Silberio Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Howdy. I've been thinking on something, it would be nice to be able to download backups for GTA's, like gta3.img (wich many people screw up with this file), the Data folder, and texture files, and stuff like that. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 This is something I've thought about before, especially since a few people keep asking for xxx.txd or whatever they've broken. People really should back up BEFORE they mod. gta3.img is a massive file, so would be impossible for us to host and for most people to download in a reasonable amount of time. As for the individual DFF and TXD files inside, that is something you can backup when you're modding (just export it before you add in the new one) - takes two seconds. Also, don't forget that it is illegal for us to distribute the copyrighted content that makes up some of the technical end of the game's files, in particular the executable. Maybe if we made "mods" of the default cars - downloadable and installable just like other mods, but they install the cars that used to be there - that would be useful. We'd just have to make only the cars that people often replaced - such as crap cars. Although perhaps there are just too many files for this to be useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 As far as legalities go, the only files that are technically not allowed to be distributed as backups are the executables that run the game. However, to be safe it's recommended you don't share large files, such as the gta3.img file. Distribution of one or two .txd files when someone forgets them is fine, same as a data folder backup. But audio and .exe's are a no go. Rockstar may feel differently, and I would personally contact them for their opinion before going through with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 He wasn't suggesting distributing all the files - I just mentioned it so other people wouldn't ask. You don't need to "contact" Rockstar for that.. their T&C is perfectly clear. And whose "opinion" would you be asking? It is the decision of Take2's Board of Directors whether to make one of their most popular games available for free public download. Not a chance. He was asking whether all the original game vehicles could be offered up for download - that would probably be impractical due to the amount of them (hundreds), so would probably be best to either offer only a few or just when people ask for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Not what I meant, I meant contact to insure any files could be distributed (except as I stated, audio and .exe's) as backups was in fact legal. They don't so in plain English that it is. I wasn't suggesting the game was for free download, thats stupid, how did you get that from my post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 I meant you didn't need to check whether the exes were available for download - it is obvious that they wouldn't be, and that doesn't change with anybody's opinion at Rockstar. As for the other files, they have been shared for years, and so long as they're only being used in copies of GTASA, then there is nothing wrong with returning them back to people who already own it (but deleted it accidentally). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raazman Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 is a gta.img an image of the whole cd/dvd? Or is it a collection of files that people usually break? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 gta3.img is the file that stores the models and textures of all the cars, buildings and pedestrians in the game. If you modify a car, you modify that car's files (one TXD texture file and one DFF model file) inside gta3.img Because it has all 200+ cars, all the pedestrians and every single building and piece of road etc etc, it is an absolutely massive file, so we can't put it up for download on its own. However, we could offer the individual cars (their DFF and TXD files), but there are loads of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Yeah it's a good idea in theory, it's just a little impractical for us. It is easier simply for people to request the file they messed up here on the forums, somebody here usually always has the unmodded file they can upload for them. Oh and the .img file sizes: GTA3: 162MB (+ txd.img which is 315MB) GTAVC: 312MB GTASA: 918MB Pretty huge. GTA3 is really annoying because it has a separate .img file for the textures. Vice City is a lot easier. San Andreas has numerous other img files for various other aspects of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silberio Posted May 22, 2007 Author Share Posted May 22, 2007 Well,i actually was thinking on .DAT or .CFG files, like Weapons.cfg, handling.ide, and as Gerard said, car, ped or player files, because sometimes,people think that some stuff sre just kinda too easy, so it doesnt need to backup (it has happend me),but not kinda big files (like gta3.img, audio files,etc.). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 I meant you didn't need to check whether the exes were available for download - it is obvious that they wouldn't be, and that doesn't change with anybody's opinion at Rockstar. As for the other files, they have been shared for years, and so long as they're only being used in copies of GTASA, then there is nothing wrong with returning them back to people who already own it (but deleted it accidentally). Ah okay, well I was referring to files, not the exe, just so you know, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Yeah we should offer up the handling, carcols etc - thats a good idea. Shame we can't really go all the way and have entire cars up for download. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silberio Posted May 22, 2007 Author Share Posted May 22, 2007 Yeah...it would be too much to put all the cars of all games, Anyways, whats the kinda "final answer"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbanoutlaw Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 (edited) When I hacked Vice city, I made a separate folder for the game & tested it after every mod or edit I made. I spent like a month on this & changed out almost every vehicle & a lot of the peds in the game. This also included editing of CARCOLS.DAT, HANDLING.CFG & several others, also backed up every time. I also saved the original .TXD & .DFF for each one in case there was a problem w/ the new one. For the data files, Ive seen them available on several sites, so look around. There are also sources for the Main script files. GTA3.IMG, you need to back up your original copy. Good Luck. Edited June 4, 2007 by Gerard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silberio Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 Thanks, but i dont have the enough disk space to backup the whole Game folder, meng. Thats why i suggest a backup section for the smallest files. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbanoutlaw Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 You don't need to, just save everything but SCRIPT from the DATA folder. these are mostly text files & don't take a lot of room. You could burn the DATA folder to a CD (if you have a burner). Without the .EXE files, piracy should not be an Issue. Good Luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silberio Posted June 7, 2007 Author Share Posted June 7, 2007 Thank you so much, meng, but i cant just take a CD and burn it, because what am i gonna sell after? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandora Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 You can download the .exe, so piracy would be an issue. Most games can be played without even installing. You just need the files all in a folder as if was installed there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbanoutlaw Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 If some one wanted to spend enough time, they could piece together the game downloading bits here & there, not the point. What I'm saying is you could copy the DATA files to a CD & have them on hand if a mod goes wrong, did not mean to imply distribution. It would only be a personal backup copy of files you intend to edit, not the whole game & definitely not to sell. Sorry for the confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silberio Posted June 8, 2007 Author Share Posted June 8, 2007 I Can't Use CD's, They Are For Sale, meng. I sell CD's. Also, is there a final answer on a Game Files Backup section? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbanoutlaw Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 Was just over in the downloads & found no backup files (for GTASA) on this site. I've seen some included w/ various mods & tools but those're hit & miss at best & would take forever to go through. About your only practicle option is try to make room on your hard drive. I wish I could be of more help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 There aren't any backups on the site yet, this topic is discussing whether we should make them. There is no final answer yet, we'll wait until the new downloads system is live then we'll probably start taking requests for the most-requested files. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silberio Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 Great... Then its just to wait, hehe But anyways, it would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaz The Great Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 I Can't Use CD's, They Are For Sale, meng.I sell CD's. Also, is there a final answer on a Game Files Backup section? Why does it matter if you "sell CD's"? You do know you can still have personal CD's, right? Just take one, burn the important files to it, and label it "Important GTA Backup Files" or something like that. Then have it somewhere near the PC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jared Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 Exactly, back ups are legal in most countries. As long as it is for personal use, your fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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