[FM12] minneapolisJon's Backgrounds - 3,000+ backgrounds

Jon, these are wonderful. Really make a big (and surprising) difference to the enjoyment of the game.

This is a massive long-shot, but any chance you could do the Armenian league? I'd probably be the only one in the game to actually use it, mind

Is this pack bigger than Georgie's background superpack? and can you have both or only one or the other?

Wow, truly awesome work !! Thank you !

Congratulations to minneapolisjon and to those who have been part of this huge and awesome work.

Great work! I noticed that the stadiums do not appear on the club profiles, but that is my only complaint.

Absolutly Fantastic. Ive already downloaded quite a few leagues backgrounds. Its like playing old versions of cm when each teams background was on the disc. Can anybody reccomend a skin that goes well with them though because i just cant get on with the one i currently use and i have found others dont show up very well with the backgrounds.

Cider Ed, the best skin working for me to not mix the background pics and game text is Michael Murray's Base Dark BG skin.

Details here: http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/279828-Football-Manager-2012-Base-Skins

Download here: http://sites.google.com/site/michaeltmurrayuk/Skins/base-skins-for-football-manager-2012

Tom Dixon's Steklo works ok as well, but he's not released his skin yet for FM12.

minneapolisjon - not enough thanks listed for these, so here's another one! Amazing effort and thanks for enhancing my FM experience!

Some really awful news, Jon has been involved in a hit and run accident and is in a really bad way and it's touch and go as to whether he will pull through. If anyone wants to leave a message of support for him then you can do so here at FMView.

http://forum.fm-view.com/topic/14913-jon-minneapolis-hurt-in-crash/page__p__327993

god that is terrible news,

i hope he makes a good recovery.

Oh that is really awful news. It's moving that as he gains consciousness he thinks of Geordie and the marvellous work he's been doing for us. I hope he thinks about himself at this time and puts his best energies into recovering.

Awful to read. Hopefully he pulls through.

Thanks for the thoughts lads.

I am doing alright, got released a few days ago - just taking things easy for a while and try my hand at being a lurker on the forums for a while. I cannot put any energy into GFX this year sadly, as I am not really able to give any project the time that I would like to give it.

But thanks for the concern, it means the world to me.

Cheers,

minne

Hi Jon, I enjoy a lot your backgrounds in my FM game..... Please recover yourself and come back in this forum stronger than ever

hey jon...delighted to see your ok and back here again

just relax mate and take things easy.

Welcome back Jon.

Thanks for the thoughts lads.

I am doing alright, got released a few days ago - just taking things easy for a while and try my hand at being a lurker on the forums for a while. I cannot put any energy into GFX this year sadly, as I am not really able to give any project the time that I would like to give it.

But thanks for the concern, it means the world to me.

Cheers,

minne

That's brilliant news! For goodness' sake, don't worry about the graphics - we'll get by. Just care of yourself man, we're all wishing you the best

Thanks for the thoughts lads.

I am doing alright, got released a few days ago - just taking things easy for a while and try my hand at being a lurker on the forums for a while. I cannot put any energy into GFX this year sadly, as I am not really able to give any project the time that I would like to give it.

But thanks for the concern, it means the world to me.

Cheers,

minne

Good to hear your on the mend mate, don't worry about the graphics your pack is already top notch just kick back and enjoy the holidays mate.

Hope your recovery continues Jon, take it easy mate.

Jon, I'm sure that there are a lot of people who like me may never have had any direct contact with you but who have followed your progress initially with concern and alarm, but now breathing sighs of relief. YNWA.

These packs are something else - fair play!

Few questions if you don't mind:

What skin are you using in the examples?

Secondly, you mention you'll be upgrading the Brazilian pack to include third division clubs, any idea when this will be?

Also, are you planning on doing Colombian and Uruguyan packs?

Finally minneapolisjon, I read you were in a bit of bad way not too long ago on another forum - hope your making a steady recovery! All the best.

These packs are something else - fair play!

Few questions if you don't mind:

What skin are you using in the examples?

Secondly, you mention you'll be upgrading the Brazilian pack to include third division clubs, any idea when this will be?

Also, are you planning on doing Colombian and Uruguyan packs?

Finally minneapolisjon, I read you were in a bit of bad way not too long ago on another forum - hope your making a steady recovery! All the best.

The example pics are from FM10 - using Tom Dixon's excellent Steklo 09.1 Redux (LHS Mod) - but do not fret, the packs work on FM12. I could not be bothered with taking tons of new screen shots which would only look different by using different skins. Tom has an All-New Steklo out for FM12, aptly named Steklo X2, and that can be found here - Steklo X2 on SI's forums Link

As of right now, all my main work is on hold - my physical recovery from the accident is taking a bit longer than I had hoped. I have the ability to do just about everything that I could before, but I am frequently tired. I have MS (a muscluar disorder) that makes both healing take tons more time and effects my hands, legs badly. Doing the four hours of rehab a day, working (at a desk, mostly) 40 hours a week, trying to play the guitar again (I am a musician by night), playing FM, and a six-year relationship with my ladyfriend that needs time leaves me with little time for my love of BG packs. So the Brazilian update, as well Colombia and Uruguay will be waiting a while longer.

