Overview
Like in the title, some fun with files.
Let’s start.
Hello, what I want to show in this Guide is how to copy cars from Grid 2/Autosport/DiRT2/Dirt 3 Complete Edition to Dirt Rally. It’s possible because these games are made by Codemasters and based on EGO engine game v1.0/2.1.
Remember, this method replacing only 3d car model, livery, cockpit, sound engine.
Physics car should be the same, but I felt cars are not the same in driving. In my opinion game engine using another dimensions of your copied car to calculate handling.
/is possible how to keep original DIrt Rally car physics. Just check next section.
Let’s do it.
Back up your files!
From Dirt Rally > Cars directory.
PROCEDURE IS THE SAME FOR COPYING EVERY CAR.
Basic files.
For example I made guide how to replace 208 Pikes Peak from Dirt Rally by Agera from Grid 2.
As first you need to copy .nd2, .ppts, _AO.pssg, _anim_dummies.pssg _highLOD.pssg, _lowLOD.pssg files from source game (Grid 2/Autosport/Dirt 3 CE),
Those files are located in Game/Cars/models/car/.
Select:
Grid 2/Cars/models/koe and copy koe.nd2, koe.ppts, koe_AO.pssg, koe_anim_dummies.pssg, koe_highLOD.pssg, koe_lowLOD.pssg
And paste in Dirt Rally/Cars/models/208 these files.
Now delete based 208. car files.
Later replace names files from “koe” to “208”.
Names before: koe.nd2, koe.ppts, koe_AO.pssg, koe_anim_dummies.pssg, koe_highLOD.pssg, koe_lowLOD.pssg
And after -> 208.nd2, 208.ppts, 208_AO.pssg, 208_anim_dummies.pssg, 208_highLOD.pssg, 208_lowLOD.pssg.
Notify.
At the beginning of this guide I mentioned about mixed and original physics.
Physics contain .nd2 and .ppts files, responsible as including axle base. Here is compare:
Texture files.
Copy:
Grid 2/Cars/models/koe/livery_00/textures_high/koe_tex_high_00.pssg
Grid 2/Cars/models/koe/livery_00/textures_high/koe_tex_tm_high_00.pssg
>
And paste these 2 Agera’s texture files here:
Dirt Rally/Cars/models/208/livery_00/textures_high
Delete all 208. files.
Later rename copied files: replace “koe” to “208”.
Not always you need to change only “cara” to “carb” but often number of texture like:
a8c_tex_high_user.pssg, evx_tex_high_09.pssg
Names of these files should look like this:
208_tex_high_00.pssg, 208_tex_tm_high_00.pssg.
Do the same with livery_00/textures_low catalog.
If you want, copy here textures files from textures_high and in name files change “high” to “low”.
Game using textures from textures_low when on the stage are precipitation like snow or rain. Really, I put in game Peugeot 207 and with stock textures configuration I counted the pixels on the car. Later I copied high textures to textures_low destination and the car looks great with high resolution livery.
You must know which livery you want replace and use in game. Everything is under as an example image:
(better quality – click, next right mouse button, view image, zoom).
For identification use Ego PSSG Editor.
Don’t forget: original name your copied texture must be the same. What I mean? Not always you will be copying textures from livery_00 but like livery_11, livery_41.
You need to keep the attention on: car_tex_tm_high_00.pssg. Number of catalog texture, and files must be like in original (in Dirt Rally).
In textures catalogs are not always 2 files like with Agera, but a different number of files.
Pro simple tip: always copy all files from source car.
2/4 done.
Interiors files.
Like you see on one of screenshots, I forgot about copying cockpits files. The result is Agera car with 208 cockpit, and driver’s head over the roof 😀
Copy all files from:
grid 2/cars/interiors/models/koe
Go to
Dirt Rally/cars/interiors/models/208 and paste.
Remove all int_208 files.
Rename all int_koe files to int_208.
Nofity.
I feel sorry, not everything works fine..
If you copy interior from Grid 2/Autosport all files, will works correctly.
From DiRT 2/Dirt 3CE:
Some files crashes the game!
For save your patience, I recommend to copy only int_car.pssg and int_car.xml..
Sometimes even you copy these two files game will crash and the fix is must use default interiors files.
Some files won’t work and I’m trying to find which and understand why.
3/4 done.
Sound engine files.
Dirt 3 CE sound engine files location:
Sometimes it’s hard to find file what you need, because models name (like cr4 for Colin Mcrae R4 car) are not always included in carsoundengine.bdl.
How to use it.
-run the game
-run the trainer
-in trainer click “sound file finder now – ON”
-choose stage, car.
After load the stage file.bdl will be displayed:
Well, I can’t share here links to sound file finder trainers. If you want it, leave the message on my profile or add to friends.
All credits goes to @Anton.
Grid 2:
Here is easy to find file which you need.
In Autosport are located like in Dirt Rally – Grid Autosport/cars/models/car/bundles/soundfile.bdl.
Paste your selected file to:
Dirt Rally/cars/models/car/bundles:
-copy original file name
-remove this file
-rename your copied file to original name.
This part of this guide is the funniest. You can play like VW Polo with diesel sound engine of VW Touareg.
4/4.
Done!
Finally.
Don’t forget: car files names in Dirt Rally must be the same. In otherwise game will crash or textures will not be rendered. Keep focus with renaming files.
Notify about Grid Autosport.
Before copying the files check that you have downloaded high resolution textures as DLC.
Without it, you will don’t have textures_high catalog in livery_number. This DLC is available for free.
Also also I think copying single seaters is unavailable. I copied Caparo T1 and correctly worked only throttle and brake. Steering left-right doesn’t work.
Don’t suggest about screenshots – I made only images when I replaced 208 by another cars, because Pikes Peak and 208 PP are my favourites in this game. You can swap every car in every mode (Rally, Rallycross, Hillclimb).
Grid 2/Autosport no wheels like it:
Why? Because cars from these games using one type of wheels and one setup for one surface (tarmac), in opposite to Dirt 2/Dirt Rally – tarmac and gravel.
It’s when you replaced car in rally mode and choosed stage in Greece/Wales/Sweden. It’s possible to fix it by editing databases files.
Also I tried to copy Grid 1/Dirt 1 cars, but it’s not available. Too much files, too much work in database files, probably it’s not possible. Even the Ryder (Ego CTF/PSSG editor creator) said this.
Have fun.
Screenshots.
