Oblivion

About this mod

Replaces the original loading screens with over 2000 DarkUI-style loading screens focused on the environment. There are no "action shots," character portraits, etc. Any loading screens with characters in them are not focused on the character.

You can choose between Original Text (Bethesda's text), No Text, or Random Quotes.

Requirements
Permissions and credits
Translations
  • Spanish
Mirrors
Donations
Name: Atmospheric Loading Screens
Version: 4.05
Date: 10/10/2011
Category: User Interfaces
Required: Shivering Isles, Official Patch 1.2.0416
Recommended: Oblivion Mod Manager
Author(s): Galahaut and Vacuity
Source: https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/8958
Forum: http://forums.bethsoft.com/index.php?/topic/1229914-relz-atmospheric-loading-screens-thread-6/

Description
===========
Replaces the original loading screens with 2011 unique DarkUI-style loading screens focused on the environment, using personal screenshots and screenshots contributed by community members. There are no "action shots," character portraits, etc. Any loading screens with characters in them are not focused on the character. As of version 0.99, loading screens for the Shivering Isles are included.

Note that some of the loading screens, especially the Shivering Isles ones, may display some quest or plot spoilers due to the location and/or subject matter of the screenshots.

As of version 0.99, this mod REQUIRES the Shivering Isles expansion. Version 0.95 will remain available for download, but all future versions will require Shivering Isles.

From version 0.85 and on, this mod will come in a few different versions. Currently, there is a "No Text" version, an “Original Text” version, and a "Random Quotes" version, which has quotes randomly assigned to each loading screen. Using Darkbirdy's XML, edited by Zarius, and sent to me by ICUP, the loading bar is moved above the load screen, and the text is displayed in the empty area below the load screen.

It is unlikely that any additional text versions will be created in the near future, but if anyone would like to create their own ESP with different text and release it and/or include it in this mod, please contact me.

Current Options
=========
No Text - 2011 screens with no text. The loading bar will still be moved to the top. If you want the bar to remain in its original position, use the XML from "Dark UI Loading Screens" by Darkbirdy instead of the one included with this mod.

Original Text – 2011 screens with the original Bethesda text. A few loading screens related to the main quest will only display in their originally intended areas, but the rest will display anywhere. Recommended for people that still want or need to read Bethesda’s lore, hints, information, etc. Loading screens showing the entrance to the Shivering Isles will only display in the Shivering Isles in this version, unlike the other two versions, where these screens can display anywhere.

Random Quotes - 2011 screens with random quotes. Currently includes quotes from H.P. Lovecraft, Ernest Hemingway, Edgar Allan Poe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Benjamin Disraeli, J.R.R. Tolkien, Friedrich Nietzsche, Immanuel Kant, Aristotle, William Butler Yeats, Thomas Moore, Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Henry David Thoreau, Rene Descartes, Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, C.S. Lewis, Orson Welles, Aesop, George Orwell, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, John Calvin, Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Peter Abelard, Blaise Pascal, Winston Churchill, Horace, Sun Tzu, Juvenal, George Bernard Shaw, Ansel Adams, William of Occam, M.C. Escher, Plutarch, Plato, George Herbert, Tom Stoppard, Ambrose Bierce, Sophocles, Samuel Beckett, Moliere, William Faulkner, Euripedes, John Steinbeck, Harper Lee, Linus Pauling, Marie Curie, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Homer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Arthur Miller, Christopher Marlowe, Virgil, Alexandre Dumas, Aldous Huxley, Ray Bradbury, Robert A. Heinlein, George R. R. Martin, Elie Wiesel, J. K. Rowling, Joseph Conrad, William Golding, Daniel Defoe, George Eliot, Robert Loius Stevenson, Julius Caesar, Charles Dickens, Emily Dickinson, Epictetus, Epicurus, H. L. Mencken, Lao Tzu, Albert Camus, Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Conan Doyle, Bertrand Russell, Buddha, Maya Angelou, T. S. Eliot, Galileo Galilei, Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, Pythagoras, Archimedes, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Johann Kepler, Niels Bohr, Enrico Fermi, Xun Zi, Mecius, Francis Bacon, Herbert Spencer, Annie Besant, Jeremy Bentham, Democritus, Heraclitus, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, Muhammad Ali, Alfred Adler, Carl Jung, Abraham Maslow, B. F. Skinner, Antisthenes, Hypatia, Diogenes, Theophrastus, Xenophanes, Menander, Pericles, Solon, Nelson Mandela, Thomas Jefferson, Cleveland Abbe, Nicola Abbagnano, Edward Abbey, Emiliano Zapata, Leon Trotsky, Aeschylus and Albert Einstein.

