Previously we're changed background inside Battle.Net interface, but now we will change around. Now you can change blue planet with Battlecruiser to any planet, that you want. Someone bored with Battlecruiser, someone have lower FPS during Battlecruiser comes to screen. And we was able to see randomly generated differend planets after matches, if we finished campaign.
I've decided to fix that small moment and allow you to look at any planet, including Dropship background from early SC2 builds. Here are 7 variants, four of them you already know:
Installing Installing is simply, if you already replaced some files. But I'll remember. 1) Open with any MPQ-editor StarCraft II/Mods/Liberty.SC2Mod/enGB.SC2Assets (if you have other localization, then open koKR.sc2assets, enUS.sc2assets, etc) 2) Open inside folder Assets and stay it with opened window. 3) Open in Windows Explorer folder with prefered background. For example Dropship BG. 4) Inside select folder UI and drag it with mouse to opened MPQ-editor window inside Assets folder. Close MPQ-Editor!! 5) Thats all! Launch game and you got new background.
On February 27 2012 02:14 Soft`Soap wrote: does Blizzard allow this?
Officialy not, but I and Teliko never met players, who had been banned for small tweaks, like this. I'll say more - there was been many streams with Stronger team color mod and they still haven't been banned.
Have they got any advatange in game? No. So no more questions. Blizzard will react to players, who abusing it and getting ingame advatange. If game is fair, then everything is okay.
A lot of people have Stronger team color mod, and Dastin Browder said, that they like this mod. A lot of players had installed this mod and they're still playing via streams or other events.
On February 27 2012 02:27 Existor wrote: A lot of peoples have Stronger team color mod, and Dastin Browder said, that they like this mod. A lot of players had installed this mod and they're still playing via streams or other events.
Arguments?
I guess some people just don't want to take any risk at all.
I agree with you though, and I also use custom backgrounds and stuff : )
Never even occurred to me that there's alternative login screens -_-" Nice release.
To the people who will undoubtedly continue to ask, using this will NOT get you banned. We've been making stuff like this for over a year now without a whisper from Blizzard. They're barely interested in banning maphackers, stuff like this that does nothing more than provide aesthetically appeasing modifications are the least of their worries. Here's a screenshot from my mediafire account which has only ever been used for hosting mods like this that others have downloaded.
On February 27 2012 02:49 Teliko wrote: Never even occurred to me that there's alternative login screens -_-" Nice release.
To the people who will undoubtedly continue to ask, using this will NOT get you banned. We've been making stuff like this for over a year now without a whisper from Blizzard. They're barely interested in banning maphackers, stuff like this that does nothing more than provide aesthetically appeasing modifications are the least of their worries. Here's a screenshot from my mediafire account which has only ever been used for hosting mods like this that others have downloaded.
Even if it's very unlikely, you can't garantee that Blizzard will not ban for this. Plus there is already another topic for the exact same thing that is probably 1 year old.
I'm trying to find a program that can edit the .m3 files. From my research I have only been able to find Autodesk as an editor which is very expensive. Is this what you used or is there a free/cheaper program that can edit these files?
Yes, you can create yor own animated background in 3D editor. But I'm not worked in 3DsMax or similar editor. Theoreticaly you can put any static or animated object inside.
Also, you can view those m3 objects via SC2 game editor.
When runing sc2-editor, click Ctrl-Shift-V and then open any m3 object.
Is this what you used or is there a free/cheaper program that can edit these files?
You can view those m3 files via sc2 editor, simply Ctrl-Shift-V and at right side open any m3 file. WHat about editing - I don't know
omg i want the dropship, thats soo cool. As for the discussion, i would assume fiddling with your client means you give up all rights of receiving support in case your product doesn't work. (like this red warning sign before you open your playstation ;P )
But since you can download the original again thats no issue. But if you manipulated files and get reported regularly, you might become problems as they could assume you fiddled with graphics for burrowed units or cloaked ones. So if you see every burrow movement and every cloaked unit without detection, i would say don't change anything ;P .
On February 27 2012 02:27 Existor wrote: A lot of people have Stronger team color mod, and Dastin Browder said, that they like this mod. A lot of players had installed this mod and they're still playing via streams or other events.
Arguments?
Just wanted to post the link to the video where he says this (4m 50s):
On February 27 2012 04:20 solidbebe wrote: There isn't a known case of someone being banned for using this, so yeah it's safe.
I haven't impregnated a chick yet from ejaculating inside of her, so it's safe to do so!
