modules/KENL2: Gaming - Play Cards & Proton Optimization

Version: 1.0.0 Target Platform: Bazzite - Gaming with Intent (GWI) Status: Production Ready Focus: Shareable, verified gaming configurations

Overview

KENL2 transforms gaming on Linux from trial-and-error into evidence-based configuration. Every game setup is:

🎮 Researched via ProtonDB integration
📋 Documented as a Play Card (YAML)
✅ Verified with performance metrics
🔐 Shareable via encrypted files
💾 Backed up to ATOM trail

What is a Play Card?

A Play Card is a shareable, verified gaming configuration:

game: Halo Infinite
verified: 2025-11-10
protondb_rating: Gold
hardware:
  gpu: NVIDIA RTX 3080
  cpu: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
  ram: 32GB DDR4-3600
configuration:
  proton: GE-Proton 9-18
  launch_options: "PROTON_ENABLE_NVAPI=1 %command%"
  dxvk_version: 2.3
  gamemode: true
  mangohud: true
performance:
  resolution: 2560x1440
  settings: Ultra
  fps_avg: 118
  fps_1_percent: 95
  frametime_99th: 12ms
verified_by: bazza@bazzite-deck
shared: true

Why Play Cards matter:

Your friend uses identical config → identical performance
No more "it works for me" - configs are hardware-specific
ATOM trail tracks when config was applied
Encrypted sharing via modules/KENL8

Quick Start

Research a Game

cd ~/kenl/KENL2-gaming
./research-game.sh "Elden Ring"

What changes:

sequenceDiagram
    participant User
    participant modules/KENL2
    participant ProtonDB
    participant Steam

    User->>KENL2: Research "Elden Ring"
    modules/KENL2->>ProtonDB: Query compatibility
    ProtonDB-->>KENL2: Platinum rating (9.2/10)
    modules/KENL2->>Steam: Check installed Proton versions
    Steam-->>KENL2: Proton 8.0, Experimental
    modules/KENL2->>User: Recommendation: Install GE-Proton 9-20

    Note over modules/KENL2,ProtonDB: ATOM-RESEARCH-20251110-001 created

Output:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 🎮 Elden Ring - Compatibility Research                      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ProtonDB Rating: Platinum (9.2/10)                          │
│ Verified Reports: 1,247                                     │
│                                                              │
│ Recommended Configuration:                                  │
│   • Proton: GE-Proton 9-20                                  │
│   • Launch options: PROTON_ENABLE_NVAPI=1 %command%         │
│   • DXVK: 2.3 (default with GE-Proton)                      │
│   • GameMode: Enabled                                       │
│   • MangoHud: Optional                                      │
│                                                              │
│ Common Issues:                                              │
│   ⚠️  EAC may require additional setup                       │
│   ✅ HDR works with gamescope                                │
│   ✅ Controller support: Native                              │
│                                                              │
│ Hardware Requirements:                                      │
│   • GPU: GTX 1060 minimum, RTX 3060+ recommended            │
│   • RAM: 12GB minimum, 16GB+ recommended                    │
│   • VRAM: 4GB minimum, 8GB+ for Ultra settings              │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Why: ProtonDB aggregates thousands of user reports. Research before setup saves hours of troubleshooting.

Create a Play Card

./create-playcard.sh "Halo Infinite"

What changes:

flowchart TD
    A[create-playcard.sh] --> B{Game installed?}
    B -->|No| C[Error: Install game first]
    B -->|Yes| D[Detect current config]

    D --> E[Read Steam appmanifest]
    E --> F[Detect Proton version]
    F --> G[Read launch options]
    G --> H[Prompt for performance metrics]

    H --> I[User enters FPS data]
    I --> J[Detect hardware specs]
    J --> K[Generate YAML]
    K --> L[Save to play-cards/]
    L --> M[Create ATOM trail entry]

    M --> N[✅ Play Card created]

    style A fill:#e5dbff,stroke:#7950f2
    style N fill:#d3f9d8,stroke:#51cf66

Interactive prompts:

🎮 Creating Play Card: Halo Infinite

[1/5] Detected configuration:
      Proton: GE-Proton 9-18
      Launch options: PROTON_ENABLE_NVAPI=1 %command%
      ✅ Looks correct

