[Cyker]

First bit of post is a request for enlightnment, the second part is a quasi-bug report

First of all - Which one is the latest version?!
I have managed to DL all these files from various places (Which I can't remember):

+ fs2_open-01_20_2004.zip
+ fs2_open-03_05_2004.zip
+ latestrelease.zip (is a 3.5.5, support -t32,-htl; Does NOT support -jpgtga, -spec, -glow.)
+ fs2_open_r.rar (is also a 3.5.5, supports -jpgtga, -spec, -glow; Does NOT support -htl ?!)

And then there's all this stuff:
FS2_new_weapon_FX_v0.2e.zip
Launcher4.rar
mediavp356c.exe
TGA_Planets_FS2_v2.0.zip

Now, the Launcher4 seems to be the latest since unlike the fs2_open's there are only a few, and that has the highest number and no variants, but it doesn't seem to be 100% compatible with any of the fs2_open builds: They all either complain that -htl is not supported or that -spec and -glow are not supported!


I have tried all 4, and they seem mostly similar as far as I can tell - one seems to look like the original FS2 whereas the other 3 look absolutly gorgeous. One also had this weird bug where waving your mouse over the Enter Mission hatch made it go all psychodelic now-and-again.

However they all crash at some point: I have played, at best, 2 and a half missions with each one before it just quits unexpectedly.

Additionally, the game 'pauses' a lot - usually when a large ship re-enters the viewpoint. It feels a lot like when I used to play FS2 on a Voodoo1 - the game would jerk like hell whenever a (large) ship re-entered the view because of the texture swapping.

Occasionally there will be a 'big' jerk, usually when a) a Large ship is entering and b) A voice is playing, and 9 times out of 10 I will get 1-2 more frames out of the game then it crashes back to the desktop.

I tried installing FS2 to see if something's gotten corrupted on my Windows 2000 side (The install on my Win98SE side has been there for the better part of 4 years now I think ), but it still did the same thing.

[.::Tin Can::.]

Let's try and start from the top:

1)You install fs2_open files (all three of them) to your primary FS2 directory, yes?

2) You place the Launcher 4 in the main FS2 directory, yes?

3) You install media.vp into your main, FS2 directory, yes?

4) Things like the weapons upgrades and planet upgrades are confusing to most new guys. But, it IS easy to fix. First, put all the things from the planet upgrade RIGHT into your data folder. Then, make a new folder in your FS2 directory called "enhanced" just to keep things organized. Plop all the objects from the fx upgrades into that folder, and then open up the Launcher 4.

5) Do the following:

a) go to Flags
b) checkmark -htl, -spec, -pcx32, and -jpgtga
c) erase anything in the "Custom Flags" box
d) Enter this into the custom flags type box:

1A) -spec_exp 11 -spec_point 0.3 -spec_static 0.5 -spec_tube 0.05

e) Configure your video tab.
f) Go back to the flags tab, and then hit the "Select MOD" button.
g) navigate until you find your FS2 directory, and open up the "enhanced" folder you added, with all the fx upgrades in it. All you have to do it just click the "enhanced" folder and click OK. Then, hit "run."

That is all you need to do. If you did all of this, then there should be NO problem.

[Flipside]

There are several builds of the game in circulation at any one time, usually your best bet is tolook in the 'What are the latest builds of everything?' thread in the Source code project forum. This will provide you with links to most of the stuff you need

-htl recently changed to -nohtl, that's why it is not understood, the -spec and -glow have changed recently too For the latest version of the launcher, look in the siggy of Random Tiger. Though I know RT is busy bug-squashing at the moment, so there still might be a couple of things that don't quite add up, but expect a new version soon

Are you playing standard FS2 missions or mods and does FS2 produce any kind of message when it crashes?

[jdjtcagle]

checkmark -htl...

You don't checkmark this on the newer builds
and you would probally want the thrusters that lightspeed and bobboau made, they are in the latest versions of everything thread

EDIT:  about the checkmark -htl, sorry for repeating Flipside's post didn't read it...

[Shinobi]

Installation Guide

[Cyker]

Hoo! Thanks for such a quick reply

You haven't specificed *which* fs2_open (Which is still pretty much the crux of my problem I think...), but here's what I have done:

1) Using fs2_open-03_05_2004.zip, as this *appears* to be the latest, unpacked 2 exes (retail, debug, no fred)
2) Unpacked Launcher4.rar and mediavp356c.exe (MediaVP is named fs2_open356.vp and is over 100MB; Is the name ok or do I need to rename it to media.vp?)
3) Leaving out the weapon FX for now
4) Unpacked planets TGAs; In DATA\EFFECTS

5) Tapped in all that other stuff into the Launcher

6) Get an error box saying it doesn't know what -spec, then -pcx32, then -jpgtga are, and do I want to launch a debugger or exit....
Cleared those flags, ran it, worked pretty much like before, crashed in the middle of the third mission I played.

The crashes seem to happen when everything is 'busy', e.g. lots of dodging antics on my part (Hammering Tab and X while waggling the stick like crazy ) combined with lots of ship movement and voice acting.

