Hey guys
Just started playing FS2. I noticed in ship control options, there's a binding option named 'Glide when pressed'.
I bound it to a key and used it in game without any apparent effects.
I was hoping it would enable a semi-Newtonian physics mode, i.e. maintaining trajectory regardless of ship bearing, which would be excellent and useful.

Does it do anything?

Yes but only in certain total conversion mods like the Freespace 2 Battlestar Galactica mods: Beyond the Red Line and the upcoming Diaspora. (and I think the Babylon 5 one too)

However, Glide does nothing within the Freespace 2 campaign. I tried it too. You know ... just in case. :) I think it was put in there for total conversion modders, but not for the campaign or "in-universe" Freespace 2 mods.

Thanks crazy dave. If what you say is true, that would mean the function is already coded but turned off, so it should be possible to activate it with some tinkering...

Excellent! I'm gonna have to give that a go.

On another inspection of the controls, I noticed there are also binding options for lateral thrust (which also don't function), so it does look like these functions have been programmed.
Strange that they weren't used...

EDIT: Looks like the Newtonian mod has to be used in conjunction with their AI mod, which I don't really want to do since it's my first time playing the game. Oh well.

Sorry about that - you can try posting in the hard-light forums to see if anyone else has such a thing or know where to get it.

I'm *pretty sure* it was Freespace SCP that added all that in (glide + thrusters), not Volition - I just check retail Freespace 2 and it didn't have any of that. I think Freespace SCP wanted to maintain the gameplay of retail Freespace 2 so they didn't add it to the standard campaign, but added it in general to let people make their own mods. Aye ... otherwise the AI probably wouldn't know how to fly the ships properly anymore.

If you want to experience the Freespace 2 'semi-newtonian' mode, you can try one of the total conversion mods - like the BSG: Beyond the Red line demo.

Ah ok. That's why I didn't notice it there earlier, before I installed SCP.

The download had been moved because the author had compiled everything into a pack, link is on the last page of that thread.

I'm pretty keen to have a go at BtRL (being the big BSG nerd that I am), not to mention the good things I've heard about it. Too bad those guys never finished it though.

Cool ... maybe after I beat the campaign I'll check that mod out. :)

Lateral thrust functions just fine. The only ships that have it, though, are Shivan fighters. If you look real close, you can see the more maneuverable ones move side to side when you chase them.

There is another BSG mod called Diaspora too. It's not out yet though.

When I found the screenshots, all I could do was stare and drool.
Hopefully this one does get finished.

Indeed :) Have you seen the gameplay vids? They're impressive ...

Yeah, looks beyond amazing.
When the camera panned around the Raptor interior, my pants exploded.