[SpaceAce]

Hello everyone. I stumbled across your Freespace 2 Open trailer on the internet. The one that said that it was created using tools and assets created by the modding community for the modding community.

Absolutely OUTSTANDING WORK people. I am SO impressed.

I am almost 60 years old and still love to game. I played both Freespace games when they first came out and I loved them to death and to this day, I still have all the CDs to both games AND the boxes they came in.

Now you’ve got me all fired up to play Freespace 2 Open and I have some questions for you all.

1.    I never played on-line. I just played the single player part of the games against the computer. Is there a single player campaign that I can download and play by myself?

2.    What operating systems can it be played on?

3.   What are the system requirements? How much hard drive space do I need? How much RAM? What’s the minimum clock speed for a graphics card? What processer? ETC…ETC…ETC.

And anything else you think I should know would be welcome.

Thinks for all your time people.

Now it’s time to read some Freespace 2 forums.

SpaceAce.

[The E]

1.    I never played on-line. I just played the single player part of the games against the computer. Is there a single player campaign that I can download and play by myself?

Well, there are quite a few. The FSOpen Installer will allow you to download a bunch of them.

2.    What operating systems can it be played on?

Windows XP or later. Any Linux. MacOS X. We even have a FreeBSD and Solaris port.

3.   What are the system requirements? How much hard drive space do I need? How much RAM? What’s the minimum clock speed for a graphics card? What processer? ETC…ETC…ETC.

The base FS2 game takes up about 1.5 GB. The MediaVPs (the graphical update package) clocks in at 2 GB. User-made campaigns can take anything from a couple MB to several GB.
In terms of graphics card, any midrange card manufactured in the past few years (Like the Radeon 57xx series, 67xx series, 78xx series or nVidia GeForce 4xx or 5xx series) that has support for DirectX 10 and 11 will be sufficiently powerful. CPU-wise, any Intel i5 or i7 or AMD FX-series chip is sufficiently powerful.

[SpaceAce]

Thanks The E. I've got a box of old computer components. Now I've got to go home and see if I can make up a computer capable of playing FS2.

What other good things can you all tell me about FS2??

SpaceAce.

[Grizzly]

Hey SpaceAce!

If you have played the original Freespace 1 and 2 games, I think the best campaign to start out with is Silent Threat: Reborn. It's a remake of the original Silent Threat campaign, except that this one is actually considered really good. It does require lots of dependencies, but using the FSOpenInstaller that shouldn't be an issue. And if it is, the community is really friendly.

As it happens, the singleplayer side of FS2 is extremely popular and there are a lot of campaigns available. General Battuta has made a very good list of campaigns that come recommended.

[SpaceAce]

-Joshua-, I still have the CD of the original Silent Threat. As for dependencies, I don't know what they are , please explain. 

Silent Threat sounds like as good a place to start as any. (They do have voices in this one right?)

It's going to take a good while to get my computer squared away but in the meantime, I can study up on all things FS2 here.

SpaceAce.

[Grizzly]

The default mod package of Silent: Threat reborn requires that you have FSPort installed. The default installation also wants that you have the FSport MediaVPs installed (in the same thread), as well as the MediaVPs 3.6.12. This is what I meant with "dependencies" earlier: A mod depends on another mod.

To simplify it a bit:

Silent Threat: Reborn wants:
FSPort-MediaVPs, which requires:
FSPort AND Mediavps 3.6.12, which both require:
A freespace open .exe

It can get a bit confusing because the community is constantly upgrading old stuff, but the issue is mainly that you have to download different things. After you have downloaded those things, you can just point the game towards what you want and it will go automatically.

As it stands, The FSPort-MediaVPs package also allows you to replay FS1 with very pretty graphics, whilst the MediaVPs package allows you to replay FS2 with very pretty graphics.

---

Also,

You can actually play Silent Threat: Reborn and FSport on the original FS2.exe. Goober has a thing of wanting everything to be backwards compatible, so if you still have your PC from 1999 that used to run FS2, you can actually install Silent THreat Reborn on that as well. However, it will be a lot more barebones.

The MediaVPs package has been upgraded to the 2014 version but that one requires a less-then-fully-stable .exe. Additionally, the 2014 MediaVPs are not compatible with some older mods, so you will still need to download the 3.6.12 version of the MediaVPs to get those older mods (like Silent THreat: Reborn) running.

If you don't want mods and just want to play Vanilla FS2 but a lot prettier for now, you can just grab the MVP2014 package and get that newer .exe and you're golden.

