how to create a mod from scratch... (reallllly sorry if this Q is a little bit stupid)
- Thread starter Vasiko
- Start date
Not a stupid question but one that would require much to answer. I dont' feel like writing a book, nor am I qualified.
Your question implies from scratch as in altering game base code, which is what would be required in a game not designed or supplied
with developer tools for the end user, as is in other game say, like SKyrim or Fallout NEw Vegas, and are games meant to be tweaked by end users.
None of the mods I see around here or elsewhere for SR games are anything more than xtbl edits of existing files the game uses as variable fields.
None I know of would be from scratch.
To do it from scratch for this game? I'd suggest learning assembly language as a place to start. One would have to deconstruct existing code and back engineer,
and could come up with something 'from scratch' that way. So , assembly and debugging toolz.
That would take a herculean effort but one in the long run would pay off well, as real assembly coders are rare these days. Most of them are insane, by most human standards.
Well, that's my offering. I hope that answers something.
Now, if you just want to edit the xtbls there are tools laying around here linked somewhere (I forget the thread) that allow unpacking of game files which will include
xtbl files (ascii text). You can also just find examples in mods themselves people have done. I think I uploaded in one thread apack of the xtbls in the game, non modded ones.
Your question implies from scratch as in altering game base code, which is what would be required in a game not designed or supplied
with developer tools for the end user, as is in other game say, like SKyrim or Fallout NEw Vegas, and are games meant to be tweaked by end users.
None of the mods I see around here or elsewhere for SR games are anything more than xtbl edits of existing files the game uses as variable fields.
None I know of would be from scratch.
To do it from scratch for this game? I'd suggest learning assembly language as a place to start. One would have to deconstruct existing code and back engineer,
and could come up with something 'from scratch' that way. So , assembly and debugging toolz.
That would take a herculean effort but one in the long run would pay off well, as real assembly coders are rare these days. Most of them are insane, by most human standards.
Well, that's my offering. I hope that answers something.
Now, if you just want to edit the xtbls there are tools laying around here linked somewhere (I forget the thread) that allow unpacking of game files which will include
xtbl files (ascii text). You can also just find examples in mods themselves people have done. I think I uploaded in one thread apack of the xtbls in the game, non modded ones.
![[V] IdolNinja](/forum/data/avatars/m/0/62.jpg?1394026296){kind=avatar}
[V] IdolNinja
Volition Staff
I think he's asking on how the basics work. I do plan to write up a tutorial when I have some time, but for now:
1. Download gibbed's tools and extract them. Grab b59, as the last 2 versions have an issue with unpack str2_pc files
http://svn.gib.me/builds/volition/
2. Extract the bin_sr3 from within the archive you just download
3. Drag one of your vanilla .vpp_pc files on to Gibbed.SaintsRow3.UnpackVPP.exe
This will extract it into a subfolder of the same name as the archive
4. There will be xtbl files inside. Make a copy of one to your SRTT install folder where the game exe is, and edit it with any changes. Your install folder will be wherever you installed Steam:
..\steam\steamapps\common\saints row the third\
If you want to edit scripts or textures or other uncompressed files
1. They are usually stored within str2_pc files located within a vpp_pc. Extract a .str2_pc file by dragging it on to Gibbed.SaintsRow3.UnpackSTR2.exe
2. Step 5 above will create a new folder named after the str2_pc file. Edit your files inside (lua, cvbm, etc.)
3. Repack the str2_pc file and update the asm_pc file that relates to it. I'm going to use cell_menu.str2_pc as an example which is located in interface.vpp_pc and uses vint_doc_containers.asm_pc. Your batch file would look something like this:
REM param 1 is the file name to save - param 2 is the folder containing the str2 pc files
Gibbed.SaintsRow3.PackSTR2.exe cell_menu_main.str2_pc cell_menu_main
REM param 1 is the asm - param 2 is the folder with the str2 files. . means current folder
Gibbed.SaintsRow3.UpdateASM.exe vint_doc_containers.asm_pc .
