🚀 go-pugleaf

> Any Freespace players here?  I've never played it and am thinking of 
> installing it.  Does it run on modern computers, does it work with usb 
> joysticks, any other issues I should be aware of?
> 
> Also, I've always had problems with joysticks slipping, flopping around, 
> tipping over, and generally being awkward to use on a desk surface.  Any 
> good setups to share!

Freespace is totally, completely, utterly awesome. It absolutely runs om
modern computers and since Volition released the source code (to FS2,
that is), a bunch of the community have upgraded it immensely. Go to
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,42854.0.html to get the
installer for the latest version. Note that though the installer itself
is relatively small, it downloads about 500 megs of files during the
installation if you pick everything (as you should).

If you're not installing the SCP (or you only have FS1), install the
latest patches (not completely sure where they are now, but
http://www.3dgamers.com/games/ is always a good place to try). FS1 in
particular needs the latest patch before it will run on WinXP.

I recommend running it in OpenGL mode (SCP only) - it seems to behave a
little better on my system with that.

To play the original campaign, there's a mod called FSPort, located at
http://fsport.hard-light.net/website/ - go to Downloads and get:
-FS Port 3.0.3
-FS Port 3.0 Mission Pack
-FS 1 Training
-sparky_hi_fs1 (don't get the patch - the one is already up to date)
-fsport-hi_res
-fsport-glow
-fsport-shine
-warble_fs1
-tango_fs1
-stu_fs1 (again, forget the patch)

The videos for FS1 (which incidentally has the best cinematic ever as
its intro) and 2 in AVI format can be found from links at
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/FAQ/movies.html - the source code
that Volition released did not contain the movie code, so people have
converted them in to XviD.

And when you're done with the FS1 and FS2 campaigns, there's a load of
excellent user-made ones:
-Sync
-Transcend (these two are the best, in my opinion)
-Deus Ex Machina (a comedy campaign)
-Just Another Day
-Just Another Day 2: Electric Boogaloo (this series is also humorous)
-Derelict
-Homesick

USB joysticks work just fine (whether on the original or SCP version) -
the one I use is a Saitek X45

As for joysticks banging around, there's not much I can do about that.
Some, like mine, have recesses on the back where you can insert rubber
suction cups (the kind which you can attach things to windows with), but
not all do. The best thing I can think of then is to fold up a jumper
(or other large item of clothing) and stick it under the joystick, so
when it does bang around, damage to the desk and joystick is minimised.