RMVX EXPANSION PACKS

Chaosbahamut123, I may have a possible solution for you. First of all, you need Winrar (does not have to be the registered version). To make like an expansion pack for your game, all you need to do is select the files that have been updated/changed/added to the game (do not forget the main exe and all data/map directories), and while having those files selected right-click and a dialog box will come up with one of the options being "Add to archive...". Click that. Now, you just find where it says "Add and replace files", click on it, and it'll bring up a drop-down menu of options. Click on "Add and Update Files". Now click on where it says "Create SFX archive." That'll change the .rar file extension to an .exe.

Now, you can stop there as all a player has to do is download that one exe file, and it'll update the files where necessary in the original game that they downloaded. Or, you can take this a bit further by clicking on the "Advanced" tab, and then clicking on "SFX options". In the following screens, you can choose where you want the expansion pack to download, the "path to extract" is where you want it to go via Program Files or in the current folder, (you can also do this for the main game as well, to make it easier for later expansion packs). You can even create a shortcut with your own icon, text, and what not that'll place itself on the Start Menu or the Desktop or wherever you want your own game icon to go.

I hope this has helped a bit, and if not well I hope it helps out someone. :)

author=KisarethStudios
Chaosbahamut123, I may have a possible solution for you. First of all, you need Winrar (does not have to be the registered version). To make like an expansion pack for your game, all you need to do is select the files that have been updated/changed/added to the game (do not forget the main exe and all data/map directories), and while having those files selected right-click and a dialog box will come up with one of the options being "Add to archive...". Click that. Now, you just find where it says "Add and replace files", click on it, and it'll bring up a drop-down menu of options. Click on "Add and Update Files". Now click on where it says "Create SFX archive." That'll change the .rar file extension to an .exe.

Now, you can stop there as all a player has to do is download that one exe file, and it'll update the files where necessary in the original game that they downloaded. Or, you can take this a bit further by clicking on the "Advanced" tab, and then clicking on "SFX options". In the following screens, you can choose where you want the expansion pack to download, the "path to extract" is where you want it to go via Program Files or in the current folder, (you can also do this for the main game as well, to make it easier for later expansion packs). You can even create a shortcut with your own icon, text, and what not that'll place itself on the Start Menu or the Desktop or wherever you want your own game icon to go.

I hope this has helped a bit, and if not well I hope it helps out someone. :)

For my game, I had a similar idea of the player downloading bonus levels. Perhaps you could make a video tutorial of what your explaining here and it would be easier for me and Chaosbahamut to understand.

author=Ben_Random
For my game, I had a similar idea of the player downloading bonus levels. Perhaps you could make a video tutorial of what your explaining here and it would be easier for me and Chaosbahamut to understand.

It'd be a pleasure to make a video tutorial for you guys. :) I'll have it up for you all probably tomorrow, and I'll let you know via this thread once it's up on Youtube.

author=KisarethStudios
Here is the link to the video tutorial I just made for creating your own custom game installation screen, and for those wishing to utilize Bonus Levels/Expansion Packs for their own games. I also show you a few other features as well. I hope you find it useful. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CPM9OLBYX8

Wow. You just saved my life.

author=KisarethStudios

author=Ben_Random
Wow. You just saved my life.

Hey it was no problem at all. :) Glad I could help a bit.

So, I still have two questions:

1. Does the player have to have Winrar or another .rar opener to install the game?

2. When the player downloads the expansion packs, will there be a second game icon, and it appear as if they have downloaded a second copy of the game, or will it update the version they installed to begin with.

Thanks. I know this is a lot to ask, but it's really helpful. Would you like me to give you credit in my game?

author=KisarethStudios
Questions are always welcome. :)

To answer your first question, no the player does not have to have Winrar, since the file they'll be downloading will be an .exe, and will automatically install/update to the appropriate game folder.

To answer your second question, no second game icon nope. It will look the same as it did before, except obviously as they play through the game there will be bonus levels/more maps/graphics/etc. That's not to say you can't have the expansion pack/bonus levels have its own icon, you can, it just takes a bit more work.

Credit would be absolutely awesome. Any other questions you might have I'd be more than happy to answer them. :)

Thanks for the help Kisareth, credit will defiantly be given. :)