Falcon_3.0.md

Falcon 3.0 with ControllerBuddy on Linux

📖 Description

This guide describes the setup of Falcon 3.0 (Steam) for use with ControllerBuddy on Linux via the DOSBox Staging emulator.

What you get with this setup:

• An installation of Falcon 3.0 that is nicely integrated into your Steam library.
• ControllerBuddy will start automatically when you start the game, load the correct profile, and exit when you quit the game.

🧩 Prerequisites

• Steam (distribution package)
• DOSBox Staging Flatpak
• ControllerBuddy Flatpak
• Falcon Gold Steam Release

🪜 Steps

Important

Before starting with the steps, make sure to read the Important Notes section in the README of this repository.

1. Download Falcon Gold in Steam.

2. Create a folder which will hold a custom DOSBox config file and launch script for Falcon 3.0:

   mkdir "$HOME/Falcon_Gold"

3. Configure Falcon Gold to work with the Falcon_3.0.json profile from ControllerBuddy-Profiles:

   controller_buddy_profiles_dir=$(realpath -s "$(flatpak info -l de.bwravencl.ControllerBuddy)/../active/files/share/ControllerBuddy-Profiles") &&
   cp "$controller_buddy_profiles_dir/configs/Falcon_3.0/JOYSTICK.DEF" "$HOME/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Falcon Gold/game/"

4. Create the DOSBox config file:

   cat << 'EOF' > "$HOME/Falcon_Gold/dosbox_falcon_gold.conf"
   [sdl]
   fullscreen = true
   host_rate = sdi
   presentation_mode = cfr
   
   [dosbox]
   memsize = 8
   vmem_delay = 650
   
   [render]
   glshader = nearest
   
   [cpu]
   cpu_cycles = 20000
   cpu_cycles_protected = auto
   cycleup = 1000
   cycledown = 1000
   
   [voodoo]
   voodoo = false
   
   [joystick]
   joysticktype = 4axis
   timed = false
   deadzone = 0
   
   [dos]
   keyboardlayout = us
   
   [ipx]
   ipx = true
   
   [autoexec]
   @echo off
   mount c "~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Falcon Gold/game"
   imgmount d "~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Falcon Gold/game/game.gld" -t iso -fs iso
   c:
   cls
   FALCONCD.EXE
   exit
   
   EOF

5. Create the launch script:

   cat << 'EOF' > "$HOME/Falcon_Gold/Falcon_Gold.sh" && chmod +x "$HOME/Falcon_Gold/Falcon_Gold.sh"
   #!/bin/bash
   
   cb_profile=Falcon_3.0.json
   dosbox_conf=dosbox_falcon_gold.conf
   mouse_sensitivity=1.0
   
   cd "$(cd -- "$(dirname -- "$0")" &> /dev/null && pwd)" || exit
   
   flatpak run de.bwravencl.ControllerBuddy -autostart local -profile "/app/share/ControllerBuddy-Profiles/$cb_profile" -tray &
   
   timeout=15
   cb_device_name="ControllerBuddy Joystick"
   
   i=0
   while cb_joystick_device=$(awk -v RS='' "/Name=\"$cb_device_name\"/{match(\$0, /js[0-9]+/); print substr(\$0, RSTART, RLENGTH); exit}" /proc/bus/input/devices) && [ -z "$cb_joystick_device" ] && [ "$i" -lt "$timeout" ]
   do
       if ! pgrep -f 'flatpak-spawn --host /bin/bash -c FLATPAK_ID=de.bwravencl.ControllerBuddy' > /dev/null
       then
           (( i++ ))
       fi
       sleep 1
   done
   
   if [ -z "$cb_joystick_device" ]
   then
       zenity --error --text="Launch aborted because $cb_device_name wasn't ready within $timeout seconds.\n\nCheck if your controller is connected." --width 500
   else
       SDL_JOYSTICK_DEVICE="/dev/input/$cb_joystick_device" \
       SDL_MOUSE_RELATIVE_SPEED_SCALE="$mouse_sensitivity" \
       flatpak run io.github.dosbox-staging -conf "$dosbox_conf"
   fi
   
   killall -q ControllerBuddy
   
   EOF

6. Add the launch script ($HOME/Falcon_Gold/Falcon_Gold.sh) as a Non-Steam game to your Steam library.

7. Rename the Falcon_Gold.sh Steam shortcut to Falcon Gold (ControllerBuddy).

8. Override the Steam CONTROLLER settings of the Falcon Gold (ControllerBuddy) shortcut settings to Disable Steam Input.

🎮 Steam Deck Specifics

Configure Touchpads

Important

Since the Steam Deck's controller hardware is exposed to games via Steam Input, even if you do not care for the touchpad controls, you must at least apply the default Steam Input layout called Gamepad With Camera Controls to the Falcon Gold (ControllerBuddy) shortcut to ensure the controller can be detected by ControllerBuddy.

There is a special ControllerBuddy Steam Input controller layout available which configures the Steam Deck's touchpads to act as a mouse replacement.

Control	Function
Right Touchpad	Move mouse cursor
Right Touchpad Click	Left mouse button
Left Touchpad Click	Right mouse button
Left Touchpad Y-Axis	Scroll up/down

To use this layout:

1. Add the ControllerBuddy Steam Input layout to your Steam controller layouts:

   xdg-open steam://controllerconfig/3259858387/3672925155

2. Apply the layout to the Falcon Gold (ControllerBuddy) shortcut in your Steam library.