193 replies to this topic

[SimDing0]

Sim, now you're just being rude. Just because you believe something is better, doesn't mean it is.

Except nobody's provided any opposition to what I've said. If you all explained why WeiDUing BGT is so much better than a Tutu transition, then I'd listen. But I'm telling you, with the benefit of experience, that a Tutu transition is a better way to do it. Calling me rude and ignoring me isn't going to make the facts go away.

And yes, perhaps I'm moderately irate after 3 pages of people saying "yes you might be right but we're going to ignore you anyway".

Edited by SimDing0, 10 February 2005 - 07:15 AM.

[Vlad]

Well, reading this very long thread, I recall an old *anekdote* (joke). Old man comes to rabbi and tells him "Oh, rabbi, help me, my sheeps are dying, there is some strange disease, I have no idea what to do...". Rabbi says "Go home good man and draw a circle on your window"... A week later the old man returns to rabbi and says "Rabbi, that didn't help at all, your circle, my sheeps are still dying..." Rabbi says "Go home good man and draw a triangle on your window"... Well, in a week, the old man comes for the third time to rabbi and cries "Oh, rabbi, I am the poorest man in the world, my all sheeps have already died..." And then rabbi says "Oh it's really a big disappointment AS I STILL HAVE SO MANY IDEAS."



[P.S. NOTE] If TuTu would be modified in a way suggested by Sim and got all the advantages of BGT then TuTu definitely rocks. However I really doubt that beside great ideas there are some real modders who would do this.

Edited by Vlad, 10 February 2005 - 08:48 AM.

[SimDing0]

And in 15 minutes work, I've just created a WeiDU mod that allows me to start Tutu in either BG1, BG2 or ToB.

[Radwen]

Good job :thumb: .

[Ascension64]

Progress update:

BGT-WeiDU is super close to its first release. I have the necessary information from TheWizard and the installation works flawlessly. I hope it is so for others as well. The only things that still need to be done are:

1. Fix up the uninstall -- it doesn't seem to want to delete BIFFs for me; and
2. Write the readme -- ESSENTIAL, everyone should read the installation steps before attempting install, because although it is not complex, making a mistake can cost you some precious time

Last update I said the archive is about 50MB. Well, I can tell you that it is now definitely LESS THAN 15MB. Note that you will still need BGT_MK3_112, which I reiterate again.

Bug testing will be essential too, I have looked at the starts of BG1, SoA, and ToB and they look to be working perfectly. Cannot say much more than that though. Stay tuned.

[horred the plague]

P1. Fix up the uninstall -- it doesn't seem to want to delete BIFFs for me; and
2. Write the readme -- ESSENTIAL, everyone should read the installation steps before attempting install, because although it is not complex, making a mistake can cost you some precious time

Ecellent news, Ascension--well done!

The size factor is even more impresive.

To delete bif's in the uninstall, first you have to remove the read-only status from the .bif file. Somebody gave me this procedure, when I was making TDD and SOS in weidu:

(Example)

attrib -r data\SOS-MOS.bif
del data\SOS-MOS.bif
attrib -r data\SOS-RULE.bif
del data\SOS-RULE.bif

This did the job for me.

As far as the read-me file goes: everybody here should know by now that this has never been my forte.

[Chevalier]

I think at first there will be 2 versions, 1 for those who already have BGT and 1 for those who don't. If you already have BGT you don't need to download it again.

[Brannin Vael]

Why is the 600+ meg file still needed?  I thought the whole weiduing of BGT was suppose to reduce the file size?

I echo that question. Does the WeiDU version of BGT require ALL 600+ meg of the original BGT's resources in order to install? Or just a big chunk? If it's just a big chunk, then can these files be put into a separate, smaller download? Anything to reduce the size of this monster, please.

My complaint is that now the total download size for BGT WeiDU would now include the original + the WeiDU version. An even more sizable task, and one which I find impossible on the Wizard's excruciatiingly slow servers/connection/whatever it is. If this huge file was mirrored elsewhere, perhaps 3d downloads (I thought I would never say that...), then installing it could be within my realm of possibility. As it is, I consistently time out when trying to download from The Wizards site...

Okay, I didn't see Chevalier's post until after I posted. So there may be hope for that '2nd' version. Thanks.

Edited by Brannin Vael, 11 February 2005 - 01:25 PM.

[Ascension64]

P1. Fix up the uninstall -- it doesn't seem to want to delete BIFFs for me; and
2. Write the readme -- ESSENTIAL, everyone should read the installation steps before attempting install, because although it is not complex, making a mistake can cost you some precious time

Ecellent news, Ascension--well done!

The size factor is even more impresive.

To delete bif's in the uninstall, first you have to remove the read-only status from the .bif file. Somebody gave me this procedure, when I was making TDD and SOS in weidu:

(Example)

attrib -r data\SOS-MOS.bif
del data\SOS-MOS.bif
attrib -r data\SOS-RULE.bif
del data\SOS-RULE.bif

This did the job for me.

