Freespace 2 - joystick recommendations...

[Malladine]

So the title pretty much says it all. I use windows XP and will get vista at some point.

Saitek? Logitech? Definitely USB right? $100 a soft limit.

 

[razor2025]

You can easily find a cheap Logitech USB stick for ~$20-40. You really don't need uber super stick to play Freespace 2. Rudder/Z-axis was really helpful for me, so try to find ones that have the twist on the stick.

 

[Malladine]

yeah i was thinking something with a half dozen buttons that i could program and a twist stick. So just any usb logitech then? I owned a wingman once and it constantly lost calibration...i need a joystick that keeps calibrated

 

[Malak]

Hmm, I need to dig up my old copy of Freespace and play it... been a long time.

 

[Malladine]

it's really a lot of fun, i am impressed

 

[CP5670]

I have always used a keyboard only, although many others do use sticks.

Are you playing the original game or FSO, by the way?

 

[Malladine]

what's FSO? I'm playing straight up Freespace 2. In the campaign menu, there's just the one.
I just reformatted so am going through it again now, but i'd love more campaigns for when i'm done with this one...!!

and yeah, i use keyboard now and it's fine, but to save my wrist i thought i'd get a joystick

 

[CP5670]

I'm referring to the community upgrade based on the FS2 source code. The new graphics and other things are vastly superior to the original. You can get the exes here and the upgraded content here. There are also a bunch of user-made campaigns available there.

 

[blurredvision]

I just recently found my original Freespace cd's. They've been sitting in a shoe-box for all eternity . Got the game with my old Logitech Wingman Force. Loved that thing .

 

[Scooby Doo]

Don't forget to get a much newer executable at hard-light.net

 

[biggestmuff]

I remember reading something about Freespace a few months back about it being freeware or something; I don't remember. The game looks cool. What do I need to get started with it?

 

[Scooby Doo]

Heres the Wiki page: Hard-Light Wiki

and their main forums Hard Light Forums

The lastest version is 3.6.9 and can be found here: FS2 3.6.9

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: Scooby Doo
Heres the Wiki page: Hard-Light Wiki

and their main forums Hard Light Forums

The lastest version is 3.6.9 and can be found here: FS2 3.6.9

After 2 previous unsuccesful attempts at d/ling, installing and configuring FS2, I finally got all set up last night. Even though the graphics are dated, it's a fun game.

I had to d/l and configure PPJoy and PPJoy Joy in order to use two controllers; CH USB Fighterstick and CH USB Pro Pedals.

 

[CP5670]

Did you get the media VP content packages? They improve the graphics by leaps and bounds and make FS2 look comparable to games from a few years ago, if not the latest titles. See my last post for the link.

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: CP5670
Did you get the media VP content packages? They improve the graphics by leaps and bounds and make FS2 look comparable to games from a few years ago, if not the latest titles. See my last post for the link.

I used that java coded installer that someone made. It took about 3 hours for it to d/l and install all of the components.

I started playing FS2 without configuring any of the mods, so I'm not sure if I'm seeing the upgraded graphics or not.

 

[0roo0roo]

my logitech has never failed me, the one with the square base and rotating handle.
basically the joystick market is stagnant, haven't seen anything new in years used to be a sorta competition with force feedback ones but it seems they ditched that

 

[CP5670]

I used that java coded installer that someone made. It took about 3 hours for it to d/l and install all of the components.

I started playing FS2 without configuring any of the mods, so I'm not sure if I'm seeing the upgraded graphics or not.

See if you have mv_effects.vp, mv_models.vp and a few other such files somewhere in your FS2 folder. I think the installer you used downloads them. If you have them, it's probably just a matter of setting the command line flags. Run the Launcher program and select the JPG/TGA textures, glow maps and specular maps. Those are pretty much the bare minimum of options that you want to have enabled. The environmental mapping is also worth trying out, although it currently doesn't look right on all ships.

 

[Scooby Doo]

Originally posted by: CP5670
The environmental mapping is also worth trying out, although it currently doesn't look right on all ships.

Correct, it greatly depends on how/if their shinemaps are done. I know mine don't look very good at all with environmental.

 

[biggestmuff]

I guess I've just been playing the FS2 retail.

I keep getting application errors when trying to run FS2 Open:

The instruction at "0x7c9111cd" referenced memory at "0x00000000". The memory could not be "read".

Any ideas?

With Launcher 5.5a, I have fs2_open_3_6_9.exe selected at the top. Do I need to select a mod in the MOD tab?