"The beliefs, messages, thoughts, values, and quotes of these authors do not in any way reflect on the beliefs, messages, thoughts, and values of the authors of this mod."

Location
========
Any load screens based on screenshots from Cyrodiil or Oblivion will display anywhere. Any load screens based on screenshots from the Shivering Isles will only display in the Shivering Isles, except load screens showing the Cyrodiil-side entrance to the Shivering Isles, which display anywhere. In the original text version, ALL Shivering Isles loading screens will only display in the Shivering Isles.

Details
=======
Version 4.05 contains 2011 DarkUI-style loading screens focused on the environment. There are no action shots, character portraits, etc. Any screens with characters are not focused on the character. As of version 0.99, loading screens for the Shivering Isles are included.

As of version 1.85, an altered loading background is included. This background texture is only used for the initial loading screen that appears before the main menu (the one with the large Daedric 'O'). I have included the original background texture in case you do not like my altered version. Instructions for reverting to the original texture can be found towards the end of this readme, under the instructions for removing or disabling individual loading screens.

As of version 1.15, 3 reused and renamed textures are included to replace the loading screen textures used for the additional loading screens added by the Mehrunes Razor DLC. The replacement textures are currently chosen from the existing loading screens. If you wish to use different loading screen textures, simply name an existing loading screen texture (from my mod or another) accordingly to replace my replacements. Of course, if you use one of my loading screen textures, you will have to copy it to another folder, rename it there, and then move it back to the appropriate folder. If you do not have the Mehrunes Razor DLC, you can safely delete or ignore these additional textures.

Eventually, 3 screenshots from Sundercliff Watch will be used specifically for this purpose. Until then, you can just use the existing textures or replace them. As always, if anyone feels like contributing screenshots for this, please do.

You will likely need to use some form of ArchiveInvalidation (BSA Alteration or BSA Redirection are recommended) to have these textures replace the originals. Quarn's ArchiveInvalidation Invalidated, Oblivion Mod Manager, and Wrye Bash are recommended tools for this process.

Note that some of the loading screens, especially the Shivering Isles ones, may display some quest or plot spoilers due to the location and/or subject matter of the screenshots.

As of version 0.99, this mod REQUIRES the Shivering Isles expansion. Version 0.95 will remain available for download, but all future versions will require Shivering Isles.

A similar overall style was used to create all of the loading screens. Most have been darkened or warmed to match the DarkUI. Loading screens for the Shivering Isles have a more varied style to reflect the varied visual style of the Shivering Isles.

Any load screens based on screenshots from Cyrodiil or Oblivion will display anywhere. Any load screens based on screenshots from the Shivering Isles will only display in the Shivering Isles, except load screens showing the Cyrodiil-side entrance to the Shivering Isles, which display anywhere. In the original text version, ALL Shivering Isles loading screens will only display in the Shivering Isles.

Files have been included from Dark UI Loading Screens by Darkbirdy that fix the loading screen interface for Dark UI.

Note: Dark UI Loading Screens is no longer required separately, unless you want the original loading bar with the "No Text" version, in which case, you will need the XML included in Dark UI Loading Screens instead of the one included in this mod.

Install
=======
First, install Dark UI (or DarNified Dark UI). This is not required, but unless you want Dark UI load screens and normal UI for everything else, you should install it. The required files from Dark UI Loading Screens have been included. If you want to keep the original loading bar position while using the No Text version, install the XML from Dark UI Loading Screens instead of the XML included with this mod.

