OUTDATED (means this is for archive purposes only)
noob guide & mod home forums here:
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=61606.0 hi, I'm using fs2open + VPmedia, all works perfectly with gog version, a quick guide:
you have basically two options, install current stable release of fs2open which is major graphics upgrade, or beta which makes fs2 look like some 2006 game with enhancements like normal maps, 3d radar or race specific shield effects.
if you want stable release: download fs2open 3.6.9 here:
http://fs2source.warpcore.org/exes/3.6.9.rar download VPmedia + advanced effects here:
http://fs2source.warpcore.org/mvp368zeta/mv_zpack.zip http://fs2source.warpcore.org/mvp368zeta/mv_adveffects.zip download launcher here:
http://fs2source.warpcore.org/exes/Launcher55d.rar install steps(FS2 means of course your root freespace 2 directory): 1. Extract the "3.6.9.rar" and "Launcher55d.rar" into FS2/
2. Create directory FS2/mediavps
3. Extract the contents of "mv_zpack.zip" and "mv_adveffects.zip" into FS2/mediavps
4. Launch the launcher, at the top you should have the path to your fs2open's exe, if not click "Browse" and select it, it's in your FS2 dir called like "fs2_open.exe", under "Features" tab, list "Graphics" and select all the cool features like specular, glowmaps, mipmaping. Under "Video" you can set resolution, filtering etc. I recommend to disable "Briefings" under "Speech" tab, otherwise you may hear two narrators during briefings speaking simultaneously. Under "MOD" tab make sure you have selected the "mediavps" mod, if not click "Select MOD" and select "mediavps" dir you created earlier. That's it, press Run.
Alternative: You can use automated installer vindKtiv mentioned to install or update recent stable version:
download (java version, requires java 1.5):
http://www.fsoinstaller.com/files/installer/java/FreeSpaceOpenInstaller.jar or larger version that doesn't need java:
http://www.fsoinstaller.com/files/installer/FreeSpaceOpenInstaller.zip run installer, click next, select your fs2 dir, click next uncheck "Say yes to all", click next and select freespace open windows executables and the MediaVPs + Advanced MediaVPs
however, imho there are some disadvantages when using this installer:
1. You won't have the mod files in one place ready to be send to a friend or burn to dvd :)
2. Under vista with uac enabled the files are copied to the virtual store directory, which is not as well-arranged (this applies at least for the java version)
3. If you for some reason uninstall the mod you have to re-download the whole package
if you want the beta release: be prepared though, there are some known bugs (and surely additional that are not known :) ), some of them can even prevent you from completing certain missions and multiplayer generally isn't supported. The graphics on the other hand is simply stunning, I encountered no issues with the beta so far.
download recent fs2open build like this:
http://fs2source.warpcore.org/exes/latest/C08062008.zip download beta mediavps 3.6.10 here:
http://fs2source.warpcore.org/mvp3610beta/MV_3_6_10_Core.rar http://cp.nukelol.com/mv_music.zip http://fs2source.warpcore.org/mvp3610beta/MV_3_6_10_Assets.rar http://fs2source.warpcore.org/mvp3610beta/MV_3_6_10_Effects.rar http://fs2source.warpcore.org/mvp3610beta/MV_3_6_10_AdvancedEffects.rar http://pages.sbcglobal.net/joey.wong/capital2s-01.pof.zip download launcher here:
http://fs2source.warpcore.org/exes/Launcher55d.rar now proceed like with the stable release except instead of "3.6.9.rar" you have "C08062008.zip" etc. The contents of "capital2s-01.pof.zip" goes into "mediavps/data/models" directory (create if not existing). That's it.
* note that when you run fs2open for the first time, it will convert your pilot data which is one-way process, so create a backup if you are unsure * if you want to run original fs2, simply run "FS2.exe"
source sites:
http://scp.indiegames.us/bnr_installer.php http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,42854.0.html http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,51229.0.html http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/board,97.0.html