bezpete

This isn't a mod for First Eagles or 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 you operating system. Since I joined this forum I've gotten many great mods and addons for First Eagles, and since I'm not a modder, I just wanted to contribute something to the community. Hope you guys enjoy this. I uploaded the files to the DOWNLOADS>STRIKE FIGHTERS............FIRST EAGLES by Thirdwire>SF/WO*/FE Hanger/Menu/Loadout section. It seemed the closest fit for this type of file. Link to the WW1 Aircraft desktop theme: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=7016 Link to the patched uxtheme.dll for WinXP file: http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=7017

Okay folks, I thought I'd start a thread on the subject of combat tactics and how to be a good flight leader. First of all let me stress I'm not offering advice on the subject, I'm asking for advice!!! I don't know if this is an issue for the rest of you guys, but I have lots of trouble keeping my flight together and getting them to form up so we have an advantageous position before attacking. It's very common in my experience to have the flight formation totally broken up and each member of the squadron scattered all over the place just as the appropriate moment to attack the enemy flight comes. This makes it almost impossible to execute a coordinated attack. The upshot of all this seems to be that I'm probably losing more of my guys than I should be. And it's not uncommon to find out at the debriefing screen after the mission that a large number of my squadron mates have been shot down even though we may have downed a good number of the enemy squadron. I almost expect to get a reprimand, like in the movie "The Blue Max", when the Hauptmann accusingly said to Stachel "You have cost nearly half the squadron!" So, let's hear from you successful flight leaders out there on best ideas for; 1) keeping the flight together and organized 2) best tactics for approaching an enemy flight, once it's been spotted, dealing with conditions such as; a headon pass (especially when they have the altitude advantage) the enemy flight is approaching from the side the enemy flight attacks from above and/or behind before they've been spotted.

Hey peter01, First, before I say anything about the desktop theme; Thanks a million for your stupendous work on the aircraft mods for the expansion pack for first eagles. It's given first eagle new life in my humble opinion. The game is much more challenging and fun than the expansion pack by itself. Thanks so much. Now, on to the the desktop theme. About the pointers. I made custom pointers to fit with the overall aircraft/engine idea I had for the theme. If you want to change pointers and animations (you mentioned you like the hour glass animation better) it's a simple matter. 1) Place a copy of the pointer/animations you would like to use in the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors folder. 2) Using Wordpad, open the file WWIAircraft.theme found in the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\ folder. Scroll down to the section [Control Panel\Cursors] Arrow=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI Main6.cur Help=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI help.cur AppStarting=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI PropAni4.ani Wait=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI Tach2.ani NWPen=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI pen.cur No=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI no.cur SizeNS=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI Size NS.cur SizeWE=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI Size WE.cur Crosshair=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI cross.cur IBeam=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI beam.cur SizeNWSE=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI Size NWSE.cur SizeNESW=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI Size NESW.cur UpArrow=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI up.cur Hand= SizeAll=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI move.cur Edit the first line (this is the main cursor pointer) From: Arrow=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI Main6.cur To: Arrow=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\(The name of the file of the cursor you want to use here) The third and fourth lines are the animation cursors (the regular windows hour glass cursor for example): AppStarting=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI PropAni4.ani Wait=%WinDir%\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors\WWI Tach2.ani Edit these lines, just like you did to the Arrow line above, to reflect the name of the file of the animated cursor you want to use. You should be able to find an animation you want in the C:\Windows\Cursors folder. Any file in that folder that has a .ani extension is an animated cursor file. Just copy your desired file to the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\WWI\Cursors folder and edit the two lines about to reflect the names of the files you copied. Then re-save the WWIAircraft.theme file replacing the original one and you should be good to go. Also, I included in the theme two other main cursor pointers you might prefer. They should both be in the Cursors folder. One is WWI Cockade2.cur and is a French cockade with a brown/orange arrow pointer in the upper left. The other is WWI IronCross.cur and is an iron cross with arrow pointer in the upper left. You might try one of those and see if you like it better. A quick tip: XP is quircky about showing changes to a theme that is currently the one being displayed. To see your changes you'll need to first select a different theme from the dropdown box in the Display Properties dialog, then reselect the WWI theme. If you do this switcheroo move then hit the apply button your changes will show up. As far as alternate engine sounds, I'm not quite sure I understand what you have in mind. Are you saying there's too much of the same engine sound in the theme? I'm open to criticism and suggestions. Other peoples opinions often help to make a project better. The sounds can be edited and changed in the same way the cursors can be changed by editing the appropriate lines in the WWIAircraft.theme file. The sound events all start with the line: [AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default\. and then info on which sound is used follows on the next line. By the by, the engine sound I used the most I found on the net and is supposed to be a recording of an Avro 504 going through it's paces. If I remember right the engine is supposed to be a Gnome rotary. Just thought you might find that interesting. Thanks for taking the time to respond and put forth you suggestions. If you have any specific ideas about changes you'd like and can help provide me with the recordings, etc. I'd be glad to do a customization job for you. After all the work you put in on the mods it's the least I could do.

