Community Input: Freelancer HD Starspheres

[Antonio]

Could we see examples of some of the more unique starspheres, such as the Manchester one for example?

I have added the link to the Freelancer HD ModDB site, best try it out yourself for specific systems. It is a 5 minute install.

Appreciate the feedback people, keep it up.

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[Ramke]

I think it would be cool to have this as an optional thing, upon further thought.

I already use it so I'm not fussed if it's available generally or not - maybe a toggle on the launcher that downloads the files? I don't know if the developer of it is still around.

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[Kauket]

I think the new launcher should just have capabilities for 'modding' your files, like most mod managers where you click on and off stuff anyway.

If it were up to me, I'd honestly hand go over any 'visual upgrades' to ensure consistency rather than shoving it in. Because majority of these are actually a downgrade and do not properly represent the regions. But would love an option for seamless modding rather than hand picking files.

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[Laz]

maybe a toggle on the launcher that downloads the files? I don't know if the developer of it is still around.

If you mean the person that made the launcher, then hello that is me.
The launcher (even when I wrote it) is in a bad need of rewriting. It's a shitty winform app that has no place in modern code. Sadly I have neither the time nor inclantion to make any changes; I am too occupied with FLHook and FLUF for disco launcher work. However I cannot deny the need. Perhaps if I am bored one day and decide it's worth pursuing.

Worth noting that the 'patching system' as a whole needs reworking. Ideally with support for multiple installs. Currently the approach of "download many zip files" has some rather obvious pitfalls.

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[darkwind]

maybe a toggle on the launcher that downloads the files? I don't know if the developer of it is still around.

If you mean the person that made the launcher, then hello that is me.
The launcher (even when I wrote it) is in a bad need of rewriting. It's a shitty winform app that has no place in modern code. Sadly I have neither the time nor inclantion to make any changes; I am too occupied with FLHook and FLUF for disco launcher work. However I cannot deny the need. Perhaps if I am bored one day and decide it's worth pursuing.

Worth noting that the 'patching system' as a whole needs reworking. Ideally with support for multiple installs. Currently the approach of "download many zip files" has some rather obvious pitfalls.

@Laz @Ramke as far as i am aware @Treewyrm spends effort onto launcher remake already with smth in js/ts probably.

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[Ramke]

The launcher (even when I wrote it) is in a bad need of rewriting. It's a shitty winform app that has no place in modern code.

For what it's worth it doesn't feel like a shitty app and is very reliable from a user perspective.

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[Kloun]

I'd also like to see HD asteroids/rocks, planets, and nebulas from that HD mod. Thanks.

[darkwind]

The launcher (even when I wrote it) is in a bad need of rewriting. It's a shitty winform app that has no place in modern code.

For what it's worth it doesn't feel like a shitty app and is very reliable from a user perspective.

That too. Current launcher looks reliable from user perspective, and it is made in C#, it can't be too bad in terms of code.
I anticipate remake planned in js will be less in code quality, just because it is js and without unit testing. C# with its language features can provide easier higher quality with minimum effort (that is possible to improve despite badly written any code with relative easiness in comparison to dynamic typed languages) (on the level where no unit testing is made yet in both launchers, their code qualities are strongly affected by language features) but probably js remake better will be from user perspective, may be.

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[Antonio]

I’ll give this one more bump before we have an internal discussion.

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[Proselyte]

Well, I did some flying around with an intent to scrutinize the backgrounds of each system as I went and that definitely reinvigorated my appreciation for them. To the point that I wonder whether their charm and in-universe consistency would survive a total HD replacement. Like a few other people have mentioned in here, I think they'd have to be painstaking reproductions of the current starspheres with minimal artistic deviation for it to not feel a little "off" when playing, if you're tuned in to this kind of thing. Even then it might catch your eye in an "odd", rather than "cool" way eventually.

Really, this game is old. It doesn't need to try to look more modern than it already does to look damn good. It has a style of its own and it's easy to buy into. Plus, people install HD packs on their own with little difficulty anyway.