Author Topic: :confused: , absolutely.  (Read 4855 times)

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Offline Ren

  • 23
:confused: , absolutely.
Hi ppl..
I've some dumb questions, can I ask for help, pls?

I dug in my box with never-played-games-still and found FreeSpace 2. I was big fan of StarLancer once ago so I decided to try. Becouse I know that a lot of older games have strong fanbase and a lot of add-ons/enhancements, I looked on Net first and so I found this place. I read wiki, done some basic setting and I must say, that's absolutey cool and great work You guys made here..

But here goes my confusion..
Are there more of FS2 enhancement projects? Or are FS2_Open and SCP the same? I guess so. In this case, is http://scp.indiegames.us homepage of project? There's two types of "upgrades" in download section there. *.vp files (using now, great!) and Milliways (should be copied to \data?). What's actual/better/difference? What about FMVs of FS2? I googled somewhere that enhanced version can't play MVE files (it's old Interplay video format used in Descents, Fallouts and so, isn't?) and so I need them converted to AVI and a broken link to where can be downloaded. Is there some way how to make them work?
I'm missing some all covering FAQ or help or so, that's why I'm asking here. Some readmes and sites I found noted I should use D3D but a few topics lower is recommended OGL. All this makes me realy confused, you know?  :D

Simply said, I never played FS2 before but I would like now. I would like play original compain but with the best new graphic. Is using "Launcher" and mv_zpack.zip best choice or can I got something even better with some additional files? Thanks for any hints..

PC have a 1800XL Radeon and 2GB RAM.

 

Offline Shade

  • 211
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
FS2_Open is the product of the SCP, so not quite the same but close enough.

Yes, that is the homepage of the SCP project, but the main forums are located here as you've already noticed.

Milliways is actually a website created by a forum member called Lightspeed. He made a ton of upgraded effects and posted them there, and the ones on the SCP site are simply a mirror. Use them if you like - it does make the game look better, but he's no longer active so there's no support for them.

MVE files work again now, as of about a month ago.

Use OGL if you can, D3D support is no longer actively supported.

To properly use the media .vps, put them in a folder in your fs2 directory called mediavps, then select that folder from the mod tab of the launcher. Make sure they're unpacked and not still zipped. There are also updated versions and patches floating around here on the forums, as the ones on the SCP site are for version 3.6.7 and we're now up to 3.6.9 RC3, so look around for the best experience.

Oh, and finally, congrats on finding FS2 again - it's a great game :)
Report FS_Open bugs with Mantis  |  Find the latest FS_Open builds Here  |  Interested in FRED? Check out the Wiki's FRED Portal | Diaspora: Website / Forums
"Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh ****ing great. 2200 references to entry->index and no idea which is the one that ****ed up" - Karajorma
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct." - Niels Bohr
<Cobra|> You play this mission too intelligently.

 

Offline Ren

  • 23
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
First, thank for Your answer, Shade. I know how are these I-don't-understand-anything-here posts unpopular but I was realy down. I'll read Milliways immediately, thanks for link. About MVE, becouse no are played I guess I'll need newer build than 367, right? I'll look here for some, together with patches for *.VPS files. When using OGL mouse cursor left trail and windows have "double border". I'll try to find something here too. What about this site? Is somehow connected to FS2 Open project? Thanks again.

 

Offline karajorma

  • King Louie - Jungle VIP
  • Administrator
  • 214
    • Karajorma's Freespace FAQ
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Apart from the fact that I'm an SCP coder it's not directly connected. Basically it's an unofficial page that gives advice on FS related matters.

That said I doubt I'd get any complaints if I moved my entire installation FAQ to the wiki and made it official so you can trust the info in there. The only problem with it is that I don't get the time to update very often so I have to stay general about the advice I give.
Karajorma's Freespace FAQ. It's almost like asking me yourself.

[ Diaspora ] - [ Seeds Of Rebellion ] - [ Mind Games ]

 

Offline Shade

  • 211
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Nothing unpopular about honest questions :)

Yes, 3.6.7 is rather old by now. Your best bet for MVE playback is the latest 3.6.9 release candidate, as it is quite stable as well as contains the newest features.

The base .vp files you need can be found in this thread in the Freespace Upgrade forum (SCP forum deals with code, Upgrade forum deals with media to make use of the code, fyi), and the patches are in the same thread as the release candidate build.

The site you linked is Karajormas FS2 FAQ - He's a member of the project, but his site is not... it's just his 'helping people' hobby ;) You can find answers to many questions there, and they are very likely to be correct unlike many other sites you might find. Basically, that and the HLP wiki are the reliable sources, anywhere else may be dodgy due to obsolete information.
Report FS_Open bugs with Mantis  |  Find the latest FS_Open builds Here  |  Interested in FRED? Check out the Wiki's FRED Portal | Diaspora: Website / Forums
"Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh ****ing great. 2200 references to entry->index and no idea which is the one that ****ed up" - Karajorma
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct." - Niels Bohr
<Cobra|> You play this mission too intelligently.

