Hard Light Productions Forums
Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: .::Tin Can::. on February 14, 2004, 03:23:34 pm
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All-righty everyone. Since I thought I knew a bit about Freespace 2, and now I come here and everything is topsy-turvy, I'm just going to have to get educated since I have questions all over the place. So, lets get started.
1) What is Truespace, and what is its importance?
2) How do I get all these spiffy MOD's to work, like the enhanced Weapons Effects, Sinemaps, and so on and so fourth. If I go to my Freespace 2 Directory and then my Data Folder and then my "Maps, Effects, Models" etc, nothing ever changes during gameplay.
3) What is fs2_open?
4) How are MOD's created, and so on?
5) What is the significance of Table files?
6) Is there anything I missed that I should know about?
7) What are ALL The special add-on's, tools, new effects, modifacations, and everything freespace 2 related that makes the game more, oh, pleasureable, and how do I install them?
If you guys can answer all these questions, I will deem you all the greatest Tech-Support crew ever, since no one ever thinks about the n00bies anymore...
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If I post this and find Karajorma posted before me again I'll be cross
1. TrueSpace is a 3D modelling program, used by some to make new ships and stuff
2. Karajorma's FreeSpace FAQ (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/freespace/freespace2.html)
3. FS2_Open is the open source thingy the
SCP guys (http://dynamic4.gamespy.com/~freespace/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=50) are working on. Basically moddifying the FS2 source code to make it bigger and better :nod:
4. See 2
5. See 2
6. See 2
Also, this is the FreeSpace Wiki (http://dynamic4.gamespy.com/~freespace/fsdoc/). Fear it.
Shotguns under the seats, watch out for Carl as he eats people.
Reading your location, by any chance are you a S:AAB fan?
[EDIT] :ha: So beat you to it Kara :ha:, :ha: and :ha: :D
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I do. Almost all the answers you need are in my FAQ :) I'll answer some them here anway though.
1) TS is a 3D modeller. You need it for one of the steps required to make a new ship. Check the modding section of my FAQ for more info.
2) FAQ. Directory structure page. If you have any questions after reading that I'll be happy to answer them.
3) An improved version of FS2 built by fans from the source code for FS2.
4) FAQ - Modding section.
5) FAQ - Directory Structure section and GE's VPView Tutorial
DG just beat me to it :)
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You guys are the greatest. :D :nod: ;)
I'll look at the FAQ and return if I have any questions.
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I added this to one of your other posts but I forgot to add it here.
There is a guide to installing FS2_open on the Wiki
http://dynamic4.gamespy.com/~freespace/fsdoc/index.php/Installing
I really need feedback from this so if there is anything you have trouble with on it be sure to tell me (or edit it yourself if you're feeling brave :D )
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So then, what do I use fs2_open for again? It basically look just like Freespace 2 (and i own a legitimate copy, yay! 3 CD's and all!) so, how does this improve on everything? Also, look at number 7 on the things I asked. Its my biggest question.
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FS2_open add support for all kinds of new weapons, effects and missions that couldn't possibly be done in FS2.
You'll really see the effects of FS2_open when campaigns which are designed to be FS2_open only (like my own MindGames) start being released but even playing standard FS2 missions you can see a huge difference.
Have a look at this http://www.penguinbomb.com/lightspeed/FS2Web_shine.html
to see the difference FS2_open can make to the ships from the standard FS2 game.
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Yes, but let me say something if I may that is my numero uno problem:
How do I get to activate all these MOD's? I mean, all the guide I read give me sources to everything I need, sure, but I still dont know how to run this stuff! There is no ONE mod, like, a file to just activate and PLAY, but then theres tools left and right, and I dont know where half of them are, and I dont know how to get a lot of this stuff running anymore, so I am friggin lost! Thats my biggest issue. Sure, fs2_open is shnazzy, great, but what can it do for me? I cant do anything with it except open Freespace 2. Gravy. I need to know how I can use it PROPERLY instead of scattered guides left and right telling me to do different things.
No offense to anyone by the way.
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That guide to installing FS2_open tells you to download the media.vp. That will add most of the features on that page I linked to with pictures of shiny ships.
You're right though. Since most of the community know FS2_Open quite well we tend to forget how to sell it to newbies. I think I'm going to have to take some steps to correct that problem. :)
BTW I added your AIM to my list cause I think this will go a lot quicker online but you appear to be offline at the moment.
