[StratComm]

not a bad set of choices.  I would suggest turning off -pcx32 as about all it does is increase the memory footprint of the game and cause slowdown.  I also suggest running in openGL mode, which means d3dmipmap is probably not doing anything for you, and turning off -cell unless you want cell shading (if there was a mv_cell on that downloads page I pointed you to, you probably don't want it either) as the graphics set for cell shading mode is far from complete.  But that should be working fine.

[Insomniac34]

ugh no still nothing. The only thing switchintg to OpenGL did was lower my resolution to 1024 by 768 and make the menu have some funny colors. Graphics STILL look like 1999 Freespace 2.

[StratComm]

Did you download the extra graphics and install them to your Freespace 2 directory?  You still need them to make the game prettier.

[Insomniac34]

I dont know...I downloaded FS2 Open 3.6.7 and thats all. here's what my game looks like. Still '99 graphics, but with the HUD updates.

[StratComm]

Ah, ok.  That's the problem then.

And getting the graphical enhancements really isn't that hard.  To start off with (until you feel more comfortable picking things up from the community at large) you can get all of the extras that you need from http://scp.indiegames.us/download.php under the VP files section (get everything but mv_zpack, mv_cell, and the last patch, and if you're system's not that great then skip mv_adveffects as well).

[Insomniac34]

OK dude, which ones do you recomend I get? Give me a list so that it looks like the above screenshots plz. And by the way, you've been awesome for helping a noob lik me. I really apopreciate it.

[StratComm]

No problem  

I personally recommend the following (in this order): mv_core, mv_models, mv_textures, mv_effects, mv_adveffects, media VP 3.6.7 patch 1, media VP 3.6.7 patch 2, beam slowdown patch.  mv_music is totally optional and may cause some problems in 3.6.7 if your soundcard drivers are not fully up to date, so only go back and get it if you want to mess with it.  The rest I'd ignore for now.

[Shade]

Starting out, getting mv_core, mv_textures, mv_models, mv_effects and the patches would give a solid boost to the graphics. If your system is high end, you can add mv_adveffects, but be aware that it has been known to cause spontaneous nuclear meltdowns on older computers.

Best way to use them is to make a directory off the FS_Open root called 'mediavps' and stick them inthere, then select that directory from the mod tab in the launcher and enjoy the show.

[karajorma]

Use of a mediavps folder is highly reccomended. It makes it much easier to solve problems and upgrade.

[Bobboau]

I would recoment getting mv_adveffects only for novelty value, the media in that thing tends to be rediculusly oversized.

what graphics card do you have? radions have a driver issue with shinemapping in recent  builds

[Insomniac34]

im gonna try installing these after my guitar lesson tonight, thanks for all the suggestions. And my video card is a Radeon 9800 Pro.

[StratComm]

A 9800 is borderline, but I think I'd err on the side of caution and not download mv_adveffects.  It will push your card a little hard, and if you want to run at super-high resolutions then you need to hold back just a little on your performance-cutting add-ons.

[Insomniac34]

If I dont like one of these MV files after I install one, say it hurts my performance too much, can it be easily removed? If so I'll go ahead and do Adveffects and remove it if its a problem.

[Shade]

Yes, you just delete it or move it completely out of the scp directory. Simple as that.

[Insomniac34]

I've got a problem. When I click on the link to download either 3.6.7 patch 1 or 2 it opens this huge, computer-slowing page of gibberish in MS word. What should I do?

[Turambar]

ha, its a .rar isnt it.

save it to disc, open with winrar

[Bobboau]

you are going to have to revert your drivers to... what was it... 4.4 or something, in order for shinemapping to work.

[Trivial Psychic]

you are going to have to revert your drivers to... what was it... 4.4 or something, in order for shinemapping to work.

... if you're gonna play under D3D.  Use newer Cats for OGL (6.2 recommended).

[karajorma]

If I dont like one of these MV files after I install one, say it hurts my performance too much, can it be easily removed? If so I'll go ahead and do Adveffects and remove it if its a problem.

Depends on which ones you remove. mv_Adveffects and mv_effects can simply be deleted but I've heard of people having problems by deleting mv_textures without removing the others. Then again I don't know why anyone would do that. mv_textures isn't a resource hog. 

[Kaine]

I've got a problem. When I click on the link to download either 3.6.7 patch 1 or 2 it opens this huge, computer-slowing page of gibberish in MS word. What should I do?

i get that too, right click the link and hit "Save Target As..." its because internet explorer (and Firefox sometimes) are too stupid to realise its an archive and not a document it can open.