FS2 Data Structure

WARNING: THIS PAGE IS FULLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT !!

Introduction

Apart from the game engine (the game executable), or mission editor (FRED), the game needs data to run; it needs missions, sounds, 3D models, textures... Freespace2 is highly moddable because nearly none of this data is embedded inside the game executable. In this way the user can always change nearly all game data.

Like all your applications you'll have Freespace 2 installed in one folder in your hard drive. We will call this folder /freespace2, although it can have any other name (/fs2, /fspace2, or whatever). Inside this folder, Freespace 2 stores all its game data in three places:

• Unpacked, ie. individual files, inside data folder within Freespace 2 installation folder, ie. in /freespace2/data. (data name is compulsory).
  Inside data folder, the game contents are classified and stored in several subfolders. Below, you have the full list of data subfolders with their description and contents, (remember that all their names are compulsory). The most commonly used are:
  • effects
  • maps
  • missions
  • models
  • music
  • sounds
  • tables
  • voice
• Packed in vp archives data holders. This kind of archives just contain individual files in a similar way as "normal" archives like rar or zip do. They are placed in /freespace2 folder. Special software, like vpmage, is needed to build them.
  vp archives also follow the data structure, so, even while packed in a vp archive, your missions will be in /data/missions and your ship 3D models in /data/models.
• SCP fs2_open addition: Auxiliary data folders loaded through -MOD launcher flag. Retail version only use both former places. But fs2_open, (and FRED2_open), can use any other auxiliary folder to contain game data. This feature allows using several different mods without having undesired cross-effects. More important info about this feature and about loading priority can be found in -MOD launcher flag help.