<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
is	O
a	O
1999	O
space	O
combat	O
simulation	O
computer	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Volition	O
as	O
the	O
sequel	O
to	O
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
–	I-Application
The	I-Application
Great	I-Application
War	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
continues	O
on	O
the	O
story	O
from	O
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
,	O
once	O
again	O
thrusting	O
the	O
player	O
into	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
a	O
pilot	O
fighting	O
against	O
the	O
mysterious	O
aliens	O
,	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
persistent	B-Protocol
galaxy	I-Protocol
was	O
also	O
available	O
as	O
SquadWar	O
for	O
players	O
to	O
fight	O
with	O
each	O
other	O
over	O
territories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
code	O
became	O
the	O
core	O
of	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Operating_System
2	I-Operating_System
Source	I-Operating_System
Code	I-Operating_System
Project	I-Operating_System
,	O
which	O
continuously	O
improves	O
it	O
and	O
enables	O
new	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
cooperation	O
with	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
Upgrade	O
Project	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
graphics	O
are	O
kept	O
up	O
to	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2s	I-Application
gameplay	O
involves	O
the	O
player	O
piloting	O
a	O
starfighter	O
using	O
mounted	O
weapons	O
to	O
destroy	O
enemy	O
starfighters	O
,	O
performing	O
reconnaissance	O
behind	O
enemy	O
lines	O
,	O
or	O
escorting	O
other	O
starships	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
result	O
is	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
plays	O
more	O
like	O
a	O
"	O
WWII	O
dogfight	B-Device
simulator	O
"	O
unaffected	O
by	O
gravity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
joysticks	B-Device
are	O
the	O
recommended	O
controller	B-Device
for	O
this	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
mouse	B-Device
is	O
a	O
viable	O
alternative	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
flies	O
around	O
in	O
a	O
fighter	O
with	O
a	O
first-person	O
,	O
in-cockpit	O
view	O
with	O
a	O
fully	O
customizable	O
fixed	O
head-up	B-Application
display	I-Application
(	O
HUD	B-Application
)	O
as	O
the	O
visual	O
interface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
HUD	B-Application
displays	O
video	O
communications	O
and	O
relevant	O
data	O
on	O
the	O
ship	O
's	O
status	O
and	O
performance	O
,	O
weapons	O
,	O
objectives	O
,	O
and	O
targets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
game	O
supporting	O
force	O
feedback	O
technology	O
,	O
joystick	B-Device
players	O
will	O
find	O
their	O
controllers	O
vibrating	O
or	O
putting	O
up	O
resistance	O
when	O
they	O
engage	O
the	O
afterburners	B-Application
or	O
collide	O
with	O
objects	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
certain	O
events	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
engaging	O
afterburners	B-Application
and	O
firing	O
powerful	O
weapons	O
,	O
will	O
shake	O
the	O
screen	O
as	O
a	O
form	O
of	O
visual	O
feedback	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
has	O
many	O
helpful	O
features	O
available	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Power	O
can	O
be	O
shunted	O
between	O
shields	O
,	O
engines	O
,	O
and	O
weapons	O
,	O
thereby	O
allowing	O
faster	O
recharge	O
of	O
shields	O
,	O
afterburners	B-Application
,	O
and	O
weapons	O
at	O
the	O
expense	O
of	O
other	O
subsystems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
allows	O
multiplayer	O
games	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
across	O
a	O
local	B-General_Concept
area	I-General_Concept
network	I-General_Concept
(	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
)	O
or	O
over	O
the	O
Internet	O
via	O
the	O
free	O
services	O
provided	O
by	O
Parallax	O
Online	O
(	O
PXO	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
communicate	O
with	O
the	O
other	O
network	O
players	O
vocally	O
through	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2s	I-Application
own	O
voice	B-Protocol
chat	I-Protocol
capability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
LAN	B-General_Concept
play	O
allows	O
the	O
players	O
to	O
play	O
the	O
standard	O
player	O
versus	O
player	O
modes	O
such	O
as	O
deathmatch	O
,	O
or	O
cooperate	O
to	O
complete	O
multiplayer	O
missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