 

Offline Ren

  • 23
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
OK, thank You both.
I'm in a middle of reading of Your site, karajorma, it's very helpful, thanx.

I made clean install of FS2 to directory without spaces. I've ready Launcher 5.3, 3.6.9. RC3 FS2O and 3.6.8zeta MVPs. All of these should be latest.
As I asked before about Lightspeed's addons, if I got it right from descriptions these are already contained in mv_effects & mv_adveffects, right? And these two (effects and adveffects) don't depend on each other, best to use both, right?
Do I need to install OpenAL even if I haven't Creative sound card? Getting "faild to read flag file" error.

 

Offline Shade

  • 211
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
mv_adveffects is an upgrade to mv_effects for use on very high end systems only. In my opinion, it doesn't really add anything worthwhile, but some disagree. So you can use either mv_effects, or both, but using mv_adveffects alone would be of little use as most of the upgrades are in mv_effects. And yes, some of Lightspeeds upgrades are in these VPs.

You do need to install OpenAL regardless of soundcard. Doing so should take care of that error.
Report FS_Open bugs with Mantis  |  Find the latest FS_Open builds Here  |  Interested in FRED? Check out the Wiki's FRED Portal | Diaspora: Website / Forums
"Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh ****ing great. 2200 references to entry->index and no idea which is the one that ****ed up" - Karajorma
"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct." - Niels Bohr
<Cobra|> You play this mission too intelligently.

 

Offline Ren

  • 23
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Done so..:-)

Now I'm prety sure I can't use OGL. :nod: No nebulas, ships are rendered black after being hit and no AA with OGL..
Although with D3D I'm getting FMVs always in original size (small) independently on -noscalevid switch, it's only glitch I noticed.

C:\FreeSpace2\fs2_open_r.exe -mod mediavps -spec -glow -env -jpgtga -mipmap -nomotiondebris -2d_poof -noscalevid -missile_lighting -dualscanlines -targetinfo -orbradar -rearm_timer -ballistic_gauge -warp_flash -snd_preload -loadallweps -alpha_env

 

Offline CaptJosh

  • 210
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Since when is there no anti-aliasing with OGL? What are you using for video? ATi?
CaptJosh

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world;
those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

Offline Wanderer

  • Wiki Warrior
  • 211
  • Mostly harmless
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
You should be able to force both the AA and AF settings for the application via graphic card settings (that is... not via game launcher).

And download also the alpha patches from the 3.6.9 RC 3 thread to fix some of the graphical issues.
Do not meddle in the affairs of coders for they are soggy and hard to light

 

Offline ARSPR

  • Preys On Mantis
  • 29
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Done so..:-)

Now I'm prety sure I can't use OGL. :nod: No nebulas, ships are rendered black after being hit and no AA with OGL..
Although with D3D I'm getting FMVs always in original size (small) independently on -noscalevid switch, it's only glitch I noticed.

C:\FreeSpace2\fs2_open_r.exe -mod mediavps -spec -glow -env -jpgtga -mipmap -nomotiondebris -2d_poof -noscalevid -missile_lighting -dualscanlines -targetinfo -orbradar -rearm_timer -ballistic_gauge -warp_flash -snd_preload -loadallweps -alpha_env

-mipmap is useless unless you use -img2dds (IIRC). I wouldn't use it because the dds files inside vps already have mipmaps.

In your previous post you said you have Launcher 5.3. Pick Launcher 5.4 from the zip which contains RC2 (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,40410.0.html) (But keep using RC3). It enables new features as trilinear and anisotropic filtering.

The black boxes you see are defective dds files (a kind of image as jpg or tga that is very used inside FS2) which have wrong alpha channels. Check the RC3 first post where Taylor has posted patches for mv_effects and mv_adveffects. Just pick them and download to your mediavps folder (if you don't use adveffects do not download the advanced patch).

If you have an Ati GPU you can get graphic corruption in backgrounds after the FIRST mission you play. Taylor is getting mad to find what's wrong, but till then and if that is your case, disable environmental mapping (-env flag).
IF YOU HAVE TROUBLES WITH FS2:
  • Please, please, please, READ and UNDERSTAND the sticky threads in FreeSpace & FreeSpace Open Support board.
    A lot of people are willing to help you, but, as anyone can understand, seeing the very same "issues" repeated again and again can become quite depressing. Please, spend a bit of time trying to solve the issue by yourself.
    (Lobo deserves a monument).
  • Then, if you aren't still able to solve your issue, feel free to ask for help in that same board.
    FYI, most of the troubles are caused by wrong mod installations which lead to either missing data or undesired cross-effects between them. Always follow the mod installation instructions and keep a clean FS2 installation as explained in the sticky threads. Two additional links about how the game handles game data:
  • If you think that you've discovered a bug, mantis it.
    Provide as much info as you can, and try to narrow it down. A lonely "FS2 doesn't work" is not a good report.