Your analogy is bad. It's against the ToS so there is always a risk of getting banned.
Actually your analogy is bad. If you and every other starcraft 2 player had ejaculated inside the same chick (starcraft 2) literally thousands of times over the course of 2 years and she hasn't gotten pregnant yet then it is safe to do so. (I provided you with a much more accurate analogy that might make more sense to you). You don't need to thank me.
Also does anyone know if it is possible to install this mod on a mac and if so any (simple) instructions lol.
But since you can download the original again thats no issue. But if you manipulated files and get reported regularly, you might become problems as they could assume you fiddled with graphics for burrowed units or cloaked ones. So if you see every burrow movement and every cloaked unit without detection, i would say don't change anything ;P .
When game becomes unfair, it becomes very boring. I like StarCraft and don't want to make it boring. There are no strategy for now, that is active. Many my favourite strategies are dead, because no support (like last C&C games) or low popularity (DoW2)
On February 27 2012 02:27 Existor wrote: A lot of people have Stronger team color mod, and Dastin Browder said, that they like this mod. A lot of players had installed this mod and they're still playing via streams or other events.
The new backgrounds are awesome, but can OP explicitly say in his post that the edits aren't explicitly condoned by Blizzard?
I can't say that, because we're not editing original files, we're adding our files to game archives. It's a bit different.
For example, you have 2 game clients on your PC - Korean and English, both works great, and you sometimes running one of them or other. How SC2 system will understand, that you're replaced your files or simply launched other client?
No differences, games are similar, only different text files and sound files in enGB.sc2assets (or koKR.sc2assets).
If you will really have different games, then in game you will have desynchronization.
I followed the steps exactly, both on the NA and EU client I have installed, but none of them will work for me :/ I have done a lot of MPQ editing before with sounds and models, but I cant get this to work at all. If anyone able to make just a short video on it, would be really appreciated.
Check your file structure and have you edited right enGB.sc2assets (other letters in your localization)? It must be in Liberty.SC2Mod folder, and not in LibertyMulti.sc2mod or Core.sc2mod
On February 28 2012 03:13 Existor wrote: Check your file structure and have you edited right enGB.sc2assets (other letters in your localization)? It must be in Liberty.SC2Mod folder, and not in LibertyMulti.sc2mod or Core.sc2mod
On February 28 2012 04:51 Denda Reloaded wrote: i mean illegal to download the file, not to change the mpqs...
Whats wrong with the file? It's simply editor, like WinRAR, that opens specific file extensions.
If I need to open PSD, then I launch Adobe Photoshop and open it. If I need rar, then I run WinRAR and open it. If I need open sc2assets file, then I run MPQ Editor and open it. Difference?
isn't this illegal?
Yes and no at same time. Topic is small, so it will be not that hard to read it again
simply the fact that you download something that doesn't belong to you, didn't pay for etc, that's my question. i don't want to risk my bucks again, sry for being a noob :D
simply the fact that you download something that doesn't belong to you, didn't pay for etc, that's my question. i don't want to risk my bucks again, sry for being a noob :D
You can find any other MPQ Editor. This one is free to download.
On February 27 2012 04:20 solidbebe wrote: There isn't a known case of someone being banned for using this, so yeah it's safe.
I haven't impregnated a chick yet from ejaculating inside of her, so it's safe to do so!
Your analogy is bad. It's against the ToS so there is always a risk of getting banned.
Actually it is your analogy that is bad in this case. He didn't say "I haven't been banned". Your equivalent analogy should be "There isn't a known case of impregenating a chick by ejaculating inside of her, so it's safe to do so!". And if there was the case, then yeah, it would be.
I'll say it now. I haven't been banned for that. Also, 30k other players haven't been banned for that too. Why? Because they play fair game without any advatanges. If they're cheating, abusing or using game editing to get advatange in game, so why not ban them?
I already run edited sounds (korean) and stronger team color... so I wouldn't dare to spit even more on Blizzards ToS and edit backgrounds as well :D
But good work, and I don't think people need to worry about getting banned, seems Blizzard have a pretty good understanding of how the edits work so they don't ban people for small things like this.
On March 01 2012 17:17 Tobberoth wrote: I already run edited sounds (korean) and stronger team color... so I wouldn't dare to spit even more on Blizzards ToS and edit backgrounds as well :D
But good work, and I don't think people need to worry about getting banned, seems Blizzard have a pretty good understanding of how the edits work so they don't ban people for small things like this.
