[TUTORIAL] Using Custom Content in MM8BDM

[Joseph Collins]

Big Huge Note: This tutorial mostly applies to Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch v1a.  The next version will have a launcher that can run custom content in Single Player/Offline mode.

There seems to be a degree of confusion how to run custom content other than skins.  A lot of people assume that absolutely anything in the "skins" directory will automatically load for them.  Well, that's just not true.  Due to the way Skulltag works, if you place a PK3/WAD/ZIP into "skins" directory, the game will only look within that file for "SKININFO" lumps.  It will never read anything but the SKININFO lump and the associated sprites.  You simply cannot load custom maps, bots, or bot chats in this way.  This is due to the fact if you're overriding certain base content and try to go online, the server might kick you out with a "version mismatch" error. (Consider it an "anti-cheat" tactic.)
To summarize, skins go in "MM8BDM/skins" and will automatically load when you run your game.  Anything else put there will more than likely not load automatically.

On another note, there doesn't seem to be a way to run ZIPs/PK3s within ZIPs/PK3s.  For example, let's say you run the game with "File1.PK3".  Let's say File1.PK3 has "File2.PK3" and a couple of bots within it, and in File2.PK3 are some custom maps.  Skulltag will never actually read File2.PK3 for some reason.  So...if you have a lot of custom bots or maps that you want to load, you may have to load them individually.  The game will read WAD files within PK3/ZIP files, however.

This tutorial will go over the Windows-specific stuff in loading custom content into your copy of Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch.  If someone else wants to add Linux or MacOS instructions, please do!
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How to Use Custom Content (Windows Instructions)[/u]

(click to show/hide)

Note: No matter which method you use, custom skins will always load and your autoexec.cfg will always run.

Running Custom Content on a Dedicated Server
This is the most simple way to run custom content.  The major drawback to this method is that once you disconnect, you have to rejoin the server to see your custom content.  To run custom content on a dedicated server:
- Run "MM8BDM.exe" (the thing with Mega Man as its icon).
- Once it's loaded, click the "Host" tab.
- Under the "Extra Command Line Parameters" text box, type the following: "-file YourFile.ext" ("YourFile.ext" should be whatever file you're trying to load.  Example: "-file BillCosby.pk3" or "-file mapsDW01_QuackerJack.wad".)
Note: Contrary to prior belief, one "-file" is sufficient for every custom file afterward. (For example, "-file bot_ShigeruMiyamoto.pk3 NinjaPac-Man.pk3 musicRickAstley.wad maps_mineUglyman.zip" rather than "-file bot_ShigeruMiyamoto.pk3 -file NinjaPac-Man.pk3 -file musicRickAstley.wad -file maps_mineUglyman.zip".)
- You can change the server options (players, weapons, game type, etc.) to suit your needs from there.
- Remember to save your settings so you won't have to type all those -file params again!
- Once you're all set, click "Launch" and your server should launch in a few seconds.
- If you want to join your server, click "File" then "Join Server".
Note: You cannot load any custom content that changes the coding of the game (such as fixing the Mirror Buster's gender problems) if you plan on making the server public.  This will make the game unjoinable by everyone, including yourself!  The same goes for maps that replace existing maps.  Everything else (like replacement music) should work just fine.

Creating a Custom Content Shortcut
In order to use custom content offline, you have to create a shortcut to your "Skulltag.exe" file (or the "Skulltag" with the blue circle and black skull on it) within the your MM8BDM directory (folder).  To do this, right-click on "Skulltag.exe", then click "Create Shortcut".  Simple, right?  But we're not done.
If you were to run that shortcut straight away, the game would ask you for a Doom IWAD.  Since this game doesn't run on one, that's a bit of a problem.  So how do you get Skulltag to run Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch?  Right-click on the shortcut and click "Properties".  Under "Target", add the following after "skulltag.exe":

Code: [Select]

-iwad megagame.wad -file MM8BDM-v1a.pk3What this does is it makes shortcut that runs Mega Man 8-Bit Deathmatch normally, but without the official launcher.  As stated, this is necessary to run custom content outside of a dedicated server.

To add custom content, just add the filename(s) after "-file MM8BDM-v1a.pk3" in the shortcut. (Example: "C:GamesMM8BDMskulltag.exe -iwad megagame.wad -file MM8BDM-v1a.pk3 DrCain.zip mapsMMXArmadillo.wad -file musicRemixPack.wad")

Alternately, you can create a Batch file ("MM8BDM.bat", for example) that does this, rather than a Windows shortcut, then possibly a shortcut to that Batch file if you wanted.

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How to Use Custom Content (Linux Instructions)[/u]
Todo...
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How to Use Custom Content (MacOS Instructions)[/u]
Todo...

[Max]

Very helpful! What if I just want to run some bots in offline, not a dedicated server? Same thing?

(confuzzled)

[Joseph Collins]

Yep.  That's what the shortcut's for.  Just load the bots up ("-file bot_Shinobi.pk3 bot_DocRobotCustom.pk3") and run Skirmish mode like normal.  The bots will be at the end/beginning of the bot list, between Base (Megaman) and Protoman.

[Korby]

Okay, cool, now I get it!

[Skye.EXE]

Nice, Now It Needs To Be Stickied.    Just wanna clear something up, for skins do you put Skin_ or Bot_ ?

EDIT: Oh, wait nevermind, but another thing, where is MM8BDM/skins? I don't see it in the folder.

[Joseph Collins]

You have to make a "skins" folder in your main MM8BDM folder.  Any skins you put into there will then be loaded automatically when you run the game.

Also, your file names shouldn't be prefixed with "category_" to work unless their physical file name is "category_content.ext".  I'm just ridiculously organized when it comes to my personal content, so I used those as examples.  XD

[Skye.EXE]

You have to make a "skins" folder in your main MM8BDM folder.  Any skins you put into there will then be loaded automatically when you run the game.

Also, your file names shouldn't be prefixed with "category_" to work unless their physical file name is "category_content.ext".  I'm just ridiculously organized when it comes to my personal content, so I used those as examples.  XD

And Thats what makes MM8BDM custom contents amazing.

[Korby]

Sweet, I just got doing this to work!
Now I can battle Sink Man :D

[Joseph Collins]

Annoying bump, to help people out until later tonight.  And...people that like running the game via command line or shortcut, like me.  X3

[Skye.EXE]

Annoying bump, to help people out until later tonight.  And...people that like running the game via command line or shortcut, like me.  X3

DAMMIT! XD

[Joseph Collins]

...I sincerely need to either update this, or ignore it and hope it gets purged.  XD

[Skye.EXE]

...I sincerely need to either update this, or ignore it and hope it gets purged.  XD

C-c-combo Breaker

[Flandre Scarlet]

Ok, I tryed doing this with a map I made in doom Builder 2. However, the map shows as UNKNOWN - UNKNOWN, And there's nothing inside it. What have I done wrong?

[Ivory]

No this has nothing to do with this method of using custom content.
Have you done your mapinfo correctly? Or did you map screw up on save?

[Flandre Scarlet]

And so, someone finally tells me that I need to alter MapInfo.

Well, Let me explain: I dont have Zdoom. I tryed downloading it, however, it said that the wad couldnt be found - I tryed changing stuff in the archive it told me to change, but it didnt worked. So I guess that's my problem...