SemolinaPilchar
Club Supporter
This post is specifically about Kit Raptor Euro 2004, which I downloaded from Soccer Access (here's a direct link to the file). But it's also about the broader world of editing and editing software.
Now, let me say up front that I'm not real well-versed on editing techniques. I've tinkered around with this stuff, mostly back when I had the Fifa 2003 Creation Centre, but I still know very little.
That's because there seems to a real lack of info out there about editing in general, and about these programs in particular. Kit Raptor, for instance, has no help file. I've conducted countless searches in these and other forums, but have rarely found the kind of basic advice I need. I suspect I'm not alone.
That's because most posters seem well ahead of the game (no pun intended). Somehow, they already know what a "Kit Raptor" is, and what it's used for. I'm constantly puzzled at how these posters already know so much, because surely at some point they were where I am now. And I can't figure out where in the world they learned all this stuff.
In other words, a lot of us just want to know how to get from A to B before we can even start thinking about getting to Z. But most of the editing talk around here seems to start around W or so. It makes me wonder: Where in the world did they learn the A and B part? Because I sure can't find it.
Sorry about the rambling. Here's the meat of my question: Could somebody please explain the basics of editing? Or at least point me to a FAQ or tutorial that does?
I mean, I'm trying to do something really simple here with Kit Raptor: I'd like to change the color of my team's uniforms. But there's no information about this basic task. Nowhere is it explained. All I can do is stare at the program on my monitor and wonder what in the world to do. These are some of the things I'd like to understand:
-- What is a "raptor" in the first place? Is this particular Kit Raptor a program for creating kits? The bottom line: What is it capable of doing, and what is it incapable of doing?
-- What does "IMPORT" do? What am I "importing" when I click this button?
-- What does "EXPORT" do? What am I "exporting" when I click this button?
-- What bitmaps am I supposed to be loading when I'm asked to "LOAD A BITMAP"? Do I create these bitmaps on my own, or do they already exist? What do they do? What size do they need to be? I can use Photoshop as easily as the next guy, but I have no clue what "bitmap" I'm supposed to create. Is it supposed to look like a shirt? This is the kind of basic info that is not provided ANYWHERE.
-- What does "FORCE REBUILD" do? It's an option that can be checked or unchecked. What does it do when checked? What does it do when unchecked?
These questions might sound dumb, but that's my whole point: There are a lot of us out here who are starting from A and B, yet the designers of these raptor programs seem to assume we're all starting from somewhere a lot further along.
In addition to these questions about Kit Raptor, it would be helpful to for someone to explain exactly what editing in general is all about. I'm talking about something that gets in to the real fundamentals, that provides a very basic education.
Here's a made-up example of what I mean:
"Euro 2004 and other FIFA games include important information in files called '.BIG' and '.FSH.' These files contain data about the look of the game and each team, including player information, stadiums and kits. (Note to North Americans: A 'kit' is what you might know as a 'uniform.')
"While these files are the heart of the game's look, they can not be accessed directly by a user. But it's still possible to customize the look of your game, because some smart folks have built special programs for that very purpose. These programs are called 'editors.' These editors are used in conjunction with programs called 'raptors,' which apply your changes to the game." Etc. etc. etc.
Now, I don't even know if what I just wrote is even accurate. I'm simply providing an example of the sort of Editing 101 information that many of us crave.
Listen, I deeply respect the smart, ambitious people out there who understand the inner guts of these FIFA games and have built these programs. Still, I would ask these smart folks to think about the people who will be using their programs. Some rules of thumb to live by:
-- Don't assume anything about the people who will be using your application. Be aware there are lots of people out there who don't know everything you do. Take nothing for granted.
-- Make sure you explain up front exactly what your program is designed to do. For instance, if you're releasing a "boot raptor," explain in simple language what a boot raptor does -- and what it can't do.
-- Provide clear, easy-to-understand instructions for using your program. Offer step-by-step directions. Show some examples.
Thanks for anyone out there who's listening. I appreciate your time.
Sincerely,
Sem
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(I'm placing the following keywords here to ensure that future forum users can easily stumble onto this thread while searching for answers:)
KitRaptor
using KitRaptor
KitRaptor link
download kitraptor
(Finally, a message for the board's administrators: The restriction on search term length creates a frequent problem, because important words such as "bmp," "kit" and "ID" are impossible to search for.)
