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[MUA1] Mod Installation Guide for Consoles

Started by BaconWizard17, March 29, 2023, 07:58PM

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March 29, 2023, 07:58PM Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:25AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 1: WELCOME

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    Welcome to the MUA1 Mod Installation Guide! This tutorial covers everything you need to know to mod your copy of the 2006 version of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. This tutorial discusses how to add mods to the original console releases (PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360).

YouTube video for this chapter (Coming soon!)

How to Use This Tutorial
    This tutorial is broken up into several chapters:
  • Chapter 1, which is this chapter, is the introduction and connects everything together. It's where you start.
  • Chapter 2 teaches you how to install the game.
  • Chapter 3 teaches you how to extract and rebuild assets, which is very important for the console releases.
  • Chapters 4-11 show you how to install different kinds of mods.
  • Chapter 12 shows you how to play the game and provides tips for unlocking characters.
  • Chapter 13 contains additional tutorials and information that may help you mod your game.
  • Chapters 14-16 will help with solving issues you may have.
    This tutorial is long, but it contains almost everything that you need to mod your game. You only need to follow the steps that apply to the types of mods that you want to install. The steps are not difficult, but take your time reading through the information, and only change a few things at a time. If you're struggling, try working through the tutorial with a friend or family member. After all, two heads are better than one!
    Most community members had never modded any games before, but have been able to install all the mods that they want to use using the tutorials and information from our community. If you run into any issues on your modding journey, we're always happy to help. Read through chapters 13 and 14 first to check for common issues. If nothing in the tutorial helps you, you can visit Chapter 15 to see how to properly ask for help in the #help❗ channel of our Discord server.
    If you're more of a visual learner, this tutorial will gradually be filled in with video tutorials on our YouTube Channel. You can already find some older videos there that may contain helpful information. The Library of Links is your one-stop shop for all additional links that you may need.

Marvel Mods Discord Server
Library of Links
Marvel Mods YouTube Channel

Helpful Tips
    Before you get started, there are a few more things you need to know that will make modding (and using this tutorial) much easier.
    First, enable file extensions and hidden folders in File Explorer. To do this on Windows 10, go into any window of File Explorer and click "View" at the top. Check the boxes for "File name extensions" and "Hidden items". On Windows 11, go into any window of File Explorer and click "View," go to "Show", and click "File name extensions."


    Next, Windows Defender or other antivirus programs may say that the programs or mods here are unsafe or contain some sort of virus. All the mods and programs have been tested to be safe by our community. If you have any concerns about a download, you can ask in our Discord server. You can set these programs and your game files to be on your antivirus program's exception list to prevent any issues. Each antivirus software has a different process for this, but you can easily find out how to do this online.
    In this tutorial, I've put some information inside of sections that can be expanded. This makes it easier to look through the information and only expand what you need to see. Whenever you see one of these sections, it will say "Expand to see Steps". Click on the bar to expand it, and you'll see the additional information.


    Lastly, if you see an image that's too small, you can click on it to make it bigger. When you're done with the image, you can click on it again to make it smaller. This will only apply to static images; gifs will be shown in their original size.


Where to Go Next
    To get started modding the game, go to Chapter 2 of this tutorial. If you have a particular topic you want to know more about, you can visit the chapter that discusses it. Each chapter is linked below in the Table of Contents. Each chapter also has links that will tell you where to go next. Just click the link and you'll go to the chapter that you need! 

Table of Contents

Credits/Thanks
    Man, how can I possibly thank everyone who's helped with this tutorial. There are so many people that have had a hand in different aspects of this tutorial, from giving advice and instructions to creating new useful tools. This list is non-exhaustive, and I would be happy to add you if you're missing. But a huge thanks to ak2yny, BLaw, Ceamonks890, Enchlore, Enigma, jayglass, Kako Clanworth, Lags, LarsAlexandersson, Maegawa, MelloMods, MrKablamm0fish, Nicaras, Norrin Radd, Outsider, Rampage, Teancum, THX, Tony Stark, UltraMegaMagnus, and all the other hardworking members of our community. Thank you for all that you do! If you feel you've contributed to this tutorial and I've forgotten to include your name, please let me know.
March 29, 2023, 07:59PM #1 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:25AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 2: GETTING AND INSTALLING THE GAME

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    This chapter shows how to install the 2006 console versions of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Most of the MUA1 mods on the forums are created for the PC version of the game, so the consoles do not have as many mods available. The console releases of the game have been archived, meaning that a free, legal download of the game is now available.

