[Release] VtMB Loader by Behar

[Psycho-A]

Main features:
1. Native widescreen support with all monitor resolutions, correct aspect ratio and fov's.
2. Included all former dll-related fixes from Wesp's Unofficial patches (more than 2Gb RAM fixes, lights fixes, view histories & weapon stats filxes, etc.). No any patched dlls needed more.
3. Adds Source-like mods system (an untouched "vampire" dir with original game, and separate dirs per each mod), that gets rid off the need to have multiple game copies for various mods or patches.
4. Support for VPK file system for mods with separate directories ("VPK Creator" from Bloodlines SDK needed to build VPK archives).
5. Makes game console enabled by default (no "-console" for shortcuts).
6. Compatible with all existing game versions (from 1.0 to unofficial 9.x).

Installation:
Extract content of downloaded archive into the Bloodlines game root directory (where vampire.exe is) with replacing existing files. Loader is ready to work.

Using for/with mods:
1. Rename any mod's "vampire" directory to any desired one (with no spaces!).
2. Place this renamed dir into the game root directory (near vampire.exe).
3. Run mod with "vampire.exe -game moddir" (without quotes) as a command-line parameter to game's shortcut or batch file (or launch options in Steam).

For mod makers:
You may distribute loader assets directly with your mod stuff, so this will allow users to install it on any version of game.

Spoiler for TO ADVANCED MODDERS:

Loader returns Python's "sys.moddir" variable as the name of mod's main directory, so if your mod uses "fileutil.py" functionality for various content operations, you need to edit your mod's fileutil.py by pasting these strings after "import nt" (first line):

Code: [Select]

#####################
#  Add Mods support #
#####################

import sys
try: sys.moddir
except AttributeError:
sys.moddir = "vampire"
from sys import moddir


Next, search the strings (in fileutil.py, vamputil.py, etc.) which accesses to "vampire" folder and replace ("vampire/...") to (moddir + "/...") or (fileutil.moddir + "/..."), depending on certain script and import type.

Author: Behar
Support: Psycho-A

DOWNLOAD
(latest beta versions)

[Psycho-A]

Update 2015.04.02:

- Fixed game crashes on some systems when "Fix Claws Stats" was enabled.
- Fixed random game crashes on some systems when loading maps.
- Added Python levelpaths autodeletion in sys.path when loading new levels (avoids leaks).
- Improved overall stability.
____________
Download link is permanent and located in the first post.

[Malkav]

So in order to make my mod work with the loader I just have to rename the vampire folder to "modname" and add the new version of dbghelp.dll, steam.dll (and of course the readme) to the base directory?

[Wesp5]

So in order to make my mod work with the loader I just have to rename the vampire folder to "modname" and add the new version of dbghelp.dll, steam.dll (and of course the readme) to the base directory?

The steam.dll file is not needed, I only added that to the patch because it fixes a common Steam bug. But the bin/loader folder is important and if you use direct file manipulations in your mod, you need to fix the Python files doing this like explained above. In the minimum case of the patch the fileutil.py and zvtools/zvtool_file.py scripts must be modified...

[Psycho-A]

So in order to make my mod work with the loader I just have to rename the vampire folder to "modname" and add the new version of dbghelp.dll, steam.dll (and of course the readme) to the base directory?

You need to add all files of Loader that are in downloaded archive.
Modname is any desired name for your mod. About Python - if you don't use it for managing gameplay on your levels, you don't need to add anything of this - loader will read scripts from original game. Modifying scripts needed only when your mod uses fileutil stuff (very rarely used by game).

[Malkav]

For modders:
If you use filutil functions I suggest for the copyfile source directory allow vampire and moddir so you can copy unmodified gamefiles from the original vampire directory into your mod.

Code: [Select]

if -1 == src.find("\\Vampire\\") and -1 == src.find("\\"+moddir+"\\"): instead of the usual

Code: [Select]

if -1 == src.find("\\"+moddir+"\\"):