[Agent_Koopa]

Basically, we just need to streamline Turey's installer and explain bits of it better. Add two options, one for full install and one for installation on top of retail, instead of the huge checklist that currently exists, hide away the retail launcher, and make FSO's launcher more accessible.

Should be a piece of cake.


Oh, except for the fact that www.freespace2.com isn't even on the first 10 pages for Google. Nothing short of a full Googlebombing will get the site even close to being useful to HLP. If you want to get people playing the game, put something big on the forum main page so people know we're about FreeSpace 2.

[haloboy100]

That's a really good point. I wouldn't even be able to tell this site was about freespace 2 if I first saw it, other then the shivan background image.

[colecampbell666]

You couldn't even see the Shivan before.

[haloboy100]

You can on a widescreen TV.

But, Yeah. True dat.

[Bob-san]

If we end up buying/registering the Freespace2.com domain, it is a much better option and less controversial than us buying a license. Good thing. What can we do with it? In short, I think we can all agree that, given the possibility, we should make it newbie-friendly. Links to and a better how-to to meet their wants and needs. One for Turey's installer--complete with everything for those who saw "awesomeness" in screenshots and through friends, but never owned Freespace 1, Silent Threat, or Freespace 2, or have lost the media. Another for a "liter" version of the game--including all Open files and setup for them to use properly, but not including the heavier (bandwidth and quality-wise) files like the Adv Media VPs. A third option to get all discs with Freespace--the two D:FS discs, the ST disc, the three FS2 discs, a CD with standard Media VPs, a CD with advanced Media VPs, and an "everything" DVD. Lastly, a link to the most popular campaigns (such as the FS1 conversion, our new Silent Threat, a link to Inferno, a link to... &c). Make it all-in-one, and they don't have to search around.

Link there too an "FAQ", including the most common stuff. Usually a link to OpenAL first, links to where to get nVidia and ATI drivers, a guide to how to setup the launcher and customizations, and then links or guides to how to go beyond the basic game.

The Freespace Wiki is great--but it's not terribly friendly for new people who want to download, game, and probably never join this forum. Of course we have to make it more newbie-friendly, but still make it clear that there is to be no "let's all throw in cash and buy the FS license" and that the older community probably isn't going to be happy with "what if ___ happened after FS2".

[Jeff Vader]

Basically, we just need to streamline Turey's installer and explain bits of it better. Add two options, one for full install and one for installation on top of retail, instead of the huge checklist that currently exists, hide away the retail launcher, and make FSO's launcher more accessible.

Should be a piece of cake.

I was thinking more of something like option #1 "Click here if you do not know what to do and just want to play soon" and option  #2 "Click here if you are an advanced user and want to configure the downloadable items yourself". Or something.

Oh. It would be cool to have some sort of scanning at the end of the procedure, where the Installer would check out OpenAL on the computer and advice the user to install it, if necessary.

[Titan]

ya. i actually got the openAL patchy thingy when i got WCsaga

[ShadowGorrath]

It's the Apocalypse

Or maybe just Derek Smart taking down FS2 sites one by one before he moves onto the core, the very essence of FS - HLP.

If seriously, we need to advertise FS2, HLP and it's mods. And the main page should clearly explain what this site is about, plus give a link to the installer. You have no idea how much trouble does the current situation give to new players when they decide to get the game. I had to give a torrent to a DVD ISO download of FS Open, just because my friend could only get it by torrents, because the installer has a crap way of resuming downloads when they get broken, and his internet often crashes.

[FreeSpaceFreak]

It's the Apocalypse

Or maybe just Derek Smart taking down FS2 sites one by one before he moves onto the core, the very essence of FS - HLP.

If seriously, we need to advertise FS2, HLP and it's mods. And the main page should clearly explain what this site is about, plus give a link to the installer. You have no idea how much trouble does the current situation give to new players when they decide to get the game.

