How does Island Extensions work?

Development Modding ARK: Survival Evolved
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1

I don’t understand the Island Extension cooking mode.
I’ve searched the forum, but didn’t find much things about it.

I’ve tried the Pandora Isle sample. This sample adds two giant rocks in the sky. The source is composed of two files : a rock mesh and a level with 2 rocks.
I don’t understand why the level is stored in the folder “Content\Maps\TheIslandSubMaps”. The map doesn’t show in the cooking panel (the text control is empty).
I tried to move the level in the folder “Content\Mods\PandoraIsle”, but the problem is the same.

When I cook the map extension, it’s loaded normaly in the game, but the big rocks are not here (the level was not cooked) :frowning:

The “map extension” cooking mode seems to be a great way to modify the environnement (weather, spawn, biomes…), making very light and stackable mods, but is not well documented, or used.

Please share what you know about it. :slight_smile:

2

Hey, i suggest using the forum search, i explained the process in a thread a while ago.
Also this is the third thread on the main forum currently where P0k3r explained it aswell: Map extensions - ARK: Survival Evolved - Unreal Engine Forums

You will need to type in the level name in the “Maps” field for anything to get cooked!

3

Thanks again Mezzow, what would I do without you !

4

One more problem :frowning:
I downloaded the Pandora Isle source and tried to cook it as map extension : it works in the game :slight_smile:
I made a mod that move the Ocean up and down (Ocean Tide) : It works in the editor, but not in game :frowning:

How did I make the mod ?

  • I put the TestGameMod and PrimalGameData files in the mod folder

  • I put blueprint code in TestGameMod that :
    — Remove PhysicsVolumes from 1 to 36, identified to be the water volumes for the ocean
    — Move waterPlane and PostProcessing volume up and down
    — Move PhysicVolumes located in a custom layer map up and down

  • I made a custom map with PhysicVolumes copied from TheIsland to replace originals that where remove by the code

  • I cook Island extention, with the good map name :OK

  • I upload, and verify on the Workshop :OK

  • I lauch the game, the mod is well loaded, the map loads OK during game loading

In the game, the water goes up and down as wanted, the postprocess is OK
When you enter in water, you see that the postprocessing is working, but you don’t swim (the original physic volume are well removed)
You walk on the floor under water, can’t swim, no fish, dead marine animals, herbivore walking under water, some Trylobites)

I believe the map is not well loaded, but what did I miss ?

Sorry for this too long text, hope I was clear :slight_smile:

EDIT : I tried to add the rock mesh to my map : I can’t see them in the game. Only the code work.

5

OK, it almost work !!!
I reinstalled the dev kit, maybe that was the problem…
My mod is almost working.
Here is how I did :

  • I placed a new map in maps/TheIsland folder
  • I made a folder with the name of my mod
  • I copied the water PhysicVolumes from TheIsland to my empty map
  • I put code in level blueprint that :
    • remove original water physic volumes
    • move in realtime the water plane and postprocessing volume up and down
  • Cook my mod the Island Extension option.

In game, the water move up and down, I can make a tsunami or drain completely some places. In this case, fishes dies on the ground. When the water goes up, pteros flies away, turtle and other dinos swims, it’s fun !

There is still a problem : at certain places, it seems that some water volumes are not removed. When looking in the direction of the ocean, we can see fishes and dolphins swimming in the middle of the air. It’s fun too, but not wanted. I did not find other water volumes at this place, maybe there are boundaries…