Well, I decided to try out FS2 and it isn't going too well. I used the java based downloader from here:
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,42854.0.html and then after a few hours of downloading, I use the launcher to try to run the game, and then...
Error:
Web cursor bitmap not found. This is most likely due to one of three reasons:
1) You're running FreeSpace Open from somewhere other than your FreeSpace 2 folder;
2) You've somehow corrupted your FreeSpace 2 installation;
3) You haven't installed FreeSpace 2 at all.
Number 1 can be fixed by simply moving the FreeSpace Open executable file to the FreeSpace 2 folder. Numbers 2 and 3 can be fixed by installing or reinstalling FreeSpace 2. If neither of these solutions fixes your problem, you've found a bug and should report it.
File:J:\src\cvs\fs2_open_3_6_9.final\code\Graphics\2d.cpp
Line: 1526
[This filename points to the location of a file on the computer that built this executable]
Call stack:
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, I use Windows XP, 3g of RAM, twin Nvidia 8600s in SLI... if there is any other info needed, please ask.