RELEASE: 3.6.12 MediaVPs - 6th of August 2010 version
Older Release post for 3.6.10
HereDiscussion Thread Located Here!
Step 1: Ensure you have a working installation of Freespace 2The MediaVPs require a working installation of retail Freespace 2. If you do not have the retail Freespace 2, it can be purchased from
Good Old Games for ~$6-10 USD
Step 2: Get the latest SCP Build and LauncherBoth the fs2_open exe and Launcher exe should be placed in your root Freespace2 install folder. ie: "C:\Games\FreeSpace2"
Note that this is a HIGHLY recommended place to put your FreeSpace2 files,
especially on Vista/Win7.
IMPORTANT:- It's a good idea at this point to also copy fs2_open DEBUG exe into your root Freespace2 install folder in case you later on encounter problems you need to ask about on the forums. This is because the debug builds will create the all important "fs2_open.log" file in "C:\Games\FreeSpace2\data" that should always be included in such posts. For more information, please check (all posts!) in The Freespace Troubleshooting FAQ thread in the Freespace and Freespace Open Support Forum
Step 3: Download the 3.6.12 MediaVPs themselves!The zip (and 7z) have been set up to extract to a numbered folder called "Mediavps_3612" as part of a concept for being able to retain compatibility going forward, rather than always directly over-writing the previous version.
This means that you will need to be sure about your mod.ini's and Launcher Mod selection to accommodate this change. We feel it is a good way to allow for existing mods to have a better amount of time in which to keep up.As an example of this, while the MediaVPs make enhancements to the presentation of FS2 Campaign and provide updated assets, many times portions of assets get used in other areas. An example of this is Blue Planet. One of the warp gates uses maps (some, but not all) from the Hatshepsut. Because that model has now changed, Blue Planet must now include the maps that it sourced, which it should have done in the first place. But by providing the MediaVPs with the changes to it's own versioned directory, we spare users the headache of older mods breaking while the mod get's updated to working with the newer set (since not every mod can update and release at the same time as the MediaVPs) by letting them still continue to play with the older set since that's what the mods mod.ini will by default be pointing to.
If you prefer to do this manually, then create a 'Mediavps_3612' folder for the contents of the Zip/7z file(s)A tip on the MD5's: Finding the MD5 can vary based on software and operating system. Here are some hopefully handy links:
Firefox users: Can use the MD5 Rebourned Hasher addon
Windows/OS X Users: Can use HashTab as a shell extension
Winzip/WinRar/7z: Support Calculating Cheksums, though 7z seems to prefer giving SHA-256.
OS X also has a terminal command for MD5, read about it here
[DOWNLOAD OPTION 1] - Use the InstallerOR[DOWNLOAD OPTION 2] - The individual component VPs:NOTICE: The "Update" files are required for the matching components they are updating.
They do not replace those files, but must be used along with them. So, if you are using either MV_Assets or MV_Effects, you must also have its Update.- MediaVPs_3612.zip
Required: Contains the mod.ini, FSU-MVP.bmp and Readme.txt and sets up the mod folder
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
MD5: C019C57629F352FF68B00C0A5478DCA5
- MV_Root_3612.zip
Required: The bare minimum required for running FSO
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
Zip MD5: A2ED156FFDB055A9466C206771CC4854
VP MD5: 907E522BA79167FA13CDF033DC5C8A0F
- MV_Root_Update.zip
Required, Update: Updates MV_Core with an additional over-ride: MV_Root.3612.vp file.
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
Zip MD5: 0EF08F10DCF8CBBB3640329DE64BEA17
VP MD5: F68C3B2E338295BFFA7A9650777A8B50
- MV_Music_3612.zip
Enhanced OGG Music Package
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
Zip MD5: EB5B11004E6823571BB6EF5A937F8EB2
VP MD5: AF17FE7C440F9FE97AA272EE4DFE9BA3
- MV_Assets_3612.zip
All the High Poly Models and their Maps
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
Zip MD5: D6EFF4D6A3801EC64B8795407735DEFD
VP MD5: B96FD80DD26C1597A42B2C550DD799CB
- MV_Assets_Update.zip
*Required Update: Updates MV_Assets with an additional over-ride: MV_Assets.3612.vp file.
