Team Fortress 2 doesn't run on Intel GPUs without GLSL 1.3 support

[ghost]

While TF2 runs fine on Windows running on machines like mine (pre-HD integrated grahpics, e.g. the 4500mhd), the native Linux port fails to do anything more than to show a black screen, while the game loads and cycles through introduction screens and the main menu, with sound working perfectly fine.

The underlying issue seems to be lacking GLSL 1.3 support for said hardware. I cannot tell whether this is a software (Mesa) or a hardware problem; even under Windows, I get results of OpenGL 2.1 compliance at most. The game seems to be somehow less demanding in DirectX mode, or whatever reason Valve came up with.

In the game's log, several error messages related to failing shader compilation can be found. Numerous cases of this, and as shown in video, can be found in this Discussion thread: http://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/6/846939071071956036/#p1

A filthy, not-so-much-working workaround was proposed by me, which merely forces the game engine to assume we're running it on a GLSL 1.3-compatible system. Of course, this is asking for trouble, and the little useful results can also be found in this thread.

"Workaround", forcing GLSL version to minimum required 1.3:

MESA_GLSL_VERSION_OVERRIDE=130

[play3man]

@MrSchism I think, that Wine translating DirectX to OpenGL. Just like a Valve's translating layer in Source Engine. So why I can play TF2 in Wine, but native version doesn't work?

[MrSchism]

Actually Wine uses D3D (DirectX's Direct3D) DLLs, from what I can recall.

More than that, I think that DirectX's default shading language is HLSL, not GLSL. This means that many inconsistencies occur because of the necessity to use GLSL for OpenGL which is not totally analogous (version wise) to features available in HLSL.

[ghost]

It doesn't. There is no natively working D3D implementation for Linux. Wine's built-in D3D stack (no Windows DLLs involved) interprets calls and converts them to OpenGL equivalents.

[MrSchism]

It doesn't. There is no natively working D3D implementation for Linux. Wine's built-in D3D stack (no Windows DLLs involved) interprets calls and converts them to OpenGL equivalents.

I was basing it off of the fact that I usually only see TF2 functioning with d3dx#.dll

[Yulike]

So is it possible for Valve to fix at all?

[theCapypara]

Well at least I can get the Tux promo item by juts starting the game and waiting a few minutes. But the game is still not working here.

[MrSchism]

I got the Tux item almost instantly.

[play3man]

Same here. Valve!!! Or someone else, please fix this...!

[jorgenpt]

Issue transferred to ValveSoftware/Source-1-Games#19.

This issue is closed - continue conversation there.

[Majkl578]

@jorgenpt: This, what are you doing with issues, is really BAD and UGLY solution. Please stop it and find proper way, which wouldn't mess up everything.

[katanacrimson]

Seconding @Majkl578. please...don't ever do that again. It's horribly disruptive to the issue, we lose our issue subscriptions, and now it's an absolutely AWFUL time trying to figure out who said what in among all the fucking butchered comments that you had to transfer.

[play3man]

I'm with you guys +1

[Majkl578]

Guys, I created an issue for this, #1817, since I think this is really serious problem.

[ghost]

Valve, please clarify on your hardware support. This is a terrible situation and a big letdown for any Linux gaming enthusiast. I'm not going to buy a new laptop just to be able to play a game that was released even before my GPU entered the market! Absolutely ridiculous.

[Yulike]

Can someone re-open this, it should not be closed until it's fixed.

[BenjaminRH]

+1 I'm experiencing this issue too, and having bought games for Linux, I'd like to be able to play them.

[Majkl578]

Since @jorgenpt messed everything up (see #1817 for more details about it), you've to continue your discussion at https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Source-1-Games/issues/19.