This is a project made to automate part of the process of creating custom characters in Mario Kart Wii.
It takes the character model and textures out of a source SZS file and insert them into the slot of a chosen character, with the option to choose which character's animations and vehicle textures to use.
This program needs a few things installed to run properly:
Once these are installed, simply download character_killer.py and place it wherever you like.
To use this program, type this into a terminal window in the same location as character_killer.py:
python character_killer.py
This will open the program. In the window that comes up, follow these steps:
- Select the character slot you'd like to replace.
- Select the character whose animations you'd like to use. (If left at Default, it will use the same animations as the slot).
- Select the character whose vehicle textures you'd like to use. (If left at Default, it will use the same vehicles as the slot).
- Click the button labelled MKWii ISO. You will need to provide either an ISO or WBFS file of Mario Kart Wii.
- Click the button labelled Source Character. You will need to provide an SZS file that already contains the custom character.
- Click the button labelled Output Folder. Choose a destination for the modified SZS files; it will create a folder titled
updated_szsin this location. - Click the button labelled Patch Files!. Once finished, the program will give the option to open the
updated_szsfolder.
Click to reveal: What does the program actually do with the files?
First, Wiimm's ISO Tools are used to extract the character files from the MKWii ISO. For example, if Mario is selected, it will extract ma_bike-mr.szs, ma_kart-mr.szs, etc. from files/Race/Kart and put them in a temporary folder .tmp. The files extracted from the ISO depend on the animations and vehicle textures chosen.
Wiimm's SZS Tools are then used to extract the character files. It will extract the source SZS file to .tmp/source/szs, then extract the driver_model.brres file to .tmp/source/brres. The same thing is done to the 12 character SZS files, with the SZS files extracted to .tmp/anim/szs and .tmp/kart/szs, and the driver BRRES files extracted to .tmp/anim/brres.
The model.mdl file, model_lod.mdl file, and Textures(NW4R) folder of each extracted driver BRRES are then replaced with the models and textures of the source SZS file. The kart_model.brres file from each extracted SZS file in .tmp/anim/szs is then replaced with the kart BRRES from .tmp/kart/szs.
Finally, Wiimm's SZS Tools are used to rebuild the driver BRRES files, which are then put in the extracted SZS folders, which are then rebuilt and put into the updated_szs folder. The .tmp folder is deleted.
Contributing is absolutely welcome. Feel free to fork this repository and make edits and changes as needed.
This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.