Playing World War II Game, TripleA, on Linux

Triple A

I think most of us ever played a board game, such as chess, ludo, othello, or the famous one, monopoly. You, together with your friends played together on a one board game. Board games are fun, really fun, I think. From the game you will be able to know your friends character, and improve the bond between you.

Ok, that’s enough for philosophy thing. There is one board game that I and my friends like a lot, Axis and Allies. This board game is about world war II. It’s a strategy game, similar to Risk, if you ever heard about it. But, its much more complicated than Risk. The game starts with the world has been divided into 5 big warring countries (Russia, German, UK, Japan, and US), plus neutral countries. Those countries are divided into 2 sides, Axis and Allies. Every player will play one country, and the game will start in sequence. I admittedly, the game is extremely complicated, interesting, challenging, and also, addictive. We could play this game for hours. Sometimes it took half-a-day, if there is a dead-lock. Actually, that’s the down-side. We need to spare a half-day to play this game, and the problem is, not every one has the same schedule.

Axis And Allies

Recently I found a PC version of Axis and Allies. It’s called TripleA. The scenario in the game is not exactly the same with the original board game Axis and Allies. It has been modified to be more regions to conquer, more unit to command, and more rules. So, it’s more complex that the original. But, it’s still fun, though. The game is developed using Java. So, it would work with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Another good thing about the game is the game can be played by one person only that controls one country, so the other countries will be controlled by artificial intelligence (AI). And the best part is it’s free.

In order to start playing is very easy. Download the game from TripleA official website, and then extract it. The extracted folder is the game, which ready to play. Go to the folder, and then change the triplea_unix.sh into an executable file, then run it:

chmod u+x triplea_unix.sh
./triplea_unix.sh

Or, if you are using Nautilus, right-click on triplea_unix.sh, click on Permissions tab, and then tick Allow executing file as a program. Doube-click on the file, and then click on Run in Terminal.

triplea_unix.sh Properties

The main menu of the game will be shown like below.

TripleA MainMenu

TripleA-Select a Game

You can play local game (hot-seat), PBEM (by email), network game, and connect to lobby server. In order to connect to the lobby server, you have to register to, so called, TripleA War Club. Personally I only play local game option only. So, I can’t comment for other game options. Before the game start, you can select which game you want to play. There are 4 games:

• Big World : 1942 (World War II)
• Capture The Flag (Ludo-like)
• Great War (World War I)
• Minimap (Simple map game)

Ok then, enough talking. Be started and conquer the world. May the force be with you.

Note: There is another alternative to this game. It’s a web based game that only support PBEM (by email). Visit the website.

Hope you enjoy it.

Adding RSS Subscribe Button in Firefox 4+

One of the most useful functionality in Firefox is a button to subscribe to RSS, if the website we visits has a RSS feed. The button is always in the right-most of address bar. But, since Firefox 4.0 the button is missing from the address bar. I though this functionality is deprecated, but luckily it’s not. The button is shown on the toolbar by default anymore.

In order to show the RSS Subscribe button you have to click on Firefox menu -> Preferences -> Toolbar Layout. From here a Customize Toolbar window will be shown, like shown below. Find the RSS Subscribe button and then drag the button to the toolbar. You can choose the place in the toolbar as you like. For example, I put the button at the right side of the address bar, just besides Home button.

Firefox-Customize Toolbar

Firefox-RSS Subscribe

Upgrade Firefox without Upgrading Ubuntu

Firefox_logo

Ubuntu always sticks to a version for every software that delivered in an Ubuntu version. Like Ubuntu 10.04 always sticks to Firefox 3.6. Its only update the Firefox if there is an update for Firefox 3.6. It’s applicable to all of the software in Ubuntu.

Firefox 5 has been released for quite sometimes. And, Firefox 5 is way better than Firefox 3.6, such as simplicity, speed, and overall appearance. Staying with Firefox 3.6 is like torturing yourself, while the Firefox 5 is sitting in the shop, waiting for us to take it home. On the other hand, I have no intention to upgrade my Ubuntu to the latest version.

