[Terra-jin]

Hi everyone,

Long-time fan of FreeSpace series here. I've recently upgraded my system to Vista and now FreeSpace 1 doesn't run anymore. It installed without problems, launcher works, but when I click "play FreeSpace" or when I use the FS.exe nothing happens (by the way, it didn't seem to work with XP, either). I've scoured your fora and wiki for an answer but couldn't find any. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'd like to play FreeSpace on my new computer!

Thanks in advance,


Terra-jin

[redsniper]

You should look into FreeSpace Open, the new improved open-source FS engine, and the FreeSpace Port, which is FS1 converted to FSOpen.

[Terra-jin]

Yes, I've downloaded FSO (haven't gotten it to work 100% yet). Sound very cool! A lot of hard work must've gone into that...

Anyway, I've downloaded the port, but I still can't get it to work. Do you know where to put the VPs from the FS Port? The readme doesn't say...

[Galemp]

As wonderful as FSPort is, it's not FS1.

Here, have you tried running it in compatibility mode? Right click on FS.exe, go to Properties, then look for Compatibility Mode and try running it in Windows 98 mode.

[Terra-jin]

Hmmm... just tried it and sadly nothing happened. When I run the FS.exe, the mouse cursor becomes "busy" for a moment then returns to normal. The program starts up but is terminated shortly thereafter. Maybe my cd's are corrupt?

[General Battuta]

What's the problem with getting FSOpen running? Do you have retail FS2?

(Not that I don't recognize the value of FS1, mind!)

[Goober5000]

Hmmm... just tried it and sadly nothing happened. When I run the FS.exe, the mouse cursor becomes "busy" for a moment then returns to normal. The program starts up but is terminated shortly thereafter. Maybe my cd's are corrupt?

Try adding FS.exe to your firewall exceptions.

[colecampbell666]

As for not getting FSO to work, run the debug build and post /FreeSpace2/data/fs2_open.log.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

What's the problem with getting FSOpen running? Do you have retail FS2?

(Not that I don't recognize the value of FS1, mind!)

I thought the FSPort was standalone.

[Locutus of Borg]

Why play FS1 when you have the FSPort?

[eliex]

I thought the FSPort was standalone.

FSPort has never been standalone, AE.

[Locutus of Borg]

But FSO used to be standalone, boy am I glad I got it then. (Otherwise I would have had to pay almost $100 for FS2 as I didn't know about the deal on GOG)

[Mongoose]

But FSO used to be standalone, boy am I glad I got it then. (Otherwise I would have had to pay almost $100 for FS2 as I didn't know about the deal on GOG)

Wrong, in a sense.  The open-sourcing of FS2 never allowed for the distribution of the retail game data, and it was never the SCP's intention to do so.  The reason the community looked the other way on providing the game for download before GOG showed up on the scene was, as you said, because the only legally-available copies at the time were going for something like $100 on eBay.

And if you haven't yet purchased a legal copy of the game, I wouldn't exactly brag about that fact.  Now that the game's cheaply available on GOG, we as a community don't look all that kindly on the "Yeah, I never bought it" sentiment.

[Locutus of Borg]

Are you asking me to go and buy a game I already have? o.0 It's not like I went on a torrent site and got it. I got it from the installer here...

There's no need to get antsy.

[Terra-jin]

Hey people,

Thanks for your help. I've gotten the FSO to work now (looks AWESOME!!) but FS port is still giving me problems. I've downloaded the core VP, the mission VP and the hi-res sparky-thingy and put them in one folder, then used that folder as the mod in the FSO launcher.

What happens: it first says that there've been 16 errors, then the game starts (and seem to work). Then when I try to play, the game says it misses 27 ships-files and the campaign file. Strange, because I put both the mission pack and the core files in the folder I'm using for FS port.

Did I miss something in the installation process?

[Mongoose]

Are you asking me to go and buy a game I already have? o.0 It's not like I went on a torrent site and got it. I got it from the installer here...

There's no need to get antsy.

Ah, but there is.  The game was only provided for download in the Installer and elsewhere with the understanding that there was no feasible way to acquire it by legitimate means.  The staff decided that giving people the ability to play the game was worth the technical copyright infringement.  However, when Good Old Games appeared and provided the game as a cheap, DRM-free download, the staff determined that it would be in the community's best interests to remove the download sources and fully endorse GOG.

So yes, I am asking you to buy a game you already have (but do not own), or at least suggesting that you do so as a means of supporting what GOG is doing.  I obviously can't force you to, but if you do choose not to, I'd advise you to not broadcast that fact.

[Locutus of Borg]

Go into the campaing select and make sure you've selected FSPORT not FS2

[Terra-jin]

  ah, that has worked. Thanks!

[Cobra]

Uhh. I don't see how FS1 doesn't work on Vista, since it works on my 64-bit 8GB RAM Vista rig.

[Locutus of Borg]

Everyone's computer is different, unfortunately.