If you're like me, you've accidentally hit the "New Game" button a hundred times, when you really wanted to start a "Metaverse" game.

The common reflex is to go to the top of a start menu, vs. hitting a button buried in the middle. Since I couldn't move the buttons around, I edited them (you can't just do this in Photoshop since it's Desktopx code).

The "New Game" button is still clickable but slightly greyed out. The Metaverse button comes in 4 varieties. You can easily switch between them with the self-installing executables I include. There's Blue, Red, Blue with White outline, and Red with White outline.

This mod is only intended for Dark Avatar and is fully Metaverse compliant. I've included a screenshot in the zipfile as well - showing each set of buttons side-by-side.

Enjoy!

I had trouble with the glare effect on the mini-map because the slight color alteration makes any one race look like others (in the top 1/5 of the screen). The screesnhots I provided here don't really do the mod justice since it's much more apparent with lots of races using similar colors.

At any rate, it's much easier to see now.

Enjoy!

Version 1.02 has a better readme and the option to have her not vocally patronize you infinitum :-)

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This custom enemy race has animation, sound, is 100% Metaverse compatible, and also includes both positive AND negative attributes. If you're a fan of System Shock (or just want to see what a fully customized race is like), then you should really enjoy this. She's well balanced, and should give you an excellent challenge. Hope you enjoy your first encounter (make sure your sound/music is on). Full installation instructions are included in the readme. And do yourself a favor... don't listen to the mp3 before you play against her. It would ruin a little of the fun.

This mod replaces the Purple, Green, White, and Red Stars. I only chose those stars since I felt they didn't quite fit the galaxy as they were.

* The Green and Purple stars have more of a burning plasma effect and mix in better in the galaxy.

* The White Stars are all white (with no blue) and the churning effect it visible just a bit farther away.

* The Red Stars have nearly all the orange removed so they're easier to distinguish from orange stars.

* I didn't change the Orange, Blue, or Yellow stars because I think they already look fantastic.

* This mod is intended for Dark Avatar and is 100% Metaverse compatible.

* Installing it is super easy. Extract zip contents and then double click the "install stars" file from your
\\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ folder.

It will install everything you need automatically.

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Since this mod does not over-write any default game files, it is easy to remove if necessary. Just delete the installed files from your:

\\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Stars folder.

These updated icons have a very subtle change to them that makes them easier to discern on the map screen. They are higher contrast, extreme planet icon overlays.

This graphic update is 100% Metaverse compatible and is intended for Dark Avatar only.

To install:

Just drop in your \\My Documents\\My Games\\GC2DarkAvatar
folder and double click. That's it!

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If for some reason you don't like the changes - this does not overwrite any original files. Just delete the files from the
\\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Overlays folder.

This updated version (with installer) is intended for Dark Avatar and is 100% Metaverse compatible.

Even though I've been playing Gal Civ for a long time I still sometimes forget what the blue, green, and yellow resource icon is at first glance. So I changed all of them:

• The Technology Resource has the universal symbol for atomic energy on it.

• The Influence Resource has the universal symbol for Pluto – which looks a bit like a human figure raising his hands.

• The Morale Resource has a music symbol - reminded me of morale/culture from the Civilization games.

• The Economic Resource has the universal symbol for Neptune – which also happens to look a bit like the Euro currency.

• The Military Resource has a lightning bolt. The coloring and shape reminded me of the Nod in the Command and Conquer games and represents military might.

Creating and placing symbols on the resources without altering the main shape/texturing is difficult since each resource uses a mirror image of itself (each one differently) on its facets. This is why I limited musical notes on the morale resource to just the middle, and why the graphics on the remaining textures look as they do.

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What if I don't like it or want to uninstall it?

Just delete the files that were added out of
\\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Models

This mod replaces the grid-like background in the research screen. A new enhancement of Dark Avatar is the research tech-tree is much more streamlined than before. Additionally, some techs are split into smaller clickable sections. With the old background you couldn't see which were which too well... with this one you can.

I thought the background image was appropriate, one that any sci-fi gamer can appreciate:

SHODAN

This mod should work with any version of GC2 (including Dark Avatar) and is 100% Metaverse compatible.

It does not over-write any files, so if for some reaosn you don't like it you can delete it from your:
\\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\ folder.

Most of the sound effects in the game are really nice... but a few are not so great. This mod is compatible with any version of GC2 (including Dark Avatar) and is 100% Metaverse compatible.

The mod is small and replaces 5 sound files that were hurting my brain after prolonged gameplay.

1. The damaged electrical sound. Any Starship or Starbase that is badly damaged repeats this sound over and over. I've changed it so it's a very subtle effect. One that's now tolerable.

2. Invasion damage/attack sound. Just one file that was so annoyingly loud I had to turn my speakers down every time I went into planetary invasions. This has now been changed.

3. Installing this mod is super easy and the instructions are included in the readme.

The purpose of this mod:

1. Make the scanner module (newly rust colored) easier to identify vs. the sensor module (standard gray color).

2. Make the visual (3D) sensor and scanner modules different from the shield modules on the ship. I went with the same yellow hue which matches several other default Gal Civ 2 modules.

3. I wanted to make the scanner module rsut colored just like the thumbnail I created, but currently the game does not seem to accept separate custom 3D scanner data.

Make sure you back up your files first! These go into your game directory as indicated by the folder name. For example the files in the "GalCiv2-Gfx-Models" folder goes into your C:Program Files\GalCiv2\Gfx\Models directory. The dashes separate folder names. Make sure you put these in the game directory. Unless you put them in the correct game directories they will not function.

Please leave comments on coloring as I'm open to adjusting the coloring and shading.

If you ever wanted to be a psychotic race of frogs eyeing tasty squirrels at the bird feeder... well you're in luck!

Note: this was just kind of a fun test, I know it's not centered perfectly, nor is it anti-aliased around the edges. Just a fun test sample - but feel free to use it if you like.