Patches and Mods

Florek112 · 04-14-2011, 06:43 AM,

Hello! I've installed latest patch for Kursk 43', but it resulted with bringing the old look of the game. So, I've just copied and overwrited old folders with graphics (Map, Units etc.). I could install the MapMod again, but problem is that i like other unit boxes and icons, than are included. Does this way of "installing" graphics can cause a problems with patch? Greetings!

Philippe · (This post was last modified: 04-14-2011, 07:27 AM by Philippe.)

Without knowing exactly how you've modded your version of Kursk I can only make general comments, but knowing the following may be of some help.

Installing any HPS or JTG patch will always restore a certain amount of the original art, which in almost every case is a very bad thing, though the problem is only an aesthetic one.

The only time a mod will interfere with a patch is when it contains some kind of working file with an identical name to something included in the patch.

The only major mod that does anything like this is Volcano Man's, but he was careful not to use the same names for his files. That's why you'll hear people talking about _alt scenario's. Even though there are some fundamental differences between a plain vanilla and an _alt scenario, the _alt's are tied to the McNamara database, which doesn't overwrite anything in the patch.

Bottom line: Volcano Man's mods can be installed over a newly patched HPS version without any bad effects.

If you add things to the inside of the game folder that doesn't overwrite anything, it won't have any impact on the patch. How you get it to show up in the game is another matter entirely.

Last time I looked Jison's mods only change graphic images, so you can add his mods at will. His mods work best if installed over a newly patched HPS version that already has the latest Volcano Man mod installed.

My mods also make a few non-graphic changes. Last time I looked all of these were to sound files. Most of these are really just the inclusion of weapons sounds from the other games that keep getting left out of the patches for one reason or another. I do include some night background sounds that weren't there before but which the newer versions of the HPS game engines will play when appropriate. And some of my mods include victory music that wasn't written by an afficionado of American Muzak. But none of this will interfere with the integrity of the patch.

These three sets of mods assume, and in some cases depend, on your using the most recently patched version of the game. There are other mods out there that I'm not all that familiar with, but a few of them probably do use files that will overwrite a patch. Once again, the basic rule of thumb is that graphics files can be overwritten ad libidem without messing with the patch. Applications, oob's, scenario files, and things like that probably aren't a problem as long as they don't overwrite anything. The problem comes when you use a mod where the designer didn't create scenarios with different names or (even worse) created specialized oob's that use the same names as the vanilla versions.

For a complete set of links to the various mods that I've mentioned, take a look at some of the threads in the Panzer Campaigns section of the HPS part of the Wargamer website.

http://www.wargamer.com/forums/tt.aspx?forumid=211

**Compass Rose** · 04-14-2011, 07:23 AM,

If I recall correctly, Jison, MapMod creator, stated that whenever there is a new HPS update, to reload MapMod.

With having your game graphics reverting back to the original, I can't say I have ever had that happen before, when loading an HPS update.

**Ricky B** · 04-14-2011, 07:45 AM,

Having HPS include graphics in the updates is only a "bad thing" if the art is a part of the original art anyway. But I assume that normally, if art is included, it is updated from what originally came out. I would hope, Philippe, that it isn't a bad thing for a game company to update its own work when it wants???

Looking at Kursk, the only graphics files appear to be from middle of 2003 on, the game came out earlier than that but I don't recall when - but we have at least one scenario with a game report of Feb 2003 so it was very early 2003 or even in 2002. No idea what was updated here, but HPS/John Tiller felt the need to update the pieces of art in the update, which seems reasonable to me.

Rick

Philippe · 04-14-2011, 07:58 AM,

We really shouldn't be going down this path, but if an update is visually ahistorical as well as aesthetically challenged, then yes, it is a bad thing.

Volcano Man · 04-14-2011, 08:03 AM,

The best way to install an update is to create a new folder on the desktop. Unzip the update to that folder and then go into the folder and look at the files. If you don't want any art related changes to happen in the update, just delete any artwork (.bmp) files you find. Once you are satisfied, back out to the main folder and cut and paste everything into the game's fold on your hard drive. If you did it correctly, it will ask you to overwrite. Say yes and voila, you have installed only what you wanted to install - no need to reinstall anything else.

Obviously that is more advanced than just extracting the update to your game's directory, but it allows you complete control over what you do and do not want overwritten.

Florek112 · (This post was last modified: 04-14-2011, 08:05 AM by Florek112.)

I only have Volcano Man's mods, and the Jison's MapMod. So I hope my action won't break the game. Played some, everything looks O.K.... Thanks for the answers.
Edit: Yeah, good idea, I will install next patches this way. Thanks!

**Ricky B** · (This post was last modified: 04-14-2011, 08:09 AM by Ricky B.)

(04-14-2011, 08:03 AM)Florek112 Wrote: I only have Volcano Man's mods, and the Jison's MapMod. So I hope my action won't break the game. Played some, everything looks O.K.... Thanks for the answers.

Their mods are designed to not break anything, so you will be fine - the only types of things that will break anything are scenario, oob, map, weather.dat and pdt updates to the original game files rather than to alternate copies.

Rick

(04-14-2011, 07:58 AM)Philippe Wrote: We really shouldn't be going down this path, but if an update is visually ahistorical as well as aesthetically challenged, then yes, it is a bad thing.

Then lets not - but for Kursk, how a map or terrain symbol (just about the only things in the update) can be ahistorical is lost on me - I guess we could try to go with the US map look vs the German, or Commonwealth - a Soviet one might throw me but I don't know that, but none of them are historical per se. And people have different likes/aesthetics, so I am just happy the stuff can be changed if desired, so never a bad thing to have options, whether a specific person likes the specific options or not.

Rick

-72- · 04-14-2011, 08:20 AM,

Installing art mods is nothing more than copying and pasting in the appropriate folders.

Like anything that involves copying (or cutting if you want), and pasting, there is a potential for overwriting something that you didn't want to overwrite, it just goes with the territory.

So in effect, basically there are going to be some generic fail-safes that one should probably practice in order to minimise the possibility of this happening.

Anyone that gets any further from this type of thing, is basically talking about something other than fixing the technical problem. :) That's their business, though.

Florek112 · (This post was last modified: 06-10-2011, 07:55 AM by Florek112.)

I've got one more question - is there any newer update to Moscow 41' than 1.04? Because I'm trying to start a game, and my opponent can't read my file. He send me a message, that he has 1.15 version of the game. But I've visited HPS site, and can't find any other updates there? Thanks for any help..