can	O
also	O
form	O
up	O
or	O
join	O
squadrons	O
in	O
SquadWar	O
,	O
an	O
online	O
persistent	B-Protocol
galaxy	I-Protocol
hosted	O
by	O
Volition	O
on	O
PXO	O
,	O
where	O
squadrons	O
fight	O
each	O
other	O
for	O
territories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
entirely	O
in	O
outer	O
space	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
implementation	O
of	O
nebulae	O
as	O
an	O
interactive	O
environment	O
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
distinctive	O
and	O
crowning	O
aspects	O
of	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Flying	O
through	O
a	O
nebula	B-General_Concept
involves	O
impaired	O
vision	O
,	O
and	O
occasional	O
disruptions	O
to	O
flight	O
electronics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Terran	O
starships	O
tend	O
to	O
be	O
plain	O
and	O
practical	O
,	O
the	O
Vasudans	B-Application
 '	O
starships	O
are	O
artistic	O
with	O
sleek	O
lines	O
and	O
curves	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
enemies	O
 '	O
ships	O
—	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
—	O
are	O
sharp	O
,	O
pointy	O
and	O
asymmetrical	O
in	O
insidious	O
black	O
and	O
red	O
colors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
also	O
features	O
humongous	O
capital	O
ships	O
,	O
hundreds	O
of	O
times	O
larger	O
than	O
the	O
fighters	O
,	O
and	O
armed	O
to	O
the	O
teeth	O
with	O
beam	O
weapons	O
and	O
flak	O
guns	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2s	I-Application
story	O
is	O
brought	O
out	O
via	O
narrative	O
pre-rendered	O
cutscenes	O
,	O
the	O
pre	O
-	O
and	O
post-mission	O
briefings	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
in-game	O
chatter	O
between	O
non-player	O
characters	O
,	O
and	O
scripted	O
mission	O
events	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
prominent	O
antagonist	O
from	O
the	O
start	O
,	O
he	O
sparks	O
off	O
a	O
rebellion	O
which	O
escalates	O
the	O
scale	O
of	O
action	O
,	O
and	O
brings	O
in	O
the	O
other	O
antagonist	O
force	O
,	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
,	O
into	O
the	O
story	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
begins	O
32	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
in	O
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
NTF	O
's	O
rebellion	O
led	O
to	O
the	O
faction	O
gaining	O
control	O
over	O
the	O
Sirius	O
,	O
Polaris	B-Application
and	O
Regulus	O
star	O
systems	O
,	O
while	O
engaging	O
the	O
GTVA	O
for	O
18	O
months	O
,	O
before	O
launching	O
attacks	O
on	O
the	O
Vasudan	O
systems	O
of	O
Deneb	O
and	O
Alpha	O
Centauri	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Just	O
as	O
further	O
engagements	O
against	O
the	O
NTF	O
are	O
about	O
to	O
commence	O
,	O
an	O
incident	O
in	O
the	O
Gamma	O
Draconis	O
system	O
leads	O
to	O
the	O
3rd	O
Fleet	O
of	O
the	O
GTVA	O
being	O
reassigned	O
to	O
the	O
star	O
system	O
,	O
where	O
they	O
learn	O
that	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
have	O
returned	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
the	O
discovery	O
of	O
an	O
artificial	O
jump	O
gate	O
that	O
leads	O
to	O
Shivan	O
space	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
securing	O
the	O
device	O
and	O
passing	O
through	O
it	O
,	O
the	O
GTVA	O
discover	O
a	O
nebula	B-General_Concept
along	O
with	O
more	O
Shivans	B-Application
,	O
and	O
a	O
cruiser	O
of	O
the	O
NTF	O
,	O
the	O
Trinity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
efforts	O
to	O
secure	O
and	O
recover	O
the	O
cruiser	O
,	O
the	O
Trinity	O
is	O
destroyed	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
GTVA	O
fleet	O
focus	O
on	O
dealing	O
with	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
,	O
before	O
returning	O
to	O
Gamma	O
Draconis	O
for	O
reassignment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dwarfing	O
all	O
other	O
capital	O
ships	O
,	O
this	O
juggernaut-class	O
ship	O
's	O
power	O
proves	O
more	O
than	O
a	O
match	O
to	O
many	O
NTF	O
ships	O
,	O
defeating	O
a	O
major	O
officer	O
in	O
the	O
rebellion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
latest	O
campaign	O
against	O
the	O
NTF	O
,	O
GTVA	O
forces	O
re-engage	O
Shivan	O
forces	O
in	O
the	O
nebula	B-General_Concept
,	O
while	O
testing	O
out	O
new	O
weapon	O
and	O
technology	O
prototypes	O
such	O
as	O
an	O
AWACS	O
cruiser	O
that	O
enables	O
better	O
vision	O
in	O
the	O
nebula	B-General_Concept
,	O
a	O
TAG	O
missile	O
that	O
enables	O
friendly	O
capital	O
ships	O
to	O
instantly	O
lock	O
on	O
to	O
the	O
"	O
tagged	O
"	O
enemy	O
