[Novice]

System:

Core2Duo 3.4Ghz
2GB DDR2
7900GS

Windows XP SP2


Im a first time Freespace player, and have little experiance using and understanding mods,
i try my best, but there is so much i can figure out on my own.


Im running FreeSpace 2 Open 3.6.9, i used the installer by Turey

http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Installing_fs2_open


Then i setup everything according to the wiki guide (Step Five: Configuring Everything)


I noticed the FS 2 Open 3.6.9 installation came with the port of FS One Port named FSPort



My first question is, does FSport include all files listed in this link:

http://fsport.hard-light.net/website/downloads.html


I also noticed under the fsport folder, vp's which are named "fsport-hi_res.vp", "fsport-shine.vp", "sparky_hi_fs1.vp"...

I think these are the Optional Port Enhancements, are these enabled by default? or do i need to enable them in the launcher
under graphics and gameplay, i have looked for them but didn't find the flag options that name them...

Under Features ---> graphics, is it best to leave  jpg/tga textures On or Off?


Will i be able to update MediaAVPS to 3.6.10 via the installer by Turey once they become available?
Will they apply for both FS 1 and 2 ?



Thanks for the fantastic work and support, and keeping this great classic alive for gamers to enjoy!!

[blowfish]

Firstly:


FSPort should come with all of the files you need.  Yes, those files you mentioned are optional, but you almost certainly want to keep them, as you are running FS Open and you appear to have a decent system.  For the record, features like that are turned off by removing the files.  You ALWAYS want to have -jpgtga turned on.  Also make sure you have -glow, -spec, and -env turned on.  You should probably turn on -missile_lighting, -ship_choice_3d, and -3dwarp as well.  The 3.6.10 mediavps will be available in the installer when they are available.  And yes, they will apply for both fsport and fs2

[Novice]

What confuses me is that Optional FSPort enhancements such as  "fsport-hi_res.vp", "fsport-shine.vp", "sparky_hi_fs1.vp" are in my install folder BUT not mentioned in the launcher which makes me wonder if they are running by default or not?

I have all the features you mentioned already turned on.

[blowfish]

What confuses me is that Optional FSPort enhancements such as  "fsport-hi_res.vp", "fsport-shine.vp", "sparky_hi_fs1.vp" are in my install folder BUT not mentioned in the launcher which makes me wonder if they are running by default or not?

Stuff like that never appears in the launcher.  Not the most elegant solution, but it's not too hard to move things around manually

[Novice]

What confuses me is that Optional FSPort enhancements such as  "fsport-hi_res.vp", "fsport-shine.vp", "sparky_hi_fs1.vp" are in my install folder BUT not mentioned in the launcher which makes me wonder if they are running by default or not?

Stuff like that never appears in the launcher.  Not the most elegant solution, but it's not too hard to move things around manually

Which means all of the them are running by default?

[blowfish]

Yes.  You almost certainly want to keep them running though.  If you experience slowdowns, remove MV_AdvEffects.vp, in the mediavps folder.

[Novice]

Alright, thanks for the help.

[blowfish]

Alright, thanks for the help.

No problem

[Jeff Vader]

What confuses me is that Optional FSPort enhancements such as  "fsport-hi_res.vp", "fsport-shine.vp", "sparky_hi_fs1.vp" are in my install folder BUT not mentioned in the launcher which makes me wonder if they are running by default or not?

Stuff like that never appears in the launcher.  Not the most elegant solution, but it's not too hard to move things around manually

Which means all of the them are running by default?

If there are files, they will be used. That's the way it goes. Regarding proper Launcher settings, follow the Make your FSO pretty link in my signature.

[Novice]

What confuses me is that Optional FSPort enhancements such as  "fsport-hi_res.vp", "fsport-shine.vp", "sparky_hi_fs1.vp" are in my install folder BUT not mentioned in the launcher which makes me wonder if they are running by default or not?

Stuff like that never appears in the launcher.  Not the most elegant solution, but it's not too hard to move things around manually

Which means all of the them are running by default?

If there are files, they will be used. That's the way it goes. Regarding proper Launcher settings, follow the Make your FSO pretty link in my signature.

Those instructions are for 3.8.10 mediavps beta, im currently using 3.8.6 .

[Jeff Vader]

Those instructions are for 3.8.10 mediavps beta, im currently using 3.8.6 .

1. The actual choices are 3.6.10 or 3.6.8. And 3.6.10 or 3.6.9 when talking about FSO builds.

2. The instructions are quite valid for the 3.6.8's as well. Just ignore anything that says "normal maps" and you'll do fine. The command-line options in particular are related to the builds (versions of the game engine) and are not affected by the version of the MediaVPs whatsoever.

[Novice]

These are the command lines i have enabled:

C:\Games\FreeSpace2\fs2_open_3_6_9.exe -mod fsport,mediavps -spec -glow -env -jpgtga -mipmap -noscalevid -missile_lighting -dualscanlines -targetinfo -orbradar -rearm_timer -ballistic_gauge -ship_choice_3d -3dwarp -warp_flash

My current build is FS2 Open 3.6.9 with mediavps 3.6.8. Not sure what FSPort version im running tough, i think it's  3.0.4 .

Do the custom flags apply?

"Enter the following lines in the "Custom flags" box:

    * -ambient_factor 0
    * -no_emissive_light
    * -spec_exp 11
    * -spec_point .6
    * -spec_static .8
    * -spec_tube .4
    * -ogl_spec 80"

[Jeff Vader]

Not sure what FSPort version im running tough, i think it's  3.0.4 .

If (and when) you used Turey's Installer, yes. You have 3.0.4.

Do the custom flags apply?

Yes. The Custom flags field offers a handy way of entering command-line options manually. You could type all of your current flags in there and untick the actual selections. But that's not the point. The point is to enter stuff in there that doesn't appear as tickable options on the feature list. Those flags affect lighting settings and it's nice to have them, since they create a bit more "realistic" atmosphere. And you just type them to the Custom flags field so that each flag has the - at the beginning and all the flags are separated with spaces. Basically

-ambient_factor 0 -no_emissive_light -spec_exp 11

and so on.

[colecampbell666]

To clarify, if a file is in the selected MOD folder, it will be used. The files are used in this order, if there are conflicting files, only the first is used.

MOD's data folder>VPs in mod>FS2 data folder>FS2 VPs.

They are selected in alphabetical order within those groups.