Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => FS2 Open Coding - The Source Code Project (SCP) => Topic started by: Freespace Freak on August 17, 2006, 08:30:14 pm

Title: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 17, 2006, 08:30:14 pm
So, I can't play any cutscenes.  I did a quick search, and from 2004 someone asked the same question and the answer seemed to be you got to convert your movie files (I can't seem to find them in my Freespace 2 directory) to .avi.  I have no idea how to do that.  So, if I do such a thing, will my cutscenes work?  No extra coaxing necessary?
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Einstine909 on August 17, 2006, 08:50:49 pm
Welcome! ;7

because im too lazy ill spare u The Speach

well first of all did u DL the shivan SPS pack?

and if so u need the DivX codec
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Mars on August 17, 2006, 08:58:33 pm
(http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3749/welcomevp5.png)

Welcome to the HLP. Keep all your fingers and toes inside the installation at all times! Exits are located near the "rear" of the station, however, due to the fact that the airlocks are broken... well let's just say we're not going anywhere . Flamethrowers are located beneath seats, but due to the U.S. good-guy/bad-guy debate, GodTM, legalized flaming, ect. the napalm has been replaced with holy-water. Plasma rifles and shotguns are located in the weapons lockers, however, only the admins, :v:, and the hyperintellegent shade of blue have keys. At no point should you combine the symbols F S and 3, as you will be drowned in holy-water. If you should meet a Shivan in the airducts, give him your lunch and back away slowley. Strawmen may be constructed at any time on level one.

If you have any questions go to Karajorma's Freespace FAQ (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/FAQ/intro.html)
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Zacam on August 17, 2006, 11:15:43 pm
The latest builds (post 3.6.7 and I think even 3.6.7) will play the native MVE movies. You just have to make sure they're in the right spot. For FS2, that's data\movies. For FSPort, it'd be fsport\data\movies. For any other mod, that's up to the directions included with the mod.

For avi's, you need the Xvid or ffdshow codec installed (just pick one!).

Also, I'm pretty sure the 3.6.9's will also play the movies if the appropriate cd is in the drive for FS2, but I could be wrong and I've since storaged my cd's.

I'm also pretty sure that there are some issues with cutscenes under OpenGL, especially with Sync (non-MVE), but I think those got kiboshed in later builds. (RC's for 3.6.9). Under FSPort the only cutscene you should conceivably have is the final one (after you nail the Lucifer in the subspace tunnel.) Dunno about FS2, haven't yet played all the way through it as I'm debuging mission file inconsitancies and minor little nit-picks.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Dark Hunter on August 17, 2006, 11:44:51 pm
I'm also pretty sure that there are some issues with cutscenes under OpenGL, especially with Sync (non-MVE), but I think those got kiboshed in later builds. (RC's for 3.6.9). Under FSPort the only cutscene you should conceivably have is the final one (after you nail the Lucifer in the subspace tunnel.) Dunno about FS2, haven't yet played all the way through it as I'm debuging mission file inconsitancies and minor little nit-picks.


Sync had cutscenes? Now I'm a little..... angry.  :mad2:
Anywhere they can still be found?


As for FS2 cutscenes, the important ones are the Bosch monologues (I think there're 4), and the ending su-...... no, I won't spoil it for you, but believe me you want to see the ending cutscene. They cutscenes are located on the discs themselves, but if you got a download, your best bet is to look for a downloadable FS2 cutscene list. I think Karajorma's FAQ has links, they were down a long time, but recently I think they were fixed. A link to the FAQ can be found on the "Related Sites" tab at the top of the site.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Zacam on August 18, 2006, 02:00:27 am
Actually, I ment Transcend, my apologies.

It had _A_ cutscene like thing towards the end that wasn't....erm, yeah. I'm not explaining that one.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: karajorma on August 18, 2006, 03:16:55 am
Yep the FAQ has links to the movies Swantz is hosting now :)
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 18, 2006, 06:55:31 am
I'm also pretty sure that there are some issues with cutscenes under OpenGL, especially with Sync (non-MVE), but I think those got kiboshed in later builds. (RC's for 3.6.9). Under FSPort the only cutscene you should conceivably have is the final one (after you nail the Lucifer in the subspace tunnel.) Dunno about FS2, haven't yet played all the way through it as I'm debuging mission file inconsitancies and minor little nit-picks.