YouTube video for this chapter (Coming soon!)
Our older YouTube video (Follow from 0:00 to 1:35)

Downloading the Game
    If you don't already own the game, you can find a free, legal, archived copy of each version of the game on Archive.org. Here are the links:
    Even if you do have a physical copy of the game, it's best to download the archived copy so that you can follow along and have the exact same files. Here's how to properly download the different versions:

Expand to see steps
  • Go to the download link provided above.
  • On the right side of the screen, download the file. Depending on the download, you may need to download a different file:
    • PS2: Download the "ZIP" file
    • PS3: Download the "ZIP" file
    • PSP: Download the "ISO IMAGE" file
    • Wii: Download the "ZIP" file
    • Xbox: Download the "ZIP" file
    • Xbox 360: Download the "ZIP" file
    • Xbox 360 (Gold Edition): Download the "ISO IMAGE" file
  • A download for the game will begin. Once the file has downloaded, proceed below to learn how to install/use the game.

Playing the Game on An Emulator
    One method for playing the game on consoles is with an emulator. Emulation is the easiest way to play the console versions. A few notes on emulators:
  • Most emulators are available for PC. Some are available for other devices, such as mobile phones. However, modding programs are only compatible with PCs. If you're emulating on another device, you will need a PC to set up the files.
  • PCSX2, RPCS3, and xemu require you to have certain files (such as BIOS or firmware) from an actual console. They will not work without these files. Per our rules, we do not support discussions of piracy in our community.
  • This tutorial will not discuss how to set up or use emulators. All of these programs have their own dedicated communities and tutorials online. You'll be able to easily find resources if you look.
    If you're choosing to emulate on PC, you may want to play the PC version instead. Most mods on the forums are available for the PC version, and it's possible to get the PC version to look like both the next-gen and last-gen versions of the game depending on what mods and graphics settings you use. You can learn more about modding the PC version in the MUA1 Mod Installation Guide for PC - MO2 Method and the MUA1 Mod Installation Guide for PC - Direct Method.
    Each console has its own emulator. Here's a list of the available console emulators for PC:

Expand to see emulators
ConsoleEmulatorAdditional Information
PS2PCSX2None
PS3RPCS3None
PSPPPSSPPNone
WiiDolphinThe Wii version uses motion controls that are difficult to set up with a standard controller. If you don't have a way to use a Wii controller on your PC, it's best to play it on a modded console or use another version of the game.
Xboxxemu or CXBX ReloadedBoth CXBX Reloaded and xemu emulate the game well. However, CXBX has an issue with looping sounds not stopping when they should. xemu does not have this issue, but it is slightly more difficult to set up.
Xbox 360xeniaNone

Playing the Game on a Modded Console
    Many people prefer to play the modded games on a console instead. However, MODDED GAMES CANNOT BE PLAYED ON A STOCK CONSOLE. You must use a modified console to play modified games. Different consoles have their own online guides and communities if you want to learn to modify your own console. A quick google search for "how to mod a (name of your console)" will generally get you lots of useful results. You can also purchase modified consoles online in different places.
    Note: other terms for a modified console include "softmodded", "hardmodded", "mod chipped", "jailbroken", or "hacked". This tutorial will use the terms "modded" or "modified."

Final Notes
    Before continuing through this tutorial, I recommend making a full backup of your game files. To do this, simply copy your downloaded file and paste it in another place. I recommend compressing it into a .zip file or .rar file and putting it on a flash drive for safekeeping. You can find a tutorial on how to do that here.

Game Limits
    Before you start modding your game, you can get familiar with the game's limits. This isn't required, but it will help avoid issues when modding. This game is old, so it can have issues if you exceed the limits set by the developers. For consoles, very few (if any) limits have been documented. If you're interested in helping with these efforts, feel free to come by our Discord server and talk to the folks there! PC limits can be found in the MUA1 Limit Documentation topic, and some may be the same as the consoles.

