[2026-05-23] add htpc-windows-games-fix project

family/projects/htpc-windows-games-fix.md

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+# HTPC Windows Games — Compat Status
+
+Live status of 39 non-Steam Windows games added to Steam on Bazzite HTPC (`bazzite@192.168.1.86`). Tested 2026-05-22 after initial CompatToolMapping setup (Proton Experimental default, 7 older titles on Proton 8.0).
+
+## Working ✅
+- Fallout 4
+- Vladik Brutal
+- Red Alert 3
+- Samurai Gunn (works but **gamepad not working**)
+- GTA V (assumed; not retested)
+- Cuphead (assumed)
+- Plus other untested titles
+
+## Broken — won't start
+| Game | AppID | Symptom | Hypothesis | Tried | Next |
+|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Atomic Bomberman | 2875360586 | "instr at 0x00000000 referenced 0x7. Memory could not be read" | 1997 DOS-era game — likely needs DOSBox, not Proton | proton_8 | Wrap launcher with DOSBox (dosbox-staging via Steam Tinker Launch) |
+| Brawlhalla | 2410005953 | Doesn't start | Adobe AIR / native installer flow needed | proton_experimental | Try proton_8; check if "BrawlhallaGame.exe" is wrong entry-point (should be `Brawlhalla.exe` launcher) |
+| Duck Game | 2926094216 | Won't launch | XNA 4.0 missing | xna40 via protontricks (in progress) | Wait for xna40 install to finish |
+| Worms W.M.D | 3846411911 | Doesn't start | Modern UE3.x with anti-tamper; needs vcrun | proton_experimental | Try `protontricks vcrun2019` + d3dcompiler_47 |
+| Worms World Party Remastered | 2401592779 | Doesn't start | UE4 — sometimes needs vcrun2019 | proton_experimental | `vcrun2019` |
+| Metro Exodus | 3594910936 | "unable to create interface isteamuser" | Game needs `steam_api64.dll` emu (it's a non-Steam install of a Steam game) | proton_experimental | Drop in Goldberg `steam_api64.dll`; provide `steam_appid.txt`=412020 (Enhanced) or 619500 |
+
+## Crashes after launch
+| Game | AppID | Symptom | Next |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Castle Crashers | 3048471472 | "mini dump has been sent" pop-up | Try `protontricks vcrun2019 dotnet48` |
+
+## Graphics issues
+| Game | AppID | Symptom | Tried | Next |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Discworld Noir | 2361018632 | Cyrillic shows as `?????` | Fixed `C:\Discworld Noir` symlink ✅; installed `corefonts` ❌ (still ?) | Set `LANG=ru_RU.UTF-8 %command%`; if no — `WINEDLLOVERRIDES="gdiplus=n,b"`; if no — install ttf-mscorefonts manually + register Cyrillic codepage in registry (`[HKCU\Software\Wine\Fonts\Replacements]`) |
+| Doom 3 BFG | 3602815006 | White screen, audio plays | proton_10 ❌ | Try `PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 %command%`; or proton_8; or `+set r_useOpenGL32 1` |
+| Rayman Origins | 4002021894 | Sprites missing (only Rayman's shadow rendered); broken gamma overlay | proton_8 + `PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 %command%` ❌ | Try `WINEDLLOVERRIDES="d3d9=b" %command%`; or proton_experimental |
+| Split Second | 3871231787 | Green artifacts in places | (none yet) | Try DXVK_FILTER_DEVICE_NAME / different Proton; or `PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1` |
+
+## Localization
+| Game | AppID | Symptom | Next |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| Final Fantasy X HD | 2642741094 | Game in Japanese; saves missing | Set language in `Documents/SQUARE ENIX/...` config; copy save folder from `/run/media/bazzite/Windows/Users/<user>/Documents/SQUARE ENIX/` if present |
+
+## Input / gamepad
+- **Samurai Gunn**: gamepad not detected
+- **Super Bomberman R2**: gamepad not detected
+- **Metal Slug X**: launches via Neo-Geo emulator wrapper but speed is wrong and controls don't work
+  - → check Steam Input "Force Off" → "Use Default" cycle, or `SDL_GAMECONTROLLER_ALLOW_STEAM_VIRTUAL_GAMEPAD=1`
+
+## Duplicates — remove from Steam (already installed via real Steam)
+- Human Fall Flat (3928445186) — remove shortcut + grid covers
+- Shovel Knight (2526703384) — remove shortcut + grid covers
+
+## Cover-art swaps (done 2026-05-22)
+- Atomic Bomberman (was wrong "Bomberman 64" cover)
+- Discworld Noir (was "Disco Elysium")
+- Super Bomberman R2 (was Switch boxart)
+- Final Fantasy VI (was "Final Fantasy III")
+- Zelda: A Link to the Past (was "ALttP + Four Swords")
+- Sunset Riders (was "Captain Commando"; also renamed shortcut)
+
+## Infra notes
+- `~/.steam/steam/userdata/147839491/config/shortcuts.vdf` — binary VDF; edit with Steam closed (`systemctl --user stop gamescope-session-plus@steam.service`)
+- `~/.steam/steam/config/config.vdf` — text VDF; `CompatToolMapping` section controls per-AppID Proton
+- `~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/<AppID>/pfx/` — Wine prefix for each shortcut
+- `protontricks` (Flatpak) needs xvfb + flatpak filesystem permission to `~/.local/share/Steam`
+- Background protontricks runs via `systemd-run --user --unit=<name>` (survives SSH disconnect)