Sync had cutscenes? Now I'm a little..... angry.  :mad2:
Anywhere they can still be found?


As for FS2 cutscenes, the important ones are the Bosch monologues (I think there're 4), and the ending su-...... no, I won't spoil it for you, but believe me you want to see the ending cutscene. They cutscenes are located on the discs themselves, but if you got a download, your best bet is to look for a downloadable FS2 cutscene list. I think Karajorma's FAQ has links, they were down a long time, but recently I think they were fixed. A link to the FAQ can be found on the "Related Sites" tab at the top of the site.

No, I've had the game since '99.  Back in '01 the original discs got damaged and I thought I'd never be able to play them again, but I sent the discs off to Volition and they sent me brand new ones!  :pimp:   I've just waited till now to do the SCP thing.  I guess the multiplayer scene is only around here because I think Volition's server is gone, right?  Back in the day, I used to hang out with these dudes who called themselves the Beer Drinking Hell Raisers, but I never joined a squad, I always got slagged.

Anyway, I don't really *need* to see the cutscenes myself since I know what they are, I just want to have them cause I like them.  I'm also giving some of my friends copies of the game IAW the software liscence agreement, and I noticed that if you copy the disc, it won't play the cutscenes, even with vanilla FS2.  So, I'm using the SCP to not only give my friends a newer shinier version, but to also let them see the cutscenes. 

So, the cutscenes are on Disc 2 and 3.  I actually put the contents of these discs in seperate folders, and it's a good thing, the discs were starting to look pretty scratched.  I found out you can install the whole game from these folders, but the cutscenes won't play at all.  So, I guess I just take the movie files from the discs, and put them in the data folder in Freespace2?  No need to convert it to .avi or do anything with the SCP launcher?  I'll check the faq, though.  Thanks guys!
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 18, 2006, 07:59:39 am
Okay, so the .avi versions are not needed, right?  From what I'm reading, all I need to do is take the vanilla movie files from the discs (I think they're tagged .DDS) and just place them in the Freespace 2 folder, right?  No need to convert stuff to .avi or do anything with the settings in the launcher right?
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Dark Hunter on August 18, 2006, 09:12:14 am
.DDS is a texture/glowmap filetype. The movies should be in .MVE format.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 18, 2006, 09:30:36 am
.DDS is a texture/glowmap filetype. The movies should be in .MVE format.

Oops, I mean .MVE.  So, just drop em right into the FS2 folder and that should work, right?  I'm at work right now so I can't do that right this second, I just want to verify that I'm on the right track.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Wobble73 on August 18, 2006, 09:32:48 am
No drop them in Freespace/Data/Movies folder :)
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 18, 2006, 09:48:32 am
No drop them in Freespace/Data/Movies folder :)

Roger that.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Mobius on August 18, 2006, 11:51:51 am
If you have any questions go to Karajorma's Freespace FAQ (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/FAQ/intro.html)

I had to say this :D
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 18, 2006, 12:46:31 pm
No drop them in Freespace/Data/Movies folder :)

Okay, there was no "movies" folder in data folder, so I had to make one.  I dropped all my WME files in there, but it still doesn't work.  I hope we're talking about the same thing.  I was in C:\Games\FreeSpace2\data\movies.  I'll try renaming it with a capital M, but I doubt that'll do anything.  I'm guessing it won't play the intro when I load when I start the game, but it should play when I select it in the tech room, right?  I had to start a new pilot, so I can just play a little while until the next cutscene.  I'll check out that faq, I'll see if I can find the part that says "how to get the cutscenes to work in SCP."
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Mars on August 18, 2006, 01:35:03 pm
If you have any questions go to Karajorma's Freespace FAQ (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/FAQ/intro.html)

I had to say this :D

Uh... what?
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 18, 2006, 01:42:33 pm
If you have any questions go to Karajorma's Freespace FAQ (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/FAQ/intro.html)

I had to say this :D

Uh... what?

