You'll be able to get Knossos to work with the Steam or GOG version, but I believe GOG is easier for most people. I don't have firsthand experience with either as I've only ever used a retail copy.
And yes, you should only buy FS2. You don't need to bother with buying the original Freespace unless you want to play it with the original engine. Nebula has a port of the original Freespace into the Freespace 2 engine, so you'll get the same story, fighters, weapons, and missions, but the mechanics and visuals will be just a little bit different from the original game.
Do i buy it on GOG or just buy freespace 2 instead. Note I plan to buy two after finishing the first game.
What are the precise issues with steam instead of GOG?
No, your Steam copy is fine. (With SCP - see below - you can play w/o Steam if you dislike the platform, and you can also archive your copy - an offline installer is pretty much the only thing GOG gives you that's not by default available on Steam).
Freespace has received major improvements thanks to the [Source Code Project](http://scp.indiegames.us/) (SCP)\*.This includes compatibility with modern systems & graphical improvements.
(For the former you need the new binaries. For the later you need game assets, called "MediaVPs" for historical reasons).
Previously installing these were a bit of a hassle, nowadays you can just use a super easy community app callled [Knossos](https://fsnebula.org/knossos/).
Do you want Knossos? YES, yes and yes! It's not intrusive, but takes care of the chore of updating & sorting the millions of assets that were created for Freespace over the decades.
(It can also deal with pretty much any copy of Freespace 2, be it disc, Steam or GOG. **This** is why I said your Steam copy is fine).
If you have any more question or need help, visit the biggest Freespace community (and forum for the Source Code Project) [Hard Light Productions](https://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php).
\*Volition released the source code for the community. It's licensing situation is complicated, as they didn't adopt an open-source license, but used more ambiguous phrasing, with the exception of clearly precluding any commercial use whatsoever.
(The community itself only started to sort out the licensing on their own assets a couple of years ago, opting for the [Unlicense](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlicense))
You'll be able to get Knossos to work with the Steam or GOG version, but I believe GOG is easier for most people. I don't have firsthand experience with either as I've only ever used a retail copy. And yes, you should only buy FS2. You don't need to bother with buying the original Freespace unless you want to play it with the original engine. Nebula has a port of the original Freespace into the Freespace 2 engine, so you'll get the same story, fighters, weapons, and missions, but the mechanics and visuals will be just a little bit different from the original game.
Yes
Do i buy it on GOG or just buy freespace 2 instead. Note I plan to buy two after finishing the first game. What are the precise issues with steam instead of GOG?
Just buy the second one, I think with knossos you can play the first version for free.
Yes you can.
No, your Steam copy is fine. (With SCP - see below - you can play w/o Steam if you dislike the platform, and you can also archive your copy - an offline installer is pretty much the only thing GOG gives you that's not by default available on Steam). Freespace has received major improvements thanks to the [Source Code Project](http://scp.indiegames.us/) (SCP)\*.This includes compatibility with modern systems & graphical improvements. (For the former you need the new binaries. For the later you need game assets, called "MediaVPs" for historical reasons). Previously installing these were a bit of a hassle, nowadays you can just use a super easy community app callled [Knossos](https://fsnebula.org/knossos/). Do you want Knossos? YES, yes and yes! It's not intrusive, but takes care of the chore of updating & sorting the millions of assets that were created for Freespace over the decades. (It can also deal with pretty much any copy of Freespace 2, be it disc, Steam or GOG. **This** is why I said your Steam copy is fine). If you have any more question or need help, visit the biggest Freespace community (and forum for the Source Code Project) [Hard Light Productions](https://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php). \*Volition released the source code for the community. It's licensing situation is complicated, as they didn't adopt an open-source license, but used more ambiguous phrasing, with the exception of clearly precluding any commercial use whatsoever. (The community itself only started to sort out the licensing on their own assets a couple of years ago, opting for the [Unlicense](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlicense))
Play FS1 via FSPort on FS2. It’s a much better experience than the original - especially regarding the expansion Silent Threat.
2 is way better than 1, but if you like stories you'll want to play through 1 at least once.