The forum

See if you find anything here. I LOVE the Arch wiki. Fantastic info, and usually very up-to-date. Some of the stuff is specific to Arch, but it is still worth looking, and should be able to be applied to most Linux systems. 

 

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PulseAudio

also

http://wiki.winehq.org/Sound

I think, from looking at that last link, that you may also need directmusic, in addition to dsound installed into that virtual drive. 

 

Pulse audio seems to log to Syslog, and it checked it but it shows no activity in relation to the game. Nothing enlightening when running it in verbose mod either.

I don't think any video driver changes will work; that screwing around I mentioned before involved installing a newer driver from a PPA, as well as the older driver that is from nvidia-current; both broke functionality on my card.

And don't know if it helps debug, but I tested with headphones plugged into the analog headphone jack; same result.

I will check out those links as well.

Here is the full debug log, from when I open Steam in Wine, through launching Alan Wake, going through the splash screen (bad audio), into the main menu (good audio), then starting a new game to play the opening cinimatic (bad audio again).

[08/27/14 13:21:15] - Running wine-1.6.2 Steam.exe (Working directory : /home/ayami/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/AW_1.6_dsound2/drive_c/Program Files/Steam)
fixme:ver:GetCurrentPackageId (0x33e490 (nil)): stub
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {47a9201e-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361bc6f}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fce8, 0x3f03fce0
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {58a9201e-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361bc70}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fd20, 0x3f03fd18
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {3fa9201e-73b0-43fe-9821-7e145359bc6f}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fcb0, 0x3f03fca8
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {1432afee-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361b433}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fd58, 0x3f03fd50
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {4372afee-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361b519}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fd90, 0x3f03fd88
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {47a9201e-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361bc6f}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fce8, 0x3f03fce0
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {58a9201e-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361bc70}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fd20, 0x3f03fd18
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {3fa9201e-73b0-43fe-9821-7e145359bc6f}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fcb0, 0x3f03fca8
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {1432afee-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361b433}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fd58, 0x3f03fd50
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {4372afee-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361b519}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fd90, 0x3f03fd88
fixme:process:SetProcessShutdownParameters (00000100, 00000000): partial stub.
fixme:imm:ImmGetOpenStatus (0x1fad40): semi-stub
fixme:ver:GetCurrentPackageId (0x33e368 (nil)): stub
fixme:process:SetProcessDEPPolicy (3): stub
fixme:heap:HeapSetInformation (nil) 1 (nil) 0
fixme:winstation:OpenInputDesktop (0,0,20000): stub
fixme:imm:ImmDisableTextFrameService Stub
fixme:thread:GetThreadPreferredUILanguages 56, 0x33f77c, (nil) 0x33f780
fixme:winsock:WSALookupServiceBeginW (0x33f668 0x00000ff0 0x33f6a4) Stub!
[0827/132116:ERROR:network_change_notifier_win.cc(174)] WSALookupServiceBegin failed with: 8
fixme:iphlpapi:NotifyAddrChange (Handle 0x33f7b0, overlapped 0xb25f28): stub
fixme:win:RegisterDeviceNotificationW (hwnd=0x100c0, filter=0x33f7bc,flags=0x00000000) returns a fake device notification handle!
fixme:win:RegisterDeviceNotificationW (hwnd=0x100c0, filter=0x33f7bc,flags=0x00000000) returns a fake device notification handle!
