ReadMe for MeshPreloadv5:
Author: INIQUITOUS
Date: April 2009
version: 5

//--------------------------------------------------------
//Description
//--------------------------------------------------------
This mutator was designed for UT2004 invasion. In invasion
when a new monster spawns for the first time the players
must load all the new textures. This can cause massive lag
sometimes and can cost you the game. This mutator will 
"preload" the textures of monsters that are inputted in 
the .ini file. These textures appear on the screen as an 
overlay effect.

//--------------------------------------------------------
//Changes in v5 - Updates
//--------------------------------------------------------
This version does not actually have anything to do with 
meshes, but I decided to keep the name like the previous
versions so people would know where it was in the list
of versions and ensure they have the correct one :)

This version displays the monsters skins onto the hud 
directly rather than spawning an actor.

The player is no longer forced to look at anything. They
are free to roam around, collect weapons or hide etc...

After some testing it was found that it was the textures
that were causing 99% of the lag. So the loss of the mesh
isn't bad. I found that to display it on the hud was too
messy, especially if you started or went into 3rd person
mode so I decided to scrap it. 

I have added an option to turn on a new feature! 

The server character :) or mascot! The server character is
displayed to the right of the screen near the radar.
There is a set list of characters that I have included that
you can choose from, or you can create your own! Please
see installation notes below. There is also an option
for a speech bubble to appear next to the character.
You can customize what the speech bubble says. Please
see installation notes. I have also created 3 animated
characters. One of Pikachu from Pokemon, Kirby and Lara
Croft from theTomb Raider series. The server character
remains on screen for a few seconds after the preload has
ended.

You set the invulnerable time in the .ini, this time also
affects how long the "loading" sign stays above a players
head. Invulnerable time is counted from the second a 
player spawns for the first time. Please see installation
notes:

The "cheating" message is no longer displayed, instead 
the attempt to exploit will be handled with silently. The
mutator will not put the player in god mode, any other 
mutator that does will have its god mode cancelled when
the player dies.Unless this is in instant action mode.

//--------------------------------------------------------
//Installation
//--------------------------------------------------------
To install this mutator please put the files in the
correct folders:

.u/.ucl/.ini files go in your UT2004\System Folder
.utx files go in your UT2004\Textures Folder

To use this mutator you must add the following line to 
your serverpackages list:

ServerPackages=MeshPreloadv5

If you choose to use the animated textures then you must
also add this serverpackages line:

ServerPackages=ServerCharacters01Ini

This extra line will force the download of the texture
file.

The mutator class name is:

MeshPreloadv5.MutPreLoad

//--------------------------------------------------------
//Configuration Help
//--------------------------------------------------------
In the MeshPreloadListv5.ini file you will find the
following options. This is what they all mean:


DisplayServerCharacter=true //Setting this to true will
display your chosen character. Set this to false to
turn off both the speech bubble and character.

DisplaySpeechBubble=true //If you choose to display a
character, you can choose for it to have a speech bubble.
setting this to false disables the speech bubble feature.

ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Pikachu //this is the 
texture name of your chosen character. Please
see below for list of characters and how to create your
own.

SpeechBubbleMessage=Lets go exploring! //This is the 
speech bubble message that will be displayed, the maximum 
number of letters is 100. (this includes spaces)

MonsterClassName=SkaarjPack.Behemoth //etc. This is the
monsters class name that you wish to be preloaded 

InvulnerableTime=10 //how long from the start will the
player remain invulnerable. (cannot be damaged)


//--------------------------------------------------------
//Characters!
//--------------------------------------------------------

Characters that come with MeshPreloadv5 are:

Elmo: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Elmo
Kirby: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Kirby
Lara Croft: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Lara
Link: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Link
Peach: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Peach
Penguin: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Penguin
Pikachu: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Pikachu
Pooh: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Pooh
Scooby: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Scooby
Yoshi: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Yoshi
Zim: ServerCharacter=MeshPreloadv5.Zim

3 Bonus Animated characters are:

Kirby: ServerCharacter=ServerCharactersMeshPreload.KirbyAnim
Pikachu: ServerCharacter=ServerCharactersMeshPreload.PikachuAnim
Lara Croft: ServerCharacter=ServerCharactersMeshPreload.LaraAnim

If you choose an animated one (and I highly recommend you do)
then you must not forget to include the serverpackages line:

ServerPackages=ServerCharacters01Ini 

and install the ServerCharacters01Ini.u file as well as the
ServerCharactersMeshPreload.utx file.

To make your own character its dimensions must be 256x256.
Apart from that there is no other real constraint. To make 
the background transparent in photoshop create a new file which is
256x256 pixels, set the background to transparent (this is already
creating the alpha for you), then just paste in your already made
character from a differe file (make sure you only select your
character, this can be done with the magic wand tool or lasoo 
tool). Save this as a texture type that can support alpha and that
unrealEd will recognize. .DDS is perfect. If .DDS save as DXT5.
In UnrealEd open the texture browser and import your texture,
remembering to check the box that says alpha. When this is done
just go to file>save as and save your file as a .utx. Thats it!
It's that easy! 

To make your own animated character or image for use with this
preload. Gather your images that when played fast will appear to
animate. (If you are unsure what I mean, open up the 
ServerCharactersMeshPreload.utx file in the texture browser and
have a peek around). Just create a material sequence in the editor.
Texturebrowser>new>material sequence. And use your images in the
sequence, set the show time for each image to around 0.1/0.2, 
whichever times seem to work. Again save as .utx and your good 
to go!

If your going to create your own character please keep it
tasteful and appropriate for all ages.

MaterialSequence info:
http://wiki.beyondunreal.com/Legacy:MaterialSequence
















