A slightly old-school game (was Game of the Year in 1999) that is now Open Source and freely distributable (due to a EULA that says you can give copies of the game to friends). It's worth downloading using this nifty little web installer I found
http://www.mediafire.com/?axy2n99xdrzThe Installer is only 20mb, but I recommend running it overnight because it'll download 2-3 gigs of stuff
Installer Instructions:
1. Unzip the Installer folder and put it on your desktop or something. You'll only need it to download the files, then you can delete it.
2. Run the installer program. Hit next until it asks you where to install the program to. I recommend C:\Freespace2, but it has to be a location that has NO SPACES OR SYMBOLS IN THE NAME.
3. Uncheck the "Say Yes to All" Checkbox and hit Next.
4. Here's what you want to have selected:
-Freespace2 Retail Core
--Freespace2 Voice
--Freespace2 Music
--Freespace2 Tech Animations
--Freespace2 Command Briefing Animations
-Freespace Open 3.6.9 Windows Executables
-3.6.8 Zeta MediaVPs With 710 Patches
--3.6.8 Zeta Advanced MediaVPs With 710 Patches
-.OGG Cutscenes
5. Hit next and let it download!!! (prolly 2-3gigs, so do it overnight or something)
6. After thats done, you may need to download and install OpenAL (even if you think you already have it). Download it from:
http://www.openal.org/downloads.htmlAfter Installation:
1. Goto your install directory and open Launcher.exe.
2. Click on the Features tab and insert the following into the 'custom flags' text box (if it's not already there):
-spec -glow -env -jpgtga -noscalevid -missile_lighting -targetinfo -rearm_timer -3dwarp -warp_flash -snd_preload
If any of them make your game too slow to run on an older computer, just disable them
Also, if you have problems with missing textures, make sure to turn off "Enable jpg/tga textures"
3. Go over to the video tab and change the settings to whatever you want. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO KEEP IT IN OPENGL.
4. There's pretty much nothing else you need to worry about. Hit Apply, then hit Run and give the game a test.
In-Game Tweaking:
1. Once ingame, click on the man sitting at the computer at the bottom left of your screen.
I suggest to change the following options:
Add +1 to music and voice (they're just slightly too soft for a dogfight)
Change Mouse to On (LoL....yea, you know its an old game when it's turned off by default xD)
Crank the mouse sensitivity all the way up (it's never fast enough for me...you guys can tweak with it ingame with F3)
If you're a first timer to a space fighter, I might suggest moving the skill level down to Very Easy.
2. Once you're done with the stuff on that screen, click the little eye up at the top to goto the Detail Screen.
I suggest to change whatever you know that your computer can handle. I have everything turned up.
Note: These OGG Cutscenes really beat the heck out of your computer in my experience (on my older pc). Skip em with ESC.
If you have any problems, just PM me and I'll get an answer asap. You must enjoy this game xD
Here's the system requirements for FS2 (true old school and runs on anything lol):
200 MHz CPU, 32 MB RAM, 8X CD-ROM drive, DirectX 6.0, 400 MB available hard disk space, Windows 95
Here's a few pics from the wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Fs2_scp_deimos.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Htlboxart.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Htlasteroids.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Htlsobekflak.jpgFS2 is highly regarded as the last great Space Fighter created, and received an average score of 9.7 among leading game review magazines. If you have any gamer spirit in you at all, check it out.
Oh and say TY to VulturE for finding the great installer and brining a A+ game to you bums