ship	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Pegasus-class	O
stealth	O
fighter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
pursuing	O
Bosch	O
into	O
the	O
nebula	B-General_Concept
,	O
the	O
GTVA	O
attack	O
Shivan	O
nebular	O
gas	O
mining	O
operations	O
,	O
only	O
for	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
to	O
retaliate	O
with	O
a	O
juggernaut-class	O
warship	O
of	O
their	O
own	O
,	O
dubbed	O
the	O
Sathanas	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sathanas	O
enters	O
Terran	O
–	O
Vasudan	O
space	O
,	O
despite	O
an	O
effort	O
to	O
destroy	O
the	O
jump	O
gate	O
linking	O
the	O
nebula	B-General_Concept
to	O
Gamma	O
Draconis	O
;	O
the	O
node	O
between	O
the	O
two	O
system	O
had	O
stabilised	O
at	O
some	O
point	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
encroaching	O
on	O
GTVA	O
space	O
,	O
the	O
Sathanas	O
is	O
engaged	O
by	O
the	O
Colossus	O
as	O
it	O
enters	O
the	O
densely	O
populated	O
Capella	O
system	O
and	O
,	O
thanks	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
efforts	O
in	O
disabling	O
its	O
beam	O
turrets	O
,	O
is	O
destroyed	O
in	O
the	O
engagement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Alliance	O
Fleet	O
soon	O
resumes	O
its	O
efforts	O
to	O
track	O
down	O
Bosch	O
,	O
and	O
discover	O
that	O
Bosch	O
had	O
built	O
a	O
device	O
that	O
enables	O
him	O
to	O
communicate	O
with	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
the	O
purpose	O
of	O
ETAK	O
;	O
the	O
Alliance	O
realise	O
the	O
jump	O
gate	O
was	O
activated	O
by	O
Bosch	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
been	O
stealing	O
artefacts	O
from	O
archaeological	O
sites	O
looking	O
into	O
the	O
Ancients	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
been	O
hoping	O
to	O
meet	O
and	O
contact	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Shivans	B-Application
respond	O
to	O
his	O
transmission	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
turn	O
board	O
his	O
command	O
frigate	O
,	O
the	O
Iceni	O
,	O
and	O
capture	O
him	O
and	O
fifteen	O
other	O
crewmen	O
before	O
attempting	O
to	O
destroy	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
GTVA	O
manage	O
to	O
save	O
the	O
surviving	O
crew	O
of	O
the	O
Iceni	O
and	O
the	O
ETAK	O
device	O
,	O
but	O
as	O
they	O
try	O
to	O
intercept	O
the	O
Shivan	O
transport	O
carrying	O
Bosch	O
,	O
they	O
discover	O
a	O
second	O
jump	O
gate	O
in	O
the	O
nebula	B-General_Concept
,	O
which	O
the	O
Alliance	O
destroyer	O
,	O
the	O
GVD	O
Psamtik	O
,	O
attempts	O
to	O
secure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
destroyed	O
by	O
another	O
Sathanas	O
juggernaut	B-Application
shortly	O
afterwards	O
,	O
forcing	O
the	O
GTVA	O
to	O
pull	O
out	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
this	O
time	O
,	O
the	O
GTVI	O
and	O
SOC	O
launch	O
a	O
secret	O
operation	O
within	O
the	O
nebula	B-General_Concept
,	O
at	O
great	O
risk	O
,	O
to	O
recover	O
an	O
operative	O
and	O
check	O
the	O
other	O
side	O
of	O
the	O
gate	O
,	O
discovering	O
the	O
threat	O
posed	O
to	O
the	O
GTVA	O
by	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
is	O
much	O
greater	O
than	O
they	O
had	O
thought	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
plan	O
works	O
but	O
it	O
is	O
pyrrhic	O
victory	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
GTVA	O
loses	O
the	O
Colossus	O
,	O
their	O
only	O
match	O
for	O
Shivan	O
juggernauts	B-Application
,	O
in	O
a	O
diversionary	O
engagement	O
at	O
the	O
other	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
Capella	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
causes	O
the	O
star	O
to	O
go	O
supernova	B-Application
,	O
destroying	O
the	O
fighting	O
GTVA	O
and	O
Shivans	B-Application
in	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
ending	O
cutscene	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
commanding	O
officer	O
,	O
Admiral	O
Petrarch	O
,	O
delivers	O
a	O
speech	O
about	O
everything	O
the	O
Alliance	O
has	O
lost	O
,	O
speculating	O
on	O
the	O
nature	O
of	O
the	O
Shivans	B-Application
and	O
why	O
they	O
destroyed	O
the	O
Capella	O
star	O
,	O
and	O
if	O
the	O
player	O
decides	O
to	O
stay	O
,	O
a	O
small	O
tribute	O
is	O
paid	O
to	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
heroic	O
actions	O
as	O
Petrarch	O
informs	O
his	O
wingmen	O
of	O
his	O
sacrifice	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
news	O
of	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
being	O
in	O
development	O
was	O
confirmed	O
in	O
a	O
chat	O
on	O
November	O
6	O
,	O
