[stljim]

Hello everyone,

I was hoping there is an alternative to downloading the retail version of FS2 to run the OpenSource FS2?  See, I'm a contractor serving with the US Army in Kabu Afghanistan and our internet connection _sucks_!!!! We're luck to get 12-18KB/sec down... With FS2 being 1.5Gig that's about 24-26hrs to download.  Anyway I purchased FS2 from GOG and have had no luck getting it downloaded.  It seems at about 300-400Meg their website closes my connection.  I've sent an email to GOG about the problem but have not heard a response back.  Heck, I'd be glad to pay for the shipping if somone would send me a copy.

Anyway, _any_ suggestions would be most welcomed at the point.  Back in the day I was (and I guess still am) a huge fan of the FreeSpace series and above all a fan of the Wing Commander/Privateer series.


Thanks,
Jim

[Jeff Vader]

I was hoping there is an alternative to downloading the retail version of FS2 to run the OpenSource FS2?

FreeSpace 2 Open/FSO requires FS2. How you aquire FS2 is up to you. If downloading from GOG doesn't seem to work, unfortunately the only other legal enough option (that can be mentioned publicly here) is buying a concrete copy from eBay or somesuch.

Then again, if downloading is such an issue at the moment, you might want to postpone the whole thing until you have a decent connection. Even though the FSO builds and the Launcher are rather small downloads, you probably won't want to use just them, but would also like to get the MediaVPs that improve the graphics conciderably. The MediaVPs take up roughly/over 1GB when downloaded.

[General Battuta]

Man, maybe we should try to get this guy a copy. Serviceman and all.

[IronBeer]

Um. GOG's FS2 ELUA specifically states that you can distribute it to your friends as much as you like. I got my copy from there, so...

[The E]

Bzzzzt, wrong, try again.

Please cite the EULA.

After you have done that, reread the sentence that says

Any permissions granted herein are provided on a temporary basis and can be withdrawn by Interplay Productions at any time. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.

Interplay revised the EULA to no longer include the "Friend's clause" years ago. Since it is an EULA, the change applies retroactively to all copies of FS2.

Read this for the full reference: http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/EULA

[IronBeer]

 
There's got to be other ways then.

[Dragon]

Unfortunately, it may be a problem to get anything FSO related (sans main build and launcher) with such crappy conection.
You may want to try Wing Commander Saga: Prologue, but it's also quite large, just like most of FS2 total conversions.
I think that in your situation, somebody mailing you the copy via conventional mail (along with FSO offline installer burnt to DVD) starts to become a considerable solution. (ever heard a story about a pidgeon with an USB stick being faster than internet transfer?).
Now, if there was a HLP member who owns a game store to make that legal...

EDIT: Wait, maybe some auction service like EBay is the way to go, but that may cost a bit, as nobody is goign to sell their copy for 6$ and with "Buy Now" option (and you'd have to be darn lucky to buy that before everyone else).

[IronBeer]

Ah! Possible brainwave. Have you tried using a download manager? Without knowing many specifics of your situation, you may be able to resume downloading after GOG shuts off the connection.

[Narvi]

If he owns it already, I honestly don't see anything wrong with sending him a physical copy. It's just a matter of delivery after all.

[Dragon]

Then it's a valid solution, now we only need to find somebody who won't mind sending his copy via mail (I can't even find mine after my younger brother got his hands on it).
Also, including a DVD with FSO offline installer in the package would save him a lot of downloading.

[Colonol Dekker]

Or he could get one from play.com / amazon...

[Dragon]

Yes, but as I said:

EDIT: Wait, maybe some auction service like EBay is the way to go, but that may cost a bit, as nobody is goign to sell their copy for 6$ and with "Buy Now" option (and you'd have to be darn lucky to buy that before everyone else).

[Bobboau]

remember a few years ago when copies of FS2 were going for hundreds of dollars?

[Goober5000]

After you have done that, reread the sentence that says

Any permissions granted herein are provided on a temporary basis and can be withdrawn by Interplay Productions at any time. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.

Interplay revised the EULA to no longer include the "Friend's clause" years ago. Since it is an EULA, the change applies retroactively to all copies of FS2.

Yeah, and I seriously doubt that part of the EULA is enforceable.  First, there's no exchange of "consideration" (i.e. money) for the EULA; second, the EULA is take-it-or-leave-it and there's no "meeting of the minds"; third, this is effectively Interplay holding hostage a copy of the game that the user legitimately bought and paid for.

Of course, I wouldn't want to be the guy that tests that in court.

On the other hand, this listing on eBay has a Buy It Now copy of FS2 on sale for $7.  And Amazon has a copy of FS1 on sale for $5.

[Snail]

remember a few years ago when copies of FS2 were going for hundreds of dollars?

Yes.

I bought one.

[Narvi]

For hundreds of dollars.

What.

[Snail]

100+ dollars (singapore dollars). That was about 33+ pounds sterling at the time.

Iunno how it is due to inflation though.

[Titan]

Goddamit I want a hard copy of FS2... My copy of FS2: Collosus still sits by the computer. I don't want to let it go.

[Narvi]

Can't you just burn it to a DVD?

I'm fairly sure that FSOpen is completely portable.

[stljim]

Hello everyone,

I appreciate everyone's comments.  As an update I tried to get FS2 from usenet but all I could find was a 1.5Gig update (which I downloaded over about 25hrs =)  And to top it off the fs2cd.exe has a trojan...

Look, I would be glad to reimburse anyone who'd be willing to send me ta copy via snail-mail.  Please contact me off-line via [email protected] for my Camp Phoenix address here in Kabul.


Again, thank you again everyone!

--Jim