Jimbob Posted June 17, 2013 Share Posted June 17, 2013 Note: Please use this topic for reserving and submitting modifications only. The discussion topic for this overhaul can be found here. The LEGO Racers Theme Overhaul is a community modding project open to all members of RRU. Its purpose is to redesign all the current themes of the game into different ones, not just through texture modification but through file editing too. If you would like to participate in this project (and it would be great if you did), just read through the simple guide below to get started. A Brief Overview The main aspects of the game that are to be modded include textures, binary files, SRF files, and (for those with the required software) music/sounds. Each of the 13 tracks in the game has had a new theme assigned to it, and the various moddable elements of the track are to be redesigned to fit the themes. For example, Pirate Skull Pass will be modded into a Ghost Pirates theme, and thus will require eerie green ghostly textures and perhaps the addition of wandering ghosts from Dark Forest Dash, in addition to harder power-up layouts and spooky music. In addition to the tracks, the menu system of the game (include car and character creation) can be modded to change the overall aesthetics of the game. This large range of moddable aspects means that anyone can join in to this project and contribute modifications that they personally enjoy producing. Choosing a Modification When creating a modification for this overhaul, you will need to choose one of the themes from the Themes List. Rather than allow people to submit their own themes, themes have been pre-selected to maintain a level of organisation and keep the overhaul uniform. You will notice that different tracks have different themes - you may only modify your selected theme into its paired track. Next, you will need to choose something to mod – be it textures, power-up layouts, models, etc. Take a look at the Modding List for a list of all the mods available in this overhaul and pick one to mod, ensuring it has not already been reserved/completed. If not, you can proceed with making your mod! First make a post on this topic specifying what you would like to mod, in order to reserve that modification. You can then use the tools below to create it. Some suggestions for mods to make are: - Adding new music/sounds to the game - Creating textures - please note that each member may modify up to two skin textures, as currently only thirty can be created - Editing the power-up layouts to be more challenging - Modifying the SRF files to fit the new themes - Swapping models in tracks - Increasing opponent speed Below is a collection of free tools, topics and tutorials that are useful for creating these modifications to LEGO Racers. Tools - Binary File Editor, for editing much of the game's data - In-Game Coordinate Viewer, useful when editing PWB layouts, start-up positions and models - Paint.NET, a free image editor - PWB Editor, used to modify power-up layouts - SRF Editor, for modifying all the language files in the game Discussions - Increasing Difficulty, a topic elaborating on different ways of increasing the game's difficulty - Texture Rips, contains all the game textures such as tracks and power-ups Tutorials - Changing Car Sounds, a topic for swapping sounds files - Custom Audio, which details how to create and convert custom sound files - Modding Opponents, listing various methods of modding opponents - Scene Modding and Object Moving, this shows how to mod scenes and objects - Semi-Transparency, which explains how to mod alpha channels and transparency - Skin Texturing, a topic describing how skin textures work, including skin texture downloads - Start-Up and Power-Up Positions, which shows how start-up and power-up positions work Creating Your Modification Now that you’ve chosen what modifications you’d like to make and contribute, as well as downloading the required tools, it’s time to make the mod. While some modifications are relatively simple in their implementation, there are a couple of things to take note of. SRF Files The SRF files, which contain all the words in the game, should only be modified with the SRF Editor. Using other programs can mess up the files and cause the game to display words incorrectly. Textures While LEGO Racers accepts textures of any resolution, please make textures that are 256x256 pixels in resolution. If this really isn't possible, a resolution 128x128 is acceptable. The reason for this requirement is that the aesthetics of the game need to be consistent, rather than having a player go from an HD track to a low-res track, for example. Naming Your Files For simplicity, and the benefit