FreeSpace 2 Source Code Project

FreeSpace 2 Source Code Project

In-game recreation of the box cover art of FreeSpace 2 retail
Engine Modified FreeSpace engine
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Mac OS X
Linux
FreeBSD
Release date(s) July 4, 2016
Genre(s) Space combat simulator
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

The FreeSpace 2 Source Code Project is the project of a group of programmers currently maintaining and enhancing the game engine for the space combat simulator FreeSpace 2, developed by Volition, Inc. The source code was released in 2002, and is used by several projects. Most prominent among these are games based on the Babylon 5 and 2004 Battlestar Galactica universes.

History

Volition, Inc., the company responsible for developing the game FreeSpace 2 was bought 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,[2] it does not qualify as free and open source 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) under the name FreeSpace 2 Source Code Project was formed. Initially led by Edward "Inquisitor" Gardner, the team is currently led by Fabian "The E" Woltermann. Previous leaders also include Ian "Goober5000" Warfield, Taylor Richards, and Cliff "Chief1983" Gordon.

FreeSpace 2's original 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".[3] 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,[4][5][6] all of which are more recent than the game installer.

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.

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. Diaspora: Shattered Armistice and the presumed-defunct Beyond the Red Line each tell a side story based on the humans and robotic Cylons of the 2004 Battlestar Galactica television series. Another science fiction television series based project is The Babylon Project, based on the critically acclaimed Babylon 5. All three of these projects are implementing their own Newtonian flight physics. The demo of The Babylon Project was downloaded 100,000 times within two weeks of its announcement, and was reported on Apple.com and in France's Joystick game magazine.[7][8] A Star Wars–based project, Fate of the Galaxy is also in development.

There are several projects to recreate established video games using the FS2 Open engine. These include Shadows of Lylat for the Star Fox universe, and Wing Commander Saga for the Wing Commander universe.

Some notable original mods and campaigns have been created, such as Wings of Dawn which takes place in an anime-style world, and Blue Planet which offers a continuation of Freespace 2, telling of a civil war between Earth and the GTVA. The The FreeSpace Port, sometimes referred to as FSPort, ports the original Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War to the FreeSpace 2 and SCP engine with many graphical enhancements, and serves as a base for many mods set in the FreeSpace: Great War era, such as Shrouding the Light and Awakenings. Silent Threat: Reborn similarly ports the Silent Threat expansion for Descent: Freespace into the Freespace 2 SCP engine.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sulic, Ivan (2002-04-25). "Freespace Source Code". IGN. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  2. ↑ Volition Copyright
  3. ↑ FreeSpace 2 (Setup application) (1.00 ed.). Interplay Entertainment. 1998-10-03. ISBN 1-57629-495-1. CD-W58-1048-0. 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.
  4. ↑ FreeSpace 2 (Instruction manual) (1.00 ed.). Interplay Entertainment. 1999-09-30. p. 70. ISBN 1-57629-495-1. MN-W58-1048-0. 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. ↑ FreeSpace 2 (Readme file) (1.00 ed.). Interplay Entertainment. 1999-09-14. 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. ↑ FreeSpace 2 (Readme file) (1.20 ed.). Interplay Entertainment. 1999-11-04. 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.
  7. ↑ Joe Blancato (2007-06-19). "Gaming's Fringe Cults". The Escapist. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  8. ↑ Nick Breckon (2007-07-31). "Mod is Dead: Beyond the Red Line". Shacknews. Retrieved 2007-11-09.

External links

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