Where to Go Next
    Before you can begin installing mods, you will need to understand the file structure of the console versions. Proceed to Chapter 3 of this tutorial to learn more.
March 29, 2023, 08:04PM #2 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:25AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 3: EXTRACTING AND REBUILDING ASSETS

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    Console releases of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance have their assets stored in a more compressed way, making it more difficult to mod them. This chapter shows you how to extract and rebuild the assets.

YouTube video for this chapter (Coming soon!)

Extracting and Rebuilding the ISO
    The ISO is the outer-most layer of compression for the game. The ISO is a digital version of the actual disc. Almost all versions of the game come as an ISO and must be extracted. Additionally, some emulators and modded consoles require the game to be rebuilt into an ISO to properly play. Standard Windows ISO methods (like mounting) can't be used. Here's an overview of special programs that you need to use for the console releases:

Expand to see steps
    The ISO programs that are available for each console differ. This tutorial will not show you how to work these programs, as each one is different. However, I will provide a link to each program and explain when it should be used. You can find more in-depth tutorials for these programs online. Here's a table with all that information:
ConsoleExtract MethodRebuild Method
PS2UltraISO* (recommended) or Apache3. You must use the same program to extract and rebuild the ISO.UltraISO* (recommended) or Apache3. You must use the same program to extract and rebuild the ISO.
PS3Not needed. The files are already extracted in the download.Not needed. Emulators and modded consoles don't require the files to be rebuilt into an ISO.
PSPUMDGen (recommended) or UltraISO*. You must use the same program to extract and rebuild the ISO.UMDGen (recommended) or UltraISO*. You must use the same program to extract and rebuild the ISO.
WiiDolphin Emulator* (recommended) or Wiimms ISO Tools (WIT). You must use the same program to extract and rebuild the ISO.Dolphin emulator does not require the ISO to be rebuilt, but you can do it if you want. For a modded console (or Dolphin Emulator if you choose to), use Dolphin Emulator* (recommended) or Wiimms ISO Tools (WIT) to rebuild the ISO. You must use the same program to extract and rebuild the ISO.
XboxXDVD MulleterCXBX Reloaded and modded consoles do not require the ISO to be rebuilt. For xemu, the game must be rebuilt into an XISO format using Extract XISO GUI
Xbox 360/Xbox 360 (Gold Edition)Xbox 360 XISO ExtractNot needed. Emulators and modded consoles don't require the files to be rebuilt into an ISO.
    *UltraISO has a free version and a paid version. The free version can't be used to rebuild large ISOs that are the size of MUA1. The paid version requires a code to access. Remember that discussions of piracy are not allowed within our community.
    Once you have the necessary program(s), here's the general process for extracting and rebuilding the ISO:
  • Create a folder to store the game and its WIP files. I recommend a folder on your documents or desktop.
  • Inside this folder, create two folders: Extracted Files and Rebuilt ISO
  • If your game downloaded as a .zip file, extract it from the .zip file.
  • Place the ISO inside the Extracted Files folder. PS3 users: place the files from the .zip file in this folder instead.
  • Use the required tool to extract the ISO. The Extracted Files folder should be the output directory. This step does not apply to the PS3.
  • Delete the ISO (or back it up to a safe place). You only need to extract the ISO once. You can work from the same extracted files over and over.
  • Make a backup of the extracted files just in case you mess something up. To do this, simply copy your Extracted Files folder and paste it in another place. I recommend compressing it into a .zip file or .rar file and putting it on a flash drive for safekeeping. You can find a tutorial on how to do that here.
  • Using the methods in the rest of this chapter (and the rest of this tutorial), edit your files to install the mods that you want.
  • If necessary, rebuild the ISO for your game using the required program. The input directory will be Extracted Files, and you should output to Rebuilt ISO.
  • If your console or emulator required you to rebuild the ISO, you can now send the ISO to the console or copy the ISO to the emulator's game directory. If the console or emulator does not require the assets to be rebuilt, you can copy the contents of your Extracted Files to the emulator's game directory or send this to your console. Each console and emulator has a different process for this, so be sure to check out the right methods for what you're using.

