[RELz] Sins Enhanced - Sky Box Edition 0.5.4 BETA (Updated)

https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=23&libid=71
from Sins Forums

Sins Enhanced - Sky Box Edition v0.5.4 BETA
by Kcissem
Email: Kcissem@gmail.com

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WARNING:  This is a BETA version

Disclaimer:

This Mod is simply a recolor and duplication of Ironclad/Stardock's original textures.

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Introduction

Sins Enhanced is a planned multi part mod of Sins of the Solar Empire. The mod is designed to be as modular as possible so users can pick and choose the parts they want to enable or disable. This first edition deals with Stars and Sky boxes with aims of adding variety in the colors of both stars and their backgrounds. Example Images will be listed below.

I welcome any input from the community as to what they would like to see in color variety.

All changes are list in the version info files included in download.  Full readme w/installation notes also provided.

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Installation

Windows XP and Vista

Step 1.  locate your Sins of the Solar Empire mod directory the location in windows xp is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods  the location in windows vista is  C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mod (This directory may be hidden so make sure you have view hidden files/folders enabled.) After you have found your Mod directory, create a new folder called "Sins Enhanced"

Note:  Your mod directory after step 1 should be
windows xp: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods\Sins Enhanced
windows Vista: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods\Sins Enhanced

Step 2. Next locate your Sins of the Solar Empire installation directory, the default install location is C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\Sins of a Solar empire\ and copy the folders \GameInfo and \Textures (including all files withint) to the "Sins Enhanced" folder you just created in your mod directory.

Note: IMPORTANT!!!!!  if you do not follow step 1 exactly, the game will crash when you enable this mod after step 3.


Step 3. After you have completed steps 1 and 2, then preceed to extract "Sins Enhanced - Sky Box Edition v0.5.3 BETA" into the mod    folder your created.  If asked to overwrite files, select yes.

Step 4. Next step is to run the game Sins of the Solar Empire, and go to the options menu and under mods enable "Sins Enhanced".  If you want to load the mod from this point on whenever you start your games, select the option "Load Mod on startup"

Step 5. The final and last step is to enjoy!!

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Images

Blue Background Ingame Screenshots






Green Background Ingame Screenshots





Red Background Ingame Screenshots





Yellow Background Ingame Screenshots





NEW Galaxy Spiral Texture Screenshots
The intent of the new galaxy spiral textures is to try and make them not look like a galaxy since galaxies are millions of stars, but the aim of these textures are to just have the star give off a kind of glow effect instead. These made need to be revised.

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Changes

v0.5.4 Beta


- fixes for all background ambient lighting effects
- added Max Teal's Star textures
- Deleted Max Teal's Starfield.dds
- Modified Resolution and sharpness of original Stardock Starfield.dds
- Converted all mesh and entity files to binary

v0.5.3 Beta

- Initial Beta Release

modding
26,297 views 36 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
those of yo that are using this mod let me know what you guys think? Is it worth it to keep updating and going ahead with the future additions i was planning on the WIPz thread.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Well..... Its a mod i really wanted, more backdrops. But as it is now the ambient lighting isnt matching the backdrops, some of the backdrops have incorrect ambient lighting, or perhaps its the skybox?
For example which gives ships, planets and buildings an orange tint, while the background is blue.  :SNIFF!: 
TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Well..... Its a mod i really wanted, more backdrops. But as it is now the ambient lighting isnt matching the backdrops, some of the backdrops have incorrect ambient lighting, or perhaps its the skybox?For example which gives ships, planets and buildings an orange tint, while the background is blue.   
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yes i will have to play with the ambient lighting effects, these are one of the things i did not do for the beta release, This should be a easy thing to take care of. This is why i went ahead and did a beta release, to find some things i wasn't thinking of at the time. The ambient lighting i believe is located in the Skybox properties. I will mess around with this tonight when i get home from work. These fixes will be in v0.5.4 beta release update. May be uploaded tonight and approved in a day or two.

thanks for the feedback, this is the kind of feedback i was hoping for. Mistakes were bound to happen.

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Will this work on ICO?
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No it will not work on ico unless all players are using the same mod due to the fact some entity files were modified to add the different textures in. Most mods will only work in singleplayer due to this same fact unless all users use the same mod. someone correct me if i'm wrong.



Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Sins Enhanced - Sky Box Edition v0.5.3 BETAby KcissemEmail: Kcissem@gmail.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WARNING:  This is a BETA versionDisclaimer:This Mod is simply a recolor and duplication of Ironclad/Stardock's original textures.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IntroductionSins Enhanced is a planned multi part mod of Sins of the Solar Empire. The mod is designed to be as modular as possible so users can pick and choose the parts they want to enable or disable. This first edition deals with Stars and Sky boxes with aims of adding variety in the colors of both stars and their backgrounds. Example Images will be listed below.I welcome any input from the community as to what they would like to see in color variety.
All changes are list in the version info files included in download.  Full readme w/installation notes also provided.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation
Windows XP and Vista
Step 1.  locate your Sins of the Solar Empire mod directory the location in windows xp is C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods  the location in windows vista is  C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mod (This directory may be hidden so make sure you have view hidden files/folders enabled.) After you have found your Mod directory, create a new folder called "Sins Enhanced"
Note:  Your mod directory after step 1 should bewindows xp: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods\Sins Enhancedwindows Vista: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods\Sins Enhanced
Step 2. Next locate your Sins of the Solar Empire installation directory, the default install location is C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\Sins of a Solar empire\ and copy the folders \GameInfo and \Textures (including all files withint) to the "Sins Enhanced" folder you just created in your mod directory.
Note: IMPORTANT!!!!!  if you do not follow step 1 exactly, the game will crash when you enable this mod after step 3.
Step 3. After you have completed steps 1 and 2, then preceed to extract "Sins Enhanced - Sky Box Edition v0.5.3 BETA" into the mod    folder your created.  If asked to overwrite files, select yes.
Step 4. Next step is to run the game Sins of the Solar Empire, and go to the options menu and under mods enable "Sins Enhanced".  If you want to load the mod from this point on whenever you start your games, select the option "Load Mod on startup"
Step 5. The final and last step is to enjoy!!
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ImagesBlue Background Ingame Screenshots Green Background Ingame Screenshots Red Background Ingame Screenshots Yellow Background Ingame Screenshots NEW Galaxy Spiral Texture ScreenshotsThe intent of the new galaxy spiral textures is to try and make them not look like a galaxy since galaxies are millions of stars, but the aim of these textures are to just have the star give off a kind of glow effect instead. These made need to be revised.
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And for those who want to DL it but have no clue where:
WWW Link
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
And for those who want to DL it but have no clue where:WWW Link
End of quote


The link is also on the first post at the very top where it says "External Link"

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
This is a quote from the comment field of my mod on stardock download area, figured it would be better to quote and answer here!

This conflicts with Max Teal's planet and star mods. Crashes game. if we could activate skyboxes seperately, that would be cool. thanks anyway.
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Yes it does conflict with his star and planet textures, i've already received permession to include his star textures in this mod and my second planned mod of the sins enhanced series will be the planet edition and will include his planet textures.

for now though You should only have to copy over his textures into my mod textures folder and it should work as i don't believe any of his textures will overwrite any texture modified by me, all textures modified by me is brand new with modified names that start with SE_*.dds for example. besides that i've only touched the background textures so far.

edit: in fact i'm going to include his star textures in v0.5.4 beta release along with the fix for the ambient lighting effects
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
Sins Enhanced - Sky box Edition 0.5.4 BETA is now ready for me to upload, I am currently repackaging the mod and will have it uploaded tonight. Once Stardock approves it i will change the topic title of this thread to reflect the new version.

Also question for you guys, instead of doing seperate editions for the skybox/stars and planets would you rather it be a all in one download or modular as i originally planned?

v0.5.4 changes include

- fixes for all background ambient lighting effects
- added Max Teal's Star textures
- Deleted Max Teal's Starfield.dds
- Modified Resolution and sharpness of original Stardock Starfield.dds
- Converted all mesh and entity files to binary
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
Beta v0.5.4 is released, All changes with this version is located on the bottom of Post #1. To download the new release there is a "External Link" directed to the mod download page at the top of this thread near the title.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
I'd be fine with a combined mod with skybox, stars and planet textures. You mean like a Sins Enhanced (Visuals) mod, with everything merged? Will you add his planet textures soon? :D
Cool, as long as the Sins Enhanced (gameplay stuff) mod is seperate :)
Btw, when i try to download it i get an error msg. Guess it isnt uploaded or approved yet?
Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
I'd be fine with a combined mod with skybox, stars and planet textures. You mean like a Sins Enhanced (Visuals) mod, with everything merged? Will you add his planet textures soon?
Cool, as long as the Sins Enhanced (gameplay stuff) mod is seperate
Btw, when i try to download it i get an error msg. Guess it isnt uploaded or approved yet?
End of quote