1998	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
in	O
less	O
than	O
one	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Volition	O
team	O
revealed	O
they	O
had	O
written	O
up	O
a	O
story	O
and	O
will	O
be	O
targeting	O
high-end	O
hardware	O
with	O
dogfights	B-Device
for	O
a	O
greater	O
number	O
of	O
ships	O
and	O
even	O
larger	O
and	O
more	O
deadly	O
capital	O
ships	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
set	O
themselves	O
the	O
goals	O
of	O
setting	O
new	O
standards	O
for	O
both	O
single-player	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
space	O
combat	O
simulations	O
,	O
and	O
started	O
to	O
modify	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
game	O
engine	O
for	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
team	O
was	O
the	O
same	O
team	O
which	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
,	O
plus	O
several	O
new	O
members	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
relations	O
between	O
the	O
Terrans	O
and	O
Vasudans	B-Application
dominated	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
decided	O
to	O
scale	O
the	O
focus	O
down	O
to	O
a	O
personal	O
level	O
with	O
Admiral	O
Bosch	O
and	O
his	O
decisions	O
to	O
rebel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
made	O
major	O
improvements	O
to	O
the	O
same	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
engine	O
from	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Compared	O
to	O
the	O
graphical	O
changes	O
,	O
the	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
(	O
AI	O
)	O
of	O
the	O
computer-controlled	O
characters	O
was	O
only	O
slightly	O
changed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
they	O
had	O
to	O
do	O
was	O
to	O
tweak	O
it	O
a	O
little	O
and	O
fix	O
some	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
personal	O
computer	O
was	O
assigned	O
a	O
greater	O
role	O
in	O
predicting	O
the	O
possible	O
consequences	O
for	O
other	O
players	O
 '	O
actions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
process	O
of	O
fixing	O
the	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
detected	O
was	O
even	O
publicly	O
published	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
official	O
website	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
Bug	B-Error_Name
Fix	O
of	O
the	O
Day	O
"	O
feature	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
September	O
30	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
one	O
month	O
ahead	O
of	O
schedule	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
team	O
had	O
to	O
quickly	O
come	O
up	O
with	O
and	O
release	O
a	O
patch	O
(	O
version	O
1.01	O
)	O
for	O
a	O
software	B-Error_Name
bug	I-Error_Name
which	O
prevented	O
recognition	O
of	O
a	O
CD	B-Device
during	O
the	O
installation	O
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
months	O
later	O
,	O
they	O
released	O
the	O
next	O
and	O
final	O
patch	O
(	O
version	O
1.20	O
)	O
to	O
fix	O
several	O
other	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
release	O
of	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
considerably	O
muted	O
compared	O
to	O
its	O
predecessor	O
Descent	B-Application
:	I-Application
FreeSpace	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
also	O
placed	O
on	O
less-visible	O
shelves	O
than	O
Descent	B-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
GameSpot	O
awarded	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
the	O
"	O
Sci-Fi	O
Simulation	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
award	O
,	O
Interplay	O
pushed	O
out	O
the	O
"	O
Sci-Fi	O
Sim	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
Edition	O
"	O
to	O
capitalize	O
on	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
Volition	O
's	O
interest	O
and	O
desire	O
to	O
develop	O
add-ons	O
and	O
expansions	O
for	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Interplay	O
told	O
them	O
to	O
stop	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Interplay	O
owns	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
series	O
(	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
Descent	B-Application
series	O
)	O
and	O
Volition	O
's	O
owners	O
,	O
THQ	O
,	O
is	O
only	O
interested	O
in	O
pursuing	O
development	O
on	O
what	O
they	O
own	O
,	O
Volition	O
was	O
unable	O
to	O
continue	O
developing	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
years	O
since	O
,	O
no	O
sequels	O
to	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
have	O
been	O
made	O
and	O
Interplay	O
has	O
only	O
published	O
a	O
limited	O
re-release	O
of	O
it	O
on	O
February	O
