How to Change the SC4 Loading Screen

Please PM SWAT-MEDIC if you have any questions about this article.

To begin, create a PNG image with a size of 768 pixels wide, by 600 pixels tall, using Paint.net, Microsoft Paint or your favorite image editing program. If you already have an image, resize it to the above stated dimensions. This is the optimal size you'll want for your new graphic.. if your image is too small, it will begin to repeat and if it is too large it will end up being cut off. Give the file this name: file00000002.png

To insert the picture into your mod, open up Ilives Reader, which can be found on the Modds section of Simtropolis, and open the Intro.dat in your simcity4 disk 2.  Press Fill the List button to the right.  Notice the PNG already in the file, this is a default PNG and will not be used.

Now that you are in the .dat file, copy the two MAD files and create a new, blank .dat file.  Paste the two MAD files into the new .dat.  Now, right click in the open white area below your two MAD files, and find "Insert File and Compress".  Find your PNG file, and open it.  It is now in the .dat file.   Save your file as whatever you like, and move it to your plugins folder.  When you enter the game, you will now have a loading screen that is custom, and even more fun to wait for your game to start.

Here is an example:

(Click for full resolution)

^{Note: Not an actual mod.}

And you should now have a new, custom loading image! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me, I would be glad to answer them.