The new home for the IMVU Community is help.imvu.com. For more information, check out this article.

eeeemiller · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 2 Location: USA - CA

Thanks to a hot tip from Amaroq, we discovered that IMVU can run on Linux! So people too cool for Windows can run IMVU now. Here's what I did to get it working...

1. Download and install the latest version of WINE from http://www.winehq.org/. I'm using 0.9.45. Earlier versions of WINE have a problem where chat bubbles are too small to read.

2. Save the IMVU installer to disk from here:

http://avatars.imvu.com/catalog/web_download_steps.php?topnav=1

3. Run the IMVU installer:

$ wine InstallIMVU_382.0_full.exe

4. Choose a directory to install IMVU. I chose my home directory (so ~/imvu).

5. Now run the client:

$ wine ~/imvu/IMVUClient.exe

6. Be sure to select "OpenGL" or "Standard Graphics" from the Settings menu, because Direct3D support is wonky.

Take it for a whirl! The only thing that doesn't work right for me is the text chat (Settings -> Use text chat).

JamieWayneRothery_disable · Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 450 Location: United Kingdom

i wish i had the know how to get linux on my computer i would do a partition on my hard disk and have both but i hear linix is free so where do you get it if its free?

eeeemiller · Joined: 19 Sep 2007 Posts: 2 Location: USA - CA

Mommajack · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 30987 Location: USA - TX

Thanks!
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nisaea · Joined: 25 Sep 2006 Posts: 4 Location: France

By the way, I read in the Help section that a Mac version is being developed.

Don't worry, I'm not here to complain about the wait. But so you know, if you need people to beta a test version, I'm ALLLL yours! Wink

(I hope this reply is not too off-topic. If it is, please accept my apologies.)

Epsilon7331_3113444_retir · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 8 Location: USA - VA

I'd help to test out a Mac version of the client, too.

AphoxemaJee · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 367 Location: USA

Actually, I've had the best luck with Direct3D (GeForce7300, Proprietary Drivers)...

It's nice that IMVU works somewhat through Wine, but it's an unacceptable implementation when it really is a possibility to port to GNU/Linux. A huge part of GNU/Linux is the fact that the software is open and free to learn from, and I keep making it a point that IMVU has some reliance on free and open source software to make it where it is, particularly Python.

GNU/Linux is really pushing it's way in, but many people are avoiding it because of select applications that can't be used. IMVU could set a wonderful example (and rake in some cash) by being one of the few, presently, who are hopping onto GNU/Linux support or platform independence.

The only time I use Windows now is when I make things for IMVU and play Silkroad with Zukin... I never use the client anymore because I can't use it reliably in Ubuntu/Wine...
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My IMVU/3DSMAX sources

AphoxemaJee · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 367 Location: USA

This might be informative, and, of course, anyone should register and supply information if they really put some time into it...

http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=3927&iTestingId=2551
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My IMVU/3DSMAX sources

gaf210 · Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:44 pm Post subject:

This is a known feature for me, since ive been using it with VMWare in a virtual partition with Win XP in Fedora Linux, since February. Thanks for making it official!!
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ChuckMcDonald · Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 8 Location: USA - FL

It would be nice if IMVU had the client for Linux. I do have it running in Wine but its sluggish and takes forever for things to come up. When I am developing products, I have to do it in VMWare using Vista. Running IMVU in a virtual machine runs 100 times better then using Wine. I'm trying to move completely away from Microsoft but the only thing is stopping me is using IMVU.

AphoxemaJee · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 367 Location: USA

I've broken that barrier already, more or less. I use Windows to develop but I don't use the chat client anymore because I can't use it in GNU/Linux. It's just seemed so pointless when I started to use Ubuntu almost full time.
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DSMaster · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 1714 Location: USA - IN

IMVU does not work under wine, which pissed me off. sorry, but try again. Ubuntu Gutsy Gazelle, Tribe 5. (7.10)

AphoxemaJee · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 367 Location: USA

Wine has had alot of effort put into it, but it's still impractical. Every time Windows changes, Wine has to be picked through all over again. It's engineering from reverse engineering that can't be changed or improved.

It's a hobby, it's a toy... Wine isn't an acceptable replacement for a proper port. IMVU could make Linux 2.4/2.6 binaries, or they could open the code up. I'm going to keep saying this over and over... IMVU would have alot to gain from open-sourcing their client, at least parts of it.
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My IMVU/3DSMAX sources

DSMaster · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 1714 Location: USA - IN

AphoxemaJee · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 367 Location: USA

I'm sure the only thing that will get IMVU to dedicate any resources to a proper port would be solid numbers. Windows is the obvious choice, OSX is the obvious second choice, but there's no clear third choice. It would probably be GNU/Linux, but it might be BSD, or maybe even Solaris. They might just try to make something platform independent like Java.

If IMVU opened up their code, there would be no need to weigh these decisions, the work would be done much more quickly than they could do it for themselves. Bugs would be quashed faster than anyone could blink, the features people want wouldn't have to be demoted because of 'more pressing concerns'.

Yes, of course, people would find ways to make their own clients so they could put on anything they wanted in the catalogue, competitors could use the code for their own IMVU clone site, but IMVU has the notoriety it needs to remind anyone that it came first and locks and chains have been tested for years now and it seems to keep running corporations into a brick wall.
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My IMVU/3DSMAX sources