[Fractux]

Ok, here's what I am working on. People will beable to download all of these files and then just have a full fledged system install. It will run through an install routine so people won't have to go seaching around for all of the files.

If I could get peoples input of what they would like to see included in the release, that would be great!

PLEASE NOTE this is still a work in progress. Nothing is final, so please, make suggestions!

Here's the README i will include:

Freespace2 Open 3.5.5 FULL INSTALL

Freespace2 Open 3.5.5 FULL INSTALL

--------------------------------------
1. NOTES
2. SETUP
3. COMMUNITY INFORMATION
4. CREDITS
--------------------------------------

//////////////////////////////////

--------------------------------------
1.NOTES
--------------------------------------

This version includes the following:

-Heavily Modified version of the
 Home of the Underdogs Freespace2 Download.
 [ website: www.the-underdogs.org/ ]

-Improved version of FS2 courtesy of the efforts put
 forth by the Freespace Source Code Project Team.
 Using FS_OPEN and their Unofficial Media .VP file.
 [ website: http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/fsscp/ ]

-Cut scenes in .AVI format that will play in fs2_open versions
 3.5.5 and up. .AVI friendly campaing file courtesy of Karajorma.
 [ website: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/freespace/intro.html

]

-All FS2 .VP files

-Some higher resolution .pcx textures taken from the Freespace 1
 to Freespace 2 port.
 [ website: http://www.3dactionplanet.com/hlp/hosted/fsport/index.html ]

This can be considered as a full install of Freespace 2, with
many perks and upgrades thanks to the FS communities, and the hard
working individuals who put in their own time and effort.

--------------------------------------
2.SETUP
--------------------------------------

When you go to play FS2, you must first set up the launcher.

1. Launch the game through a shortcut (or open Launcher.exe in the game

directory)
2. Hit 'BROWSE' and Locate the fs2_open_XXX.exe in the game directory.
3. Set up your video, audio, and joystick settings.

*note: the original exe files are included.
   You should also check the FSSCP for newer releases that contain
   bug fixes and enhancements.
   website: http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/fsscp/

--------------------------------------
3.COMMUNITY INFORMATION
--------------------------------------

The community resources available for Freespace2 are
tremendous.

I recommend the following sites:

If you want general FS2 info:
- The FreeSpace Oracle -

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/freespace/intro.html

FS2 Community:

-Hard Light Productions: http://dynamic4.gamespy.com/~freespace/hlp/
-Freespace Watch: http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/

---------------------------------------

---------------------------------------
6. Credits
---------------------------------------

FreeSpace 2 developed by Volition, Inc.
for Interplay Productions


Volition, Inc.
--------------

Design:
   Dave Baranec
   Jason Scott
   Adam Pletcher
   & The FreeSpace 2 Team

Based on an Original Design by:
   Adam Pletcher

Lead Programmer:
   Dave Baranec

Programming:
   Dave Andsager
   Jeff Farris
   Neil Kumar

Lead Artist:
   Jasen Whiteside

Real-Time Artists:
   John Enricco
   David Gulisano
   Matt Kresge

Cutscene Artists:
   Kelly Snapka
   Matt Flegel

Mission Design:
   Brad Johnson
   James Agay
   Jim Boone
   Chad Nicolas
   Jordan Roc

Writers:
   Jason Scott
   Mike Breault

Music and Sound Design:
   Dan Wentz

Executive Producer:
   Mike Kulas

Director of Product Development:
   Philip Holt

Quality Assurance Test Lead:
   Anoop Shekar

Quality Assurance Testers:
   James Tsai
   Alvan Monje
   Andrew McIntosh
   Nicolaus Malnick
   Allan Bautista
   Eric Keyser

Web Design and Development
& squadwar.com:
   Nathan Camarillo

Manual:
   Mike Breault

Parallax Online:
   Dave Baranec
   Mark Allender
   Kevin Bentley

Network Administration:
   Mark Muller

Office Management and Administration:
   Ginny Gee
   Misty Goodman

German Localization:
   Heiko Herrmann

FRED2 Documentation:
   Peter Drake


Voice (Los Angeles):

