Armagetron (game) fails - Segmentation Fault
 

I've enjoyed this game on my SuSE 9.0 installation and was anxious to try it on FC2, so I downloaded the RPM from http://freshrpms.net/ which had a May 22nd. changelog for a rebuild for FC2 (armagetron-0.2.5.2-3.1.fc2.fr.i386.rpm) . Installed as (su) rpm -ivh armagetron-0.2.5.2-3.1.fc2.fr.i386.rpm which resulted in a very quick install and no dependency issues. The icon shows up under Games (/usr/games), however when I click on it to execute, I get a quick black screen and nothing more. I've tried to run it logged in as Root and have double-checked the permissions, but nothing seems to be amiss. The directory lists the following folders:

arenas bin language models music sound textures


Since I have YUM linked to http://dag.wieers.com , I also double-checked his site, removed Armagetron with Synaptic and used the YUM install for his version - same result.

Here's the response when I try to install it and run it from the terminal:

[bob@localhost bin]$ ./armagetron
Fatal signal: Segmentation Fault (SDL Parachute Deployed)

Someone suggested that the SDL_image file needed to be installed....so.... I checked Dag Wieers site and the specs called for SDL_image => 1.2 . Downloaded and ran the latest SDL_image to make sure... here's the response:


[root@localhost armagetron]# rpm -ivh SDL_image-1.2.3-4.1.i386.rpm
Preparing... ########################################### [100%]
package SDL_image-1.2.3-4.1 is already installed
[root@localhost armagetron]# cd /usr/bin
[root@localhost bin]# ./armagetron
Fatal signal: Segmentation Fault (SDL Parachute Deployed)

I'd appreciate any help/suggestions about this one. I like Tux Racer and some of the other games, but Armagetron is one of those games that feel like you can NEVER beat it....which is why it drives me crazy....

Do you have libsdl installed?

Do you have 3D acceleration for your video card installed and working?

Hi Motub. Yes, 3D graphics are working fine - Tux Racer is running great. Also libSDL is installed in /usr/lib. Are you running the game okay?

ALL BETTER NOW!!!
 

Problem Solved!!!! Thanks to Klaxnek from the FedoraForum, the solution was to enter this into Terminal: export SDL_AUDIODRIVER=alsa; armagetron . The game immediately started and plays perfectly. He further suggested adding that phrase to the start of the /bin file so that I do not have to play it from command line. That worked as well.:D

Excellent! Thanks for posting the solution back, and have fun playing :) !

Re: ALL BETTER NOW!!!
 

I have installed the linux version of Mutant Storm (demo) on the Ubuntu (debian based) distribution. When I tried to run it I got errors about missing lib's. I have now installed all of the libs it wanted but it stil wont run. I get a fatal error: Segmentation Fault (SDL Parachute Deployed). GL is working on my system as all the GL screensavers work fine.

I assume it is the same problem, I have been trying to run the game by typing "/usr/local/games/MutantStorm/mutantstormdemo" into the console, I didn't quite understand your solution, what do i have to do to use your fix? would it be something like ?

You could have tried it already in the amount of time you've waited for a reply :) . A report of whether it had worked or not might be more useful in this case.

I see that you've already posted on the Pom-Pom Games forum; I was there to see if there was any information whatsoever on what parts of SDL the port uses, but I didn't see anything.

Basically, in my experience, SDL Parachute errors are caused by:

• misconfigured SDL components, which can be fixed by the listed solution of exporting 'proper' SDL-related environment variables;
  
• missing SDL components. If this game needs SDL-image, but you don't have it installed, this can happen. But in this case we don't know what SDL components-- if any-- other than libSDL, the game may need (so if that's the problem, we can't solve it);
  
• "wrong" SDL version. SDL seems to change a fair bit, and is not necessarily always backwards compatible with previous versions. But again, since we don't know what version of SDL the game was expected to use, or if it is compatible with SDL versions other than the one it was compiled against, it's impossible to say if that might be the issue.

OK, I've searched yet further, and I do not find that the demo depends on any SDL components, or in fact on SDL in any way, so I'm striking possibilities 2 and 3 off the list. I'd guess that exporting the variable should work; but if not, hopefully the developer's forums will have more information as to what is going on.

You might also want to post your question in the (either or both) 1) the Ubuntu section of these forums; 2) the Ubuntu official forums. If this problem is caused by some issue specific to Ubuntu (or Ubuntu needs some unique action to resolve it), asking Fedora users (plus one lone Gentoo-er) won't get you too far in finding answers,

Good luck.