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Well, FS modding is actually quite a big field, so you'll need to ask specifics unfortunately. It would take (literally) ages to write a detailed guide to everything you can do.
On the subject of fs2_opn, it replaces the retail game code. there's a number of visual improvements - especially in lighting - and also work on adding more detailed and more efficient graphical features.
To make the best of this, you'll also need to pick up the additional files (i.e. hi-res polanets, specular maps for ships, the in-progress weapon reworkings). I think there should be descriptions on how all this works in the Source Code Project forum.
Oh, and 7) would give you a massive list.... there is probably hundreds of mods floating about, from small weapons changes, to new artwork (i.e. mission backgrounds), new ships, and to entire campaigns complete with masses of new stuff.
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Allllllrighty. I had my buddy list specially modified, so you will have to tell me when you want to IM me on AIM, otherwise you wont show up.
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Just a note to you more experienced folk, pay close attention to what our aluminum friend has said here. I'd hazard a guess that the problems he's having in understanding what's what, figuring out things, etc, is exactly the kind of problems the majority of people who wander by encounter - they just don't speak up.
So, if I may be so bold, karajorma, I'd suggest that you not only help Tin Can out on AIM, but make sure that your efforts are recorded in the Wiki or your FAQ or wherever, step-by-step. Yeah, I know you'll probably do this anyway, but I just wanted to encourage you in that direction. ;)
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I've already started doing that :D
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*peanut-butter cookie* :D
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Originally posted by diamondgeezer
Reading your location, by any chance are you a S:AAB fan?
Stop kiddin' yourself DG. You're the last of the few. :D
(Von Braun is also the name of the ship from SystemShock2)
As for installing mods, it depends what format they're in. (exe, vp etc)
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Yes, I am refering to System Shock 2, another great game where one of the workers from "Arx Fatalis" is upgrading the graphics a WHOLE bunch. So, I SHOULD have put, "Von Braun: Orbit: Tau Ceti V"
Trust me, I bet very few people have played that absoltuely great game, but you can download it from underdog. System Shock 2, kicks ass!
But one more thing: the only command(s) that fs2_open could not recognize when I opened it up were: "-spec" and also "-glow"
It said it cant recognize so I dont know how this affects gameplay or graphics. All I know is it probably doesnt work the same way it should, and I was wondering if anyone had some tips or suggestions.
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Originally posted by magatsu1
Stop kiddin' yourself DG. You're the last of the few. :D
:sigh:
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Can anyone here answer my question?
And what is S:AAB?
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S:AAB - Space: Above and Beyond, a discontinued tv series set in the near-future with space fights and soforth.
Um.... fs_open deosn;t seem to recognise spec for me either, yet still seems to work fine (i.e. the specularity). I think the same applies for -glow.
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They are ON by default IIRC, on the launcer the flags are -nospec and -no glow, so it should be that way...
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Originally posted by Zarax
They are ON by default IIRC, on the launcer the flags are -nospec and -no glow, so it should be that way...
The boxes are called -glow and -spec in launcher v4 so I think the names need changing to -NoGlow and -NoSpec then.
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So then, how do I do that stuff exactly... remember, I need to be stepped through because im a n00b. ;7
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Go to the flags tab in the launcher and turn off -spec and -glow
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Alright. New problem with this launcher. When I try to run it, it says "Failed to get int mode" and it has "Direct 3D" on the top. I dont know whats wrong with it so, I was hoping someone here could help.
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Welcome to HLP, Tin Can, and kudos for having the guts to come out and ask all your questions. ;) Are you a System Shock fan?
:welcome:
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Originally posted by .::Tin Can::.
Alright. New problem with this launcher. When I try to run it, it says "Failed to get int mode" and it has "Direct 3D" on the top. I dont know whats wrong with it so, I was hoping someone here could help.
One possible problem could be launcher v4. Find a post by Random Tiger and download v3.4 from his signature (at the bottom of his post)
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Abso-friggin-lutely. Played the game, beat it on ALL difficulty modes as a Navy guy three times, an OSA once and a Marine once. I have lots of fun with it and I hope CyberBlutch upgrades it to its glory. I was going to get into map making but it just got reall confusing a lot of the time, so, I didn't really fancy using "dromED" so instead I went on to Aliens Vs Predator 2 map editing with "DEdit" and thats about the length of my career with System Shock 2. I love the game to death and wish it was very popular still.
