[REL] Randomized Loading Screens

[Sailor Steve]

After Able72 started this thread http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=134173 and after much discussion and a request, I took on the task of putting together a set of Loading, Map (career), Single Missions and Museum screens, plus the three different Leers (Chart Tables) and nine different songs for the dockside bands to play; all in separate folders for SH3 Commander to randomize so you never get the same thing twice. Well, if you're lucky you won't get them twice in a row.

What you will get is almost 100 different screens, most of them from Das Boot, but also including a bunch made by different people from photographs, paintings and in-game shots, plus GWX and NYGM, and of course the stock game screens as well.

JScones was kind enough to prep the folders for me, which saved me some work. Who did what is in the readme, so please read it if you want to know who made each screen. Also, the installation notes are there, so I'm not going to explain it all here...but it's easy to do, so just read the thing and do it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

I will repeat the big warning here though: because it is made up of around 500 loading screens, .tga files and music files, it's 1.3 GIGABYTES in size! That's bigger than GWX2. So don't say I didn't warn you if you are short of space.

I've loaded and reloaded a dozen times or more, and it all works just as advertised. And it looks pretty amazing too.

[edit] Updated the link (August 16).


[edit-Dec. 4, 2009] Loading Screens mod can now be found at the wonderful BtsMods:
http://www.btsmods.com/index.php?topic=500.0
http://www.btsmods.com/index.php

And also right here at SubSim:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=995

[Gairith]

:rock: Thanks Steve DLing now.

[bigboywooly]

1.3Gb :o

[CapZap1970]

OMG!!! :o
1.3 Gb, but it's worth it. Thanks you very much Sailor Steve!! :up: :rock:
CapZap

[Kpt, Otto]

Thank you Sailor Steve, this should add some spice to the old game what what! very much appreciated. :up:

[melnibonian]

Wow :o

I'm Downloading it now and I can't wait to try it :yep:

Thanks a lot for that Steve (and everyone else who was involved) :up:

[Albrecht Von Hesse]

Thanks a lot! I don't know when next I'll get a chance to just relax and play --wry grin-- but I'm looking forward to using these!

[Sailor Steve]

...this should add some spice to the old game what what!
I thought real Brits didn't talk like that. Somebody lied to me.:rotfl:

I don't know when next I'll get a chance to just relax and play --wry grin--
I know that feeling. But then, so do so many others around here.

[mr chris]

Thanks for this Steve.:up:
D/L now :D

[Christoff]

1.3 Gigs! Holy Moly :o

Well I'm gonna take a look at these...

So Tally Ho Pip Pip and after a sex change, 'Roger's your Aunty' :rotfl:

Thanks :rock:

[Kpt, Otto]

...this should add some spice to the old game what what!
I thought real Brits didn't talk like that. Somebody lied to me.:rotfl:



:rotfl:

...there are still a few Brits left who talk properly! ... I am owever one of the great unwashed oo drops their 'H' chs everywhere!!! :lol:

[Sailor Steve]

Well, I hope you have a 'man' who cleans them up for you.

[irish1958]

Thanks Sailor Steve; now go and have a grog or two on me.:rock:

[JScones]

Phew, at least the d/l size is only 123.57 MB.

Great stuff SS. D/l now. :up: :rock:

(On an unrelated note, have you any ship names for IABL's new ships that you can give me for SH3Cmdr R3.1?).

[Reece]

Here is a big hint Steve, I was going to do this but don't think I'll get around to it::oops:
In virtually the same way as this mod it would be good to randomize the officers uniforms, helmets etc, so that you could start a career in formal clothing, then casual, and by the end of the war, moth eaten rags!:lol: What you think?:)

[Sailor Steve]

Phew, at least the d/l size is only 123.57 MB.

Great stuff SS. D/l now. :up: :rock:

(On an unrelated note, have you any ship names for IABL's new ships that you can give me for SH3Cmdr R3.1?).
No, but only because I have to see what he actually releases versus what he showed me, before I can apply them to specific models. Right now I'm working on a revision of the Liberty Ships list(s). I've made some rather startling discoveries in the last week.

[Sailor Steve]

Here is a big hint Steve, I was going to do this but don't think I'll get around to it::oops:
In virtually the same way as this mod it would be good to randomize the officers uniforms, helmets etc, so that you could start a career in formal clothing, then casual, and by the end of the war, moth eaten rags!:lol: What you think?:)
That's a brilliant idea! I'll try to look into it, but I'm also involved in a seriously major project right now, and for a long time to come. Or is that majorly serious?

