Installing fs2 open - Revision history

TopAce: This is the fourth most popular page, so I'm moving it to a proper title. It exists already, so I have to perform the move by copy/pasting

2009-10-13T16:39:50Z

This is the fourth most popular page, so I'm moving it to a proper title. It exists already, so I have to perform the move by copy/pasting

Show changes

Chief1983: /* Official Releases */ Update to 3.6.10

2009-07-23T20:06:36Z

‎Official Releases: Update to 3.6.10

Chief1983: Updated windows launcher version and link

2009-07-23T20:04:03Z

Updated windows launcher version and link

Chief1983: Added other platforms' launchers

2009-06-21T18:54:57Z

Added other platforms' launchers

TopAce: It's still not "Freespace"

2009-03-21T10:45:58Z

It's still not "Freespace"

Chief1983: Added information about installing the cutscenes

2009-03-20T20:15:47Z

Added information about installing the cutscenes

Chief1983: Added cross platform dev forum link to Recent Builds

2009-03-20T19:50:47Z

Added cross platform dev forum link to Recent Builds

Chief1983: Fixed some grammar

2009-03-20T19:46:47Z

Fixed some grammar

Chief1983: /* Step Four: Choosing your MediaVPs */

2008-12-20T07:23:07Z

‎Step Four: Choosing your MediaVPs

Chief1983: General information updates

2008-12-20T07:22:08Z

General information updates

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 === Official Releases ===
-The first type is the "stable" release build. Additionally, some official release builds are available with installers. It's a good idea to get the most recent official release, even if you end up deciding to get a recent build anyway. Current official release is '''FreeSpace Open 3.6.9'''.
+The first type is the "stable" release build. Additionally, some official release builds are available with installers. It's a good idea to get the most recent official release, even if you end up deciding to get a recent build anyway. Current official release is '''FreeSpace Open 3.6.10'''.
-[http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,44291.0.html FreeSpace Open 3.6.9 release thread]
+[http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,64520.0.html FreeSpace Open 3.6.10 release thread]
 === Recent Builds ===

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 Unless you are using an extremely old build, you will want to get the appropriate launcher for your OS.  It may be bundled with your release but the direct download link is below.
-Windows:  [http://fs2source.warpcore.org/exes/Launcher55d.rar Launcher 5.5d download]
+Windows:  [http://fs2source.warpcore.org/exes/Launcher55e.zip Launcher 5.5e download]
 OS X:  Soulstorm's [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,51391.0.html OS X Launcher 3.0]

