#1
8th Jul 2005 at 4:13 PM
Last edited by Numenor : 13th Jul 2006 at
8:24 AM.
Reason: Fixed broken in-text images
[University Only] Tutorial: How to change the starting screen.
Now YOU can create your own starting screen! Follow these steps and do exactly what i say! Enjoy.
Requirements:
1:SimPE
2:The Sims 2 UNIVERSITY ONLY ( I haven't found out for the original sims 2. so please you must have university)
3:A image editor (Not PAINT) that can edit targa or tga files. I used Paintshop Pro. (UPDATED - USE GIMP)
Here we go!
Step 1: First of all before we edit the screen you need a
backup of the file. So go to My Computer/C : Program Files/Ea Games/The Sims 2 University/TSData/Res/UI. Right Click on the ui file and click copy. Then create a new folder on your desktop and rename it whatever you want. Then right click and click paste. Now that is your backup.
Step 2: Now open SimPe. Click on file, then open. Then go to My Computer/C : Program Files/Ea Games/The Sims 2 University/TSData/Res/UI and open that Ui file. It should show you all the files in the package. (Figure1- Figure 2)
Step 3: Now click on the instance column button at the top to put the numbers in order which makes it easier for you to find. (Figure 3- Figure 4)
Step 4: Ok. Now we go to the first image to edit. Look at the instance column and scroll down untill you find 0xCCC300080. Once you find it click on it and you will see the sims 2 university logo in the plugin view.(Figure 5)
Step 5: It is edit time! Now right click on that file in the packed file view (The thing with the columns in it) then hit extract. Save it in the folder that you created on your desk top! BuT WAIT. At the end of the name when you are saving it, put .tga. So that saves it as a targa image file.(Figure 6- Figure 7)
Step 6: Now go to your desktop and open your new folder. If you have paintshop pro just double click it to open it. Then edit the picture! Keep your image drawing inside the shape of the university logo because it will have the same shape as the university logo when it is in the game. Now just make it the way you want it to look! Now save it. (Note: If you don't have paintshop pro i suggest you download a free trial on the internet) (Figure 8- Figure 9)
Step 7: Ok the image you just edited is the logo for when you choose your neighborhood. So lets make this happen! Now go back to
SimPE and right click on that file ( The one with the instance of 0xCCC300080 ) and hit replace. Now go to the folder you saved that image in. Now do NOT CLICK on the tga image. click on the xml file that came with it. Hit open. And that is done for that part of the screen. (If you do not know which one is the xml file right click on one of them and click properties. It will tell you the type of file) (Figure 10-Figure 12)
Step 8: You are halfway through. Now it is time to edit the bigger logo when the game is loading. Ok now you click on the instace column button again to put it back in order (If not already) Now scroll and look for the instance 0x8CBB9323. If you search for in with the instance filter it will not work. So DONT use the instance filter. (Figure 13)
Step 9: Once you found it do the same thing you did with the other image. Right click on the file and click extract. Do the same thing also put a .tga at the end of the file name. BUT make sure the name of the file is different then the other file you saved. (Figure 14- Figure 15)
Step 10: Once again go to your desktop and click on that new folder. Double click on the new image that was created. Edit that one, then save it.(Figure 16)
Step 11: Now go back to
SimPE and right click on the file and hit replace. Now pick the xml file of the image that you just created. (Note: MAKE SURE YOU DON'T USE THE XML FILE OF THE FIRST ONE YOU CREATED) That should work! Now you are done. NOW click on file then save to save the package. (Figure 17 - Figure 19)
Step 12: Congradulations! You just made your own starting screen for the sims 2! If you need help just contact me at
[email protected] or reply on this thread. If you would like post a picture of your new screen! I would love to see them! (Figure 20 - Figure 21-Used with GIMP program/makes it without university alpha)
I hope you enjoy. :D
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NEW: i have not tried it yet but i believe it will work to change the background of the starting screen. In
SimPE open My Computer/C : Program Files/Ea Games/The Sims 2/TSData/Res/Ui and open the ui folder. Then extract the following instace numbers 0xCCC9AF70 and then 0xCCc9aF80 as .png files. Then edit them. After that replace them and you are done. It should work! (Basically do the same process for the rest of the tutorial, but png files instead) SEE PIC
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NEW: Now you can have it without the University Alpha! Special Thanks to riggo4482 for helping out a lot. All you need is GIMP a image editor program that you can get off the internet and that lets you edit the alpha! Look at the new images! Sorry about the white next to the 2 in the pic. i did not edit that part(I forgot to
) Enjoy!