Really, I ruled out GFX packs for the full year when I got out of the hospital - but I needed something that could work my manual dexterity back and involved no weight (which ruled out the guitar). So i hit upon the idea of doing some work in PhotoShop, and the "Chairmen" packs helped with that. I wasn't going to release them until I releaized that they could even be put into the game. Then, it was just 30 minutes of coding, and bang - a new facepack.

And lastly, thanks for the support. I cannot tell you how suprised I was to find out that my ladyfriend posted about it on FM-View (my main site, where I am an Admin) and the response that the community gave me. It means a lot thinking that even though we are mostly faceless people in the community, there's enough caring to actually have people go out of their way to wish me good tidings. And yes, my recovery is going quite well. Better than the doctors figured it would by a long shot. I am walking, moving around, and typing this out by hand. Tying shoes is still a massive, 15 minute process, but I could always just get velcro shoes if it really bothered me. Which it doesn't.

Cheers,

minneapolisJon

Ok mate, cheers for the reply - get yourself fit and healthy before worrying about FM!

Hey I downloaded the backgrounds and they look fantastic. HOWEVER, the writing in certain pages are black so I can't see it because of the background... I'm using the default FM12 skin. Is there a way I can change the writing to white so I can see it?

Cheers,

Joe

Hey I downloaded the backgrounds and they look fantastic. HOWEVER, the writing in certain pages are black so I can't see it because of the background... I'm using the default FM12 skin. Is there a way I can change the writing to white so I can see it?

Cheers,

Joe

You need a new skin, one with a filter. I use Jon's wonderful backgrounds alongside this skin http://www.dazs8.com/#/scorpio/4557733472

These packs add so much to the game. Thank you.

Thank you Jon,love the chairmen packs. cheers

Great work, Jon. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to this project

A bit of an update for you lads on my BG's that are almost ready to be released - there are a ton, so bear with me for a moment:

Argentina - 42 teams

Austria - a few more shots

Belguim - 58 clubs

Bolivia - 13 shots - top league and a bonus team!

Brazil - C league

Colombia - 36 teams

Ecuador - 14 teams

France - a few shots

Germany - a few shots

Holland - 36 teams

Mexico - 36 teams

Paraguay - 13 teams

Peru - 27 teams

Uruguay - 17 teams

Venezuela - 19 teams

I am almost there - just the coding left on this project. Should be out soon on my Downloads Page at FM-View for those that are interested in them.

Cheers,

minneapolisJon

Updated - Brazil - Now over 100 shots, all of Series A, B & C as well as tons of teams that compete at the State Championship level in Brazil.

These are amazing, but cout you add club backgrounds to all your configs as they only show on team and stadium.

for example

-----------

You have

<record from="1708" to="graphics/pictures/team/1708/background"/>

<record from="1708" to="graphics/pictures/stadium/1040/background"/>

Well could you do this

<record from="1708" to="graphics/pictures/team/1708/background"/>

<record from="1708" to="graphics/pictures/stadium/1040/background"/>

<record from="1708" to="graphics/pictures/club/1708/background"/>

As youll have noticed ive added to club view to the config

scotty -

I could add those, but as it stands I'd have to hand-create another 3,478 lines of code, which, frankly, isn't going to happen. There is not a program that has "Club" as an option (that I know of) to create an "auto-config" file. I Just don't have the time to re-enter that many lines of code. GFX makers tend to hate the coding bit, and I hate it even more so than most GFX makers.

But for those wishing to do the simple coding themselves, here's a Cut & Paste option for everyone:

<record from="X" to="graphics/pictures/club/X/background"/>

All you need to do is open the config.xml file that is in the folder of the pic of the stadium you want to add the background for, change "X" to the teams' UID that you want to add a club background for and save. You can find the Club's UID in the editor, or simply turn on the "Show UID" option under Preferences -> Display & Sound. After selecting the "show UID", make sure to refresh the skin.

Sorry I cannot do this for the packs, but if anyone knows of a auto-config program that has CLUB has a background option, I'd be happy to do so for both my new packs as well as my old ones. Or, if anyone has 40 hours to kill, they could redo all the configs, and send them my way - and I'll re-upload the packs with it.

Any volunteers?

Cheers,

minne

thanks for replying mate i understand where your coming from , but i think i have a quicker idea. why not copy and paste lets say the part that has pictures/team etc copy and paste it into a blank config then open the new config and goto find and replace and replace the team with club that way it will replce the whole lot for that folder in one go then copy and paste it into the original config and bingo youll have teams, stadiums, clubs

That would work, but even just copy/paste the "team" set of the config.xml, and swapping out "club" for "team" would take more time than I currently have. It would be a simple matter, but doing it 3,000+ times over is something that I would rather not take on for the heck of it. It'd be about 20-40 hours just to redo what I have already done. While it would be a good thing, and something that I will do with all of my new releases, it is not something that I am going to go back and redo. I'd rather just get around to it when I get to updateing that particular nation's stadiums.