Voice Producer:  
   Fred Hatch

Voice Direction:
   Jamie Thomason

Voice Editor:  
   Frank Szick
     
Voice Recording Engineers:
   Paul Andris
   Ernie Sheesley

Assistant Recording Engineers:
   Eric Lewis
   Lisa Carlon

Cast:
   Robert Loggia
   Ronny Cox
   Kurtwood Smith
   Stephen Baldwin


Voice (Chicago):

Voice Producer:
   Ron Steele, Sr.

Voice Recording Engineer:
   Dave Steele

Recorded at:
   EKO Media Design Company

Cast:
   Sy Osborne
   Tony Russell
   Charles Gerace
   Joe Sikora
   Rick Weiss
   Kurt Naebig
   Dale Engram


Voice (Champaign):

Voice Recording Engineers:
   Scott Warren
   Dan Wentz

Recorded at:
   Prairie Production Group
   Volition, Inc.

Cast:
   Roger Cooper
   Robin Kaler
   Peter Davis
   Doug Quick
   Roger Francisco
   Dan Simeone
   Tamara McDaniel
   Mike Trippiedi
   Jim Manley
   John McKeighan
   Bruce Heck
   Jason Scott
   Dave Butler
   Eric Sizemore
   Kay Holley


Original FreeSpace Team:
   Adam Pletcher
   Mike Kulas
   John Slagel
   Mark Allender
   Alan Lawrance
   Jasen Whiteside
   Frank Capezzuto III
   Peter Han
   Mike Comet
   Sandeep Shekar
   Dave Baranec
   Dave Andsager
   Jason Hoffoss
   Dan Wentz
   Mitri Van
   Brad Johnson
   Jim Boone
   Duncan McPherson

Special Thanks:
   Harold Kim
   Erik Hernandez
   John Palmero
   Mike Motoda
   Scott Lee
   Dawn Dvorak
   Amy Dalton
   FS2 Beta Testers
   Darren Wheeling
   BJ Mace
   Dan Kulhman
   Verena Buttler
   Alexander Streule
   Michael Schmalz
   Chris Borders
   Denise Diehl
   Neat Deal Productions
   Sharon Wottrich
   Voices Unlimited
   Vocal samples courtesy of Spectrasonics' "Symphony of Voices"


Interplay:
----------

Producer:
   Jim Boone

Line Producer:
   Primo Pulanco

V.P. of Product Development:
   Trish Wright

Division Director:
   Feargus Urquhart

Director of Quality Assurance:
   Jeremy Barnes

QA Manager:
   Michael Motoda
   Greg Baumeister

Quality Assurance Project Supervisor:
and Compatibility Manager:
   Darrell Jones

Testers:
   Erik Hernandez
   John Palmero
   Harold Kim
   Tony Piccoli
   David Fleischmann
   Matt Golembiewski
   Galacio Ramirez
   Tim Anderson
   Henry Lee

Compatibility Technicians:
   John Parker
   Derek Gibbs
   Josh Walters
   David Parkyn

Product Marketing Manager:
   Alison Quirion

Communications Manager:
   Lisa Bucek

Traffic Manager:
   Paul Naftalis

Terminology Consultant:
   GySgt. John R. Boone (USMC, ret.)

Special Thanks:
   Noelle for putting up with the long absence.
   Chad Nicholas for delaying his move so he could make missions.
   Erik Hernandez, John Palmero, Harold Kim, and Mike Motoda for
putting their lives on hold.
   Feargus Urquhart for all the great advice.


