Posted July 31, 2020
I recently was able to get this game to run in Ubuntu, and I thought I'd share the process if you find yourself as clueless as I was (I got super fed up trying to run windows at a glacial pace on my oldest computer and installed Ubuntu--runs much better, but how to game???). If you are already a veteran Linux user, this post is way below your level. You can probably figure this stuff out easily. But, if you are more clueless, this post is for you!
Lutris is a game launcher for Linux that comes with a bunch of emulators. The benefit of using Lutris for gaming is that you do not have to use the terminal after installing the game or maybe even not at all. After installing, you just double-click on the icon in the Lutris launcher. If you are planning to install more than one game with more than one emulator (that is, games that were not released for Linux), it is awkward to keep track of how to start everything, so it's great for organization. It also helps if you have very young or very old people in your house that you do not want going anywhere near the terminal! If none of that applies to you, and Freddy Pharkas is the only game you are planning to install, you should probably just use SCUMMVM instead of Lutris. And, if GOG ever releases a Linux version of this game, you may want to skip this process in that case as well.
In theory, with Lutris you just provide your own copy of the game files, and it just works to run the game. Lutris currently allows you to link your GOG account, and this in some instances will let you easily install the game without even having to handle the download yourself. However, this functionality is provided by the community for each game. Currently, Freddy Pharkas--GOG version does not have a community-written installer available. This tutorial is necessary because of that; many games are much easier to install!
To follow these steps, you will need a dual boot computer with Windows and Ubuntu or two computers (both of which you own, etc. as per GOG terms of service). You may need a way to transfer files, such as a thumb drive, DVD-RW, or FTP.
1. First install Lutris on your Linux computer. The website with instructions is lutris.net/downloads. They recommend you install WINE before installing Lutris. I went ahead and installed SCUMMVM separately as well, but that is probably optional. If you do not have those programs and think you need them, look up WINE and SCUMMVM online and follow the directions there. If you are brand new to Linux as I was, you may need to know how to open a terminal to even start installing. You can do this by hitting Ctrl+Alt+t. If all goes well, you can now open Lutris on your Linux computer. On Ubuntu, there will be an icon for it with the other applications. You can right click on the icon and select "Add to Favorites" to have it show in the launch bar.
2. Now download and install Freddy on your Windows computer. After installing, locate the game folder, and copy-paste the entire folder onto your thumb drive. Take it to the Linux computer, and put the folder in your preferred location. This should be the location where you want to keep the files permanently.
3. Now open a browser on your Linux computer and go to the Lutris homepage. There is a search bar at the top where you can search for Freddy Pharkas. Currently, when you go to the Freddy Pharkas page, Lutris offers an installer for the MS-DOS version of the game that will play using SCUMMVM. Click "Install" in this option. The first time you try this, the "Open With?" box will pop up and suggest Lutris. Select Lutris, and optionally check the "Always use this" checkbox.
4. Lutris will start, and the installer will run. It will ask you a few questions, including "Location of Sierra.exe?" Sierra.exe is the executable for Freddy Pharkas. It should be in the folder where you put the files from your thumb drive.
5. To play the game, open Lutris and double-click on the icon! Have fun!
Lutris is a game launcher for Linux that comes with a bunch of emulators. The benefit of using Lutris for gaming is that you do not have to use the terminal after installing the game or maybe even not at all. After installing, you just double-click on the icon in the Lutris launcher. If you are planning to install more than one game with more than one emulator (that is, games that were not released for Linux), it is awkward to keep track of how to start everything, so it's great for organization. It also helps if you have very young or very old people in your house that you do not want going anywhere near the terminal! If none of that applies to you, and Freddy Pharkas is the only game you are planning to install, you should probably just use SCUMMVM instead of Lutris. And, if GOG ever releases a Linux version of this game, you may want to skip this process in that case as well.
In theory, with Lutris you just provide your own copy of the game files, and it just works to run the game. Lutris currently allows you to link your GOG account, and this in some instances will let you easily install the game without even having to handle the download yourself. However, this functionality is provided by the community for each game. Currently, Freddy Pharkas--GOG version does not have a community-written installer available. This tutorial is necessary because of that; many games are much easier to install!
To follow these steps, you will need a dual boot computer with Windows and Ubuntu or two computers (both of which you own, etc. as per GOG terms of service). You may need a way to transfer files, such as a thumb drive, DVD-RW, or FTP.
1. First install Lutris on your Linux computer. The website with instructions is lutris.net/downloads. They recommend you install WINE before installing Lutris. I went ahead and installed SCUMMVM separately as well, but that is probably optional. If you do not have those programs and think you need them, look up WINE and SCUMMVM online and follow the directions there. If you are brand new to Linux as I was, you may need to know how to open a terminal to even start installing. You can do this by hitting Ctrl+Alt+t. If all goes well, you can now open Lutris on your Linux computer. On Ubuntu, there will be an icon for it with the other applications. You can right click on the icon and select "Add to Favorites" to have it show in the launch bar.
2. Now download and install Freddy on your Windows computer. After installing, locate the game folder, and copy-paste the entire folder onto your thumb drive. Take it to the Linux computer, and put the folder in your preferred location. This should be the location where you want to keep the files permanently.
3. Now open a browser on your Linux computer and go to the Lutris homepage. There is a search bar at the top where you can search for Freddy Pharkas. Currently, when you go to the Freddy Pharkas page, Lutris offers an installer for the MS-DOS version of the game that will play using SCUMMVM. Click "Install" in this option. The first time you try this, the "Open With?" box will pop up and suggest Lutris. Select Lutris, and optionally check the "Always use this" checkbox.
4. Lutris will start, and the installer will run. It will ask you a few questions, including "Location of Sierra.exe?" Sierra.exe is the executable for Freddy Pharkas. It should be in the folder where you put the files from your thumb drive.
5. To play the game, open Lutris and double-click on the icon! Have fun!