*MODS
Tools Needed:
* Hex Editor
* DB Commander
* Dolfinn by NBA2Kstuff
* Brains and Experience in applying patches (Familiarity to EA Files and Patching Experience is a +++)
The files are available in the internet (except for the most important one )
As of my experience, rosters from NBA Live 08 are compatible with every game mode of NBA live 07, but of course, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. This is a tutorial on how to use MODS made for NBA LIVE 08 to be somehow "PLAYABLE" with NBA LIVE 07. Please carefully follow the instructions. If you miss a single detail, it could lead to crashes and other issues.
Step 1: HAVE ANOTHER SGSM AND SAVES FOLDER
Copy your sgsm folder and rename it to a 4-character string or something depending on your choice. For instance, I'm going to use the FIBA Live 11 mod. I renamed my sgsm to sgsf.
I opened the exe file using the Hex Editor, then used the "Find and Replace Function."
Find the "sgsm" string, then replace with the 4-character string (in this case sgsf)
Continue then save.
For the saves folder, it's still the same process. Find "NBA LIVE 07"
[ Be aware that even a space is considered a character]
So I changed it to "FIBALIVE 11" .... Save and close.
Refer to the following link for the tutorial by another patcher
viewtopic.php?f=111&t=84118
Step 2: Install the "MOD"
Put the files of the mod into the game directory. Pay utmost attention to the "sgsm" files. Put the files to your new "Sgsm" ( in this case, sgsf folder)
NOte: Don't put the following files to your new sgsm folder for the mod
= screens~playnow~quickset.big
= cmntrans.fsh (sometimes, not compatible)
= xindic.fsh
= crowd (folder)
Incompatible files of 08 mods (not in sgsm folder)
= AI (due to dunk.act)
= Loc files
= Animation Files
= Cameras
compatible Files of 08 mods (not in sgsm folder)
= Movies
Useless Files ( would not be read by the game)
= bckgrnds~2008~shadows
Step 3: DATA INSPECTION AND COURT RENAMING
Fact: Unlike NBA Live 08 which allows courts to be used by other teams, NBA live 07 only allows one court to be used by one team ( unless the teams have the same 4-character abbreviation like two 90's All-stars by Andrew). So the game only uses the court as the home of a team IF AND ONLY IF it bares the 4-char. abbreviation of the team (port.viv, lala.viv, et al.)
So mods for NBA LIVE 08, they kind of use the courts for a number of teams. So we're gonna duplicate the courts, edit the strings using the Hex Editor.
Open the teams.dbf
Take note of the team number, 4-character abbreviations and locationID of teams.
In this case, Tunisia=0 (team number), 53 (LOCATIONID), tuni(4-char)
Now open location.dbf, Look for the the LOCATIONID (53),
Then, scroll to the right and take note of the stadabr4 (afro)
Open the %NBALIVE%sgsm\stadia directory and look for afro.viv
Duplicate and rename to tuni.viv(4-character abbreviation)
Open with Hex Editor and use the FInd and Replace Function again.
Find afro (previous name) to tuni (4-character abb. of the team)
To make sure you did it right, open with Dolfinn. If you can find the files inside of the viv file in the right panel, then you did right
Do that for the rest of the 30+ teams.
Step 4:Teams.dbf and location.dbf editing
This step is important to fix the "BLACK" 3d crowd.
Open teams.dbf and take note of the locationid,4-char. abb., and team number of each team (better to list them in notepad)
Open location.dbf and edit the field which are not being utilized (NBA teams)
Edit the name,city,stadabr4 of the location.dbf entry of each team.
After that, edit the teams.dbf again
This time, the only thing you need to edit is the locationid for each team. Look for the location.dbf info about the location entries, then match the enter the locationid number of the entry with the stadabr4(4-character abbreviation of the team).
Do that for all the teams.
After that. You're good to go.
This has been Blake_Bryant, another video game breakthrough.
For an average user, it might take time to do this. For me, it takes about 1 Hour to edit all those stuff (court renaming and hex editing, and the dbf editing)
I'll post some stuff later, about file usage.
For any questions, don't hesitate to ask here or pm me.
Blake_Bryant@nba-live.com