Special Thanks to the FreeSpace Community:
   The FDL
   Descent Chronicles
   The Descent Network
   FreeSpace2.Net
   FreeSpace2.Org
   FreeSpace SwapMeet
   FSURP
   FUDL
   Ground FreeSpace
   Planet FreeSpace
   Ross 128
   Science Station Andromeda
   Shattered Star Confederation
   A Talent For War
   Xanadu's Mission Archives

Freespace Source Code Project:

DTP        Coder and FRED Maintainer
Goober5000    Coder    
IceFire    VW Liason
Inquisitor    Project Lead
kasperl    News guy
Orange       Webmaster
phreak       Coder
RandomTiger   DirectX Code Lead
Righteous1   Coder
bobboau      Coder
Stealth    Webmaster / Tester List Maintaner

bottomfan   Readme documentation
deep_eyes   Readme documentation

------

If you like what you see, consider giving back to the community by
providing them with your skills!

All parts of this installation are the property of their respective
owners.

I've also insluded another text file (not the readme) that will pop at the end on the installation. It is intended to explain what exactly the release is, and that FS2 Open is also A WIP (so they should check for updates... yada yada)

Anyways, here's what I put in now.

********************************************************
       IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO NOTE

      PLEASE READ IN FULL.

   THIS SOFTWARE IS NOT FOR SALE. ALL
     CONTENT IS THE PROPETY OF ITS
      REPECTIVE OWNERS.
*******************************************************

   FreeSpace2 was developed by Volition Inc.
   [ http://www.volition-inc.com/ ]

   All original source code, art work, etc. is the
property of Volition, Inc. You may not sell or otherwise
commercially exploit the source or things you create
based on the source, or any other of Volitions work.

   Freespace2 was published with Interplay.
   [ http://www.interplay.com/ ]

   PXO was responsible for managing on-line play.
   [ http://www.pxo.net ]
   
   This release uses the ongoing work of the
   Freespace Source Code Project.
   [ http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/fsscp/ ]

   FS_OPEN is always in constant development, and
it is recommended that you visit their webpage after
installation to check for any new realeases and updates,
as they will contain bug fixes and enhancements for you
to take advantage of.

   The software included in this release comes with
no gurantees whatsoever. We are not responsible for any
damadges incurred to your network, system, software, or
any of you or your companies property.
********************************************************

On top of that, the official FS2Open readme is in there. What I'm going to put in in the readme is a list of enhancements in the current official version that have been made.

So also let me know what info you think I should put in there!

So I'm working with the Inno Setup compiler [just learned how to use it today] to get a version together that people could just download, and have all the .VP files, and Games files, and not having to search for anything.

It's going to be a big download, But I've split it ip into ~25MB BIN files so that people could get it in chunks.

*** The size it is at now with all of this is 809MB.
it is going to get bigger for sure because I want to add the
Modding tools and utilities the community has developped. However I was thinking of having several versions available.

Anyways, more info to follow as I progress.

**************************


UPDATE

Okay, I updated the readme and info files for now. What I need to do is as follows:

I am also going to get the official FSSCP readme to lauch as well after installation. [ http://fs2source.warpcore.org/readme/readme_3.6.txt is the latest one I found ]

What I was wondering is how to credit those who contibuted to the unofficial media vp???

[kode]

maybe we can supply it as bittorrent files?
that means people here actually has to do their part and share it, tho.

[Fractux]

I've got my first version finished, it weighs in at 792MB.

Not much more I can trim off of that. I've split is so that the files can be placed on 2 650MB CD's.

Next thing I have to workin on is perfecting the .ini file to create an uninstall routine.

Cheers!

[Fractux]

Originally posted by kode
maybe we can supply it as bittorrent files?
that means people here actually has to do their part and share it, tho.

My concern is mainly that the FTP server can server out the .VP files, but for a huge lunp like this, my FTP server just doesn't cut it. Besides, those who use my FTP server are most likely the one's who downloaded the HOTU version.

Anyways I'll look around as well.

Cheers!

[Fractux]

OK I tried it out and it works perfectly.