Also, again, it should be noted that the FSOpenInstaller can download a lot of mods and all their requirements for you, at which point it just becomes "point and run".

[TwoCables]

Also, again, it should be noted that the FSOpenInstaller can download a lot of mods and all their requirements for you, at which point it just becomes "point and run".

This.

At first, I thought this was going to be way more work than it's worth, but then I found the FreeSpace Open Installer, and it simplified the entire process so much that I did a 180° turn in the way I felt about installing it.

My instructions:

• Install FreeSpace 2 from your installation CDs.
• Download FreeSpace Open Installer to any location of your choosing (but you can do this first if you want, it doesn't matter)
• Open it (it requires Java 1.5 or later to run)
• Verify that the installation directory that you see is the same as where you have FreeSpace 2 installed. If you install FS2 from the CDs, then it should be "C:\Games\FreeSpace 2". If for some reason it's in "Program Files", then reinstall to C:\Games\FreeSpace 2 because having it in Program Files can cause problems.
• Click Next
• A tiny window pops up that says "Preparing the installer", and then it switches to "Setting up the installer".
• When you see the 3 options "Basic", "Complete" and "Custom", select "Complete"
• Click Next
• Deselect anything that you know you're not going to need (some things will be very obvious, but I should be able to help you if you need it).
• Click Install

I don't remember what happens after this, but I remember all of this being very easy.

Oh, I also recommend using FS2 Open Launcher instead of wxLauncher. Basically, just look for launcher.exe that you'll find in C:\Games\FreeSpace2 after running the FreeSpace Open Installer. When you open FS2 Open Launcher, you get this:



Click the "Browse" button at the top. If you installed "FreeSpace Open 3.7.2 RC4 Windows Standard" (which should have been named "SSE2" instead of "Windows Standard"), then look for and double-click the file named "fs2_open_3_7_2_RC4.exe" (like you see in my screenshot). So, you have to select the one that you are going to use. This is basically a "set it and forget it" option.

Once you do this, you can go through the tabs to customize your settings. We are here for you if you need ANY help with this part. Note: You can double-click any of the features in the list of features. For example, "Disable specular", which you can see at the top of the list:



When you double-click it, you're brought here:

http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Command-Line_Reference#-spec

See? Be aware though that some of these aren't very descriptive at all, while others are VERY descriptive.

For that Custom flags box, I recommend leaving that blank for now unless you want to spend some time figuring out what flags you want to put in there. As you can see from my screenshot, I already have a bunch of flags in there. Here's exactly what I have in there, and they are all for graphics:

-ambient_factor 0 -no_emissive_light -spec_exp 11 -spec_point 1.0 -spec_static .8 -spec_tube .6 -ogl_spec 83

For more information: http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Command-Line_Reference#Lighting

When I play FS2 using the MediaVPs 2014 mod (which requires 3.7.2 RC4, which is why I am using it as you can see in my first screenshot) with all features enabled in the "Easy Setup" drop-down menu along with these flags, the result is a very realistic look. These custom flags are my modified version of ColeCampbell666's, as seen on this page:

http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Sample_Lighting_Settings

I simply spent some time learning about each flag and then trying various changes to each one, thereby arriving at something that I like. I should've (and could've) spent a LOT more time on experimenting, but I like the results that I have quite a bit, so I'm probably just going to leave it.

If you want to play FS1, then select "fsport-mediavps" in the Mod tab. This requires that you have MediaVPs 3.6.12 installed, which you will have installed if you leave it selected in the FreeSpace Installer. You see, it uses MediaVPs 3.6.12. It's a total conversion mod of FS2 to make it be exactly like FS1 (with some extremely minor differences that don't matter much anyway).

You will find that this is all significantly easier (and more enjoyable) than I'm making it look. If you have any questions though, then lean on us here at HLP! If you end up finding that you figure everything out on your own, then enjoy. You've never seen FS2 quite like this (or FS1)!

[SpaceAce]

WOW!!  Thanks TwoCables! That's a H#$L of a lot of good info. Should ememinate a lot of headacks.   This project is going to take some time to complete. The first thing that I have to do is get a much bigger hard drive. The one I have is full of games like Battlefield 2 and Medal of Honor. I had no idea that these games would take up so much space.

I am going to see if I can get it partitioned to hold both Windows 7 and XP so I can have all my games in one computer. By the way, do I need any service packs for XP to run FS Open? Or for that mater FS1 and 2? I don't remember.

