Making a Loadscreen - CoD4

Making a Loadscreen - CoD4

This tutorial will show you how to make a loadscreen for a CoD4 MP map.

Needed:
- A file compression program, such as 7zip. http://www.7-zip.org/

Stage 1: Taking the screenshot

1. To run your custom map, you will need to launch a Mod. This can be just a empty folder named "map_test" in the Mods folder. After this has been launched, you must:
- Open the console ( ¬ key )
- Type /devmap mp_custommapname

2. This will launch your custom map. Once ingame, type this into the console:
- /exec minimap
- This removes all HUD items so you can take a clear screenshot
- /ufo or /noclip
- This will allow you to move around freely and position your screen for the best shot

3. When in position, you will need to take the screenshot. This can be done with the Print Screen button on your keyboard.

Stage 2: Preparing the Loadscreen

1. To prepare your loadscreen, you will need to paste the screenshot you just took into a image editor, for example Adobe Photoshop. Once the image has been pasted in, you need to crop it so it is around 1024 pixels wide and 1024 pixel high. This can also be done by resizing the image and removing the constraints. However this may leave the image slightly distorted.

2. To summarise, the image must be:
- 1024 pixels wide and high
- Saved as either a Targa or DDS image. The filetype extensions are: .tga / .dds (DDS requires a plugin if your using Photoshop)
- Named like this: loadscreen_mp_mapname (mapname being the name of your map)
- Located in this directory: Drive Letter:\Program Files\Activision\Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare\texture_assests

3. If you do not have a texture_assets folder, create one.

Stage 3: Converting the Loadscreen

1. To convert a image so it is a .IWI, you must use the Asset Manager program. Once Asset Manager is opened:
- Load the levels.gdt, which is located here: Drive Letter:\Program Files\Activision\Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare\source_data

2. Now, click New Entry and name it:
- loadscreen_mp_mapname

3. Ensure these are the settings on the right hand side:
- Material Type: 2D
- Surface Type: None
- Color Map: Drive Letter:\Program Files\Activision\Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare\texture_assests\loadscreen_mp_mapname.tga

4. Then click PC Convert, and Current Asset Only. This will generate three files:
- loadscreen_mp_mapname.iwi in the images folder
- loadscreen_mp_mapname in the materials folder
- loadscreen_mp_mapname in the material_properties folder

5. The loadscreen_mp_mapname.iwi is the file that must be included in your map's .IWD file.

Stage 4: Preparing the Files

1. In this directory: Drive Letter:\Program Files\Activision\Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare\raw\maps\mp, ensure you have a file named: mp_mapname.csv, which must contain this information:

Code:

victoryBackdrop,victory
defeatBackdrop,$default
levelBriefing,loadscreen_mp_mapname

2. In your mp_mapname_load.csv, located in your zone_source folder, you must include these line:

Code:

ignore,code_post_gfx_mp
ignore,common_mp
ignore,localized_code_post_gfx_mp
ignore,localized_common_mp
ui_map,maps/mp/mp_mapname.csv

3. In your mp_mapname.csv, in the zone_source folder, this line must be present:

Code:

material,loadscreen_mp_mapname

4. Now re-compiling your fast files and the loadscreen is done. The final thing you must do is make a .IWD in your map's folder.

Stage 5: Making the IWD

1. Go to this directory: Drive Letter:\Program Files\Activision\Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare\usermaps

2. You should find a folder with your map's name, if not create one. Go in the folder and create a new folder called images.

3. Go to this directory (Drive Letter:\Program Files\Activision\Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare\raw\images) and copy your loadscreen_mp_mapname.iwi.

4. Paste it into the images folder you just created.

5. Now leave the images folder.

6. Right click on it and click Create Archive.

7. It will bring up a compression prompt, select .zip and name it mp_mapname

8. Remove the .zip extension and type .iwd

9. Click Create. You have now made your map's IWD!

sweeet!