[2/5] Hardware detection:
      GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (detected)
      CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (detected)
      RAM: 32GB (detected)
      ✅ Auto-detected

[3/5] Performance metrics:
      Enter average FPS: 118
      Enter 1% low FPS: 95
      Enter resolution: 2560x1440
      Enter graphics settings: Ultra
      ✅ Recorded

[4/5] Verification:
      Mark as verified? [y/N]: y
      ✅ Play Card will be marked verified

[5/5] Sharing:
      Allow public sharing? [y/N]: y
      ✅ Play Card can be shared

✅ Play Card created: play-cards/halo-infinite.yaml
📝 ATOM trail: ATOM-PLAYCARD-20251110-001

Result:

Before	After
No documentation	`play-cards/halo-infinite.yaml` created
Config knowledge in head	Config saved as YAML
Can't help friends	Can share encrypted Play Card
Lost after reinstall	modules/KENL10 backup includes Play Card

Why: Play Cards document exactly what works. Future you (or friends) apply identical config instantly.

Share a Play Card

./share-playcard.sh halo-infinite.yaml friend@matrix.org

What changes:

sequenceDiagram
    participant User
    participant modules/KENL2
    participant modules/KENL8
    participant Matrix
    participant Friend

    User->>KENL2: share-playcard.sh halo-infinite.yaml friend@matrix.org
    modules/KENL2->>KENL8: Encrypt with GPG
    modules/KENL8-->>KENL2: halo-infinite.yaml.gpg
    modules/KENL2->>Matrix: Send encrypted file + public key
    Matrix->>Friend: Message received
    Friend->>Matrix: Download file
    Friend->>KENL8: Decrypt with GPG
    modules/KENL8-->>Friend: halo-infinite.yaml (plaintext)
    Friend->>KENL2: Apply Play Card
    modules/KENL2-->>Friend: ✅ Same config, same performance

Encryption flow:

Original Play Card:
  halo-infinite.yaml (1.2KB, plaintext)
  Contains: Hardware specs, Proton version, launch options

+ Encrypted with GPG:
  halo-infinite.yaml.gpg (2.1KB, encrypted)
  Only recipient's key can decrypt

+ Sent via Matrix:
  Recipient receives encrypted file + your public key
  Recipient decrypts with their private key

= Security:
  ✅ End-to-end encrypted
  ✅ Only intended recipient can read
  ✅ ATOM trail logs sharing event

Why: GPG encryption prevents random people from using your Play Card. Share configs with friends securely.

Apply a Play Card

./apply-playcard.sh play-cards/elden-ring.yaml

What changes:

stateDiagram-v2
    [*] --> ReadPlayCard
    ReadPlayCard --> ValidateHardware
    ValidateHardware --> Compatible: Hardware matches
    ValidateHardware --> Warning: Different hardware
    Compatible --> InstallProton
    Warning --> AskContinue
    AskContinue --> InstallProton: User confirms
    AskContinue --> [*]: User cancels

    InstallProton --> SetLaunchOptions
    SetLaunchOptions --> EnableGameMode
    EnableGameMode --> CreateBackup
    CreateBackup --> ApplyConfig
    ApplyConfig --> [*]

    note right of ValidateHardware
        Compares Play Card GPU
        with current system GPU
    end note

    note right of CreateBackup
        modules/KENL10 snapshot before
        applying new config
    end note

Hardware validation:

⚠️  Hardware Compatibility Check

Play Card Hardware:
  GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3080
  CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
  RAM: 32GB

Your Hardware:
  GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3070 ⚠️  (Different)
  CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D ✅
  RAM: 32GB ✅

Expected Performance Impact:
  • RTX 3080 → RTX 3070: ~15% FPS reduction
  • Play Card reports 118 FPS @ 1440p Ultra
  • Your expected FPS: ~100 FPS @ 1440p Ultra

Continue with Play Card? [y/N]:

Configuration applied:

Setting	Before	After	Source
Proton	8.0-5 (default)	GE-Proton 9-20	Play Card
Launch options	(empty)	`PROTON_ENABLE_NVAPI=1 %command%`	Play Card
GameMode	Disabled	Enabled	Play Card
MangoHud	Disabled	Enabled	Play Card

Why: Applying Play Cards is one command. No manual Steam settings, no guessing launch options.

