How to Re-Texture Assets?

[USNavySEAL-Op 0]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum and as well, to the game. I used to be a graphic designer before joining the Navy and in my free time like to play around when possible with these simulation games. Having enjoyed this particular game enough, I would like to combine the two hobbies and offer up a few "Add Ons" in the form of customized skins when ever possible.

First, I was curious how this works. If you re-texture a weapon for example, will it show up in game for others to see and can they use it also, or will it show up only for your character? Will it appear as normal for them?

Secondly, I tried to look for texture files somewhere in the game's installation directory but to no avail. Where and with what tools, do you customize the textures in the game?

That is all. Thank you.

[Kirby 2]

If you replace the default weapon with your then no one in MP will see it exept you. They will see default.

If you make it as a seperate addon (Like Desert Humvees, Woodland troops, camo weapons ect.) then they cant play in an MP game running with that addon unless they also have it.

I'm sorry but I don't have info on actualy modifying them.

[USNavySEAL-Op 0]

Thank you for that fast response.

Sounds like fun still, if someone can help me get started. All I'm interested in is changing currently existing textures and offering them as separate add-ons.

[baddo 0]

I would say that your next step could be to examine the files the game has.

Goto

http://www.kegetys.net/arma/

and download the "ArmA Tools" package. There you find programs cpbo and unRap. When you go looking in the ArmA directory, you will find files that have extension .PBO. cpbo opens these packages. Think about them like the ZIP packages you have probably encountered. If you've unpackaged a PBO you will get a directory containing files and possible subdirectories. The config.bin files are the configuration files. You use unRap to make those files become config.cpp files, which are readable in a text editor.

That's a start. Texture files have extensions .PAA and .PAC. 3D models have extension .P3D.

For more information about the file types etc., go to http://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Main_Page and of course, search this forum!

Oh yes, almost forgot, one place you MUST read through is http://www.ofpec.com/. There's a whole lot of information in their forums and elsewhere in the website, be sure to spend lots of time there. Don't mind if some documents there are for OFP, chances are very good you are reading information that is still valid for ArmA.

Now, go explore!