[TopAce]

I'm at crossroads here.

My newest campaign is nearing completion. As soon as grammar checking is finished, I'll release it. Testing required many campaign run-throughs, with various gameplay and graphical settings each time to cover as many possibilities as I can. One of these run-throughs included not using MediaVPs, and I found some missing background images (LS nebulas) and textures. The campaign doesn't crash anywhere. Gameplay remains unaffected as far as I could test it.

My question is this:

Am I required to take into consideration players who don't use MediaVPs, including all required files from the main MediaVP into my mod's download VP, resulting in a larger file size, or should I just release it with a disclaimer: "Use MediaVPs to play this mod with"?

In other words: Do you think that anyone would be playing without the MediaVPs?

[The E]

Well, there are people out there who don't use the mediavps. Personally, I'd just make a note in the release post, saying something like "This mod was built for use with the MediaVPs", and include a mod.ini loading the mvps as a dependency. What you should not do is include mvp assets in your own mod, as it just makes the download larger.

[TopAce]

Hmm... that will result in missions without any backgrounds whatsoever, and Dragon's hi-poly Raynor with some "holes," which are of course missing textures.

[The E]

Yes, but that's what the note about the mediavps is for.

Seriously, the only time I have seen people not use the mediavps is during multiplayer. Everyone, and I mean everyone else, has the ability to run at least the non-advanced mvps; and I sort of have not much empathy for those who can't.

Look at it this way: If there are people who can't use the mediavps for whatever reason, chances are they're unable to use the hi-poly Raynor and other custom models.

[Dragon]

You can also include just the required textures and write that it requires "Mediavps or Lightspeed's nebulae pack".
Lightspeed's pack should be available on FSMods.
Or make an optional download with everything needed to play without mediavps.

[TopAce]

Yes, but that's what the note about the mediavps is for.

Seriously, the only time I have seen people not use the mediavps is during multiplayer. Everyone, and I mean everyone else, has the ability to run at least the non-advanced mvps; and I sort of have not much empathy for those who can't.

Look at it this way: If there are people who can't use the mediavps for whatever reason, chances are they're unable to use the hi-poly Raynor and other custom models.

Mesa convinced.

[Jeff Vader]

Uh, I recall the FSU'd FS2 missions being done so that if LS nebulae are nowhere to be found, retail nebulae are used automagically instead. Or at least I recall them being so back when they weren't included in the MediaVPs yet. (I could be wrong, though.)

[Shivan Hunter]

The nebulae (neb## and dneb##) are replaced with Lightspeed effects in MV_Effects. Missions with proper backgrounds and other tweaks were released, but I don't think they're in the MVPs [yet].

Just checked- they may be in the 3.6.10 patch, since that's the only vp that contains mission files. I cba to check though.

On topic: I have a budget rig that I built a bit over 3 years ago IIRC, and I can run MV_Advanced fine. My crappy little tablet for uni can even run with everything except that- not that I'd want to. Laptop keyboards suck for gaming.

As long as you don't require Advanced, I'd say most people could play your mod.