Getting FreeSpace

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

Buy it

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

So where could you grab a copy?

• There are usually some up for sale on eBay.
• A Bargain Bin.

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.

Good Old Games (GOG)

A new digital distribution service for classic games, including FreeSpace 2, originally scheduled to launch in September. GOG's preliminary website promises to sell games for prices ranging from $5.99 to $9.99 (USD), with no digital rights management scheme attached. As of October 6, 2008, GOG's website was still open only to those in the "early access beta."

GameTap

GameTap allows premium users to play both FreeSpace 1 and FreeSpace 2.

FreeSpace Open Installer

An installer has been created by Turey to make the process of installing FS2 and FS2 Open a real cinch. This is the easiest way to get all the files you will need in one shot.

The community members hosting these files need to pay for all of the bandwidth that gets used, so please don't download ten copies on ten different computers. Please download it once, then burn the FreeSpace folder onto DVD / CD-R's and transfer it.

See the following article on obtaining and using the FreeSpace Open Installer.

The Home of the Underdogs (HOTU)

HOTU has a copy of FS2 available for download. Follow this link to get to the HOTU FS2 page.

HOTU has always been a reliable way of getting FS2. This version is missing the original cut-scene videos (which is no loss to you if you are using FS2 Open), and it uses a no-CD patched version.

You have the option of downloading files from HOTU using BitTorrent. For more information, see the BitTorrent Section on this page.

NOTE: This version is already updated to final retail version (1.2).

BitTorrent

See the main BitTorrent Article if you need information about getting a BitTorrent client and getting FS2.

The major advantage of getting FreeSpace in this manner is in lowering bandwidth costs. The more people you have sharing copies, the faster you can grab the torrent. A link to a tracker is provided below for your convenience.

NOTE: If you download the original *.iso files, you will have to download and install the FS2 version 1.2 update.

BitTorrent Trackers

• TorrentSpy - FreeSpace
• (need more)

eDonkey

While no longer as popular as BitTorrent, you can still grab FS2 ISO's using an ED2k client.

• Recommended Clients
  • aMule client : (Linux/OSX/Windows)
  • eMule client : (Windows)

Once you install the clients, you can either search for FS2, or use the direct links provided below:

NOTE: If you download the original *.iso files, you will have to download and install the FS2 version 1.2 update.

eD2k links

Complete CD Images (ISO) (You need to download all 3)

ed2k://|file|Freespace_2_(1999).CD1.ChAoScReW.ShareReactor.ISO|636616704|F19DE78F6E5AD57CAEADFDA3EAF3B779|/
ed2k://|file|Freespace_2_(1999).CD2.ChAoScReW.ShareReactor.ISO|713785344|8A1525FD0D785AF8C96F895AC07EB972|/
ed2k://|file|Freespace_2_(1999).CD3.ChAoScReW.ShareReactor.ISO|704397312|930DAA10548879847C60D6294373975A|/