Note: This mod REQUIRES the Shivering Isles expansion.

This archive is distributed in OMOD-Ready format. It allows you to manually extract and install like most other mods but it also allows you to use Oblivion Mod Manager and import this archive with all the settings pre-configured for an OMOD file. Pick which method you are going to use for installation:

Manual Installation
- = or = -
OBMM Installation (Heavily Recommended)

Manual Install
--------------
1. Extract this archive to any folder and then copy the contents to Oblivion's Data folder. You can ignore or delete the "omod conversion data" folder.
2. If you use the No Text esp, rename Menus/loading_menu.notext.xml to Menus/loading_menu.xml. If you use either of the plugins with text, just copy Menus/loading_menu.xml to Menus/loading_menu.xml. Whichever file you do not use can be deleted, but will cause no problems if left.
3. If you use the No Text esp, rename "DLCShiveringIsles - Atmospheric Loading Screens.bsa" to "Atmospheric Loading Screens - No Text.bsa". If you use the Original Text esp, rename "DLCShiveringIsles - Atmospheric Loading Screens" to "Atmospheric Loading Screens - Original Text.bsa". If you use the Original Text esp, rename "DLCShiveringIsles - Atmospheric Loading Screens" to "Atmospheric Loading Screens - Random Quotes.bsa".
4. Start Oblivion Launcher, click Data Files, and enable either the No Text ESP, the Original Text ESP, or the Random Quotes .ESP. Do NOT enable more than one of them.
5. If you do not have the Mehrunes Razor DLC, note that there are 3 renamed textures (load_dungeon_roots.dds, load_cave.dds, and load_dungeon_bucket.dds) included in the archive to replace additional loading screens added in Mehrunes Razor. If you do not have Mehrunes Razor, you can safely ignore or delete these.
6. You will likely need to use some form of ArchiveInvalidation to have the optional theme packs work correctly (these are available separately).

OBMM Install
------------
Create the OMOD (Do this section only once)
1. Start Oblivion Mod Manager.
2. Click the Create button.
3. Click the Add Archive button, find and select this archive, then click Yes.
4. Click the Create omod button, then click OK when it finishes.

Install the mod using OBMM
1. Start Oblivion Mod Manager.
2. Double-click the name of the mod in the right-hand side of the OBMM screen.
3. Select which text version you want to install (No Text, Original Text, or Random Quotes).
4. If you do not have the Mehrunes Razor DLC, note that there are 3 renamed textures (load_dungeon_roots.dds, load_cave.dds, and load_dungeon_bucket.dds) included in the archive to replace additional loading screens added in Mehrunes Razor. If you do not have Mehrunes Razor, you can safely ignore or delete these.
5. You will likely need to use some form of ArchiveInvalidation (BSA Alteration or BSA Redirection are recommended) to have the 3 Mehrunes Razor textures replace the originals. Quarn's Archive Invalidation Invalidated, Oblivion Mod Manager, and Wrye Bash are recommended tools for this process. If you are not using these 3 additional textures, you do not need to use any method of ArchiveInvalidation.

Uninstall
=========
Pick which method you are going to use for uninstalling based on how you installed the mod:

Manual Uninstall
- = or = -
OBMM Uninstall (Heavily Recommended)

Manual Uninstall
----------------
1. Start Oblivion Launcher, click Data Files, uncheck the .esp file(s).
2. Delete the following files associated with the mod.

Oblivion/Data/Menus/loading_menu.xml
Oblivion/Data/Textures/Darkui/Menus/Loading/loading_symboldui.dds
Oblivion/Data/Textures/Darkui/Menus/Loading/stat_skill_level_ribbon_emptydui.dds
Oblivion/Data/Textures/Menus/Loading/loading_background.dds
Oblivion/Data/Textures/Menus50/Loading/loading_background.dds
Oblivion/Data/Textures/Menus/Loading/loading_backgroundORIG.dds
Oblivion/Data/Textures/Menus50/Loading/loading_backgroundORIG50.dds
Oblivion/Data/Textures/Menus/Loading/...
Oblivion/Data/Textures/Menus50/Loading/...
Oblivion/Data/AtmosphericLoadingScreens - <Text Version>.esp

The files to be deleted in both /Loading texture folders (...) can be found in the ALSFileList.txt included in the download.