[0827/132116:ERROR:gpu_info_collector_win.cc(103)] Can't retrieve a valid WinSAT assessment.
fixme:win:EnumDisplayDevicesW ((null),0,0x33f08c,0x00000000), stub!
fixme:ver:GetCurrentPackageId (0x277dff4 (nil)): stub
fixme:ole:RemUnknown_QueryInterface No interface for iid {00000019-0000-0000-c000-000000000046}
fixme:ver:GetCurrentPackageId (0x31e5d0 (nil)): stub
fixme:hnetcfg:fw_apps_get__NewEnum 0x37c7a78, 0xc45e0d4
fixme:hnetcfg:fw_app_put_ProcessImageFileName 0x373cef8, L"C:\\Program Files\\Steam\\steam.exe"
fixme:hnetcfg:fw_app_put_Name 0x373cef8, L"Steam"
fixme:hnetcfg:fw_app_put_Enabled 0x373cef8, -1
fixme:hnetcfg:fw_apps_Add 0x37c7a78, 0x373cef8
err:ole:CoGetClassObject class {e2b3c97f-6ae1-41ac-817a-f6f92166d7dd} not registered
err:ole:CoGetClassObject no class object {e2b3c97f-6ae1-41ac-817a-f6f92166d7dd} could be created for context 0x1
fixme:iphlpapi:NotifyAddrChange (Handle 0x15903cc, overlapped 0x15903d0): stub
fixme:ntdll:NtQuerySystemInformation info_class SYSTEM_HANDLE_INFORMATION
fixme:win:RegisterDeviceNotificationA (hwnd=0x100ce, filter=0xd35e4ec,flags=0x00000004) returns a fake device notification handle!
err:ole:CoGetClassObject class {77f10cf0-3db5-4966-b520-b7c54fd35ed6} not registered
err:ole:CoGetClassObject no class object {77f10cf0-3db5-4966-b520-b7c54fd35ed6} could be created for context 0x1
err:winediag:wined3d_dll_init The GLSL shader backend has been disabled. You get to keep all the pieces if it breaks.
fixme:wbemprox:wbem_locator_ConnectServer unsupported flags
fixme:wbemprox:client_security_SetBlanket 0x7c933bcc, 0x385d688, 10, 0, (null), 3, 3, (nil), 0x00000000
fixme:wbemprox:client_security_Release 0x7c933bcc
err:wbemprox:wql_error syntax error, unexpected TK_NOT
fixme:wbemprox:wbem_locator_ConnectServer unsupported flags
fixme:wbemprox:client_security_SetBlanket 0x7c933bcc, 0x385d688, 10, 0, (null), 3, 3, (nil), 0x00000000
fixme:wbemprox:client_security_Release 0x7c933bcc
fixme:mountmgr:harddisk_ioctl The DISK_PARTITION_INFO and DISK_DETECTION_INFO structures will not be filled
fixme:wbemprox:enum_class_object_Next timeout not supported
fixme:wbemprox:enum_class_object_Next timeout not supported
fixme:wbemprox:enum_class_object_Next timeout not supported
fixme:wbemprox:enum_class_object_Next timeout not supported
fixme:winhttp:WinHttpDetectAutoProxyConfigUrl discovery via DHCP not supported
fixme:ntdll:NtLockFile I/O completion on lock not implemented yet
fixme:imm:ImmReleaseContext (0x100d0, 0x3869338): stub
fixme:win:RegisterDeviceNotificationA (hwnd=0x100e8, filter=0x33e1f4,flags=0x00000004) returns a fake device notification handle!
fixme:win:EnumDisplayDevicesW ((null),0,0x33d6c8,0x00000000), stub!
fixme:win:EnumDisplayDevicesW ((null),0,0x33d6c8,0x00000000), stub!
fixme:win:EnumDisplayDevicesW ((null),0,0x33d870,0x00000000), stub!
fixme:win:EnumDisplayDevicesW ((null),1,0x33d870,0x00000000), stub!
fixme:win:RegisterDeviceNotificationW (hwnd=0x10140, filter=0xe37e92c,flags=0x00000000) returns a fake device notification handle!
fixme:win:UnregisterDeviceNotification (handle=0xcafeaffe), STUB!
fixme:win:RegisterDeviceNotificationW (hwnd=0x20140, filter=0xe37e92c,flags=0x00000000) returns a fake device notification handle!
fixme:advapi:RegisterTraceGuidsW (0x100a3de0, 0x12035da0, {3dada31d-19ef-4dc1-b345-037927193422}, 1, 0x11faf518, (null), (null), 0x12035db8,): stub
fixme:process:SetProcessDEPPolicy (3): stub
fixme:heap:HeapSetInformation (nil) 1 (nil) 0
fixme:winstation:OpenInputDesktop (0,0,20000): stub
fixme:advapi:RegisterTraceGuidsW (0x100a3de0, 0x12035da0, {3dada31d-19ef-4dc1-b345-037927193422}, 1, 0x11faf518, (null), (null), 0x12035db8,): stub
fixme:gdi:GdiInitializeLanguagePack stub
[0827/132120:ERROR:renderer_main.cc(227)] Running without renderer sandbox
fixme:ver:GetCurrentPackageId (0x1fbe9f8 (nil)): stub
fixme:advapi:EventUnregister deadbeef: stub
fixme:advapi:EventUnregister deadbeef: stub
fixme:advapi:EventUnregister deadbeef: stub
fixme:advapi:EventUnregister deadbeef: stub
fixme:advapi:EventUnregister deadbeef: stub
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {47a9201e-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361bc6f}, 0x13b6360, 0x1437648, 0x1437640
