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Freespace 2 Source Code Released
Initri writes "I read a news article (here) on Gamespot that the Freespace 2 source code has been released by Volition. You can download it there, or you can also download it here. Since I don't have the game installed anymore, I wasn't able to try out the code, but it did successfully compile under MSVC 6.0. Looks like there's a lot of learning potential here." Freespace 2 was one of my favorite games, and I wasted many hours playing it.
this place has more information, and the code for free download. it's only a 4MB download so it won't take long. let's see how fast it gets slashdotted...
http://www.freespace-2.com/ddn/sources/freespace2
/*
* Copyright (C) Volition, Inc. 1999. All rights reserved.
*
* All source code herein is the property of Volition, Inc. You may not sell
* or otherwise commercially exploit the source or things you created based on the
* source.
*
*/
line 447, projects\freespace2_public\code\Parse\Encrypt.cpp
"ushort haha_you_dumbass = 0xe2A8;"
Freespace 2 is a space flight sim, vaguely similar to the Wing Commander type games. The storyline is basically linear, though there are a few branching points here and there, a few optional missions. You have numerous opportunities to earn medals throughout the game, you can finish with a ton of medals, or none at all. There's a good selection of ships and weapons to choose from, and a very interesting storyline, good graphics, all-around a very satisfying arcade flight sim. Not terribly realistic though. Freespace 2 also has some very good multiplayer modes, from a traditional deathmatch to some mission-oriented games, even a multiple mission storyline to play through. Again, you can earn medals and like kinds of things in multiplayer. There was also a very nice editor for the game. I wasted several months of my life to this game, it was great fun. Unfortunately, it's hard to find a multiplayer game anymore..... I've still got it sitting on my HD though, and I still play it fairly often. Still haven't seen another space flight sim this good.
yrs,
Ephemeriis
"Work is the curse of the drinking classes." -Oscar Wilde
As a major contributor to the fan community of Freespace 1/2 I'll give you the background on this. Freespaces 1 and 2 were Originally relesed when Volition used Interplay as their Publisher. Since then Volition has been bought by THQ, a rival publisher although Interlplay still heald the rights which is why thes has been a bit sluggish. Interplay, as you know, was consumed by Titus recently and with a lot af campaigning by Dave Baranec (Head Programmer for Volition), on behalf of the fan community managed to get it relesed. Go over to http://www.3dap.com/hlp (Hard Light Productions) which is where the main hub of FreeSpace Development exists now since Volition's official BB was closed due to abuse. And don't forget to check out the forums. There is also a project going to create a Freespace Like game from scratch.
Well, first off, there's more information at http://www.freespace-2.com/ddn/sources/freespace2/ , along with a rar version that's about 2.7 meg.
/ , along with information about the engine and a mailing list.
The source code for Descent 1 and for Descent 2 has also been released, and you can find them at http://www.freespace-2.com/ddn/sources/freespace2
I'm not entirely sure, but since Parallax developed Descent 1 & 2 for Interplay, and Volition developed the Freespace games for Interplay, I think that Interplay would be the one to get credit, at the very least for convincing the other two to release the source. Interplay is earning major karma points...
-Jason-
Freespace 2 was one of my favorite games, and I wasted many hours playing it.
Weakling. It isn't a good game unless you have wasted YEARS playing it. %-)
http://www.gamespy.com/games/971.shtml
I have seen many VB apps claim to be under the GPL; but since Visual Basic has no open source compiler, no sir, they are not.
It doesn't need a free compiler to be free software. (Wasn't Emacs GPL'd before GCC was finished?) The GNU GPL, section 3, states that "However, as a special exception, the source code distributed need not include anything that is normally distributed (in either source or binary form) with the major components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of the operating system on which the executable runs, unless that component itself accompanies the executable." So as long as you distribute Visual Basic's runtime separately from the application, it's possible to GPL a VB app. (VB.NET makes this even easier because the .NET runtime is available from Windows Update.) However, a free app that relies on a non-free compiler is still useless to the Free World.
Will I retire or break 10K?
> why couldn't the author try out the code without having the game installed?
:)
:)
Like Quake, Doom, etc, the data files were not released, only the code for the engine/exe.
> I'm wondering if it is still available for sale somewhere
Yes. I bought the Virgin Interactive "White Label" edition, which includes FreeSpace 1 and 2 for under £10 a few months ago. You should be able to pick up a copy. £10's damn good concidering that's 6 CD's worth of game
> From the screenshots, Freespace 2 appears to be similar to Homeworld [sierra.com] and Terminus [vvisions.com].
Not quite. FreeSpace 2 is more like a space flight sim; you get to fly about in a fighter craft, often around big-ass capital ships you either get to protect, destroy, or run away from. Sometimes in quite yummy nebula's (quite a sight when you see the shadow of an enemy superdestroyer come into view, filling half the sky before melting one of the destroyers you're escorting in one shot
The beam weapons are lovely and substantial; get hit by an anti-fighter beam and you get knocked about like a tin can while you desperately try to get out of it's way.
There are a few very good quality mods too. I can personally recommend the truely excellent Derelict; VolitionWatch is down at the moment though.