Inputs for windows exe running proton not working

[Koi_YTP]

Last year I tried getting a windows game from 2003 to run on my steam deck (I haven't installed windows on it) using proton. I initially tried the experimental version and when launching, this message showed:
https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F04ayjbhkfacd1.jpeg
I've just tried switching to a different version in 9.0-4, and the issue persists. The game in question is robot arena 2.
How do I fix this issue?

[Zef]

Looks like an old PC game, you're better off trying this with an older version of wine/proton in lutris first.

Proton 7.0 + is more for modern games.

System Requirements Robot Arena 2: Design And Destroy
Minimum Requirements
450 Mhz
Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP
16 MB 3D accelerated video card
64 MB RAM
DirectX 8.1

If that doesn't work you can simply setup a virtualized Windows 98/XP environment for these 90's - early 2000 PC games. I use PCEM but you can use 86box aswell.

https://pcem-emulator.co.uk/downloads.html (linux version is a hassle to get working on steam deck, but you can run the windows version through proton (GE) 9)
https://86box.net/ (has a linux build available on steam discover app store, but is less performant then PCEM, even when running PCEM through proton - why? - 86Bbox uses more accurate emulation thus slower)

[MartyWF]

Try googling ProtonDB and look up your game in the search bar in protondb. then look up the correct type of proton for that particular game... I do this when I want to run a game that needs proton..

Cheers and Good Luck Gaming!!