Startup Media: Difference between revisions
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=== {{src|2}} Engine === | === {{src|2}} Engine === | ||
Source will play '''{{path|sound | Source will play '''{{path|sound/ui/gamestartup*|mp3}}''' when it finishes loading the main menu after the application is launched. The asterisk matches anything at all (including nothing), so feel free to give your files descriptive names. If more than one file matches, a choice will be made at random. | ||
All files must be encoded at 44.1 KHz. | All files must be encoded at 44.1 KHz. | ||
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=== {{gldsrc|2}} Engine === | === {{gldsrc|2}} Engine === | ||
GoldSrc will play '''{{path|media | GoldSrc will play '''{{path|media/gamestartup|mp3}}''' or Redbook CD track 29 when it finishes loading the main menu after the application is launched. The track will loop and continue to play until a map is loaded. | ||
{{bug|If the game directory is {{path|valve}}, the startup track will continue to play across multiple maps until another track is called!}} | {{bug|hidetested=1|If the game directory is {{path|valve}}, the startup track will continue to play across multiple maps until another track is called!}} | ||
Alternatively, create a file named {{file|playlist|txt}} in the mod's root directory and insert the following (adjusting MP3 path accordingly). The track will play every time the main menu is visited, instead of only upon game startup. | |||
<source>"PlayList" | |||
{ | |||
"Splash" "sound/music/yourmenumusic.mp3" | |||
}</source> | |||
== Startup Videos == | == Startup Videos == | ||
'''Startup videos''' is the video that plays when booting up the game, after the game has reached the end of the list inside the {{Code|StartupVids.txt}} file, the main menu appears. | '''Startup videos''' is the video that plays when booting up the game, after the game has reached the end of the list inside the {{Code|StartupVids.txt}} file, the main menu appears. | ||
You can change the startup video for a game by placing the following files in the {{path|<moddir> | You can change the startup video for a game by placing the following files in the {{path|<moddir>/media}} folder: | ||
* {{path|valve|avi}} file - for {{gldsrc|4}} (Retail/WON version) | * {{path|valve|avi}} file - for {{gldsrc|4}} (Retail/WON version) | ||
* {{path|valve|avi}} file (or other specified in StartupVids.txt) - for {{src06|4}} or earlier | * {{path|valve|avi}} file (or other specified in StartupVids.txt) - for {{src06|4}} or earlier | ||
* {{path|valve|bik}} file (or other specified in StartupVids.txt) - for {{src07|4}} and later | * {{path|valve|bik}} file (or other specified in StartupVids.txt) - for {{src07|4}} and later, also {{Tf2branch|1}} but only in 32-bit mode. | ||
* {{path|valve|webm}} file (or other specified in StartupVids.txt) - for {{gldsrc|4}} (post-25th anniversary update), and {{source|4}} games/branches that have been modified to include WebM support (such as {{Strata|4}}), aswell as {{csgobranch|4}} and {{src2|4}}. | * {{path|valve|webm}} file (or other specified in StartupVids.txt) - for {{gldsrc|4}} (post-25th anniversary update), and {{source|4}} games/branches that have been modified to include WebM support (such as {{Strata|4}}), aswell as {{csgobranch|4}}, {{tf2branch|4}} (64-bit only) and {{src2|4}}. | ||
** Please note that in {{Gldsrc|4}} (post-25th anniversary), audio in the WebM video is muted and instead the game will try to play the {{path|<moddir>/sound/ui/valve_sound|wav}} file instead, which is much lower quality when played in-game (unless MetaHook is used). | ** Please note that in {{Gldsrc|4}} (post-25th anniversary), audio in the WebM video is muted and instead the game will try to play the {{path|<moddir>/sound/ui/valve_sound|wav}} file instead, which is much lower quality when played in-game (unless MetaHook is used). | ||
If you are making a mod for {{hl2| | If you are making a mod for {{hl2|2}} (or other {{source|1}} games) you can place any AVI, [[BIK|Bink Video]] (BIK), MOV (for {{mac|1}}), or [[WebM]] (if the engine has WebM support added) file in your mod's {{path|media}} folder. In order for the video to play when you start your mod you will need to create a {{code|StartupVids.txt}} file in the {{path|media}} folder. Inside {{code|StartupVids.txt}} you simply specify the filename(s) of the video(s) you want to be played on a separate line. | ||
For example: | For example: | ||
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media/vid3.webm | media/vid3.webm | ||
</nowiki>}} | </nowiki>}} | ||