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {58a9201e-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361bc70}, 0x13b6360, 0x1437680, 0x1437678
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {3fa9201e-73b0-43fe-9821-7e145359bc6f}, 0x13b6360, 0x1437610, 0x1437608
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {1432afee-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361b433}, 0x13b6360, 0x14376b8, 0x14376b0
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {4372afee-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361b519}, 0x13b6360, 0x14376f0, 0x14376e8
fixme:imm:ImmGetOpenStatus (0x138458): semi-stub
fixme:ver:GetCurrentPackageId (0x33f15c (nil)): stub
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0xfffffffe): stub
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {47a9201e-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361bc6f}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fce8, 0x3f03fce0
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {58a9201e-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361bc70}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fd20, 0x3f03fd18
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {3fa9201e-73b0-43fe-9821-7e145359bc6f}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fcb0, 0x3f03fca8
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {1432afee-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361b433}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fd58, 0x3f03fd50
fixme:advapi:EventRegister {4372afee-73b0-42ce-9821-7e134361b519}, 0x3f006c60, 0x3f03fd90, 0x3f03fd88
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0xfffffffe): stub
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0xfffffffe): stub
err:winediag:wined3d_dll_init The GLSL shader backend has been disabled. You get to keep all the pieces if it breaks.
fixme:win:EnumDisplayDevicesW ((null),0,0x33d648,0x00000000), stub!
err:winediag:wined3d_dll_init The GLSL shader backend has been disabled. You get to keep all the pieces if it breaks.
fixme:win:EnumDisplayDevicesW ((null),0,0x33d4c8,0x00000000), stub!
fixme:d3d:debug_d3dformat Unrecognized 0x434f5441 (as fourcc: ATOC) WINED3DFORMAT!
fixme:d3d:wined3d_get_format Can't find format unrecognized (0x434f5441) in the format lookup table
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d9:Direct3DShaderValidatorCreate9 stub
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0xfffffffe): stub
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x48.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0xfffffffe): stub
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0xfffffffe): stub
err:ole:CoInitializeEx Attempt to change threading model of this apartment from multi-threaded to apartment threaded
fixme:avrt:AvSetMmThreadCharacteristicsW (L"Audio",0x158be9e4): stub
fixme:keyboard:X11DRV_LoadKeyboardLayout L"00000409", 0000: stub!
fixme:keyboard:X11DRV_ActivateKeyboardLayout (nil), 0100: semi-stub!
fixme:keyboard:X11DRV_ActivateKeyboardLayout KLF_SETFORPROCESS not supported
fixme:keyboard:X11DRV_ActivateKeyboardLayout (nil), 0100: semi-stub!
fixme:keyboard:X11DRV_ActivateKeyboardLayout KLF_SETFORPROCESS not supported
fixme:keyboard:X11DRV_UnloadKeyboardLayout (nil): stub!
fixme:system:SystemParametersInfoW Unimplemented action: 59 (SPI_SETSTICKYKEYS)
fixme:system:SystemParametersInfoW Unimplemented action: 53 (SPI_SETTOGGLEKEYS)
fixme:system:SystemParametersInfoW Unimplemented action: 51 (SPI_SETFILTERKEYS)
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0x314): stub
err:ole:CoInitializeEx Attempt to change threading model of this apartment from multi-threaded to apartment threaded
fixme:d3d:wined3d_swapchain_set_gamma_ramp Ignoring flags 0x1.
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0x318): stub
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0x32c): stub
fixme:system:SystemParametersInfoW Unknown action: 116
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0x328): stub
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0x318): stub
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0x32c): stub
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:d3d:resource_check_usage Unhandled usage flags 0x8.
fixme:thread:SetThreadIdealProcessor (0x324): stub

