"H.E.S. - GW S.1"
Ross 128 Incident Contest winning entry  (http://ross128.telefragged.com - archived news; Friday, July 21)
by Ben Adams -- Ben22@aol.com
updated 9/20/00 to ver. 1.2

Contents:
This text file
BenAdams_s01_a.vp  -  mod data  -  \freespace
BenAdams_s01_a.fc2  -  campaign file  -  \freespace2\data\missions
BenAdams_s01_a1.fs2  -  mission 1  -  \freespace2\data\missions
BenAdams_s01_a2.fs2  -  mission 2  -  \freespace2\data\missions

Installation instructions:

1. Delete or move all the contents of the subfolders "Effects" and "Tables" in the FreeSpace 2 "Data" folder.  Any files left in these subfolders will very likely make the mission play incorrectly, or not at all.  I recommend highlighting these subfolders, right-clicking them, and selecting "Cut"; then pasting them someplace else (the desktop, for example) until you are done with the mission.

2. Using Winzip, extract BenAdams_s01_a.vp to your Freespace 2 directory; this file to anywhere you like; and the remaining three (BenAdams_s01_a1.fs2, BenAdams_s01_a2.fs2, and BenAdams_s01_a.fc2) to FreeSpace2\Data\Missions.  Make sure that if you have any other nonstandard .vp files anywhere in your Freespace 2 directory structure, their names come after "BenAdams_s01_a.vp" alphabetically.  If there is a .vp file with an exclamation mark (!) before its name, rename or move it, or rename "BenAdams_s01_a.vp" to "!BenAdams_s01_a.vp".  Do not delete, rename, or move any standard FS2 .vp files ("smarty," "sparky," "stu," "tango," and "warble"), or FS2 will not function.

3. If you are using headphones without a volume control, I recommend setting your system master volume to approximately 80% for optimum output in the mission.  You may then adjust the in-game volume to a comfortable level.

4. Start Freespace 2.  If your controls are standard or your main pilot is in the middle of a campaign, I recommend using the included pilot, "Lieutenant Ash."  If your controls are very nonstandard, feel free to use your main pilot.  If you use the included pilot, check to make sure all the controls, sound options, and detail levels are set to your preferences before starting the campaign.

5. If you are using your normal pilot, go to the campaign selection room.  Select the campaign "H.E.S. GW."  Click "Select."

6. Start the campaign. 


Copyright information:
Many of the graphics, models, and sounds in this mod have been extracted from the original computer game "Descent: FreeSpace" (FS1), developed by Volition, Inc., and published by Interplay.  They are all copyrighted property of these two companies.  The music FS2_Amb_SW01.wav is part of a sound mod compiled by "Silent Warrior" of original music composed and copyrighted by Vangelis.  The planet graphic seen near the sun (raplanet13) is extracted from a pack of planet graphics compiled by "Dark" and "Wingnut" at Restricted Access, a FS fan site.  The Apollo, Chronos, and Anubis models were extracted by "Dark" from FS1.  The .tbl files were extracted by me from FreeSpace 2 (FS2; also by Volition and Interplay) using Heiko Hermann's VPView32 (ver. 1.2), and augmented, also by me, with some original and some FS1 information.  The HUD shield icons for the Apollo and Anubis, and the ML-16 laser sounds, were extracted from FS1, also using VPView32.  The briefing and in-mission .wav files for the first mission are all original to me and my friend Mike Hope.  (If anyone knows anything about Half-life mods, the name "CrowbarSniper" might sound familiar--he did several of the maps for the recently-released Firearms mod.  The name originated about 3:00 in the morning, during a LAN pary . . .--but this is the copyright info.  Sorry.)  The in-mission .wavs for mission 2 were extracted and slightly modified from the soundtrack to the opening cutscene from FS1.  The missions and campaign were created completely by me, and are my property.  Do not modify them for distribution without my consent, and do not distribute either them or this mod without this text file.


Bug information:
No observable bugs.  However, during the rather message-intensive mission 2, you may, while using the afterburner, experience degradation of the message quality; e.g., "broken record" repetitions, or the .wav cutting off altogether.  This is a normal FS issue, caused, I believe, by the afterburner .wav and a lack of memory.  If you experience this, free up more memory and/or use the afterburner less (the mission play will not be affected).  If you observe any bugs or problems with the missions, please inform me at Ben22@aol.com.

FRED2 information:
Feel free to examine both of these missions in FRED2, if you are curious about any of the events or scripting.  Do not attempt, however, to load either of these missions in FRED2 without having the .vp file included in this .zip file installed, or FRED will load the mission incompletely.  If you do open these missions in FRED2, you will notice that it gives numerous error messages regarding the player's wing and various s-expressions.  These "errors" will not, however, affect the mission play in any way.


Thanks for downloading and playing "H.E.S. - GW S.1."  I hope you enjoy it.  Please send me any comments or suggestions.