2	O
,	O
2004	O
,	O
to	O
commemorate	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
20th	O
anniversary	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Derek	O
Smart	O
,	O
creator	O
of	O
Battlecruiser	B-Device
3000AD	I-Device
,	O
had	O
casually	O
mentioned	O
his	O
interest	O
in	O
the	O
Freespace	B-Application
license	O
,	O
but	O
nothing	O
significant	O
came	O
out	O
of	O
this	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
Interplay	O
acquired	O
the	O
remaining	O
rights	O
to	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
franchise	O
for	O
$	O
7,500	O
after	O
THQ	O
went	O
to	O
bankruptcy	O
court	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
has	O
garnered	O
high	O
praise	O
from	O
most	O
established	O
reviewers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
received	O
numerous	O
"	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
awards	O
for	O
1999	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
"	O
Computer	O
Simulation	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
3rd	O
Annual	O
Interactive	O
Achievement	O
Awards	O
,	O
2000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Every	O
review	O
praised	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2s	I-Application
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combatsim	O
even	O
claimed	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
unrivaled	O
among	O
its	O
space	O
combat	O
peers	O
in	O
the	O
graphics	O
department	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
felt	O
FreeSpaces	B-Application
story	O
was	O
"	O
both	O
deeper	O
and	O
darker	O
"	O
than	O
either	O
the	O
Wing	O
Commander	O
and	O
X-Wing	O
series	O
,	O
establishing	O
invincible	O
foes	O
who	O
never	O
lost	O
their	O
stature	O
despite	O
the	O
player	O
learning	O
of	O
plausible	O
ways	O
to	O
defeat	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Combatsim.com	O
offered	O
another	O
angle	O
;	O
Reynolds	O
said	O
the	O
gameplay	O
elements	O
of	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
are	O
"	O
light	O
years	O
beyond	O
the	O
competition	O
"	O
and	O
more	O
than	O
offsets	O
the	O
loss	O
of	O
being	O
personally	O
immersed	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
universe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2s	I-Application
key	O
attraction	O
is	O
its	O
dogfights	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
CNN.com	O
said	O
the	O
close-ranged	O
dogfights	B-Device
make	O
for	O
engrossing	O
,	O
and	O
exciting	O
skirmishes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sharky	O
Extreme	O
praised	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
for	O
having	O
the	O
enormous	O
capital	O
ships	O
,	O
as	O
this	O
burst	O
the	O
"	O
trapped	O
in	O
a	O
bubble	O
"	O
trend	O
in	O
Wing	O
Commander	O
-	O
and	O
X-Wing	O
-	O
type	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
scenes	O
of	O
these	O
giant	O
ships	O
duking	O
it	O
out	O
,	O
with	O
many	O
gnat-like	O
fighters	O
swarming	O
around	O
in	O
their	O
little	O
dances	O
of	O
death	O
,	O
have	O
led	O
reviewers	O
to	O
feel	O
a	O
sense	O
of	O
epicness	O
,	O
comparable	O
to	O
reliving	O
battles	O
in	O
science	O
fiction	O
series	O
like	O
Babylon	O
5	O
and	O
Star	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Opinions	O
were	O
generally	O
favorable	O
towards	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2s	I-Application
multiplayer	O
implementation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
required	O
registration	O
with	O
PXO	O
was	O
considered	O
a	O
troublesome	O
process	O
by	O
a	O
few	O
,	O
the	O
gameplay	O
itself	O
was	O
a	O
smooth	O
experience	O
with	O
no	O
lag	B-Application
at	O
all	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
reviewers	O
 '	O
experiences	O
with	O
lag	B-Application
were	O
different	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reynolds	O
of	O
Combatsim.com	O
said	O
Internet	O
gaming	O
was	O
laggy	O
with	O
ships	O
jumping	O
places	O
,	O
but	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
gaming	O
was	O
smooth	O
sailing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
's	O
reviewer	O
said	O
lag	B-Application
became	O
more	O
apparent	O
on	O
a	O
dial-up	O
connection	O
during	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
mission	O
with	O
four	O
or	O
more	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FiringSquad	O
's	O
reviewer	O
's	O
experience	O
was	O
similar	O
but	O
he	O
said	O
the	O
lag	B-Application
was	O
not	O
enough	O
to	O
hinder	O
his	O
enjoyment	O
of	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
