(https://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=95806.0;attach=27278;image)
Freelancer review by oldpcgaming.net (https://www.oldpcgaming.net/freelancer-2003-review/)
German review (auf deutsch) (https://www.computerbase.de/2016-12/freelancer-pc-klassiker-neu-entdeckt-review/3/)
"I'm not allowed to share the direct links to downloads or the original version. But those articles and the info below should give you a point into the right direction to get a hand on this gem. When you are lucky, you can get/buy an original version on amazon or ebay - but nowadays it is sold expensively overrated and have to be seen as a "collector's" edition. Like an old baseball card. Just for info i have TWO original Disks and the original package and books in my collection. At the moment - a valid value for FL-Original disks is about 80-150 bucks - depends on how "used" and condition of the sale."
So what you have to do in order to play Microsoft Freelancer again / or for the first time?
1. Install Freelancer
Freelancer is official abandonware and inofficial freeware - it can be downloaded on several places for free in the internet. Just type "Freelancer ISO Download" into google and search for the right download link. I'm not allowed to share them directly - yet. But doesn't matter - for my version later you don't need the original anymore.
The technical pre-conditions are limited in the basic game. The maximum native resolution was 1240x1024 (4:3). Nowadays no eye candy to play - see it on screen:
(https://i.imgur.com/YYMJ6Mi.jpg)
Screensize 50% reduced for forum view
(https://i.imgur.com/IgWRavd.jpg)
2. Update the original game folder with any HD Widescreen mod for SP Freelancer:
(or a copy of it when you wanna backup the vanilla one)
There are many HD Mods available for Freelancer. Some work better and some less. I like the version from Jeider & Whiskas very much. I modified it a bit for autodetection of screenresolution, here is my HD Widescreen
Mod Version:
Download RizZen's Vanilla FL Widescreen (16:9) HD Mod (https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pHDJSfqQREn01xQ-yixzMjA-tnye9D1g) (original by Whiskas and Jeider)
Download this *.rar - open it and copy the content of the folders to your FL folders. Readme instructions are inside.
Mod Content:
- Official Advanced Widescreen HD Mod v1.1 by Whiskas & Jeider
- RizZen's autodetect edition with SP-savegame for free play without storymode (install readme inside)
Now you can enjoy FL story campaign and single player mods in Widescreen HD resolutions:
(https://i.imgur.com/u3zMKM5.jpg)
Screensize 50% reduced for forum view
(https://i.imgur.com/MwfUo7K.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ePHsUum.jpg)
[attachment eaten by a Shivan]
Windows 10 OS
On Windows 10 you just need to mount the ISO or use the original FL CD and run all executables and game files with Windows XP SP2 support. (Right click exe files -> compatibility menu).
When Freelancer is started for the first time it may install/activate DirectPlay - this is technically needed to play Freelancer. It won't take long to do those small changes in the windows settings.
(https://i.imgur.com/bOPSfQv.jpg)
How to install?
1. open the ISO
2. start the setup/install/autorun executable
3. follow the install instructions and install the basic freelancer game
4. it is recommended to choose "full installation"
5. When you would like to mod / update your installation you can use freelancer mod manager (freeware) or drop mod folders manually into your game folders to update your versions. It is recommend to make a copy of the original game folder with an edited name in order not to troubleshoot or crash your working installation later. When you make a backup keep in mind that Freelancer uses two folders to store your game files. First is the common game folder that users are used. The second is in the user's data folders under "... \MY GAMES\Freelancer" - it is recommend to backup those folders, too when you make changes to the original Singleplayer version. When you would like to play the other you can start the FL.exe from specific unmodded backup folder - this way you just need to replace the "MY GAMES\Freelancer\..." user's folder, when you switch back to single-player and campaign story mode. Other mods are overwriting this user folder with your server multiplayer IDs. You should keep an eye on them, don`t share them to others - when other people know your ID they can do changes on your accounts. When you loose the files you maybe in danger of loosing entrance to your existent multi-player chars. I will release more information about freelancer multiplayer IDs later on another place of this board.
When you just want to play the Original Freelancer start the setup from the ISO/CD now and if you like enhance it with smaller or bigger mods you wanna play (Widescreen Mod Download is above - introduces higher resolutions and resolution auto detect / screen resize).
