Hard Light Productions Forums
Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => FS2 Open Coding - The Source Code Project (SCP) => Topic started by: Fat Zombie on February 23, 2006, 01:21:55 pm
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Hi. I'd like to introduce myself; I first heard properly about Freespace two and your project a month or so ago, through a PCGamer article. Recently, I managed to install a copy of the game, and it is brilliant!
So then I decided to try out your mod. At first it seemed very confusing (a suggestion: perhaps every so often, release the mod in a single zip, launcher/executable/vp files included?), but I reckon I worked it out. However, I have two questions to ask:
1. Having installed the mod to what I think is completely (executable, launcher, vp files), I started it up. However, after playing a couple of missions, I realised that while there a couple of noticeable differences (3D sub-space warp and the 3d radar being most of them), there didn't seem to be much of a difference, at least not on a par with your screenshots. I am on the first few missions at the moment; will the visuals improve as I play on?
2. One thing I did to check for improvements was to look at the exterior of the ships, both ones I was fighting and the ones I were flying. Through this, I didn't notice any real difference; the ships had none of the speculars, glowmaps or mip-mapped textures described in the mod.
So far, I have played with the Myrmidon and Hercules mk 2; these, despite being the two first (and as far as I am aware, only) ships you pilot, had none of the graphical update I had expected. Yet a ship such as the Hercules, while being a predecessor to my current ship, has been massively upgraded with hi-poly models and textures. Why is this?
Before you ask, I have extracted the vp files into my root folder. I have selected and applied the various graphical features on the launcher. And I have a system capasble of handling these updates:
So why don't they show?
I hope for an answer to my query. Thank you for the brilliant mod so far.
-Fat Zombie
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Check my FAQ for a guide on how to install FS2_Open. That way you can check if you did everything right :)
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Check my FAQ for a guide on how to install FS2_Open. That way you can check if you did everything right :)
Okay. I've done what is said on the wiki. I forgot to extract the textures vp, so the textures are better.
HOWEVER. Now, when I attempt to continue my original campaign, it ctd's halfway through loading. Any ideas why?
EDIT: I moved the media vps into a new folder, basically.
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Where did you move the vp archives to?
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Where did you move the vp archives to?
vp archives? If you mean the vp files (textures, effects, core, etc.) I moved them to a seperate folder (mediavps).
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's what I meant. They're vp files technically, but all they are are large archives..... but I digress.
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's what I meant. They're vp files technically, but all they are are large archives..... but I digress.
So why do you ask? Does anyone have any ideas?
EDIT: Tried it without the "Mod" (mediavps). Worked. Hmmm.
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well, if your intention is to just play the main campaign with the enhanced graphics, you might as well leave the media vp's in the root (games\freespace 2\ )folder. It only gets interesting when you have more than one mod you want to use at a time...
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You should also put them in mediavps if you intend to play FS2 Retail or multiplayer with someone not using them as it makes it so much easier to do that. It also makes the kind of troubleshooting step that Fat Zombie just tried to turn off the media VPs as simple as a single button click.
EDIT: Tried it without the "Mod" (mediavps). Worked. Hmmm.
That basically means that one of your media VPs is causing the problem. The first thing I would suggest that you try is to create a new pilot and see if you can load a mission with it.
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You should also put them in mediavps if you intend to play FS2 Retail or multiplayer with someone not using them as it makes it so much easier to do that.
I seem to have discovered that textures_vp is the problem. Without it, it works fine. (But a bit choppy, even with just specular and glowmaps on; it ran fine before)
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I'm surprised that is the culprit. It's not got anything that should cause you problems.
Which build of FS2_Open are you using?
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Which mediavps (version, like 3.6.7) have you installed? Which build are you using?
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Okay. I'm using the standard, 3.6.5 build of fs2 open.
I got the vps from the download section on the Source Code website.
Also, for the choppiness: it judders. It's like bits of high fps alternating with low fps.
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Okay. I'm now trying out fs2_open_G-20050728.exe
This works a bit less juddery. But when I quite, it ends with a "Fs2 had to close" thingy. odd.
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GOOD-AGE!!
I tried the texture vp with the current build, and it works! And it doesn't seem to be that choppy any more. :D
Now i'm going to try the env-map feature. Cross fingers!
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Current build? From recent builds thread? And are you using OGL or DX?
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Well, it worked!! TEH SHINYZORZ!!!1one (sorry)
This is such a cool game. I'm currently on mission... uh... the one where you have to destroy the Rhama? Big ship? In nebula?
Anyway. I'm using D3d, with the Goober 5000 build.
ONE THING THOUGH: When I play this game, I think that the music off of Lylat Wars (Starfox 64 for Americans) would suit it perfectly.
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Or you could simply play the Starfox mod (http://www.game-warden.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=16) when it's finished :)
Oh and it's the Ravana :D
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Ah, ravana. That's it.
And WOOOAAAAHH!!! STARFOX!! :D
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ONE MORE THEEENG!!
Yes, it looks nice and spangly. But I looked at the Lysander, and it looked nothing as shiny as this:
SHINY (http://fs2source.warpcore.org/wmcscreenies/deimos.png)
I'm in the nebula right now. Will it improve when i'm out? Or do I need something else?
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Probably yes :) Been a while since I've actually done a nebula missions :nervous: But you'll see much more detail once you are out of it ;)
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Okey then. Thanks!
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Have you enabled the graphical features from the launcher? Like -spec and -glow? Have you tried adding -ambient factor 75 to the command line (launchers custom flags under features tab).
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Which version of the mediaVPs are you using?
