[LordZsar1]

Roughly a year before, I used "FreeSpaceOpenInstaller" to get Freespace 2 in version 2.3.9 and it worked (mostly) fine. Then, "Good old Games" put Freespace 2 up for sale and when I tried to install the game on my new computer, it would not run anymore without an installation of the original game.
... Well, it just so happens that I DO have some old compact discs that DO contain an original Freespace 2, so I went searching for a long time in old boxes and finally found it. ... More specifically I found the german version.
It works fine. And with it installed, 2.3.9 works fine as well. However, the speech files of most mods do not match the german ones and so I get mixed speech, which is horrible to listen to (also I did not play the german version for "felt ten" years and, frankly, I do not get along very well with the button names).
The original's english sound files also appear to be of a better quality, so, after excessive whining, here is finally my little request:

Could you make the english language files available for download (again)? Preferably in a format that allows switching between english and german versions at will (as some mods do provide german speech and there the language mix would occur just the other way around)?
At least the ability to permanently "upgrade" a non-english version to full english speech would be very nice to have.

[Mobius]

Welcome to the HLPBB!!!

First of all, you need to know that there are no "German versions" of the game. Each copy should have the scripts in English, German and even French.

Check this link out and follow the hints:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/FAQ/fs2-technical.html#hacks

If you do that yourself, you'd probably notice the string "German" right where "English" is supposed to be. If you're experienced enough to edit the registry without messing your system, change that to "English".

Please don't do that if you are unsure.

EDIT: Just found a more specific hint in The FAQ^TM...

How do I change the language settings for FS2 - The retail launcher won't let me?

The only way short of a reinstall of the game using a copy from a different language is to edit the registry entry directly. Although relatively simple to do this is not something you should deviate from these steps when doing. Editing anything else in the registry can easily lead to a broken copy of Windows which is only fixable with a reinstall.

   1. Go to Start -> Run.
   2. Type in "Regedit", and click Ok
   3. Go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> Software -> Volition -> Freespace2 folder
   4. Backup your Registry, just to be sure. Do this by clicking:
   5. Registry -> Export Registry File. (File->Export on XP). (Export "All" if you want, if you're worried you'll screw up something somewhere else by accident. Otherwise just export the selected branch.)
   6. Right mouse click on the Language entry. Choose modify
   7. A new window will open with a language in it. Change this to English. (The capital E may be important so don't forget it).



   8. Click OK and close regedit.

[LordZsar1]

I feel welcome.

... Alright then. The greyed out option in freespace2.exe\setup fooled me.
This kind of a modification is indeed something I am familiar with to a degree.

A moderator may feel free to close or remove this thread.
Or to pin it in the unlikely case that it is indeed the first time someone complains about this. ^^

addendum:
STOP, NOT SO EASILY!

Although I DO have english text now everywhere in the game, the speech sounds are still german.
Also, ingame icons are mixed up, weapon markers switched from ">" to "Ü" and instead of dots the radar spots little bomber icons... This is nothing to be called "progress".
So, well, I cannot but repeat my initial request: English language files, please?

addendum 2:
I took the hint for this FAQ and indeed found the page, where this quote is taken from. Unfortunately this quote does indeed make up the whole text on the topic, so it should be all that is required not only in theory but also quite practically.
May I assume that my installation is corrupted then? The CDs are not in a very good shape, but I did not receive any error messages... which of course does not mean anything.

[karajorma]

Hang on a sec, you still have the GoG version of FS2? Why not simply install that and then stick FS2_Open on top of it?

[LordZsar1]

I never had the GoG version of the game. There was a time, when I just ran "FreeSpaceOpenInstaller.exe" once and then would have a fully working freespace 2 (as I mentioned, roughly a year ago... and one version of the installer, if this is more precise).
In last year's winter (and maybe some time before, but I had no reason to try any sooner), this was not possible anymore, so I searched for my old CDs and finally found them a while back... and the version installed from them shows the problems I mention here.

[Deepstar]

The stu_fs2.vp contains the voice files.

I uploaded the english version here (122 MB. Sorry for Rapidshare, but should be ok for only this one file)
http://rapidshare.com/files/216547463/stu_fs2.rar.html

Please make a backup of your german file, if you want to use it later.

For your symbol problems, the english version use different fontfiles which included the HUD symbols as well.

The attached english_hotfix should solve this problem. It contains the files of the english-speaking versions. You can install it like an MediaVP.



[attachment deleted by evil Tolwyn]

[Ole]

Ok, I've got the same problem here. Installed FS2 from my german cds, ran the installer, wound up with this german version I don't like at all.

However, looking in my registry I couldn't find an entry for Language. So well, i couldn't change it. Now I'm sitting here, asking myself, if the english hotfix alone would be enough to change from german to english or not. I'm really confused about the missing registry entry.

[karajorma]

Running on Vista, right?

Look in HKEY_LOCAL_USER->Software->Classes->Virtual Store->Machine->Software->Volition instead.

[Ole]

Actually XP (Servicepack 3).

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> Software -> Volition -> Freespace2 folder is right there, but it contains only the following:


[attachment deleted by evil Tolwyn]

[karajorma]

Only the FS2 Retail launcher adds the language entry. Try entering it manually (or just run freespace2.exe->Setup and just press OK.)

[LordZsar1]

Deepstar's files work well, all issues solved.

@Deepstar: Vielen Dank, Kollege.

[Mobius]

Since I don't feel like creating a new thread for a similar subject, I think it's the case of posting here. Me and 134th (with some external help) are finally ultimating the Italian translation of strings.tbl.

I know that, in order to use it, we need to alter the registry...but what if the translation is incomplete? We are translating the vital interface entries (strings.tbl) and not the specific message texts (tstrings.tbl). In other words, there will be hundreds of untranslated entries.

How does the engine react to that? Is it going to use English text messages if the Italian ones are missing? Are there any table files other than strings.tbl we need to consider to run a basic Italian translation?


At the moment we're using a strings.tbl with Italian sentries replacing the English ones, so we don't need to alter the registry during this phase (we're simply placing the table in mediavps/data/tables). I'd like to know from the coders if we're going to have problems later.

[karajorma]

To be honest, I'm not certain what would happen. Try it and see. If it doesn't like it you'll find out very soon.

[Ole]

Deepstar's files work well, all issues solved.

@Deepstar: Vielen Dank, Kollege.

Same over here btw, so another big thank you!
(oder auch: Danke!)