Improved Graphics for CIV

[GarretSidzaka]

OMFG THIS IS So AMAZING!!

you know this is going into the modcast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ruff_hi]

Good News. BUG and Improved Graphics don't share any files and so these two mods can be combined by just copying one over the other.

 

[Chuggi]

OMFG THIS IS So AMAZING!!

you know this is going into the modcast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cool! The next patch is going to improve some more resources and some other small stuff like that.

 

[Chuggi]

Ok, Improved Graphics v1.2 has been uploaded here, if you already have v1.1 then this isn't a neccesary update - but if you only have the original download then it's worth getting.

(4.47 MB)

1.2

- Improves some resource graphics.
- Updates some leaderheads skin tones.
- Some other minor updates.
​

1.1

- Fixes "coastal" viewport graphics in Civilopedia
- Changes plains terrain to make it easier to differentiate them from the grassland terrain.
- Some other minor updates.
​

To install the patch, overwrite your CustomAssets folder with the one included in the download. If you need any help with installing, post in the discussion thread.

 

[ripple01]

This is a really great mod, and it's clearly evident you've put a ton of work into this. Nice job!

I have one "complaint", if you could call it that. I am having a very hard job distinguishing between the Coast and Ocean tiles using your mod where I don't have this problem with the stock Civ4 graphics. Anyway you could modify the textures slightly so that is easier to tell the difference between the two? Anyone else have this problem, or is it just me? I'm only 30, so I don't think my eyes are going on me yet...

Cheers,
ripple01

 

[ruff_hi]

I tried this with it installed by itself into customassets and got a CTD. I d/l the original. Any suggestions?

 

[Chuggi]

This is a really great mod, and it's clearly evident you've put a ton of work into this. Nice job!

I have one "complaint", if you could call it that. I am having a very hard job distinguishing between the Coast and Ocean tiles using your mod where I don't have this problem with the stock Civ4 graphics. Anyway you could modify the textures slightly so that is easier to tell the difference between the two? Anyone else have this problem, or is it just me? I'm only 30, so I don't think my eyes are going on me yet...

Cheers,
ripple01

Thanks, it's been an ongoing project for a while now.

The coast tiles are the ones next to land (I'm not sure if ocean tiles are workable either) but I'll see if I can make some adjustments.

I tried this with it installed by itself into customassets and got a CTD. I d/l the original. Any suggestions?

So you weren't using BUG or any other mods? I'm not really sure what could be causing that...

• Is the CTD consistent? For example, when you load the game up does it crash every time with Improved Graphics installed?
• Where in the game does it crash?
• Did you try deleting all of your CustomAssets (thus uninstalling Improved Graphics) and seeing if it still crashes?
• Is anyone else having crashes?

Oh, and your computer specs.

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

I get a CTD which happens every time I try to play a game with Improved Graphics installed. It is the only thing that's installed in custom assets. The game loads up, allows me to select a civ, goes to load the game, but crashes at the point where you'd normally see your settler and first unit - the music starts playing, but then the CTD happens. I've tried it with different civs, but get the same result every time.

I've got an e-machines pc, intel cereron CPU 2.80Ghz, 2GB Ram, XP service pack 3; I can run Civ 4: Colonization ok, so I've got the up-to-date version of directx & all requirements for that game. My BTS version is 3.17 - though I bought Civ 4 etc from direct2drive; I don't know if that makes any difference.

 

[Chuggi]

I get a CTD which happens every time I try to play a game with Improved Graphics installed. It is the only thing that's installed in custom assets. The game loads up, allows me to select a civ, goes to load the game, but crashes at the point where you'd normally see your settler and first unit - the music starts playing, but then the CTD happens. I've tried it with different civs, but get the same result every time.

I've got an e-machines pc, intel cereron CPU 2.80Ghz, 2GB Ram, XP service pack 3; I can run Civ 4: Colonization ok, so I've got the up-to-date version of directx & all requirements for that game. My BTS version is 3.17 - though I bought Civ 4 etc from direct2drive; I don't know if that makes any difference.

That's unusual, it works fine on my computer. I'm completely lost now, sorry.