Extracted File Contents
    In the previous section, you learned how to extract the contents of the console ISOs. The game data for each version is in the same structure, but it can be found in different places because each console requires different files to run. Here's how to find the important files for modding for each version of the game:

Expand to see steps
    Regardless of your version of the game, there are always 2 main folders related to the game's assets that you will generally interact with: sounds, and z. Here's how to find these on each console:
  • PS2: The two folders can be found at the root of extracted files.
  • PS3: The two folders can be found in PS3_GAME\USRDIR of the extracted files.
  • PSP: The two folders can be found in PSP_GAME\USRDIR of the extracted files.
  • Wii: The two folders can be found in DATA\files of the extracted files.
  • Xbox: The two folders can be found at the root of extracted files.
  • Xbox 360: The two folders can be found at the root of extracted files.
  • Xbox 360 (Gold Edition): The two folders can be found at the root of extracted files. You can also find muadlc_content.zip here, which includes the DLC assets.
    Once you know where to look to find the common folders, you can learn more about extracting files. Proceed below.

The assetsfb File
    Within the z folder of each version of the game is a file called assetsfb, which is extremely important to the console versions. For the PS3 and Xbox 360 (Gold Edition), it is a .zip file. For all other consoles, it's a .wad file. Here's how to access it and how it works:

Expand to see steps
    Like previously mentioned, assetsfb.wad (PS2, PSP, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360) or assetsfb.zip (PS3, Xbox 360 Gold Edition) is a very important file for the console releases. It can be found in the z folder. In order to access it, you will need an archive software like WinRAR or 7-zip.
    This file on the PS2, Xbox, and Xbox 360 (standard edition) cannot be modified normally. You must replace assetsfb.wad with a custom version for these consoles. All other consoles do not have this issue. Here's the download:
    Within assetsfb, you'll find many of the common game folders, like actors, data, or hud. However, you'll see that there aren't many files in these folders. That's because many files are packaged away in FB packages. These can be found in packages\generated, and the next part of this chapter tells you how to modify them. Unlike the PC version, packages contain files instead of simply referencing them. Many mods only require you to drop files into assetsfb, and they don't require you to extract/rebuild FB packages.

FB Tools
    Unlike the PC version, packages actually contain files on consoles, rather than just referencing them. The console packages are .fb files. There are times (such as editing data files or installing skins) where it is necessary to edit the contents of the packages. In order to do so, you need proper tools. Here's how to set them up:

Expand to see steps
    In order to properly extract and rebuild the fb packages, you'll need to download the FB Tools from the latest release of the Marvel Mods Batch Scripts. Here's how to properly install those:
  • From the download, pick the "FB Tools" option.
  • Extract the file that you downloaded.
  • You'll see a folder (FB Tools) and a batch file (FBTools.bat). Go into the FB Tools folder first.
  • Take the files from the FB Tools folder and move them to C:\Windows. This will allow you to run the operations in any folder.
  • Next, move FBTools.bat anywhere that's convenient for you to access, such as your Desktop. Later on if you install QuickBatch, you can keep FBTools.bat in the same place as QuickBatch.

    The batch files is the tool that you actually use to extract and rebuild fb files. Before you use it, there are a few configuration options that you have the option to change (although you don't have to; the default options will work for most people). Here's how:
  • Right click on the tool and choose to edit it with your text editor of choice.
  • The 3 options that you can change are in lines 14, 16, and 18:
    • Line 14: subfolder. This option lets you control if the extracted files are added to a subfolder or not.
      • If you are extracting multiple packages, it is a good idea to use subfolders, especially if you're extracting multiple maps. If that's the case, change it to say set subfolder=true. This option is much safer, because you'll never overwrite a file from another package. On consoles, the packages for maps all have a file that is different but shares a name, so you should always have this option set to true when extracting maps. The only downside to this option is that you have to replace multiple files individually.
      • If you are only extracting one package, or you're extracting multiple packages for one skin for a playable character, then you can change it to say set subfolder=false. Do not do this if you're extracting more than one map package.
    • Line 16: deletepkg. This option lets you control if pkg files extracted with the tool are deleted. These files aren't needed for most players, so you can leave this line alone (set deletepkg=true).
    • Line 18: copybuild. This option lets you control if a separate build batch file is added to the extracted files. This generally isn't necessary, so you can leave this line alone (set copybuild=false).

