BF2S Forums In Game Ads (Changing them).

Whether EA gets revenue depends on if the Ad servers are where the viewing information is being sent. I'm not sure if the blocking script in my sig prevents information from being sent to IGA (the ad company) or if it just prevents incoming information. The view information may be sent somewhere else, so EA would have view stats but they may be invalid because they are views of ads that users have inserted themselves.

Also, if you delete icontent.cache and start the game with the Ad servers blocked 2142 re-creates the default file with the ER or other logo's only, no actual ads. So you can remove existing ads by deleteing the icontent.cache file, start 2142 to get a default file, and then add your own ads to the file with the program in the link in my sig or the one Dex Luthor linked to. I haven't actually inserted any ads myself yet because I'm artistically challenged when it comes to image manipulation. I've been waiting for people to come up with some cool ad packs that I can use to start playing with it. Hopefully this thread will come up with something interesting.

Machine_Madness wrote:

i need a file converter for the DDS iv tried DDS converter 2.1 but it doesnt work.... anyone got anything that will do the job?

That's actually the one I'm using now. Works perfectly over here.

Deader wrote:

Whether EA gets revenue depends on if the Ad servers are where the viewing information is being sent. I'm not sure if the blocking script in my sig prevents information from being sent to IGA (the ad company) or if it just prevents incoming information. The view information may be sent somewhere else, so EA would have view stats but they may be invalid because they are views of ads that users have inserted themselves.

Also, if you delete icontent.cache and start the game with the Ad servers blocked 2142 re-creates the default file with the ER or other logo's only, no actual ads. So you can remove existing ads by deleteing the icontent.cache file, start 2142 to get a default file, and then add your own ads to the file with the program in the link in my sig or the one Dex Luthor linked to. I haven't actually inserted any ads myself yet because I'm artistically challenged when it comes to image manipulation. I've been waiting for people to come up with some cool ad packs that I can use to start playing with it. Hopefully this thread will come up with something interesting.

I believe both programs are one in the same. Your link points to a page that notifies people that it has moved. The link given on that page can also be found on the total2142 forums (or what ever they are called). It's for the program to modify the icontent.cache file.

I'm hoping to get something interesting going on here, but interest seems kinda low right now.

Has anyone downloaded that "beta" file I posted?

Last edited by Dex Luther (2006-11-17 10:44:39)

AmbassadorofPain wrote:

Dex Luther wrote:

Has anyone downloaded that "beta" file I posted?

Yeah, it works nice.

Could you explain how you did it? I played around with it, but for some reason it won't work. 2142 just keeps using the default placeholders (the "ER" and others).
Not least I can't get my images to match the file sizes...

As long as your images match the image dimensions (you replace a 512 x 256 with another 512 x 256 image) you can click yes on that warning and it will still work. It's just warning you that the file sizes don't match (EX: one is 56kb and the other 45kb).

shameless bump!

I'd assume it would create a lot of lag. I'd be willing to try a couple, but have no good BIK videos.

I had an idea of creating an ad with an image and overlaying a sort of static malfunction that makes it look like the billboard is flickering on on off (kind like ill adjusted screens you see in spooky animes).

Last edited by Dex Luther (2006-11-17 16:54:24)

I think I found a problem. The ads and where they go seem directly linked to their Content ID#. Adding new entries to the end of the file doesn't seem to have any effect.

This means the number of images useable in game is drastically reduced.

EX: There are 3 normal billboard entries (512 x 256). 1 is neutral and then the other two are PAC only and EU only boards (those "Join our side" propaganda ads).

That means I can only get 3 billboards with different images at once, but only 2 viewable per team.
I maybe wrong about the whole thing though. It's just what I'm observing when trying to add a new entry (comes out as something like Content ID# 347 or around there). The image imported into that entry never appears on any of the billboards. Maybe it has something to do with the # of views.

I wish I could see a version of the file with a bunch of EA ads in it to see how they do it.

Dex Luther wrote:

I think I found a problem. The ads and where they go seem directly linked to their Content ID#. Adding new entries to the end of the file doesn't seem to have any effect.

That covers pretty much what I experienced.
But did you try what happens when you modify the properties of an entry? Like, changing image size from 128x128 to 512x256 or something?

AmbassadorofPain wrote:

Dex Luther wrote:

I think I found a problem. The ads and where they go seem directly linked to their Content ID#. Adding new entries to the end of the file doesn't seem to have any effect.

That covers pretty much what I experienced.
But did you try what happens when you modify the properties of an entry? Like, changing image size from 128x128 to 512x256 or something?

I haven't tried that, but I assume all that would accomplish is either blank boards or boards with images that don't fit on them properly.

I'm guessing that ID# 196 corresponds to specific billboards across all maps. Changing the image size wouldn't place the image elsewhere, but instead just make the image on those specific boards too big/small.

I don't see why EA/Dice didn't code the boards to get their images based on image dimensions. I don't see how that would be too complicated. They could have then added an option to set a specific image to be EU or PAC only or both. I don't see EA/Dice's reasoning for doing it the way they did.

I guess Bik's serve a higer purpose now. To have boards that change regularly just animate them. Make a gif that shows your images one by one (with a long time delay obviously) and convert it to BIK in import it into the Icontent file.

2tuff wrote:

Does anyone know what program I should use to actually open the file?

There's a link in Deader's (is that right?) sig.

Last edited by Dex Luther (2006-11-18 13:36:58)