The game can be installed on other OS, too. From Win9x up to WinXP/Vista up to Win7,8,8.1 there are more or less easy instructions how to install it all over the web. When you have found a certain solution or having serious issues your free to communicate here. There are even people who managed to install and play it on MAC & Linux OS systems!
(https://i.imgur.com/H7llbTz.gif)
(https://i.imgur.com/qfvFlTu.jpg)
Terms of use
RizZen's Freelancer CONTENT
Copyright (c) RizZen 2019.
§1
Reproduction & translation of my work (as a whole or parts of it) in any mode without permission is strictly forbidden allowed.
I don´t claim owner rights of all informations and files i have created while modding and working on this game. Anyone is free to do with it what´s desired. I love to test new game improvements and evolving old retro games. What i do for Freelancer is my tribute to one of the best Sci-Fi open world MMORPG & PvP games i´ve ever played. Even better than several ego shooters! I don´t feel offended or betrayed when someone is using my Version - i would be honored.
§2
All names and marks are properties of respective owners (Microsoft {Owning developers} / digitalANViL / Chris Roberts {CO Mindsetting} / ) - free- / abandonware since ~2008 (Begin of active Modding: 07/2019).
§3
Freelancer - Discussion Forum
is officially hosted by owners of http//www.hard-light.net .
Without this website & forum there won´t be a single version of mod / full version for Freelancer by my side. Only after being accepted on this website i was able to create / release Freelancer game content. Therefore i dedicate Freelancer Memories - with all content to Hard-Light.net and it`s modding crew. If changes are desired i admit my help to make them. My only attempt on Freelancer is and was all-time = FUN!
§4
I'm not resposible for the content of any other site than Hard-Light.net. When i relate to other Freelancer Mods it needs to be clarified, that I don't created them and not hosting the sites or "partner sites" i refer to.
I'm responsible for my own modwork and that's why on long-time perspective there will be two Freelancer sections. One for general freelancer and other mods & content - and one for Freelancer - Memories & Modding work in general.
§5
When there is any law conflict with my content your free to contact me and i will put all the matching content offline. I have no intensions in profit. I don't take any donations! If i'm mentioned or not - when someone is using my content - doesn't matter to me. I see myself as a "keeper" - of good old retro games. I want to enrich people's life's! I want to entertain! And i want that all people can download and play my content - both - poor and rich. That's why i never leave the "vanilla" path of a game. That way you can play FL with any imagineable computer - no matter how old if it fits the original requirements.
§6
When someone feels offended or not literally or honorable being mentioned, your free to contact me and i will clarify things, change them or take your content off, no problem. When you decide to legally offend me and my work in any way i will put all my content off. I have nothing to spare and i won't ever even get a penny profit from my work. I spend thousands of hours of modding work into this - for free. Just because i have fun doing so. When fun is gone, then we have a problem.
§7
You are using all mods / enhancements / additional software at own risk. I'm not responsible for any affect they may take! But you can trust me when i say: I have tested the things i'm sharing to others and i think all that stuff shouldn't be forgotten! The Freelancer world deserves this tribute.
Yeah i worked around it. I do not post links to abandonware anymore. Sry for that.
I'm going on with debugging - smt. i obviously can do better than diplomacy. I have although a deep respect for YOUR initiative to give free modders like me a platform to publish. We are one of the last of a kind that is protecting the freedom of information in THIS world. And additionally i was wrong with the "roman" thingy - i found my text blocks later - so i'm although sry for that.
But back to topic: I'm on a good way. The "data infrastructure" of Freelancer gets totally overhauled by me at the moment. The prior reason for that is "anticheat" - i have to implement allot non vanilla material to make the not wanted software that is possibly used by cheaters doesn't work anymore. The minor reason is that the original structure of Freelancer is... - well all in all sorted compared to other games - but you can really see that the team who was developing FL in the past where put into a rush at the end before releasing it 2003. There are many unused, obsolete or unfinished codes and functions. The things that definitely won't be used by the game later will be removed and the existent usable content will be put into an numerical or alphabetical order. That not only makes modding easier in the end - it although stabilizes the whole game.
Actually i bugsolve and do much "design" work. The standalone mod will have a new starting sequence, new main screen & menu - but with vanilla oriented design. The "campaign missions" will be not part of the mod. When you would like to play the original campaign, the original game with widescreen mod for nowadays resolutions is good to use on Windows 10 or below. The modbuilt is designed as open single player and multiplayer mod - only.
Would you like to know more? (https://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=95797.0)