Dolphins

JakeTheScot1 · Powder Monkey Posts: 42 **339 Gold** -

I went through every Pak folder and deleted everything that said 'dolphin', including the .dds pic. And yet, when I sail, they're still in the sim. Anyone know why?

corsair91 · Sailing Master Posts: 8201 **206645 Gold** -

Suggest you Check your FPK archives contents
(make a backup first)

Fpk Unpacker utility
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7904

The Game executable may have a trigger entry for the
dolphin model and game may crash if this is still present,
but the dolphin files are no longer in the FPK archives.

Remove by using a Hex Editor on game executable.
(make a backup first)

Perhaps others may be able to better advise on this.

See

AdamMil - The Challenge Pack Mod Link
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7902

to generate a new game executable which can be Hex Edited

HxD - Freeware Hex Editor
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8276

This is from
2008 Sold out Software Blue DVD Retail Release
Patched to v1.02

Pak1

dolphin_jump_flip_back.kf
dolphin_roll.kf

Pak3

dolphin_jump_long.kf
dolphin_jump01.kf

Pak4

dolphin.kfm
dolphin_turn_right.kf

Pak5

dolphin.nif
dolphin_jump_flip_back_no_trans.kf
dolphin_swim.kf

Pak 6

dolphin_descend.kf
fx_dolphin_splash.nif

Pak 7

dolphin.dds
dolphin_jump01_no_trans.kf
dolphin_turn_left.kf
dolphin_turn_left02.kf

JakeTheScot1 · Powder Monkey Posts: 42 **339 Gold** -

I've deleted every one of those entries.
If I need to hex edit, nevermind. I don't know enough to even try.
Even so, would deleting the dds file not show the dolphins?

fleetp · Boatswain Posts: 3728 **36087 Gold** -

Here's what I would suggest. Extract the dolphin.dds file from PAK7.

Use a graphics editor to make the entire contents of that dds file transparent.

Place the 'transparent dolphin.dds file in your custom folder.

JakeTheScot1 · Powder Monkey Posts: 42 **339 Gold** -

corsair91 · Sailing Master Posts: 8201 **206645 Gold** -

A Transparent dds is a more elegant solution
with Dolphin files still in the Assets fpk files.

SM Pirates game - Original Dolphin Files
as included with the game

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZYONRUd4G6QA6WZlUWLlVroGdCcGtKpT/view?usp=sharing

dolphin_files.zip

Pirate · Helmsman Posts: 5589 **109759 Gold** -

I've got a bigger issue my dolphin dissapeared now ladies in bikinis are chasing my ship.

Pirate · Helmsman Posts: 5589 **109759 Gold** -

I'd be careful just deleting stuff. I mean no problem as long as u know how to replace the files if the game crashes. Obviously there is a dolphin nif file. Delete that expect this. No dolphin or no game. Delete the texture. The dolphin still be there but not painted. Deleting the animations could cause game crashes or non moving dolphin or no dolphins. The game doesn't recreate files so if everything is deleted then u either don't have a fish or u fed the game to the sharks. Hope that makes sense if not ask someone who passed the third grade. I'm just a drunk but I did stay at the Holiday Inn Expreas last night.

JakeTheScot1 · Powder Monkey Posts: 42 **339 Gold** -

Like I said, all dolphin files have been deleted and the game acts like they weren't. I see the dolphins doing their thing.
How do you make a transparent .dds?

corsair91 · Sailing Master Posts: 8201 **206645 Gold** -

Using the alpha channel concept

Perhaps others may be able to better advise on this.

Cutlass Isle Tutorial: Modifying Flags and Sail Emblems
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/guide/flagsandsails/index.html

Tutorial: Making sail emblems & flags
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=569

Updated DXTbmp Utility link
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8057

You will need a Graphical Image Editor than can handle DDS Files

Some Freeware Image Editors

Paint.NET Image Editor Freeware
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8280

GIMP Freeware Image Editor
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8279

JakeTheScot1 · Powder Monkey Posts: 42 **339 Gold** -

I can't do all of that. I have GIMP and tried but couldn't figure it out. So, what I did, was to take the ocean pic out of one of the Pak folders, copied it and renamed it dolphin. Now the dolphin looks like the water. I can still see it, but just barely.

corsair91 · Sailing Master Posts: 8201 **206645 Gold** -

https://docs.gimp.org/2.10/en/gimp-using-web-transparency.html

2.3. Saving Images with Transparency

Alpha transparency is supported in the PNG format; the transparency information is stored in a separate channel, the Alpha channel.

see link for further info

Use PNG as your working Scratch format.
Save as .dds with transparency for use in game
or export from PNG using DXTbmp utility to .dds.

Gimp DDS Plugin Guide

https://code.google.com/archive/p/gimp-dds/downloads

https://storage.googleapis.com/google-code-archive-downloads/v2/code.google.com/gimp-dds/gimp-dds.pdf

How to Make a Transparent Image Using Gimp (with Pictures)
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Transparent-Image-Using-Gimp

Method 1 Making a Whole Image Transparent

see link for further info

EDIT:

New to modding Info
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7636

fleetp · Boatswain Posts: 3728 **36087 Gold** -

Pirate · Helmsman Posts: 5589 **109759 Gold** -

Must not be deleted. If there is still fpk. packs in your assets folder than its reading the dolphin files from that. Unpacking the fpk files then delete then repack but keep copy of dolpolns outside the game folder in case needed.

Pirate · Helmsman Posts: 5589 **109759 Gold** -

Nif files can be called for in animations and the executable but if they aren't there then it ain't there. That can calls crashes because the game looks cant find what it needs so doesn't proceed.