Particle and beam weapon textures - can you mod those?

MaxiM · Post by **MaxiM** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:55 am

Hey guys,
So I'm making my own custom gfx for the game, I have already replaced the tractor/mining beam sprite, but for the life of me, I can't find any info on particle and beam weapon textures in the readme and google. Can I replace those as well? If so, what are the filenames and directories? Maybe I'm nissing something obvious here...

_-Caleb-_ · Post by **_-Caleb-_** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 11:43 am

See the custom kit

MaxiM · Post by **MaxiM** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 1:31 pm

Well, I guess I wasn't clear enough in my first post. I did check the custom kit (the beforementioned ReadMe) - that's how I modded in every other change so far, but I cant find a single mention of the weapons neither I can find the gfx files for those. Hence why I'm here ansking the question. Same goes for "shield impact" texture, which I would like to change as well.

_-Caleb-_ · Post by **_-Caleb-_** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:37 pm

I've readed The Tractor Beam

Sorry for the confusion.

MaxiM · Post by **MaxiM** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 5:40 pm

I hate to bump this up, but Vice, any words of wisdom on this subject?

Post by **Marvin** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:56 pm

You might try sending a U2U to Inked ... he's been fiddling with similar textures ever since he gave up the crown.

Post by **Vice** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 7:43 pm

A few select textures are locked in and can't be replaced, the shield impact effect being one of them, primarily for fair gameplay between players (ie so one doesn't mod out the existing one so they can see through the flash easier than another player can).

Others do allow for modification, including particle gun and beam cannon textures. You'll want to use the \\environment folder and use the following filename formats:

gunXe.png = X is the numerical ID of the cannon you want to import, starting with 1 for the Banshee
laserX.png = X is the numerical ID of the cannon you want to import, starting with 1 for the Refractor

MaxiM · Post by **MaxiM** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:31 am

Awesome! Thanks for the info :]

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:43 am

Post screenies when you have your mods!

MaxiM · Post by **MaxiM** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 4:22 pm

Sure thing, I'll even post videos :] Don't wanna say what theme it is yet, but I'm working on a full sound/music/HUD/GUI mod to satiate my nostalgia for a certain game. Once I'll finish that, I'm also gonna go back to 3D modelling (haven't touched a 3D editing program since 2006, so I need to start from scratch) and re-make and implement the cockpit from the same game. The last part will take a while.

I can only see one problem with sharing all of that though, since obviously the music is ripped from the original game and sounds are simply modified to fit EM better (slowed down/sped up, cut, mixed). I'm doing the HUD/GUI by hand so at least that part won't be questionable. With a bit of luck, the GUI/HUD mod should be finished by the end of this week. Damn shame I can't change the shield impact effect though.

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:07 pm

I can only see one problem with sharing all of that though, since obviously the music is ripped from the original game and sounds are simply modified to fit EM better (slowed down/sped up, cut, mixed).

Yup, that's a problem. Developers pay musicians and other programmers to create parts of their games. If they pay, they usually expect you to pay too.

MaxiM · Post by **MaxiM** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 11:29 am

I understand that 100% - only mentioned it because sounds and music are integral part of my mod to bring the feeling of that game as faithfully as possible, but oh well. I might end up making an extensive readme on which sounds to pick and how to name them for all the original game owners.

INKED MICHAEL · Post by **INKED MICHAEL** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 6:16 pm

You'll also need a file named "c2bb" 128x128 px. This is the IMAGE FILE for Your BEAMS. Create the Effects you Want, copy this File, reduce it to 64x64 and name it "laserX" as VICE has Shown. "c2bb" File goes into your "ships" FOLDER and the "laserX" into your "environments" FOLDER.

If you want me to send you these files, as well as "gunXe", to use as TEMPLATES just Shoot me an EMAIL.

[Edited on 9-10-2013 by INKED MICHAEL]

Post by **DaveK** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:45 pm

I can see that you guys are getting deeper and deeper into mods and that Vice is releasing more options. I think that there might have to be a major appendix to the Hints&Tips Guide to gather together all the additions to the modding stuff

A general question . . .

. . . would a catalogue illustrating all the available mods be useful/valuable so that you can actually see the various cockpit/HUD/beams etc without having to track down the original posts?

I'm still working on the best method to create an efficient/effective way to maintain the content of Viper's resource thread to provide the maximum up-to-date information possible, but that still works as a forum thread (given that the forum is not designed to provide images easily) - ideally I'd like to make it look like a sales catalogue so you can browse and choose and then get sent to SeeJay's website to download you choice.

I would really appreciate feedback on this so I don't waste time producing something that no-one uses

Please respond here or U2U me or email me at dr dot kent at ntl dot world dot com

EDIT - corrected email address!!

[Edited on 10-9-2013 by DaveK]

INKED MICHAEL · Post by **INKED MICHAEL** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:03 pm

I Believe a "CATALOG" of MODS Would Be WELL RECIEVED MY FRIEND.

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:31 am

You'd need two of 'em ... one for here and one for SeeJay's website.