly navigate tux. That is provided that the operative is not DUI. When it comes to most of these types of game controls DUI applies whether I have had any drink or not.

Attempted your memory fix but neither game would work. Billard again just displayed the opening ball and acted as previously described. Foobillard this time let me move the table about a bit which let me at least alter the direction of the line but nothing else. No cue and the table size was so large that I was not able to see the 9 balls.

As I bought this laptop preloaded with Ubuntu 8.10 I think that I will approach my supplier and see what he has to say about the games not working. I would have thought that a machine bought in Nov 08 should have permitted play of the games. The only thing I can think would be that as I am using 64 bit that this is blocking the game.

Rather than you tearing out your hair over this please hold off doing anything further and I will get back to you when my supplier advises on this.

I appreciate your patience in this and particularly the lack of RTFM that is often quoted. This very often is a complete waste of time as with the speed that Ubuntu in particular is issued the TFM is often well out of date. There are times that the quote is made as a getout as the respondent is too damn lazy to provide a detailed response.

My sincere thanks to you for all your kind assistance