[karajorma]

As part of the work I'm doing on FAQ v2.0 I figured I'd finally try downloading the HotU build an install it on my second computer so that for the first time I could actually try to troubleshoot with an actual copy of the files at hand.

While whoever did the rip originally did a pretty good job I can see some changes I would make in order to make the build better suited to the current state of affairs and also to make it easier to upgrade to the full version.  (putting the contents of Data into a VP for instance would make upgrading MUCH easier).

The thing is that I don't remember who made the rip (I think it might have been Stryke 9 but I forgot to keep the readme so I can check) but I vaguely remember them saying that they were planning a second rip so I think it's a good idea to find out who that is and have a chat with them to see if this is worth doing first before I get in contact with Underdogs over this.

[StratComm]

Stryke was responsible for the upload, but not the rip.  It could indeed be optimized a great deal, but since a new version hasn't appeared in the last year I don't think anyone's working on one.  I'd imagine you'd rather remove the cutscenes entirely along with maybe music, and replace that with sparky_hi_fs2.vp?  Since most of the rest of the files can come out of the media VPs anyway?

[karajorma]

I'd suggest getting a version of Tom's Old build that plays movies if that was possible and including the avi versions. That way people could go straight from HotU to playing online but wouldn't end up being completely confused by the ending of FS2 (which without the cutscenes is really abrupt!).  I'd ditch the cutscenes completely but it's a bad idea to bank on Kosh's server staying up permanently.

The space saved from that might be enough to squeeze sparky_Hi in but even if it wasn't making sure that HotU ships with the v1.2 files rather than the v1.0 versions it ships with now would cut out one big headache that lots of people have to deal with by getting them from the FTP.  

Trying to ship with a intact VP files whereever possible would also cut down on the traffic the FTP has.

A link or better yet a copy of the HotU page of my FAQ in the download would be a good idea too so that people don't have to go back to HotU just to find out where to get the files from.

[MatthewPapa]

Well, ive got approximately 2.2 gigs of high speed webspace with 120 gigs of transfer a month that could be utilized for either the VP files or the new rip should we need it.

Also my thoughts....

I think it might be a good idea to include a 3.6.5 build  such as taylor's T-20050103 which is THE MOST stable SCP build that there ever has been made in my opinion for multi and single. On top of that we could include some of the smaller effects and nebulas.

[karajorma]

I think it would be a better idea to include links to the SCP rather than including a build.

Firstly the HotU version would have to run retail (which basically means that none of the media.vp files could be included). The problem with that is that basically it wouldn't look any better than retail and you run the risk of it having bugs in it.

Secondly including the SCP increases the complexity of the HotU package (more exes than before two different exes which appear to do the same thing etc. )

All in all I think a simple "Why you should get FS2_Open" link which links to a bunch of FS2_Open screenshots should be more than enough to convince people why they should get it.

Thanks for the offer of space though. I would certainly like to link to Game Warden as a site to get the VP files from.

[Dark RevenantX]

I agree with Karajorama.  There should be a webpage with a few screenshots of the "before" running freespace 2 with max settings, and the "after" running freespace 2 oopen with maximum settings and effects enabled.  It blows your mind of the difference.  Sorry for some of these typos, as my computer is snail-slow even with typing.  God, these posing areas shouldn't be loaded with all these images.

[WMCoolmon]

Before:


After:

[Carl]

errr, it should be in the same position and size.