#linux gaming

ok I need to document this because I’ve just fixed something that refused to work on the SAME machine under Windows 11 😭

Sims 2 custom videos (black screen / not showing) on Linux Mint – FIX

I was having the classic issue:

custom AVIs not showing on computer screens / TVs

black screen or nothing happens

files work fine in VLC so it makes no sense

this is NOT a mod issue. it’s a codec problem.

what’s actually wrong

Sims 2 uses an old video system (DirectShow + VP6 codec)

Linux doesn’t include that properly in Wine by default, so the game literally can’t read the video even though the file exists.

how I fixed it (Lutris method)

open Lutris

select The Sims 2 in your library

at the bottom of the window, next to the Play button, click the small arrow (▲)

click Winetricks

you’ll get a window asking what to do:

👉 choose “Select the default wineprefix” → OK

next screen: 👉 choose “Install a Windows DLL or component”

install these:

quartz

wmp9

lavfilters

let everything install, close Winetricks, then launch the game

result

custom computer screen videos → WORKING

custom TV videos → WORKING

no black screens anymore

important note

if you copied your Sims 2 install from another OS before, don’t overwrite the VP6 folders inside the game files. those are OS-specific and can break video playback.

honestly???

this worked better on Linux Mint than it EVER did on my Windows 11 setup 💀

if your Sims 2 videos are broken and you’re on Linux, try this before doing anything else.

This is a follow-up for my Linux saga. Basically, I tried Linux and it runs perfectly.

Let's start with theory.

DON'T BOTHER TO DO IT IF YOU DON'T CONSIDER YOURSELF TECH-SAVVY. IF YOU'RE EVEN SLIGHTLY UNSURE IN YOUR ACTIONS AFTER READING TUTORIALS, ASK SOMEBODY WITH A COMPUTER WHIZ PERSONALITY TRAIT TO HELP YOU WITH LINUX. TS2 installation afterwards is easier in a way, you probably wouldn't burn your computer.

Note that to expect any results, you need to have a decent PC. Mine is i5, 16gb RAM, Geforce 1650 4 gb. Not cutting-edge, but more that enough for abusing the hell out of TS2. IDK but your 10-year-old working laptop may still fold and do some crashing, because it has lower limits. But expect it to be less.

Step 1: Watch Tea Addict on Youtube

Watch it fully, then scan this post and then proceed to actually doing things.

Huge credit for Tea Addict for popularizing the method. She's the one to film a huge tutorial that basically explains how to successfully move to Linux. Open it and watch before you do anything, then see my notes for some occurred changes, corrections and additions. I want to add some details to her video that haven't been mentioned but are important.

Join Tea Addict's Discord for more support and discussion

Starting with Linux. BACKUP YOUR WINDOWS!

p.s: if you can’t successfully google something i tell to google, better ask techy person to help with the whole thing. potentially just let them handle the whole installation.

1. Start by simply googling how Linux works. It would be a pain to implement all the lore here. Basically, you'd want to be a bit tech-savvy for installation and up until you launch your Sims 2 and everything works perfectly with your ton of CC and high settings. The biggest difference is that you'll have to do many things through Terminal. You'll get how it works after a few times you'll be ordered to use it by tutorials.

2. Understand what you're downloading Linux for. It has a lot of user-friendly distros that are great for everyday use. I downloaded Linux for playing TS2, but now I browse the Internet, watch movies and keep my notes and writings here too. Here's an article that explains main pros of using Linux. I like it for smoothness, fastness and a lack of things I don't need.

3. If you're unsure what distro to get, get Mint Cinnamon. Tea Addict uses it, many TS2 users use it. Most importantly, it is widely popular elsewhere. You need it to be popular to get the best support and google results. Pop!_OS is also good for gaming, but I recommend Mint. When/if you become a Linux enthusiast, you may choose something else to try. DO NOT DOWNLOAD ARCH!

4. Don't be radical and uninstall Windows. Make a double boot. Better to buy a standalone SSD for that, if you're not a pro, don't partition your existing drive, even if you have space for that.

5. Dedicate enough space. You would want enough for your distro + Lutris + TS2 installation + your Downloads folder which WILL expand a lot because you won't be afraid to stress your game anymore + all TS2 utilities + needed packages and utilities for Linux. You will probably get the taste and want to try some other games and tasks on your new OS, so be resourceful.

5. When installing from a USB boot, you may run into "Can't proceed to install because RST is on". The support link provided wouldn't be helpful for inexperienced users. The process is scary and you need to get into your BIOS to change storage mode from RST to AHCI (don't do this if there's no error). If there's no setting for that, google how to turn on Advanced mode in BIOS for your PC manufacturer. Better to get personalized support. I hate AI but even I had to use Deepseek for help. If you know what to do, following this link beforehand will save you from losing your Windows install in process.