Compatibility Tracking

cd ~/kenl/KENL2-gaming/compat-tracking
./track-compatibility.sh "Cyberpunk 2077"

What changes:

Tracking: Cyberpunk 2077

[Research Phase]
✅ ProtonDB: Platinum (9.1/10)
✅ 2,341 reports analyzed
✅ Best Proton: GE-Proton 9-20
✅ Common issues: DLSS requires latest driver

[Hardware Check]
✅ Your GPU: RTX 3080 (capable of Ray Tracing)
✅ Your VRAM: 10GB (sufficient for RT High)
⚠️  Your CPU: Ryzen 7 5800X3D (may bottleneck at 1080p)

[Recommendation]
Resolution: 1440p or 4K (GPU-bound, better CPU utilization)
Settings: Ultra + Ray Tracing Medium
DLSS: Quality mode
Expected FPS: 80-90 (1440p), 50-60 (4K)

Save recommendation as Play Card template? [y/N]: y
✅ Saved to: play-cards/cyberpunk-2077-template.yaml

Why: Compatibility tracking combines ProtonDB research + hardware analysis. Predict performance before installing.

Performance Comparison

./compare-configs.sh halo-infinite-ge918.yaml halo-infinite-experimental.yaml

Output:

📊 Configuration Comparison: Halo Infinite

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Metric          │ GE-Proton 9-18 │ Experimental │ Difference  │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Average FPS     │ 118            │ 110          │ -8 (-6.8%)  │
│ 1% Low FPS      │ 95             │ 85           │ -10 (-10.5%)│
│ Frametime 99th  │ 12ms           │ 14ms         │ +2ms        │
│ Shader Compile  │ Fast           │ Slow         │ ⚠️           │
│ DLSS Support    │ ✅             │ ✅           │ -           │
│ HDR             │ ✅             │ ⚠️  Buggy     │ ⚠️           │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Recommendation: GE-Proton 9-18 (+8 FPS, better frametimes)

Create Play Card from winner? [y/N]: y
✅ Created: play-cards/halo-infinite.yaml (GE-Proton 9-18)

Visual comparison:

xychart-beta
    title "FPS Comparison: Halo Infinite"
    x-axis [GE-Proton 9-18, Experimental, Proton 8.0]
    y-axis "FPS" 0 --> 130
    bar [118, 110, 95]
    line [118, 110, 95]

Why: A/B testing different Proton versions with data. Pick configuration based on metrics, not guesswork.

Directory Structure

KENL2-gaming/
├── play-cards/                      # Verified gaming configs
│   ├── halo-infinite.yaml           # Example Play Card
│   ├── elden-ring.yaml
│   └── cyberpunk-2077.yaml
├── compat-tracking/                 # Compatibility research
│   ├── track-compatibility.sh       # Research + hardware check
│   └── protondb-query.sh            # ProtonDB API wrapper
├── configs/                         # Game-specific settings
│   ├── proton-ge/                   # Proton GE configs
│   ├── launch-options/              # Launch option templates
│   └── shader-caches/               # (TODO) Shared shader caches
├── guides/                          # Gaming documentation
│   ├── bazza-dx-one-pager.md        # Project overview
│   └── gaming-config-*.md           # Various guides
├── windows-eol-migration/           # Win10 EOL migration
│   └── assessment-framework.yaml    # Migration planning
├── research-game.sh                 # ProtonDB research tool
├── create-playcard.sh               # Generate Play Cards
├── share-playcard.sh                # Encrypted sharing
├── apply-playcard.sh                # Apply configurations
├── compare-configs.sh               # A/B testing
└── README.md                        # This file

Integration with Other modules/KENLs

modules/KENL0: System Operations

# Install Proton GE via modules/KENL0 (privileged)
kenl-switch 0
qa-ujust install-proton-ge

# ATOM trail: ATOM-UJUST-20251110-001
# Result: GE-Proton 9-20 installed to ~/.steam/

modules/KENL8: Security

# Encrypt Play Card before sharing
kenl-switch 8
encrypt-file play-cards/halo-infinite.yaml

# Result: halo-infinite.yaml.gpg (2.1KB)

modules/KENL10: Backup

# Backup all Play Cards
kenl-switch 10
snapshot-create "before-proton-update"

# Includes: All Play Cards + Steam configs + ATOM trail

Real-World Workflow

flowchart TD
    A[New game purchased] --> B[Research compatibility]
    B --> C{ProtonDB rating?}
    C -->|Gold/Platinum| D[Apply recommended config]
    C -->|Silver/Bronze| E[Experimental setup needed]