action	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
,	O
in	O
electing	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Greatest	O
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
"	O
,	O
pointed	O
out	O
that	O
while	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
features	O
could	O
be	O
found	O
in	O
its	O
predecessor	O
or	O
peers	O
,	O
its	O
"	O
sheer	O
quality	O
of	O
presentation	O
and	O
gameplay	O
"	O
was	O
the	O
key	O
reason	O
for	O
their	O
choice	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ars	O
Technica	O
also	O
posed	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
as	O
the	O
last	O
significant	O
stage	O
in	O
evolution	O
of	O
the	O
space	O
combat	O
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fans	O
of	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
series	O
have	O
created	O
modifications	O
(	O
mods	O
)	O
of	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
mods	O
were	O
just	O
custom	O
campaigns	O
,	O
with	O
series	O
of	O
missions	O
created	O
through	O
FRED2	O
,	O
the	O
mission	O
editor	O
freely	O
packaged	O
with	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
such	O
mod	O
which	O
gained	O
notability	O
was	O
Inferno	O
,	O
which	O
sets	O
its	O
story	O
decades	O
after	O
the	O
conclusion	O
of	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
in	O
July	O
2003	O
,	O
the	O
mod	O
was	O
hosted	O
on	O
established	O
sites	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
GameSpot	O
and	O
CNET	O
,	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
their	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
contents	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
glowing	O
reviews	O
,	O
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
disappointment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
a	O
runner-up	O
for	O
GameSpot	O
's	O
1999	O
"	O
Best	O
Game	O
No	O
One	O
Played	O
"	O
award	O
,	O
which	O
ultimately	O
went	O
to	O
Disciples	B-Application
:	I-Application
Sacred	I-Application
Lands	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
FreeSpace	B-Application
2s	I-Application
sales	O
were	O
acknowledged	O
as	O
disappointing	O
,	O
and	O
described	O
as	O
awful	O
by	O
Kulas	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
NowGamer	O
's	O
interview	O
with	O
Jim	O
Boone	O
,	O
a	O
producer	O
at	O
Volition	O
,	O
he	O
said	O
that	O
this	O
could	O
have	O
been	O
due	O
to	O
joysticks	B-Device
 '	O
being	O
sold	O
poorly	O
because	O
they	O
were	O
"	O
going	O
out	O
of	O
fashion	O
"	O
and	O
more	O
modern	O
first-person	O
shooters	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Quake	O
,	O
were	O
"	O
very	O
much	O
about	O
the	O
mouse	B-Device
and	O
 [ the ] 	O
keyboard	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
went	O
further	O
on	O
to	O
state	O
:	O
"	O
Before	O
that	O
,	O
when	O
we	O
did	O
Descent	B-Application
for	O
example	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
perfectly	O
common	O
for	O
people	O
to	O
have	O
joysticks	B-Device
–	O
we	O
sold	O
a	O
lot	O
of	O
copies	O
of	O
Descent	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
around	O
that	O
time	O
 [ when ] 	O
the	O
more	O
modern	O
FPS	O
with	O
mouse	B-Device
and	O
keyboard	O
came	O
out	O
,	O
as	O
opposed	O
to	O
just	O
keyboard	O
like	O
Wolfenstein	O
 [ 3D ] 	O
or	O
something	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Led	O
by	O
Edward	O
Gardner	O
and	O
Ian	O
Warfield	O
,	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Operating_System
2	I-Operating_System
Source	I-Operating_System
Code	I-Operating_System
Project	I-Operating_System
was	O
formed	O
to	O
standardize	O
changes	O
and	O
maintain	O
a	O
core	O
engine	O
for	O
others	O
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Using	O
the	O
new	O
fan-updated	O
engine	O
,	O
projects	O
such	O
as	O
Beyond	B-Application
the	I-Application
Red	I-Application
Line	I-Application
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
new	O
Battlestar	O
Galactica	O
,	O
and	O
The	O
Babylon	O
Project	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
Babylon	O
5	O
,	O
have	O
become	O
possible	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
components	O
of	O
its	O
website	O
were	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
later	O
handed	O
over	O
to	O
the	O
FreeSpace	B-Operating_System
2	I-Operating_System
Source	I-Operating_System
Code	I-Operating_System
Project	I-Operating_System
to	O
help	O
them	O
create	O
a	O
similar	O
service	O
in	O
tracking	O
statistics	O
and	O
rankings	O
.	O
</s>
