Team skins
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Unfortunately I didn't have much time yesterday, but still I was able to take a short look at this.
The OLTeamGame.u-file is definitaly responsible for the team colors. All standart skins are namely mentioned there in a list. When I've understanded it the right way, it does the following:
1. It checks, if the spawned bot/selected skin is in it's Database.
True: It uses the textures with the same name for it's teamcolors
False: Next Step
2. It checks the skin, if it has gold team colors by searching for (*_3)
True: It uses the textures of this skin
False: Jakob........
I think, that if the OLTeamGame.u-file could be extended like other ini-files with the bots name, it should take the team-textures from another utx-file.
The other question is, if that could be any texture-file or it must be the OLTeamSkins.utx.
In that case that it must be so, maybe the u-file can also be told to search in more than just on this texture file.
Has anybody found out more?
The OLTeamGame.u-file is definitaly responsible for the team colors. All standart skins are namely mentioned there in a list. When I've understanded it the right way, it does the following:
1. It checks, if the spawned bot/selected skin is in it's Database.
True: It uses the textures with the same name for it's teamcolors
False: Next Step
2. It checks the skin, if it has gold team colors by searching for (*_3)
True: It uses the textures of this skin
False: Jakob........
I think, that if the OLTeamGame.u-file could be extended like other ini-files with the bots name, it should take the team-textures from another utx-file.
The other question is, if that could be any texture-file or it must be the OLTeamSkins.utx.
In that case that it must be so, maybe the u-file can also be told to search in more than just on this texture file.
Has anybody found out more?
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MaxX was pretty much correct when he explained how the skin loading works in the OLTeamGames.u code. First it checks against a "database" to see if I have a specific skin available for that skin (All standard + ECE + CBP2 skins are included with CTF4) and then it checks to see if the *_3 skin exists in the skin's package. If it doesn't exist, then it just falls back to Jakob.
First of all, I would like to say thanks for your interest in CTF4!
Second, I wanted to let you all know that I am adding a new client side option in the next version of CTF4 that will allow you to use 3rd party skins even if they do not have green and gold versions. If a player with a custom skin is on a green or gold team, it will use the "non-team" version of that skin. I wouldn't use it myself, but it seems a lot of people would rather have a colorless custom skin than Jakob.
Now, for the solution to your problems:
There is no way to "extend" that "database" to include more skins via an .ini. I thought about doing this, but at the time I thought it would make it very easy to make your own skin cheats. But now that I think about it, I think I was wrong.
However, what if I did this in the next version:
First it checks the database.
Then it checks for *_3
Then it checks for SkinPackageName_Extras.*_3
Does that make sense? After checking to see if the green and gold skins are in the package, it will check for a different package that is named something like SkinPackageName_Extras for the green and gold skins.
Would that be good for you guys? Then it would be easy to have a main package with your skins, and then an "addon" package that adds green and gold.
If you'd rather have something else, suggest it. Now's the time, as I'm working on the patch.
First of all, I would like to say thanks for your interest in CTF4!
Second, I wanted to let you all know that I am adding a new client side option in the next version of CTF4 that will allow you to use 3rd party skins even if they do not have green and gold versions. If a player with a custom skin is on a green or gold team, it will use the "non-team" version of that skin. I wouldn't use it myself, but it seems a lot of people would rather have a colorless custom skin than Jakob.
Now, for the solution to your problems:
There is no way to "extend" that "database" to include more skins via an .ini. I thought about doing this, but at the time I thought it would make it very easy to make your own skin cheats. But now that I think about it, I think I was wrong.
However, what if I did this in the next version:
First it checks the database.
Then it checks for *_3
Then it checks for SkinPackageName_Extras.*_3
Does that make sense? After checking to see if the green and gold skins are in the package, it will check for a different package that is named something like SkinPackageName_Extras for the green and gold skins.
Would that be good for you guys? Then it would be easy to have a main package with your skins, and then an "addon" package that adds green and gold.
If you'd rather have something else, suggest it. Now's the time, as I'm working on the patch.
That sounds like a good idea to me. From what I can understand, all we'd need to do is create an add on pack with a different name that only contains the _02 and _03 skins, correct?
The only thing I can really think of in addition to that would be to have the pack name be <originalPackageName>_CTF4.utx, so if my package name was "FelinaTextures.utx", the CTF4 extra pack would be "FelinaTextures_CTF4.utx". That seems a more logical way to go for me, since "extras" suggests to me that the pack contains miscelaneous stuff, and nothing specific.
You know, at first I only downloaded CTF4 because I was creating skins and wanted to see if my pack would work. Now it's one of my favorite game types... I'm surprised at just how fun it actually is! What you've created is a definetely a winner, and I'm really glad you're willing to work something into your next patch for us skinners because from now on I'll be making green and gold teams for all my skins.
The only thing I can really think of in addition to that would be to have the pack name be <originalPackageName>_CTF4.utx, so if my package name was "FelinaTextures.utx", the CTF4 extra pack would be "FelinaTextures_CTF4.utx". That seems a more logical way to go for me, since "extras" suggests to me that the pack contains miscelaneous stuff, and nothing specific.
You know, at first I only downloaded CTF4 because I was creating skins and wanted to see if my pack would work. Now it's one of my favorite game types... I'm surprised at just how fun it actually is! What you've created is a definetely a winner, and I'm really glad you're willing to work something into your next patch for us skinners because from now on I'll be making green and gold teams for all my skins.
