LaunchBox Linux Setup: Get Gaming in Minutes

Well now, let me tell ya ’bout this LaunchBox thing on that Linux whatchamacallit. My grandson, he’s always fiddlin’ with these computer things. Says it’s a way to play all yer games in one spot, like a fancy box for all them game thingies.

What is this LaunchBox thing anyway?

LaunchBox, from what I gather, is like a big ol’ shelf for all yer games. You know, like how I keep my jars of preserves all lined up? ‘Cept this is for them computer games. He says it’s free to use, too, which is good. Don’t wanna be spendin’ money on things ya don’t need. He downloaded it and started messin’ with it, puttin’ all his games in there. Said it keeps things tidy and easy to find. I guess that makes sense. Lord knows I can never find nothin’ when he’s done messin’ around.

• Keeps all games in one place
• Easy to use, even for an old woman like me (maybe!)
• Free to download and use

Can you use it on that Linux thing?

Now, this Linux thing is a whole ‘nother story. It’s like a different kind of Windows, he says. Apparently, LaunchBox wasn’t made for it straight off. But my grandson, he’s a smart feller. He found a way to make it work. He used somethin’ called Lutris, which is like a helper program, I guess. He says it took him a while to figure it all out, but he got ‘er done. He even wrote a big long guide on how to do it, all them fancy computer words I don’t understand. Said he put it on some kinda forum for other folks to see. Kids these days and their internets!

Is it hard to set up?

He said it wasn’t too bad once he figured it out. You gotta get that Lutris thing first, then do some kinda fiddlin’ with the settings. He mumbled somethin’ about Wine and prefixes and all that jazz. Sounded like gibberish to me. But he showed me how it looks, and it seemed simple enough once it was all set up. All the games are right there, with pictures and everything. You just click on ’em and play. Heck, even I could probably figure it out if I had to. But I’d rather stick to my solitaire, thank ya very much.

Why would anyone wanna do this?

Well, some folks like that Linux thing. Says it’s more secure or somethin’. And if you wanna play all yer games on it, LaunchBox seems like a good way to go. It’s better than havin’ to find them games all over the place and clickin’ all kinds of different things to start them up. It makes it easier, I suppose. My grandson, he likes to tinker with things, always tryna find new ways to do stuff. He says it’s fun to make things work that ain’t supposed to. Kids these days.

So, what’s the big deal?

I guess the big deal is that it works. Folks were askin’ if there would ever be a LaunchBox version for Linux, or some easy way to get it workin’. My grandson, he went and figured it out. He says maybe they’ll make an official version someday, but for now, this Lutris way is the way to go. And it ain’t just for games either, he says. You can put other programs in there too. It’s like a big ol’ organizer for your computer. And who doesn’t like a good organizer? Keeps things neat and tidy, just the way I like it.

Any other fancy features?

Well, he showed me somethin’ called Big Box, which is like a fancy version of LaunchBox. Makes it look all pretty and stuff, with big pictures and animations. Said it’s good for hookin’ up to the TV and playing games like on a console. I don’t know nothin’ ’bout that, but it looked kinda neat, I guess. He was also talkin’ ’bout some docker thing, but I tuned him out at that point. Too much computer talk for one day.

In conclusion, even an old lady can understand this LaunchBox thing… sort of.

So, there ya have it. LaunchBox on Linux, explained as best as this old woman can. It’s a way to keep all yer games in one spot, even if you’re usin’ that fancy Linux thing. It might take a little fiddlin’ to get it goin’, but it seems to work just fine once it’s all set up. And if my grandson can figure it out, well, I reckon just about anyone can.

If you use that fancy computer, maybe give it a try. Or don’t, I don’t really care. I’m goin’ back to my solitaire now.

Tags: LaunchBox, Linux, Lutris, Games, Gaming, PC, Emulator, Front-end, Big Box, Docker