simmars-forum-threads Simmars Intro Picture

[deathtopumpkins 43]

I like the first one...

[TimeMaster 4]

The first one, definitely. Looks great!

[Shoji_sim 9]

I hate to say this, but my parents put on a strict website control, so I can't see several websites. That also includes photos, videos, etc. Here are some DM sites I can't acess:

-Photobucket

-ImageShack

-YouTube (they keep on saying there's to much inappropriate stuff)

I can't  see your pictures, too.

But HEY! I actually found something really useful! Using DarkMatter's DatGen (https://www.simtropolis.com/modding/index.cfm?p=details&id=334) I was able to peek into the intro.dat and guess what: I found the MAD file! All you/we have to do is to make a video in whatever good format we can make it, convert it into MAD, and just import it into our own intro.dat file.

We need to do the following:

1. Finish video

2. Find a xxx to MAD video/file converter.

3. Send it to me.

4. I'll import it to our intro.dat file.

5. (Optional) Email the .dat file to you guys and test.

Hope we can get it done in weeks only.

[Shoji_sim 9]

Sorry, can you PM (if possible) or send the images to me? My browser blocked the images...

BTW, I found out how to put .mad files into .dat files.

[Shoji_sim 9]

Sorry, can you PM (if possible) or send the images to me? My browser blocked the images...

BTW, I found out how to put .mad files into .dat files.

[timcravey 169]

I hate to tell you, but she's probably right - there's a lot of trash on YouTube.

Maybe you can ask her to go online with you once a week to visit SimMars forum. You could download any images you needed to work with or upload ideas.

Have you looked at this thread -

https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=41&threadid=102825&enterthread=y

I think we should keep that conversation over there (in the Modding forum) as the topic is of general interest to the community and help may come from some quarter not connected with SimMars.

I downloaded DatGen and will look at the intro.dat - but is it capable of editing the contents of the .mad?

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Well to awnser some of your guys' questions:

A: Default most common file format is .wmv

B: Common Size= 720x480

C: Make sure to use Aspect Ratio in Your video.

D: No Compression for a video needed: if uploading to Youtube or something Youtube will do that for you.

E: And Why make so many file conversions? A program like Vegas Pro 8 Will do all file conversions for you.

F: If you need a video downloaded off of Youtube I can do that for you.

G:Video editing? How many people have experience? I do (www.Youtube.com/kellydale2003)

Hope this information helped

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Well to awnser some of your guys' questions:

A: Default most common file format is .wmv

B: Common Size= 720x480

C: Make sure to use Aspect Ratio in Your video.

D: No Compression for a video needed: if uploading to Youtube or something Youtube will do that for you.

E: And Why make so many file conversions? A program like Vegas Pro 8 Will do all file conversions for you.

F: If you need a video downloaded off of Youtube I can do that for you.

G:Video editing? How many people have experience? I do (www.Youtube.com/kellydale2003)

Hope this information helped

[warrior 169]

I don't think anyone has created a program that can convert open or modify a .mad file (it is unique to EA).

How ever we could just disable the video at the beginning altogether (because I mean it's an essential part of the game)

You can do this by just replacing the MAD files with invalid (empty probably) files.

Jonathan

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Well what are the .mad files for? Why do we need those files? We need to get our own work here and not someone elses

[un1 41]

MAD files are the files that are the intro.

There are three files in the INTRO dat.

2 MAD

1 PNG

One of the MAD files are for the "EA Games" and "Maxis" logos.

The other one is for the intro video.

So you could just make a video and import it in the Reader (as a MAD file) then change the file ID to the intro one...

If SC4 would understand it...

-un1

[kellydale2003 2,276]

Well Why don't we just download one off of Youtube?

Wouldn't that be so much Easier?

I'll post a link to an into I downloaded; the link will be the video.

[TimeMaster 4]

Now to begin the planning. I am going to twist around some ideas. Start out with the simcity4 intro and play it through about 1 fourth. If someone edit a space port in at that point, that would great. The a barren picture of mars morphs out of the SC4 pic. That drum beat idea would be cool as the picture zooms along. It starts to move in a rural town which the morphs into a small city into a metropolis. Edits are fine, just some laydown ideas.

-Time

[JakeMD 107]

We will make our own, not download one off of youtube. Downloading videos off of youtube is not only illegal, but breaks the copyright rules of the website.

[warrior 169]

The trouble is noone else uses the mad format (it is an entirely different format) only EA have the tools to convert and create mad files.

So you could just make a video and import it in the Reader (as a MAD file) then change the file ID to the intro one...

If SC4 would understand it... quote>

I tried that already it didn't recognize it and just skipped the intro.

Who actually watches the intro at the game start up? Not many people, they will watch the intro video once and then turn it off, so why do we waste time on this when something easier and more important can be worked on?

[JakeMD 107]

I agree, it would be a waste of time. Though a fun project, I think I am going to change the main point of this thread to the loading screen, which everyone sees. I have come up with a couple of ideas on page 1, toward the bottom, but anyone is welcome to share.

[TimeMaster 4]

I have also made some new ideas higher on the page. We just have to get someone to film it. Or you could up with your own. Why don't we wait until there are more re-lots so everything is more diverse?

[warrior 169]

The trouble is not filming it or what to film the trouble is converting it into a MAD file (it is a totally different way of encoding then wmv or avi etc)

Jonathan

[ianpaschal 77]

I am very much for all of title screen 1, with the exception of the BETA 3 text, which I prefer the 2nd.

[JakeMD 107]

Hey scipio, haven't seen or talked to you in a while!!

Things can be changed around, these aren't "Final". I will make several others before coming up with a final one for the "Beta 3"

Thanks for your input, and no more intro video. *changes topic title*

[Shoji_sim 9]

WOW! Good job!

[Shoji_sim 9]

WOW! Good job.

[JakeMD 107]

Thanks, but try not to press the post button so many times!

[AndisArt 2,068]

Nice ones! The second one is really good! The first one too, but I agree that the font should be different.

For the video, so be it then, disable Maxis one for now. But let's keep our eyes ears open in case a .mad file program should surface.

Originally posted by: SWAT-MEDIC While I figure this out, I have made up some intro pictures.

Tell me what you think!quote>

[TimeMaster 4]

Now that I look at them longer, I think the 2nd one also looks great, too. Agree, we can save this topic for later.

[Shoji_sim 9]

Good job!

[Shoji_sim 9]

They look very neat!

[Shoji_sim 9]

Cool!

[kellydale2003 2,276]

If downloading the 'maxis logo' off of Youtube is illegal, certainly using it directly from the company is illegal than too.

I say we can just make our own. I'm good with animation. But I wont be on for awhile.

[warrior 169]

I think i have said this about 3 times now *the problem isn't making a video its getting it in game that the problem*

Until we get any video in the game there's no point making a SimMars video.

Jonathan