Three Huge Requests for Modders Everywhere

[mythusmage]

1. Give the main folder for your mod the same name as the biq. That way they'll stay together in a folder (directory).

2. When compressing your creation for uploading to CivFanatics, Atomic Gamer, wherever; please use a standard compression utility. ZIP it, STUFF it, even RAR it, but for gosh sakes don't ACE it because not everybody has WinAce or, if a Mac user) UnAce.

3. Don't forget installation instructions.

 

[Quintillus]

Definitely agree on not using ACE. It doesn't do the end-users any good to have to download software that is either payware or nagware to download a mod. But it seems to me that STUFF is the same type of software, so I don't see why it would be any better. At least RAR can be uncompressed by the free 7zip, although WinRAR (non-free) is what most people will find first. ZIP is definitely the most convenient if it compresses the file enough to fit within file size limitations.

Install instructions are a good idea too. We were all new to the world of mods at one point.

Can't say I've noticed any issues with (1), but it does sound like a good idea.

 

[MeteorPunch]

I don't get #1. In the .biq, you can tell it which folders to use. Also I doubt there's any good mod out there that only has 1 version, and thus you'd need more names.

 

[mythusmage]

...it seems to me that STUFF is the same type of software

I use the free version.

 

[mythusmage]

I don't get #1. In the .biq, you can tell it which folders to use. Also I doubt there's any good mod out there that only has 1 version, and thus you'd need more names.

It's not for the .biq, it's for you.

You find a neat new mod named Bob's Mod. At least that's what the biq is called. But the folder is called Robert's Mod. So the two parts wind up listed far apart. You get used to calling it Bob's Mod upgrading and updating it could be a hassle.

 

[Balam-Agab]

It's not for the .biq, it's for you.

You find a neat new mod named Bob's Mod. At least that's what the biq is called. But the folder is called Robert's Mod. So the two parts wind up listed far apart. You get used to calling it Bob's Mod upgrading and updating it could be a hassle.

I don't understand why you would need them to be together at all. If you are simply playing the mod you won't even need to touch the folder at all. Even if they are the same name folders and other files are, at least in windows, are usually kept seperate anyways.

 

[timerover51]

I don't understand why you would need them to be together at all. If you are simply playing the mod you won't even need to touch the folder at all. Even if they are the same name folders and other files are, at least in windows, are usually kept seperate anyways.

Mythusmage is on a Macintosh, and the Mac OS handles files a lot different from Windows. I am on Macs as well, and pretty much do not run scenarios because of the file handling differences.

 

[BadKharma]

No wonder the people with mac's have so many problems. Since most modders use windows stuff it is not free so I doubt you will see any .sits anytime soon.

 

[Bluemofia]

Mythusmage is on a Macintosh, and the Mac OS handles files a lot different from Windows. I am on Macs as well, and pretty much do not run scenarios because of the file handling differences.

Well... An explanation on how they work would be nice. If we knew how it worked, we might be able to make scenarios compatible with Macs, or provide instructions on how to convert it to make it compatible with Macs.

 

[BadKharma]

Well... An explanation on how they work would be nice. If we knew how it worked, we might be able to make scenarios compatible with Macs, or provide instructions on how to convert it to make it compatible with Macs.

True, it seems one of the main things is the main folder and biq have to have the same name. I can see where someone on a mac would have problems trying to update things because the folder name is listed in the biq from the editor for the search parameters.

 

[mythusmage]

True, it seems one of the main things is the main folder and biq have to have the same name. I can see where someone on a mac would have problems trying to update things because the folder name is listed in the biq from the editor for the search parameters.

Even for a Windows user it would help when you go looking physically for biq and folder. A Bob's Mod biq and a Bob's Mod folder would be found together, making life a bit easier when it comes to upgrades etc. You're reading a list of biqs and folders, Bob's Mod biq is right next to Bob's Mod folder, and Charlie's Mod biq is right next to Charlie's Mod folder. That is what I'm talking about.

And while we're on my three suggestions, when you're writing your installation instructions, please specify exactly where the biq and folder go. Do they go in Civilization 3 Game Data/Scenarios, Conquests Game Data/Conquests, Conquests Game Data/Scenarios, or Play the World Game Data/Scenarios.* As I recently learned from my experience with the History Dynamics Mod, it makes a difference.

