radestock

I think I might have mentioned this before but I really hope that the way FM handles wrongly installed skins is improved for the next edition of the game. The steady stream of 'blank screen' and 'skin not loaded after 20 minutes' threads on the various forums shows just how poor the current system is.

Having to ctrl+alt+delete out of the game without any feedback is something users shouldn't have to do if they are new to skins and accidently include an extra folder level when unzipping. I know that seasoned useres might take the 'well, they should have read the instructions' attitude but put yourself in the shoes of a newbie. someone not particularly computer litereate who might not have even used a zip file before - seeing the game handle the problem as it does would be more than concerning. The 'read me' files people include are often not the greatest anyway.

The most obvious answer is to include pop up messages when skin errors occur that give information on what the problem is and possibly how to remedy it. I really think that should be a minimum measure in any future versions of FM.

My preffered method though would be for FM to do the work for you, direct from zip files.

An option in the preferences is included to 'add a new skin'. This opens a file browser like for opening save games where the user points to the zipped skin they want to install. FM then unpacks and installs the skin in the right place and also checks that the contents of the zip are actually workable. This would leave it up to the skinners to make sure that all the right files are included and takes the possibility of installation errors out of the equation entirely. If there would be licsense issues with using zips then perhaps a dedicated FM compressed skin file type could be used. Perhaps a small utility where a skinner adds their files and then it compresses them into a .skn file or similar.

I realise the likelyhood of my preffered system is remote for the next release but its something that I don't think should be forgotten about. Either way, if just the basic skin error reporting isn't included in some form then I would be dissapointed.

Ter

I totally agree and is something I've brought up and is something that will be done (whether that is in time for FM 2006, I just don't know)

What I would like for installing skins is a little program that will package up your skin for you, then it's just a matter of whoever downloads it running the file and it will install to the correct place.

s33r

Perhaps another idea would be for FM to default to the default skin if a newly installed one doesn't work and the a message say

"X skin could not be loaded as a result the default skin has been installed. Please check your installation."

Just a thought.

radestock

That sounds pretty much what I was thinking. Taking out the possibility of user error. Good to know its an issue that is being looked at.

Graeme Kelly

*.skn is © NHL EHM 2005