^ this. I do not understand, why you have fear vs ban, if half of you are using stronger team color mod, that changes a lot more, A LOT. Those backgrounds changes only menu, and nothing changed in game.
It's mean, you can still have unmodified game without stronger color, SC1:BW sounds, Korean sounds, but with those backgrounds, that don't change anything, only difference main menu.
Ok my enUS.SC2Assets keep only opening in Read-Only Mode..
Close the game, then you will be able to edit it. Also, don't forget to close MPQ Editor before starting game
hmm does anyone know how I can fix an issue on the Mpqeditor?
it doesn't let me move any files or folders into the enUS.SC2Assets for some reason.. Q_Q
Is there any way to make other planets ? UInar background is beautiful, plus it could be moving slowly around the star ; Korhal and Shakuras also come to mind.
Can you teach us how to do it ourselves or is it classified information ?
It's misleading to say "You will not be banned for this". It's 100% a bannable offense to do it. Blizzard has probably never banned anyone for something like this, but if there would be more people using hacks that did something similiar to more relevant files, they could very well start banning people for every change of game files. I'm not saying you shouldn't be changing your background, but you should be aware of the fact that you are violating the ToS as much as a maphacker.
Is there any way to make other planets ? UInar background is beautiful, plus it could be moving slowly around the star ; Korhal and Shakuras also come to mind.
Can you teach us how to do it ourselves or is it classified information ?
There are no other planets, that are already in game. Those planets, that I've added, was already in game and you already saw them many times after matches, if campaign was finished.
But if you want, you can create your own background, using 3DsMax.
It's 100% a bannable offense to do it. Blizzard has probably never banned anyone for something like this, but if there would be more people using hacks that did something similiar to more relevant files, they could very well start banning people for every change of game files. I'm not saying you shouldn't be changing your background, but you should be aware of the fact that you are violating the ToS as much as a maphacker.
Many times blue posts, that I saw on different forums and in email letters (screenshots of them from other peoples) says, that if player starts get advatange in game, then risk to be banned comes closer to 99%. In other situations, I think, it's not a problem. It does not slows down game.
If players will have many reports for hacks, then they will be banned really. Reports regarding changed background of main menu are impossible, because no reason. Player still have same conditions, as other players, just other avatar or other decals.
Thank you very much for this Dropship background Was getting kinda tired of the battlecruiser's one after every start of sc2... Because who has a char's background as the first one whenever they open Sc2 ?
One thing I am surprised blizzard did was make models client side. You can easily replace the models and give advantage that way. For instance, making banelings bigger so they are easier to click on, etc. For aesthetics I myself use different in-game models for some units. I've replaced the tank & medivac with the mercenary equivalent (as they look much more badass). Having stronger team colors gives advantage also as you can discern units easier than the default settings (especially in ZvZ and with banelings). Blizzard said they have no problem with this and actively encourage it, and it gives advantage. No one has yet to be banned because of it.
I don't know why people don't know this but if you complete the single player campaign you without any cheats your background will change after every game. They look pretty cool and all have different feel.
On March 05 2012 03:44 gOerilla wrote: I don't know why people don't know this but if you complete the single player campaign you without any cheats your background will change after every game. They look pretty cool and all have different feel.
Read first post please. I've already said about it. This replacement allows to see always one specific planet or dropship or clear space, not only randomly after matches. This also allows to avoid FPS-heavy battlecruiser background
On March 05 2012 03:44 gOerilla wrote: I don't know why people don't know this but if you complete the single player campaign you without any cheats your background will change after every game. They look pretty cool and all have different feel.
Read first post please. I've already said about it. This replacement allows to see always one specific planet or dropship or clear space, not only randomly after matches. This also allows to avoid FPS-heavy battlecruiser background
Good for you bro. If you already wrote it people can ignore my post
Assets folder doesn't have a UI folder. I'm not able to go to step 3. Can anybody help me out? I only have NA version on my computer and I would like to install the Dropship
On March 05 2012 07:48 Armada Vega wrote: Assets folder doesn't have a UI folder. I'm not able to go to step 3. Can anybody help me out? I only have NA version on my computer and I would like to install the Dropship
There is none from the start, you make it when you move the backgroundfiles.
There is none from the start, you make it when you move the backgroundfiles.
Right, and as you can see, there are no file replacement. You don't replace anything, simply adding files. If you want delete it - then delete UI folder.
this looks totally bannable too, sadly. Please stop saying this does not give any ingame advantage as if it was a family argument or something, modifying the game files is against the ToS, period.
Again, it looks kick ass.