*Or the Windows equivalent

(Note that not being technically minded, I have no idea as to why Aspyr had to have the Mac version work the way it does, when it is possible for Macs to do things like a Windows machine does, at least so far as Civ3 is concerned. The MacSoft edition had no problems in that department, and I can see no need for Aspyr doing it the way they did. In any case, this civver would much appreciate your specifying where your mod or scenario needs to go.)

 

[WildWeazel]

One huge request for gamers everywhere:

1. Use Windows, it will make your life a lot easier.

Just kidding Seriously though, I wish people would follow those points. It makes life easier for everyone. Even the creators, who will inevitably have to answer to either "I downloaded it now what do I do with it?" or "Why does my game crash with a missing file error?" otherwise.
Another nice thing to do is to organize your archive with your biq and folder at the top level so that it can just be extracted directly to Conquests\Scenarios. I hate it when there is an extra folder inside the archive and I have to go in and move everything out of it.

 

[mythusmage]

Another nice thing to do is to organize your archive with your biq and folder at the top level so that it can just be extracted directly to Conquests\Scenarios. I hate it when there is an extra folder inside the archive and I have to go in and move everything out of it.

Sometimes that's not possible. Before the files can be compressed they have to be gathered in a single folder.

 

[Bluemofia]

Sometimes that's not possible. Before the files can be compressed they have to be gathered in a single folder.

Not necessarily, they can be dumped all into the zip file one at a time.

I myself often use "extract all files here" option, so the single folder is best for me, rather than the art folder and text folder directly in the zip file.

 

[Goldflash]

Hey, winACE used to be the cat's pajamas when it came to compression. That is why people (my self included) used it. I think Winace is dead, now, though. Or maybe not. But it comes down to this: People who upload a file five years ago in ACE format are not likely to reupload it.

 

[Quintillus]

Hey, winACE used to be the cat's pajamas when it came to compression. That is why people (my self included) used it. I think Winace is dead, now, though. Or maybe not. But it comes down to this: People who upload a file five years ago in ACE format are not likely to reupload it.

True indeed, and I wouldn't expect posters (many of whom likely aren't on CFC anymore) to re-upload the files. But going forward, I agree with mythusmage that there are other, friendlier formats.

mythusmage, I still don't see a free version of StuffIt, at least for Windows. There's a "Trial Pay" version, but I don't count signing up for tons of ads to really be free.

Weasel, I'm with you on being annoyed when there is an extra folder level inside of the zip. But what makes us happy, makes Bluemofia sad... too bad there's not a universal standard for how to package ZIP files.

 

[Bluemofia]

True indeed, and I wouldn't expect posters (many of whom likely aren't on CFC anymore) to re-upload the files. But going forward, I agree with mythusmage that there are other, friendlier formats.

mythusmage, I still don't see a free version of StuffIt, at least for Windows. There's a "Trial Pay" version, but I don't count signing up for tons of ads to really be free.

Weasel, I'm with you on being annoyed when there is an extra folder level inside of the zip. But what makes us happy, makes Bluemofia sad... too bad there's not a universal standard for how to package ZIP files.

"Negligible".

I just need to go and create the folder myself and then move the folders into it, rather than dump it all out as I usually do. It increases the time by a few seconds, so I won't mind as much.

It's just really annoying for unit files, because I have to pick them all up from within the folder, which may or may not be filled with other stuff that's strewn around all over the place.

 

[timerover51]

Mythusmage, I suspect that you are fighting a loosing battle, as most Windows users could not care less about the needs of the Mac community. With the existence of the Intel Macs, I anticipate that game companies will quit producing Mac products entirely, and operate under the assumption that if Mac users want to play the games, they will get a copy of Windows to do so.

 

[Goldflash]

Timerover obviously doesn't have Steam. I mean, holy crap! Valve is releasing all their games on Mac, for one.

 

[timerover51]

Timerover obviously doesn't have Steam. I mean, holy crap! Valve is releasing all their games on Mac, for one.

If the games were designed for the older series of Mac chips, they probably not going to run under the Intel Chip. If modified to use the Intel Chip, they will not run on the older Macs. I assume that Valve is a game company, and not a means of controlling the flow or liquid or air through a pipe or a piston.