v1.09, Data.zip, Modding, and You!

A friendly PSA!

Published on September 30, 2010 By ScottTykoski In Elemental Dev Journals

Hey everyone,

So v1.09 went live, and one of the big modding-side improvements is in the official addition of a 'my games/elemental/Mods' folder! The game will now properly read data from 'Mods/Data' and graphics and models from 'Mods/GFX'.

For anyone using Mods that have required data or graphics to be placed in the core game directories, I highly suggest moving these out into this new folder, otherwise Elemental may attempt to rebuild the Data.zip file, resulting in a nice, long pause when you first load it up....an nobody really likes 'nice, long pauses' when they're loading a game

Speaking of mods, let me take this opportunity to point out the spectacular work being done in the https://forums.elementalgame.com/forum/756 community. The Elf Race and Undead mods are both looking amazing, several weapon and spell packs really add some sparkle to the game, theres even a Dr.Who mod that adds gunplay to the fold. You guys are nuts

While bugs and core game improvements take top priority, we'll be dedicating as much time as possible to improving the Modding experience and getting the Tools/XML access you need to see your modding projects through. And, of course, thanks for your effort and support!

So, to recap... mods in main game folders = you may get a data.zip creation hang = sadness/anger/confusion = shouldn't have to do this anymore!

Boogie out! Cya 'round the forums!

Comments (Page 2)

Tormy-

on Oct 01, 2010

quoting post

Hey everyone,

So v1.09 went live, and one of the big modding-side improvements is in the official addition of a 'my games/elemental/Mods' folder! The game will now properly read data from 'Mods/Data' and graphics and models from 'Mods/GFX'.

For anyone using Mods that have required data or graphics to be placed in the core game directories, I highly suggest moving these out into this new folder, otherwise Elemental may attempt to rebuild the Data.zip file, resulting in a nice, long pause when you first load it up....an nobody really likes 'nice, long pauses' when they're loading a game

Speaking of mods, let me take this opportunity to point out the spectacular work being done in the https://forums.elementalgame.com/forum/756 community. The Elf Race and Undead mods are both looking amazing, several weapon and spell packs really add some sparkle to the game, theres even a Dr.Who mod that adds gunplay to the fold. You guys are nuts

While bugs and core game improvements take top priority, we'll be dedicating as much time as possible to improving the Modding experience and getting the Tools/XML access you need to see your modding projects through. And, of course, thanks for your effort and support!

So, to recap... mods in main game folders = you may get a data.zip creation hang = sadness/anger/confusion = shouldn't have to do this anymore!

Boogie out! Cya 'round the forums!

MOAR TOOLS PLEASE!

ScottTykoski

on Oct 01, 2010

For example, translate these lines to read from the mod folder instead of the install dir

....

GFX/CPELF/CPELF_hair1.png

THe way the graphics resource manager works, those should work in a number of ways (but I'll verify when I get in the office)...

<Texture_Hair>MODS/GFX/CPELF/CPELF_hair1.png</Texture_Hair>
<Texture_Hair>GFX/CPELF/CPELF_hair1.png</Texture_Hair>
<Texture_Hair>CPELF_hair1.png</Texture_Hair>

Internally, that file is stored by the name reference name "CPELF_Hair1"...the game registers the file path, no matter where it is (the entire MODS folder is scanned and parsed for both data and gfx), so that when anything asks for a filename 'CPELF_Hair1', it'll grab it from the right spot. Its a neat system...requires some tagging discipline, but I see you guys have your system in place

wiat so we can't use the mods folder in the elemental directory?

Either/or...GFW requires certain things, and one is that we use Microsoft's documents folder systemfor non-core game stuff (saves, etc). We suggest users put their mods in the my games folder, but it's up to the player I suppose. With the above 'graphics management' system, you could put the data in the my games directory (to keep out of data.zip's way) then the graphics portion in the main game. Up to you (btw, the team is digging your weapon models! awesome stuff!)

Capn Darwin

on Oct 01, 2010

BoogieBac,

1.09 is still not letting me mod the core name files (world and unit) via mod folder overwrite. I'm going to have to do the corefiles folder and data.zip thing to get them back in and functioning. I posted this question elsewhere without an answer. What xml files from the core data folders are not capable of being overridden by a modded file? The two name generators are at least two that I know of.

Thanks.

Stuie_

on Oct 01, 2010

BoogieBac

reply 17

But whichever you use you have to use the new folder structure or the game won't see your mods. So the .../Elemental/Mods directory needs a /data folder now. Before I could just dump my files in the Mods folder. Not a big deal, just pointing that out...

ScottTykoski

on Oct 01, 2010

I'm going to be in the #elemental IRC chat room all day...feel free to drop by to ask any questions...between CariElf an myself, I'd like to get everything mods-related sorted out to make sure the game properly supports what you guys are doing.

Gazz_

on Oct 01, 2010

BoogieBac

reply 17

wait so we can't use the mods folder in the elemental directory?

Alas, this does not work.

G:\Game\Elemental\Mods\Gfx\Terrain\Grid0001.png     - does not work.
G:\Game\Elemental\Mods\Gfx\Grid0001.png     - does not work.
G:\Game\Elemental\Mods\Grid0001.png     - does not work.

D:\Data\My Games\Elemental\Mods\Gfx\Terrain\Grid0001.png - works.

The whole gamedir/Mods folder seems completely inoperable.

Gwenio1

on Oct 01, 2010

Speaking of modding, it seems it is not using new resource types (at least the ones that do not have a tile like gildar and food). It was possible in 1.08, but not anymore. Was this change intentional?

trigorin

on Oct 01, 2010

econundrum1

reply 15

Quoting trigorin,
reply 13
A quick question: when do you plan to solve the CTD problem has been experienced since release while entering map editor trying to make a tactical map?

Have you reported it in the support forum and provided the error files they need to investigate? [...]

Yes, I did. On 25 August 2010. See here: https://forums.elementalgame.com/392235

EviliroN

on Oct 01, 2010

i can confirm that i had to place 3dgrunge's GFX into the core GFX folder and the xml in the mygames mod folder, wouldn't work the other way

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