Linux game streaming in action (video)

[XÆЯO_Vince]

Hey all, I've uploaded a video demonstrating what to potentially expect from software-only based streaming, as might be the case with the upcoming In-Home Streaming feature. This configuration uses my "audio fixed" version of Linux Teamviewer 9 and Synergy (input KVM) software. This is running atop Arch Linux but works the same on SteamOS as I've tried it on that OS too.

Video

[Balderick]

Nice one.
Just to try and get some perspective; "Could you share a quick summary of your hardware?" please. i.e going by the basic layout of http://media.steampowered.com/apps/steamhardware/InHomeStreamingDiagram_t.jpg

A summary of what you think of gameplay here would be good to mentioning graphics audio sync and input sync.

Surprised nobody has asked for a full tutorial yet....

;-)

[XÆЯO_Vince]

The layout is basic. The host PC is a desktop connected to 100 Mbps LAN ethernet (I don't have Gigabit) to my router. The PC I'm playing the stream from is a laptop with Linux connecting to a 2.4 GHz Wireless N network from the same router.

The host PC: ~ 4 years old desktop tower... Intel Core i7 920 @ 3.2 GHz (overclocked), 6 GB RAM, 2 TB HDD, AMD Radeon HD 5850 (overclocked with patched BIOS), Windows 7 Home Premium.

The stream receiving PC: ~ 9 month old laptop... Intel Pentium dual-core 987 @ 1.5 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HDD, integrated Intel HD graphics, Arch Linux.

What is interesting about streaming games is that not only can you play games that don't work in Wine / PlayOnLinux / CrossOver but you can also "stream play" those games on systems with specs far below the games minimum system requirements. That Bioshock Infinite stream from the video was at 1280x720, ultra high GFX settings w/ DX11 mode streamed onto a cheap Pentium laptop with Linux.

Sorry for the poor video quality...I captured it on my older digital camera in video capture mode.

[Balderick]

Those specs make your video even more impressive if not amazing.

[XÆЯO_Vince]

With my set-up, I see ~ 30 to 40 FPS from Teamviewer, virtual no input latency, and about a half-second audio lag. While this was streamed on a wireless N network, it was really limited to 100 Mbps because of the wired LAN connection on the computer. The performance is quite smooth and acceptable and would even more so for people who have Gigabit local networks or new Wireless AC routers that can offer upto Gigabit wireless connection speed.

I may write a tutorial. The slightly complicated part is "fixing audio" in the Linux version of Teamviewer. By default Teamviewer on Linux has no audio. The second part is setting up Synergy to lock mouse and keyboard input to the remote host computer--without doing this step, the mouse controls are well uncontrollable with things spinning out of control.

I also want to try Splashtop with the registry mods suggested by the poster in the other streaming thread.

[DiamondPugs]

Have you tried with a controller? Just curious.
Impressive video by the way!

[XÆЯO_Vince]

MadXav původně napsal:

Have you tried with a controller? Just curious.
Impressive video by the way!

I haven't tried a controller yet but another group member who has a streaming setup has, so it can certainly be done. I'll will try the program he recommends using for gamepads.

I think I will see if I can make my PS3 DualShock 3 controller work. If not, I'm kind of eyeing a Logitech F310 wired USB gamepad.

[Balderick]

Xaero refers to:
http://steamcommunity.com/groups/homestream/discussions/0/630802344464829787/

[XÆЯO_Vince]

Just in... with a registry hack on the Windows server, Splashtop for Linux runs super smooth, even slightly smoother than TeamViewer with slightly better compressed video stream quality in some cases.

So it appears both TeamViewer and Splashtop are viable solutions for streaming and there will soon be a third with Steam's "In-Home Streaming." Choices are a good thing!

[Bones]

Just curious how you got teamviewer to work that smoothly? I have tried that same thing from my laptop to my desktop on my home network but it was so incredibly choppy it wasnt possible to use the menus let alone play. is there something you do to teamviewer to make it work better?

[Willdrick]

@bones:

Instead of using the TeamviewerID, set up incoming LAN connections within teamviewer and use the local LAN IP

[AnonyMap]

I tried a setup similar to this, and the game performed HORRIBLY. What did I do wrong?

[XÆЯO_Vince]

In the custom quality settings menu, there is a feature called "Improve Application Compatibility" that seems to help alot.

[XÆЯO_Vince]

Just an edit: I managed to get the PS3 controller working in my streaming setup. Now I can play any streamed Windows game on Linux with the DualShock 3 controller via wireless bluetooth (USB bluetooth dongle).

I used a combination of VirtualHere, MotioninJoy, and Xpadder. With Xpadder I configured the D-pad, joysticks, and buttons. I can use the joystick now to move the mouse cursor on the screen lol. The left joystick is my mouse cursor, the x button is left click, the right joystick is mapped to keyboard buttons "w,a,s,d". I got a chance try Bioshock Infinite in Linux with the PS3 controller via bluetooth--it works pretty good.

Now to get the PS3 controller to work on native Linux steam games...

[Balderick]

I really like xpadder's autoprofile feature.

taking BPM/steamos out of equation xboxdrv may be the way to go. xboxdrv needs xpad unloaded so this breaks use of controller in BPM/SteamOS for navigation. Am sure it will be possible to get the cake and eat it though... you already had a big portion. Go devour.

Have you seen http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=215048304&tscn ?

It would be awesome to have a nice GUI for mapping any controller like that.....

Which is basicaly GUI for whatever SteamOS uses for keyboard and mouse emulation as well as having access to game controller mappings for games that do support controller before launching the game. Very nice.

[Frank Reynolds]

I m waiting for steam to implement this, but it gets my hope up that you run this over a wireless network (at least one device). Didn t think it was possible.