{{bug|tested={{srcsdk13sp}}, {{srcsdk13mp}}, {{Tf2branch}}|In all games on {{src13|4}}, the extension is completely ignored and it will only play [[bik]] files. For example, if you set {{Path|media/video1|mp4}} in {{Path|StartupVids|txt}}, it will play {{Path|media/video1|bik}} instead. Similarly on all {{tf2branch|1}} games, by default it was set to {{Path|media/valve|avi}}, but launching in 32-bit will play {{path|media/valve|bik}} and 64-bit will play {{path|media/valve|webm}} instead.}} | |||
Keep in mind that an AVI video will need to be encoded using the Cinepak codec. It is not known whether audio codecs other than [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/xaudio2/adpcm-overview Microsoft ADPCM] are supported. | Keep in mind that an AVI video will need to be encoded using the Cinepak codec. It is not known whether audio codecs other than [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/xaudio2/adpcm-overview Microsoft ADPCM] are supported. | ||
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For MOV (QuickTime), it is only supported in {{mac|4}}. | For MOV (QuickTime), it is only supported in {{mac|4}}. | ||
For WebM, it is only supported in {{gldsrc|4}} (after {{hl}}'s 25th anniversary update), {{csgo|4}} (after Panorama update), some third-party {{source|4}} games, and fully supported in {{source2|4}} onwards. | For WebM, it is only supported in {{gldsrc|4}} (after {{hl}}'s 25th anniversary update), {{csgo|4}} (after Panorama update), {{tf2branch|4}} (launched in 64-bit only), some third-party {{source|4}} games, and fully supported in {{source2|4}} onwards. | ||
When encoding the startup video note that older versions of {{src07|4}} does not properly support all Bink video resolutions, and only up to 1024x768. When using an unsupported video size (let's say 720x480) only the first few seconds of the video will display. After that it will freeze and you will only hear the video's sound, also the game may possibly briefly freezes with a "Not Responding" shown on the game's titlebar (if run on windowed mode), or the Busy cursor appears with the hl2.exe is not responding message. Another possibility is that the video will not play at all. This was later fixed in the {{src13|4}} and {{l4dbranch|4}}es onwards respectively, and these later games do play the startup videos in higher resolutions without freezing. | When encoding the startup video note that older versions of {{src07|4}} does not properly support all Bink video resolutions, and only up to 1024x768. When using an unsupported video size (let's say 720x480) only the first few seconds of the video will display. After that it will freeze and you will only hear the video's sound, also the game may possibly briefly freezes with a "Not Responding" shown on the game's titlebar (if run on windowed mode), or the Busy cursor appears with the hl2.exe is not responding message. Another possibility is that the video will not play at all. This was later fixed in the {{src13|4}} and {{l4dbranch|4}}es onwards respectively, and these later games do play the startup videos in higher resolutions without freezing. | ||
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If you want to skip the startup videos, you can add the {{code|-novid}} parameter to your [[Command Line Options#Source_Games|Command Line]]. | If you want to skip the startup videos, you can add the {{code|-novid}} parameter to your [[Command Line Options#Source_Games|Command Line]]. | ||
{{Note|In {{p3|4}}, the startup video (except the Zoom Platform) was hardcoded into the a entity on the {{Path|mainmenu|bsp}} map instead of the StartupVids.txt file, which would run a command to play all 5 intro files ([[Akella]], RWS, Trashmasters intro, and the Source and {{nvidia|1}}'s PhysX legal and copyright notices). To skip the startup video, rename the following files in {{path|p3 | {{Note|In {{p3|4}}, the startup video (except the Zoom Platform) was hardcoded into the a entity on the {{Path|mainmenu|bsp}} map instead of the StartupVids.txt file, which would run a command to play all 5 intro files ([[Akella]], RWS, Trashmasters intro, and the Source and {{nvidia|1}}'s PhysX legal and copyright notices). To skip the startup video, rename the following files in {{path|p3/media}} and {{path|p3_english/media}} (or {{path|p3_<language>/media}}) folder:<br> | ||
*{{path|logo_1_akella|bik}} | *{{path|logo_1_akella|bik}} | ||
*{{path|logo_2_RWS|bik}} | *{{path|logo_2_RWS|bik}} | ||
Latest revision as of 07:21, 20 May 2025
Startup Music
Startup music is music that plays on the main menu when booting up the game, but does not play when returning to the main menu from elsewhere in the game.
