This isn't a mod for any of the flight sim games. This is a desktop theme to change the look of Windows XP. It's inspired by guitarclass55's really cool menu and loadout screen mod for First Eagles.
I've included 2 files to download.
Part 1) WWIAircraft.zip is the desktop theme file set. To use: just unzip to the root directory of the drive in which windows is installed (usually drive C:), and all the necessary files will be copied to the correct locations.
Part 2) XPUxthemeDLLPatch.zip This is a patched file for windows XP's uxtheme.dll. This isn't necessary to install to make the theme work, but using it will allow the WoodGrain.msstyles file included to change the color scheme of the taskbar, windows frames, etc. to a sort of wood grain pattern that matches the look of the desktop theme. If the patched uxtheme.dll file isn't used to overwrite your original windows uxtheme.dll file, the WoodGrain.msstyles file won't work. The WWI Aircraft theme will still work, just not the color scheme. So, using this patched file is optional. For those who would like to use the patched uxtheme.dll file, I've included an MS Word document that gives explicit instructions on how to replace the stock windows uxtheme.dll file. The only part in the Word document you don't have to follow is where it tells where to go and download the patched file, I've included them in this download. One is for windows with service pack 1 and the other is for service pack 2.
Again, this theme is for WinXP only. I'm almost possitive it won't work with windows Vista. So you guys with Vista shouldn't try to use it. It could wind up doing some evil deviltry to your operating system.
This campaignscreen.ini should fix the campaign screen if you're using Guitarclassic55's Replacement Menu Screens without the April 2008 patch. There was a slight change made in the patch to the campaignscreen.ini; this is should fix the problem.
ONLY INSTALL IF YOU HAVEN'T INSTALLED THE APRIL 2008 PATCH
If you have installed the April 2008 patch, DO NOT INSTALL THIS FILE -- you should be fine already.
If you're not using Guitarclassic55's replacement menus, DO NOT INSTALL THIS FILE.
__________________
INSTALLATION - Simply change the filename from campaignscreen.txt to campaignscreen.ini, then drop it into the MENU folder of First Eagles, overwriting the previous file.
FIXED CORRUPTED ZIP FILE - MOVIE VERSION should be good to go now
INTRODUCTION - Guitarclassic55's Replacement Menu Screens with MOVIE
GREETINGS! Thanks for downloading Guitarclassic55's Replacement Menu Screens for First Eagles. I created these because I felt the stock screens were a bit lacking in ambience and I wanted more visual immersion from the WWI era.
Unfortunately, because most of the new screens "call" the same global INI files (which I have modified), you can't pick and choose which ones you'd like to use. I'm afraid that for the most part, it's either use these, or the stock ones, or other custom screens by someone else. The one exception: I did create new versions of the stock hangar screens but they should co-exist peacefully with any custom hangar screens that you have already installed along with custom aircraft.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
There are two versions of Guitarclassic55's Replacement Menu Screens available for download, with only one difference:
Version 1. The Main Screen includes a "movie" in the antique watch face. Kind of cool but sometimes takes a little longer to load, and the download size is much larger. (65 MB)
Version 2. Same as above, but the Main Screen does not include the movie. (31MB)
In every other way, the two are identical.
The stock screens that are replaced:
Main Screen
Campaign Screen
Debrief Screen
Loadout Screen
Medal List Screen
Multiplayer Screen
Options Screen
Pilot Record Screen
Planning Map Screen
Roster Screen
Single Mission Screen
In addition, the Hangar screens for the twelve flyable stock planes/variants are included. The Loading screens have not been included but may be added at a later date.
One other change - Planning Map Screen Icons - the air and ground icons of the individual countries for the planning map have been reduced to 75% of their original size. I found the maps extremely cluttered at times, so this gives a bit cleaner look in my opinion. Anyone wanting even smaller (50%) icons may contact me for them. If you prefer the original stock size icons, simply open the MENU folder, find the BMP files that begin with "MAPICON..." and delete them.
