Hello.

After the Syndicate wars steam overlay support thread, I've decided to explain how to play freespace (GOG vanilla version) with widescreen support AND steam overlay support.

First of all, you will have to download the n-glide.

Once you've downloaded the n-glide, there are two options.

First, without installing the n-glide and second, installing the n-glide.

If you decided NOT to install the n-glide, you will have to extract the n-glide installer exe file. Once you've done this, copy the glide2x.dll to freespace root folder, where the fs.exe and freespace.exe exist.

run the nglide_config.exe and select Screenresolution: "By desktop". and refresh rate to your desired Hz.

nglide_config.exe adds the following key to your registry:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Zeus Software]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Zeus Software\nGlide]
"Resolution"="1"
"Aspect"="0"
"Refresh"="1"
"Vsync"="1"
"Gamma"="5"
"Splash"="0"

once done, run the freespace.exe, then select "Setup".

On the "Video" tab, click "Detect Available Cards" and when it's done select 3DFX Glide.

EAX support only goes to those whom using X-FI and/or other creative soundcards with Vista or later OSes.

Download and install Alchemy and click "Add". Type in your desired name, and select "Use game path" then put freespace root foler location. Add freespace to the alchemy enabled game, and you're set.

Go back to the freespace setup, goto the "Audio" tab and click on "Detect Available Sound Settings" DirectSound should come up. Select this and EAX setup is done.

If you don't want to install or add freespace, you can just copy dsound.dll dsound.ini to the freespace root foler. Those two files are found in alchemy root folder.

Now, go through the steam client "Add Non-Steam game" and add fs.exe.

Run the game, and you should be able to play the game at your desired screen resolution with all eye-candies enabled with smooth game play.

If you'd like to add AA and AF, go to your video card control panel, add fs.exe select your desired AA and AF settings.

The very same tweak can be applied to Freespace2, but I still haven't found a way to enable higher screen resolution. Regardless of the n-glide setting, the game plays at 1024x768. You still can enable other features, such as AA and AF.


*Added

Once in a while, when you run the game, you might see trails. If that happens, re-run the freespace.exe go back to setup goto video, make sure 3DFX glide is selected, click okay. Go back to the game, the trailing is gone.

Thanks for your guide.