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 == Step Two: Getting the Launcher ==
-Unless you are using an extremely old build, you will want to get Launcher 5.5 which is bundled with the FreeSpace Open 3.6.9 release but a direct download link is provided below.
+Unless you are using an extremely old build, you will want to get the appropriate launcher for your OS.  It may be bundled with your release but the direct download link is below.
-[http://fs2source.warpcore.org/exes/Launcher55d.rar Launcher 5.5d download]
+Windows:  [http://fs2source.warpcore.org/exes/Launcher55d.rar Launcher 5.5d download]
 == Step Three: Choosing a build ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-This guide assumes you already have a working copy of Freespace 2 installed. If not, see [[Installing Freespace 2]]. Also, this build assumes you do not use an installer. If you do, skip down to the part where it talks about configuring fs2_open.
+This guide assumes you already have a working copy of FreeSpace 2 installed. If not, see [[Installing FreeSpace 2]]. Also, this build assumes you do not use an installer. If you do, skip down to the part where it talks about configuring fs2_open.
 == Quick Start: Using the Online Installer ==
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 If Turey's installer is down, or if you want to assemble it all yourself, you need the following components, the rest of this guide tells you about those components and various inner workings of the SCP:
-* First, you need to install the retail data from [[Installing Freespace 2 | Freespace 2]]
+* First, you need to install the retail data from [[Installing FreeSpace 2|FreeSpace 2]]
 * Second, the '''fs2_open build'''. This is the core game engine, a single executable file.
-* Next, the '''Launcher'''. This lets you configure the fs2_open executable for your particular system, in much the same way the original Freespace 2 launcher is used to configure it.
+* Next, the '''Launcher'''. This lets you configure the fs2_open executable for your particular system, in much the same way the original FreeSpace 2 launcher is used to configure it.
 * Finally, the '''MediaVPs'''. These contain all sorts of graphical improvements and are highly recommended. Version numbers of mediaVPs generally agree with the fs2_open build that they're supposed to be used with.
@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 There are two main types of fs2_open builds, at the time of this writing. A "build" is any executable built from source code. Any build may also be a debug build. (Debug builds usually have names that end with "_d" or "_dbg" or somesuch) If you don't know why you'd want to use a debug build, you're almost certainly better off not using one.
-All builds should be extracted to your main Freespace 2 folder.
+All builds should be extracted to your main FreeSpace 2 folder.
 === Official Releases ===
@@ Line 98: / Line 98: @@
 === Basic setup ===
-At this point, you have one final stage remaining before fs2_open is ready to go. Open up the Launcher. (It should be in your main Freespace 2 folder). Select the EXE you'd like to use by clicking the "Browse..." button at the top of the Launcher.  There are two types typically for any build release, a 'd' or debug and a 'r' or regular/release.  For normal play you will want to use an 'r' build but for any testing, development, or bug reporting you definitely want to use a 'd' build.  For example, fs2_open_3_6_10d.exe vs fs2_open_3_6_10r.exe.
+At this point, you have one final stage remaining before fs2_open is ready to go. Open up the Launcher. (It should be in your main FreeSpace 2 folder). Select the EXE you'd like to use by clicking the "Browse..." button at the top of the Launcher.  There are two types typically for any build release, a 'd' or debug and a 'r' or regular/release.  For normal play you will want to use an 'r' build but for any testing, development, or bug reporting you definitely want to use a 'd' build.  For example, fs2_open_3_6_10d.exe vs fs2_open_3_6_10r.exe.
 Next, ensure that the "Audio/Joystick" and "Network" tabs have the proper settings.
@@ Line 124: / Line 124: @@
 [http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Command-Line_Reference Command line Flags]
-== Step Six: (Optional) Preserving Freespace 2 ==
+== Step Six: (Optional) Preserving FreeSpace 2 ==
-At this point, if you try to start the original Freespace 2 executables, they'll likely crash at some point or other. To prevent this, do the following:
+At this point, if you try to start the original FreeSpace 2 executables, they'll likely crash at some point or other. To prevent this, do the following:
 === Move the mediaVPs to a mod dir ===
-You can take advantage of the SCP's -mod feature and move the mediaVPs to a folder inside your main Freespace 2 folder; this folder can be named anything you like, such as "mediavps". However, whenever you run Freespace 2, you must remember to  select that folder as the current mod. If you want to play another mod, you must make use of the SCP's multiple mod feature.
+You can take advantage of the SCP's -mod feature and move the mediaVPs to a folder inside your main FreeSpace 2 folder; this folder can be named anything you like, such as "mediavps". However, whenever you run FreeSpace 2, you must remember to  select that folder as the current mod. If you want to play another mod, you must make use of the SCP's multiple mod feature.
 === Save any existing pilot files ===
@@ Line 138: / Line 138: @@
 == Cutscenes ==
-Depending on how you installed the game, the cutscenes might not be on your hard drive yet.  You can either use the [http://www.freespacemods.net/download.php?view.124 original MVE cutscenes from freespacemods] or from the CDs/DVD by copying them to the Freespace2/data/movies/ folder, or you can use the [http://www.fszmirror.com/files/FS2OGGcutscenepack.vp OGG cutscenes] (both found in [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,38195.msg896412.html#msg896412 ShivanSPS Freespace 2 SCP Installation Procedure]).  The Ogg cutscenes are smaller but might not perform as well on older hardware that could run the MVEs without problem.  The Ogg pack is distributed as a VP, so it gets placed directly in your Freespace2 folder.  Now you should have the full gamut of updated and retail content installed!
+Depending on how you installed the game, the cutscenes might not be on your hard drive yet.  You can either use the [http://www.freespacemods.net/download.php?view.124 original MVE cutscenes from freespacemods] or from the CDs/DVD by copying them to the FreeSpace2/data/movies/ folder, or you can use the [http://www.fszmirror.com/files/FS2OGGcutscenepack.vp OGG cutscenes] (both found in [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,38195.msg896412.html#msg896412 ShivanSPS FreeSpace 2 SCP Installation Procedure]).  The Ogg cutscenes are smaller but might not perform as well on older hardware that could run the MVEs without problem.  The Ogg pack is distributed as a VP, so it gets placed directly in your FreeSpace 2 folder.  Now you should have the full gamut of updated and retail content installed!
 Note:  Do not use the AVI versions, support for them has been removed in fs2_open versions 3.6.10 and higher.
 [[Category:Source Code Project]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:15, 20 March 2009
Line 135:		Line 135:

	It's recommended you back up the originals as well, in case you accidentally click on the non-SCP version while in the SCP. (It should warn you that it's going to destructively convert them, however.)		It's recommended you back up the originals as well, in case you accidentally click on the non-SCP version while in the SCP. (It should warn you that it's going to destructively convert them, however.)
		+
		+	== Cutscenes ==
		+
		+	Depending on how you installed the game, the cutscenes might not be on your hard drive yet. You can either use the [http://www.freespacemods.net/download.php?view.124 original MVE cutscenes from freespacemods] or from the CDs/DVD by copying them to the Freespace2/data/movies/ folder, or you can use the [http://www.fszmirror.com/files/FS2OGGcutscenepack.vp OGG cutscenes] (both found in [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,38195.msg896412.html#msg896412 ShivanSPS Freespace 2 SCP Installation Procedure]). The Ogg cutscenes are smaller but might not perform as well on older hardware that could run the MVEs without problem. The Ogg pack is distributed as a VP, so it gets placed directly in your Freespace2 folder. Now you should have the full gamut of updated and retail content installed!
		+
		+	Note: Do not use the AVI versions, support for them has been removed in fs2_open versions 3.6.10 and higher.

	[[Category:Source Code Project]]		[[Category:Source Code Project]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:50, 20 March 2009
Line 77:		Line 77:

	[http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/board,97.0.html Recent builds forum]		[http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/board,97.0.html Recent builds forum]
		+
		+	[http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/board,113.0.html Cross Platform Development forum (for Linux/OS X builds)]

	=== Nightly Builds ===		=== Nightly Builds ===

@@ Line 86: / Line 86: @@
 == Step Four: Choosing your MediaVPs ==
-With the release of the 3.6.10 MediaVPs, there are now two types of installs.  A MV_Complete, which includes everything, including the Advanced (high-end PC oriented) effects, and the separate MV_* files.  The detailed instructions for installing and the current links can currently be found in the [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,58230.0.html 3.6.10 MediaVPs Release Thread].
+With the release of the 3.6.10 MediaVPs, there are now two types of installs.  A MV_Complete, which includes everything, including the Advanced (high-end PC oriented) effects, and the separate MV_* files.  The detailed instructions for installing and the current links can currently be found in the MediaVPs Release Thread linked below.
 Mediavps should be installed in a new 'mediavps' directory under the main FreeSpace directory (\freespace2\mediavps) This preserves both possibility to play with either with retail FreeSpace 2 vp files if this is desired (for example in multiplayer) or using the retail FreeSpace 2 executive files and requires minimal extra time to set up. (See step six for further details).