Stand by for now and I will post updates as they happen.

Again, thanks for all of your time people. ( I love hangin with fellow entheusiests.)

SpaceAce.

P.S. the spell Check doesn't seem to want to work today.

[The E]

Honestly, you should just run FSOpen on Win 7, if you have a Win 7 partition.

[TwoCables]

WOW!!  Thanks TwoCables! That's a H#$L of a lot of good info. Should ememinate a lot of headacks.

Hehe yeah, I think I went a bit overboard there. lol I'm passionate, though! Can you tell?

Anyway, you're very welcome!

This project is going to take some time to complete. The first thing that I have to do is get a much bigger hard drive. The one I have is full of games like Battlefield 2 and Medal of Honor. I had no idea that these games would take up so much space.

Yeah, my FreeSpace 2 folder is taking up 20.3 GB! That's more than Crysis 3 (the biggest and most modern game that I own)! Crysis 3 takes up 14.2 GB on my computer. Who knew that we'd see a day when FreeSpace 2 would take up this much space?! LOL

I am going to see if I can get it partitioned to hold both Windows 7 and XP so I can have all my games in one computer.

Oh. Do you have games that you don't want to get rid of that have absolutely no known way to work in Windows 7?

By the way, do I need any service packs for XP to run FS Open? Or for that mater FS1 and 2? I don't remember.

I don't know, but if you're going to use XP, then I recommend Service Pack 2 regardless. Service Pack 3 might be ok, but I remember avoiding it because it took away some things that I relied on, such as the Address Bar toolbar for the Taskbar. I remember disliking some other minor things about Service Pack 3, but I don't remember what they were, so I can only recommend Service Pack 2 in good conscience. Again though, I don't know if any of the 3 service packs are needed in XP for this, but still, I feel that XP SP2 was the best version of XP.

Stand by for now and I will post updates as they happen.

Again, thanks for all of your time people. ( I love hangin with fellow entheusiests.)

SpaceAce.

Me too. hehe You're very welcome.

P.S. the spell Check doesn't seem to want to work today.

No, it's just your keyboard.

[SpaceAce]

I want to get XP because Medal of Honor plays better on it. On Windows 7 even with the mouse slider down to absolute minimum, its' still just too sensitive. Not good for survival. But if I can play FS1, FS2, and FS open on windows 7, I may just let it go at that. 

SpaceAce.

[TwoCables]

I want to get XP because Medal of Honor plays better on it. On Windows 7 even with the mouse slider down to absolute minimum, its' still just too sensitive. Not good for survival. But if I can play FS1, FS2, and FS open on windows 7, I may just let it go at that. 

SpaceAce.

Oh. I wonder if someone has a fix for that. I would Google things like, "Medal of Honor in Windows 7", or "Medal of Honor Windows 7 mouse fix" or "Medal of Honor Windows 7 mouse acceleration fix", etc., etc. Be creative, of course.

Anyway, all you will need to install is FS2. After you install that, you install FSO into the root directory of FS2 (which should be C:\Games\FreeSpace 2) using FreeSpace Installer, linked previously by -Joshua- . The thread linked here says that it installs FS2, but that's only if you obtained it from Good Old Games (GoG). Presently, if you want to use the CDs, then you have to install it from the CDs manually first, the old way. Then after that, you install FSO into the root directory of FreeSpace 2, which again should be C:\Games\FreeSpace 2.

I think that the only way to play FS1 through FSO is by using one of the mods (FSPort, or FSPort MediaVPs, and then FSPort Silent Threat: Reborn), which are just complete/total modifications of FS2 to make it become FS1. I believe that if you wanted to install FS1 from the CDs (or is it just one CD?) and play it, then you would only be able to do it the old way, and probably only in XP. I mean, unless I'm missing something, I think that FSO is only for FS2.

So, don't think of FreeSpace Open as being separate from FS1 and FS2. Instead, it's what enables FS2 to work in Windows 7 on modern hardware, and it comes with "total conversion" mods called FSport and FSPort MediaVPs (the better of the 2), and FSPort Silent Threat: Reborn so that we can play FS1 as well. So, you don't need the FS1 installation CDs.

Of course, FSO is more than just a way to get FS2 to work in Windows 7 and to play FS1 and FS1 Silent Threat. Have a look around on the forums, and you'll find tons of mods and user-made campaigns and a bunch of other goodies.