I can now download it fine, it was posted not to long ago, and i also received a confirmation from stardock. Try again maybe you hit it a little before it was approved.

edit: just tried a second time and i do get the error now also about IE not able to open the internet site when trying to download. This must be a stardock issue which should be resolved soon i hope.

Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
Yeay, works now :)
Gr8 mod. Its just what you need for such a game that you will potentially spend months or even years playing, just some more visual variety to keep those long games interesting =)
Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
Regarding the install instructions:
You really want me to copy 2 Gigabytes of Textures to my Windows partition which has about 1 gig free space left, so the mod doesn't crash, yes?
Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top
It just has to be done, until a new patch fixes the way mods are being "read".
The game overwrites the entire original texture folder with the one in the mod folder when the mod is loaded, so if some textures are missing in the mod folder, you end up with no UI and other stuff.
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top
I'd love to play it, but for some reason my game never made any folders in the correct area, and so when I made them it just doesn't work. The mod doesn't show up in the mod selection menu. :/
Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top
Regarding the install instructions:You really want me to copy 2 Gigabytes of Textures to my Windows partition which has about 1 gig free space left, so the mod doesn't crash, yes?
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there is a bug in 1.02 that causes you to have all textures whether modded or not in the mod folder, it is the only way around it till 1.03 comes out with the fix.
Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top
I'd love to play it, but for some reason my game never made any folders in the correct area, and so when I made them it just doesn't work. The mod doesn't show up in the mod selection menu. :/
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you have to follow the install directions exactly, you must have missed a step or installed incorrectly. If you are using vista the mod directories in documents and settings is hidden by default. You will have to change your folder options to display hidden files/folders. If you are using xp i don't believe the folder is hidden, but it may be.
Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top
I'm using XP, and I followed your directions to the letter (Except for folder location, I had to add the folders.)

I also didn't know about any patches, I'll go n see what's up with those.
Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top
I'd be fine with a combined mod with skybox, stars and planet textures. You mean like a Sins Enhanced (Visuals) mod, with everything merged? Will you add his planet textures soon? Cool, as long as the Sins Enhanced (gameplay stuff) mod is seperate Btw, when i try to download it i get an error msg. Guess it isnt uploaded or approved yet?
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sorry i didn't answer your question about when the planet textures may be added, the answer is i will probably have them added in the next beta release along with a name change for the mod to reflect the fact it's no longer going to just be backgrounds anymore. More than likely now instead of the planned multiple modular set up i was going to do, it will just be 2 seperate mods. One for gameplay and another for visuals as you suggested above
Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top
I'm using XP, and I followed your directions to the letter (Except for folder location, I had to add the folders.)I also didn't know about any patches, I'll go n see what's up with those.
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you should not have had to add those folder, do you have view hidden files/folders enabled?

if you are using xp your exiting mod directory would be

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\Mods

If you do not see this directory, you more than likely have view hidden files/folders disabled.


Just a quicknote i'm sure you realize this but the folders above where it says "username" you would replace that with your personal window username you use. such as documents and settings\john doe\application data etc, etc.
Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top
I know, just to be on the safe side, how do I set it to view hidden folders, just incase they are actually hidden.
Reply #23 from Sins Forums Top
I know, just to be on the safe side, how do I set it to view hidden folders, just incase they are actually hidden.
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I actually can't say for sure i don't use xp anymore, but in windows explorer, there should be a option called "Folder Options" under the view menu. once you click on the folder options in one of the tabs you should see the option to enable or disable view hidden folders.
Reply #24 from Sins Forums Top
Huh, I finally got it to work, but I didn't notice anything new..... even the stars had those galaxy clouds still, but it says it's enabled.
Reply #25 from Sins Forums Top
Hi:

Could we use the part of your mod that removes the "galaxy trails" in Dawn of Victory? You would of course get credit in the readme.