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 This Installer is known to work on Windows, Linux(tested on Gentoo and Fedora, should work on others), and Mac (OSX Panther, with a hacked install of Java 1.5)
-The most recent Installer includes:
+At the time of the last update, the installer includes (but is not limited to):
 * FreeSpace Open 3.6.9 Final (regular and debug)
 * FreeSpace Open 3.6.10 Experimental (regular and debug)
 * FRED2 Open 3.6.9 Final (regular and debug)
-* Launcher 5.5a
+* Launcher 5.5c
 * launcher6.ini
 * Mac Executables
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 There are three main components that you need to get the most out of fs2_open.
-If Turey's installer is down, or if you want to assemble it all yourself, you need the following components, the rest of this guide tells you about those components and various inner workings of hte SCP:
+If Turey's installer is down, or if you want to assemble it all yourself, you need the following components, the rest of this guide tells you about those components and various inner workings of the SCP:
-* First, the '''Launcher'''. This lets you configure the fs2_open executable for your particular system, in much the same way the original Freespace 2 launcher is used to configure it.
+* First, you need to install the retail data from [[Installing Freespace 2 | Freespace 2]]
-* Next, the '''fs2_open build'''. This is the core game engine, a single executable file.
+* Second, the '''fs2_open build'''. This is the core game engine, a single executable file.
 * Finally, the '''MediaVPs'''. These contain all sorts of graphical improvements and are highly recommended. Version numbers of mediaVPs generally agree with the fs2_open build that they're supposed to be used with.
@@ Line 77: / Line 78: @@
 [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/board,97.0.html Recent builds forum]
-== Step Four: Choosing your MediaVPs ==
+=== Nightly Builds ===
-There are a variety of different [[MediaVP]]s available for download. No matter what system you have, it should be able to support '''mv_core''' with no degradation in performance. This will enable a few interface improvements that require extra art.
+In addition to recent builds, nightly builds are built every evening after any changes have been applied to the main code base in SVN.  These are put out so that the code base can be quickly verified for general stability.  Testing nightly builds on a regular basis and reporting bugs helps ensure a stable code base is maintained.
-'''Basic installation''' usually includes:
+[http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/board,173.0.html Nightly builds forum]
-[http://fs2source.warpcore.org/mvp368zeta/mv_zpack.zip ZPack]<br>
+== Step Four: Choosing your MediaVPs ==
-[http://fs2source.warpcore.org/mvp368zeta/mv_adveffects.zip Advanced Effects]<br>
+With the release of the 3.6.10 MediaVPs, there are now two types of installs.  A MV_Complete, which includes everything, including the Advanced (high-end PC oriented) effects, and the separate MV_* files.  The detailed instructions for installing and the current links can currently be found in the [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,58230.0.html 3.6.10 MediaVPs Release Thread].
 Mediavps should be installed in a new 'mediavps' directory under the main FreeSpace directory (\freespace2\mediavps) This preserves both possibility to play with either with retail FreeSpace 2 vp files if this is desired (for example in multiplayer) or using the retail FreeSpace 2 executive files and requires minimal extra time to set up. (See step six for further details).
-[http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,39905.0.html MediaVP download page]
+[http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,58230.0.html 3.6.10 MediaVPs Release Thread]
 == Step Five: Configuring Everything ==
@@ Line 100: / Line 96: @@
 === Basic setup ===
-At this point, you have one final stage remaining before fs2_open is ready to go. Open up the Launcher. (It should be in your main Freespace 2 folder). Select the EXE you'd like to use by clicking the "Browse..." button at the top of the Launcher.
+At this point, you have one final stage remaining before fs2_open is ready to go. Open up the Launcher. (It should be in your main Freespace 2 folder). Select the EXE you'd like to use by clicking the "Browse..." button at the top of the Launcher.  There are two types typically for any build release, a 'd' or debug and a 'r' or regular/release.  For normal play you will want to use an 'r' build but for any testing, development, or bug reporting you definitely want to use a 'd' build.  For example, fs2_open_3_6_10d.exe vs fs2_open_3_6_10r.exe.
-Next, ensure that the "Audio/Joystick" and "Network" tabs have the proper settings. (If you have trouble with your joystick not working properly in fs2_open, you may try the "Force 0" or "Force 1" options, which will force fs2_open to use the first or second joysticks, respectively.
+Next, ensure that the "Audio/Joystick" and "Network" tabs have the proper settings.
 === Speech setup ===
-If you are using Windows XP, or have the Speech API installed, fs2_open will be able to read briefings, techroom descriptions, and even ingame messages to you using computer-generated voices. Although no match for real voice acting, it is convenient when valid plot points are mentioned in the middle of combat. Speech in the various locations can be turned on and off by checking and unchecking the check boxes; you can choose which of the installed voices to use in fs2_open by changing the drop-down menu. As of this writing, fs2_open will only use the voice you choose for everything.
+If you are using Windows XP, or have the Speech API installed, fs2_open will be able to read briefings, techroom descriptions, and even ingame messages to you using computer-generated voices. Although no match for real voice acting, it is convenient when valid plot points are mentioned in the middle of combat. Speech in the various locations can be turned on and off by checking and unchecking the check boxes; you can choose which of the installed voices to use in fs2_open by changing the drop-down menu. As of this writing, fs2_open will only use the voice you choose for everything.  Text to Speech is typically only available in stable release builds.  Recent Builds from a coder's test branch will usually not have it, nor will Nightly Builds.
 === Video setup ===
-On the "Video" tab, you can choose which API to use (OpenGL or Direct3D), what resolution to run in, and whether to use anti-aliasing (Multisampling) or not. With FreeSpace Open 3.6.9 '''OpenGL''' is strongly recommended over the Direct3D
+On the "Video" tab, you can choose which API to use (OpenGL or Direct3D), what resolution to run in, and whether to use anti-aliasing (Multisampling) or not. With FreeSpace Open 3.6.9 '''OpenGL''' is strongly recommended over the Direct3D.  Direct3D will no longer be available in 3.6.10 and on, unless a D3D coder joins the team to fix the many issues that have developed with it.
 "Allow non standard modes" will let you choose resolutions other than 1024x768 and 640x480. There may be some small graphics alignment errors, but these are generally small and virtually unnoticeable.
@@ Line 122: / Line 118: @@
 "Custom flags" allows you to add any command line flags that don't show up in the Launcher. This may be because they require additional arguments, as is the case with the "-fov" command line argument. For more information, see the [[Command-Line Reference]] page.
-Finally, the two boxes below this let you toggle the various new features in fs2_open, many of which are graphical improvements. Recommended options for midrange systems are "Enable specular", "Enable glowmaps", "Enable jpg,tga textures", "Enable more realistic lighting", and "Load only used weapons". (You may have to choose a different section in the drop-down box to get to some of these days). There are many, many more options, but these should get you started.
+Finally, the two boxes below this let you toggle the various new features in fs2_open, many of which are graphical improvements. Recommended options for midrange systems are "Enable specular", "Enable glowmaps", "Enable Environment Maps", and "Enable jpg,tga textures" (not in 3.6.10). (You may have to choose a different section in the drop-down box to get to some of these options). There are many, many more options, but these should get you started.
 [http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Command-Line_Reference Command line Flags]