Edit :
Battle.net terms of service
1. Grant of a Limited License to Use the Service. Subject to your agreement to and continuing compliance with the Terms of Use agreement, you may use the Service solely for your own non-commercial entertainment purposes by accessing it with a web browser or an authorized, unmodified Game client. You may not use the Service for any other purpose, or using any other method.
2. Additional License Limitations. (...) You agree that you will not, under any circumstances:
use cheats, automation software (bots), hacks, mods or any other unauthorized third-party software designed to modify the Service, any Game or any Game experience;
exploit the Service, a Game or any part thereof for any commercial purpose, including without limitation (a) use at a cyber cafe, computer gaming center or any other commercial establishment without the express written consent of Blizzard, unless otherwise stated in a Game EULA; (b) to communicate or facilitate any commercial advertisement or solicitation; (c) for gathering in-game currency, items or resources for sale outside the Game without Blizzard’s authorization; or (d) performing in-game services in exchange for payment outside the Game, e.g., power-leveling;
use the Service for any “e-sports” or group competition sponsored, promoted or facilitated by any commercial or non-profit entity without Blizzard’s prior written consent;
use any unauthorized third-party software that intercepts, "mines", or otherwise collects information from or through any Game or the Service, including without limitation any software that reads areas of RAM used by any Game or the Service to store information about a character or a Game environment; provided, however, that Blizzard may, at its sole and absolute discretion, allow the use of certain third party user interfaces;
modify or cause to be modified any files that are a part of any Game or the Service in any way not expressly authorized by Blizzard;
Edit 2 :
Why wouldn't you go ahead and ask Blizzard if they authorize your [mod]ification, via mail for instance?
On March 05 2012 09:10 Murlox wrote: the drophip looks totally good.
this looks totally bannable too, sadly. Please stop saying this does not give any ingame advantage as if it was a family argument or something, modifying the game files is against the ToS, period.
1. Grant of a Limited License to Use the Service. Subject to your agreement to and continuing compliance with the Terms of Use agreement, you may use the Service solely for your own non-commercial entertainment purposes by accessing it with a web browser or an authorized, unmodified Game client. You may not use the Service for any other purpose, or using any other method.
2. Additional License Limitations. (...) You agree that you will not, under any circumstances:
use cheats, automation software (bots), hacks, mods or any other unauthorized third-party software designed to modify the Service, any Game or any Game experience;
exploit the Service, a Game or any part thereof for any commercial purpose, including without limitation (a) use at a cyber cafe, computer gaming center or any other commercial establishment without the express written consent of Blizzard, unless otherwise stated in a Game EULA; (b) to communicate or facilitate any commercial advertisement or solicitation; (c) for gathering in-game currency, items or resources for sale outside the Game without Blizzard’s authorization; or (d) performing in-game services in exchange for payment outside the Game, e.g., power-leveling;
use the Service for any “e-sports” or group competition sponsored, promoted or facilitated by any commercial or non-profit entity without Blizzard’s prior written consent;
use any unauthorized third-party software that intercepts, "mines", or otherwise collects information from or through any Game or the Service, including without limitation any software that reads areas of RAM used by any Game or the Service to store information about a character or a Game environment; provided, however, that Blizzard may, at its sole and absolute discretion, allow the use of certain third party user interfaces;
modify or cause to be modified any files that are a part of any Game or the Service in any way not expressly authorized by Blizzard;
Edit 2 :
Why wouldn't you go ahead and ask Blizzard if they authorize your [mod]ification, via mail for instance?
On March 05 2012 09:10 Murlox wrote: Why wouldn't you go ahead and ask Blizzard if they authorize your [mod]ification, via mail for instance?
So many people have said this or asked Blizz themselves, and it really mindfucks me. If you ask Blizzard anything via a ticket system or mail, you're basically getting an automated response. Not to say they're not actually read by real people, but they're never going to tell you something that goes against the ToS. Modding is against the ToS, asking Blizzard anything about it will achieve nothing. If you ask them something like whether or not they'd consider making it allowable, they'll say something like "We'll look into it". If mods like this are ever to become an allowed feature, it'll be through publicity and demand from the community, i.e. threads like this, people constantly discussing (or in this case arguing) about it, and people like Existor, Pzea and me who create and spread the mods. The more people that use or want to use them, the more inclined Blizz will be to support and implement it.
