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MGB - Maxis Texture Replacement Dev Kit.  2.0

   (34 Reviews)

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About This File

The MTRDK came about as part of my earlier Sidewalk/Texture modding, but it's as useful today as it's always been. This updated version relies solely on the Automation options which are included in Rivit's excellent GoFSH tool (required).

This download allows you to automate the creation of one or more of the following texture overrides:

  • Sidewalk Mod
  • Maxis Texture Replacer
  • Extended Maxis Texture Replacer

If you are creating a new Sidewalk Mod, using this download you can create a working override with just a few clicks. This is perfect for trying out multiple styles or changes without having to convert or pack textures and the like manually.

But the core function is to take an existing sidewalk and extend it, so that it covers the vast number of lots that use the Maxis LE Textures.

MTRDK_Ohne.jpg.c722756b144eb15fc3f835f064e7e3b6.jpg

This image shows a city which is mostly comprised of Maxis lots, whilst a custom sidewalk has been installed, this is how things look without an additional Maxis (Lot Editor) Texture replacer.

MTRDK_Mit.jpg.4c12fc6206b98b4f848a2564d062d1b4.jpg

Here is the same scene, but including the MTRDK and MTRDK Extended replacements to match the sidewalk. Note how the Plaza and many commercial lots now have base textures that match the installed sidewalk, as do the driveways and other parts of the residential lots. In short this small mod, (otherwise included as part of SWN), can be used to both create an initial sidewalk mod and/or to better unify your game by adding your sidewalk to the Maxis lot textures which make use of them.

I've kept this mod as a separate download, because many people might just want to update their own sidewalks, without using the entire SWN package. But it may also be useful for SWN users who'd like to customise these textures from their defaults.

For example, the Paeng Sandstone (PSS) version of SWN is based around using all three sidewalk wealth textures. But Paeng's Sidewalks mod includes the ability to customise which wealth texture is used for each wealth. You can set GoFSH to mirror how you are using the three different wealths, to create MTRDK files that better match your personal setup. Of course, this process will work with any sidewalk or even textures you can find/make yourself, to create a game-ready mod using them.

INSTALLATION

It is very important that you extract the contents of the included .zip file into a single folder and that you do not change or alter the file/folder structure in any way.

The extracted files are known as a repository, which includes all the resources you need for use with GoFSH, so it can build your custom mod for you.

Using the Repository (Instructions)

  1. Run GoFSH and Click on the Run Script option from the main interface.
  2. Click on Select Buildfile, you need to tell GoFSH where the script from the download is on your computer and select it.
  3. Click on Select Textures
    The first thing you need is between one and three sidewalk textures, if using an existing mod this post details how to extract the textures from your sidewalk mod to use with this process. But you can simply click the Paving ? buttons to select any BMP texture to use for each of the three Sidewalks:
    MTRDK_TexSel.jpg.2d7c8721205574c644b149b2d43d6906.jpg
  4. At this point you can click on Start Build and GoFSH will create your custom mod.
    The created .dat files will appear in the same folder where you extracted the repository.

Please see here for full step-by-step instructions on setting up and running GoFSH scripts, including links to a video tutorial.

Note, the script MTRDK.txt by default only creates the MTRDK textures, if you want to create the base sidewalk mod also, you must open the script and remove the ' characters from the twelve lines under Build Sidewalk Mod. The ' tells GoFSH to ignore anything on the same line after it when reading the scripts. Essentially adding one to a line of the script disables that line, whereas removing them enables them again. Since these are also used to add helpful notes to the script, be careful not to accidentally enable those. But it provides a simple way to edit the script so you only build what you want.

Need Assistance?

Having problems and need some help? Or otherwise have feedback on my modding? Then please visit my threads at either SC4D (MGB's Mods and other stuff) or Simtropolis (MGB's Lot and Mod Shack) where I'll do my best to help.


What's New 2.0   View Changelog


Released

No big changes to the contents, just a small overhaul to make things more user-friendly.

Note that the previous manual-based approach to creating this mod is no longer supported.

  • Like 13
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Oh, the trolls have already been here and voted 1 star... how cute. :) Won't be much use, of course, as always... sad little creatures.

 

Back to topic, I haven't downloaded this yet, but I see that many people use sidewalk mods. However, most rely on pre-made ones that can simply be downloaded. Yout tutorial might enable more people to adjust a sidewalk mod to their liking, or even to make one from scratch. Plus, it may introduce people into texture editing as such - surely useful knowledge, and who knows where this knowledge may lead? :)

 

Have you thought about publishing this tutorial on the Omnibus? IMO, it's perfectly suited for this.

 

Anyway, thank you for sharing, and now I'm voting 5/5 to counter. :)

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Oh, the trolls have already been here and voted 1 star... how cute. :) Won't be much use, of course, as always... sad little creatures.

 

^^ Hehehe such sarcasm. Anyways, I think this is super cool to have and always thought it looked awkward having that white maxis texture bits alongside my override, especially for the overlays. Nice job. 5/5.

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Well, don't know who that voter was but I, for one, appreciate this. Thanks man.

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Not sure if I'm going to need this but 5/5 on principle alone! Nice work and to whomever trolled this upload, unless you can do better, you have no business throwing up a one.

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Perfect Timing.  I was seriously considering taking this on myself.  Looks like I'll rap it up much quicker than I thought.

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Your tutorial might enable more people to adjust a sidewalk mod to their liking, or even to make one from scratch. Plus, it may introduce people into texture editing as such - surely useful knowledge, and who knows where this knowledge may lead? :)

Until June I was frustrated with sidewalk mods, I liked all the different options out there but alas they have varying levels of uniformity depending on the mods available. I have a personal hatred of every pixel of Maxis white that invades my monitor. Therefore I decided to do something about it, the simple fact is that with the Japanese NAM facelift mod and the basic texture replacer a good chunk of the NAM can be made to fit any sidewalk, here's hoping the choices for users can be improved moving forwards. I have a number of sidewalk additions planned along the lines of my Sandstone Euro NAM mod.

Have you thought about publishing this tutorial on the Omnibus? IMO, it's perfectly suited for this.

That's something I will consider, right now I need to edit the tutorial for online use and I figured since the included resources were necessary it's just easier to keep the tutorial and files together.

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Bravo sir. As stated above, I use the Paeng sandstone Mod (and it is great) - but this just enhances. I knew it could be done but I am still at novice level. Love that you made such a well put together "tutorial".

 

Really, REALLY looking forward to fixing those ugly overlays!!!

 

5/5

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