 

I don't see any errors that are audio related.

THat's what I thought. If there are no actual errors being thrown, it must be a configuration problem causing the audio to mis-play. I'll keep digging in.

Thanks for "keeping at it"

Most people just give up and go back to Windows.

I'm a bit of a Linux fanboy, plus I have a tendency to will get into even minor computer problems, so this is the kind of thing I love messing around with. Besides, I've been playing Dragon Age on the same machine, so I figure, Dammit, I can get Alan Wake working too!

It worked fine on my Mint 14 32-bit machine with GeForce 550 Ti.

I was having pulseaudio problems at the time, so performance was affected by a "buffer underrun" error
If I tried it now with Mint 17 64-bit, I'm sure it would run flawlessly.
I probably should because I can update my guide

I see a hell of a lot of d3d errors and:

 

err:winediag:wined3d_dll_init The GLSL shader backend has been disabled. You get to keep all the pieces if it breaks.

 

I know it seems odd, but there COULD be something wonky that is just screwing with Wine in general, in regards to the graphics driver. Like, if your driver was having a memory leak, or just being grumpy in general, it could cause a latency spike on the whole system (like when you have a high hard-drive load, it can make music and videos skip and distort). 

I am putting my money on your video drivers, or some library associated with the Linux graphics stack, that is messing this up. Even through your analog output, it could be causing errors, and from the log you posted, it seems that GLSL, which can be a nightmare given the situation, is either not active or not being supported by your driver or some part of the graphics stack. I am not sure, though.

Also:

I don't think any video driver changes will work; that screwing around I mentioned before involved installing a newer driver from a PPA, as well as the older driver that is from nvidia-current; both broke functionality on my card.

I would 100% purge ALL nvidia-* stuff installed from the repos or any ppa, run ppa-purge on those PPA's that install nvidia drivers, and reinstall, manually, the Nvidia drivers from their site. Everything that I can see about your audio problem seems to be pointing at a driver/module issue with your graphics card. From my previous post (the long one about installing the drivers by hand), you should be able to do it easily. It really is not hard. Very straightforward. I believe that this may fix this, or at least, eliminate it out of the realm of possibility. 

I would highly recommend trying this before trying other solutions. If your computer will not boot to a gui after you try that, no need to panic; simply boot into recovery mode, and sudo apt-get install nvidia-current and reboot. Though, if you follow those instructions from the previous post, it is cake. I do not even do it any other way now. :)

PS: I am just curious. Can you post the output of the following commands, please?

glxinfo | head

lsmod

 

I've had a similar problem in Mint 14.
I added a repository PPA and tried to update my Nvidia drivers.  It didn't work, so I went back to the Mint "stable" Nvidia drivers.

But right after that, a lot of games started running really slow for no apparent reason.

I messed with it for weeks and finally gave up.  I did a brand new install of Mint 16 and everything was happy again.  So something from that Nvidia install messed up my system.

I have a strange feeling the -purge and install might be the trick, but I understand the frustrations when you can't get it to boot to the desktop cause something went wrong.

