Battlestar Galactica mod of Freespace 2 underway

by Dan Choi { Feb 25th 2006 at 3:01AM }

Battlestar Galactica Freespace mod trailer screenshot

A mod of the new Battlestar Galactica with the Freespace 2 game engine is currently underway and making some progress. Click on the image to the right and you'll be directly taken to the mod's 13MB AVI trailer.

This trailer gives a better sense of how things look than the images on the mod's home page at the moment (as the navigation there is a bit broken right now), but anything to mix a fan-favorite space combat sim with the hottest sci-fi show on TV today is definitely worth a look.

Of course, as with any total conversion or unofficial adaptation of a commercial property, there's always a chance this mod will get shut down before it ever gets released (that is, if it ever gets finished). As a retail game was made based on the old BSG continuity, this is a legitimate concern for the community developers trying to put this together. Let's hope that the licensing Lords of Kobol will look upon this effort with favor.

[Via Evil Avatar]

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Vagabond Artist @ Feb 25th 2006 3:24AM

I hope this is one mod that we will be able to play one day....

so say we all.

Rakthar @ Feb 25th 2006 3:45AM

While I feel bad for mod teams that get shut down, in many ways its their own fault. It really doesn't take that much effort to contact a copyright holder and ask them for permission to use their IP. If they say no, you don't make the mod. If they say yes, both you and they are in the clear. They've given you express permission, so you're not watering down their IP, and you know you won't get shut down by them.

The mod team behind the Star Wars conversion for Battlefield 1942 was able to contact Lucasarts and get their permission to make the mod, and you know how notorious Lucas/Lucasarts are about protecting the star wars IP. They had some stipulations about what sounds and graphics they could use, but aside from that, it was smooth sailing.

I think the mentality of "Let's make a mod and hope and pray real hard we don't get shut down" and then crying about the wasted work once you do is pretty silly. Companies are doing what they have to under IP laws to protect their IP, why put them in a position where they have to shut you down? Ask for permission, and THEN make the mod.

FurNiT @ Feb 25th 2006 7:08AM

I'm looking forward to the moment this mod will be available. Btw, does anybody know when it happens?

DCSimian @ Feb 25th 2006 8:52AM

That mod community is freakin' amazing. Yeah, they should probably ask to get it made, but I respect the effort.

Salute to one of the most underrated games around. Here's a link to where you can find most of the mods and engine upgrades, etc. Really cool stuff. And if you've played the game, you'll appreciate it so much more.

http://www.hard-light.net/

OMAC @ Feb 25th 2006 9:54AM

Mod makers take note: If you are going to use someone elses IP then make the mod, finish it, release it THEN announce it. They won't be able to shut you down.

Zer0Her0 @ Feb 25th 2006 10:22AM

Nice link DCSimian. Don't forget the Freespace Source Code project:

http://scp.indiegames.us/news.php

WedgeTalon @ Feb 25th 2006 10:51AM

Awesome! After FS2 came out there has been a depressing dearth of Space Combat Sims (the only notable one since that I've seen and picked up was Tachyon). I can't wait until this comes out. Maybe this will encourage some companies to start work on new Space Sims. Dare I suggest it? FreeSpace 3?

MyNameIsGame @ Feb 25th 2006 11:51AM

I am hoping for a Space Quest Mod. Roger Wilco has had enough of sleep in in his janitor closet, judging by my standards.

Which aren't very high though. Or clean...

Matt Jackson @ Feb 25th 2006 12:25PM

This looks pretty sweet. Battlestar Galactica has long been a favorite of mine so I'll be waiting with baited breath to see if it makes the release.

Matt

http://gadgets.candyham.com

DCSimian @ Feb 25th 2006 1:54PM

Source Code Project has been going on for a long long time now, way before that article was published. It's really quite impressive what they've done. Man I wanna blast some damn Shivans...

It's a pain the find the game retail these days. Ebayers have it going for close to $50-$60. But, as luck would have it, the game has been deemed abandonware and can be downloaded for free (and legally) at the following site:

http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?name=Freespace+2

Happy Hunting!

Franklin @ Feb 25th 2006 4:41PM

These guys are going to get cease-and-desisted by Universal/Sci-Fi for this mod. Because, based on that trailer, this looks TOO GOOD.

My suggestion to them would be to go into hiding for the time being, work on their mod, test it among trusted colleagues, and then when it's finished, release it all over the Internet through bittorrent.

Scott @ Feb 26th 2006 5:17AM

That is awesome I love the show and that is a pretty good looking Viper but can only guess as how the rest of the game will be

Brooklynlou @ Feb 26th 2006 7:33PM

An alternate place to get the real FreeSpace2 is here.

http://www.freespacezone.net/

It has disk images of the game CD's

Phil @ Mar 12th 2006 1:43PM

Have you guys worked out a story line for your mods, or are you planning on taking it that far? If you need a story line, I have one.

And what about Vivendi? Maybe you can sell the idea to them partially developed so this can be commercially available.

I would REALLY like to see this game come to light...

gryff @ Mar 26th 2006 1:39PM

wow nice! hope it comes along soon! =D i used to play freespace all day long and i still have the first box set they released!, i like the way you made all the guns fire unlike in freespace where cap ships had all of 20-30 turrects, liking the work =D

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