FreeSpace 2 Source Code Project

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FreeSpace 2 SCP
Developer(s) Open source
Series FreeSpace series
Engine Modified FreeSpace engine
Version 3.6.9
Platform(s) Windows Linux Mac
Release date September 30, 2007
Genre(s) Space combat simulator
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer
Media online download
System requirements Freespace 2 retail, 200 MHz CPU, 32 MB RAM, 8X CD-ROM drive, DirectX 6.0, 400 MB available hard disk space, Windows 95, 3D accelerated graphics card
Input methods Keyboard, mouse, (optional) joystick

Contents

[edit] History

Volition, Inc., the company responsible for developing the game FreeSpace 2 was bought over by THQ in 2000. With Interplay Entertainment holding the licenses for the FreeSpace series, Volition could not continue to develop the series. Without any viable use for the source code, Volition released the source code for FreeSpace 2's game engine on 25 April, 2002.[1] This allowed modders the possibility of modifying the game engine almost without limitations. However, because the source code is under a noncommercial license, it does not qualify as free software.

To prevent a plethora of different versions of the game from appearing, a single 'umbrella' project (with the unified goal of enhancing the game) was formed. This is to be the FreeSpace 2 Source Code Project under the leadership of Edward "Inquisitor" Gardner and Ian "Goober5000" Warfield.

FreeSpace 2's license agreement in its installer has a peculiar statement, which seems to give the game's purchaser permission to make copies for "friends and acquaintances on a no cost noncommercial basis."[2] However there are no such statements in the license agreements installed onto the personal computers for all three versions of the game. Neither are there such statements in the instruction manual or the licenses of the patched game.[3][4][5] All of which are more recent than the game installer.

[edit] Types of modifications

The modified FreeSpace 2 engine has the following advantages over the original engine, including (but not limited to):

  • Pixel shader version 3.0
  • Vertex shader version 3.0
  • Normal mapping
  • Parallax mapping
  • Transform, clipping, and lighting, allowing models of considerably greater complexity. (Used as fall-back mode for older systems.)
  • Detail boxing, allowing models of greater complexity. It is an extremely efficient LOD-ing (level-of-detail) method, allowing real-time rendering of models in the several-hundred-thousand-polygon range.
  • Non-vertical turret axis allowing turrets (and other animated subobjects) to be mounted on the sides or non-flat surfaces of ships/models.
  • Extended animation support allowing complex subobject animations.
  • Jpeg and TGA texture compatibility, to eliminate the engine's dependence on 256 colour pcx files.
  • DDS texture compatibility, to utilise efficient video memory usage.
  • EFF container format, for animated effects with the ability to optimise the animation frame-by-frame, can use DDS, Jpeg, TGA texture formats; the only requirement is for the frames to be of the same dimensions.
  • Glow, Shine and Environmental Reflectivity maps; all in with 8-bit RGB channels, that allow giving a specific sheen and rougness to a surface, essentially a rudimentary material system. (FS_SCP 3.7 promises a true material system with pixel-shader support.)
  • Dozens of additional Sexps for controlling the game.
  • Multiple docking (the original only allowed 2 ships to be docked) to model complex cargo/rescue/capture scenarios.
  • Persistent variables for complex campaign management, allowing carrying over data from one mission to another mission.
  • Scripting in the Lua language.
  • OpenGL Support (now a standard feature)
  • Linux and Mac OS X support
  • OpenAL positional audio support
  • OGG support for Vorbis compressed audio files

In addition, content update packs have been developed which take advantage of the upgraded game engine. These packs include higher-poly models and higher resolution textures. The end result of this project is to create a graphically superior (and far more flexible) game engine, while still retaining all of the gameplay elements that made FreeSpace 2 successful.

A recreation of the box art in-game, where a Shivan Moloch-class Corvette fires its beam cannon that pierces through a Terran Deimos-class Corvette. Note the beam reflection off the Perseus-class fighter, as well as the detail of the 'spherical light' from which the beam came from.

A Vasudan Sobek-class Corvette firing off its flak cannons. Note the engine trail off the corvette, as well as the level of detail of the explosions.

Vasudan ship designs feature distinctive earthly colors and rough edges, as shown by this Hatshepsut-class destroyer.

