http://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=33916
Bug #: 33916 Summary: Strange work around for infinite loading screen in witcher 2 using ctrl+alt+F1 Product: Wine Version: 1.5.31 Platform: x86 OS/Version: Linux Status: UNCONFIRMED Severity: blocker Priority: P2 Component: -unknown AssignedTo: wine-bugs@winehq.org ReportedBy: eliad.kimhy@gmail.com Classification: Unclassified
Hi,
I'm using ubuntu 13.04, and the Witcher 2 GOG Enhanced Edition game was installed using playonlinux, but this issue is probably relevant to all other versions of the game. My hardware is very old, a core 2 duo and a geforce 8400GS, but the issue is related to software, as others are reporting it regardless of hardware.
Infinite loading screen- a situation in which the game "loads" for a very long time (over 10 minutes) or an infinite time (over 20 minutes observed), without showing signs of crashing or otherwise bad behavior.
Upon trying to quit this infinite loading screen (by using ctrl + alt + backspace) my finger missed and I ended up pressing F12! Lo and behold the screen went to console (or whatever that limbo zone might be called), and the game started running in the background! I immediately started switching alt + Fn 'till I found alt + F7 and the game was working!
Now every time I play the game I press ctrl + alt + F1 whenever it starts loading.
The game now loads within 20 seconds (!!!), a huge difference. There's obviously some sort of bug here, and I wonder why switching to console releases the loading screen. Could be solvable, and it could be an issue that affects other areas of the game as well, so it might be worth figuring out.
Anyway, for all of you who get stuck at the loading screen, the game is now playable.