OpenRCT2-specific files

We use a file called g2.dat to provide few graphic assets we need. To create the file, use g2 target:

make g2

The file needs to be with the OpenRCT2 data directory. We search for few paths: data/, /var/lib/openrct2, /usr/share/openrct2 and you can specify your own path with --openrct-data-path=path.

Installing the game

GOG

GOG installers are simply self-extracting archives, packaged to Win32 PE.

If you bought the game on GOG, you can either download it via the website or using lgogdownloader (check if your distribution already has a package available).

To extract files from the installer, you will need to use wine to launch it or use innoextract (again, check if your distribution has a package available).

In the future, perhaps using GOG Galaxy client will become an option.

Steam

If you bought the game through Steam, you will have to use their client to download the files.

Wine

If you wish to use wine, please read how to install Steam on Linux, most comprehensive guides are:

wine version has the game listed in the GUI, just click install and remember where to have you decided to install it.

Native

By default when using the native client with the GUI, you can only install the games that match your current platform. RCT2 is not listed as available for Linux (aka SteamOS), so you won't see an 'Install' button.

You can enable downloading for unsupported titles through the Steam client settings:

Steam [Top Left corner],
Settings,
Steam Play,
Enable Steam Play for Supported Titles,
Enable Steam Play for all other titles.

You will be prompted to restart Steam. Afterwards, you will be able to download RCT2, and consequently any non-native-Linux title.

You can also launch Steam with the console enabled, and follow below instructions with macOS:

steam -console

If you're using macOS, this command is a little different. Assuming you have Steam installed in the default location, run this command in the Terminal:

/Applications/Steam.app/Contents/MacOS/steam_osx -console

You should now see an additional "tab" in the top menu called CONSOLE. If you have steam:// links installed, you can also try using steam://open/console

Once in console, execute this command:

download_depot 285330 285331

Console should reply:

Downloading 1109 MB

When the download is complete, you should get one of the following messages:

Depot download complete : /home/<username>/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32\steamapps\content\app_285330\depot_285331

Depot download complete : /home/<username>/.steam/ubuntu12_32\steamapps\content\app_285330\depot_285331

There are a lot of small files and it can take a while to download them all, even on good internet while using an SSD. Remember, the game will not show up in your installed games list.

You can also download RCT1 this way, if you own it. For that, execute this command:

download_depot 285310 285311

steamcmd

Install SteamCMD from your Package Manager, or download the package manually

OS	Command(s)
Ubuntu/Debian	`sudo apt-get install steamcmd`
RedHat/CentOS	`yum install steamcmd`
Arch Linux	`pacman -S steamcmd`
macOS	`curl -sSfqL 'https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd_osx.tar.gz' \| tar zxvf -`
Windows	1. Download and extract this: https://steamcdn-a.akamaihd.net/client/installer/steamcmd.zip 2. Run this: `steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +login <username> <password> +force_install_dir ./RCT2 +app_update 285330 +quit`

Retail

Use wine to execute the Windows installer if there is any, use unshield on the installer or copy the files if they are available like that.

If the retail copy uses a Windows InstallShield installer, then it is possible to extract the necessary data without wine using a program called unshield. It should be available as a package for your system, consult with your package manager.

Alternatively, you can follow the instructions below on obtaining unshield manually.

For the instructions below, I'm going to assume that $INSTALLDIR is the directory where the disc is mounted and $EXTRACTDIR is the directory you want the extracted data to go. You can set these as a bash variable (ex. INSTALLDIR=/path/to/installer) or just replace them before running.

First download unshield and cd into it. Then run the following commands:

cmake .
make
src/unshield -g Minimum -d "$EXTRACTDIR" x "$INSTALLDIR/data1.hdr"
cp -R "$INSTALLDIR/Data/" "$EXTRACTDIR/Minimum/Data"
mv "$EXTRACTDIR/Minimum" "$EXTRACTDIR/RCT2"

Letting OpenRCT2 know the game path

On first launch of OpenRCT2 it will launch a dialog box asking you to provide a path of your assets. On Linux it will use either zenity or kdialog. It will fail if these are not available.

If it fails or you would like to change the path used, you can use the set-rct2 command:

openrct2 set-rct2 /your/path/to/data