Can the Animals be Modded or Changed?

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

Hello modders. Since i plan on sparing no expense on my current project, I was wondering if the animals in game can be changed or modded. Like what if I wanted to change the eagles in god mode to one of those birds from Avatar? Or make creatures that would fit in with my alien planet? Can this be done? Has anyone ever tried? If it can be done does anyone know a link to instructions?

[NCGAIO 562]

Unfortunately I have to say that this would be an almost impossible task due the complications involved.

The animations of wildlife in SC are criaddas through full 3D geometry models, the same way as automatons, but differ by having these animations (ring) made ​​in the proper model.

For better understanding:

The automata (eg cars) are models of a single position and are moved around the screen instructions through the Directory of effects in SC.

The animals are created with models of various positions to create the animation fixed (eg walking) but are displaced by the screen the same way as automatons.

In the case of the eagle that you cited, the name that creates the effect is found in EffectDir with: buzzards and buzzards_single

In addition to all the trouble to edit existing templates, since it is not possible to insert other, still have to be carried out modifications to the directory of effects, which today can only be performed in the most difficult possible through programming tool as editors hex.

This is an explanation in language easily understood, but there is abundant material technician for this, as in both SimTropolis SC4Devotion.

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

Thanks for your explanation NCGAIO. At least you're not saying it's impossible. From what I read of your reply, I interpret it as first a 3D model must be rendered and animated via positions of movement. Then it must be coded into the game through a very difficult process? So the difference between the animals and cars is that the cars are static and move about a path but the animals are animated with paths before being coded into the game? Perhaps the model can be made to follow the existing paths of Maxis animals? Excuse me if I interpreted incorrectly.

With all the modding tools available I agree there is abundant technical mediums that could probably make this happen. But did anyone ever go down this particular road? I remember when many things were either very difficult or said to be impossible years ago and now we have curved roads, diagonal bridges and many other things that used to be on wish lists. I hope this will someday be another breakthrough. I am willing to be involved in whatever way I can if pointed in the right direction I can handle.

  Edited May 8, 2012 by Mr_Maison  

[jdenm8 362]

Actually, most Automata is different to the Animal Automata in the way they're animated. the Animals pathfind dynamically, but it's skewed toward going downhill. However, that isn't relevant to modelling.

Cars and the such are different to animals in that most 3D models in the game are static. They've got a single frame, and that frame loops which the game rotates the model.

Animals on the other hand have multiple frames which play through, then loop t the beginning. The best way to find out for yourself how this works would be to open one of the animals in Reader (They will be S3D files in SimCity1.dat) and look at how the models are made.

Also, there's no transformation done between frames, the game just swaps out one model for the next.

For the bird however, you're probably better off using Maxis' Model and swapping out its texture. The model should be in SimCity1.dat. Once you find it, you'll need the Texture's IID from the mats table inside the file. Then you find that texture and create a new texture with the same aspect ratio (It doesn't have to be exactly the same size, but it really should follow the same ratio) and give it the same IID. Once you've done that, your custom birds should show up in-game.

Also, you don't "Render" Tru3D models for SC4 (Like the Automata, birds and NAM Overpasses) otherwise it won't work properly. What you need to do is import it from the 3DS file as an S3D file, something which needs to be done using Reader.

  Edited May 8, 2012 by jdenm8  

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

For the bird however, you're probably better off using Maxis' Model and swapping out its texture. The model should be in SimCity1.dat. Once you find it, you'll need the Texture's IID from the mats table inside the file. Then you find that texture and create a new texture with the same aspect ratio (It doesn't have to be exactly the same size, but it really should follow the same ratio) and give it the same IID. Once you've done that, your custom birds should show up in-game.

Thanks....that sounds very doable. I will give it a shot and report back my results.

  Edited May 8, 2012 by Mr_Maison  

[Lowkee33 5]

@jdenm8 : Check out the Pigeon S3D - 5AD0E817, BADB57F1, CA81A33F. Not too bad, I would say (at least, not much S3D work).

@Mr_Maison: If you do make your own models to be additions to Maxis, I would be willing to try my hand at making effects out of them. There seems to be two parts of making a complete effect, the behaivor of the effect defined in the effectDir and the generator made via LUA. I haven't quite made this connection yet, and I may be wrong about it anyway, but something like the God-Mode animal plops or the effects as props is certainly managable.

The modding is pretty involved, but a big part of the modding is what models are actually displayed in-game. I've started a thread at SC4D about effects - Here.

  Edited May 9, 2012 by Lowkee33  

[Mr_Maison 2,426]

I'm new to Ilives reader. How do you find the specific items. I found things such as Fauna_lionWalk via the navigator but have no idea what I'm looking at.

[NCGAIO 562]

Also, you don't "Render" Tru3D models for SC4 (Like the Automata, birds and NAM Overpasses) otherwise it won't work properly. What you need to do is import it from the 3DS file as an S3D file, something which needs to be done using Reader.

Have managed to transfer some ring for S3D this way ?

@Mr_Maison.. a visit to this link may clarify the matter!

- https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=14245.0