Seconded

[Mongoose]

I think you have to watch what you're broadcasting all over the place, though.  The full download of FS2 is still very much illegal, and probably the only reason it's been allowed to exist for so long is because it hasn't really been advertised.  Start putting it on formerly-official domains or plastered all over the front page, and you risk attention from the powers that be.  I understand the concern about new players, but at the same time, I remember how I was able to make do without the convenience of the installer when I started out. (*insert rant about kids these days and rap music here*) Sure, it took me a long time of lurking and reading before I felt I knew enough to take that first step and set up the SCP, but I think I was better off for having done so, since I had a good handle on how the mod system worked.  (No fancy .ini files back in those days, thank you very much. ) The price the community may pay for presenting an all-in-one option to new players is having those same new players come back later when they try to download their first campaign/mod without any idea of what to do.

[ShadowGorrath]

I don't think they should care for a not-produced-anymore game, with the source-code released, and noone making profit from it. Besides, if anyone actually DOES care, we can simply call the downloaders as "friends" and everything will become full legal.

[Jeff Vader]

we can simply call the downloaders as "friends" and everything will become full legal.

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,49459.0.html

I'd still prefer the "Let's keep it low, man" method. Have the HLP. If someone finds out about FreeSpace, and FreeSpace Open particularly, they can come here, get the Installer and most importantly, ask for help. Even I sometimes geta bit annoyed when the nth thread about the invisible asteroids pops up, but we're still a very newb-friendly community that responds appropriately to questions and tech support pleas, instead of just saying "stfu, rtfm noob lol". If we advertise too much, certain parties might take note, especially of the fact that only the game engine is open source. All the retail material is still not free and it is illegal to just spread it around. Maybe if we can cook up a version of FSO that uses only the models, textures 'n that **** from the MediaVPs, as well as some all-new interface art, we could spread it freely and advertise. But for now, shh.

[ShadowGorrath]

Hmm. What about the other sites that advertise HLP and it's FS Open installer? Youtube comment replies that do the same too ? Youtube videos, google, etc. ? If someone cared, they'd already had HLP gone. Now we only need to advertise. And it's not like we're claiming that original FS2 content is made by the HLP community anyway...

[Titan]

but doesn't the fact that it's open source amke it so that sorta stuff doesn't apply?

[Jeff Vader]

Hmm. What about the other sites that advertise HLP and it's FS Open installer? Youtube comment replies that do the same too ? Youtube videos, google, etc. ? If someone cared, they'd already had HLP gone. Now we only need to advertise. And it's not like we're claiming that original FS2 content is made by the HLP community anyway...

When, or rather if, Interplay says "Do what you want with it", we can distribute anything FreeSpace 2 related anywhere. But until then, they might get edgy if people advertise heavily that you can download the game for free.

but doesn't the fact that it's open source amke it so that sorta stuff doesn't apply?

I have my trout ready. Be prepared...

The game engine is open source. What used to be FS2.exe is now fs2_open_yaddayadda.exe. The engine that runs it all. The retail models, textures, sounds, voices, music, the ****; it's still proprietary. We can hand out the FSO engine as much as we want. But certain legal limitations still apply to the rest of the contents. And that is why it is not necessarily wise to go shouting "DOWNLOAD FREESPACE2 FOR FREE!!!1" everywhere.

[colecampbell666]

Basically we own the .EXE and FRED. We don't own any of the original models, the story, the cutscenes, voice-acting - basically we don't own the original .VPs.

[Jeff Vader]

Thank you. I guess people still have difficulties understanding what I say.

[Mars]

There's also the pilot voices to consider

[Jeff Vader]

That is actually a ****ing good point. We can't go truly free without redoing the voiceacting. And not many of us here are professional voice actors. Hmm. I wonder if we had to rewrite the dialogue as well.

[Ghostavo]

Basically we own the .EXE and FRED. We don't own any of the original models, the story, the cutscenes, voice-acting - basically we don't own the original .VPs.

"We" (by we I assume you mean those involved in the FSO project) own nothing. The fact it's open source doesn't mean Volition doesn't have any rights over it.