Custom Track Tutorial

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This tutorial will explain you how to create your own custom track. If you only want to create a Texture Hack, you only need to follow the Texturing tutorial.

If you have any doubts or can't understand something of the tutorial, you can write it in the Discussion page. Someone will clarify it for you and possibly edit the tutorial so the understanding of that part is easier.

What You Need

SZS Explorer
This program will let you manage the files inside a SZS archive (such as objects, route data, and textures, ECT), and convert OBJ files (exported with 3D modeling programs) to the BRRES format used in Mario Kart Wii.
SZS Modifier
This program allow's you edit all the files required for custom track making. It's required for editing the things that CTools currently cannot edit such as object and route data (found in KMP files). However, this program cannot expand files
KMP Modifier
This program is the only one at the time that can expand & edit KMPs (Such as extra objects, routes, restore points, ECT) that the SZS Modifier can't. Consult the KMP editing page for more info.
For creating the model, you can choose between:
- Google Sketchup (Recommended)
- Any other 3D modeler program; must be used along with Blender
- MS Paint (Obsolete, NOT recommended anymore)
The track's files. You can simply base your track off of another custom track (Fishdom Island works very well for this as it loads almost anywhere), or obtain the original track files (How do I get them?). You can also create an SZS file from scratch using CTools however you will need to extract the KMP and the KCL file from another custom or original track.

If you are only going to texture hack the track, you only need CTools and the track's files. You will probably need an image editor such as Photoshop, GIMP, or Paint.NET. GIMP or Paint.net are recommended because they are free, and have features such as transparency that MS Paint doesn't have.

Optional

Wiimms SZS Tools
This tools are optional and replace SZS Modifier and/or SZS Explorer in some aspects. They allow to create SZS files automatically using scripts (batch files).
Hex Editor
For experienced hackers or experimental purposes only. You might need this for some more advanced hacks, however it will be needed less often as CTools is updated.

Tutorials

These tutorials must be followed in the order that you plan to make your custom track. It is recommended to start with the model (BRRES) and solidity (KCL), then move on to map data (KMP) and everything else.

If you're going to create a Texture Hack you only need to follow the Texturing tutorial.

Modeling With 3D Editor
- How to make your track with a 3D model editor and convert it to a BRRES file which Mario Kart Wii can load
Modeling With Paint (OBSOLETE AND NOT RECOMMENDED)
- How to make your track with MS Paint and import into a BRRES file
Texturing
- How to change the colors and textures of your track to be the way you want to.
Solidity
- How to make your track properly solid.
How To Swap Animations
- How to swap animations to create special effects & import animations from other games
Important Stuff
- How to create the minimap
- How to make a cannon
- How to texture and model hack things other than the course (e.g. objects, skybox)
- How to create objects such as Goombas or giant mushrooms within a track
- How to swap out posteffects
KMP Editing
- How to edit map data within a KMP file using the SZS Modifier, and expand it (adding extra objects or points) with the KMP Modifier
Custom Music
- How to convert any music file to a BRSTM file, which is readable by many Nintendo games including Mario Kart Wii.