Steam and Ubuntu: Nightmare from Hell.

[Consigliere]

So I thought I'd experiment with some stuff. I downloaded VirtualBox and setup an Ubuntu install with the intent of installing Steam and seeing how the Linux client works.

Well, it doesn't work.

I download the .deb from the website, installation goes off without a hitch. However, when I try to run Steam, it informs me that there are dependencies that it needs, but doesn't want to install, no matter how many times I try. Doesn't give me a reason, just says it isn't gonna install them even though it needs them. I got the impression it had to do with the fact that I had an x64 Ubuntu install and it was needing x32 libs, or something, I don't know but its ridiculous that I should have to open a terminal and unf***k a program on a FRESH install of an operating system; even a low-end, amateur, indie operating system like Ubuntu.

Okay, fine, so I google up how to deal with this, if it's Linux it can't work right without you opening a terminal and unbreaking it (have I mentioned I hate Ubuntu?). After running some commands in a terminal, most of which I don't really know what they are or what they're doing, I get past the dependency issue, but now steam tells me I need to be online for it to do anything. Reboot the VM, same thing.

Well, I am online, I had to be to download the .deb to install it in the first place. But no, I'm apparently not online enough to suit Steam. It doesn't like the VirtualBox adapter maybe, but I don't care if it likes it or not, if I can connect to the internet to download Steam, then there's no reason for Steam to not be able connect to the net itself, it's retarded.

It was about at this point that I uninstalled VirtualBox. Installing one program onto a fresh operating system shouldn't require that much under-the-hood tinkering man. I dunno if the issue lies with Ubuntu or Steam, but I can tell you that I will never in my life attempt to use them together again, because it will lead to rage. Ubuntu's been out forever, Steam on Linux has been out long enough; so...why doesn't it just WORK? Why do I have to google multiple issues, troubleshoot, run several advanced/obscure terminal commands just to install and run a simple program? I mean, I know Linux is just kinda broken that way, but come on man.

I don't want help, I've done ran the gambit with Google and as I said I've already uninstalled VirtualBox and thus Ubuntu. Just throwing this out there in case someone else might be looking to try this out - IT IS NOT WORTH IT.

[Websteroni]

Ubuntu works well with Steam must be the VirtualBox.

[quischen]

I completely understand your frustration. I spent countless hours trying all kinds of things to get the linux client for steam to work with a non-virtualbox installation of kubuntu 13.04. Don't bother with downloading the manual installer of nvidia drivers as it creates more headaches then it's worth with trying to get 3D support to work with steam.

I basically followed post #1126 of http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1743535&page=113 with a few modifications. I was able to get the linux steam client to work after installing nvidia proprietary graphics card drivers by doing the following:

1. sudo apt-get remove --purge nvidia-current xserver-xorg-video-nouveau. Do not remove libkwinnvidiahack4 as it will cause the X11 window manager to fail to load on the next reboot.
2a. Blacklist the nouveau driver. sudo kate /etc/modprobe.d/nouveaublacklist.conf and add the following:

blacklist nouveau
blacklist lbm-nouveau
alias nouveau off
alias lbm-nouveau off

2b. sudo update-initramfs -u to remove nouveau from the initramfs so that it won't get loaded at next boot.

3. Prep the necessary dependencies: sudo apt-get install build-essential gcc-4.5 g++-4.5 libxi-dev libxmu-dev freeglut3-dev libgl1-mesa-glx libglu1-mesa libglui-dev.
4. Add the xorg-edgers PPA to get the latest nvidia drivers in a nice package installer: https://launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa.
5. sudo apt-get install nvidia-325 nvidia-settings-325 from the xorg-edgers PPA.
6. Add the steam ppa through the steam deb download and install.

I had some success getting the windows client of steam working through PlayOnLinux and wine, but your mileage may vary depending on what games you wish to play. I was able to get the windows versions of Portal 2 (with no issues), Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter (glitchy, the screen would often go black), and the Black Mesa: Source (crashed constantly when saving/loading but ran well otherwise) to work.

[MA☝Omgwtfbbqstfu™]

It worked fine when I used it to get my tux, but well I've seem people struggle with ubuntu plenty, its not quite ready for normal users yet, no way around it.

[Consigliere]

Okay, I wiped Ubuntu and am now trying Debian instead.

And, once again, I get dependency issues that refuse to resolve themselves; this tells me it isn't Linux, it's Steam. All I know to say is...feel sorry for all the Linux gamers out there who see that Steam has a Linux version and think they might be able to use the service, because they cannot if this is any indication.

I'm tired of fighting with it, I shouldn't have to do this.

[Websteroni]

Steam Support.

Messaggio originale di Consigliere:

Okay, I wiped Ubuntu and am now trying Debian instead.

And, once again, I get dependency issues that refuse to resolve themselves; this tells me it isn't Linux, it's Steam. All I know to say is...feel sorry for all the Linux gamers out there who see that Steam has a Linux version and think they might be able to use the service, because they cannot if this is any indication.

I'm tired of fighting with it, I shouldn't have to do this.

[Captain Hook the Biker Gorilla]

Protip: Don't run games in virtual box unless you have an extremely good computer.

[Spawn of Totoro]

You are better off seeking assistance in the Steam for Linux forums.
http://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/

On a side note, Steam for Linux was designed around Ubuntu. Debian is such a different version of Linux that you have to download almost everything for it from scratch.

Other then that, Ubuntu doesn't get along with Virtual Box very well.

Remember, VB doesn't allow Linux to load the proper drivers for your hardware, so you will have performance issues.