Okeanos Trading Mod

[itsthemuffinman 0]

Firstly, sorry if this is a repeat... it seems everyone is being very hush hush about this tho!

For those of you who haven't found Okeanos Trading mod, this changes the price of imports and exports in the solo mode.  It also allows you to sell your workers.  This is a step in the right direction for a sandbox mode, weither it be user generated or from MC.

What we need is some top nerds working on how he's produced this... My vague understanding is that it is relatively simple XML that sets the trade prices... this XML is then encoded to the .patch file where Cities loads it from the PAK directory.

All we need to know is the structure of this file and the encoding algorithm and a simple GUI interface can be generated for making a custom version.

Lets unite and get this working! We deserve a sandbox mode, irrelevant of what MC think.

[itsthemuffinman 0]

I've seen the posts on XenTax about how to unpack the files and had a look through the output they produce... hence why I know its encrypted XML. I've had a little play with these files but it appears that Cities doesn't load the XML rather... instead will revert to the original pak. I've also tried removing the pak files that the data files relate to with no success.

Any further ideas and im happy to try them out!

[commanderkai 38]

I finally found this mod. Thank God too because the prices I was being charged were way too excessive. Alright. Time to install!

Edit: Nevermind. It was a dead link. Sigh...I hate these prices. I really do.

[Sainty 0]

Originally posted by: commanderkai

I finally found this mod. Thank God too because the prices I was being charged were way too excessive. Alright. Time to install!

Edit: Nevermind. It was a dead link. Sigh...I hate these prices. I really do.

quote>

http://www.citiesxs.de/forum/index.php/topic,598.html

[Mathew_MC 0]

As a note, Omnicorp's prices will be lowered with the upcoming patch. Maybe some of you will want to check how the game works with this new balance before trying out the mod.

The prices will not be lowered as much as with Okeanos' mod though (which is +/-50%) but more in the +/-20-30% range for a start.

[ACEH 0]

When the patch will be released, Mathew?

[commanderkai 38]

Thank you good sir.

[itsthemuffinman 0]

I've been doing some more research into this and it seems this shouldnt be as difficult as I originally imagined...

Thanks to XeNTaX (http://forum.xentax.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3544) for the description on the PAK files. Using the QuickBMS script I unpacked Okeanos patch and had a look at whats inside. A nice and simple functions file with information of trade prices.

With a little magic, luck and dedication I've managed to make another patch very similar to Okeanos with much more 'sandboxy' prices. I pretty much added a couple of extra zeros to all of his prices.

I'm currently working on creating a Java app that will take the functions file and wrap it into a PAK file that cities will load. This will then allow players to make a custom file with the prices they want.

Mathew, I ask you this... is a one line answer to a 4 paragraph ticket asking about a sandbox mode and why is wasnt included in the first place reasonable? Please give me a reason why I shouldn't make this script available when I've ironed out the last few issues (and I will).

[itsthemuffinman 0]

Okay... so a little more tweaking and the Java app is working.

I've tested with prices varying between 1 and 2.5 billion and it worked fine, i may well work above that but I can't see why you would want more!

I'll give Monte Cristo a little while to respond but otherwise I'll upload the script and post the link!

[Andre090904 0]

Hey itsthemuffinman,

you seem to be very interested in modding (changing) things. As a moderator of CitiesXS I can invite you to our modding-area where Okeanos is testing with his mods.

In order to spread his knowledge and to increase the interests concerning modding and custom content, this internal area is available in Englisch only.

To get into contact with Okeanos you need to register on our website which is available in English as well. Just change the language by clicking on the flag at the head.

When registering you may use this help.

In order to get invited into the internal modding-subforum you need to present yourself first in the English-Discussion forum.

We decided to create an internal modding-forum as this mods could be misused. Be assured that we test every mod in Singleplayer only.

[Mathew_MC 0]

Isthemuffinman, there are no reason why you should not make this script available. We are working on adding a sandbox mode to the game, but you have every right to publish your own tool in the meantime.

Only thing we are asking is to make sure the mod doesn't work online (I don't think Okeanos' mod does so it seems okay) or if it does clearly warn users not to use it online.

[Andre090904 0]

Yup, thanks for clarification once more Matthew!

itsthemuffinman got invited into our "CitiesXS internal modding-area". The tools to create mods can be misued very easily. That is why we invite people only so that reliable modders/designers have a chance to improve the game without being confronted with some "cheating accusations".

Hope that we can open our modding-area very soon so that everybody can profit from it.

We provide mods which cannot be misused. It would be nice if Monte Cristo could "assume" some of our mods so that they "are not that illegal". Just as an example you could enlarge the bulldozer/terraforming radius...or you could include more simple statistics...

[bobrobertsnz 0]

Am glad the MC are providing feedback, and helpfullness in this thread... If you read some of the other threads you would think MC are just evil monsters.... but glad this proves they do listen.....