INSTALLATION
First, first, and FIRST! – copy the MENU folder (located in the root First Eagles directory, whatever you decided to call it when you installed the game) and all its contents, then paste the copy somewhere safe just in case you want to go back to your previous menus.
NOW - unzip the version of the Replacement Menus that you have chosen, then copy the MENU and OBJECT folders and paste them in the root First Eagles directory. You will be warned that the folders already exist. Click YES TO ALL (I believe) and all the contents will go into the proper folders. Read the next paragraph only if you feel you need more explanation.
[The object here is to ADD the files, NOT get rid of everything that's already there. So if you followed the directions correctly, assuming that I gave them correctly (crossing fingers) you'll have new files in the MENU folder, and new files in the twelve stock aircraft sub-folders inside AIRCRAFT which is inside OBJECTS.]
And guess what... that's it! The wonderful simplicity of ThirdWire's modding system.
UNINSTALLING
You can:
1. Do a clean re-install of the whole game. Not recommended if you have other custom things, like planes, campaigns, texture sets, maps, etc., OR
2. If you want to get rid of everything from the mod EXCEPT the new hangar screens:
A. Locate your backed-up original MENU folder.
B. Find the MENU folder in the root directory of your First Eagles (or whatever you named it) folder and delete all contents.
C. Paste all contents from the backed up MENU folder into the MENU folder inside the First Eagles root folder. That should do it.
3. If you also want to get rid of the new hangar screens:
A. Go to FIRST EAGLES/OBJECTS/AIRCRAFT/AlbatrosD3 and delete the file "AlbatrosD3_hangar.bmp"
B. Repeat the same process in the eleven other stock plane folders inside the AIRCRAFT folder. The folders, and files are:
AlbatrosD3OAW - delete AlbatrosD3OAW_hangar.bmp
AlbatrosD5 - delete AlbatrosD5_hangar.bmp
AlbatrosD5A - delete AlbatrosD5_hangar.bmp
CamelF1_110 - delete CamelF1_hangar.bmp
CamelF1_130 - delete CamelF1_hangar.bmp
CamelF1_150 - delete CamelF1_hangar.bmp
FokkerD7 - delete FokkerD7_hangar.bmp
FokkerD7F - delete FokkerD7_hangar.bmp
FokkerDr1 - delete FokkerDr1_hangar.bmp
SE5a - delete SE5a_hangar.bmp
Spad12 - delete Spad13_hangar.bmp
KNOWN ISSUES:
The Chat record on the Debriefing Screen may or may not be functional. I've never flown multiplayer so I have no idea whether this works or not. If it does not and you'd like it fixed, let me know and I'll try to do so.
I'm not aware of any other problems... but something may surface that I didn't catch. If you find something, please let me know. You can PM me through the forum, or leave a message on the forum itself, or e-mail me directly at jimdickson@fastmail.fm.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to jarrko for the background picture on the mainscreen, used also altered by me for the options screen. Thanks to kout for his original alternate mainscreen, which planted the seed and got me hooked on doing this in the first place. His work is excellent and inspiring. Thanks to sockboy and Barkhorn for their testing. Though brief, it was a pleasure working with you, guys. Thanks to p01ppy for the idea to use a small chalkboard for the hangar screens. He even offered to let me use his hangar screen work as a basis for mine; I initially wanted to but found it too intimidating because his work is also most excellent... so I went in another direction.
I hope you enjoy what I've come up with. There's a lot I could change still, but it is after all a game, something to be enjoyed. It was fun putting it all together... too much more though and the fun would begin to go away for me. Perhaps I'll take another pass at it sometime in the future.
Guitarclassic55
[Jim Dickson]
Prince Edward Island, Canada
May 2008
INTRODUCTION - Guitarclassic55's Replacement Menu Screens NO MOVIE
GREETINGS! Thanks for downloading Guitarclassic55's Replacement Menu Screens for First Eagles. I created these because I felt the stock screens were a bit lacking in ambience and I wanted more visual immersion from the WWI era.