of other members also creating modifications (in addition to my own sanity), please keep file names the same. While they can be changed in the relevant binary files, doing so means that everyone who may be modifying similar files will need to make edits too. It overcomplicates things, and it would therefore be better that files are left with their original names. Submitting Your Modification Once you have made your wonderful theme modification ready to add to the rest of the pack, you will need to submit it for inclusion with the rest of the overhaul. Before uploading it, however, please ensure you have fulfilled the small checklist below: - Files are placed in the correct folders using the original game’s structure For instance, this means that rather than having a folder ‘PARTDB’ containing several textures, you place that folder within ‘MENUDATA’. This means that the folders can be merged together instead, so I don’t have to sift through and match all the files up. - You have taken screenshots of everything you have modified. This means I can preview what you have produced before adding it into the game, giving me an idea of what you’ve made and allowing it to be added into the modifications list quickly. It also ensures other members can review what you have produced, as this is a community project and everyone needs to be satisfied with its contents (or at least a reasonable consensus is reached). - You have included a ReadMe or similar file listing what you have modified. Again, this aids with taking note of what has been produced, and helps modifications be implemented quicker. - You HAVE NOT included any files that you haven’t modified. This is imperative, as it could result in other peoples’ files being overwritten or files being credited as modified when they aren’t. Plus, it wouldn’t be good if original game files were shared around. Once you have those three items checked, place all your modified GAMEDATA and/or MENUDATA folders, along with your ReadMe file, in a .ZIP file labeled with your username. Then upload it to the RRU uploader, and upload your screenshots to the RRU gallery. Finally, create a post in this topic, containing: - A link to download your .ZIP file - Screenshots of your modification in spoiler tags - The list of modifications you have produced, which is in your the ReadMe An example format for a texture mod would be: Test Track and Skin Textures Preview1 Image Preview2 Image Preview3 Image Modifies: - Default figure textures – HELMET02, LH_DFLT and expressions, TU_CHST - Test Track And there you have it! Thank you for taking the time to read through the guidelines, we all look forward to your contributions to this excellent community modding project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbob Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 Themes List Below is a list of the themes in the LEGO Racers Theme Overhaul. If you have suggestions for alternative themes (provided they haven't already been modded), please suggest them here. [table] ThemeTrack LEGO IslandImperial Grand PrixMonster FightersDark Forest DashBlacktron/M-TronMagma Moon MarathonBionicleDesert Adventure DragwayVikingsTribal Island TrailTownRoyal Knights RacewaySportsIce Planet PathwayIndiana JonesAmazon Adventure AlleyWild WestKnightmare-AthonGhost PiratesPirate Skull PassHarry PotterAdventure Temple TrialAlpha TeamAlien Rally AsteroidStar WarsRocket Racer Run [/table] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbob Posted June 17, 2013 Author Share Posted June 17, 2013 Modding List The list below details all the available modifications to the LEGO Racers Theme Overhaul community project. If I have left out any modifications, or you have additional suggestions, please let me know here. Binary Modifications [table] TargetThemeTypeReserved ByDate Completed Opponent Car Colours*Car--Oppenent Car SpeedsN/ACarRobExplorien-Player Car ColoursN/ACar-- [/table] *Please ensure these modifications match currently modified cars. Model Modifications [table] TargetThemeTypeReserved ByDate Completed Imperial Grand PrixLEGO IslandTrack--Dark Forest DashMonster FightersTrack--Magma Moon MarathonBlacktron/M-TronTrack--Desert Adventure DragwayBionicleTrack--Tribal Island TrailVikingsTrack--Royal Knights RacewayTownTrack--Ice Planet PathwaySportsTrack--Amazon Adventure AlleyIndiana JonesTrack--Knightmare-AthonWild WestTrack--Pirate Skull PassGhost PiratesTrack--Adventure Temple TrialHarry PotterTrack--Alien Rally AsteroidAlpha TeamTrack--Rocket Racer RunStar WarsTrack-- [/table] Music Modifications [table] TargetThemeTypeReserved ByDate Completed RewardN/ACutscene--Imperial Grand PrixLEGO IslandCutscene--Dark Forest DashMonster FightersCutscene--Magma