[Conniver]

Hi all!

While perusing Gamespot's "The Greatest Games of All Time" section a couple of days ago I came across "FreeSpace 2". I had never heard of it and was rather surprised that a space combat sim had made it into that list. I remember playing "Wing Commander" back in the day and enjoying it immensely but after that I can't recall having ever played another worthwhile space combat sim (not that I played many). Anyway, I did a bit of Googling and found this amazing FreeSpace community where I found "Turey's FreeSpace Open Installer" which I used to install FreeSpace 2 (and lots of extras if I'm not mistaken).

I had a slight problem with a "missing required 1024x768 interface art" error but got that fixed after finding and downloading the "sparky_hi_fs1.vp" file (it replaced the one that was already in the fsport folder,).

I think I've gotten the "FS2 Open Launcher 5.5a" working correctly since I've been able to get into the game and finish the Training Missions. The only problem I had was some skipped speech in the last Training Mission Briefing but I'm not bothered with that. It could be because I've selected to use my "SB Audigy 4" card as my "OpenAL Sound Device" rather than the suggested "Generic Software". The music and every other sound has been fine though so it may be something else.

Under the "MOD" Tab in the "FS2 Launcher" I'm running the FreeSpace 1 MOD (or at least I think I am). Of the four Campaigns available (Awakenings, The Main FreeSpace Campaign, FreeSpace2 and Silent Threat) I'm playing The Main FreeSpace Campaign. As far as I understand this is the original FreeSpace using the FreeSpace 2 engine. I'd like to begin at the beginning so please correct me if I should start somewhere else.

I'm using a Saitek Cyborg Evo Joystick to play the game (I'm a lefty and Saitek is one of the few to support our dissability). This is where I could use some basic rookie help. I have a Primary Fire button (no help needed here), an 8-hat switch button and 6 other buttons available for my thumb. I could use some help assigning these buttons to some basic commands. The base buttons and throttle on the base of my joystick I will leave untouched since my other hand needs to be on the keyboard, at least it seems so to me since there are dozens of commands available that I can't possibly all map to my joystick. So what commands would you suggest a rookie like myself map to my joystick buttons?

Thanks,
-Con

[Shade]

First of all, welcome to HLP, and congratulations on discovering FS2 There's a reason it made that list, and that reason is that it's quite possibly the best spacesim ever made. So if the genre is to your liking you've got something to look forward to.

As for your questions, lets take them in order:

The main Freespace campaign is where you should start if you want to play in order. After that Silent Threat, and finally the Freespace 2 campaign. Be aware though that Silent Threat (an expansion to FS1) was rather rushed and buggy, so it may be a bit frustrating at times - Fortunately the two true main campaigns do not suffer from this. Awakenings is a fan-made campaign and as such does not figure into the official timeline, meaning you can pretty much play it whenever you like, though I'd personally wait at least until after finishing the FS1 campaign.

As for buttons, it's hard to say what is 'optimal' as this will inevitably vary with personal preference. Also, you should know that since FS2 is a rather dated game by now (though with vastly upgraded visuals due to the efforts taking place here), it does not support all the functions and buttons available on modern joysticks. I know it supports up to 4 buttons, a 4-way hat switch and a throttle for sure, but above that, no guarentees. This will change eventually with the code upgrades underway, but for now, what you get is what you get.

So anyway, here is the setup tend I use for SP games:
Button 1 - Fire primary (guns)
Button 2 - Fire secondary (missiles)
Button 3 - Target nearest hostile
Button 4 - Launch countermeasure
Hat Forward - Target object in reticle
Hat left/right - View left/right
Hat backwards - Transfer energy from weapons to shields

I sometimes think about mapping afterburners to a joystick button since I tend to miss the tab key when I'm panicking, and I've also sometimes had left/right-hat mapped to rolling, so that might be worth experimenting with also. But above all, experiment, and find something that suits you - Especially as I've been told before that my setup is downright weird

I guess that about covers it. Enjoy your stay, and don't be afraid to ask if anything else comes up - We aim to please

[karajorma]

One other warning. Don't try to play the main FS2 campaign without quiting the game and choosing mediavps as your mod. It probably won't work while FSPort is your mod.

[jr2]

One other warning. Don't try to play the main FS2 campaign without quiting the game and choosing mediavps as your mod. It probably won't work while FSPort is your mod.

[BlueFlames]

I'm using a Saitek Cyborg Evo Joystick to play the game (I'm a lefty and Saitek is one of the few to support our dissability). This is where I could use some basic rookie help.

Though I'm right-handed myself, I've got the same joystick with a configuration something like this....

