Difference between revisions of "Getting FreeSpace"

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There are several different ways of getting Freespace.
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There are a few different ways of getting your hands on FreeSpace 2.
  
== Buy it ==
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==[https://www.gog.com/ Good Old Games] (GOG)==
Of course, there are still a few copies of Freespace 2 floating around, up for sale on eBay, or maybe lying in the bargain bin at your local computer store - although the latter's pretty doubtful. Freespace 2 has not been mass-produced in the States for several years, so checking places that sell used software is your only recourse. Freespace, of course, has been out-of-print (so to speak) for even longer.
 
  
== Get it from a friend ==
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A new digital distribution service for classic games, including both FreeSpace titles, which launched in late 2008.  GOG is selling [https://www.gog.com/game/freespace_2 FreeSpace 2] for $9.99 (USD) and the original [https://www.gog.com/game/freespace_expansion FreeSpace] for $9.99 with no digital rights management strings attached.  Definitely the most highly-recommended means of obtaining the games at the present time.
  
Oddly enough, Freespace 2 actually has a clause in the license agreement that states that it's legal to give a copy of Freespace 2 to a friend - as long as it's for noncommercial use. So, be nice to anyone who has it, and maybe they'll burn it for you.
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==Steam==
  
== Get it from HOTU ==
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FreeSpace 2 was available on Steam in June 2014.
  
HOTU also has Freespace 2 [http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?id=4150 listed] in their downloads. Although this download went down for a brief time in the past, it is one of the most reliable ways of getting Freespace 2 over the internet. Unfortunately, the version included with HOTU is stripped-down. Fortunately, it is possible to correct this. By grabbing the missing VP files from a source such as [http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~freespace/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16047 Fractux's FTP], and deleting or renaming the original "data" directory of the HOTU download, you can bring Freespace 2 back to its fully-featured potential.-
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==Physical Copies==
  
As of January 30th, 2006 "The game is already updated to v1.2 so there is no need to run the update." according to the readme.txt included with the HOTU version.
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There are still copies of FS2 floating around, but finding them is not always easy.
  
== Freespace Zone ==
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So where could you grab a copy?
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* [https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XFreeSpace+2.TRS0&_nkw=FreeSpace+2&_sacat=0 There are usually some up for sale on eBay].
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* A Bargain Bin.
  
The [http://www.freespacezone.com Freespace Zone] has .bin type images of all three CDs of Freespace 2 and the single CD of original Freespace, archived in the RAR format. Unfortunately the .cue files are not included. There's three ways to deal with this problem.
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FreeSpace 2 has not been mass-produced for several years, so checking places that sell used software is your only recourse if you need to buy locally. The original FreeSpace has been out-of-print (so to speak) for even longer, but luckily for you you can play FS1 by getting the [[FreeSpace Port]], but you'll need FS2 set up first.
  
  
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<!-- Keeping this commented out until I get the Installer section cleaned up
'''Using Virtual Clone Drive'''
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Turey and [DW]-Hunter have created two installers for those who do not have the Retail version or are missing some VP or Cutscene files can use the [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,43905.0.html Freespace Online Installer].  
 
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Note, Retail is a requirement to install freespace open and the freespace open installer doesn't include the retail files. You will never need the CDs to play retail with this installer, This installer includes Kazan's no-cd crack that doesn't have the problems that have been occurring in the HOTU crack.  
The first way to fix this is to install using [http://www.elby.de/fun/software/index.html Virtual Clone Drive]. Virtual Clone Drive is a free program that creates a virtual drive on your computer, but instead of using a physical CD/DVD, it uses a ripped disk image. When you install Virtual Clone Drive, it will ask you to pick which file types you want to associate with it. Make sure you select at least .bin. When the install is finished, you'll get an icon for Virtual Clone Drive (It's a weird sheep picture). Double-click it, and you'll get this:
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As an option you can download the Freespace Open Installer at the end of the retail installation. If you have retail and you just want the Freespace Online Installer you can goto the [http://www.fsoinstaller.com/downloads.html FSOInstaller site] or visit [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,42854.0.html Hard-light's forum post].  
<br>[[Image:VCD1.JPG]]<br>
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This is probably the easiest way and most user friendly way to get freespace2 and freespace open.But if you wish to have the cds there are many other sites you can download them from, one of the most popular sites for the cds is one of Hunter's sites, [http://www.freespacezone.com FreespaceZone].
Since there's three disks, select 3 from the drop-down box. When you open My Computer, you'll notice three of the drives have the weird sheep icon. Right click on one of these drives, and select "Mount...":
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<br>[[Image:VCD2.JPG]]<br>
 
In the Open dialog, navigate to the folder with the .bin files. Change the file type to "Other Images: to view them, then select the first disc. Repeat with the other disks, and you will be ready to install FreeSpace 2.
 
<br>[[Image:VCD3.JPG]]<br>
 
When you're done with the install, just open up the Virtual Clone Drive window again and change the number of drives back to "Disabled".
 
 
 
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''' Other Methods '''
 
 
 
There's also a freeware program called "CD Mage" that can automatically create the .cue files for you. (You'l have to search for it as its site is mirrored all over the web on free hosts, thus the site linked today may not be there tomorrow.) The Freespace Zone does not mention that the Freespace 2 image files they have are MODE 2 with a block size of 2352.
 
 
 
If you want to just use notepad or other text editor to make .cue files, here's the info. Just copy and paste each into an empty text file and save at disc1.cue, disc2.cue and disc3.cue, placing each in the same folder with its matching .bin file.
 
 
 
FILE "disc1.bin" BINARY
 
  TRACK 01 MODE2/2352
 
    INDEX 01 00:00:00
 
 
 
FILE "disc2.bin" BINARY
 
  TRACK 01 MODE2/2352
 
    INDEX 01 00:00:00
 
 
 
FILE "disc3.bin" BINARY
 
  TRACK 01 MODE2/2352
 
    INDEX 01 00:00:00
 
 
 
== BitTorrent ==
 
 
 
Freespace 2 is soon going to be made available via HLP's BitTorrent tracker. See the [[BitTorrent(Main)|main BitTorrent article]] for more information about this method of distribution.
 
  
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<!-- Just keeping these around for reference until I've added all the needed links
 
== Get it from another source ==
 
== Get it from another source ==
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There are other sources out there, that may have ISOs of the CDs, the VPs, etc.
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You may find some info on this thread of the HLP forums : [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,38195.msg896412.html#msg896412 here] or [http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,38195.0.html here].
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There are other sources out there, that may have ISOs of the CDs, the VPs, etc.
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[[Category:Acquiring FreeSpace]]
You may find some info on this thread of the HLP forums : http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,38195.0.html
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[[Category:Source Code Project]]

Latest revision as of 08:15, 16 November 2017

There are a few different ways of getting your hands on FreeSpace 2.

Good Old Games (GOG)

A new digital distribution service for classic games, including both FreeSpace titles, which launched in late 2008. GOG is selling FreeSpace 2 for $9.99 (USD) and the original FreeSpace for $9.99 with no digital rights management strings attached. Definitely the most highly-recommended means of obtaining the games at the present time.

Steam

FreeSpace 2 was available on Steam in June 2014.

Physical Copies

There are still copies of FS2 floating around, but finding them is not always easy.

So where could you grab a copy?

FreeSpace 2 has not been mass-produced for several years, so checking places that sell used software is your only recourse if you need to buy locally. The original FreeSpace has been out-of-print (so to speak) for even longer, but luckily for you you can play FS1 by getting the FreeSpace Port, but you'll need FS2 set up first.