Running Capitalism Lab on Linux

We’ve compiled a set of instructions based on successful user experiences to help you get the game running on Linux through virtualization. Please follow these steps:

Method 1: Use Lutris to Run Capitalism Lab on Linux.

Lutris is an open-source gaming platform for Linux that allows you to run Windows-based games. It can be downloaded from https://lutris.net/

Capitalism Lab is listed as a supported game on the Lutris website: https://lutris.net/games/capitalism-lab/

Instructions for for Running Capitalism Lab on Linux using Lutris:

Step 1: Download the Capitalism Lab Installer

Step 2: Install Lutris

Step 3: Add Capitalism Lab to Lutris

  1. Launch Lutris:
    • Open Lutris from your applications menu.
  2. Add a New Game:
    • Click the + (Add Game) button located in the top-left corner.
  3. Configure the Game Entry:
    • Name: Enter “Capitalism Lab”.
    • Runner: Ensure that “Wine” is selected as the runner.
    • Game Executable:
      • Choose the “Install game from executable” option.
  4. Select the Installer:
    • Navigate to and select the previously downloaded Capitalism Lab installer (.exe file).
  5. Complete the Installation:
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to install Capitalism Lab. Lutris will handle the Wine configuration and dependencies automatically.

Step 4: Configure Game Settings in Lutris

  1. Locate Capitalism Lab in Lutris:
    • After installation, find “Capitalism Lab” in your Lutris library.
  2. Open Configuration:
    • Right-click on “Capitalism Lab” and select “Configure” from the context menu.
  3. Set the Wine Prefix (if necessary):
    • Navigate to the “Game Options” Tab:
      • Here, you can see the “Wine prefix” path where Lutris installed Capitalism Lab.
    • Default Path:
      • If the Wine prefix field is blank, the game was installed to the default directory: 
        ~/.wine
    • Alternative Path:
      • If a custom Wine prefix was used, note its location for later reference.

Step 5: Locate the Executable File

  1. Access the Wine Prefix Directory:
    • Open your file manager and go to the Wine prefix directory identified in the previous step. For the default .wine directory, navigate to: 
      ~/.wine/drive_c/users/YourUsername/AppData/Local/CapitalismLab/

      Replace “YourUsername” with your actual Linux username.

  2. Find capstart.exe:
    • Inside the CapitalismLab folder, locate the capstart.exe file. This is the executable that launches Capitalism Lab.

Step 6: Specify the Executable in Lutris

  1. Return to Lutris Configuration:
    • Go back to the “Game Options” tab in the Capitalism Lab configuration window.
  2. Set the Executable Path:
    • Executable: Click the browse button and navigate to the capstart.exe file located in the previous step.For example: 
      ~/.wine/drive_c/users/YourUsername/AppData/Local/CapitalismLab/capstart.exe
  3. Apply Changes:
    • Click “Save” or “Apply” to confirm the configuration changes.

Step 7: Launch Capitalism Lab

  • Start the Game:
    • In Lutris, select “Capitalism Lab” and click the “Play” button to launch the game.

 

Method 2: Using a Virtual Machine to Run Capitalism Lab on Linux

1. Set up virtualization:
– Install QEMU/KVM and virt-manager on your Linux system.
– Create a new virtual machine using virt-manager.

2. Install Windows 7:
– Use a Windows 7 SP1 ISO with all updates up to 2020.
Important: please ensure you use a Windows 7 SP1 ISO with updates applied through at least 2020, as older versions may not be compatible with the required software components.
– Complete the Windows 7 installation in your virtual machine.

3. Install necessary components:
– Download and install .NET Framework 4.8
– Install Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions)
– Install .NET Framework Runtime 8

4. Install Capitalism Lab:
– Install the game as you normally would on a Windows system.

After installing the game, first attempt to run it without any additional configurations.  If the game does not work as expected, you might want to enable the “Use DirectDraw version” option within the Capitalism Lab launcher.