The setup routine goes by fine, it puts the shorcut in the start menu, and when you lauch it it opens the Launcher... all good.

Oh yeah, and it configures the unintall automatically.. hehe  WOOT!!

[Fractux]

Boy, for some reason I thought there would be some more interest in this.



Cheers!

[kode]

well, I have an interest in this. maybe you should give people some more time to find and read the thread.

[Lightspeed]

 

If we want to promote FS2open and get more people, this definately is the way to go.

[Fractux]

Just putting the package together again, I forgot to include some shortcuts and the unofficial media .vp from the fsscp.

Anyways, everything works perfectly.

I'll edit this and put in the final file size.


It came out to being 799MB in total.

Now, it is split up into into 32 .bin files, of 25MB apeice, that can be spanned over 2 cd's [cd1: 650MB, cd2: 149MB]

[kode]

so then we can put some campaigns and stuff on what's left of the second cd, as an optional download package, perhaps?

[übermetroid]

I thought Fileplanet was great for big downloads...  Not that I would want to download that much from them, but they will host it.

[KARMA]

you are surely doing a great thing, but...

1-I'm not sure it will be completely legal to distribute it.
and don't say: "hey but there is the HOTU version free for download".
HOTU isn't completely legal itself.
They just assume that nobody will claim rights on the games they distribute since those games are old and have exhausted their commercial utility, but this doesn't mean that they have permission.
Personally I think they probably had informal contacts with the software houses before adding the games to their site, but as said this doesn't mean that1 HOTU is legal, and probably it will  be not completely legal to distribute what you have done too

2-related to first one, I think it will be hard to find enough webspace where to place it. Sites like gamespy or many others related to games and that could be interested, usually pay extreme attention about possible copyright violations. Bittorrent is a partial solution (but still you'd need to find the space, or am I wrong?). Peer to peer may be another way to distribute it.

[Fractux]

Originally posted by KARMA
you are surely doing a great thing, but...
Peer to peer may be another way to distribute it.

That's the only way I could really think about it. Because like you said, the legality of it is in question.

So, I was thinking I'd just package it, and go from there.

[Star Dragon]

Assuming you can get a system set up for like weekly downloads one can HOST he files and have the link with hook up info listed as to when you will bemaking your computer "available" to DL from those FS2 files needed...

Sound right?

[Bobboau]

maybe we would be more exited if we all didn't have a full instal alredy, pimp it somewere with people that don't have fs2

[Fractux]

Well, I'm trying to 'pimp' it here because:

a. I'd like to know if people though this would at all help with spreading the word about FS2 and all the work people are putting into it

b. so that people would know about it and be able to pass the word on that such a compilation is available.

c. to make it easier for people who are lazy and don't want to search around for all the files to have a package that represents all the work that peole have put into it.

d. to get people's feedback as to what exactly should be included.

I'm posting the info here because I wanted to get some responses since I know I read other threads where this was one thing that was mentined.

Cheers!

[Setekh]

Great work, Fractux. I'll go contact FilePlanet about this, they may be interested in making something of it.

[übermetroid]

Well if you get Fileplanet to help out have GE (or someone else) make a .VP will all the Port files (someone would have to get the AVIs of FS1).  That way you can get FS2 AND FS1!

[Fractux]

Originally posted by ubermetroid
Well if you get Fileplanet to help out have GE (or someone else) make a .VP will all the Port files (someone would have to get the AVIs of FS1).  That way you can get FS2 AND FS1!

I have almost all of the movies from FS1 on my FTP server, uploaded by DracosX. Here are the ones I have:

ancients1 through 5
commandbrief
hallfight
intro

But you can get all of the FS1 VP files from fileplanet already! linked from the fs1 port website.

[Fractux]

Well, I worked out all of the little quirks I discovered while testing.

I'm going to do a bit more testing before I put it up on the FTP server, but there should not be any problems.

It finally weighs in at a grand total of 809MB.

Cheers!