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I bought the whole freespace series only to find that all the text and hud just flashes, tried to make sense of how to fix it, but I can't seem to fix it... what a waste of my money... if I buy something I shouldn't have to fix it to play it.. that is part of the price right? when u buy a game it works?...if someone from GOG don't make good on a fix then I will stop buying and recommend to all my friends not to purchase anything from them... I was so disapointed that I couldn't play this series... I had freelancer and I figured if it turned out as good as that game I would be in heaven, but I never thought I would have to fix it just to play it...
Actually it is because new graphics drivers have regressions on DirectDraw (i.e. in this instance, it is your graphics driver and not the game that is the problem). This is a problem that has only cropped up recently for Windows users. You have several options - downgrade your graphics driver to a version with a correctly working DirectDraw, install a glide wrapper (very easy to do), or install the Freespace Open Engine (easy, delivers a modern, beautiful engine for Freespace, but requires a lot of space - especially for the mediaVPS).

glide wrapper: http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/fs1_problem_text_hud_flashes_constantly_unplayable/post3

nVidia driver:
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/fs1_problem_text_hud_flashes_constantly_unplayable/post5

FSO:
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/new_freespace_open_engine_released
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/quick_and_simple_freespace_2_scp_installation_guide/page1

Unfortunately this is all part of being a PC gamer - both new and old games suffer from this type of thing (graphics chip makers screw up their drivers with alarming regularity, incompatible hardware that meet minimum specs, etc ...), old games perhaps a little more often, but in general GOG has good, if slow, support (as well as the forums of course).
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Ahso: /snip
Post edited November 12, 2012 by crazy_dave
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crazy_dave: Actually it is because new graphics drivers have regressions on DirectDraw (i.e. in this instance, it is your graphics driver and not the game that is the problem). This is a problem that has only cropped up recently for Windows users. You have several options - downgrade your graphics driver to a version with a correctly working DirectDraw, install a glide wrapper (very easy to do), or install the Freespace Open Engine (easy, delivers a modern, beautiful engine for Freespace, but requires a lot of space - especially for the mediaVPS).

glide wrapper: http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/fs1_problem_text_hud_flashes_constantly_unplayable/post3

nVidia driver:
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/fs1_problem_text_hud_flashes_constantly_unplayable/post5

FSO:
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/new_freespace_open_engine_released
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/quick_and_simple_freespace_2_scp_installation_guide/page1

Unfortunately this is all part of being a PC gamer - both new and old games suffer from this type of thing (graphics chip makers screw up their drivers with alarming regularity, incompatible hardware that meet minimum specs, etc ...), old games perhaps a little more often, but in general GOG has good, if slow, support (as well as the forums of course).
Almost all of the MediaVPs are optional; the ones that are required for using Freespace Open are only about 13 megs.
Post edited November 12, 2012 by boct1584
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boct1584: Almost all of the MediaVPs are optional; the ones that are required for using Freespace Open are only about 13 megs.
I should have made that clearer, thanks!
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crazy_dave: Actually it is because new graphics drivers have regressions on DirectDraw (i.e. in this instance, it is your graphics driver and not the game that is the problem). This is a problem that has only cropped up recently for Windows users. You have several options - downgrade your graphics driver to a version with a correctly working DirectDraw, install a glide wrapper (very easy to do), or install the Freespace Open Engine (easy, delivers a modern, beautiful engine for Freespace, but requires a lot of space - especially for the mediaVPS).

glide wrapper: http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/fs1_problem_text_hud_flashes_constantly_unplayable/post3

nVidia driver:
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/fs1_problem_text_hud_flashes_constantly_unplayable/post5

FSO:
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/new_freespace_open_engine_released
http://www.gog.com/en/forum/freespace_series/quick_and_simple_freespace_2_scp_installation_guide/page1

Unfortunately this is all part of being a PC gamer - both new and old games suffer from this type of thing (graphics chip makers screw up their drivers with alarming regularity, incompatible hardware that meet minimum specs, etc ...), old games perhaps a little more often, but in general GOG has good, if slow, support (as well as the forums of course).
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Ahso: /snip
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crazy_dave:
I tried installing the FSO and everything I could find that goes with it and it did not work for me... I kinda got lost in it..ha ha ha... ty for the input, I will try again in the next few days, but I am not expecting much success in the matter... I have a nvidia 9800GT for a graphics card and this is the first game I have encountered that has had any problem on my computer... that is why I am uncertain it is my computer... as for space requirements, no problems on that issue.. have tons of space and 4GB's of ram to play with as well as 1GB of onboard dedicated graphics ram on my card... so I will give it another shot in a few days after I get done with a couple projects I am working on...(I.E. building an entertainment server for my home)...

again ty for the advice and I hope it works out, I really want to play this game in the worst way...
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Ahso: I tried installing the FSO and everything I could find that goes with it and it did not work for me... I kinda got lost in it..ha ha ha... ty for the input, I will try again in the next few days, but I am not expecting much success in the matter... I have a nvidia 9800GT for a graphics card and this is the first game I have encountered that has had any problem on my computer... that is why I am uncertain it is my computer... as for space requirements, no problems on that issue.. have tons of space and 4GB's of ram to play with as well as 1GB of onboard dedicated graphics ram on my card... so I will give it another shot in a few days after I get done with a couple projects I am working on...(I.E. building an entertainment server for my home)...

again ty for the advice and I hope it works out, I really want to play this game in the worst way...
You can try the automated installer: http://scp.indiegames.us/bnr_installer.php

The reason I didn't link to it before was that I wasn't sure it is still working. It is however, very easy to use. (if it is still working)

Here's another set of installation instructions: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=78710.0

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To be honest, I don't know what the problem is with Freespace's DirectDraw - I play with FSO on the Mac-side. It's possible Freespace uses a particular set of DirectDraw APIs that few other games do (also DirectDraw is only used in older games). The only thing I know is that the problem is recent and for nVidia users. So what jtsn said in the other thread makes sense (and I'm assuming he tested it himself by switching to an older version of an nVidia driver).

Best of luck! And Good hunting! - when you get the game working, that is. The FSO engine is really nice (and very pretty with all the bells and whistles).
Post edited November 13, 2012 by crazy_dave
"What a piece of junk!"
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Post edited November 15, 2012 by gammaleak
http://www.gog.com/forum/freespace_series/fs1_problem_text_hud_flashes_constantly_unplayable/post7
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gammaleak: "What a piece of junk!"
She may not look like much but she's got it where it counts.