Button 1 -- Fire Primary
Button 2 -- Target Nearest Hostile
Button 3 -- Fire Secondary
Button 4 -- Drop Countermeasure
Button 5 -- Switch Primary
Button 6 -- Switch Secondary
Right Shift (on stick) -- Engage Subspace Drive
Hat Switch -- Look up/left/right/back for up/left/right/down respectively (nothing on diagonals)
Pad / -- Target Ship on Escort List
Pad * -- Target Next Bomb/Bomber (This key is doomed to crumble.)
Pad - -- Target Subsystem Under Reticle
Pad + -- Target Nearest Friendly
Pad Enter -- Engage Afterburner
Pad . -- Toggle Single/Double-Fire Secondaries
Pad 0 -- Open Comm Window
Pad 1 -- Toggle Auto-Target
Pad 2 -- <Unmapped> (I'm going to have to do something about that....)
Pad 3 -- Toggle Auto-Speed
Pad 4 -- Transfer Energy Shields -> Weapons
Pad 5 -- Decelerate
Pad 6 -- Transfer Energy Weapons -> Shields
Pad 7 -- Equalize Shields
Pad 8 -- Accelerate
Pad 9 -- Target Ship Under Reticle

If I became left-handed overnight, I'd mirror the controls on my joystick and either adjust how I have my joystick and keyboard setup on the table or move all the controls from the number pad to the vicinity of WADS.

Anyway, best of luck to you.

[Wobble73]

I use a gamepad with eleven buttons and all are supported within FreeSpace2. I would recommend mapping the afterburner to one of your buttons if at all possible. You'll need it to evade missiles and such!

And!!............................................

[TrashMan]

Welecome...enjoy the new goodies SCP has brought us, but remember that the main FS2 campaign isn't using half of them.

Once you're done with the main campaign, grab hold of some of the amazing work that has been done.. You have your choice of great campaigns:
- Derelict
- Sync
- Transcend
- Into the Depths of Hell
- Deus Ex Machina
- Just Another Day
- Procyon Insurgency
- Shivan Campaign
- Workings of the Warp
- Awakenings
- Cleaning Crew
- Twilights
- Solar Wars
- Flames of War
- Shrouding the Light
- homesick
etc..

And many more

[Wobble73]

Allow me to tramslate that for you 

Wlweomce.Welcome.enjoy the new goodies SCP has brought us, but reemeber remember that hte mina the main FS2 campaigns insn't isn't using half of them.

Once you'r you are or you're done with the main campaign, grab hold of some of hte the amazing work that has been done.. You have your chouce choice of great campaigns:
- Derelict
- Sync
- Trascend Transcend
- Into the Depths of Hell
- Deus Ex Machina
- Just Another Day
- Procyion Procyon Insurgency
- Shivan Campaign
- Workings of the Warp
- Awakenings
- Cleaning Crew
- Twilights
- Solar Wars
- Flames of War
- Shrouding the Light
- homesick
etc..

And many more

 

Sorry Trashman. 

[TrashMan]

Damn speed typos...
I knew I should have checked...


fixed..

[Roanoke]

that's not funny. that's just annoying.

[jr2]

Allow me to streamline that for you

Allow me to tramslate that for you 

Wlweomce.Welcome.enjoy the new goodies SCP has brought us, but reemeber remember that hte mina the main FS2 campaigns insn't isn't using half of them.

Once you'r you are or you're done with the main campaign, grab hold of some of hte the amazing work that has been done.. You have your chouce choice of great campaigns:
...
- Trascend Transcend
...
- Procyion Procyon Insurgency
...
And many more

 

Sorry Trashman. 

Sorry Wobble

[Conniver]

Thanks for the headsup karajorma, that's the kind of thing that could frustrate the heck out of me. I can picture myself going insane trying to play the FS2 Campaign using the FSPort Mod when all I'd have to do is select the mediavps folder as my Mod instead. I'll store that one for future reference.

And thanks for the tips as well Shade, especially the tip about using the hat switch for something other than looking around. I may get rid of look left/right as well.
That leads to another question: How useful is it to be able to look around quickly using the hat switch? Do you guys find there's a need for that often?

BlueFlames, I like your NumPad setup. It's a nice place to have some of the other often used commands organized.

The afterburner was automatically mapped to one of my buttons but thanks for the tip and the welcome anyway Wobble73. And let's not forget your translation.

Nice list of campaigns TrashMan. Thanks, I'll be sure to check them out when I've played through the original campaigns.

And thanks jr2 for your "Turey's FS Open Installer Walkthrough". It's what I used to get this great game running.

[Mongoose]

Here's an alternate setup that I use for my Cyborg Evo.  It requires keeping both hands on the joystick while playing, but just about anything that you'll need to use on a frequent basis in-game is mapped, so I don't see it as a real hindrance:

X/Y/Z axes -- turn left/right, pitch, roll respectively
Throttle -- throttle
Button 1 (trigger) -- Primary weapons
Button 2 -- Secondary weapons
Button 3 -- Target nearest hostile
Button 4 -- Target ship in reticle
Button 5 -- Target nearest attacking ship
Button 6 -- Equalize shields
Hat switch -- look up/down/left/right
Left "shift" button on base -- Afterburner
F1 button on base -- Target nearest bomb/bomber (invaluable for escort missions)
F2 button on base -- Launch countermeasures

I find that I don't use anything else all that frequently, so I just leave the rest assigned to the default keys.  Obviously, your mileage may vary depending on your playing style, so you'll probaby find one or two of those as not being all that useful to you.