[zheoffec]

I had heard somewhere on the internet that work was being done on fs2_open that didn't require the retail .vp files? Is this true? If so where can I see their development status?

PS Since Volition open-sourced fs2, does that not include the .vp files?

[The E]

No, FS2 was not and has never been released for free. We got the source code for the engine, but the actual game data was always and still is the property of Interplay; Volition was never in a position to give it away.

Now, it is possible to build games using fs2_open that do not require the FS2 files (The Babylon Project, Diaspora, WCS and the upcoming Wings of Dawn standalone are all examples of this), but you cannot use those releases to play FS2 for free.

[chief1983]

There are several total conversions (The Babylon Project, Wing Commander Saga, and Diaspora) set outside the FS2 universe that are standalone and require no retail content.  I don't know of a TC release of anything set in the FreeSpace universe yet, although Blue Planet might have been working on something like that.

Volition open-sourced the code for the engine, Interplay holds the rights to the FreeSpace universe and the intellectual property aside from the engine code.

Bugger, someone beat me, posting it anyway.

[General Battuta]

Inferno will probably be released as a standalone, and Blue Planet is modestly likely to head that direction in the future to avoid dependency problems.

[Kopachris]

Theoretically, someone might be able to get away with releasing VPs that would allow FS2 to be played without any retail files, but it would require (among other things) new voice work, sound effects, and interface art, and if the work is higher quality than the original retail stuff, it would likely become more popular than buying the game from official sources (such as GOG), which is always a recipe for a lawsuit.  (Companies generally don't care too much as long as people are still buying their product.  When a product derived from their IP becomes more popular than the original, though, they tend to flex their right to shut it down.)

[mjn.mixael]

Well, I suppose that's possible, but not really probable. FSU is where this could theoretically happen, but we've already discussed it a few times. If that fantasy becomes reality and all assets are upgraded, we in FSU would not include things like table data in order to ensure that people still buy a legal copy.

[Nohiki]

The whole problem IMHO is in the fact that [V] / Interplay also owns the story and the universe, that is why even if all the assets are re-done, 'canon' is still subject to copyright.

[Dragon]

If that fantasy becomes reality and all assets are upgraded, we in FSU would not include things like table data in order to ensure that people still buy a legal copy.

Don't forget that table data is available from any bigger retail mod (and more obscure ones can be gotten from TCs). Even now, a dedicated enough McGuyver could create a working FSO install using just the released mods.

[mjn.mixael]

Forcing someone to scour through old retail mods to piece together a full set of retail data is a far cry from offering the entire FS2 game data for free as a simple upgrade pack. And then even if this entirely hypothetical (never gonna happen) reality came true.. and then if someone did put together such a set of retail data, I'm willing to bet our admins would have a thing or two to say about it.

But that's never going to happen. There will never be a new voice acting effort to replace the retail dialog, for one. There's also a crapton of interface sounds that aren't upgraded.. cause.. why? Who needs a hi-fi beep?

[Fury]

FS2 is only $9.99 at GoG.com and is often in sale, reducing the price further. There's no reason not to buy it.

[mjn.mixael]

FS2 is only $9.99 at GoG.com and is often in sale, reducing the price further. There's no reason not to buy it.

Indeed. 

[Kobrar44]

FSport [IIRC] has a policy that you have to own FS1 to play it. Maybe there should be a note that any FS2-related mod released on HLP has to demand FS2 as well? For the sake of righteousness.

[The E]

No. Encouraging the acquisition of FS2 through legal means is one thing, being dicks about it another.