Fortunately, there are 2 ways to upgrade our Firefox. First, download Firefox (tar.bz2 file) from Mozilla website, and install it manually. Second, install it using Ubuntu Software Center. I prefer the second method, because it has been tested by Ubuntu team.

In order to do this, you have to add PPA for Firefox into software repository list. There are 2 ways to do this:

• By using GUI, open up the Ubuntu Software Center, click menu Edit > Software Sources and click the ‘Other Software’ tab. Click ‘Add’ and then paste ppa:mozillateam/firefox-stable into the APT Line input box. Once done you can click on menu System > Administration > Update Manager to perform an upgrade.

Ubuntu Software Center

Software Sources

• By using terminal, you just need to run these command in the terminal window:
  • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/firefox-stable
  • sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

The Ubuntu Update Manager will upgrade your Firefox to the latest version according to its PPA, including automatically upgrade to Firefox 6 by the time it released. Have fun.

References:

• http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/fx/
• http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/features/
• http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/03/firefox-4-ppa-for-ubuntu-10-04-and-10-10-users/

Print with Xerox DocuPrint C1110B in Linux

Up to now driver for printers are one of the annoying problem in Linux. Even though already plenty of printers out there that have been supported in Linux, but many, or should I say, most of them are not fully supported, because most of them are developed by open source programmers by reverse engineering those drivers.

My printer is also not spared. My printer, Xerox DocuPrint C1110B, is a home color laser printer. This printer is fast and quite reliable. The color print-out is perfect. The problem that I encounter with this printer is the paper size setting. Sometimes even though we set to print a A4 size paper, the printer still trying to print Letter size paper, and asks us to put Letter size papers into its tray. This problem happened even though I use it in Windows with its original driver.

At first I have problem to find driver for this printer for my Ubuntu system. I use any available Xerox printer driver, but this printer still print rubbish characters. But, luckily I found a generic driver that working with this printer. The name of the driver is “Generic PCL 6/PCL XL Printer”. You can find this driver in System -> Administration -> Printing. If you can’t find this driver, you can go to OpenPrinting website to get the driver (PPD file, see the reference below).

Change Printer Driver - Step 1

Change Printer Driver - Step 2

I can print perfectly by using this printer driver. I don’t encounter any problem with this printer, including printing power point using OpenOffice with color. Honestly, almost no problem. I can’t print full-duplex (two-sided) with this driver. It always print one-side of the paper. Even though this problem is still consider as tolerable, I’m hoping that those printer manufacturers are producing drivers for Linux or open those drivers and let those amazing programmers to port them to Linux.

Check these websites for more information:

• http://www.openprinting.org/printer/Generic/Generic-PCL_6_PCL_XL_Printer
• http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1578736

Play Angry Bird on Chrome Browser … and much more !

I think Angry Bird is the most famous game in the mobile application world. A puzzle game that allow a player to sling birds into a bunch of pigs. It’s very addictive game!!

At the beginning it was only available on iPhone. Then, it was made available on Android Market. At this point, I can see that everyone is playing Angry Birds everywhere, on trains, on buses, even at bus stops. It’s amazing. Knowing this, Rovio, the maker of Angry Birds, developed the game as a PC version. Too bad, the game only can run under Windows.

But wait!!  Today I found that I can play Angry Birds on Chrome Web Browser! Yes, you are not dreaming!  Playing the game ON Chrome Web Browser. What you need to do is just go to http://chrome.google.com/webstore and then find the Angry Birds, and then install it. As easy as that. The requirement? You just need to install Chrome Web Browser. The advantage of playing this on Chrome that you don’t need to bother about the operating system. You can play it on Linux and Windows, even Mac. The downside is currently the game only can be installed on Chrome.

The Chrome Web Store has not only games, it almost has everything that people needs for daily use. The web store was launched somewhere in May 2010 (read this). I’m sure the web store will be the base for Chromebook that will be launched on 15 June 2011 (read this).  Samsung and Acer have been known to release Chromebook.  Hurry and put your order NOW!!