Unfortunately, because most of the new screens "call" the same global INI files (which I have modified), you can't pick and choose which ones you'd like to use. I'm afraid that for the most part, it's either use these, or the stock ones, or other custom screens by someone else. The one exception: I did create new versions of the stock hangar screens but they should co-exist peacefully with any custom hangar screens that you have already installed along with custom aircraft.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
There are two versions of Guitarclassic55's Replacement Menu Screens available for download, with only one difference:
Version 1. The Main Screen includes a "movie" in the antique watch face. Kind of cool but sometimes takes a little longer to load, and the download size is much larger. (65 MB)
Version 2. Same as above, but the Main Screen does not include the movie. (31MB)
In every other way, the two are identical.
The stock screens that are replaced:
Main Screen
Campaign Screen
Debrief Screen
Loadout Screen
Medal List Screen
Multiplayer Screen
Options Screen
Pilot Record Screen
Planning Map Screen
Roster Screen
Single Mission Screen
In addition, the Hangar screens for the twelve flyable stock planes/variants are included. The Loading screens have not been included but may be added at a later date.
One other change - Planning Map Screen Icons - the air and ground icons of the individual countries for the planning map have been reduced to 75% of their original size. I found the maps extremely cluttered at times, so this gives a bit cleaner look in my opinion. Anyone wanting even smaller (50%) icons may contact me for them. If you prefer the original stock size icons, simply open the MENU folder, find the BMP files that begin with "MAPICON..." and delete them.
INSTALLATION
First, first, and FIRST! – copy the MENU folder (located in the root First Eagles directory, whatever you decided to call it when you installed the game) and all its contents, then paste the copy somewhere safe just in case you want to go back to your previous menus.
NOW - unzip the version of the Replacement Menus that you have chosen, then copy the MENU and OBJECT folders and paste them in the root First Eagles directory. You will be warned that the folders already exist. Click YES TO ALL (I believe) and all the contents will go into the proper folders. Read the next paragraph only if you feel you need more explanation.
[The object here is to ADD the files, NOT get rid of everything that's already there. So if you followed the directions correctly, assuming that I gave them correctly (crossing fingers) you'll have new files in the MENU folder, and new files in the twelve stock aircraft sub-folders inside AIRCRAFT which is inside OBJECTS.]
And guess what... that's it! The wonderful simplicity of ThirdWire's modding system.
UNINSTALLING
You can:
1. Do a clean re-install of the whole game. Not recommended if you have other custom things, like planes, campaigns, texture sets, maps, etc., OR
2. If you want to get rid of everything from the mod EXCEPT the new hangar screens:
A. Locate your backed-up original MENU folder.
B. Find the MENU folder in the root directory of your First Eagles (or whatever you named it) folder and delete all contents.
C. Paste all contents from the backed up MENU folder into the MENU folder inside the First Eagles root folder. That should do it.
3. If you also want to get rid of the new hangar screens:
A. Go to FIRST EAGLES/OBJECTS/AIRCRAFT/AlbatrosD3 and delete the file "AlbatrosD3_hangar.bmp"
B. Repeat the same process in the eleven other stock plane folders inside the AIRCRAFT folder. The folders, and files are:
AlbatrosD3OAW - delete AlbatrosD3OAW_hangar.bmp
AlbatrosD5 - delete AlbatrosD5_hangar.bmp
AlbatrosD5A - delete AlbatrosD5_hangar.bmp
CamelF1_110 - delete CamelF1_hangar.bmp
CamelF1_130 - delete CamelF1_hangar.bmp
CamelF1_150 - delete CamelF1_hangar.bmp
FokkerD7 - delete FokkerD7_hangar.bmp
FokkerD7F - delete FokkerD7_hangar.bmp
FokkerDr1 - delete FokkerDr1_hangar.bmp
SE5a - delete SE5a_hangar.bmp
Spad12 - delete Spad13_hangar.bmp
KNOWN ISSUES:
The Chat record on the Debriefing Screen may or may not be functional. I've never flown multiplayer so I have no idea whether this works or not. If it does not and you'd like it fixed, let me know and I'll try to do so.
