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OG Xbox Forums => Game Hacking => Xbox Game Forums => GTA - Grand Theft Auto => Topic started by: Splinter on June 18, 2004, 01:01:00 PM

Title: Helper Guide
Post by: Splinter on June 18, 2004, 01:01:00 PM
This is from the long long long thread. I made it as a helper in conjuction with the tutorial posted (link is in the following).

Sniperkiller made this site with a quick guide. it is basically the same, except where he says it make take 20 minutes towards the end for one part, it only takes me a minute. http://sniperkilla.home.comcast.net/GTATut/

My reccomended sites and software:

TXD Workshop 3.1 or later (older versions either can't convert files for Xbox, or are just buggy) - Used to convert textures to the Xbox format

IMG Workshop 1.3 or later (I think older versions are slow) - Used to add and remove textures from the game

Collision File Editor 1.1 beta or later - Used to make the new vehicles seem more natural by changing imapct points.

http://www.gtanetwork.it
http://www.planetgrandtheftauto.com/

Before I say more, to get this working well, run the game from your harddrive unless you have tons of time and DVDs to waste. This is trial and error. Also, at least go back a week and start reading so you can learn from our mistakes, and see what sites we have used for skins.

Basically you get the same skins and stuff as for the PC version. In TXD workshop you convert them to be on Xbox (search google and make sure you get the latest version). You usually need to edit a few text files, just copy and paste. Some things work better if you edit a collisiion file, with COL editor, its simple.

There are some lag and freezing issues. Not all skins work. The Master 3 says most things get like that if over 2MB in size. I personally try to get the smallest files I can to limit lag.

I suggest that before you start the editing, but after you download the skins, decide what cars you want to replace. Then go get them and put them in garages if they don't have one set location where they always are (like the infernus is always in font of the Mansion on starfish island). This way, if a skin for a car is big, there will be less lag because we will stop them from spawning. You make them stop by editing the default.ide file in the VC data directory. You find the car you replaced (you usally have to edit this anyway) and set it to "ignore". It is self explanatory really once you see it.

Another thing you may want to do is download what is called a "wheelmod". This lets new cars have custom wheels. When you download it, it should have both an auto and a manual install. Do it manually, it is easy. Just a few text edits and putting one file. If you don't want this, then any new skin you install that uses it, you will have to edit its setting in the default.ide.

Between this thread, Sniper's guide, and the readme files of the skins, you should be OK with the basics. I am in a rush or I'd explain in more detail.

BTW, not just cars we can do. Any of the textures really. Cars, planes, boats, people, weapons. At first it seems like a lot, then once you do it, it is pretty quick. The longest part for me is the testing. Be sure to back up your files to another directory on your computer to make it easy to fix. Also, what I do is, after I get skins that are working how I want them. I then back upo the set of working files. I move them away, then use the other altered copies as a base to start adding more. This way, you won't need to put in like 10 new cars each time.

PS. If a skin tells you to edit the default.ide (like most), and say it has it set for you to replace the infernus. Pretend you don't want to use that, you want to replace the banshee instead. You will need to rename the skin's txd and dff files to banshee.txd and .dff. then you have to alter the entry into the default.ide. What i do is just copy down the last coulumns of numbers, then paste them alone over the original car's entry. If you just paste it how it is, you could end up screwing things up due to the game's system of numbering the cars. if you had 2 cars numbered 110, the game will freak out and freeze or not load a save at all.

Again, once you see it all, you'll understand better. Especially if you did it on the PC.

I can work on this more later if it is helpful to anyone, and maybe add about doing other things. I have trouble explaining things because I either have tons of things going on in my head at once, or I can't concentrate enough to remember what i am doing.

This post has been edited by Splinter: Jun 18 2004, 08:03 PM
Title: Helper Guide
Post by: ThE MaSTeR 3 on June 21, 2004, 04:20:00 PM
"The Master 3 says most things get like that if over 2MB in size"

After downloading over 75 cars,bikes since I said that I can now say It's more like 1mb or over causes lag.


I have trouble explaining things because I either have tons of things going on in my head at once, or I can't concentrate enough to remember what i am doing."

Your just like me execpt you can spell lol

This post has been edited by ThE MaSTeR 3: Jun 21 2004, 11:28 PM
Title: Helper Guide
Post by: Splinter on June 21, 2004, 06:38:00 PM
QUOTE
Your just like me execpt you can spell lol


This just get weirder and wierder. If I find out you live in the Philadelphia, PA area, then I'll think I am like the guy in Fight Club lol.

How are you going with things other than vehicles? I tried some map mods, only 4 worked. 2 made my game all weird. Like first an area of the beach on washington beach was like quicksand. I'd get to a certain point, and I'd fall through the ground. Before that i had a building that was only partly visible. When I installed the Fun Beach mod, it fixed both of them, but made the lot across from the mailbu club turn to quicksand. just 2 little spots though. I like watching NPCs walk along and fall through. The map replaced washington beach from the lighthouse to far up the beach. I think it also replaced the street too, because it looks like some buildings near the hotel from the start of the game have changed. maybe the PC version haad some different buildings, or I just never paid attention.

I have put some weapons in, all from that same Italian site. One was a "future weapons pack". It just changed the appearance of the weapons, not the data in the particle file. They look pretty cool. I then put in a "Midevil weapons pack". It replaced 3 things. The katana blade became a more realistic looking sword, the chrome gun became a cross bow (but I can't find it anywhere), and the bat became an execution axe, but is pretty lame looking to me. I replaced grenades with easter egg grenades. All it changed was the look. I then replaced the cleaver with a "cobra knife"..

I think any new weapon will work because they are such small textures. there are only 1 or 2 more that interest me. Both replace the rocket launcher, so i don't know which I'll use.

This post has been edited by Splinter: Jun 22 2004, 01:39 AM
Title: Helper Guide
Post by: swarmer on June 22, 2004, 12:21:00 AM
I have gotten about 5 map mods to work but that was before I deleted my game so it would be a clean game with no mods.
Title: Helper Guide
Post by: ahoatam on September 10, 2004, 07:32:00 PM
Can we get this stickied or pinned at the top?
Title: Helper Guide
Post by: crasher0255 on September 16, 2004, 11:03:00 AM
swarmer, what map mods did u get work on VC for xbox. Ive done everything but that so far cars, player models/textures, installed that Ko Gar Multimod, and switched a few weapons. I havent had time to try map mods yet though