I know: maybe Able72 can look at the folders and see how easy it is, and he can do it!:yep: Or maybe I'll go crazy and try to find the time. I've got a lot of uniform mods floating around.

[Gairith]

Works great Steve, thanks again. :up:

[Myxale]

Way to go CoB!

'Bout time i put my flatrate to good use! ;)

Cheers :up:

[Sailor Steve]

Just a quick bump in case anybody missed it.:sunny:

[LordNeuro"Serbia"]

Here is a big hint Steve, I was going to do this but don't think I'll get around to it::oops:
In virtually the same way as this mod it would be good to randomize the officers uniforms, helmets etc, so that you could start a career in formal clothing, then casual, and by the end of the war, moth eaten rags!:lol: What you think?:) That's a brilliant idea! I'll try to look into it, but I'm also involved in a seriously major project right now, and for a long time to come. Or is that majorly serious?

I know: maybe Able72 can look at the folders and see how easy it is, and he can do it!:yep: Or maybe I'll go crazy and try to find the time. I've got a lot of uniform mods floating around.

The mod well bee worth the weiting whean ever u got it finish. It is a wery good idea. And probebly wery mouch work on it. Going crazy or not we will be weiting for next mesterpice. Keep up the good work.:up:

[Tango589]

So Tally Ho Pip Pip and after a sex change, 'Roger's your Aunty'

@ Christoff: Have you been fiddling with my sig?:rotfl:

@ Sailor Steve: This looks like a superb addition, but I only get a d/l speed of 20-30 Kb/s (!) from FileFront so it would take me from now until next Xmas to d/l it. Shame.:doh:

[Konovalov]

Just a quick bump in case anybody missed it.:sunny:
Thanks Sailor Steve. This sounds just awesome. :rock:

Downloading now but the download is very slow at around 15k/sec. Another few hours and I shall have it. :damn:

[Sailor Steve]

Well, if someone who knows how wants to upload it somewhere in parts, like GWX, I wouldn't complain.

[nikbear]

Sailor steve,in the read me it says that after installing the random folder to SH3Cmdr it will ask me if I want to overwrite something,it didn't:doh:have I done something wrong?:oops:

[Sailor Steve]

No. I just assumed that since there were already Random Folders 0-4 in there it would ask. Just look inside - if you have Folders 0-99 you should be fine.

[Wreford-Brown]

Sailor Steve,

Awesome piece of work. Now the eye candy starts while the game is loading!

[Vader 1]

This is really nice work thanks again ...1st class

[Tuddley3]

I forgot about some of those, there's some good classics in there Steve. Thanks:up:

[Dronston]

This mod sounds great but I don't get it. The readme says:

"INSTALLATION: If you have a JSGME installation in your SH3 Commander folder, just unzip the 'Load Screens' folder into the 'MODS' folder in SH3 Commander, activate it and you're good to go. If you don't, just dig one layer deeper and unzip the 'Random' folder directly into SH3 Commander and click 'Yes' when it asks you if you want to overwrite it."

I don't have a JSGME installation in my SH3 Commander folder but I don't understand the just dig one layer deeper remark. When I put the random folder in the SH3 commander folder it doesn't overwrite anything and I get no different load screens when I start SH3.

What am I doing wrong?

[irish1958]

I suggest you install JSGME in the main SH3CMDR folder, and run it. It will generate a folder called "Mods". Install the files into this folder, close it and then run JSGME to activate. OR
install the mod in the SH3CMDR\random folder, not in the SH3CMDR folder.

[CptGrayWolf]

How long will this take to download with my 56k? :dead:

[Dronston]

I suggest you install JSGME in the main SH3CMDR folder, and run it. It will generate a folder called "Mods". Install the files into this folder, close it and then run JSGME to activate. OR
install the mod in the SH3CMDR\random folder, not in the SH3CMDR folder.

Thanks for your help.

I did what you said but still no disco. (JSMGE in SH3 Commander folder, ran JSMGE once, copied mod in MODS folder, activated through JSMGE, random folder was created with all content).

Any more ideas?

[Sailor Steve]

How long will this take to download with my 56k? :dead:
The rest of your life.:rotfl:

PM me your address. I'll mail you a copy on disc.

