Has somebody done it successfuly utilizing the mod folder?
The original launch pics is in ..\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Galactic Civilizations III\Gfx
There are two files, the smaller one that comes up immediately (with Windows in the back still) and the bigger DDS file when the game goes full screen.
I tried to put other pics with identical file names/format under:
1. ..\My Games\GalCiv3\Mods\Gfx
2. ..\My Games\GalCiv3\Mods\MyGC3Mod\Gfx
None of those methods seems to work, I always get the original pics. I could try to save custom pics by overwriting the original files in the Steam library folders, but (aside from not wanting to mess with original game files) I assume they just get overwritten in a later update again.
It's no biggie, as those launch pics appear really only at launch, but still being able to use custom pics would be a nice touch.
You have to replace the core files. They will only get wiped by an update if SD change them or if you do a validation through steam.
TBH I do not see an issue replaceing the core files with these. Most people are already replacing the GradientMap files anyway, 75% of the ships(Airmaster's and the likes) on the workshop use Aiden's GradientMap's.
And thanx for the idea of changing them, +1!! Earn yourself Karma!
So I did a bit of testing with the possible things you can change to breath a bit of cosmetic life into our mods. I know the Menu screen uses two video files for the Backround and the GalCiv3 logo(I am no video maker would not even know where to start), BUT, the Mercenary addition is just a standard png file which does not mind been replaced :-
Brought a massive smile to my face LOL
Edit:
I think you could do this via xml editing, the xml for it is in Screens folder and called ButtonArtDefs.xml (I think). I have not tried it this way as I figured replacing the png a safer method. I could not find an xml associated with the splash screens.
That screen looks nice. I'm going to try your ideas
FWIW re game videos: from a dev comment I understood technically you could replace them with custom vids, but even if you have a complete custom video/anim ready to implement the Bink2 video format the game is using is only available for devs.
The BNK1 vids in GC2 were easy to replace by using (then free) Bink tools to convert any vid/anim you like, but for BNK2 which is now used there are no comparable free tools (yet).
Done some more playing
The failed attempt on the menu logo top left is either my crappy art skills(very likely) or the game just wont accept edited files in this Folder/Sub Folders. I will try and edit the xml that points to the png's and see if that works.
Edit: The Merc logo for the Start Screen is in the Expansion DLC folder and called, GC3_S_Mercenaries_Logo.png
It is possible to use custom videos in GC3. While GC3 uses the bk2 format, it seems to only require the file to have the bk2 extension. A bik file with the bk2 extension seems to work without a problem. All you have to do is the following:Make a video. I think it has to be in the avi or mov format.Use RAD Video Tools to convert it to the bik format.Rename the bik file to bk2.Rename or move the core video so that it is no longer available.Put the custom video where it needs to be to replace the core video.Run GC3 to see the change.
I hope this information helps.Here is a short video showing two changes I made to show it is possible.Note: I was never able to get custom videos to work in a mod, so I gave up a long time ago.
Thats great news Old-Spider!
Not that I can make use of it, never tried to do a video(Do not have the tools for a start), ever
I could not help but try!!! Just a 7s record of an old wallpaper I had hanging around. Works though
Now that says Star Trek MOD
For sure!!
Refined it a bit
I must apologise for hijacking your thread GalCivus, kinda got carried away
No prob
Old-Spider:
Thanks, that's a nice bit of info indeed. I thought of doing not only static pics for my leader gfx project, but also provide vids/anims, so having the rename trick working would be cool.
But for the moment there are two things scaring me away from doing it - the extra workload of animating leaders and the pre-bnk filesizes that would result from rendering full-hd anims. But maybe I'm going back to this...
Just an update with this, You can add you own with out replacing core files. Need to update GraphicAssets.xml located in the core folder to point at your files. Goes for the GradientMap files too.
Good to know Thx!
Forgot to mention, you have to place you files in the relevant folders within the actual game directory, having them in a mod cause the game to crash (it cant find them in the documents folder).
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