Whoever Hanlon was: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Albert Einstein: Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe.

Dell Dimension 9200 - Vista 32-bit Ultimate
Core 2 Quad Q6600 @2.4GHz - RAM 2 GB DDR2
nvidia 8800 GTX - Integrated Sigmatel Audio

 

Offline Ren

  • 23
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Yup..X1800XL w/ Cat 6.4.
Between us, I hate this card, but it was so expensive half-year ago that I must stick with it at last another half of year before switching back to nV..

 

Offline Ren

  • 23
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Wanderer, ARSPR> Thx but I can't unpack these files..:-/ What could be wrong? All others RARs like e.g. Launcher itself I could unpack without problem but both patch archives looks empty to PowerArchiver2006. Hmm..Maybe some WinRAR-specific format? Never saw this before and using PA2k6 for a long time now.

ARSPR> /edit: I tried Launcher 5.4 but can't see options for AF. Stupid I'm, D3D ins't supported, I know.. :) Already disabled mipmaps, thanks for tip.

  

Offline ARSPR

  • Preys On Mantis
  • 29
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Wanderer, ARSPR> Thx but I can't unpack these files..:-/ What could be wrong? All others RARs like e.g. Launcher itself I could unpack without problem but both patch archives looks empty to PowerArchiver2006. Hmm..Maybe some WinRAR-specific format? Never saw this before and using PA2k6 for a long time now.

ARSPR> /edit: I tried Launcher 5.4 but can't see options for AF. Stupid I'm, D3D ins't supported, I know.. :) Already disabled mipmaps, thanks for tip.

Well use winrar. Read through RC3 thread because there's a little issue with alpha that is not solved yet with that patchs.

NEVER use D3D. Nowadays, it has no support, so if you run into trouble you're alone (in the dark).
IF YOU HAVE TROUBLES WITH FS2:
  • Please, please, please, READ and UNDERSTAND the sticky threads in FreeSpace & FreeSpace Open Support board.
    A lot of people are willing to help you, but, as anyone can understand, seeing the very same "issues" repeated again and again can become quite depressing. Please, spend a bit of time trying to solve the issue by yourself.
    (Lobo deserves a monument).
  • Then, if you aren't still able to solve your issue, feel free to ask for help in that same board.
    FYI, most of the troubles are caused by wrong mod installations which lead to either missing data or undesired cross-effects between them. Always follow the mod installation instructions and keep a clean FS2 installation as explained in the sticky threads. Two additional links about how the game handles game data:
  • If you think that you've discovered a bug, mantis it.
    Provide as much info as you can, and try to narrow it down. A lonely "FS2 doesn't work" is not a good report.

Whoever Hanlon was: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Albert Einstein: Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe.

Dell Dimension 9200 - Vista 32-bit Ultimate
Core 2 Quad Q6600 @2.4GHz - RAM 2 GB DDR2
nvidia 8800 GTX - Integrated Sigmatel Audio

 

Offline Ren

  • 23
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
ARSPR> Got it..:-) OK, used WinRAR and really..My fancy nebulas are back and hitted ships are alright too. But still, OGL=no-AA, right?

 

Offline CP5670

  • Dr. Evil
  • Global Moderator
  • 212
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Quote
If you have an Ati GPU you can get graphic corruption in backgrounds after the FIRST mission you play. Taylor is getting mad to find what's wrong, but till then and if that is your case, disable environmental mapping (-env flag).

I don't have any issues with this. It seems to only occur for some people. :confused:

 

Offline Ren

  • 23
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
You should be able to force both the AA and AF settings for the application via graphic card settings (that is... not via game launcher).

I did, works well now. Font problems was caused by aAA. As I think about this evening now, it was much like setting ePSXe or similar emu, you know?  :nod:
So now I'm fully satisfied and can dive to FS2 universe..Big thanks all of you, guys..:) See You soon..

 

Offline CaptJosh

  • 210
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Once more. Anti-aliasing is done at driver level. You can, with nVidia cards, even set up a profile to load for a specific program, FS2, for example. You'd have to always rename any new builds you might download to the same filename, but it would work.
CaptJosh

There are only 10 kinds of people in the world;
those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

Offline redmenace

  • 211
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Bleeding edge builds can be found here, or atleast they will be once I have caught up with all of my missed builds from the last 3 months.
Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
              -Frederic Bastiat

 

Offline Ren

  • 23
Re: :confused: , absolutely.
Once more. Anti-aliasing is done at driver level. You can, with nVidia cards, even set up a profile to load for a specific program, FS2, for example. You'd have to always rename any new builds you might download to the same filename, but it would work.

About AA: Yeah, I know, I used Your advice as I already stated above. Thx.
About nV: I remember this function well but unfortunately now I'm stuck with ATi for some time. But no big problem.