[SpaceAce]

Yea, I've watched a few trailers and seen new ships and weapons. And I love the detail you all but into them.  Any new comands  you can give to your pilots?

[TwoCables]

Yea, I've watched a few trailers and seen new ships and weapons. And I love the detail you all but into them.  Any new comands  you can give to your pilots?

This part has been left unmodified. I'm just a user though; I wouldn't even know how to create a simple training mission. lol

The new ships and weapons that you saw were probably from other mods. From what I can see, FS2 is exactly the way it has always been, except for the improved graphics in the mods named MediaVPs 3.6.12 and 2014. For FS1 though, I am clueless because I have never played it until now. I don't even have the FS1 installation CDs. I did ask recently, and I was told that FSPort is nearly perfectly identical to retail FS1 except for some minor differences with the graphics and some other little things due to the FS2 engine (such as an increased accuracy of aspect-seeking missiles, I think). Of course, FSPort MediaVPs is preferred due to the superior graphics.

Fortunately, everything will become significantly clearer once you get into this. You basically have the option of playing FS2 with significantly better graphics (MediaVPs 3.6.12 or 2014), or you can play FS2 with the original graphics (no mod). Beyond that, there are dozens of mods and user-made campaigns to play, including the mod that makes FS2 become FS1, called FSPort and FSPort MediaVPs (these are "total conversion" mods). FSPort MediaVPs uses the MediaVPs 3.6.12 mod for its graphics, but there's a user here on HLP who has a download available that makes it use MediaVPs 2014. I can help you with that if you become interested. It's not presented in a very straight-forward manner. Fortunately, the differences between FSPort MediaVPs using 3.6.12 vs. 2014 are very subtle.

[TwoCables]

I apologize that I keep editing my posts after I submit them. I hope that I haven't caused you to miss things that I've added or changed...

I believe that I'm done editing. lol I'm going to go finish FS1 (I have 3 missions left). After I'm done with that, I'm going to install and play Descent 2! I still have to choose between these two though:

http://www.descent2.de/index.html

http://www.dxx-rebirth.com/

I think I'll do both in order to settle on one because they both look like they'd be quite awesome in their own ways. I haven't played D2 in so long that I'll probably shed a tear or two of sentimental joy during the intro movie. lol

[SpaceAce]

If you get hung up on the last mission, post about it here and I'll give you some hints. Kinda thinking outside the box stuff.

Space ace.

[TwoCables]

If you get hung up on the last mission, post about it here and I'll give you some hints. Kinda thinking outside the box stuff.

Space ace.

Oh? Thank you!

For the time being, I'm going to use the "way cooler" way to complete the mission as described here:

http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Good_Luck

Also note that there is an alternative—and way cooler—way to complete the mission; disable the Lucy and eliminate all hostiles. With the Lucy disabled, you'll have all the time in the world to take her out. Lucy will spit out a lot of fighters before her innards are depleted. After all is quiet, proceed to eliminate the crippled behemoth as you would any other huge chunk of enemy metal. Please make sure you do not destroy the five reactors, just smash her to pieces. If you destroy the reactors, you will not receive that fabled Lucy kill. It'll inflate your ego to titanic proportions when you check your kill stats afterwards and it says "Lucifer: 1".

I want that kill. lol I already have a Sathanas kill, so adding this will inflate my ego even more! hehe

[SpaceAce]

Boy, never though of that one. That IS thinking outside the box too.

Post here when you've done it and I"ll give you another way. It's not as outside the box as disabling Lucy, but it does work.

SpaceAce.

[TwoCables]

This isn't working. Disabling it is proving to be impossible, and I'm getting tired of the disorienting effect of subspace. I ordered everyone to disable the Lucifer, but we only managed to get the first engine down to 30% before it finally reached Sol. To add insult to injury, I'm playing this on Very Easy.

heh

Y'know what? I like FreeSpace 2 far more than FreeSpace 1. This will probably be the only time I'll ever play it. At this point, I don't even know if I will finish Good Luck, but I really do want to see this with my own eyes. I'm tired of only hearing about it in FS2. lol

[TwoCables]

I've given up. I'm going to cheat and get this over with. I'm not having any fun! I mean goddamn, I can play FS2 100 times in a row and never have a moment where I'm not having fun. All FS1 does is it kind of bores me, and then this Good Luck mission is incredibly discouraging.

Edit: I'm disappointed. It worked, but I heard nothing about the collapse of the jump node. I guess I need to play Silent Threat: Reborn?