    D --> F[Test game]
    E --> F

    F --> G{Works well?}
    G -->|Yes| H[Create Play Card]
    G -->|No| I[Try different Proton]

    I --> F

    H --> J[Benchmark performance]
    J --> K[Add metrics to Play Card]
    K --> L[Mark as verified]

    L --> M{Share with friends?}
    M -->|Yes| N[Encrypt + send]
    M -->|No| O[Keep local]

    N --> P[ATOM trail logged]
    O --> P

    P --> Q[KENL10 backup]
    Q --> R[✅ Complete]

    style A fill:#ffe3e3
    style R fill:#d3f9d8

Example: Setting Up a New Game

# Step 1: Research
🎮 modules/KENL2 $ research-game.sh "Starfield"

ProtonDB: Gold (8.7/10)
Recommended: GE-Proton 9-20
Issues: None reported for RTX 3080

# Step 2: Install game (via Steam GUI)

# Step 3: Create Play Card template
🎮 modules/KENL2 $ create-playcard.sh "Starfield"

[1/5] Config detected: GE-Proton 9-20 ✅
[2/5] Hardware detected: RTX 3080, Ryzen 7 5800X3D ✅
[3/5] Enter FPS: 90
[4/5] Verify? y
[5/5] Share? y

✅ play-cards/starfield.yaml

# Step 4: Backup before major changes
🎮 modules/KENL2 $ kenl-switch 10
💾 modules/KENL10 $ snapshot-create "starfield-working-config"

✅ Snapshot includes Play Card

# Step 5: Share with friend
🎮 modules/KENL2 $ kenl-switch 8
🔐 modules/KENL8 $ encrypt-file play-cards/starfield.yaml
🎮 modules/KENL2 $ matrix-send starfield.yaml.gpg @friend:matrix.org

Friend applies:
🎮 modules/KENL2 $ apply-playcard.sh starfield.yaml
✅ Same FPS, same settings!

Benefits for Bazzite Gamers

Traditional Approach	modules/KENL2 Approach
Google "game Linux"	ProtonDB research built-in
Try 5 Proton versions	Recommended version from data
Forget launch options	Saved in Play Card
Can't reproduce setup	YAML file = exact config
Friend asks "how?"	Send encrypted Play Card
Reinstall = start over	Apply Play Card in 30 seconds
No performance tracking	Metrics in ATOM trail

License

MIT License - See ../LICENSE

Navigation

← Root README - Overview of all modules/KENL modules
→ KENL1: Framework - ATOM+SAGE+OWI core
→ KENL6: Social - Share Play Cards
→ KENL8: Security - Encryption

Status: Production Ready | Version: 1.0.0 | Platform: Bazzite Gaming | Focus: Play Cards

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modules/KENL2: Gaming - Play Cards & Proton Optimization

Overview

What is a Play Card?

Quick Start

Research a Game

Create a Play Card

Share a Play Card

Apply a Play Card

Compatibility Tracking

Performance Comparison

Directory Structure

Integration with Other modules/KENLs

modules/KENL0: System Operations

modules/KENL8: Security

modules/KENL10: Backup

Real-World Workflow

Example: Setting Up a New Game

Benefits for Bazzite Gamers

License

Navigation

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README.md

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README.md

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modules/KENL2: Gaming - Play Cards & Proton Optimization

Overview

What is a Play Card?

Quick Start

Research a Game

Create a Play Card

Share a Play Card

Apply a Play Card

Compatibility Tracking

Performance Comparison

Directory Structure

Integration with Other modules/KENLs

modules/KENL0: System Operations

modules/KENL8: Security

modules/KENL10: Backup

Real-World Workflow

Example: Setting Up a New Game

Benefits for Bazzite Gamers

License

Navigation