Ubuntu Update Breaks NVidia Composite Display

Yesterday evening I’ve encountered an annoying problem. My composite display was broken. My compiz was not working properly. I couldn’t play any games that using 3D texture. I remember that the night before I installed regular updates from Ubuntu. As Homer says, DOUB! That must be the cause. Sometimes I don’t understand why this kind of problem must be happening. When I run “compiz-check”, it returned:

Gathering information about your system…
.
Distribution:          Ubuntu 10.04
Desktop environment:   GNOME
Graphics chip:         nVidia Corporation Device 0a2b (rev a2)
Driver in use:         nvidia
Rendering method:      Nvidia
.
Checking if it’s possible to run Compiz on your system…
.
Checking for texture_from_pixmap…               [ FAIL ]
Checking for non power of two support…          [ FAIL ]
Checking for composite extension…               [ OK ]
Checking for FBConfig…                          [ OK ]
Checking for hardware/setup problems…           [ SKIP ]
.
At least one check had to be skipped:
Error: Unable to detect maximum 3D texture size

I run “nvidia-bug-report.sh” to check what the error is, and then checked the file generated by the script. The file showed that GLX initialization is failed, and recommended me to reinstall the NVidia driver.

(EE) Apr 29 21:46:19 NVIDIA(0): Failed to initialize the GLX module; please check in your X
(EE) Apr 29 21:46:19 NVIDIA(0):     log file that the GLX module has been loaded in your X
(EE) Apr 29 21:46:19 NVIDIA(0):     server, and that the module is the NVIDIA GLX module.  If
(EE) Apr 29 21:46:19 NVIDIA(0):     you continue to encounter problems, Please try
(EE) Apr 29 21:46:19 NVIDIA(0):     reinstalling the NVIDIA driver.

As recommended, I reinstalled the NVidia driver. When reinstalling the driver, the installer returned an error message:

ERROR: File ‘/usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/libglx.so’ is not a symbolic link.

After the message, the installer was still continuing the installation process until finish. I restarted my system, and found out that the problem had gone. Then I checked the location of the libglx.so, and it is there. So, I guess that’s the root of the problem. I think Ubuntu has to be more careful with its update, because sometimes it breaks a well-running system. Luckily, the problem is not as complicated as I thought.

Thanks to these forums:

• http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=117111
• http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-671261.html

And, special thanks to http://forlong.blogage.de/entries/pages/Compiz-Check for the “compiz-check” script. You Rockz!

Creative D200 on Linux

For anyone, who is electronic junkie, having cables run in all directions in his room or house is a common sight.  In my own experience, I really fed up with those cables. They are very annoying, messy, and difficult to clean.  Worse of all, it makes me hate my own room. GEEZZ!!

Last week I bought a dream-come-true wireless speaker at a Creative sale.  Its model is Creative D200. Its dimension is about 40 cm wide x 10 cm high x 10 cm deep, with glossy black color. It looks awesomely elegant. The sound quality is also out of this earth. I didn’t know that wireless speaker has outstanding sound quality.  The day I bought this beauty might just be one of my best days indeed!!

Creative D200: Overall View

Creative D200: Buttons

Creative D200: Bass

This speaker is using Bluetooth technology as its wireless connection. The device connection to the speaker is also very easy. Before you can use the speaker, you need to pair your device with the speaker. Press the Bluetooth button on the speaker for 3 seconds, then the light beside the Bluetooth button will turn blue and blinking. It means its in pairing mode. In Windows 7, you have to select “Add Device”, then select Creative D200. In Android phone, turn on the Bluetooth function, select “Scan Devices”, and then select the Creative D200. In Linux (Ubuntu 10.04), you select Bluetooth icon in toolbar, select “Set Up A New Device”.

Step 1: The welcome screen of Bluetooth new device setup will be shown. Click “Forward” from here.

Bluetooth New Device Setup

Step 2: The wizard will be scanning any bluetooth device available for pairing. Creative D200 will be shown in the list. Click “PIN options…”.

Bluetooth New Device Setup-D200

Step 3: Choose “0000″ as the PIN. It is the option for most of the device. Click “Close”.