[Sailor Steve]

I suggest you install JSGME in the main SH3CMDR folder, and run it. It will generate a folder called "Mods". Install the files into this folder, close it and then run JSGME to activate. OR
install the mod in the SH3CMDR\random folder, not in the SH3CMDR folder.

Thanks for your help.

I did what you said but still no disco. (JSMGE in SH3 Commander folder, ran JSMGE once, copied mod in MODS folder, activated through JSMGE, random folder was created with all content).

Any more ideas?
I'm not sure why the problem is happening, since I don't have JSGME on my Commander either. Try this: extract it to the desktop, then move the folder into Commander. It shouldn't go inside the 'Random' folder; the new Random folder should replace the old one. When it's done there should be 100 folders inside, numbered 0-99.

[Dronston]

I'm not sure why the problem is happening, since I don't have JSGME on my Commander either. Try this: extract it to the desktop, then move the folder into Commander. It shouldn't go inside the 'Random' folder; the new Random folder should replace the old one. When it's done there should be 100 folders inside, numbered 0-99.
Tried what you suggested...:cry: No new load screens.
What you describe is what I did the first time but I tried it again. I disabled the mod first in JSGME , which removed the random folder. Then copied the unpacked random folder into the SH3 commander directory.
All of you speak of a random folder already there in SH3 Commander, but I never had one to begin with.
I'm using SH3 commander v3.0.0.161

Don't know what's going on, I usually don't have problems getting mods to work...
Some other mod in the way?

JSGME mods installed:

GWX - 16km Atmosphere
SB_cameras_mod_SH3
GWX 2.0 Armed Trawler Patch
GWX - Alternate Loadscreen - Full Circle
Thomsen's WhispeRING RING mod
skin_VII_Camo_Rusty_Konram
Racerboy_SH4_Effects_for_SH3_2_03
Water_Stream_for_Uboats_V4
RB's Exhaust Smoke

[Sailor Steve]

Here's a picture of my Program Files/SH3 Commander folder:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Image3.jpg

The Random folder is part of the regular SH3 Commander installation. If you don't have it something is wrong with your install.

[Dronston]

Thanks Steve, your screenshot made me realise my SH3 Commander installation was corrupt. I only had 4 files!
Don't know what happend. Must have been a faulty install all the time.
I unistalled SH3 Commander and reinstalled it. After that all was well and...I saw the new loading screens!

:up:

All, thanks for your patience, and Steve, thanks for the mod :rock:

[Sailor Steve]

All, thanks for your patience, and Steve, thanks for the mod :rock:
Patience, like all good habits, is learned. I learned mine from all the people who took the time to help me. I'm just glad you got it working.:sunny:

[nikbear]

I've put the mod in to the SH3cmdr/random folder,but instead of replacing it,I have folders 0,1,2,3,4 and a new one,labeled"load screens mod" with folders 0-99 inside:oops: :damn: how on earth did I manage to do that:oops:?:doh:,any ideas?

[nikbear]

Bump I'm afraid:oops:

[ReallyDedPoet]

I've put the mod in to the SH3cmdr/random folder,but instead of replacing it,I have folders 0,1,2,3,4 and a new one,labeled"load screens mod" with folders 0-99 inside:oops: :damn: how on earth did I manage to do that:oops:?:doh:,any ideas?
It's been awhile since I tweaked the Random Folder stuff :doh:, plus I don't have the read-me from the mod. If you take that Mod: load screen mod, remove it from Commander ( say copy and paste on your Desk Top ), then go into it, copy the Random Folder.

Then go back into the Commander and paste the new Random Floder and it should overwrite the old one, you should see the overwrite and be good to go. I bet your problem is you have one to many folders, the load screen one being the culprit.

Also saw this from SS earlier in the thread:

It shouldn't go inside the 'Random' folder; the new Random folder should replace the old one. When it's done there should be 100 folders inside, numbered 0-99.

RDP

[Sailor Steve]

I've put the mod in to the SH3cmdr/random folder,but instead of replacing it,I have folders 0,1,2,3,4 and a new one,labeled"load screens mod" with folders 0-99 inside:oops: :damn: how on earth did I manage to do that:oops:?:doh:,any ideas?
Yeah, RDP hit it on the head. First, don't put the 'Load Screens Mod' folder inside anything, unless you have JSGME installed in SH3 Commander. Take out the 'Random' folder and put it inside SH3 Commander. It should replace the old 'Random' folder.

