Custom map loading screen

[K-Barter_CZ]

Hello,

I am new to the forums, so hello everybody.

I'm amateur mapmaker, I got already a mappack which contains 12 MPI maps at the moment. The question is about making custom loading screens, as seen in BZ 2 singleplayer (for ex. when on Mire maps, Mire screen, Dark planet maps - Dark planet screen and so on).

From the begining, let's say I know the basics (making an image and converting it to dxtbz2), so only one step remains.

I've researched, how the original loading screens worked, in 1.3.6.X they're all in dxtbz2 format, so I know I have to convert it as well.
The problem is about "linking" custom loading screen to map. I've found out that single player maps have its own *.dll so I expecting same on custom maps.

What I did?
First of all, I've researched missions.odf in data.pak and patch13.pak. I know some "scripts" (If I could say that):
For example, Pluto:

launchBackground = "pluto_load.tga"

I know this line links this image to map. Every mission has its own "Separator" ( for ex. [ISDF 1] in this case ) so the question sounds:

How to link an dxtbz2 image to a map?

I tried lot of methods:

In map's *.inf file:

[DESCRIPTION]
missionName = "MPI: KB - (map name)"
mapTga = "(mapname).dxtbz2"
mapDesc = "(mapname).des"
mySide = 1
launchBackground = "pluto_load.tga"

or:

[DESCRIPTION]
missionName = "MPI: KB - (map name)"
mapTga = "(mapname).dxtbz2"
mapDesc = "(mapname).des"
mySide = 1

[(map name)]
launchBackground = "pluto_load.tga"

or:

[DESCRIPTION]
missionName = "MPI: KB - (map name)"
mapTga = "(mapname).dxtbz2"
mapDesc = "(mapname).des"
mySide = 1

[MissionInfo]
[(map name)]
launchBackground = "pluto_load.tga"

the "pluto_load.tga" in launchBackground is only for testing, I can make snaps myself. The problem is how to link them with exact map. This means any map in my mappack (and other maps as well) can have its own loading screen, at least as I understand it.

Any of these is not working, I tested custom dll (copying mpinstant.dll, renaming it to map's name and tried to run, but map not worked correctly).

If anything will not work, maps can stay as they are, this is just detail. I only got an idea what to do, but IDK how to do. That's all.

Thanks anyway!

K-Barter_CZ

[Ded10c]

All multiplayer and IA maps use the default loading screen; the launchBackground flag refers only to singleplayer maps.

[Nielk1]

To the Feeping Creatures section!

[Ded10c]

Done.