[PA#3608] Intel HD 3000 on Linux gives a fatal error

[wymiller]

Greetings!

I bought this game (Planetary Annihilation) for 50% off at the Humble Store, linked to Steam, downloaded, start it, the game gives me a fatal error.

FATAL ERROR: SDL_GL_CreateContext: Could not create GL context.

I understand that the game requires OpenGL 3.2 however, my card is stuck at OpenGL 3.1. But, the minimum reqiurements say that at least Intel HD 3000/4000. So I'm confused on that part of things. I also understand that the game is still in devlopment. The Uber devs still have some kinks to works out.

Another questions I have is, by full release, that the game going to support OpenGL 3.1?

You probably want the hardware and software too!

Hardware:
Processor: Intel Core i5-2450M @ 3.10GHz (4 Cores)
Motherboard: LENOVO Emerald Lake
Chipset: Intel 2nd Generation Core Family DRAM
Memory: 6144MB
Disk: 500GB Seagate ST9500325AS
Graphics: Intel HD 3000 (1300MHz)
Audio: Intel 6 /C200
Monitor: DELL E172FP
Network: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 + Intel Centrino Wireless-N + WiMAX 6150


Software:
OS: Ubuntu 14.04
Kernel: 3.15.1 (x86_64)
Desktop: Xfce 4.10
Display Server: X Server 1.15.1
Display Driver: intel 2.99.912
OpenGL: 3.1 Mesa 10.3.0-devel (git-83821ec trusty-oibaf-ppa)
Compiler: GCC 4.8.2
File-System: ext4
Screen Resolution: 1366x786

Thanks for your time and paticene! The game looks awesome and I can't wait to play it!

[SXX]

Originally posted by wymillerlinux:

FATAL ERROR: SDL_GL_CreateContext: Could not create GL context.

Task on bugtracker for this one: PA#3608[pa.lennardf1989.com]
As you might notice MESA_GL_VERSION_OVERRIDE not work for PA.

Originally posted by wymillerlinux:

I understand that the game requires OpenGL 3.2 however, my card is stuck at OpenGL 3.1.

Technically Mesa does support every feature of OpenGL 3.3 on Sandy Bridge except geometry shaders which is not used by this game. Unfortunately it's not expose 3.3 support due to "not yet full" compatibility.

Main problem it's fact that Mesa don't have ability to force supported GL version for core profile only without breaking part of game which depends on 3.0 compatibility profile. Still as far as I understand it's will be possible to bypass the problem with by patching Mesa so it's will ignore lack of geometry shaders and will expose OpenGL 3.2/3.3.

Originally posted by wymillerlinux:

But, the minimum reqiurements say that at least Intel HD 3000/4000. So I'm confused on that part of things.

Do you mean this my topic?

This one written mainly about Windows version and I think I should add some Linux-specific warning here.

Originally posted by wymillerlinux:

Another questions I have is, by full release, that the game going to support OpenGL 3.1?

No, requirements can only go higher.

[wymiller]

Originally posted by SXX:

Main problem it's fact that Mesa don't have ability to force supported GL version for core profile only without breaking part of game which depends on 3.0 compatibility profile. Still as far as I understand it's will be possible to bypass the problem with by patching Mesa so it's will ignore lack of geometry shaders and will expose OpenGL 3.2/3.3.

I hope patching will work.

Originally posted by SXX:

This one written mainly about Windows version and I think I should add some Linux-specific warning here.

That would be nice so that other Linux users won't fall into the same pit I did.

Originally posted by wymillerlinux:

Another questions I have is, by full release, that the game going to support OpenGL 3.1?

Originally posted by SXX:

No, requirements can only go higher.

Let me rephrase the question. Will my computer be able to run this game by full release?

[SXX]

Originally posted by wymillerlinux:

Let me rephrase the question. Will my computer be able to run this game by full release?

If somebody create patch for Mesa - yes, but it's not likely that workaround can be done within game.

I'm talking about it at #dri-devel IRC at moment and looks like there guys who want to help us. :)

[wymiller]

Originally posted by SXX:

If somebody create patch for Mesa - yes, but it's not likely that workaround can be done within game.

I'm talking about it at #dri-devel IRC at moment and looks like there guys who want to help us. :)

That would be awesome! If possible, let me know how that conversation goes.

[SXX]

They said that game might be don't need 3.2 core profile to work properly and I suppose this can be right considering game work properly with Sandy Bridge on Window Intel drivers which isn't implement geometry shaders too and only support OpenGL 3.1.

So I'll talk with devs about it and let's see how it's goes.

[wymiller]

Alright! I also read the IRC logs and it seems right. Keep me posted if possible.

[SXX]

I'm not 3D programming guy so I have no idea so let's see what developers can say about that. :)

[wymiller]

Originally posted by SXX:

I'm not 3D programming guy so I have no idea so let's see what developers can say about that. :)

Haha! Neither am I, but hey, you seem very knowledgable about this game and how it works so I want to say thanks for informing me about this problem.

[SXX]

Added warning about Linux drivers to my compatibility FAQ.

[wymiller]

Originally posted by SXX:

Added warning about Linux drivers to my compatibility FAQ.

Thanks!

[SXX]

Ok I just successfully run it on my Sandy Bridge laptop via bypassing 3.2 context creating using GDB debugger. So I'll able to provide workaround for 3.1 core profile even if this change won't be merged in game soon.

Going to test live game now.

[SXX]

And yeah if you want to make some testing send me friend request and I'll explain what you should do.

[SXX]

Get good new from devs. So if everything will be fine with OpenGL 3.1 then game will work on Sandy Bridge in one of next versions. :)

[wymiller]

Originally posted by SXX:

Get good new from devs. So if everything will be fine with OpenGL 3.1 then game will work on Sandy Bridge in one of next versions. :)

Awesome! That is good news! If this is the case, I'll wait for the next versions instead of testing.