As far as the read-me file goes: everybody here should know by now that this has never been my forte.

Super help! Thanks heaps Horred. Time to throw those BIFFs in the trash.

QUOTE(Guest_Gaias_* @ Feb 11 2005, 11:01 AM)
Why is the 600+ meg file still needed?  I thought the whole weiduing of BGT was suppose to reduce the file size?

I echo that question. Does the WeiDU version of BGT require ALL 600+ meg of the original BGT's resources in order to install? Or just a big chunk? If it's just a big chunk, then can these files be put into a separate, smaller download? Anything to reduce the size of this monster, please. 

My complaint is that now the total download size for BGT WeiDU would now include the original + the WeiDU version. An even more sizable task, and one which I find impossible on the Wizard's excruciatiingly slow servers/connection/whatever it is. If this huge file was mirrored elsewhere, perhaps 3d downloads (I thought I would never say that...), then installing it could be within my realm of possibility. As it is, I consistently time out when trying to download from The Wizards site...

Okay, I didn't see Chevalier's post until after I posted. So there may be hope for that '2nd' version. Thanks.

This is the rundown at the moment...despite the reported breakthrough I had with the importation of areas, KD was just too good and the areas turned out green with muck and crashed the game often. This means that at the moment, the tilesets and the music are being extracted from the original Bardez BGT_MK3_112. The reason why this is happening is because I believe that many people already have this file (took pains to download it ages ago, I hope) and so they do not need to download a totally new AREA and MUSIC package. Do you want me to put such a one up? This would likely help people who don't have the BGT_MK3_112 package yet, but you might have to wait longer for the upload to complete, because that file would be rather large. So, in a way, Chev is right, there will be a version that draws on Bardez's BGT, and there will be a standalone version.

[hlidskialf]

BGTuTu also had the Green Water problem. Originally it was bypassed by turning off the "Graphics Acceleration" configuration. I'm not sure yet if the process has been fixed for extracted .tis files yet, but I recall Avenger and Japh sharing code or something on it. Sim should be able to clarify this.

[Ghreyfain]

I heard that, too, but nothing came of it. Is Avenger still around? Would be nice to know what he knows about the overlays.

[hlidskialf]

I heard that, too, but nothing came of it.  Is Avenger still around?  Would be nice to know what he knows about the overlays.

Yeah he's still around. (You can always find him at DLTC, although he also hits FW, PPG, and G3 occassionally.) My memory might be faulty here but I thought there was some kind of extraction of the DLTCEP code for this green water problem fix that would be able to be called via .bat file. I'd thought it'd been done, but it might just have fizzled out as talk. It was on PPG IIRC where the discussion took place.

[Ascension64]

I heard that, too, but nothing came of it.  Is Avenger still around?  Would be nice to know what he knows about the overlays.

Yeah he's still around. (You can always find him at DLTC, although he also hits FW, PPG, and G3 occassionally.) My memory might be faulty here but I thought there was some kind of extraction of the DLTCEP code for this green water problem fix that would be able to be called via .bat file. I'd thought it'd been done, but it might just have fizzled out as talk. It was on PPG IIRC where the discussion took place.

There was a discussion at http://forums.pocket...p?topic=15784.0 but not much since June 18 I guess. Perhaps it is a good time to revive the call for people that could do this and have the time. I spoke to Avenger and he doesn't.

[Ascension64]

Baldur?s Gate Trilogy ? WeiDU
Version 0.8
Author: Ascension64

-----------------------------------------
INSTALLATION (please read)
-----------------------------------------
1. Install Baldur?s Gate I and Tales of the Sword Coast (Full Installs), then patch to version 5512 if not done so already (recommended install path is c:\baldur)
a. Configure the game and run the game once by starting a new game and playing a little of Candlekeep
2. Install Baldur?s Gate II and Throne of Bhaal (Full Installs), then patch to version 26498 if not done so already
a. Configure the game and run the game once by starting a new game and playing a little of Irenicus? dungeon
3. Do ONE of these:
a. If you have bgt_mk3_112.exe, extract the contents of this file into your BGII install directory
b. If you have BGT-Core.exe, extract the contents of this file into your BGII install directory
4. Backup your current dialog.tlk (this is the only file that you will need to manually backup)
5. Run BGT-Install.exe, select your BGII install directory, then press Install
6. Run Setup-BGT.exe in your BGII install directory
a. Follow the onscreen WeiDU prompts
b. When prompted for Baldur?s Gate I installation, type in the appropriate path, followed by Ctrl-Z then Enter
c. Wait patiently while the installation is completed
7. Play Baldur?s Gate II ? the Tutorial button in Shadows of Amn will be replaced by Baldur?s Gate I (starting a new game is recommended)
8. You may uninstall Baldur?s Gate I and Tales of the Sword Coast if desired ? if you think you need a re-install, do NOT complete this step

