Angel Dust on 13/3/2011 at 08:14
The Freespace games have long been on my 'must get around to playing list'. I was a big fan of the space 'sim' genre and played many of the big name games (Tie Fighter, X-Wing, Wing Commander1,2,3) but for various reasons (lack of funds initially, then buggered joystick and then simply forgetting about them) I never got around to the Freespace games. Well I now aim to rectify this. I've purchased both games from Good Old Games and I'm looking for a little advice.
1) I'm aware of a the (
http://scp.indiegames.us/) FreeSpace Source Code Project but as far as I can tell this is only for the second game. Are there any similar mods for the first game?
2) I found (
http://fsport.hard-light.net/website/) this mod that ports the first game into he second. Has anyone here used it and is it recommended?
3) I need a joystick. Any recommendations? I can't splash out on anything too fancy though.
ZylonBane on 13/3/2011 at 15:19
Both Freespace games are awesome, if a bit steep in the learning curve department. In fact, my longtime online username was selected when registering on a Freespace forum (Hard Light Productions). It's a reference to Star Raiders, Freespace's great-grandfather.
As far as joysticks go, they're nice to have, but it's entirely playable with a mouse. Hell, some people even played it all the way through keyboard-only. Argh.
To anyone out there wondering how impressive a ten-year-old space sim can be, (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VhyMzu12c) just watch this.
Jason Moyer on 13/3/2011 at 15:48
If you can find a used one, I played through both games with an old non-FF MS Sidewinder stick and it was more than servicable.
catbarf on 13/3/2011 at 16:31
Quote Posted by Angel Dust
The Freespace games have long been on my 'must get around to playing list'. I was a big fan of the space 'sim' genre and played many of the big name games (Tie Fighter, X-Wing, Wing Commander1,2,3) but for various reasons (lack of funds initially, then buggered joystick and then simply forgetting about them) I never got around to the Freespace games. Well I now aim to rectify this. I've purchased both games from Good Old Games and I'm looking for a little advice.
They are absolutely fantastic games, you won't be disappointed.
Quote Posted by Angel Dust
1) I'm aware of a the (
http://scp.indiegames.us/) FreeSpace Source Code Project but as far as I can tell this is only for the second game. Are there any similar mods for the first game?
Not like the SCP, no.
I've played through it. You can also download update packs to make the graphics as good as those in the SCP. I would highly recommend it.
If I recall correctly, it is now included in the mod pack of the SCP. When you go to install the SCP, it'll be on the list of fan missions and campaigns you can opt to install.
Quote Posted by Angel Dust
3) I need a joystick. Any recommendations? I can't splash out on anything too fancy though.
I use a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro, as do the guys in my Sturmovik group. It's cheap and has everything you need.
DaBeast on 18/3/2011 at 08:20
Last time I played it, SCP had remade Freespace 1 in the fs2 engine. There are various graphical enhancements and mods aplenty.
Babylon5, Galactica, probably star wars.
All executed from one launcher.
Shadow on 19/3/2011 at 08:43
As far as I know, FSPort is pretty much a direct port of FS1 to FS2. So, FSPort is probably superior to default FS1 in every way imaginable, not the least of which is graphics; the graphical improvements from retail FS1 to FSPort SCP are nothing short of amazing.
Anyway, here are some other good mods to check out:
Procyon Insurgency -- fairly long, new ships/weapons/etc, fairly difficult, story is well done although it's pretty much just a copypaste of FS2
Blue Planet -- IMO, the best mod for FS2 and perhaps of the best mods for any game ever. It combines amazing writing, characters, plot, AND mission design. Like PI above, it can be fairly difficult in some spots. Two parts have been released so far and a third is coming later this year.
Silent Threat Reborn -- Unlike FSPort above which is a direct port of FS1, STR is more of a re imagining of the Silent Threat expansion for FS1. It polishes and improves the mission design and makes the plot a bit more... satisfying.
Uncharted Territory -- A bit smaller than the above, has an interesting plot and good mission design.
Thirith on 19/3/2011 at 11:25
How playable is the game on a gamepad? I have a joystick... somewhere... but it's one of those huge monsters that take up half the available desk space. Is the gamepad experience little better than playing the game with a mouse, or is it absolutely acceptable?
thrawn_121 on 19/3/2011 at 12:32
Quote Posted by Shadow
As far as I know, FSPort pretty much a direct port of FS1 to FS2. So, FSPort is probably superior to default FS1 in every way imaginable, not the least of which is graphics; the graphical improvements from retail FS1 to FSPort SCP are nothing short of amazing.
It does change the balance somewhat I think. Missiles were less accurate in FS1, which can make some escort missions hard, notably one where you have to defend a convoy of three freighters. Since you can't shoot down the missiles, the best you can do is to fly ahead of them and drop countermeasures to try and throw them off course. In the original engine the missiles would hit the ships as well as the containers, but in the port they don't seem to miss the containers at all.
Graphical difference is night and day though, especially with some of the new shivan ships that have been released since the last time I played it.
Never played with a gamepad myself, but people do it, so I imagine it can't be that bad.
catbarf on 19/3/2011 at 16:21
A gamepad will work fine for FS2, it's pretty fast-paced and you can map most of the important functions to the buttons.
ZylonBane on 19/3/2011 at 19:03
...but not all of them. Freespace uses most of the keys on the keyboard, with various shift key combinations as well. This is a game that pretty much requires one hand on the keyboard at all times.