EDIT -> Reason for problems in 6) was I was still using the latestbuild.exe (Which clearly it isnt ), because I am an idiot and forgot to aim Launcher.exe at thr right exe
Did it with the other 'latest' build; All params worked (Except for -htl, but now I know why ). Still crashed 'tho...

[Cyker]

... and 3 more replies in the time it took me to write that... I need new fingers

Okay - Shin, thanks for the Installation Guide link, but that's what started me off on this merry chase! I got most of the packages from there, but the fs2_open listed there appears to be out of date?

The installation guide itself seems to be a bit 'aged', but it's gotten me as far as I have so far

Thanks flip and jd for the heads-up on the -htl. Is there an *up-to-date* list of the parameters some place? (Probably not that helpful since all the builds seem to use different params!! )

Re. the crashes - No error messages, just a sudden black-screen (because of the video card+monitor resyncing from 640x480 to 800x600) and then I'm back at my desktop!
Oh, and another nice entry in the FS2 errorlog.txt

It's still possible it may be something else - will try a total clean install with no recycled pilots/squad images/etc. when I have more time to mess about with it more.

[Flipside]

Does the game just crash to desktop when it goes, or does it produce any kind of error? <--- Ignore that, you replied while I was

Also, could you post your system stats, FSO is a fair bit hungrier than the original, it could be a virtual mem problem.

As for 'latest version', if you look in the forum titled 'Recent SCP Builds', you'll notice there are quite a few versions around, which is why no-ones giving you a direct answer to that I would say the one you are using should be pretty much the latest definite release.

It sounds very much like memory problems with either your GCard or Virtual memory, I know there is still some work to do by the SCP guys, and that memory handling is one of the things they are looking at. Try it with just the standard FS2 VP's and see if it runs ok with just those?

[Lightspeed]

Cyker you're my perfect test target.

Check this linky

Is it moderately helpful?

Also, add "-ambient_factor 75" to your command line (new builds will accept it and it'll look great).

I think the build that "looked like normal FS2" was the newest one.

[Cyker]

lol - both posting at same time now!! Gah!

Okay, to re-iterate:
Re. the crashes - No error messages, just a sudden black-screen (because of the video card+monitor resyncing from 640x480 to 800x600) and then I'm back at my desktop with nice new entry in the FS2 errorlog.txt

System spec:
Windows 98SE (alt. test install on Windows 2000)
Athlon XP 1800+
512MB RAM + 1GB free on swap-partition (36GB on Win2k)
GF4 Ti4200 w/128MB RAM (There is also a Voodoo2 12MB hooked up, but I play the game on the GF4)

Disabled the mediaVP as suggested - it did seem more stable, haven't managed to crash it yet but only played 3 missions

[Lightspeed]

Give my link a try

[Cyker]

Okay, I'm assuming you want me the 'newest multiplayer build'

Re-enabled the mediaVP, Launcher4 command line is:

G:\Program Files\FreeSpace2\fs2_open_r-net.exe -htl -spec -glow -pcx32 -jpgtga -phreak  -spec_exp 11 -spec_point 0.3 -spec_static 0.5 -spec_tube 0.05 -ambient_factor 75

Gimme a bit and I'll tell you what happens

[Lightspeed]

newest multiplayer build also is quite up-to-date.

Might contain a few bugs but they will be fixed with the next versions.

btw: change your line to:

G:\Program Files\FreeSpace2\fs2_open_r-net.exe -spec -glow -pcx32 -jpgtga -ambient_factor 75 -fov 0.39

htl is on by default so there isn't a "-htl" anymore.

As for the rest, try it, and see yourself

[Flipside]

LOL I think we helped the poor guy to death

[Cyker]

Sorry, was too busy playing
Damn this game is still fun

Anyway, tried it with the other line. Played through a bunch of missions (I'm currently part of the Suicide Kings squadron ).

Seems pretty stable sofar \o/

There was a big pause occasionally, probably due to loading textures or something, but the game didn't bomb as I usually expect it to when I get those 'big pauses'.
The only thing that got bombed was the Ravana :devil:


I'll have to put this thing through it's paces with stuff like Derelict and the B5 stuff when I have more time, but I need to go crash now

Thanks for all the help, you guys rock!

[Lightspeed]

Play multi with us

[karajorma]

Hmmm. The bit on the Wiki does seem a little aged now actually. Believe it or not though it's less than a month old!

I'll update it sometime soon.

[Setekh]

The other important thing you need to solve this problem is perseverance. That'll serve you well.

[Sticks]

None of those -spec_* modifiers have any effect in HTL, just to let you all know.

[Cyker]

Woo, still no crashes! Looking good

Cool!:
Semi-stealthed reload vessel? Nifty!
Everything just looks so damned good...

Minor gripes:
Shield effects seem to be disabled??
Game seems unusally 'dark' - During the mission where you have to defend the Iceni from asteroids, I couldn't see the £$*^& asteroids, they were literally black on black! Have the same problem with a lot of ships, although the new engine flares (Much brighter than the old ones!) make targetting a lot easier.