I'm not aware of any other problems... but something may surface that I didn't catch. If you find something, please let me know. You can PM me through the forum, or leave a message on the forum itself, or e-mail me directly at jimdickson@fastmail.fm.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to jarrko for the background picture on the mainscreen, used also altered by me for the options screen. Thanks to kout for his original alternate mainscreen, which planted the seed and got me hooked on doing this in the first place. His work is excellent and inspiring. Thanks to sockboy and Barkhorn for their testing. Though brief, it was a pleasure working with you, guys. Thanks to p01ppy for the idea to use a small chalkboard for the hangar screens. He even offered to let me use his hangar screen work as a basis for mine; I initially wanted to but found it too intimidating because his work is also most excellent... so I went in another direction.
I hope you enjoy what I've come up with. There's a lot I could change still, but it is after all a game, something to be enjoyed. It was fun putting it all together... too much more though and the fun would begin to go away for me. Perhaps I'll take another pass at it sometime in the future.
Guitarclassic55
[Jim Dickson]
Prince Edward Island, Canada
May 2008
Here are the screens that I've been working on. If you'd like to test them, please refer to the README enclosed.
Updated 19/4/08.
I've now included a louder "bullet hit" sound. Designed to make you jump when your plane gets hit!
EDIT 30/4/08: It's taken a while for me to work this out, but initially I didn't realise that the bullet hit sound was as loud on the AI planes as on the players...Even from long distance. Not very realistic...There's no way you'd hear hits on the target plane above your engine noise. So, to rectify this, extract, then open the "SOUNDLIST.INI" file from the "FlightData.cat", scroll down to "DirtHit", and change the "MaxDist=" line to: MaxDist=030.000000 or even 025.000000.
Job Done!
The player engine sound in FE is not loud enough IMO. The AI flyby sound easily drowns it out, so here's a louder version which to my ears sounds a lot better.
I've also included louder and better machine gun sounds which I think balance nicely with the new engine and ambient sounds.
There are various ways to use them, but the way I do it is to rename the original file, eg to Proploop2 or Vickersorig, or whatever suits you, then drop the new files into your Sounds folder and you're good to go...
I think it's an improvement, I hope you do too!
Bucky.
Alternative menu for First Eagles
WIP - PROVIDED AS IS
TO INSTALL MENU
(1) extract all files
(2) copy all files to the \MENU folder in your WWI folder
NOTE: the First Eagles menu set is a work in progress and these files are provided as is.
© 2008, Kout
These files are made available under the Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 1.0 license
(Please visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/1.0/ for details.)
This basically means you are allowed to modify and redistribute these files, but that you should (1) give fair credit (2) distribute work based on these files under the same conditions as I did and you may not(3) use these files or works based on them for commercial purposes.
37mm AAA gun mod for First Eagles Expansion Pack 1 by Tailspin
Like the title says this mod provides 37mm AAA guns to First Eagles Exp. Pack 1. This just the guns themselves along with a custom tracer and gun sound. You will have to place the guns on the map yourself.
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Contents:
37mm Sockelflak...Complete new model and texture provided by P10ppy
37mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannon...reportedly common balloon defense gun.
1pdr Vickers Maxim gun
The Vickers and Hotchkiss models are "placeholders" (there is no 3d model available at this time) based on the A-Team's AAA Machine gunners.
New Tracer.tga for the guns by P10ppy
Custom sound file for the guns by me.
READ ME/INSTALLATION FILE
Contact info/EULA for the A-Team's files.
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There are RESTRICTIONS on the use of certain files in this mod. PLEASE READ THE READ ME FILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Installation:
Unzip to a Temp. folder and READ THE READ ME for installation instructions, comments and caveats, and reposting information.
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THANKS to P10ppy, BBandyRFC, and the A-Team for their contributions, aid, advice, and assistance.
Hope you enjoy.
TS