Extracting and Rebuilding FB Packages
    Once you have the tools to edit the fb packages, you'll be able to extract and rebuild them. Here's how to do that:

Expand to see steps
  • In assetsfb, locate an fb file that you want to edit the contents of. A mod will generally tell you which fb file you need to edit, if any. Later chapters of this tutorial will tell you which fb files to pick for certain types of mods as well. For now, I'm just going to demonstrate the overall process. In this case, I'm looking at the two packages for Wolverine's main skin.
  • Go to the place where your game is stored. Create a folder called WIP. Inside the WIP folder, create a descriptive folder for these packages. For this example, I'll create one called Wolverine.
  • Drag the selected fb packages from assetsfb to your new folder.
  • Drag and drop your selected package(s) onto FBTools.bat. The program will run through several lines of code and then exit. If you don't see the several lines of code, then you didn't properly install the FB Tools to C:\Windows. Warning: drag and drop batch files only support up to 10 files at a time. If you want to extract more than 10, you'll need to place the batch file in the same folder as the fb files and double click it to run it.
  • The contents of the package will be extracted, and each package will have a cfg file created as well. If you picked set subfolder=true, the files will be in a subfolder with the same name as the package. If you picked set subfolder=false, they'll be in the same folder as the package(s). Since I'm only editing the packages for one skin, I picked set subfolder=false, and the files were extracted to the same folder as the packages.
  • Make any necessary modifications to the packages. A mod (or later chapters of this tutorial) will tell you what to change. This can include replacing files (which is more common) or adding files (which also requires you to edit the cfg file, but is less common).
  • Drag and drop your selected cfg file(s) onto FBTools.bat. The program will run through several lines of code and then exit. Warning: drag and drop batch files only support up to 10 files at a time. If you want to extract more than 10, you'll need to place the batch file in the same folder as the fb files and double click it to run it.
  • If there wasn't a package in the folder, a new one will be created. If there was a package in the folder, then its "Last Modified" date will be update. If this doesn't happen, then you didn't properly install the FB Tools to C:\Windows.
  • You can now drag and drop these files back into the correct place in assetsfb.
  • If the "Modified" date changes to be correct in assetsfb, you'll know that the fb files were overwritten successfully.

Where to Go Next
    Now that you understand how to edit the various files in the console versions, you can begin installing mods! You can proceed to any chapter that discusses a mod that you want to install. The console releases of MUA1 do not have any base mods available right now, so you can skip Chapter 4 of this tutorial.
April 15, 2023, 09:36AM #3 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:25AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 4: INSTALLING BASE MODS

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    Unlike the PC, the console releases of MUA1 don't currently have any package mods. Character mods are the main type of mods for those versions of the game. This chapter is a placeholder in case base mods are ever created. You can proceed to the next chapter.

Where to Go Next
    The next type of mod that you can install is character mods and boosters. Character mods are individual new characters that you can add to your game, and boosters are mods that modify existing characters and mods. Proceed to Chapter 5 of this tutorial to learn how to install these mods. If you have another topic that you want to learn about instead, you can move on to that chapter instead.
April 15, 2023, 09:36AM #4 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:26AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 5: INSTALLING CHARACTER MODS AND BOOSTERS

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    This chapter is currently under development! More information will be added soon. In the meantime, here's a brief overview:
  • Character mods are mods that add a new character to the game. Boosters are mods that modify a default character or character mod.
  • There are two parts to installing a character mod or booster: installing the files and setting up the roster. This chapter covers installing the files, and the next chapter covers setting up the roster, which is known as editing the herostat.
  • Console mods must be designed specifically for the console that you're playing on. You can't use PC mods on consoles.
  • Console mod can be found in the Console Mods Release section of the forums. Some have only been uploaded to the Discord server.
  • Most character mods and boosters are set up to where their files can just be dragged and dropped into the game files. After that, you just have to add them to the roster.
April 15, 2023, 09:37AM #5 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:26AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 6: EDITING THE HEROSTAT