[nikbear]

Would the fact that I've got 4 alternative depth charge sounds in the random folder from 'GWX2 Alternate sound pack'be the reason why its not working:hmm::oops::doh:

[Sailor Steve]

If each sound file is labelled the same way, and each in a separate sound folder, there should be no problem. How do you have them labelled, and in what folders are they.

Have you done anything about this yet?
I've put the mod in to the SH3cmdr/random folder...
Unless the path is set up the way we've showed you, it won't be able to find them.

[nikbear]

Got to go to work SSteve,thanks for all your help and RDP,will report back later:up:

[Wreford-Brown]

Downloaded this and have been using it for a while, but have only started fully appreciating it while testing new mods (with the pain of loading and reloading each time).

Awesome piece of work, Sailor Steve, and fully deserves a bump.:rock:

[Sailor Steve]

Well, thanks, but the real credit goes to JSCones and his wonderful SH3 Commander.:rock:

[Wreford-Brown]

Fully agree - I use it in a couple of my mods and it's an awesome tool along with JSGME.

[Tuddley3]

Filefront has deleted this mod. I had to reinstall windows and didn't have it backed up on CD.

[Sailor Steve]

Yeah, they do that after awhile with no downloads. I'll put it back up tomorrow - it's the middle of the night here.

[Tuddley3]

Thank you so much Steve. Don't rush on my account, do it when you have time. I have a lot of work to do getting everything back to where I had it before my mishap.

You da man :up:

Tudds

[Tomcat84]

Cool, i was looking and couldnt see it :)

Can you make a post here when it's up? That would be great!

[Sailor Steve]

I suppose I could.
http://files.filefront.com/Load+Screens+Mod7z/;11515204;/fileinfo.html

Also updated the Page 1 link.

[Tomcat84]

Thanks! I was a bit puzzled though, the first posts in the thread speak of 1.3 gigabyte size, but with the file only a bit more than 100 megs... Until i had extracted. I had no idea that 7z could reach a compression ratio of what, 10?! Wow!

I will install it tomorrow :)

[q65]

I was wondering if this mod is still available? I had a crash and lost everything and not being of sound mind I didnt make a copy of what I downloaded. This is one of my must haves but the link takes me elsewhere.
I will burn the mods this time. What a hassle trying to get everything back. Been along time since I had this happen
Regards

[Tuddley3]

Here ya go :
http://files.filefront.com/Sailor+Steves+Load+Screenod7z/;12131589;/fileinfo.html



@ Steve - Would you mind if I create a download section at BtS with your mods ? Also, Russ and I would like to talk to you about revamping BtS, he liked some of your ideas.

Thanks,
Tudds

[Sailor Steve]

@ Steve - Would you mind if I create a download section at BtS with your mods ? Also, Russ and I would like to talk to you about revamping BtS, he liked some of your ideas.
By all means, go for it. I've been talking to Neal about the possibility of an expanded downloads section at SubSim, but the more places this stuff remains available the better. I hate that older mods get lost in the woodwork.:sunny:

[Tuddley3]

I hate that older mods get lost in the woodwork.:sunny:

That's why hosting at BtS is a plus. There is no time limit, or minimum downloads to keep them in the data base. As long as Russ doesn't delete them manually, they will never be deleted. And Russ has made a promise to never delete a mod.

So I will make you a folder in the file library, and at least put the Loading Screens in there. Also, if you can, get a hold of Russ and talk to him about your ideas again. Russ & I are in the process right now of rearranging the site to clean it up a bit, and make it much more user friendly.

Thanks Steve,
Tudds

[q65]

Thanks for the help
Q

Here ya go :
http://files.filefront.com/Sailor+Steves+Load+Screenod7z/;12131589;/fileinfo.html



@ Steve - Would you mind if I create a download section at BtS with your mods ? Also, Russ and I would like to talk to you about revamping BtS, he liked some of your ideas.

Thanks,
Tudds

[Wreford-Brown]

Bump

[Tuddley3]

Oh hell yeah, I catch your drift WB :yeah:

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks for reviving this, WB. It can now be found here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=995

And here:
http://www.btsmods.com/index.php?topic=500.0