People need to stop relaying back to this response, too. Yeah, Browder said they like it, but he's a designer. He's interested in implementing similar features into the design of the game. This doesn't mean it no longer breaks the ToS if you start doing it. If you start modding and get banned, you can't say "Dustin Browder said it's ok, unban plx ty". He's not going to kick down the door at your local Blizz HQ when someone's about to be banned and say "Hold your shit, I support this jazz." At no point in the video did he say "If you use Pzea's colour mod, I guarantee your safety from ban."
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm by no means suggesting people will be banned from this. It's pretty obvious Blizz have zero interest in hunting down modders, as it's generally innocent and merely an aesthetic adjustment. I'm just straightening things out as people have very different opinions as to why this is safe to use. Browder's response never made it more or less safe. I guess it's just become a delicate topic for me after getting so many people emailing me everyday about whether they'll be banned or not.
*cough* [/rant] I've just drank a two litre bottle of Irn Bru, and it can make me... iffy...
Gonna try this out soon. On one hand, I'm hoping that they won't change their interface / mpq structuring much with HotS because I'd probably like to always be able to go with the backgrounds I c hoose. On the other, I want it to change because when you edit for the 1v1 race pick backgrounds, while Protoss looks fine, zergs background image is screwed and you are forced to accept some of the original background image and it looks stupid TYVM for this, though!
Edit: I'm wondering how easy it would be to take your own video and convert it to the format used for this? THAT would be sexy and I'd love to help with it.
On March 14 2012 12:48 Lumi wrote: Gonna try this out soon. On one hand, I'm hoping that they won't change their interface / mpq structuring much with HotS because I'd probably like to always be able to go with the backgrounds I c hoose. On the other, I want it to change because when you edit for the 1v1 race pick backgrounds, while Protoss looks fine, zergs background image is screwed and you are forced to accept some of the original background image and it looks stupid TYVM for this, though!
Edit: I'm wondering how easy it would be to take your own video and convert it to the format used for this? THAT would be sexy and I'd love to help with it.
You would need to import the video to Autodesk 3Ds Max and then export it again as an m3 format model.
Wow, this is definitely something I'll have to add on. With the in-game tools coming to design SC2-compatable models coming soon, my client seems to have a long road of personalizations coming.
Regarding this little point of contention that has popped up: As has been mentioned repeatedly, it's extremely unlikely that anyone will be banned for changing their assets MPQs. Blizzard has already separated MPQs containing graphical and aesthetic elements from actual data values used for online play and the "rules of the game". If you try to modify any of the MPQs that contain the things that might give an advantage, the battle.net launcher will refuse to start SC2 until the MPQ is "repaired". Whereas if you just screw around with still images, models, campaign assets (cinematics, closed captioning, embedded videos for the TV, etc.), and audio, the game will run normally and no one else will be able to even see anything different.
Additionally, at this point, Blizzard would be doing themselves a lot of harm to suddenly ban a bunch of players who are only contributing to their sales and have made no negative impact whatsoever on their game's community, reputation, or value. Just as Blizzard may ban for any reason, they don't have to ban for violating the written letter of the ToS unless they deem it's in their best interest.
On March 14 2012 15:34 RoKetha wrote: Blizzard has already separated MPQs containing graphical and aesthetic elements from actual data values used for online play and the "rules of the game". If you try to modify any of the MPQs that contain the things that might give an advantage, the battle.net launcher will refuse to start SC2 until the MPQ is "repaired". Whereas if you just screw around with still images, models, campaign assets (cinematics, closed captioning, embedded videos for the TV, etc.), and audio, the game will run normally and no one else will be able to even see anything different.
While true, this isn't entirely accurate. It's been proven that it's possible to get an advantage with cloaked units.
Also, I found way to install this mod, avoiding game resource editing.
Just create new archive, called xxXX.sc2assets (xxXX - ur region letters, like enGB, koKR, etc) and put it inside LibertyMulti.sc2mod, Inside that MPQ-file put those new background files and your mod is ready!
Any time you want to delete mod, you can simply delete that new xxXX.sc2assets file.
On May 11 2012 23:54 Cynthedic wrote: i must be the only one that doesnt understand the translated instructions =[ somebody please help with step by step?
English instructions are in first post. And download links are in source
On May 11 2012 23:54 Cynthedic wrote: i must be the only one that doesnt understand the translated instructions =[ somebody please help with step by step?
English instructions are in first post. And download links are in source
The download link is not working though. I tried, but didn't find any working way to do it.
No, this doesn't work with Hots because of a check that is done on the MPQ files when you load the client. The only choice you get it between Planets and Kerrigan (available in the options when in the client).
Please check the date on threads before you post, this one is over two years old.