Source Engine
Source will play 
sound/ui/gamestartup*.mp3 when it finishes loading the main menu after the application is launched. The asterisk matches anything at all (including nothing), so feel free to give your files descriptive names. If more than one file matches, a choice will be made at random.
All files must be encoded at 44.1 KHz.
Tip:Startup music can be disabled by starting with -nostartupsound.
Warning:Only MP3 files are supported, and they do not loop.
GoldSrc Engine
GoldSrc will play media/gamestartup.mp3 or Redbook CD track 29 when it finishes loading the main menu after the application is launched. The track will loop and continue to play until a map is loaded.
Bug:If the game directory is 
valve, the startup track will continue to play across multiple maps until another track is called!Alternatively, create a file named 
playlist.txt in the mod's root directory and insert the following (adjusting MP3 path accordingly). The track will play every time the main menu is visited, instead of only upon game startup.
"PlayList"
{
"Splash" "sound/music/yourmenumusic.mp3"
}Startup Videos
Startup videos is the video that plays when booting up the game, after the game has reached the end of the list inside the StartupVids.txt file, the main menu appears.
You can change the startup video for a game by placing the following files in the <moddir>/media folder:
valve.avifile - for GoldSrc (Retail/WON version)valve.avifile (or other specified in StartupVids.txt) - for
Source 2006 or earliervalve.bikfile (or other specified in StartupVids.txt) - for
Source 2007 and later, also Team Fortress 2 branch but only in 32-bit mode.valve.webmfile (or other specified in StartupVids.txt) - for GoldSrc (post-25th anniversary update), and Source games/branches that have been modified to include WebM support (such as 
Strata Source), aswell as 
CS:GO engine branch, 
Team Fortress 2 branch (64-bit only) and 
Source 2.
If you are making a mod for 
Half-Life 2 (or other Source games) you can place any AVI, Bink Video (BIK), MOV (for macOS), or WebM (if the engine has WebM support added) file in your mod's media folder. In order for the video to play when you start your mod you will need to create a StartupVids.txt file in the media folder. Inside StartupVids.txt you simply specify the filename(s) of the video(s) you want to be played on a separate line.
For example:
Bug:In all games on 
Source 2013, the extension is completely ignored and it will only play bik files. For example, if you set media/video1.mp4 in StartupVids.txt, it will play media/video1.bik instead. Similarly on all Team Fortress 2 branch games, by default it was set to media/valve.avi, but launching in 32-bit will play media/valve.bik and 64-bit will play media/valve.webm instead. (tested in: 
, 
, )Keep in mind that an AVI video will need to be encoded using the Cinepak codec. It is not known whether audio codecs other than Microsoft ADPCM are supported.
DivX is also supported, however there appears to be a size limit to the startup video, so if a video is not played then its file size is too large, this has been tested with an AVI file over 100 MB.
You can get the BINK video encoder for free from RAD on their site at RAD Game Tools
Note:RAD Tools is a commercial product and can't be used legally without purchasing a license for its use in your Source mods. This was pointed out to be by Jeff of RAD Game Tools.For MOV (QuickTime), it is only supported in 
macOS.
For WebM, it is only supported in GoldSrc (after 
's 25th anniversary update), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (after Panorama update), Team Fortress 2 branch (launched in 64-bit only), some third-party Source games, and fully supported in Source 2 onwards.
When encoding the startup video note that older versions of Source 2007 does not properly support all Bink video resolutions, and only up to 1024x768. When using an unsupported video size (let's say 720x480) only the first few seconds of the video will display. After that it will freeze and you will only hear the video's sound, also the game may possibly briefly freezes with a "Not Responding" shown on the game's titlebar (if run on windowed mode), or the Busy cursor appears with the hl2.exe is not responding message. Another possibility is that the video will not play at all. This was later fixed in the Source 2013 and 
Left 4 Dead engine branches onwards respectively, and these later games do play the startup videos in higher resolutions without freezing.
To Remove the Startup Video
Simply create StartupVids.txt in media and leave the contents blank.
If you want to skip the startup videos, you can add the -novid parameter to your Command Line.
Note:In 
Postal III, the startup video (except the Zoom Platform) was hardcoded into the a entity on the mainmenu.bsp map instead of the StartupVids.txt file, which would run a command to play all 5 intro files (Akella, RWS, Trashmasters intro, and the Source and Nvidia's PhysX legal and copyright notices). To skip the startup video, rename the following files in p3/media and p3_english/media (or p3_<language>/media) folder:Alternatively, you can also use -nostartupmenu and -dev at the same time to disable loading the main menu map automatically, and skip the intro.