Maybe we could try isolating the problem, so you could move the leaderheads folder from your CustomAssets and see if it's still crashing? and if it does, then try moving the terrain folder, python folder etc.

It could be something to do with whether you have XP or Vista (I have Vista) ... Anyone else have any idea what it could be?

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

As an experienced CivIII modder, I know how frustrating it can be to try and solve an issue that's not happening on your own PC, but is on someone else's, so I've been doing some testing and have isolated the file that's causing the issue. It's the art/terrain/textures/TundraBLEND file. Without it, the game runs fine, with it in, it crashes to desktop every single time at the start of the game.

 

[Chuggi]

Thanks for finding that out! I'm going to put a comment in the OP for now, but I'll try resaving the TundraBLEND.dds file in case it's corrupted for some systems.

EDIT: I resaved the file (attached) with new MIP maps, hopefully this one will work properly for you.

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

Thanks for finding that out! I'm going to put a comment in the OP for now, but I'll try resaving the TundraBLEND.dds file in case it's corrupted for some systems.

EDIT: I resaved the file (attached) with new MIP maps, hopefully this one will work properly for you.

Yes, that version of TundraBLEND.dds works for me . Thanks a lot!!

 

[mamba]

Hey Chuggi, seems I am late to the party, nice mod

What does this mean for Cultural Diversity though ? Will it be integrated there ? Will there actually ever be a new version of CD, or 'just' new unit packs ?

 

[Chuggi]

Yes, that version of TundraBLEND.dds works for me . Thanks a lot!!

Great! I'll upload a new patch soon.

What does this mean for Cultural Diversity though ? Will it be integrated there ? Will there actually ever be a new version of CD, or 'just' new unit packs ?

This is just a side project, but I'm going to get back to Cultural Diversity sometime. But it's nice to work on a mod that isn't cluttered and unfinished, for a change.

 

[ripple01]

Thanks, it's been an ongoing project for a while now.

The coast tiles are the ones next to land (I'm not sure if ocean tiles are workable either) but I'll see if I can make some adjustments.

Thanks, I appreciate you considering it. I know that coast tiles are the ones next to land but I like that in the original Civ4 graphics that you can tell with a glance which tiles are coast and which are ocean by the shade of blue. The ocean tiles are a few shades darker than the coast. Perhaps this doesn't bug anyone else and it is unique to me; in that case I'll see if I can work a solution for this on my end.

Cheers,
ripple01

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

Thanks, I appreciate you considering it. I know that coast tiles are the ones next to land but I like that in the original Civ4 graphics that you can tell with a glance which tiles are coast and which are ocean by the shade of blue. The ocean tiles are a few shades darker than the coast. Perhaps this doesn't bug anyone else and it is unique to me; in that case I'll see if I can work a solution for this on my end.

Cheers,
ripple01

I've played a game using the improved graphics today and this was my only concern; I really couldn't tell the difference between coast and ocean squares. Everything else was top notch - though due to my own preference, I've kept the original Augustus.

 

[Chuggi]

Next patch, I'll include some alternative coast/ocean textures.

 

[ruff_hi]

As an experienced CivIII modder, I know how frustrating it can be to try and solve an issue that's not happening on your own PC, but is on someone else's, so I've been doing some testing and have isolated the file that's causing the issue. It's the art/terrain/textures/TundraBLEND file. Without it, the game runs fine, with it in, it crashes to desktop every single time at the start of the game.

Thanks for finding that out! I'm going to put a comment in the OP for now, but I'll try resaving the TundraBLEND.dds file in case it's corrupted for some systems.

EDIT: I resaved the file (attached) with new MIP maps, hopefully this one will work properly for you.

Thx R8XFT for your debugging. My setup was pretty much the same as yours and the solution Chuggi posted fixed my issue as well - thx Chuggi. It is great when you post an issue late at night and wake the next morning to find a series of posts and a solution .

 

[Chuggi]

No problem I'm just thankful it was discovered quickly.

 

[ruff_hi]

No problem I'm just thankful it was discovered quickly.

Me too and that I didn't have to swap in and out of those files and reload civ