WIP NR2003 on Linux testing

[TChapman500]

It's a shame we still need to use the old, 32-bit programs to generate NR2003-compatible files. But at least we have tools that make this process a lot easier. Also, I've discovered why I couldn't switch Sandbox 2.0 over to using the static versions of the runtime libraries. I'm switching over my projects now to see if I can get those to run on my Linux system. I should have the results in soon.

 

[Mystical]

Yeah this is the best I can get it, really if we have a mip exporter for paint programs like gimp, krita, affinity that would be the next best thing. But the method I came up with is pretty quick at least and very error-proof in terms of when I export images it'll convert to the expected mip properties I need it to.

Other than editing car files I don't need to use winmip2 anymore which is nice, its really just a backup/reference tool for me now.

 

[TChapman500]

Look what I finally got working! But the viewport text doesn't show up. I also got an older build of the editor working where the viewport text does show up. Very strange.

 

[Mystical]

Very cool to see it on Linux

 

[Mystical]

So I didn't think it was possible but even Project SteelFire Overlays run alongside NR2003 on Linux, its so fast as well: (I didn't bother scaling the overlays to be a bit larger and just did a basic placement for my ultrawide monitor)


I didn't do a HUGE deep dive into the overlay program to see if there were any bugs and only tested 2 overlay options so far but they worked as expected once you setup the overlay program correctly with NR2003 in Lutris with the right wine version.

Looks like I will make some new F-keys UI and move them in a different place to match the new overlays in the future if I switch to this going forward.

I first had tested the overlay mod on a windows 11 machine and it was HARDER to get working than on Linux in terms of the overlays not staying above the game, Linux just has awesome options to make windows appear above or below compared to windows doesn't give options like that you need 3rd party stuff anyways like Borderless Gaming just to get the same effect linux offers lol

 

[HorseOnABeachBall]

(I'm on Linux Mint)

Could you please go into more detail on how you were able to get the tools like Better Cautions and Wind Tunnel to work on Linux? I got Wind Tunnel to launch, but trying to run the game from the program causes NR to give me the "Installation appears to be incorrect." message.

Better Cautions doesn't even launch for me, even trying to run it through Wine. Sometimes it even opens Wind Tunnel which I don't understand.

I'm very new to Linux so I apologize if I'm explaining this weird.

These are my Runner Options in Lutris if this is needed information.

 

[HorseOnABeachBall]

(I'm on Linux Mint)

Could you please go into more detail on how you were able to get the tools like Better Cautions and Wind Tunnel to work on Linux? I got Wind Tunnel to launch, but trying to run the game from the program causes NR to give me the "Installation appears to be incorrect." message.

Better Cautions doesn't even launch for me, even trying to run it through Wine. Sometimes it even opens Wind Tunnel which I don't understand.

I'm very new to Linux so I apologize if I'm explaining this weird.

These are my Runner Options in Lutris if this is needed information.

View attachment 12093

Update: I managed to get them both running by making sure I launch them first by running WineTricks in Lutris. I know Better Cautions works and Wind Tunnel seems to work, but I can't get a car to flip even when it's passed the preset take off speed. Might be a skill issue but I think I got things working.

 

[Mystical]

I eventually need to make a more official guide but for now here is the quick rundown:

I did test running NR2003 and all its tool first on Mint like 9 months ago so definitely doable. I'm on CachyOS currently so it may differ a bit but the two I've used that both worked reliably and had no issue in the game with weird graphics issues and all tools hoking is:

• wine staging 10.20
• GE Proton 10-32 (this one works great if you plan to use SteelhoseOverlays)

As for launching Tools with NR2003 I use a .bat file as my executable, this way I don't have to manually launch each tool one by one (just like you would on windows even) to get each toll up and running every time I start NR2003 I also have the tool start with a brief delay so the game can launch first.

@echo off
:: 1. Launch the main game first (start "" prevents the batch from waiting for it to close)
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\nr2003.exe"

:: 2. Wait for 10 seconds (the >nul part hides the "waiting" text from the console)
::timeout /t 10 /nobreak >nul

:: 2. Forced 3-second delay using ping
ping 127.0.0.1 -n 4 >nul

:: 3. Launch your hook programs
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\Programs\bc.exe"
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\Programs\AI Enhanced v0_2b.exe"
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\Programs\Cam Hack\nrCamHack.exe"
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\Programs\Caution_v_1.exe"
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\Programs\fc.exe"

1) Copy the code and make a .bat file out of it and open in text editor

2) Change the #3 section with the actual location of your tools in your prefix, for mine I have a programs folder inside my NR2003 prefix folder where I keep them all

3) In Lutris for the games exe launcher use the bat file as the 'exe' for your game. Now when you launch NR2003 in Lutris the game launches then all the NR tools


Lutris settings: (if yours is working don't change what isn't broke)


Runner Options tab:




System Options tab:
Some of my environment variables are tailored to my machine and others just help decrease any potential crashing or increase memory performance from the game

---

NOTE if I am planning to play NR2003 with steelfire overlays I use this one instead, it launched the overlays and I launch NR2003 from there. The same as before all the other tool will launch as well. Steelfire is installed in the same NR2003 prefix so the path should match but you can update it if yours is different location

@echo off
set WINE_LAYERED_OVERLAY_ALPHA=1

:: 1. Launch Project SteelFire Overlays in its OWN independent working directory thread
:: Using /d specifies the working dir, allowing Wine to grant it top-level alpha transparency
start "" /d "C:\Program Files\Project SteelFire Overlays" "Project SteelFire Overlays.exe" --disable-gpu

:: 2. Pause 6 seconds to let Chromium/WPF overlay build its transparent surface
ping 127.0.0.1 -n 7 >nul

:: 3. Launch all secondary utilities directly inside GE-Proton context
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\Programs\bc.exe"
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\Programs\AI Enhanced v0_2b.exe"
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\Programs\Cam Hack\nrCamHack.exe"
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\Programs\Caution_v_1.exe"
start "" "C:\Papyrus\NASCAR Racing 2003 Season\Programs\fc.exe"