by Mel_Fox_76 on Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:57 pm
Everything depends on what you like to have... contents of render and renfe folder will change visual things, BUT there is a problem: At the end, the roster file is a connection between visual things and the place where they are working, for example, a cyberface can only be used if it's 'selected' in the roster file (=players.dbf). I didn't add cyberfaces. I substituted the originals. For example, Travis Best's cyberface has been changed to Dwight Howard. When using original or just inside the game changed players.dbf file (in my documents\NBA Live 2004\saves\'in one of the savegame folders') with my .viv files, consequently Travis Best will have a body, attributes, etc. like Travis Best, but a face like Dwight Howard! That's why it only makes sense to use the cyberfaces, when you are using my savegame file OR when you know how to use DB Commander, the software to change .dbf files. The third option would be to use EAgraph to extract single files like trbest_.viv out of xplayer.viv to import them to your own xplayer.viv. In this case, of course, you still need to use DB commander to get Dwight Howard in your game... to fullfill the options you can use the custom art method instead of EAGraph, but it doesn't change the noted problems. Moreover you need EAGraph to extract single files out of a .viv file.
Easiest way still is just overwriting files like described. Since the CFs are connected to players the usage of your own savegames with my files of render folder without using DB commander doesn't make sense. There would be many players with wrong faces (or you could say right faces with wrong bodies, names, etc.). Moreover some jerseys would not be at the right position and headband colors won't fit the patched jerseys. Finally, the 'Seattle Supersonics' would play in in the Oklahoma City Arena;-)
That's how it is
By the way: I don't think you have installed NBA Live 2004 directly to your c partition. So copying and overwriting only makes sense, when you select the place of the game files! (Not c:\render________________________look where your game has been installed like c:\programs\NBA Live 2004 or where it is...)
Plus I don't understand what you mean with screwing? It's not a car that's driving faster after tuning;-) No, the game will be more simulation like than without the patch (for example less blocks!!!) and names, courts, player attributes, team Oklahoma City Thunder, etc. will be much more realistic and up to date (end of 2009-2010 season!!!). The dynastie mode still works perfectly (except selecting Charlotte Bobcats --> not working). In season mode all teams can be used (need to add Charlotte in a division with a free spot when starting the mode). Otherwise there are still just 4 divisions like it was in 2003. Consequently NBA season will have unrealistic 86 games (when adding Charlotte), but who cares? Only mode that's limited is the playoff mode. There, you cannot change the teams. I don't know how to fix that bug:-( But all in all the important things are really good working.
C ya
Mel
The password always is my name.