The amound of time it would take just to upload 3,000 HD, 1M+ pics in the 118 packs I have out there would be another 20+ hours, even if the only thing changed is the config.xml. These files are quite large, as you may have noticed

If you are up for it, and would put in the legwork on the config for the "club" screen, I'd be happy to take those off your hands and put them into the packs and reload them when I have free time. I do not have that much free time, and have not even played 3 full seasons on FM12. I'd rather use my little free time hunting new pics, improving old packs and playing FM. I need to focus on my enjoyment of the project. Sadly, spending another 40+hours with config.xml files just for one screen is not worth the investment.

But like I said, I'd be happy to take the config.xml if someone else does them and add them to my packs for the future updates. And I'd probably get around to doing those updates quicker...

cheers,

minneapolisjon

i see your point mate but if theres only 118 packs then there will only be 118 configs am i right? and if so you only have to change each config once with what i said, as it will replace the whole config from team or stadium to club in one go

i see your point mate but if theres only 118 packs then there will only be 118 configs am i right? and if so you only have to change each config once with what i said, as it will replace the whole config from team or stadium to club in one go

Erm...sort of.

Each config.xml file contains two lines of code for each picture - the "TEAM" and "STADIUM" lines. My All-England packs (which comes in two parts - but we'll pretend it's one pack for ease-of-understanding) contain 866 pics - so that's 1,732 lines of code in that single config.xml file. You'd have to add (by the Copy & Paste method) a whole other set. I'd suggest c & p'ing the "TEAM" lines of code because the lines contain the right UID in both locations. Then, you'd have to replace the word "TEAM" from the new 866 lines of code and replace it with "CLUB" (if that's the correct phrasing for that background image to show on the "club" screen - I am not sure if it is). And then after all of that is done, there's just 117 packs to go, and then I would have to upload every pack, and update every single link across three sites.

It's a beast of a project, mate - that's why I'm not comitting to it in full. Like I said, if someone went through the trouble to update all of the configs (with the 3,478 new lines of code added and changed) I still would only use them when I updated the pack with new teams and improved shots. The amount of time it would take just to upload those packs and redo all the links is 2 weeks worth of my free time. I cannot really see the benefit of losing that much of my life to putting the stadium on one screen, when it is already there when you click on any other tab other then the "club overview" page, which you'd have to do to see anything useful anyways

I will do it for the new packs, as the time would not be a huge burden (I'd already be in the coding groove) and I'd obviously be planning on uploading that pack and creating links for it. Other than that specific circumstance, I would not expect it to happen. Granted, that circumstance will happen from time-to-time.

Cheers,

minneapolisJon

Updated - Belgium - 61 stadiums are now yours for the taking, including the top two leagues of Belgium in full. Includes a number of lower league teams as well.

Also, the first pack of mine releases with the "Club" screen added to the BG config - look at the pics.

me like alot

Thanks! Positive vibes are always encouraged

UPDATE: Columbia is in tank - 36 stadiums in a nation that is, evidently, not noted for their photographic equipment. Top two leagues in full (minus one 2nd teir club) and a few others.

Link to Columbia download HERE

Update: Just released an all-new pack, Bolivia. Same issue as Columbia, with the photographic equipment being out of the mid-1970's. Got some great pics - they are the best that I could find.

Here's the link: download Bolivia HERE

Like always, some pics for you lads:

Update: an all-new nation is complete for their top league - Ecuador. That's right, Ecuador. Brimming with seats and stands and grass - this pack will be sure to force you to look for an atlas and find this little footballing nation. (hint: try along the equator)

Download Ecuador HERE

Like usual, here's some pics:

Cheers,

minne

Update: Italy just got the treatment. The previous release of this had 41 stadiums, this has 141. That's right, 100 new stadiums, with the other 41 being reworked, replaced, or tweaked for an even better picture. This pack contains the Serie A, Serie B, Serie C1 (both A & B), Serie C2 (both A & B) as well as tons of lower league clubs for your Italian experience.

Grab it here: Italy's download page

Per the usual agreements, here's some pics:

great job but i have problem downloading file @ rapidshare for italy pack possible to upload to file front ?

Filefront had issues when I tried to upload to it over the last 3 days - I'm currently at work, but I will try to get it up on Filefront over the next two days. Sorry that you have issues with Rapidshare - but it was the only site working for me to upload onto without paying for it.

any other thoughts or suggestions as to other sites would be great - I aim to please

Cheers,

minneapolisJon

Topper -

Italy is now uploaded to filefront- get it here: Italy backgrounds on Filefront

Cheers,

minne

It's great to see your backgrounds again and they look awesome, as always.

Thanks for sharing.