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    This chapter is currently under development! More information will be added soon. In the meantime, you can check out Section 4.1 of the old MUA1 Mod Installation Guide, which also covers herostat editing through OpenHeroSelect (OHS). You can also use OpenHeroSelect GUI, which is a new program that adds a user interface and other helpful features to OHS. It has no tutorial on the site yet, but you can find some information on the GitHub page. OHS and OHS GUI are only compatible with Windows 10 and 11, so if you're using an older version of Windows, you must manually edit your herostat. That's covered in Section 4.2 of the old MUA1 Mod Installation Guide.
April 15, 2023, 09:37AM #6 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:26AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 7: EDITING DATA FILES

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    This chapter is currently under development! More information will be added soon. In the meantime, you can check out Section 4.2 of the old MUA1 Mod Installation Guide, which also covers editing data files.
April 15, 2023, 03:05PM #7 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:26AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 8: INSTALLING SKINS, HUDS, AND MANNEQUINS

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    This chapter is currently under development! More information will be added soon. In the meantime, you can check out Section 5.1 and Section 5.2 of the old MUA1 Mod Installation Guide, which also cover installing skins.
April 15, 2023, 03:05PM #8 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:26AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 9: INSTALLING SOUNDS

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    This chapter is currently under development! More information will be added soon. In the meantime, here's a brief overview:
  • Sound mods must be designed specifically for the console that you're playing on. You can't use PC sounds on consoles.
  • There currently aren't any separate sound mods for the console releases.
  • The sound files that are included with character mods can be installed into the extracted assets by putting them in a folder structure with the first and second letter of the file name. Look at the default sound files in the sounds folder for examples.
April 15, 2023, 03:11PM #9 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:27AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 10: INSTALLING MISC MODS AND LOOSE FILES

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    This chapter is currently under development! More information will be added soon. In the meantime, here's a brief overview:
  • Misc mods must be designed specifically for the console that you're playing on. Most PC misc mods won't work on consoles.
  • I'm not aware of any console misc mods, but the PC ones can be found in the Misc Mods section of the forums. Depending on the mod, it might be compatible. Ask on the Discord server if you're unsure.
  • Generally, misc mods need to be added to added to extracted fb packages to work properly.
April 15, 2023, 03:26PM #10 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:27AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 11: PLAYING THE GAME

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    This chapter is currently under development! More information will be added soon. In the meantime, here's a brief overview:
  • Before playing the game, make sure to rebuild any assets (fb files, assetsfb, and/or the ISO if needed).
  • After rebuilding everything, make sure to move the files to the correct place for your emulator or send them to your modded console.
  • Run the game. Make sure that if you modified any data files (.engb, .xmlb), you start a new game with default statistics.
  • If you encounter any issues, first re-read any chapters for the mods you installed after the last time the game worked. Then, start with Chapter 13 of this tutorial to try to determine your issue and solve it.
April 15, 2023, 03:58PM #11 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:27AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 12: ADDITIONAL USEFUL LINKS AND TUTORIALS

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    You're almost at the end of this tutorial! This chapter contains a series of useful links for additional information related to modding your game.

General Helpful Links
  • Library of Links: Links to all the important content on the site.
  • ak2yny's YouTube playlist: A YouTube playlist with a variety of tutorials from different creators. Some of these videos are older and may be outdated.

Gameplay

Additional Modding

Creating Your Own Mods
April 15, 2023, 03:58PM #12 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:27AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 13: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    This chapter covers some frequently asked questions related to modding MUA1. Search through here for answers to questions that you may have during the modding process.

Common Game Errors
  • Q: Why is my mod/game not working?
    • A: You'll have to be more specific. What issues are you having? When do they happen? Answer these questions to yourself, and then use this FAQ to find solutions.
  • Q: Why is my game crashing/freezing/locking up/stuck on a loading screen/not launching?
  • Q: Why are character powers not functioning properly in my game?
  • Q: Why are new mod characters locked whenever I try to select them?
    • A: Character mods will be locked in-game whenever you first add them. If you use OpenHeroSelect (OHS), you can unlock characters through that program. If you're editing the herostat manually, you can unlock characters through a script. For more information on this, check out Chapter 6 of this tutorial.
  • Q: My character has a power where they swap skins, but they don't change to the right skin. Why is that?
  • Q: In Murderworld, the robots aren't taking the appearance of my character. Why is that?
  • Q: What do I do if my question isn't answered here?