*(Only Required if you have MV_Assets Installed. Again, does NOT replace, but must exist WITH.)
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
Zip MD5: 76F322D13E1701DA885174DBF85104FB
VP MD5: B25E9831A7B7A168F4E77591F27ED48E
- MV_Effects_3612.zip
All the touched up or redone Effects (Weapons, Starfields, etc)
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
Zip MD5: 9A8D3F08DA8C207BC73AE0271A62F8D1
VP MD5: E272EECAF368AB501F5D8FF667ABA472
- MV_Effects_Update.zip
*Required Update: Updates MV_Effects with an additional over-ride: MV_Effects.3612.vp file.
*(Only Required if you have MV_Effects Installed. Again, does NOT replace, but must exist WITH.)
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
Zip MD5: C0DE5BEA8050A09C21D0375824EDDF65
VP MD5: 7B3502189DDE3DE5FE185B02191EF2D7
- MV_Advanced_3612.zip
(Optional) For users with higher end machines, this package contains many significantly more demanding textures and effects that may cause poor performance on low end machines)
Requires: MV_Assets and MV_Effects
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
Zip MD5: 37D110C741E55141F8D71C64F989F850
VP MD5: 0A555881C327A60B2EA951FC65F3CBE5
- MV_AnimGlows_3612.zip
(Optional) For users with extra texture space, contains all the Animated Glow Maps)
Requires: MV_Assets
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
Zip MD5: 270EBAE69C867905C5B3BA389309AE67
VP MD5: 4B2EBABA4B78B96DCD40AEF1075C2E79
- MV_RadarIcons_3612.zip
(Optional) Provides ship Icons for the Radar View - Not Included in MV_Maximum, still a new option.
Download Link: FSMods :: SectorGame Mirror
Zip MD5: BDF3C34E608A4F03D2A8DA2EA076CE67
VP MD5: 82905009785C30B505F441D2446A6286
- MV_CB_ANI_1.7z
(Optional) Part of a two part pack that updates all of the cbanims to hi-res 660x300.
Download Link: FsMods :: MjnServ :: IssMneur
7z MD5: f90d57a3a804ce7ade7a90229b3c3eb2
VP MD5: 2706b9b7b254a5e3e5ce79e5e6d53775
Zip MD5: f8e6011c0f26ad9eae9665c0456849cb
- MV_CB_ANI_2.7z
(Optional) Part of a two part pack that updates all of the cbanims to hi-res 660x300.
Download Link: FsMods :: MjnServ :: IssMneur
7z MD5: e0e73c32135f9a68a9b859faeb9aa200
VP MD5: 40217bbb37726d0d5ad75d34c14fae48
Zip MD5: 8e32344458d53ff7be48c91b7d4cf158
Step 4: Configure the launcher flags- Open the launcher and go to the MOD tab and click "Select MOD". From here select the 'mediavps_3612' folder and click ok.
- Go to the "Features" tab to activate the specific features FSO offers. The recommended settings are:
==> Graphics List:
Enable Specular
Enable Glowmaps
Enable Environment Maps
Apply Lighting to Missiles
Enable Normal Maps (If your system supports this)
Enable 3D Shockwaves (Personal preference) (switches shockwaves from always facing the camera to spawning with random orientations)
==> Gameplay List:
Enable 3D Warp
Enable Flash on Warp (Personal preference) (switches on a simple flare effect that flashes when a subspace vortex opens and closes)
==> Audio List:
Preload mission game sounds
(Note, any of these settings and the others in the lists can be tweaked as desired. See the Wiki Page on Launcher Flags for more information on each one)
Step 5: Play and enjoy! Also, please report any bugs you come across to the FSU Mantis!