-----------------------------------------
UNINSTALLATION AND REINSTALLATION
-----------------------------------------
1. Run Setup-BGT.exe in your BGII install directory
a. Uninstall both components when prompted
b. The batch file will complete uninstallation
2. Restore your backup of dialog.tlk
3. If you need to re-install BGT-WeiDU, then follow the Installation instructions from step 3

----------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION/REQUIREMENTS
----------------------------------------
Disk Space Required: approximately 3 GB, please leave at least 3 GB free for installation (and do not forget virtual memory space)

BGT-WeiDU combines every element of Baldur?s Gate Trilogy from Bardez?s final release of BGT_MK3_112 to the present day mini-fixes, including:
? The Baldur?s Gate Trilogy main package ? bgt_mk3_112.exe
? The Big Picture?Baldur?s Gate Trilogy compatibility package ? BP-BGTv311.zip
? The Big Picture?Baldur?s Gate Trilogy critical fix packages ? MK1-MK3_1.13-fixes.rar, lost_files.zip, patch_snares.zip
? The Big Picture?Baldur?s Gate Trilogy?Never Ending Journey major patch ? BP-BGT-NEJ_PATCH313.zip
? The seanas & hlidskialf Big Picture?Baldur?s Gate Trilogy?Never Ending Journey Patch 6 ? BP_s_and_h_Patchv6.zip
? Shorter-Better Transition for Big Picture?Baldur?s Gate Trilogy?Never Ending Journey Release 14 ? SBT14.exe
? King Diamond?s Baldur?s Gate NPC fixes ? bg1bgt_p1.rar

---------------------------------------------------
VERSION HISTORY
---------------------------------------------------
Version 0.8
- First public release

----------------------------------------
KNOWN ISSUES/COMPATIBILITY
----------------------------------------
- WeiDU outputs dialog.tlk at the end of the uninstall process, so currently it will need to be manually backed up and restored
- BGT-WeiDU has NOT been tested on anything other than a clean, patched Baldur?s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal install

----------------------------------------
CREDITS
----------------------------------------
- Post any bugs/suggestions at the Forgotten Wars Big Picture + BGT forum
- Many thanks to Bioware and Black Isle Studios for creating such a great RPG
- Many thanks to Bardez who made the original Baldur's Gate Trilogy possible and for permission in WeiDU conversion of his mod
- Many thanks to Horred the Plague, hlidskialf, King Diamond, Seanas, Sir BillyBob, who have worked to make the game as smooth as possible

BGT-Install.exe will be up on TheWizard's servers shortly. Filesize: 13,766,345 bytes.

The bigger archive for those who need it, BGT-Core.exe is still being uploaded to TheWizard, so please wait patiently for that. Filesize: 567,882,967 bytes.

One known issue that I have forgotten to note is the BG1 journal entries will NOT be removed properly in the transition between BG1 and BG2. Post other bugs here.

[horred the plague]

One known issue that I have forgotten to note is the BG1 journal entries will NOT be removed properly in the transition between BG1 and BG2.  Post other bugs here.

If it was a matter of AR0602.BCS not making this happen because of the over-abundance of strref's in it, grab the script from BP-BGTv313. Copy/paste what you need. It has all of that work done for you already. (Except those 4 or so that somebody noted, sometime)

[Ascension64]

One known issue that I have forgotten to note is the BG1 journal entries will NOT be removed properly in the transition between BG1 and BG2.  Post other bugs here.

If it was a matter of AR0602.BCS not making this happen because of the over-abundance of strref's in it, grab the script from BP-BGTv313. Copy/paste what you need. It has all of that work done for you already. (Except those 4 or so that somebody noted, sometime)

It is just because the StrRefs will be variable depending on people's installs, which makes it very difficult to remove the correct 'StrRef' so to speak. So the script is there, but the StrRefs that relate to the journal entries are totally incorrect.

For everyone, the archive is up in the /bgt folder at the mirrors.

[Chevalier]

Great work!!


Thanks!!!

[King Diamond]

Oki, guys...
Having some troubles with OS reinstalling gone I'm ready now for some serious work.
So, I'm going to write a command line utility for converting BG1-style TIS to BG2 style with green water removing, WED updating and all around (with area renaming as well to be able to manage real bg1-bg2 area transfer).

I think all heavy discussions BGT vs TuTu will loose a huge part of their steam after utility's release...
Just wait a little...a week or so...

Edited by King Diamond, 14 February 2005 - 02:06 AM.

[Yacomo]

Oki, guys...
Having some troubles with OS reinstalling gone I'm ready now for some serious work. 
So, I'm going to write a command line utility for converting BG1-style TIS to BG2 style with green water removing, WED updating and all around (with area renaming as well to be able to manage real bg1-bg2 area transfer).

I think all heavy discussions BGT vs TuTu will loose a huge part of their steam after utility's release... 
Just wait a little...a week or so...

Not sure if this might help you, but I found a tool by japheth over at PocketPlane that sounds like something useful, it is called 'BG1 Area Cleaner' and can be found under the following link:

http://www.pocketpla...d=137&Itemid=96