Faction specific loading screens

[Captn. James Crunch]

I was looking through descr_sm_factions and i had a question. Is it possible to make faction specific loading screens by replacing the faction symbol with an bigger image or will this screw up the game?

[Monkwarrior]

I was looking through descr_sm_factions and i had a question. Is it possible to make faction specific loading screens by replacing the faction symbol with an bigger image or will this screw up the game?

Very interesting hypothesis.
The possible problem (apart from the possible crash) is that the image can be reduced to the normal size of the symbol.

You can find in Rome.lnt this (after searching for loading):

  <lpage>ImpCam_loading
    <UI piece>main_menu_rome_logo
      <identifier>UIP_EMPTY_ART</identifier>
      <Parameters>
        <x>266</x>
        <y>30</y>
        <width>489</width>
        <height>168</height>
      </Parameters>
      <object_id>rome_logo_main_menu</object_id>
    </UI piece>
    <UI piece>progress_bar
      <identifier>UIP_EMPTY_ART</identifier>
      <Parameters>
        <x>259</x>
        <y>704</y>
        <width>505</width>
        <height>34</height>
      </Parameters>
      <object_id>progress_bar</object_id>
    </UI piece>
    <UI piece>ImpCam_loading_faction_symbol
      <identifier>UIP_EMPTY_ART</identifier>
      <Parameters>
        <x>448</x>
        <y>319</y>
        <width>128</width>
        <height>129</height>
      </Parameters>
      <object_id>empty_art</object_id>
    </UI piece>
    <UI piece>ImpCam_loading_faction_name
      <identifier>UIP_EMPTY_ART</identifier>
      <Parameters>
        <x>380</x>
        <y>459</y>
        <width>260</width>
        <height>38</height>
      </Parameters>
      <object_id>empty_art</object_id>
    </UI piece>
    <UI piece>ImpCam_loading_anno
      <identifier>UIP_EMPTY_ART</identifier>
      <Parameters>
        <x>380</x>
        <y>512</y>
        <width>260</width>
        <height>38</height>
      </Parameters>
      <object_id>empty_art</object_id>
    </UI piece>
    <UI piece>ImpCam_loading_difficulty
      <identifier>UIP_EMPTY_ART</identifier>
      <Parameters>
        <x>380</x>
        <y>554</y>
        <width>260</width>
        <height>26</height>
      </Parameters>
      <object_id>empty_art</object_id>
    </UI piece>
    <UI piece>ImpCam_loading_loading
      <identifier>UIP_EMPTY_ART</identifier>
      <Parameters>
        <x>259</x>
        <y>676</y>
        <width>260</width>
        <height>26</height>
      </Parameters>
      <object_id>empty_art</object_id>
    </UI piece>
    <UI piece>ImpCam_gold_bar
      <identifier>UIP_EMPTY_ART</identifier>
      <Parameters>
        <x>380</x>
        <y>505</y>
        <width>260</width>
        <height>6</height>
      </Parameters>
      <object_id>gold_bar</object_id>
    </UI piece>
    <UI piece>ImpCam_progress_overlay
      <identifier>UIP_EMPTY_ART</identifier>
      <Parameters>
        <x>270</x>
        <y>710</y>
        <width>483</width>
        <height>23</height>
      </Parameters>
      <object_id>empty_art</object_id>
    </UI piece>
  </lpage>

I think the part in red can be the interesting one.
You can change the position (x,y) to (0,0) and the size width 1024 and height 768.
It is possible that the image is superimposed to the loading bar, and perhaps you must put it at the top of the page.

Please, let us know if this method works, and perhaps we will adopt it.

P.D.: it is indicated that this page is for imperial campaign loading, but there is no other indication of a loading page. Perhaps it is used for all the loadings... or perhaps not.

[Mad Hoplite]

You're right Monkwarrior.

As far as I know, the faction symbols only show when you load a saved game or you start a campaign, and maybe in custom and historical battles, but there are no faction symbols in the rest of the loading screens.

Not sure if this can be changed though.

BTW, nice idea, Captain Crunch!

[Captn. James Crunch]

Seems like it is either hardcoded or defined somewhere else as well (coundn't find it so its probably hardcoded). Basically it shrunk down the image to the original 448x319. Anyone else get it to work?

[Charge]

Maybe it has something to do with "ImpCam_loading_faction_name", "ImpCam_loading_anno", etc...
eg they block, and if adjust their pos. as well it will work?

And why game always picks loading_screen_9 for first loading, hardcoded?

[Monkwarrior]

Seems like it is either hardcoded or defined somewhere else as well (coundn't find it so its probably hardcoded). Basically it shrunk down the image to the original 448x319. Anyone else get it to work?

Isn't the symbol size 128x128?
Or do you mean the size of your image?

If so, then use a full sized image (1024x768), or as suggested one of the current loading_screens.

The pieces of a screen are superimposed, and the presence of one piece doesn't hampers the presence of another one. I had to adjust the position of every piece when designed a new page configuration.
At least it happened to me with the historical battle page and custom battle conditions page.

[Mad Hoplite]

And why game always picks loading_screen_9 for first loading, hardcoded?

Actually, this changes if you modify the number of loading screens. Right now I have 89 and the game is using #42. I read somewhere there's a logic behind this but I can recall where or what is it.

[Charge]

Isn't the symbol size 128x128?
Or do you mean the size of your image?

If so, then use a full sized image (1024x768), or as suggested one of the current loading_screens.

It resizes image to 128-128...

[Captn. James Crunch]

Yes, it does resize to 128x128. I actually don't know where I got the other resolution from...