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Now, let me say up front that I'm not real well-versed on editing techniques. I've tinkered around with this stuff, mostly back when I had the Fifa 2003 Creation Centre, but I still know very little.
That's because there seems to a real lack of info out there about editing in general, and about these programs in particular. Kit Raptor, for instance, has no help file. I've conducted countless searches in these and other forums, but have rarely found the kind of basic advice I need. I suspect I'm not alone.
That's because most posters seem well ahead of the game (no pun intended). Somehow, they already know what a "Kit Raptor" is, and what it's used for. I'm constantly puzzled at how these posters already know so much, because surely at some point they were where I am now. And I can't figure out where in the world they learned all this stuff.
In other words, a lot of us just want to know how to get from A to B before we can even start thinking about getting to Z. But most of the editing talk around here seems to start around W or so. It makes me wonder: Where in the world did they learn the A and B part? Because I sure can't find it.
Sorry about the rambling. Here's the meat of my question: Could somebody please explain the basics of editing? Or at least point me to a FAQ or tutorial that does?
I mean, I'm trying to do something really simple here with Kit Raptor: I'd like to change the color of my team's uniforms. But there's no information about this basic task. Nowhere is it explained. All I can do is stare at the program on my monitor and wonder what in the world to do. These are some of the things I'd like to understand:
-- What is a "raptor" in the first place? Is this particular Kit Raptor a program for creating kits? The bottom line: What is it capable of doing, and what is it incapable of doing?
-- What does "IMPORT" do? What am I "importing" when I click this button?
-- What does "EXPORT" do? What am I "exporting" when I click this button?
-- What bitmaps am I supposed to be loading when I'm asked to "LOAD A BITMAP"? Do I create these bitmaps on my own, or do they already exist? What do they do? What size do they need to be? I can use Photoshop as easily as the next guy, but I have no clue what "bitmap" I'm supposed to create. Is it supposed to look like a shirt? This is the kind of basic info that is not provided ANYWHERE.
-- What does "FORCE REBUILD" do? It's an option that can be checked or unchecked. What does it do when checked? What does it do when unchecked?
These questions might sound dumb, but that's my whole point: There are a lot of us out here who are starting from A and B, yet the designers of these raptor programs seem to assume we're all starting from somewhere a lot further along.
In addition to these questions about Kit Raptor, it would be helpful to for someone to explain exactly what editing in general is all about. I'm talking about something that gets in to the real fundamentals, that provides a very basic education.
Here's a made-up example of what I mean:
"Euro 2004 and other FIFA games include important information in files called '.BIG' and '.FSH.' These files contain data about the look of the game and each team, including player information, stadiums and kits. (Note to North Americans: A 'kit' is what you might know as a 'uniform.')
"While these files are the heart of the game's look, they can not be accessed directly by a user. But it's still possible to customize the look of your game, because some smart folks have built special programs for that very purpose. These programs are called 'editors.' These editors are used in conjunction with programs called 'raptors,' which apply your changes to the game." Etc. etc. etc.
Now, I don't even know if what I just wrote is even accurate. I'm simply providing an example of the sort of Editing 101 information that many of us crave.
Listen, I deeply respect the smart, ambitious people out there who understand the inner guts of these FIFA games and have built these programs. Still, I would ask these smart folks to think about the people who will be using their programs. Some rules of thumb to live by:
-- Don't assume anything about the people who will be using your application. Be aware there are lots of people out there who don't know everything you do. Take nothing for granted.
-- Make sure you explain up front exactly what your program is designed to do. For instance, if you're releasing a "boot raptor," explain in simple language what a boot raptor does -- and what it can't do.
-- Provide clear, easy-to-understand instructions for using your program. Offer step-by-step directions. Show some examples.
Thanks for anyone out there who's listening. I appreciate your time.
Sincerely,
Sem
------------------------------------------------------------
(I'm placing the following keywords here to ensure that future forum users can easily stumble onto this thread while searching for answers:)
KitRaptor
using KitRaptor
KitRaptor link
download kitraptor
(Finally, a message for the board's administrators: The restriction on search term length creates a frequent problem, because important words such as "bmp," "kit" and "ID" are impossible to search for.)
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