Hey Southside Bucky, Thanks for the reply. I am curious if you installed the whole theme with the patched uxtheme.dll file or just the used the pic as desktop wallpaper only. If you installed the whole deal I'd like to know if it installed all the sounds, pointers, icons, and color scheme properly for you and the whole theme is working correctly. If you have any issues I'll be glad to help. I hope you enjoy it.

File Name: Windows XP Patched uxtheme.dll for use with WW1 Aircraft Desktop Theme File Submitter: bezpete File Submitted: 24 Jul 2008 File Category: SF/WO*/FE Hanger/Menu/Loadout XPUxthemeDLLPatch.zip This is the part 2 download for the WW1 Aircraft WinXP desktop theme. 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. Click here to download this file

File Name: World War 1 Aircraft Desktop Theme for Windows XP File Submitter: bezpete File Submitted: 24 Jul 2008 File Category: SF/WO*/FE Hanger/Menu/Loadout 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. Click here to download this file

peter01, It occurs to me that if you do option 1, you might tend to get more timely help throughout your tweaking process in the form of feedback from the forum members. This might be a help to you and also make you feel a bit less alone on the work than if you worked on a larger number of FMs before releasing them. You could get more immediate positive reinforcement which could give you a more accurate read on how much us guys (and gals) here appreciate your efforts. Also, if the FMs were released in larger sets, as in options 2 and 3, it would take longer for the pilots here to spend enough flight time in each plane to start noticing any bugs and report back in a timely fashion. This is just what I was thinking as I read your explanations on the process you were going through on each separate plane.

I'll throw my 2 cents onto the fire if anyone cares to hear it. The thing I like about the expansion pack version of the game is that it's overall difficulty is noticeably higher (especially in hard mode). The aircraft handle differently than they did in the original game and are more tricky to fly. And the AI controlling the opposing aircraft is much improved (in my humble opinion). The AI planes behave much more as if they are flow by a human opponent. It is harder to get on their six and stay there, and it is also much harder to shake them off of your six. This heightened difficulty level makes the game more fun and chanllenging to me. I was getting a little complacent in the pre EP version of the game. I don't want to sound too uppity, but it had gotten to the point for me at least, to be a bit too easy. The EP version takes the "too easy" aspect away and make the game more challenging and difficult. In addition, I've tried a few of the addon planes that were made for the pre EP game in the EP version of the game and for the most part, at least to me, they are basicially not that useable in the EP version. When flying one of these planes you are simply Fokker Fodder, no matter what your opponents are flying. Even if they are models your plane should be superior to. So..... For the pros versus cons of pre EP versus EP versions; If you like the way the first FE plays and it is a fun challenge maybe you should stick with it. After all there are loads of great addon aircraft and missions for it. However, if you would like to have the gave give you a tougher time, get the expansion pack. Maybe if we're lucky the talented guys, like peter01 and firecage and all the others, who made all the great mods for the original game will grace us with some equally great mods for the newer version of FE. Anyway, just my 2 cents.