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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Venek on July 27, 2008, 12:18:36 pm

Title: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Venek on July 27, 2008, 12:18:36 pm
Hey all!

Was reading through Gamespot a while back and read a press release about old games being available again through a website, including the old Fallout series, Sacrifice, Giants Citizens Kabuto, and, of course, Freespace 2 to name a few. Apparently the company will tweak them so they are playable on XP AND Vista as well as being DRM-free. They intend to sell the games at $6 and $10. Not a bad price for some classics that you get to keep. Seems they'll begin service around September.

Here's the site: http://www.gog.com/en/intro (http://www.gog.com/en/intro)

Of course, I'm wondering if the SCP version will be compatible with the "re-released" version of Freespace 2.

Thought you would all appreciate the heads-up. So much for potentially getting $100 for my copy of Freespace 2.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Jeff Vader on July 27, 2008, 12:23:45 pm
Of course, I'm wondering if the SCP version will be compatible with the "re-released" version of Freespace 2.
I'm not certain, but I'd assume these tweaks concern the game engine. And since playing FSO does not involve the retail engine whatsoever, it shouldn't have any effects. But playing retail retail might be easier on newer OSes.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Colonol Dekker on July 27, 2008, 12:31:56 pm
Whoop MDK !! ;)
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Al Tarket on July 27, 2008, 01:03:48 pm
I'm not certain, but I'd assume these tweaks concern the game engine. And since playing FSO does not involve the retail engine whatsoever, it shouldn't have any effects. But playing retail retail might be easier on newer OSes.

isnt the fs2o program based off the coding the fs2 game engine used to use? the source code is basically the game engine itself in binary and worded formati would guess.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Jeff Vader on July 27, 2008, 01:07:21 pm
I'm not certain, but I'd assume these tweaks concern the game engine. And since playing FSO does not involve the retail engine whatsoever, it shouldn't have any effects. But playing retail retail might be easier on newer OSes.

isnt the fs2o program based off the coding the fs2 game engine used to use? the source code is basically the game engine itself in binary and worded formati would guess.
The smallest details evade me, but the FSO engine is based on the FS2 engine, of course. When the source code of the FS2 engine was released, people started to modify it to include new features and such. But, the FSO builds are separate from retail. When you play using an FSO build, the original, untouched retail engine (FS2.exe) is not used. And that was my point. Even if this "rerelease" includes a modified version of the original engine, it won't affect those who just play FSO.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Nuclear1 on July 27, 2008, 01:50:44 pm
I'm reserving judgment until I see exactly what old games go up on there.

*crosses fingers for Myst/Riven/JP3*
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Admiral_Stones on July 27, 2008, 01:51:23 pm
Giants, FS2 and Fallout 1 & 2 rocked but aw FALLOUT TACTICS?!
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Al Tarket on July 27, 2008, 02:42:49 pm
thanks for clearing that one up for me lobo, i was confused at one point about your statement.

im looking forward to hopefully buying and playing games like myst, and fallout also. i hope they have more games from back then that where top class, other them homeworld as one to speak off.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Admiral_Stones on July 27, 2008, 02:45:24 pm
Oh yeah, on a side note, when the games are only available on PC, why the hell do they picture an iMac with Leopard near the bottom of the page?
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Al Tarket on July 27, 2008, 02:47:54 pm
if your sure they are all for pc then that picture obviously has no baring, however as a side note check their FAQ's and help sections for such a thing.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Admiral_Stones on July 27, 2008, 02:54:22 pm
if your sure they are all for pc then that picture obviously has no baring, however as a side note check their FAQ's and help sections for such a thing.

There are no FAQs or help sections :wtf:
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Al Tarket on July 27, 2008, 02:55:38 pm
on that site?!!??...
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Admiral_Stones on July 27, 2008, 02:59:03 pm
Nope, just Teaser stuff.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Al Tarket on July 27, 2008, 03:01:41 pm
.. i see :warp:. I hope they will be able to sell their games as far as Jerusalem.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Venek on July 27, 2008, 03:33:52 pm
According to the site, the games will be available via download. Because of the nice little fact that the games will be DRM-free, that means as long as you have receipt (probably a code or something to activate the download), you can download the game as many times as you want and be able to burn it to a CD. So there's no question that anyone anywhere in the world can buy these games. Now will they be available in languages other than English? That, I don't know.

What I find really interesting is how and if they'll make a profit at all. I suppose those licenses aren't too pricey since they're old, but how did they get their hands on a FS2 license?

As for the Mac icon on the bottom of the page, I'm sure they just meant to use a generic image of a computer, not necessarily a Mac (although I confess that it looks like one). These games are apparently strictly XP and Vista compatible only, but who knows, maybe they'll get some Mac licenses for the old games that were ported.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Admiral_Stones on July 27, 2008, 03:44:17 pm
According to the site, the games will be available via download. Because of the nice little fact that the games will be DRM-free, that means as long as you have receipt (probably a code or something to activate the download), you can download the game as many times as you want and be able to burn it to a CD. So there's no question that anyone anywhere in the world can buy these games. Now will they be available in languages other than English? That, I don't know.

What I find really interesting is how and if they'll make a profit at all. I suppose those licenses aren't too pricey since they're old, but how did they get their hands on a FS2 license?

As for the Mac icon on the bottom of the page, I'm sure they just meant to use a generic image of a computer, not necessarily a Mac (although I confess that it looks like one). These games are apparently strictly XP and Vista compatible only, but who knows, maybe they'll get some Mac licenses for the old games that were ported.
:wtf:

It's an Apple Cinema Display, with the standard Leopard wallpaper and Safari running.

Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Getter Robo G on July 28, 2008, 01:45:10 am
Obviously they had to approach interplay...

Aside from FS2 I never played any of those games they show the boxes of on that page...

If they want to impress me have Klingon Academy Vista compliant!

The last time any disks were made it was by the company I work for and it was an order for 500 disks between 2002/2003 time frame. Probably for schoolpop.com

Smart move making it all a download, minimal overhead.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on July 28, 2008, 09:23:23 pm
Of course, I'm wondering if the SCP version will be compatible with the "re-released" version of Freespace 2.
I'm not certain, but I'd assume these tweaks concern the game engine. And since playing FSO does not involve the retail engine whatsoever, it shouldn't have any effects. But playing retail retail might be easier on newer OSes.

That goes without saying. My MacBook slows down whenever a Sathanas gets into my screen. And I'm running OS X 10.5.3!
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Galemp on July 29, 2008, 12:50:34 pm
If they do make any modifications (outside of the executable) I suspect it would be to recompress the movies, voice files, and music from horrible .MVE and .WAV to save space and bandwidth.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Stormkeeper on July 29, 2008, 01:23:23 pm
Sacrifice + Giants interest me greatly.
Title: Re: Retail Freespace 2 will be available again!!!
Post by: Jeff Vader on July 29, 2008, 02:01:34 pm
Giants would be interesting indeed. It was one of those things I looked at with shock and awe, especially if there were reviews on the telly, but neglected to purchase since I didn't have a street-credible rig or the money for a street-credible rig.