6. When in Windows, don't touch your partition with Linux with a 10 feet pole. I simply renamed my Linux drive in Explorer from "New Drive" to "Mint" and my Mint install wiped away, had to reinstall completely.

7. If you have Nvidia GPU, install their driver through Driver manager. For TS2 many suggest version 550, but you can also install recommended. Some users say they had to try different ones before they got great results.

8. Test your audio. If there's none, you have to install PulseAudio/Pipewire. Here's a fix. If it's still silent, I suggest clicking on sound icon near the clock, then on Sound setting, and then mess around with output devices.

9. Install a system-wide VPN if your country's network is regulated in any way. I can't access the majority of international servers in my country, so without VPN I have trouble installing packages from terminal or Package Manager.

SETTING UP TS2

1. Don't mess with your Windows TS2 installation yet, let it live before you check that everything flies on Linux. You can't access Linux files from Windows, but you absolutely can access and copy Windows files from Linux. So no cloud storage of flash drive necessary for moving. But yeah you should've done a whole Windows 11 and files backup, remember that?

2. Most importantly, OSAB's Starter Pack is dead. You'll need to google "Sims 2 Magipack" and find a carrd with a magnet link. It features everything from Starter Pack and posesses the usual Ultimate Collection file structure. RPC works, 4gb patch applied. It also provides installed CEP and Scriptorium, if I understand it correctly. GRM install is optional. Inside there are bonus items. In Tea Addict's video there's a part where she moves files from install to install. Make sure you don't duplicate preorder bonuses and Store content and move CEP files correctly.

3. IDK if Magipack includes it, so make sure to replace your Graphic Rules file with a Legacy Collection one. Don't tweak anything else in GRM. The whole "recognizing new graphic cards" talk is unnecessary.

4. When installing TS2 from .exe on Lutris, make sure installer preset is either Windows 10 or Windows 7 64-bit. Don't choose 32-bit because the game is. Lutris handles it.

5. In Lutris, right-click on your installed game, then Settings> Game Configuration (or Settings? IDK I have another language) . Make sure your executable is .../Sims2UC/drive_c/MagiPacks/The Sims 2/Fun with Pets/SP9/TSBin/Sims2RPC.exe (don't copy, just find that file in your system). Lutris can mess it up sometimes. Try to run the game to see if it works normally and loads the neighbourhoods.

6. Now you can transfer your EA Games folder with saves and mods.

7. In the same window from step 5, to go System Configuration > Display > GPU. Choose your dedicated GPU like Nvidia or AMD. Or there will be no magic effect (the Pink will return).

8. If that leaves you with game simply not running, then in the same old window go to Runner Settings > Wine version. Change it to ge-proton. Now everything should work with no limitations and crashes! Your game will fully work out your powerful GPU. Watch out for overheating!

9. RPC settings work through "Launch EXE inside Wine prefix", just install whatever they ask on the first launch. Same with Bodyshop.

10. When changing resolution in-game to make my UI bigger, borderless window didn't scale to monitor but became smaller. My easiest but dumbest method is lowering the whole OC resolution to 1600x900 (or whatever suits you). It's not bothering me visually, but UI isn't tiny anymore.

11. SimPE install is a little tricky. Here's the instruction (top comment). If winetricks don't open, go to System Options in Lutris, check "Disable Lutris Runtime", restart the app. Uncheck when you're done with tutorial, before launching any program. For me, SimPE required not only dotnet40, but a latest (9th?) .NET runtime from the same list.

12. In her video, Tea Addict recommends installing a particular Lutris version from the Package Manager, citing that there’s some compatibility benefits. I couldn’t install it (yaaaas authoritarian regime web isolation!!!) and downloaded a .deb file from official Lutris site. Was worrying some of my problems were connected to that. However, there’s no difference — TeaA herself updated that she moved to .deb version. Don’t stress too much about Lutris until it’s up to date.

Many anti-cheats work just fine on Linux, and we need to push back against developers trying to block an entire operating system because of the mere possibility there *might* be a few extra cheaters. If you don’t want cheaters, you’d have to just not release a game- but that’s unreasonable, and so it blocking other operating systems.

say what you want about overwatch but it has run flawlessly on linux since it came out on steam and cheaters on any OS are basically not an issue there. I'm sorry EA, but your cheater plague is nothing more than a skill issue

Instead, I'm able to play Civilization V again. I had to make one change to a .ini because modern CPUs have more threads than Civ 5 anticipated, but I found that fix in a single search for "civilization 5 linux crash". So I've got a 16-year-old game that refused to launch on my Windows 10 install running natively with the barest of tweaks. I'm dominating as the Inca on my custom extra-hilly world like it's still Obama's first term.

I love you, having good graphics and gameplay and still using less than 3 gigs of ram.

I love you, consideration of what will make the game fun for players without an internet connection.