pause
4. Move your newly created str2_pc file and updated asm_pc file to your SRTT install folder
NOTE: Before running your batch file, make certain of two things
* Delete the original str2_pc file before creating your new one. I've had problems with using the tools and having them crash if the str_pc files already exists and you're trying to create a new one with the same name
* Make sure the extracted folder name doesn't have an extension. This will cause the tool to bomb out. The folder name in the example above should be cell_menu_main and NOT cell_menu_main.str2_pc
1. Download gibbed's tools and extract them. Grab b59, as the last 2 versions have an issue with unpack str2_pc files
http://svn.gib.me/builds/volition/
2. Extract the bin_sr3 from within the archive you just download
3. Drag one of your vanilla .vpp_pc files on to Gibbed.SaintsRow3.UnpackVPP.exe
This will extract it into a subfolder of the same name as the archive
4. There will be xtbl files inside. Make a copy of one to your SRTT install folder where the game exe is, and edit it with any changes. Your install folder will be wherever you installed Steam:
..\steam\steamapps\common\saints row the third\
If you want to edit scripts or textures or other uncompressed files
1. They are usually stored within str2_pc files located within a vpp_pc. Extract a .str2_pc file by dragging it on to Gibbed.SaintsRow3.UnpackSTR2.exe
2. Step 5 above will create a new folder named after the str2_pc file. Edit your files inside (lua, cvbm, etc.)
3. Repack the str2_pc file and update the asm_pc file that relates to it. I'm going to use cell_menu.str2_pc as an example which is located in interface.vpp_pc and uses vint_doc_containers.asm_pc. Your batch file would look something like this:
REM param 1 is the file name to save - param 2 is the folder containing the str2 pc files
Gibbed.SaintsRow3.PackSTR2.exe cell_menu_main.str2_pc cell_menu_main
REM param 1 is the asm - param 2 is the folder with the str2 files. . means current folder
Gibbed.SaintsRow3.UpdateASM.exe vint_doc_containers.asm_pc .
pause
4. Move your newly created str2_pc file and updated asm_pc file to your SRTT install folder
NOTE: Before running your batch file, make certain of two things
* Delete the original str2_pc file before creating your new one. I've had problems with using the tools and having them crash if the str_pc files already exists and you're trying to create a new one with the same name
* Make sure the extracted folder name doesn't have an extension. This will cause the tool to bomb out. The folder name in the example above should be cell_menu_main and NOT cell_menu_main.str2_pc
sorry but I mean it, from scratch.... but... that thing about gibbed's tools is still interesting....
I saw a post [I forgot where] where he could increase the limit of wall climbing.... how could that be?
and if that [editing from scratch] is almost impossible, can you change the clothes texture using the method above ....?
Hey, i'm just a chimp. I think yoiu credit me for too much.
Yah, read around. new tools are around.
And the increase climbing limit, if that is what you refer to, is a xtbl edit. the mod example is in the mods seciont i think. Agility mod should
be the one.
Yah, someone should write a essay on current mods as newbies coming along don't know where to start. I know the feeling. I got
here a couple months back and just followed the scene to get as ignorant as I am today.
Yah, read around. new tools are around.
And the increase climbing limit, if that is what you refer to, is a xtbl edit. the mod example is in the mods seciont i think. Agility mod should
be the one.
Yah, someone should write a essay on current mods as newbies coming along don't know where to start. I know the feeling. I got
here a couple months back and just followed the scene to get as ignorant as I am today.
[V] IdolNinja
Volition Staff
You mean like the one I wrote up last week that is stickied in the Guides and Tutorials subforum?
http://www.saintsrowmods.com/forum/index.php?threads/saints-row-the-third-modding-basics.597/
Yah, you know it is a sad fact in internet life when one realizes even stickies need stickies.
Even then, people seem to not see them. I've been known to answer posts in the PC issues section in games like this one
and the makers put a big sticky up. "Game Requirements". Then for the rest of all time you see posts below 'why wont my game run'
and it is on hardware well below the published minimum. Then you go beat something up, maybe dream about ripping a face off, speaking
as a chimp anyway.
Great guide!
Even then, people seem to not see them. I've been known to answer posts in the PC issues section in games like this one
and the makers put a big sticky up. "Game Requirements". Then for the rest of all time you see posts below 'why wont my game run'
and it is on hardware well below the published minimum. Then you go beat something up, maybe dream about ripping a face off, speaking
as a chimp anyway.
Great guide!