I know this probably isn't going to be any use to anyone and/or won't be seen much, but it needs to be said. I NEED to express the appreciation and admiration I've had for the FS series since all the way back in 1999. That game was what got me into video games! I was just 6 when I played it the first time, and whilst at that age my mission procedure consisted of mashing H followed by C-3-1, I still had a blast. I came back to FS properly in 2007 (but I'd had several mini-relapses a few times before that) and bought FS2. Loved it. THEN I heard about FSO. And over the past three years, I've come back periodically to download the latest VPs and play with improved graphics and gameplay. And whilst I feel FSPort is still slightly inferior to the original game, it's more than done it justice. FreeSpace was the first of the three greatest game series I ever played, and whilst the fact that FS3 never got released is disappointing, it allows for a myriad of speculation and theorizing which is fitting for a storyline of such epic magnitude. My two most memorable moments (one from each game):
FS1:
"McCarthy, you are ordered to power down!"
"I answer to a higher authority!"
"Fire at will, pilots!"
Exhilirating, chilling, f***ing brilliant!
FS2:
"DIVE, DIVE, DIVE, HIT YOUR BURNERS, PILOT!"
I refused to wait 15 minutes to change my shorts.
FS is ingrained into my memory with awesomeness. The look of the Apollo reminds me of the simpler days of childhood spent playing FreeSpace. The sound of a capital ship warping in still fills me with fear as I remember the Lucifer in Playing Judas.
I despair that I can't contribute to the FS community, but at least for now, it must remain so. I just want you guys to know that your efforts over the past decade have been amazing, and the fact that you have persisted all these years is inspiring. Know this: whilst I'm not particularly active, I'll always check in amidst the business of life to see what you guys are up to, and I'll try my best to keep up to date. Keep going. I love you all.
CommanderDJ