Yes, you understand correctly.
I agree that _Extras is a bad suffix for the filename - it was just the first thing that came to mind. However, the problem I have with _CTF4 is that they're not just for CTF4 - it would work in any gametype based on my 4 team code (like BR4, cDOM4, etc.) - so I'm thinking either <package>_OLTeams.utx or <package>_4Teams.utx. The former stays with my current naming convention.
What do you think?
Oh, and I'm glad you like CTF4. It's one of my favorite gametypes as well! (Second only to Slave Master )
I agree that _Extras is a bad suffix for the filename - it was just the first thing that came to mind. However, the problem I have with _CTF4 is that they're not just for CTF4 - it would work in any gametype based on my 4 team code (like BR4, cDOM4, etc.) - so I'm thinking either <package>_OLTeams.utx or <package>_4Teams.utx. The former stays with my current naming convention.
What do you think?
Oh, and I'm glad you like CTF4
. It's one of my favorite gametypes as well! (Second only to Slave Master )
<package>_4Teams.utx sounds like a more logical way to go to me. I wasn't aware that there was going to be more 4 team games (bring 'em on!! ). I thought _GG (green gold) might work, too, but it doesn't sound as logical as _4Teams. How's that sound? And does anyone else have any ideas?
). I thought _GG (green gold) might work, too, but it doesn't sound as logical as _4Teams. How's that sound? And does anyone else have any ideas?
I really need to get a new comp that can run UT agian so i can figure out most the crap ur saying
So what's the final verdict?
I've been having this same conflict my self. I have mad requests for my Takeda and Mitsuko skins to be made into CTF4 characters. I'm totally willing to do this and could have the files in about a day, but I have already realeased the characters on skincity as 2 color files. Seems stoopid to have both versions taking up space with 50% redundant material. I'd love to show a little support here by making them tho. With all of this talk about a patch I'm not sure what to do. What do you all suggest?
I've been having this same conflict my self. I have mad requests for my Takeda and Mitsuko skins to be made into CTF4 characters. I'm totally willing to do this and could have the files in about a day, but I have already realeased the characters on skincity as 2 color files. Seems stoopid to have both versions taking up space with 50% redundant material. I'd love to show a little support here by making them tho. With all of this talk about a patch I'm not sure what to do. What do you all suggest?
I have decided to implement the system that we talked about.
This means that you can put your green/gold skins in a packaged called <yourpackagename>_4teams.utx, with the usual skins names (*_2 for green and *_3 for gold) and they will work fine.
However, this will only work after I release the patch. I am planning to release the patch before the end of January. Unfortunately work on CTF4 has been very slow because we're in crunch mode at my real job...
This means that you can put your green/gold skins in a packaged called <yourpackagename>_4teams.utx, with the usual skins names (*_2 for green and *_3 for gold) and they will work fine.
However, this will only work after I release the patch. I am planning to release the patch before the end of January. Unfortunately work on CTF4 has been very slow because we're in crunch mode at my real job...
Bofrazz: I guess the choices you have at the moment would be to either re-release the pack with the skins in question as a replacement pack or new version, or just wait till the patch is released then include a requirement in the readme for the specific version of CTF4 to be used with it.
OverloadUT said:
That's good to hear, this will make things easier in the future
Well, here's another suggestion referring to voicepacks (may be a little bit OFFTOPIC *g*):
Would be cool to hear "roger, green leader" in game, but the current VoicePacker available does only support red and blue
Is there an opportunity to update voicepacks with a second pack file, for usage with your version, or can be 2 lines (eg the last 2 unused in the "other" section) can be taken for this?
It's only a little detail, and not dramatic if not done, but also the small details are able to make things perfect*g*
EDIT: I'm talking about the UT2K4VoicePackager by Paul Catalano (www.xgxlan.com/vp)
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I know this is an ancient post, but since this is where I originally said I would do it, I figured I would follow up and say that the new version of CTF4 (just released) now does support the skinning feature we talked about.
You can include the green and gold skins in a <YourPackageName>_4teams.utx file so you can have a separate download for those who want 4 team support.
You can include the green and gold skins in a <YourPackageName>_4teams.utx file so you can have a separate download for those who want 4 team support.
Excellent!
I'm assuming the package must contain two teamskins for those, with the coresponding numbers at the end? Like this:
MyPackage_4teams.utx
----->MyBodySkin_2
----->MyFaceSkin_2
----->MyPortrait_2
----->MyBodySkin_3
----->MyFaceSkin_3
----->MyPortrait_3
If this is correct, I'm going to implement this feature in the next skin pack release (due out tomorrow or Saturday)
I'm assuming the package must contain two teamskins for those, with the coresponding numbers at the end? Like this:
MyPackage_4teams.utx
----->MyBodySkin_2
----->MyFaceSkin_2
----->MyPortrait_2
----->MyBodySkin_3
----->MyFaceSkin_3
----->MyPortrait_3
If this is correct, I'm going to implement this feature in the next skin pack release (due out tomorrow or Saturday)
I don't know if you can change portraits according to team!? If so cool
Else yes I suppose that's right since it's the way 4 teamskins always has been compiled.
Else yes I suppose that's right since it's the way 4 teamskins always has been compiled.
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-Tj- said:
You scared me for a moment! I thought Portraits might be team-based, and I never put in special code to handle it.
But yeah, besides the Portraits in there, you are exactly correct.