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I'm using the media vps from the official source code website. These Ones (http://scp.indiegames.us/download.php?list.2).
Have you enabled the graphical features from the launcher? Like -spec and -glow? Have you tried adding -ambient factor 75 to the command line (launchers custom flags under features tab).
Luckily, the mission right after the Ravana one is both in space, and has a Deimos in it. But it still isn't shiny.
To answer your questions, I have enabled the specular and glowmaps from the launcher. I haven't tried the ambient light levels though.
A creeping suspicion envelops me, that I will shortly embarrass myself: Would I need mv_adveffects for the shiny effects? Because I think that's one of the only ones I haven't installed.
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Anyway. I'm using D3d, with the Goober 5000 build.
Bet you that you're using an ATI card right? There's a long standing bug with FS2_Open and ATI cards that causes the shine maps not to work. No one really cares particularly cause if it works you should be using OpenGL instead anyway as it is much more heavily supported and optimised than D3D.
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Oh? Really?
Okay then. Are there any bugs with Opengl though? Because apart from that, i've experienced no bugs with the game under D3D. (And yes, I am using an Ati card)
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I can't say that there are no bugs in OpenGL but then again I can't say that there are less in D3D.
Give it a try and see if it works. It works better for most people since Taylor is a bug fixing machine and he works pretty much exclusively with OpenGL.
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Okay, so it worked. And it is pretty sexy.
But then, after a Freespace-minimising incident (I play it in a window), it started crashing with the textures vp. After a long and complicated thingy, i'm now running it in D3D again. The reasons being:
1. In opengl, when any pop-up windows appear (pause menu, things like that) the background goes bright green.
2. Also in opengl, when I try to open my campaign with the textures.vp being used, it crashes.
So far, D3D is working fine. Any idea what's wrong?
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So you are using the old goobs build, not the recent CVS build? Can you post the name of the exe file you are using?
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So you are using the old goobs build, not the recent CVS build? Can you post the name of the exe file you are using?
I'm using fs2_open_G-20050728.exe. That right? I heard the CVS builds, being released weekly, had less time for bug-testing. I just want to play the game, not become a beta tester. Sorry if that sounds rude.
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What you have is basically a CVS build from before they were called that by everyone.
3.6.7 Official is the last release build.
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What you have is basically a CVS build from before they were called that by everyone.
3.6.7 Official is the last release build.
Oh. Okay then! Will I need to download anything else along with it?
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Ah. I've tried it with the latest build: It still crashes with Opengl when I try to access the campaign.
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Hmmm. Make a new pilot and try again. If that doesn't work we're going to have to try a reinstall following the information in my FAQ most likely.
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There might be some problems using the latest build (20060226). See thread (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,38602.0.html). Perhaps 20060224 (http://fs2source.warpcore.org/exes/latest/February2006/20060224-redmenace.rar) might be bit more functional.
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Strange... it's working now again with opengl. It's quite tempermental.
Not that it helps. The mission i'm on right now is impossible. It's the one where you have to first destroy the escorts for the two NTF cruisers so that the bombers can attack them. It's the second wing of escorts that prove impossible: they won't leave the safety of the two huge-tastic cruisers with anti-fighter beams. I always die.
Can someone help?
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yeah, after the first wave, tell your wingmen to guard your cruiser. fly straight at an enemy cruiser. When you get close enough to be in missle range (and use a missle with >1000m range), shoot, turn 180 degrees, and haul ass back to your fleet. If you have the cruiser dead centered in your reticle, you don't even have to wait for missle lock. When the missle hits, all the remaining escort fighters will come out to kill you. wait by your friendly cruiser and wingmen and engage when they are in range.
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What difficulty level are you on?
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Ah? Thank you Bfobar.
I think I am on either easy or medium.
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Dodging the AAAf beams on the cruisers is key. If you can pop in and out of a beam turret's field of view before it can warm up, it won't be able to get a shot off and thus no damage. I think you might be able to dodge AAAf beams by careful afterburner timing, too.
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Well, thanks to the advice, I passed it. I also realised that once you've destroyed the escort wing, you can sit out of range of the enemies, and watch the show. And I got a medal for it.
I'm currently on the covert mission after it. It's less hard.
(ALSO: something wrong with the orion: Bits missing from it)
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Well, thanks to the advice, I passed it. I also realised that once you've destroyed the escort wing, you can sit out of range of the enemies, and watch the show. And I got a medal for it.
I'm currently on the covert mission after it. It's less hard.
(ALSO: something wrong with the orion: Bits missing from it)
If I remember the words of the guru's correctly, make sure -jpgtga is turned on and -img2dds is turned off in the launcher check boxes.
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If I remember the words of the guru's correctly, make sure -jpgtga is turned on and -img2dds is turned off in the launcher check boxes.
Yeah, that's right. I haven't been able to check it though.
Also: I'm starting to try multiplayer. I've used the SCP's guide to setting up multiplayer, and i've followed all the steps, but when I try to connect to the FS2DNet server, it fails. Any ideas why? I'm using a wireless network.
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Try the guide I linked to in the gameplay section of my FAQ. Somethings may have been updated since the one on the SCP site was written.
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Try the guide I linked to in the gameplay section of my FAQ. Somethings may have been updated since the one on the SCP site was written.
Ah, it appears I require a multiplayer config file. Downloading.
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Huh. It's working now, but every time I try, it times out while retrieving pilot data. :(
Any ideas why? The internet works fine.
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Hmm, something else. Sorry to bother you lot, but for some reason, now when I go to the briefing, weapons don't display their rate of fire, power usage, lock-on time, etc. Any ideas why?