I manually installed the latest NVIDIA drivers. No problems, but no change in Alan Wake either.

I have GLSL disabled because all the Wine guides said it needed to be to prevent some sort of lighting bug. I tried setting it back to default and it had no affect.

Command outputs:

glxinfo:

name of display: :0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
server glx version string: 1.4
server glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_create_context, GLX_ARB_create_context_profile,
    GLX_ARB_create_context_robustness, GLX_ARB_fbconfig_float,
    GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_buffer_age,
    GLX_EXT_create_context_es2_profile, GLX_EXT_create_context_es_profile,

 

lsmod:

Module                  Size  Used by
snd_seq_dummy          12798  0
ctr                    13049  2
ccm                    17773  2
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     46254  1
arc4                   12608  2
rfcomm                 69160  8
bnep                   19624  2
binfmt_misc            17468  1
nvidia              10540234  42
eeepc_wmi              13151  0
asus_wmi               24191  1 eeepc_wmi
sparse_keymap          13948  1 asus_wmi
joydev                 17381  0
x86_pkg_temp_thermal    14205  0
intel_powerclamp       14705  0
iwlmvm                189774  0
coretemp               13435  0
snd_usb_audio         153525  2
kvm_intel             143060  0
mac80211              630653  1 iwlmvm
snd_usbmidi_lib        29215  1 snd_usb_audio
snd_hda_codec_realtek    61438  1
kvm                   451511  1 kvm_intel
snd_hda_intel          52355  5
serio_raw              13462  0
snd_hda_codec         192906  3 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
snd_seq_midi           13324  0
snd_hwdep              13602  2 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec
snd_seq_midi_event     14899  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi            30144  2 snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_seq_midi
iwlwifi               169932  1 iwlmvm
lpc_ich                21080  0
snd_seq                61560  3 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_midi
snd_pcm               102099  4 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
cfg80211              484040  3 iwlwifi,mac80211,iwlmvm
snd_seq_device         14497  4 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_midi
btusb                  32412  0
snd_page_alloc         18710  2 snd_pcm,snd_hda_intel
bluetooth             391196  22 bnep,btusb,rfcomm
mei_me                 18627  0
snd_timer              29482  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
mei                    82276  1 mei_me
snd                    69238  28 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_usb_audio,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_midi
soundcore              12680  1 snd
mac_hid                13205  0
parport_pc             32701  0
ppdev                  17671  0
lp                     17759  0
parport                42348  3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
dm_crypt               23177  1
hid_logitech_dj        18581  0
hid_generic            12548  0
usbhid                 52570  0
hid                   106148  5 hid_generic,usbhid,hid_logitech_dj
usb_storage            62209  0
crct10dif_pclmul       14289  0
crc32_pclmul           13113  0
ghash_clmulni_intel    13216  0
aesni_intel            55624  6
nouveau              1097199  0
aes_x86_64             17131  1 aesni_intel
lrw                    13286  1 aesni_intel
gf128mul               14951  1 lrw
glue_helper            13990  1 aesni_intel
ablk_helper            13597  1 aesni_intel
cryptd                 20359  4 ghash_clmulni_intel,aesni_intel,ablk_helper
mxm_wmi                13021  1 nouveau
i2c_algo_bit           13413  1 nouveau
psmouse               106678  0
ttm                    85115  1 nouveau
ahci                   25819  2
drm_kms_helper         53081  1 nouveau
libahci                32560  1 ahci
drm                   303102  5 ttm,drm_kms_helper,nvidia,nouveau
r8169                  67581  0
video                  19476  2 nouveau,asus_wmi
mii                    13934  1 r8169
wmi                    19177  3 mxm_wmi,nouveau,asus_wmi

 

Now that I've got the new drivers I'll try doing another fresh install of Alan Wake at some point and see if that helps.

Awesome!  Glad you could do it manually.  That is pretty cool.