[Stealth]

I haven't played Freespace in probably 4 or 5 years, but i loaded it up and once i figured out how to run it in compatibility mode, etc. i started playing.
Maybe it's just been so long since i played that I'd forgotten, but it seems like the graphics of this game are just ridiculously bad.  Is there something wrong with my install perhaps? 

My graphics settings are turned up all the way in-game, but pay attention to the bottom left ship model - it's more of a 'blob' than anything.  I don't remember the Dragons looking that bad...

What think?

[attachment deleted by a ninja]

[Dragon]

Try getting the latest FSO build. You're clearly using retail, or an ancient build. A lot has changed over those 5 years.
Also, welcome back.

[yuezhi]

welcome back?

i played fs1 vanilla off GOG.com myself and i'll tell you that this is perfectly normal.

also, you won't find those nebulas in FSO because they're not actually part of the background and cause problems in FS2.

[Dragon]

That's FS1? That would explain a lot. Yes, it did look that bad. At first I though it's a retail version of FSPort.

[yuezhi]

It's the thought that counts. at least it wasn't released like this. remember, it was the 90s and 3D graphics was running on baby steps.

[Legate Damar]

There is something to be said for retail FS1, though. Very nostalgic.

[Klaustrophobia]

FS1's resolution is piss poor.  it looks worse on modern LCD monitors than it did back in the day on CRTs.  i was doing a nostalgia playthrough on it before my computer fried.  i remember thinking how awesome the graphics looked back in the day, coming from D2 and D3.

[el_magnifico]

Say whatever you want about those old and blurry graphics, but I still love them. Especially the old nebulae. There's something about Vanilla FS1 that the (otherwise excellent) FSport still can't replicate.

[Stealth]

I've never tried the FSport, but i remember it from several years ago.  It's been a few years since i was fully active in this community.  I'll have to give it a shot - where can i download it from? 

Yes this is 'vanilla' FS1.  I was just shocked at the bottom left 3d view of the ships in-game... it's a model with 0 definition. Looks like a blob!

[Spoon]

Say whatever you want about those old and blurry graphics, but I still love them. Especially the old nebulae. There's something about Vanilla FS1 that the (otherwise excellent) FSport still can't replicate.

Yeah, its called nostalgia 

[mjn.mixael]

Indeed. Perhaps what people expect the FSPort team to do is to go back in time by about 15 years and introduce FSPort during that time. Perhaps then people will finally get over that crap...

[Thaeris]

There were a lot of great looking games from the 90's. In all honesty, I do not think FS is among them (in the visuals department). Most of my favorites used flat-shaded polygons and actually managed to achieve great levels of detail without any in-game textures (apart from cockpit art, etc.). Graphics were crisp and clear, which is something that old, low-resolution bitmaps could not match. The hardware just wasn't there for said bitmaps to really make the difference, and if it was, then the polycount would have likewise been raised as well.

[bigchunk1]

Say whatever you want about those old and blurry graphics, but I still love them. Especially the old nebulae. There's something about Vanilla FS1 that the (otherwise excellent) FSport still can't replicate.

You know, there was a point where I would be willing to start a bar fight to defend retail graphics, but that was all based on memory. That kind of defense really requires one to ignore the vast improvements which were made to the game. Just compare the effects files, the UV maps and the number of polygons in the models. There is an objective technical improvement and dare I say level of care put into the current graphics that volition simply didn't have the time and technology to produce. Given the level of detail in retail, a lot is left to the imagination, and I feel pretty good that FSU has (mostly) stayed true to the style while filling in the unknown gaps.

I agree though that nebulae have become much more cartoony with recent FSU updates. The whole freakin monochromatic splash of color practially encircles most mission spaces. Yet, the new nebulae carry with them that special impact factor 'rule of cool' that people probably won't want to let go of. Just a passing observation. I love you FSU 

[el_magnifico]

Indeed. Perhaps what people expect the FSPort team to do is to go back in time by about 15 years and introduce FSPort during that time. Perhaps then people will finally get over that crap...

Look, I didn't mean to sound offensive. I love FSport and the campaigns it made possible (like Shrouding the Light). It MAY be nostalgia what I'm feeling. So I don't think it's your fault, you're doing such a great job, all for free, and I appreciate and respect that.
And yet still, sometimes I miss FS1. I'm sorry if that unsettles you.

Given the level of detail in retail, a lot is left to the imagination

Actually, I like a bit of that sometimes.

[Cyborg17]

There is a kind of feeling that came with the original game.  The atmosphere of the original nebula and music.  The idea of the unstoppable Superdestroyer.  The fear of getting destroyed by an enemy with more powerful ships, shields, and weapons, while your ML-16s barely glance off them.  I felt much more helpless in FS1 than in FS2.  While FS2 is the superior game, I never quite felt the dread of trying to fight off half a dozen waves of bombers as they tried to finish off the Hope.

FS1 has many flaws, but the experience it gave me was something that I remember very vividly.

[Drogoth]

There is a kind of feeling that came with the original game.  The atmosphere of the original nebula and music.  The idea of the unstoppable Superdestroyer.  The fear of getting destroyed by an enemy with more powerful ships, shields, and weapons, while your ML-16s barely glance off them.  I felt much more helpless in FS1 than in FS2.  While FS2 is the superior game, I never quite felt the dread of trying to fight off half a dozen waves of bombers as they tried to finish off the Hope.

FS1 has many flaws, but the experience it gave me was something that I remember very vividly.

This.

This is why I am forever a fan of FS1 just a little bit more then FS2

[Stealth]

I'm more a fan of FS1 than FS2.  In fact i don't think i ever finisehd the FS2 campaign, or if i did, it was maybe just once.  Back in my prime i was #4 on PXO, and knew FS1 inside and out.  Seems like another life ago though

[el_magnifico]

I agree. The music in FS1 (and FSport) has something FS2 lacks. That feeling of desperately running against the clock to stop the Shivans the first time was amazing, too.

Besides, FS2's graphics may have been better, but I don't care for the ship design.

[jr2]

FS1's music was more event-driven than FS2's.  They had up to 3 tracks and various bridges that were played based on what was going down in the mission.  FS2?  Not so much.  Basically just looping through tracks with little bridges played when something happens.  Actually, you should be able to use the FSPort sound tables and make your own event-driven music if you're careful with it.

[Black Wolf]

There was a registry hack that allowed FS1 to access the full resolution of its textures, which were gimped by default. That's probably what's causing the discrepancy between now and your memory.