Moon MarathonBlacktron/M-TronCutscene--Desert Adventure DragwayBionicleCutscene--Tribal Island TrailVikingsCutscene--Royal Knights RacewayTownCutscene--Ice Planet PathwaySportsCutscene--Amazon Adventure AlleyIndiana JonesCutscene--Knightmare-AthonWild WestCutscene--Pirate Skull PassGhost PiratesCutscene--Adventure Temple TrialHarry PotterCutscene--Alien Rally AsteroidAlpha TeamCutscene--Rocket Racer RunStar WarsTrack--MenuN/AMiscellaneous--Race WinN/AMiscellaneous--Race LossN/AMiscellaneous--Imperial Grand PrixLEGO IslandTrack--Dark Forest DashMonster FightersTrack--Magma Moon MarathonBlacktron/M-TronTrack--Desert Adventure DragwayBionicleTrack--Tribal Island TrailVikingsTrack--Royal Knights RacewayTownTrack--Ice Planet PathwaySportsTrack--Amazon Adventure AlleyIndiana JonesTrack--Knightmare-AthonWild WestTrack--Pirate Skull PassGhost PiratesTrack--Adventure Temple TrialHarry PotterTrack--Alien Rally AsteroidAlpha TeamTrack--Rocket Racer RunStar WarsTrack--Imperial Grand PrixLEGO IslandTrack (Alternative)--Dark Forest DashMonster FightersTrack (Alternative)--Magma Moon MarathonBlacktron/M-TronTrack (Alternative)--Desert Adventure DragwayBionicleTrack (Alternative)--Tribal Island TrailVikingsTrack (Alternative)--Royal Knights RacewayTownTrack (Alternative)--Ice Planet PathwaySportsTrack (Alternative)--Amazon Adventure AlleyIndiana JonesTrack (Alternative)--Knightmare-AthonWild WestTrack (Alternative)--Pirate Skull PassGhost PiratesTrack (Alternative)--Adventure Temple TrialHarry PotterTrack (Alternative)--Alien Rally AsteroidAlpha TeamTrack (Alternative)--Rocket Racer RunStar WarsTrack-- [/table] Power-Up Layout Modifications [table] TargetThemeTypeReserved ByDate Completed Imperial Grand PrixLEGO IslandTrackRobExplorien-Dark Forest DashMonster FightersTrackRobExplorien-Magma Moon MarathonBlacktron/M-TronTrackRobExplorien-Desert Adventure DragwayBionicleTrackRobExplorien-Tribal Island TrailVikingsTrackRobExplorien-Royal Knights RacewayTownTrackRobExplorien-Ice Planet PathwaySportsTrack--Amazon Adventure AlleyIndiana JonesTrack--Knightmare-AthonWild WestTrack--Pirate Skull PassGhost PiratesTrack--Adventure Temple TrialHarry PotterTrack--Alien Rally AsteroidAlpha TeamTrack--Rocket Racer RunStar WarsTrackRobExplorien- [/table] Sound Modifications [table] TargetThemeTypeReserved ByDate Completed CarsN/ACar--CutscenesN/ACutscene--MenusN/AMiscellaneous--Power-UpsN/AMiscellaneous-- [/table] SRF Modifications [table] TargetThemeTypeReserved ByDate Completed Figures**Character--MenusN/AMiscellaneous--Tracks**Track-- [/table] **Please ensure these modifications match currently modified themes/tracks/figures. Texture Modifications [table] TargetThemeTypeReserved ByDate Completed Power-UpsN/AMiscellaneous--Menu Background/ButtonsN/AMiscellaneous--Figures***Skin--Imperial Grand PrixLEGO IslandTrack--Dark Forest DashMonster FightersTrack--Magma Moon MarathonBlacktron/M-TronTrackRobExplorien-Desert Adventure DragwayBionicleTrack--Tribal Island TrailVikingsTrack--Royal Knights RacewayTownTrack--Ice Planet PathwaySportsTrack--Amazon Adventure AlleyIndiana JonesTrack--Knightmare-AthonWild WestTrack--Pirate Skull PassGhost PiratesTrack--Adventure Temple TrialHarry PotterTrack--Alien Rally AsteroidAlpha TeamTrack--Rocket Racer RunStar WarsTrack-- [/table] ***As specified in the first post, each member may modify up to two skins. These skins must coincide with the themes in the Themes List. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobExplorien Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 I mind as well reserve a few spots here. - Texturing minifigures for MMM (Blacktron (Future Generation) and M-Tron done). - Increasing difficulty by speed-editing opponents (IGP, DFD, MMM, DAD, RKR and RRR done). - Modifying PWB-layouts to match the increased difficulty (IGP, DFD, MMM, DAD, TIT, RKR and RRR done). I know that the latter two are covered in LEGO AcceleRacers, but I don't mind including it in this community project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbob Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 I mind as well reserve a few spots here. - Texturing minifigures for MMM (Blacktron (Future Generation) and M-Tron done). - Increasing difficulty by speed-editing opponents (IGP, DFD, MMM, DAD, RKR and RRR done). - Modifying PWB-layouts to match the increased difficulty (IGP, DFD, MMM, DAD, TIT, RKR and RRR done). I know that the latter two are covered in LEGO AcceleRacers, but I don't mind including it in this community project. Thank you, especially for including mods that are already in LEGO AcceleRacers. I've added in your reservations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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