🚀 go-pugleaf

rms wrote:
> 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?

I'd be interested in answers, too.

> 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!

I screwed mine to a (small) plank of wood and then G-clamped them onto the
desktop - no joke (and no probs either).

--
Steveski / [AB] Daggett

> 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.

> Go to
> http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,42854.0.html to get the
> installer for the latest version.

    You're the man!  But alas, they have removed all download links for 
everything (bandwidth limits).  A true bummer.  I wish someone was offering 
to burn a dvd for a few bucks, like they do for Thief fan missions.

rms 

rms wrote:

>     You're the man!  But alas, they have removed all download links for 
> everything (bandwidth limits).  A true bummer.  I wish someone was offering 
> to burn a dvd for a few bucks, like they do for Thief fan missions.

Hmm. I can download the installer just fine from there, though if you
want to get the whole pack for offline installation, I suggest looking at:

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,39499.0.html

which links to:

http://www.torrentbox.com/torrents-details.php?returnto=%2Faccount-cp.php&id=41728

It contains the complete Freespace 2 and SCP plus several mods. It's
about 2 gigs in size and as of this moment (12:40 GMT, 01/12/2006), it's
got 9 seeders and 9 peers.

I've never tried this one, though. I can't say anything about whether it
works or not.

Here's another link, if you don't want to get the whole torrent:

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,39905.0.html

I think that the mv_zpack is the all-in-1 file. The mp-710 files add a
little more graphical niceness.

"error" <do.not@email.me> wrote in message 
news:plVbh.2994$iZ2.1459@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
> rms wrote:
>
>>     You're the man!  But alas, they have removed all download links for
>> everything (bandwidth limits).  A true bummer.  I wish someone was 
>> offering
>> to burn a dvd for a few bucks, like they do for Thief fan missions.
>
> Hmm. I can download the installer just fine from there, though if you
> want to get the whole pack for offline installation, I suggest looking at:
>
> http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,39499.0.html
>
> which links to:
>
> http://www.torrentbox.com/torrents-details.php?returnto=%2Faccount-cp.php&id=41728
>
> It contains the complete Freespace 2 and SCP plus several mods. It's
> about 2 gigs in size and as of this moment (12:40 GMT, 01/12/2006), it's
> got 9 seeders and 9 peers.
>
> I've never tried this one, though. I can't say anything about whether it
> works or not.

When I go to download the 1.5c to 1.8 update, it takes me to OxyShare, ok, 
fine. I click on the link at the bottom ,as there's nothing else that 
apparent that makes sense that says "Fast and Extreme" with the text: "Size 
of File: 517MB / Downloads: 2142 times" But when I click on that it takes me 
to another page that makes me wait 60 seconds. Then the link for the 
download appears, yet that link just takes me back to the previous page. Is 
there another way to download this? Thanks! 

> [recursive links problem]

    I saw this mentioned in the forum post for the downloads, so look there 
for the solution.  The link I used for FSOpen was this one
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,39499.0.html
but it assumes you have the retail FS2 already installed.

rms