While reading the posts, I wanted to make a suggestion. GOG should make a news whenever a Linux or MAC version of an existing game is implemented/publish/"correctword". This way pure linux users could get to know the new "linux" games easier and know that GOG is actually giving linux the respect it deserve. (not implying that they dont already do. )

Sorry if that is already the case but when I read about Judas's post about linux version of Xenonauts, I checked the news if there was any sign of it but couldnt find one. Linux is the best operating system out there and slowly increasing its share in the client department. It is already the only option for Servers. I repeat again. I have a MSCE sertificate but 8 of my 12 servers are Linux. There is only 1 Microsoft OS in worlds best 10 thousand Super computers and it belongs to Microsoft itself. So with the upcoming of user-friendly OSs like Mint, 10 years later we maybe talking about this topic the other way around.

Unless a dedicated group releases Linux build, or Linux build is released together without delay, it usually means its actually windows binary wrapped into winelib. This isn't much different from running windows version in Wine(PlayonLinux, Crossover etc). If its good or bad - is hard to say. FPS-wise its bad, but compatibility-wise its good.

There is an strictly proprietary application issue of ABI upgrades, for example:
kernel(ABI 1.0)--->system c library(ABI 1.0)--->sound server library (ABI 1.0)--->crossplatform wrapper(sdl)(ABI 1.0)-->game.

If sound server ABI is bumped to 1.1, it will cause segmentation fault or invalid entry point, causing application either to crash or run without sound.

This isn't different from windows. But windows ships also old libraries (vulnerable, winsxs, compatibility modes). They still manage to fail over time, so applications for windows X refuse to run on windows X+n.

In Linux, they usually put as much libraries as possible into local directory, that causes overrides. BUT, when system changes happen - the library is actually replaced by completely different, it starts serious.

The only correct solution is to keep dependencies to the system as low as possible and update your application. But thats what proprietary developers hardly do. For any OS. Thats also a reason why Steam picked Debian Stable release as base.

Do we have a thread on games that are wine compatible to run on linux?

Just check on WineHQ.org. :)

Don't forget as well as [url=https://lutris.net/games/]Lutris games database, former also featuring several GOG-specific install scripts.

Looks like as good a time as any for some shameless promotion of my own project: ./play.it

It serves roughly the same purpose than POL and Lutris: taking care of the boring stuff so you don’t have to mess around with it yourself when installing games on GNU/Linux.

Here you go for a full list of supported games:
http://wiki.dotslashplay.it/

I support this and am happy to see, that the horrible business strategies of M$ have caused even more people coming to Linux and therefore encouraging companies to make Linux drivers and ports.

I'm using "Linux MINT - Mate Edition" for three years straight now and have recently stopped buying games without Linux ports or at least pre-configured WINE packages although I do prefer native.
"PlayOnLinux" is an option for me since I've got an Nvidia card again and it's great to see so many entries for GoG installers there, although I desperately miss one for "Shadows - Heretic Kingdoms" (as well es the first part of the series) and still have to boot WinXP for this.

That shouldn't be so hard to install by yourself:
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=32586 (I think they mean "d3dx9", does "dx3d9" even exist?)

Tools/Manage Wine Versions - install Wine version 1.7.51 if you haven't already

Install a program/ Install a non-listed program/ Install a program in a new virtual drive/ tick: use another version of Wine; Install some libraries/ 1.7.51/ libraries POL_Install_dx3d9; POL_Install_vcrun2010.

I don't guarantee that it works but if I had Shadows - Heretic Kingdoms I'd try it.

I always have the latest WINE installed and sometimes try to start games with it. Although some do work right away, Heretic Kingdoms 1+2 didn't start, so I guess it will need some proper configuration. I'm not savvy enough for this and don't have the time either to learn it, so I'm pretty much depending on PlayOnLinux.

If you're lucky, this is all you need to do. Everything is done in the Playonlinux GUI

-Tools/Manage Wine Versions - install Wine version 1.7.51 if you haven't already

-Install a program/ Install a non-listed program/ Install a program in a new virtual drive/ tick: use another version of Wine; tick: Install some libraries/ 1.7.51/ libraries POL_Install_dx3d9; POL_Install_vcrun2010.

If you aren't lucky then there is actually a d3dx9 file or the GOG installer doesn't run on this Wine version, but at least you'll have tried.

Step 1: Tools --> Manage Wine Versions (install 32-bit Wine 1.7.51)

2: Install --> Install a non-listed program

3: Select "Install program in a new virtual drive", name it however you want

4: Check "Use another version of Wine" and "Install some libraries"

5: Select Wine 1.7.51

6: When it asks which libraries to install select "POL_Install_d3dx9" and "POL_Install_vcrun2010"

7: Select installer & install the game as usual

After that it *should* work assuming the AppDB report isn't missing anything important. I don't have the game otherwise I'd have a look at it myself

Thanks for the tips, unfortunately, my Linux partition isn't big enough for another big installation like this on it atm, at some point I have to make a /home partition. Most data are on a cross-compatible NTFS partition, but since I very rarely use Windows anyway, I will reduce this one greatly and make a big /home partition instead at some point.

Trisquel may not be the best choice for gaming since the forums will not give you help with non-free programs including games. Great distro though, if you have the hardware to run it. It's what I am currently using it on my laptop.

Linux Mint is easy, pretty and even officially supported by GoG.
I'd say that it is perfect for gamers. I'm using the version with the MATE desktop, but the others are just as good, the one with XFCE is probably a bit faster.
Since it is based on it, Ubuntu software runs out of the box.