2 DTs, one BIA, and 3 others play great custom map game -- a breakthrough for Entrenchment.

thanks for the plug for my map updater.

sins map updater version 2.0.0.0 was designed to correctly update ANY map version 0 or 1 or 2 to the current map version 3, and also to allow easy updating should ironclad add a new map format in the future.

I actually wrote it so that I could continue playing on my own custom maps that I had put a lot of effort into designing for fairness and challenge.

harpo

If by first you mean PUG game, then yes your the first!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!

It wasn't a pug match, just online multiplayer.  It's the first time I've seen anyone play a Galaxy Forge-made map online since v1.05, but maybe I don't get out much.

Ive have played with a few friends over ICO with some custom made maps. I just assumed everyone in their quite little groups did the same.

Cool.  Good to hear it.  Maybe we can get people to start playing customs regularly and have the good ones become well-established.

I agree! Im glad to hear your maps are catching on by the way!

(As requested on ICO, here are the installation instructions with greater elaboration:)

--- Installation instructions for Sins v1.16 and Entrenchment v1.02 ---

(1) Unzip the map pack.

(2) Open your Sins of a Solar Empire game folder.  This is NOT the Application Data folder.  Rather, it is the folder where your Sins of a Solar Empire.exe and Sins of a Solar Empire Entrenchment.exe files are located.  In that folder you should see a folder called Textures.  Open up the Textures folder.

(3) Move the four Targa (map title box textures/pictures that you see in the game setup screens) files into the Textures folder:

Asteroid Belt.tga
Ring of Risk.tga
Gateway to Paradise.tga
RedCrush001.tga

(4) Now we need to move the actual map files, the .galaxy files, into the proper folder.  This is the Galaxy Forge folder in your Sins Application Data folder.  This is NOT the same folder where you found the Textures folder.  Let's go find it.

For Win XP it should be something like:

C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\GalaxyForge

For Vista and Windows 7 it should be something like:

C:\Users\'user name'\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\GalaxyForge


(5) Move the six map files into your Galaxy Forge folder:

3v3 Asteroid Belt v03.galaxy
3v3 Ring of Risk v03.galaxy
3v3 Gateway to Paradise v03.galaxy
5v5 Red Crush v03.galaxy
Asteroid Belt 1v1 v03.galaxy
Asteroid Belt 2v2 v03.galaxy



If this works, you should be good to go for single player or online multiplayer.

If you are having a problem, you MUST find your Application Data folder for Sins.  It may be hidden.  In that case, you may need to adjust Folder Settings in your Control Panel so that you can see  hidden files.

I dled them and look forward to trying them out in mp. Thanks

I downloaded them and installed them last night - they showed up in the menu, but I haven't tried them out yet.

What is the Application Data folder?  I can't find it!

When Microsoft released Windows XP, they created a new folder structure where some of your programs have their own folder in a folder called "Application Data".  This is NOT the same as your "Program Files" folder.  Rather, the folders in the Application Data folder contain settings files--your Firefox bookmarks, Google settings, Thunderbird e-mail, and your Sins keybinds, screenshots, game replays, and saved games.  Your Sins Application Data folder is also where Mods and custom maps--"Galaxy Forge", go.

I'm guessing that Microsoft did this with the intention that different computer users (who log in and out on the computer) could use one single program and have their own individual settings.  I suppose it works well for Firefox and other stuff, but it makes game file management a pain-in-the-arse.

Wait!  I put the maps into the "Galaxy" folder in the Main Sins (Program Files) folder.  That's where all of the standard maps are so shouldn't any MapName.galaxy file go there too?  It's where those texture.tga files went (into the Texture folder).  That's where I put them in v1.05.  You're saying that that's not the right place for them?

That's right.  The real custom maps, Galaxy Forge-made maps, don't go there anymore.  I don't know when Ironclad made the switch, but now they have to go into the "Galaxy Forge" folder in your Sins Application Data folder. 

But wait!  They are all .galaxy files so shouldn't they work in the regular Galaxy folder?

You would think so, but the game distinguishes between the standard map files and Galaxy Forge made maps.  I don't know exactly what it recognizes or where it is, but my understanding is that it has something to do with permission settings.  I've compared the map files side by side (they're just simple little text files) with a program that compares and contrasts different files and I haven't been able to figure out how they are marked differently.  It might be in some other file.  Anyway, as silly as it sounds, the game doesn't treat Galaxy Forge-made maps the same way it does the standard maps and even the Map Designer maps (which will auto-download online unlike real Galaxy Forge-made custom maps--go figure).

Bottom line--the custom map files MUST NOT be in your Main Sins "Galaxy" folder with all of the standard map files.  They have to go into the Application Data folder and into a folder called "Galaxy Forge".  If you don't have a "Galaxy Forge" folder  in your Application Data folder, just create it.  Even if you put the custom map files in the "Galaxy Forge" folder--you MUST NOT have copies of them in your Main Sins Galaxy folder.

For Win XP it should be something like this.  If you see "Program Files" anywhere in the path to the Sins folder, you're probably in the wrong place:

C:\Documents and Settings\'user name'\Local Settings\Application Data\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\GalaxyForge

For Vista and Windows 7 it should be something like:

C:\Users\'user name'\AppData\Local\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\GalaxyForge

If you can't find it, try searching your hard drive for the folder "Ironclad Games".  If it doesn't turn up then you might have to adjust your folder options/settings in the Control Panel so that you can see hidden folders and files.

In Windows XP, you find the Folder settings this way.  <Start Menu> <Control Panel> <Folder Options>.  Then click the <View> tab.  In the list you'll see a listing called "Hidden Files and Folders".  Make sure you've selected "Show Hidden Files and Folders".

I'm not sure exactly what you need to do in Vista but it's probably pretty similar.

ceturionjixra, this an excelent description of how where and why on the galaxyforge maps

thanks

harpo

Thanks Harpo.  I sure hope it helps.  People are reporting difficulty with finding their Sins Applicaiton Data folder.

I also have been giving the same info to many threads but not as colourfully or as fine detail, and ironclad could have prevented the whole problem by using a folder under my documents, but enough ranting

harpo

They are constrained by the Games for Windows requirements....

supreme commander is also a Games for windos game and apparently meets the requirements and it uses a folder UNDER the my documents ie C:\Documents and Settings\"users name"\My Documents\My Games\Gas Powered Games\SupremeCommander\Maps without problems, so there must be some choice involved

harpo

King of king cant find it, lolololol

Okay, I've DL them, when do people play these maps online.  I only ever see normal game maps/random being played.  Are there set times in which you all go on to play these custom maps?

I'll host them sometimes and see if people are interested, and I think some of the [_] might try to host them soon as well.  It will be easier to fill games on the maps as more and more people install them.

Great write up on where to put the .galaxy files!!! You should make a new topic with info like such then have a Mod sticky it!