Installing Sonic 3 A.I.R. on Gentoo

This guide details the steps to install and run the native Linux version of Sonic 3 A.I.R. on a Gentoo system. You will install all required dependencies, retrieve the source code via Git, build the project, and then run the game. This process does not require Wine, as a native version is provided.

Overview

The installation process consists of:

Synchronizing your Portage tree
Installing required dependencies
Cloning the Sonic 3 A.I.R. source repository
Building the project with GNU Make
Running the resulting executable and performing any post‑installation configuration

Prerequisites

Before beginning:

Ensure you have a working Gentoo installation with root privileges (or proper sudo configuration).
Confirm that your Portage tree is up‑to‑date.
Verify that you have an active internet connection and sufficient disk space for cloning and building the source.

Step 1: Synchronize the Portage Tree

To ensure you have access to the latest packages and ebuilds, update your Portage tree:

sudo emerge --sync

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

According to the official documentation, Sonic 3 A.I.R. requires several libraries for a proper build. Install them with:

sudo emerge -avn dev-vcs/git media-libs/libpng sys-libs/zlib media-libs/libsdl2 media-libs/sdl2-mixer media-libs/game-music-emu media-libs/libopenmpt net-misc/curl net-libs/miniupnpc

This command installs Git (to retrieve the source) and all necessary libraries for graphics, sound, and network support.

Step 3: Clone the Sonic 3 A.I.R. Repository

Retrieve the latest source code from the official Sonic 3 A.I.R. repository. (Note: The repository URL provided below is based on the official project page and is formatted for wiki style.)

git clone https://git.sonic3air.org/Sonic3AIR/Sonic3AIR.git

After cloning, change into the repository directory and ensure you are on the master branch:

cd Sonic3AIR
git checkout master

Step 4: Build Sonic 3 A.I.R.

Before compiling, it’s a good idea to clean any previous build artifacts:

make clean && make

This command cleans the build environment and then compiles the project. The build system will use your native Gentoo toolchain together with the installed dependencies.

Step 5: Running and Post‑Installation Configuration

Once the build completes successfully, launch Sonic 3 A.I.R. with:

./Sonic3AIR

On the first run, the game will create its configuration files (commonly in your home directory under a folder such as `~/.sonic3air`). Use the in‑game menus or edit these files manually to adjust video, sound, control, and gameplay settings to your liking.

Troubleshooting

**Build Failures:**

 If the compilation fails, carefully review the terminal output for missing dependencies or misconfigurations. Confirm that all required libraries were installed correctly via Portage.

**Runtime Issues:**

 Should the game not start as expected, verify that your graphics drivers and sound system are properly configured. Reviewing log output from the terminal can help isolate any issues.

**Further Assistance:**

 Consult the Official Sonic 3 A.I.R. Website or Gentoo community forums for additional support if needed.

Conclusion

Following these steps should provide you with a fully functional native Linux installation of Sonic 3 A.I.R. on Gentoo. Enjoy the enhanced performance and integrations available on your system, and feel free to further tweak the configuration to suit your gaming preferences.

References

Sonic 3 air

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