Setup, Graphics, and Gameplay
  • Q: Does online play or multiplayer or coop/co-op still work?
    • A: No, not natively, since the servers were shut down for a long time ago. Different modded consoles may have their own ways of playing online. Communities for those consoles are a good place to look for that information. For emulated games, you can use a program called Parsec. The guide for that is in Chapter 12 of this tutorial.

Locating and Downloading Mods
  • Q: I can't find a particular mod, booster, or skin. I've checked the catalogs and the search bar. What do I do?
    • A: You can check Ceamonks890's archive, as he's backed up almost everything. If you can't find it there either, then it probably doesn't exist.
  • Q: The link to a wanted mod, booster, or skin is broken. What should I do?
    • A: First, let us know of the broken link, so we can replace it. Then, check Ceamonks890's archive as he has backed up almost everything.
  • Q: I want to request a new mod, booster, or skin for someone to create. How do I do that?
    • A: Currently, most modders do not accept requests. If a modder does state that they accept requests, you can ask them nicely, once. If they turn you down, do not pester them. If you can't find someone to take your request, you can post about it in the the common request topics or in the #suggestion-box channel on our Discord server, but keep in mind that no one is obligated to take your suggestion. Keep in mind that the best person to create a mod is you! Chapter 12 of this tutorial has a wide variety of tutorials for making your own mods.
April 15, 2023, 03:58PM #13 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:27AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 14: TROUBLESHOOTING

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    This chapter is a troubleshooting guide for common issues with MUA1. You can find solutions to the most common problems here.

Game Crashes
    This section is for game crashes. The following are considered crashes:
  • If the game closes unexpectedly
  • If the game freezes and does not unfreeze
  • If the game does not launch
  • If the game gets stuck on an infinite loading screen
  • If the emulator gives some sort of error

Expand to see solutions
    Different types of crashes and their solutions:
  • The game does not launch
    • There are a few possible reasons for this, depending on when it occurs in the modding process:
      • After changing the herostat: If you exceed the roster size limit for your version of the game (27 for most consoles, 29 for PSP, and 34 for the Xbox 360 Gold Edition), the game will crash when you try to launch it. If you're using OpenHeroSelect (OHS) to edit your herostat, make sure that you're selecting the correct roster size for your version of the game. If you're using XMLBCUI, make sure that you are not adding too many characters to your roster.
      • If none of these issues are the cause, it's possible that you have a corrupt file or some similar issue. The only solution is to restore the default files and try again. Test after installing each mod to see what causes the issue.
  • The game crashes when you start a new game (before or after the opening cutscene):
    • This type of crash is less common, but it can also be the hardest to diagnose. Here are a few possible solutions:
      • First, make sure that you delete your existing save files.
      • If this doesn't solve your issue, it's possible that you have a corrupt file or some similar issue. You may need to start fresh and reinstall mods, checking them one at a time.
  • The game crashes when you select a character:
    • There are a few possibilities here:
      • If the character's mannequin is also missing from the character select screen, then this means that you didn't install the character correctly or at all. Remember that adding the character to the herostat is only part of the process of installing a character, and the character's files must be installed in the correct place. Revisit Chapter 5 of this tutorial to see how to properly install a character.
      • If the character's mannequin does appear, but selecting them crashes the game, it's possible that the skin file is missing/corrupt. This is unlikely with released mods, but it can happen if you modified or hex edited the skin incorrectly. It can also happen if the skin is not compatible with your console. Download a fresh, unmodified copy of the skin and check its compatibility. Then, you can reinstall it. You can learn more in Chapter 8 of this tutorial.
  • The game crashes during a loading screen:
    • This means that your currently selected team has exceeded one of the game's limits. Reduce your team to 2 or 3 characters and try again. If 2 or 3 won't work, try using one character by themselves. You can find more information about limits in the MUA1 PC Limit Documentation thread.

