Blue Marble Terrain

[WildWeazel]

I was wondering if it is possible to perhaps include the ability to switch between the Blue Earth textures and the defaults within the game - an option when creating a new game or perhaps in the options menu?

You can remove all the files from the custom assets folder and put them in a mod folder. You can also set that mod to be default in the main ini file, and still easily load the original files is you want.


@Snoopy: I can't wait.

 

[V. Soma]

Hi, to you all!

Err, what is the ZoomMag that can be adjusted with the CivScale?

 

[doggiedaddy]

You can remove all the files from the custom assets folder and put them in a mod folder. You can also set that mod to be default in the main ini file, and still easily load the original files is you want.


@Snoopy: I can't wait.

Can those instructions be found in greater detail for those of us who are functionally illiterate at computer-ese but can follow a set of instructions pretty well?

 

[ColdFever]

Err, what is the ZoomMag that can be adjusted with the CivScale?

It is the amount of magnification you can apply to flags and units if the camera zooms out into the clouds. Without ZoomMagnification units and flags get smaller and smaller, but the ZoomMagnification can compensate this to a certain amount.

You can remove all the files from the custom assets folder and put them in a mod folder. You can also set that mod to be default in the main ini file, and still easily load the original files is you want.

Can those instructions be found in greater detail for those of us who are functionally illiterate at computer-ese but can follow a set of instructions pretty well?

Have a look at the Mods Civ4 comes with (in the Mod folder). Weasel's suggestion is to create another mod folder (for example "BlueMarble") and put the BlueMarbe files into it. Then you can load it as a Mod instead of having it automatically loaded as it is now. And if you want a certain mod to be loaded automatically with each boot, you can set the mod entry in CivilizationIV.ini (under "My Games") accordingly.

 

[Cube4]

I Downloaded the CivScale Program and tried the Blue Marble sugestions, and it seems to me that the cities are too big.

 

[skadistic]

I love the install process. Is there anyway that could become a mod standard? Just clicking install is much more my level.

 

[Skippa]

I love the install process. Is there anyway that could become a mod standard? Just clicking install is much more my level.

Yes I like the install process. Could you give it a Mod option too? A install to CustomAssets and a Install to Mod, where you type in the mod name would be great.

I Downloaded the CivScale Program and tried the Blue Marble sugestions, and it seems to me that the cities are too big.

Yes I just started playing around with the CivScale program and I love it. I don't think that the terrain graphics are much different from the original (but for some reason I'm still using them, so I guess I like them better than the vanilla graphics )

Cube4 if you don't like the city size just change it around a bit. With the CivScale program I increased the city coverage area, kept the buildings around the same magnification (now my citites are more spaced out and the buildings don't get lost in an urban jungle). Now I just need to have the units at the right size in proportion to the buildings. I put the unit mag to 1 and realized that my units were a bit too tiny. Try it out if you want .

 

[flobi]

This is great. I was thinking when I read the note on the main page/news page that it was going to be like the picture of the marble earth there. That would be cool too.

 

[LAnkou]

is it possible to have a list of the Xml files modified?

so i can tell if my new civ mods are compatible

 

[Phoenix_56721]

The BM graphics are great, but it took over my vanilla Civ4 when I start up Civ4 from its exe. it automatically opens up BM mod. What did I do wrong? I uninstalled it and it went back to normal, but I should be able to choose the BM mod in the mod directory (correct), thanks for any info!!

 

[someone447]

I tried installing the mod, but now it won't even let me play.
It gets to the Init XML(uncached) then an error pops up.
Failed to Initialize Renderer-Check DirectX Version and Graphics Settings.

 

[Commander G]

the bluemarble works in single player but not in MP any suggestions?

 

[Shivam]

i dont quite understand what civscale is supposed to do. anybody got a non-tech readme?

 

[Phoenix_56721]

i dont quite understand what civscale is supposed to do. anybody got a non-tech readme?

It is a great little tool for changing the size (scale) of cities, buildings, units and so on, just open it and set the scales you want and hit activate, then when you open the game the scales will already be set (just play as normal) also this programs works with vanilla Civ4 as well. To set it back to the original settings just select (default settings) under the drop down menu and hit activate and the defaults settings will reset. Note, make sure Civ4 isn't running when you're doing the changes, its very user friendly!

 

[Skippa]

The BM graphics are great, but it took over my vanilla Civ4 when I start up Civ4 from its exe. it automatically opens up BM mod. What did I do wrong? I uninstalled it and it went back to normal, but I should be able to choose the BM mod in the mod directory (correct), thanks for any info!!

The installer puts the files into the CustomAssets directory located at C:\Documents and Settings\(user_name)\My Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4. It doesn't put the file sinto a separate mods directory. The game loads all Custom Asset files for all single player games. If you want you can copy the art and xml files to a mod directory. Maybe a undated version of the installer can do this.

 

[sh0v0r]

I do like the textures and Scale tool, but something I dont understand is how this has anything to do with Blue Marble?

I can understand BM being an inspiration but the textures are far removed from what the BM images look like...

Can you detail how BM was involved in the process of creating the new textures?

 

[ColdFever]

the bluemarble works in single player but not in MP any suggestions?

This is because Firaxis tries to protect multiplayer from modifications that can be used for cheating. Unfortunaltey this also affects harmless mods as BlueMarble. After the 1st official patch I will see if I can get around this.

is it possible to have a list of the Xml files modified?

Just click on the "List Affected Files" button. BlueMarble does not modify any XML files.

I love the install process. Is there anyway that could become a mod standard? Just clicking install is much more my level.

I wrote my own complicated installer to match my Perl development environment and certain personal needs. Whoever wants to put his mod into a more generic installer, should try the following great free ones:
Inno Setup: http://www.jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php
NSIS: http://nsis.sourceforge.net

The textures are far removed from what the BM images look like...Can you detail how BM was involved in the process of creating the new textures?

You can't simply take the original BM graphics and put them in Civ4, because the graphics have to match the Civ4 engine, generating worlds from tiny bits of "tiles". What you see *is* taken from the original BM, it just is "translated" into Civ4 formats so that Civ4 can understand it. The only exception is Tundra and Ice, as the BM material is not optimal for those dark regions of Earth. But Grassland, Plains, Deserts and Mountains are completely based on satellite material "translated" into Civ4.

 

[Plug]

I can't tell the difference between the old and these graphics. What is the difference?

 

[Yashed To]

I just installed both mods, and first I've got to thank you guys a lot for the easy-made installation instead of copying tons of files to some obscure folders.

The BM graphics sure have a much darker tone, a bit too dark for me. But it adds a very "organic", realistic touch to the surface.
I like the looks of the graphics the most when I'm playing in "Civ 1 perspective" (anyone using this as often as I do, especially when your Civ has grown big?), that is upside down just before the game switches to a "just look, don't play" mode.
In this perspective the planet looks plain realistic, wow!

The overall darker tone has also the positive side effect that the border of Civs are much more distinguishable now, with some sort of "neon glow". Nice!

The scaling tool is quite some fun. The units size was waaay too huge for me. Now my little folks have to wander around a huge planet, which again adds a lot to the realism. And if I want to see what's going on I may still zoom in.

I also have the impression as if this graphics mod speeds up the game. Those lags I experienced before are gone now. My, I won't mind.

 

[ThERat]

awesome job.

This is what I was hoping for, great mods. I alos love the scaling tool, actually I don't think the units are too big. I sometimes miss them with all the clutter around.

I have a question: ColdFever. Is it possible to get a better zoom. What I mean being able to see more of the map without losing all the important info. This is what I hate most and I tend to overlook the enemy units in my territory.