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Ever since 1.18 (I'm currently trying out the 1.19 betas), I've not been able to change the skybox in any of my levels. I've tried changing it in the editor's build level setup, I've tried manually changing my game's setuplevel.fpi file. I've also tried all the usual; fpsccleaner, re-installing, clearing out the registry etc etc. But I'm still not able to change it, it's stuck with the default stock 'gas' skybox.

[edit]I reported it as a bug a while ago, but it couldn't be replicated, so nothing came of it.[/edit]

I'm starting to get really frustrated now. Is anybody else experiencing this problem? If there is anybody else, did you manage to resolve it? If you did, how did you resolve it?

Does anybody else have any suggestions as to what I could try?

Hi Bruce,

I can certainly understand your frustration, but we can leave that for another topic. Instead I can try to help you try and detect what or where the issue may be. We had a similar issue and the method we use seems to have helped. Mind you, we are still running v1.17 of FPSC using our own in-house modded version, but perhaps our method may help you.

First off, there are the two methods to changing the skybox as you pointed out. One is in the editor's build level setup, and the second is the manual method. In the editor's build setup, there is that part where you can create a game project file. That project creates the "fpg" file and that file also creates a folder with the fpi files it requires (gameover, gamewon, loadingpage, setuplevel, and titlepage).

Recall that during a test game, the test will use the files from the "languagebank\english\gamebank\mylevel" folder. We set our skybox up manually in there to test our level. When we created the project file, we will copy those fpi files into our project folder. We do this for each level we make. If you open that project fpg using notepad, you can see how the structure is and it points to all the required folders, etc for that project. When we build, we ensure that the fpi files I mentioned earlier are in our project folder and we select it before we build. Perhaps checking to see which project file you are working with and viewing that fpg file to ensure you edited the correct file for the skybox.

In your case, what happens when you make a build? In other words, let's suppose you make a project file name, which will use the "languagebank\english\gamebank\YOURPROJECTNAME" folder. You edit that setuplevel.fpi to reflect on the skybox you want, then run a build. Does the skybox appear properly at that point? If not, check the build and copy the skybox to the skybank folder, then edit the setuplevel.fpi file in your build. does it work then?

By the software's current design, you can do a build with a skybox and change it at any time- all by editing that setuplevel.fpi file and then copying the skybox to its proper location in the build. So I can build a game level using the default "gas" and then switch it to something else, providing I copy the skybox to the skybank folder and edit my setuplevel.fpi file. If it still is not doing it for you at that point, then it could be another issue that is affecting you.

Thanks Mike, that's sorted. I honestly didn't know that the test game only used the data in the 'mygame' folder, and not the data in a custom game folder.

Once I'd copied all my data from my 'Seclusion' folder, to the 'mygame' folder, it all worked exactly as it should, even the skybox!

From now on, I need to remember that it always edits the 'mygame' folder, so any changes need to be copied over to my 'Seclusion' folder. Which leaves me with one last question; which folder does it use when actually Building a game?

My apologies to the developers for claiming it was a bug!!

BTW I've edited my first post, so I don't look like a stroppy teenager anymore lol

Well that depends on what game project file you are using when you want to build. If you don't select one, it will use the default "mygame" project file (and therefore points to the mygame folder using those fpi files). If you start a level and create a project, click ok to go back to the editor and save the level, it should save and record the project file you selected (and therefore use the folder that fpg file will point to). When you click Build, double check the game project file section to ensure "mygame" is not being used or you can point to the project file at that point.

I always make my project file first, which then creates the folder and the required fpi files are there. I make my edits and such there, always copying to the "mygame" folder for testing only. The final build never uses the "mygame" files, but the files in my project folder.

Hopefully that made sense and answered your question.

Yeah, that's what I've been doing as well.



That's what I need to remember to do from now on!



Good, that's what I thought, but just wanted to confirm it.

Thanks for your help. I must say, you always give the most helpful, concise answers to people's questions

You and others are most welcome. Sometimes it is not just a simple answer and we older folk tend to rattle off a long novel or pdf to help get the idea across.

Like a bad case of waffle-itis!! (Yourself not included of course!).