Power Malfunctions
    There are many ways in which a power can fail, but there are usually just a few causes for this. Malfunctions include:
  • Effects not appearing
  • Powers not activating
  • Incorrect animations
  • Powers doing no damage
  • Boosts/passives not applying to characters
  • Characters not swapping to the right skin

Expand to see solutions
    Here is a general guide for dealing with these issues:
  • Skin-related issues (like if a character swaps to the wrong skin) generally occur if the skin is not hex edited correctly. Learn more about hex editing in Chapter 8 of this tutorial.
  • For other power issues, there are several things you can check. First, if you modified any data files (.engb, .xmlb, .pkgb, etc.), including the herostat, make sure that you start a new game and delete your old save files. This is a required step and will help with many power issues. If you've already done this and it hasn't helped, try the next option in this list.
  • Next, reduce the size of your team. Instead of using 4 characters, try using 2 or 3. This will generally help with issues like effects not appearing. If 2 or 3 characters doesn't work, try using just one. If this still doesn't work, try the next option in this list.
  • The next thing that you can try is the cheat code to unlock all powers. This will generally solve issues like powers not activating or passives not applying their effects to characters. These errors are more commonly seen if you have a roster hack installed. Cheat codes are linked in Chapter 12 of this tutorial. The cheat code to unlock all powers only works on the currently selected team of characters, and sometimes you have to enter it twice for it to take effect.
  • If the above options don't work for you, it's possible that you have a corrupt file. It's also possible that the mod itself has issues. If this is the case, you may need to start fresh and reinstall your mods, checking them one by one.
May 25, 2024, 02:42PM #14 Last Edit: May 30, 2024, 05:28AM by BaconWizard17
MUA1  MOD  INSTALLATION  GUIDE  FOR  CONSOLES
CHAPTER 15: HOW TO REPORT AN ISSUE AND ASK FOR HELP

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
    You've gone through the entire tutorial, the FAQ, and the troubleshooting guide, and you still can't find what you're looking for or can't figure out what's wrong. It happens to all of us! This chapter discusses how to ask for help.

Identifying the Issue
    Before reporting an issue, it's important that you're able to say exactly what it is. Here are some tips:
  • Determine when the issue is happening. Does it start happening after you do a certain action? Is it only occuring in a certain area of the game? With a certain character?
  • Determine when you first noticed the issue. Is it ongoing? Did it start after you installed a certain mod? Has it always been the case for you?
  • Determine if there's something that impacts this issue. Do certain actions make it more or less noticeable?

Describing the Issue
    Once you know your issue, you need to be able to properly describe it. Here are some tips:
  • Type up a description of what you've found. Be as detailed as you can, and include all the information from above.
  • In your description, you should include the game that you're playing (MUA1 in this case), the console that you're using, and the tutorial chapter that covers your issue, if any.
  • Also include anything that you've tried to do to fix the issue.
  • Lastly, get some visual representations of the issue. Screenshots and screen recordings can tell a lot more than words by themselves. If you don't know how to take screenshots, here is a tutorial for Windows 10. Most of these methods work on Windows 7 and Windows 11 as well. You can use OBS Studio, an open-source (free) screen recording software, to record your screen. The built-in Xbox Game Bar in Windows 10/11 also allows you to record footage from the game easily.

Reporting the Issue/Asking for Help
    Once you've gathered your information, you can ask us for help on your issue. Here's the best way to do this:
  • Do not reach out to a modder by DMs to ask them for help. It's best to ask for help publicly.
  • For public help, the best place to ask is the #help❗ channel on the Marvel Mods Discord Server. You can also ask for help in the Technical Problems board on our site, but response times will be much slower, and you'll likely be told to come to our Discord server anyways.
  • When asking for help, send all the information you've gathered, including the written description and any images/screen recordings.
  • Be sure to mention which tutorial chapters you checked to find solutions (such as the FAQ or troubleshooting guide).
  • You may not get help right away. Be patient. On the Discord server, if it's been more than a day, you can follow up, but be respectful. Don't tag people unless they're actively helping you, and don't tag people more than once in a row.
  • If someone offers to help you, be respectful to them. They may ask you for more information, including additional screenshots.
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