FleetOps without original Armada II CD

posted on June 12th, 2011, 11:18 am

On our next LAN Party we like to play FleetOps. The problem is, that nobody... or only 2 guys have the original CD... It is possible, to play... but if you like to get more FleetOps Players, I think you need a installation system without using the original Armada II CD. Maybe there are infringement problems... but for example, when I think about the development of Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe (OpenTTD), it might be possible.

At first the OpenTTD teams used (similiar to this project) original data of TTD. After some years, the community created so much graphics/data, that the don't need the original data anymore. Today, you can get OpenTTD and play the old game in a new, balanced and graphical style without the original data. I think, that's a chance to get more popular... so is it possible, to make FleetOps really free? Which thinks had to be self-made? Is it generally possible, to make FleetOps "free"?

posted on June 12th, 2011, 11:40 am

The problem is that you can made as many changes as you want, but if it still uses the original game exe, then it's still armada and you can't do as you suggest unless you want to face legal issues.

I still personally think A2 and A1 for that matter should be open source, it that was the case then it wouldn't be an issue. 

posted on June 12th, 2011, 12:29 pm

Hmm... the installation is not the problem... ok, I mentioned it, but my concern was the idea, to make FreeOps really free to get more players. Because every Player has to get the No-CD patches and the CDs, sometimes via gwarez or bittorrent. Perhaps, this is a big blockade for new players... for a growing community (if you want this?) and so on.

So the only way is to get A2 and A1 open source... Hmm, that sounds not good  Activision wants money, I don't think, they will give it free... they are watching you   

posted on June 12th, 2011, 12:39 pm

Doesn't OpenTTD also require an install of TTD? I've not played it in a while, but I do seem to remember it requiring it.

[Nerd0001]

posted on June 12th, 2011, 12:53 pm

Last edited by Nerd0001 on June 12th, 2011, 1:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Doesn't OpenTTD also require an install of TTD? I've not played it in a while, but I do seem to remember it requiring it.

Yes, in the past. Now, you can play it without TTD-stuff 

For OpenTTD you can use the original Transport Tycoon Deluxe data files (you need to own a Transport Tycoon Deluxe CD). There are also the free alternatives: OpenGFX (graphics), OpenSFX (sound) and OpenMSX (music). These can be installed automatically by the Windows and OS/2 installers. Please refer to the readme for more information.

http://www.openttd.org/en/download-stable

So you don't have to look for an illegal copy or something else...

posted on June 12th, 2011, 1:50 pm

Well, neither Activision nor Paramount can get any money for A2 anymore (license expired), so if one is willing to sift through the legalese, we could probably get FO to be a legal standalone. I know that a mod for Elite Force did this (I can't remember the name of it) by coming to an agreement with Raven, Activision, and Paramount.

posted on June 12th, 2011, 3:23 pm

Well just for your LAN party, only the host needs to have the disc in to play

posted on June 12th, 2011, 7:38 pm

So, if two guys got the original cd: make an image, and mount it with programs like "daemon tools"
Cant be any simpler.

posted on June 12th, 2011, 8:29 pm

Thx for your hints 

My intention was following:

Hmm... the installation is not the problem... ok, I mentioned it, but my concern was the idea, to make FreeOps really free to get more players. Because every Player has to get the No-CD patches and the CDs, sometimes via gwarez or bittorrent. Perhaps, this is a big blockade for new players... for a growing community (if you want this?) and so on.

So the only way is to get A2 and A1 open source... Hmm, that sounds not good  Activision wants money, I don't think, they will give it free... they are watching you   

posted on June 12th, 2011, 9:15 pm

So, if two guys got the original cd: make an image, and mount it with programs like "daemon tools"
Cant be any simpler.

which is technically illegal.

if they want to call this their own game they would have to make it not be a mod of a2, ie they'd need to develop replacements for all of a2. now some of that is easy, like models and textures, they can make new ones. but the game engine is presumably a lot more complex. they would need to make their own replacement, and i dont even know if they have that ability. if they keep anything from a2 then its an a2 mod and they cant bypass the need for a legal copy of a2 without risking legal action.

[disorder]

posted on December 19th, 2011, 1:35 pm

Last edited by disorder on December 19th, 2011, 1:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I know how to play without a legit CD(not cracked or RE'd) though for legal reasons etc, I wont be printing it here.  PM me though for a guide.

posted on December 19th, 2011, 8:27 pm

As Megaman mentioned, the RPG-X mod for Elite Force managed to essentially open-sourse the game just by asking nicely. Actually, I think Boggz lives within driving distance of Activision HQ, so he might have a shot.

posted on December 20th, 2011, 4:28 pm

That said, EF was basically the Quake engine (which I believe is already open) and had a prexisting SDK (i.e. you could build a custom engine extension) so there may have been more initiative to allow the stand alone. As far as the A2 engine going open source, I don't know that Activision is the holder of the code; Mad Doc (now Rockstar New England) had a hand in developing it too. It seems more likely that FO would be given permission to go standalone, than the full source released as parts of the A2 system were used on Legacy which is probably still licensed.

posted on May 14th, 2012, 11:30 am

It is in fact the other way round compared to OpenTTD. This is a total conversion that still depends on an proprietary engine. So all you need is a Open Source RTS engine which might even enable cross-platform gameplay. However the spaceship settings is kinda unique so this might require some adaption. Spring RTS Engine is a hugely moddable open source actively developed 3D RTS engine. There even exists a Star Wars mod (closed development however).

posted on May 14th, 2012, 4:15 pm

OK. If I understand, Fleet Ops is an Open Source game, created by the fans of the strategy game ST Armada 2.  Very nice, all the respect for the developers, I love this game. But until now, the Fleet Ops is lunched having the ST Armada 2 original CD (or copy) in the CD Drive or mounted with a Virtual Drive Manager.

It's possible in the future to can play the Fleet Ops without help from ST Armada 2 ?