Thread: modding a game.

  1. #1
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    modding a game.

    Hi I need to know how to make a weather mod for simcity4, is it possible to make a c++ script and make it runnable for this game or any game, simcity4 uses .lua scripting but it is close to what c++ is like. Also how would you call their their scripts,would you use the include statement? Any suggestion's on what I should do to be able to mod the game. I need any idea's on what to do even if your not that sure.

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    I am not familiar with Sim city. Does it have an SDK?
    I'm not immature, I'm refined in the opposite direction.

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    sdk? what is sdk?, the only thing I know is that the game has .lua script's and s3d models, and exemplar files,png files,fsh picture's.
    If you don't know what is simcity4, I would still would like suggestion's on what to look for and what I should do to learn the game engine that the games run's on.
    Last edited by hockey97; 07-03-2005 at 07:39 AM.

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    An SDK is a software development kit that lets you program modifications for games.
    I'm not immature, I'm refined in the opposite direction.

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    well you can make a data files of it their is a program that you can read the files of the game,they made a program that you can create your own buildings and prop's but some other website has a program that you can read and edit some files in the game ,like the hex code's but I am not good with hex coding, but that program allow's you to make a data file that the game would run. But I am haveing trouble making the weather mod, the game only has cloud's and disaster's but no weathre like the cloud's don't get dark and start to rain, This is what I wan't to create in the game.

    I got another question, to include files do I have to put the folder names and stuff, Like I want to include the game files which is under maxis, then simcity4, those folders how would I include those files in simcity4 folder, would I just need to put the included and then the file name or all the folders that lead to the files I want?
    Thanks for your time.
    Last edited by hockey97; 07-04-2005 at 09:08 AM.

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    I need to know how to include files with in my script like do I need to include the directory file, for example like crogram files/maxis/simcity4/gamefiles. would I need to include that or just put the name of the data files? Also how would I make a script for cloud and rain speed? and how would I control the animation?
    if don't know simcity4 you could just tell me what other games uses in their weather script's or any ideas that you think would have to be done to display clouds and weather effects in any game.
    Thanks for your time.

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    Hi I just need to know how to create a weather generater in c++ scripting.
    I need to know how would I run or open my art file and display it.

  8. #8
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
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    C++ is not a scripting language, and it is rather clear from your questions that you do not understand it nearly well enough to even consider starting the task you want to complete.
    Away.

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    Hi, well Yes I read two book's I understood stuff but I am not clear on how you could call or diplay art, model's , like I don't get how you would make a game. Becuse the stuff I read only teaches me calculator functions and stuff. I understud the #include and fuctions and varable's but I don't really know on game programming I want to learn it , is their any video's or any how to step's on game programming or any game script's that I can read that deals with 3d models in it.

  10. #10
    Registered User Frobozz's Avatar
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    For Lua, check out this site: www.lua.org

    As for modding information, here is one site that gives info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modd_Squad_(SimCity_4)

    I didn't bother spending any more time looking for info, but I would recommend you check out the links that Google supplies since I got both of those from it.

  11. #11
    Registered User Frobozz's Avatar
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    For Lua, check out this site: www.lua.org

    As for modding information, here is one site that gives info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modd_Squad_(SimCity_4)

    I didn't bother spending any more time looking for info, but I would recommend you check out the links that Google supplies since I got both of those from it.

  12. #12
    The Right Honourable psychopath's Avatar
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    step1: learn C or C++ or C# or any other programming language you want to use
    step2: once you are fully comfortable with that language, get a book on game programming, probably either OpenGL or DirectX. While you may never use these languages, and beginners book usually teaches theory and the like.
    step3: learn additional scripting languages such as lua.

    Also, if you indend on sticking to modding, try modding older/simpler games to get comfortable with it. You can't filp through a couple of books and expect to be able mod and code flawlessly.

    -psychopath
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    Robotics and graphics enthusiast.

  13. #13
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    hockey, it seems you understand the language syntax, but not really how a program would go about functioning or how really how the computer handles it all. You don't include media you have to read in the file data and handle it however you want. Also scripts aren't C++ code. Once the C++ code is compiled and linked, it's not gonna change while running. (Unless it's hacked or decompiled). Loading a script doesn't change code in the program, it loads ASCII data usually and the program does what it wants with it. For example if you type render polygon 1 in the script it may have an if statement to see if "render" was input and then use polygon 1 to refer to what polygon to draw. Basically, the game has to be moddable to be modded. You can change scripts as in SimCity's case it seems, and as mentioned some games have SDK's which you download and actually program in C++ (or whatever language they're meant for) and compiled.
    Using Dev-C++ on Windows

  14. #14
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    I've played SimCity at a friend's house before, about 3 years ago now. I know almost nothing about it, and I can see right away from simcity.com that they don't have a modding tut. So, my suggestions are:

    - Don't mod the game
    - Forget about modding the game & write your own, simpler one in about 3 years

    And, I'm not sure if this is the place to be asking about mods. Last time I saw a question about mods, it was rather rudely answered.

    KAWK

  15. #15
    Trolley boy JackGL's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hockey97
    Hi I need to know how to make a weather mod for simcity4, is it possible to make a c++ script and make it runnable for this game or any game, simcity4 uses .lua scripting but it is close to what c++ is like.
    You make it sound so simple...

    http://www.sc4ever.com/
    http://www.simtropolis.com/
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lua_programming_language

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