[edit] Notable projects

The primary project FS2_Open takes advantage of the upgraded engine for FreeSpace 2. Most of the other projects are based on science-fiction television shows or movies. Beyond the Red Line tells a side story based on the humans and robotic Cylons of the 2004 Battlestar Galactica television series. Both these projects are implementing partial newtonian flight physics. Another science fiction television series based projects is The Babylon Project, based on the acclaimed Babylon 5. The demo of The Babylon Project was downloaded 100,000 times after two weeks since its announcement,[6] and got mentioned on Apple.com and France's Joystick game magazine.[7] A Star Wars based project, Imperial Alliance is also in the works. There are also projects which converts established video games into using the FS2_Open engine, such as Shadows of Lylat which is converting the Star Fox universe, and Wing Commander Saga which focuses on using the new open engine for the Wing Commander universe

[edit] Tools

Most of these tools are freeware, with several being open-source as well. Most of the tools initially used for developing FreeSpace projects are derived from the tools used for creating mods for the Descent series. Tools such as AniBuilder and AniViewer allows creation and editing of the animation files. The image editing tools (for editing textures) tend to be free, such as GIMP, or Adobe Photoshop for those who can afford it. To create models for ships and other objects for the game, Caligari True Space 3.2 and Blender are the most popular. A commercial choice is 3ds Max, although LightWave is the premier albeit most expensive option. The resulting model files are then converted to the game's POF format with POF Construction Suite, ModelView, or directly from 3ds Max, with the community-made exporter plugin. Recently the community has almost universally adopted the new 2.0 version of the POF Construction Suite. It is the only model conversion utility both under active development and support. It promises to mend all the shortcoming of earlier utilities while implementing new functions. The prime reason for the fast adoption of the converter is the promised increased stability of its in-game models compared to earlier tools. The free FreeSpace Editor 2 (FRED2) is the premier choice for the modders to create and edit missions for their projects. It has been described as stable, easy to use, and possessing deep potential.[7][8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sulic, Ivan. "Freespace Source Code", IGN, 2002-04-25. Retrieved on 2007-10-25. 
  2. ^ [1998-10-03] FreeSpace 2 (Setup application), 1.00, Interplay Entertainment. CD-W58-1048-0. ISBN 1-57629-495-1. “The Software, including, without limitation, all code, data structures, characters, images, sounds, text, screens, game play, derivative works and all other elements of the Software may not be copied (except as provided below), resold, rented, leased, distributed (electronically or otherwise), used on pay-per-play, coin-op or other for-charge basis, or for any commercial purpose. You may make copies of the Software for your personal noncommercial home entertainment use and to give to friends and acquaintances on a no cost noncommercial basis. This limited right to copy the Software expressly excludes any copying or distribution of the Software on a commercial basis, including, without limitation, bundling the product with any other product or service and any give away of the Software in connection with another product or service. Any permissions granted herein are provided on a temporary basis and can be withdrawn by Interplay Productions at any time. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.” 
  3. ^ [1999-09-30] FreeSpace 2 (Instruction manual), 1.00, Interplay Entertainment, 70. MN-W58-1048-0. ISBN 1-57629-495-1. “The Software, including, without limitation, all code, data structures, characters, images, sounds, text, screens, game play, derivative works and all other elements of the Software may not be copied (except as provided below), resold, rented, leased, distributed (electronically or otherwise), used on pay-per-play, coin-op or other for-charge basis, or for any commercial purpose. Any permissions granted herein are provided on a temporary basis and can be withdrawn by Interplay Productions at any time. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.” 
  4. ^ [1999-09-14] FreeSpace 2 (Readme file), 1.00, Interplay Entertainment. ISBN 1-57629-495-1. “The Software, including, without limitation, all code, data structures, characters, images, sounds, text, screens, game play, derivative works and all other elements of the Software may not be copied (except as provided below), resold, rented, leased, distributed (electronically or otherwise), used on pay-per-play, coin-op or other for-charge basis, or for any commercial purpose. Any permissions granted herein are provided on a temporary basis and can be withdrawn by Interplay Productions at any time. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.” 
  5. ^ [1999-11-04] FreeSpace 2 (Readme file), 1.20, Interplay Entertainment. ISBN 1-57629-495-1. “The Software, including, without limitation, all code, data structures, characters, images, sounds, text, screens, game play, derivative works and all other elements of the Software may not be copied (except as provided below), resold, rented, leased, distributed (electronically or otherwise), used on pay-per-play, coin-op or other for-charge basis, or for any commercial purpose. Any permissions granted herein are provided on a temporary basis and can be withdrawn by Interplay Productions at any time. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.” 
  6. ^ Joe Blancato (2007-06-19). Gaming's Fringe Cults. The Escapist. Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
  7. ^ a b Nick Breckon (2007-07-31). Mod is Dead: Beyond the Red Line. Shacknews. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
  8. ^ Jakub Wojnarowicz (1999-10-12). Freespace 2 Review. FiringSquad. Retrieved on 2007-10-25.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links