[BlackDove]

Are

sparky_hi_fs2.vp
stu_fs2.vp
warble_fs2.vp
tangoX_fs2.vp
smarty_fs2.vp

just simply not hosted by anyone anywhere anymore? Fractux's server is busy to no end all the time.

I can't find a working download/ftp link at all.

Is this impossible to host permanently, and to be accessible at all times? Look, I only have a 56kb/s upload mylsef, but I can't be the one to give this **** to new people every time they come knocking on my door individually.

I'm sending the files to a guy now, because I can't find a working link anywhere, and suffice to say, it'll take a couple of hours

I know the files are big, but with the resources here, is it really that hard to find anyone who can host this?

[kasperl]

The ones you just mentioned are :V: originals, meaning that it's a pain in the copyright-conscious butt to host them permanently.

[BlackDove]

Is that the only issue?

[karajorma]

Game Warden used to host them but then they had bandwidth problems from the ISOs so they'll be down for a while.

[Kie99]

Why is this in the SCP forum?

[SSX-Killjoy]

Becuase directly influences those who are trying to play it, and can't becuase of the effort it takes to get he game files needed.

I know of two players who have been either contacting me via email, or on IRC who have needed the US only installs becuase their versions are non-US.

Basically the issue is, if it is illegal to host them, then technically it is illegal for us to provide them the files, right? And if so, then more than a few of us have been being illegal. We either need to move to the Legal side, or find out how get V to release the lock on the files (as it were).

[MatthewPapa]

Well, I guess I could host them later this month. The first person to write/find a php script that controls downloads gets a cookie .

[kasperl]

Killjoy: Well, the copyright situation around Freespace's copyright and IP is a legal wasteland filled with quicksands. If someone can indeed release the lock on those files, we're looking at a good option of magazine cover-disk distribution here. Or at least totally free downloadable SCP iso's, or something.

As for other issues, some of those files are friggin huge, meaning that the bandwidth might become an issue too.

[MatthewPapa]

Like I said I can host them if someone creates (or finds) a download script that is capable of tracking and controlling the number of downlods in a day.

[BlackDove]

Ignoring the bandwidth issue:

Why not just put a disclaimer that they will be removed if so requested by anyone who holds the rights to it.

I seriously doubt cops are gonna start beating down anyone's doors, but, in the event that it happens, we're not trying to defy authority or anything, and they can always be taken down.

[Inquisitor]

That's more and more the direction I am going with V related stuff, like that. HOTU style disclaimer.

If anyone from Volition still reads the forum, I wouldn't mind having a quick chat on this and other issues, as people from all over the net have apparently impeded my ability to communicate with them without seeming like a raving lunatic.

Maybe someone will be at GDC and I can pin them down...

And yes, bandwidth is the issue. They are big files. They are popular files.

I need my bandwidth for my business, hosting these would kill me.

[Fractux]

The problem is getting people to seed the downloads. While the ftp is usually full, the download can actually go faster if 5 people were to seed the all_fs2_fvp_files.zip I have on eMule.

My bandwidth is pretty limited as it stands. I was actually mulling over setting up a file hosting server form www.asmallorange.com with 200GB of bandwidth a month for 20USD, and getting people to pay for their bandwidth usage to cover the cost.

However, that is pushing the legal side more than the FTP currently is, and could get me intro trouble I don't want. But I honestly don't think interplay would bother getting on our backs. There is no chance of them making a profit off of FS2 anytime in the future, so its not really cutting into any profit margins.

I dunno, what are your thoughts ppl? With 200GB of bandwidth 267 people could download the 750MB package (or we can host a flly installable SCP version like I had though about a year ago).  That comes to 8cents USD per download of 750MB (10cents per GB).

The system would be rather complex, but I have some good ideas for how such a system could work (and how it could pay for other file distribution.) People would just pay for a certain bandwidth quota and be able to grab however many files thay want.

Or, we just do it on a voluntary basis, whill will recoup some cost, but not all.

Anyays, just some Ideas I was thinking about again. I may be able to set this up during the summer.

The alternative to get around this is, as was said above, to get approval and to go with a host like gamespy that will distribute for free.

Anyways, just throwing ideas around.

Cheers!

[KARMA]

forced bittorrent maybe?

[karajorma]

Is there a way to get e-mule to share some files in a folder but nothing else? I run e-mule all the time and sharing the FS2.vp files wouldn't be a problem. What would be a problem is the fact that I'd be sharing the whole MindGames folder at the same time


EDIT : Actually I've just realised that my games partition actually is the one with space left in it I could just copy the files and give them release priority. The problem is that the hash file for everyone would be different if I RARed the files and sharing uncompressed VP files is rather silly.

[MatthewPapa]

Like I said I can host them....I have a unused account already paid out with 120 GB a month....All I need is a PHP script to help me regulate the downloads so things dont start going crazy (like when i put the ISO files up for download.)

[mitac]

I don't have FS2 at this machine, so just out of curiosity - how large are those files in total?

[BlackDove]

Originally posted by MatthewPapa
Like I said I can host them....I have a unused account already paid out with 120 GB a month....All I need is a PHP script to help me regulate the downloads so things dont start going crazy (like when i put the ISO files up for download.)

[SIZE=99] SOMEBODY HELP THAT MAN![/SIZE]


Also, eMule sucks. If you're going to share through a program, please for THE LOVE OF GOD, create a torrent with the .vp's, and share it through BitTorrent.

[karajorma]

The reason why I suggested emule is cause everyone would have the same hash for the VP files. So although downloading them without packing them first is a waste of bandwidth everyone on the forum who uses e-mule could instantly become a seeder (providing I can find a way to only release selected files).
 The ISO download on the B5 tracker was pulled precisely because of the number of leechers. While people like myself wouldn't mind seeding we'd have had to get hold of the files first which is a huge waste of bandwidth.

[BlackDove]

Uhhh to be honest I have no idea what you said.

Fact stands that eMule is a non-widespread piece of crap imitation of a crap program which used to be eDonkey.

Packing the .VP's, putting them on a .torrent and distributing the torrent should be substantially better, considering how widespread and useful BitTorrent is. The whole idiot "line" and "queue" thing is retarded in the world of today.

Also, I don't know if it's possible with eMule (I used it for five minutes, then it went into the bin, because it was that ****ty, and oh dear god when it was hashing the files I wanted to share. Jesus.) but on bit torrent (or bittornado, www.bittornado.com ) you can actually specify what to download in a pack of files, so people can choose which VP's they want to download.

[WMCoolmon]

It's not possible with Bittorrent to zip the files up (or RAR them, if the torrent uses RAR) and place them in your torrent downloads directory?

I'd've thought somebody would've made a torrent client smart enough to do that...