Dont worry guys, I solved my problem by restarting my computer... Ironic how that works.
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So FS2_open works now?
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Originally posted by .::Tin Can::.
Abso-friggin-lutely. Played the game, beat it on ALL difficulty modes as a Navy guy three times, an OSA once and a Marine once. I have lots of fun with it and I hope CyberBlutch upgrades it to its glory. I was going to get into map making but it just got reall confusing a lot of the time, so, I didn't really fancy using "dromED" so instead I went on to Aliens Vs Predator 2 map editing with "DEdit" and thats about the length of my career with System Shock 2. I love the game to death and wish it was very popular still.
Dont worry guys, I solved my problem by restarting my computer... Ironic how that works.
Hahah, awesome. You'll fit right into the other SS junkies who frequent this forum. :D I love the game too, but I can't get over how scary SS1 is (I haven't gotten to SS2 yet). I'm the kind of player who'll camp out an area for half an hour to get a better tactical advantage over a bunch of monsters, just so that I can save three or four bullets. Needless to say, in the more suspenseful bits, I can't handle it. :shaking: ;)
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Launcher v4 will only work on new testing builds.
They're planning on turning EVERYTHING off by standard, that's why theres 'spec' and 'glow' command lines.
You will have to add command lines for all SCP features you want to use.
Not too great from my point of view.
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Perhaps RT should add a "turn on everything" checkbox, for the people who know they want it different. I'm pretty sure the "everything off by default" decision is for the people who are saying "it doesn't look like FS any more"... well, this way it will be just as easy to go either way. :)
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Im a little lost as to where this is going folks...
And SS2 is really creepy and suspensful, with ammunition scarce as hell. Your Assault Rifle is your friend as well as your Med Hypo's. Keep them in good supply, you will need it.
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Jeez, this thread moves fast ;)
Just finished typing up instructions and he'd already figured it out, I think.....
Is FS2_Open working for you yet TC?
Flipside :)
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Originally posted by Setekh
Perhaps RT should add a "turn on everything" checkbox, for the people who know they want it different. I'm pretty sure the "everything off by default" decision is for the people who are saying "it doesn't look like FS any more"... well, this way it will be just as easy to go either way. :)
Yeah, i second this idea.
A box that says "Enable SCP advanced features" that will tick off -jpgtga -htl -spec -glow. But you can still deslect any of those at your leizure.
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Yeah, all I had to do was restart my computer because when I tried to run Freespace 1 it made it really messed up and so I cant play it all of a sudden... boo hoo...
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Originally posted by Setekh
I'm the kind of player who'll camp out an area for half an hour to get a better tactical advantage over a bunch of monsters, just so that I can save three or four bullets. Needless to say, in the more suspenseful bits, I can't handle it. :shaking: ;)
Are you sure we weren't seperated at birth or something, Ed? ;)
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Im gonna need some help though on how to get those black squares around the planets to be be cut out so it looks like an actual circle, not a circle in a giant black box. Elaboration needed badly.
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Tin Can, are you using Lightspeed's new planets? I think we're still waiting for full DDS support and alpha transparencies for the 32-bit planets. :)
Originally posted by Sandwich
Are you sure we weren't seperated at birth or something, Ed? ;)
Well, you know Mike, that would explain why I occasionally break out in Hebrew when I'm talking to my friends... :D
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Yeah. Unfortunately the planets have a couple of bugs in one or two missions. They should look fine in most of them though.
Lightspeed says he'll release a new dds set once support for that format is a little better and the black boxes will be gone forever :D
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Ok, on to the next thing.
In FRED, how do I set the sensor radius to only 10,000 Meters for Alpha's ship? If I figure it out eventually then dont feel bad. But thank god those black squares will be gone.
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Originally posted by Setekh
Perhaps RT should add a "turn on everything" checkbox, for the people who know they want it different.
I will think about putting that in.
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Cool, thanks dude. :)
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Originally posted by Setekh
Well, you know Mike, that would explain why I occasionally break out in Hebrew when I'm talking to my friends... :D
Mazal Tov! :p