So, after applying the fix described in https://forums.uberent.com/threads/no-cursor-block-cursor-ubuntu-12-04-13-04-13-10.53019/, such that I can even get into the game, I find that after creating a game (me vs. an AI) the client crashes instantly. I see the writing "game will start when the server has finished generating the game", or something similar, and as soon as that seems to have happened, the client disappears. Restarting the client, I am given the option to reconnect to the crashed game. If I do that, the client crashes immediately again. Creating a new set of planets does not fix the problem. I have previously had no difficulties playing the game on this computer. This is the first time trying to get this particular build to work on linux.
I guess you use open source drivers and few builds have some incompatibility with them. You need to apply this workaround and then it's will work: https://forums.uberent.com/threads/foss-drivers-crash-workaround-for-58772.54951/