Actually, that link was great!  It should be stickied!  Awesome.  Now I can play my cutscenes.  BTW, I thought 3.6.7 was the most recent build?  So why does it only read .AVI Files?
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Mars on August 18, 2006, 01:56:46 pm
I've said that before... but the Karajorma's FAQ is under the "Related Sites" tab at the top right, which I guess will have to do.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: karajorma on August 18, 2006, 02:35:11 pm
3.6.7 can't read MVE files cause :v: had to rip the mve code out for licensing reasons when they gave us the code. 3.6.9 are able to because new code was added to play them. Although 3.6.9 isn't out yet the Release Candidates leading up to it are available from the recent builds forum.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Mobius on August 18, 2006, 05:51:36 pm
Because Karajorma's my mentor,I should introduce ihis FreeSpace FAQ :lol:
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 18, 2006, 10:00:40 pm
So far, so good.  Everything works good right now.  The only thing I can think of that seems a little off is that all the models (ships, fighters, whatever) seem very dark, like they're not very well illuminated.  Has anyone else noticed this?  What do I do to correct this?
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Dark Hunter on August 18, 2006, 11:13:51 pm
No that's working just fine. The way FS2 works is that the only light comes from in-game, i.e, from the in-mission sun(s). I don't like it either (great for pics, but not for casual playing), so just turn the brightness up a bit (Options menu). That should make things easier to see.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 18, 2006, 11:26:17 pm
No, it was something else, but I fixed it.  Basically, I just unistalled everything, including removing the entire FS2 folder, and installed everything from scratch again. This time I installed the .vp files one at a time and checked it out.  Perhaps I had two incapatible .vp files installed simultaneously, I'm thinking mv_effects and mv_adveffects.  Anyway, it looks pretty and bright now.  Everything is working perfectly at this point.  Thanks for the help!   :yes:
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Dark Hunter on August 18, 2006, 11:27:51 pm
mv_effects and mv_adveffects shouldn't mess each other up... but I'm glad it's working, whatever it was that was wrong!  :yes:
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 18, 2006, 11:48:43 pm
mv_effects and mv_adveffects shouldn't mess each other up... but I'm glad it's working, whatever it was that was wrong!  :yes:

You're right.  I installed adveffects and it works.  Maybe it's because I didn't use WinRAR to install initially, but now that I've unistalled, then reinstalled everything properly, it's all good.  It looks really great!
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 19, 2006, 11:55:22 pm
I found out what was causing my FS2 game models to have dim textures, it has something to do with the Babylon Project.  When I was having a problem with my game, I deinstalled everything, including TBP, and reinstalled everything fresh one by one.  Everything was fine until I install TBP, somehow it's causing the FS2 game to be all dark.  Well, the planets and stars and nebula 'background models' are bright and fine, it's just every 3D model is dim and hard to see, from fighters to capital ships.  I don't know why.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Dark Hunter on August 20, 2006, 12:10:28 am
You don't have anything from TBP in your main folder do you? Cause that's a definite no-no.

If not, I have no idea why this is happening. Can someone with experience in total conversions look at this?
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: karajorma on August 20, 2006, 02:22:52 am
Post your command line (The grayed out box on the features tab of the launcher).
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 20, 2006, 06:27:17 pm
Post your command line (The grayed out box on the features tab of the launcher).

I already uninstalled TBP, but I'm installing the Freespace port.  If the same problem happens again, I'll let you know.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Dark Hunter on August 20, 2006, 09:41:06 pm
I just had an idea! (we need a light bulb smiley....)

The "TBP toggle" in the launcher. You do turn that off when you play non-TBP stuff don't you.
Title: Re: Really newb question (Don't hurt me please!!)
Post by: Freespace Freak on August 20, 2006, 10:18:35 pm
I just had an idea! (we need a light bulb smiley....)

The "TBP toggle" in the launcher. You do turn that off when you play non-TBP stuff don't you.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that.  I did have it turned off.  For now, I'd like to put this TBP causing dark models question on hold.  I'll try to figure it out after I've satisfied myself with SCP, FS1port, and FSU stuff.  Whatever it is the TBP that's causing dark models is also doing the same in TBP itself, I think.  I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to be that dark.  In the mean time, the only problem I've encountered lately is white boxes sometimes appearing during subspace warp animations.  It's not a consistant problem or a major one at this point, though.