PIN Options-0000

Step 4: Your device will be connected successfully with the speaker. Click “Close”.

Bluetooth New Device Setup-D200 Connected

In order to connect to the speaker, you can press the Bluetooth button on the speaker once, the speaker will connect to any of ready device.Once its connected the light besides the Bluetooth button will turn blue, but not blinking.

In Linux (Ubuntu 10.04), if you have connected with the device but the sound still comes from your computer then you have to select Creative D200 in “Sound Preferences | Hardware”.

Sound Preferences-Hardware-D200

Still in Linux (Ubuntu 10.04), if the sound has come from the speaker but you are unable to increase or decrease its volume then you have to select Creative D200 in “Sound Preferences | Output”.

Sound Preferences-Output-D200

In other Linux distro, the adding of Bluetooth speaker might be different, especially non-Gnome desktop environment, but technically its the same.

So, good luck and may the force be with you.  Prevail in the end, you will.

Microphone Problem on Ubuntu 10.04

Recently I bought a PC headset with noise-cancellation mic. Smiling all the way to my work desk, I plugged the headset into my Sony Vaio notebook that running Ubuntu 10.04, but to my surprise the mic didn’t work (blasted!), even though it’s earphone is working fine. I tested the headset on my Windows 7 system, and it’s working fine.

After a little bit of experiment I solved the problem. The solution is quite easy.

Open “Sound Preferences” -> “Hardware” -> Change Profile to “Analog Stereo Input” -> Test -> Change Profile to “Analog Stereo Duplex” -> Test again.

Sound Recorder Profile

Up to this step the device should be able to work.

I guess the cause of the problem is because of missing settings in one of the configuration files.  (Okay, I admit! Windows is not the only OS to have missing files out of nowhere).  By doing above steps, the system refreshed its settings. YAY!

Play Heroes of Might and Magic V on Linux

Heroes of Might and Magic is one of my favorite game in old times (I’m still young though). This game is a strategy game and it’s very addictive, I mean, REALLY ADDICTIVE.  Countless nights I spent in battlefield, thanks to this game.  We have to pick one of the race, build an army, and capture enemy castles. We can spend most of our time just to play this game. One of the best strategy game I have ever played indeed!  Heroes of Might and Magic V is latest installment of the game series.

The question is last time I play in DOS and Windows 98 environments, and Heroes V is also a Windows game. How to run this game on linux, especially Ubuntu? To do it I bet my luck on Wine.  Wine is not just good to play game but also to drink.  :)

I use Wine 1.2.2 to install Heroes Might and Magic V on my Ubuntu 10.04. The installation run smoothly. I run the game. My screen resolution changed according to the game resolution. An introduction showed a story how the war starts. After the introduction, the game leads me to a main menu screen. The problem happened when I tried to click a menu. The screen shifted little bit to the right. The more I click to the screen the more the screen shifted to the right. In short I could not play the game.
After a little bit of research I would be able to run the game if I emulate a virtual window for all application run under Wine. It has to be set on Wine Configuration (winecfg).

Wine Configuration

After setting the virtual window I’m able to play the game perfectly, feels like I’m playing in Windows environtment…  See here, Bill. Your platform is not the only one anymore!!

Heroes of Might and Magic V on Wine

Internet Connection Problem in VMWare and VirtualBox

I was trying to compare VMWare and VirtualBox. I ran Ubuntu 10.04 Server Edition on both virtualization program, and both had the same problem with the Internet connection. When I tried to run “sudo ifup eth0″, system showed something like “eth0: ERROR while getting interface flags: no such device”.

Once again I found the solution in the ubuntuforums.org. It suggestes me to delete these lines below from “/etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules”

PCI device xxxxxxxxxxx (module)
SUBSYSTEM==”net”, DRIVERS==”?*”, ATTRS{address}==”xxxxxxx”, NAME=”eth0″

But, I deleted the file instead, I restarted the system, and then the Internet connection was fixed. This solution is applied to both virtualization program.

Reference:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=255018