OBMM Uninstall
--------------
1. Start Oblivion Mod Manager.
2. Double-click the name of the mod in the right-hand side of the OBMM screen, click Yes.

Upgrade
=======
Future versions will simply replace the old ESP and come with new loading screen textures. All you will have to do to upgrade is replace the ESP and add the new textures via OBMM or a manual install.

Anyone updating to 2.56 or beyond from earlier versions should find and delete Horse.dds and AyleidCircle.dds from their /Textures/Menus50/Loading folders. This is not critical, but they are unused textures and serve no purpose other than to waste space.

Anyone updating to 0.85 or beyond from earlier versions must disable and/or delete the original Atmospheric Loading Screens.esp. It has been replaced with Atmospheric Loading Screens - Random Quotes.esp, Atmospheric Loading Screens – Original Text.esp and Atmospheric Loading Screens - No Text.esp.

As of version 1.30, update archives are available that only include the new loading screen textures, updated ESPs/Readme, and any other new or updated files. The installation procedure for these is basically the same. For manual install, follow the same step 1. Allow the ESPs and readme and any other files to be overwritten, pick an ESP, and follow the procedure for the Mehrunes Razor screens. If you already have this mod made into an OMOD, simply use "Add Archive" on the update archive and allow older versions of any updates files to be deleted. Don't forget to update the readme, version number, etc.

Compatibility
===============
This mod will conflict with other mods that change or replace the original loading screens and/or their text. It should work with any mods that only add new loading screens.

As of version 2.35, all three ESPs are tagged with {{BASH:Graphics,NoMerge}} for use with Wrye Bash. If you are using a mod with altered loading text, such as OOO, you should use the "Import Graphics" feature of the Bashed Patch so that my loading screens will display with OOO's (or any other mod's) altered text and/or have their locations altered by other mods. See the Wrye Bash documentation (http://wryemusings.com/Wrye%20Bash.html) for instructions and a more detailed explanation. Note that due to the way the Original Text ESP is designed, this is not a perfect solution, as the import will only fix some of the text to conform to other mods (specifically, only on the original loading screens that are replaced).

The other option is simply to load my loading screen ESP after any mod that alters loading screen text or locations. You will lose those changes, but my loading screens, their text, and their locations will remain as they should be.

Users of Phinix Immersive Dark UI who want the long loading bar from that mod should download Shingouki's compatibility mod, Atmospheric Loading Screen and Phinix Dark UI Loading Screen, which is currently available here:
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14704

Users of any of Luchaire's DarNified UI texture replacers who want these loading screens to match those new textures should check out Ismelda Lasombra's replacers for this mod:
http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=17059

DarNified Dark UI has a compatibility option for ALS.

Known Issues or Bugs
====================
Problems (such as CTDs) may occur rarely; please report them. If you want to be as safe as possible, make a backup of your saves, but there shouldn't be any issues with saved games.

If you get a CTD during loading, it may not be because of this mod. Many mods have the potential to cause instability during fast travel or other loading screen situations that may result in CTDs, or it may just be a random CTD unrelated to any mods. Please report if you encounter more CTDs with one specific text version of this mod, or in specific locations, or if you never see certain loading screens. If you encounter CTDs during loading with this mod and no other mods running, please contact me, especially.

Removing Screens
================
If you find any loading screens that you wish to remove or disable, please follow one of the following procedures after determining the filename of the texture using my Photobucket albums.

1) File Replacement

Pick another loading screen texture from this mod (or another one), or create your own. Rename this texture to be the same as the one in my mod you wish to replace. Replace my texture with your new one manually through OBMM or manually in the appropriate folders. Please note that you should replace both my /Textures/Menus/Loading and my /Textures/Menus50/Loading textures with the appropriate textures that you want to replace. Menus textures are 1024*512, and Menus50 textures are 512*256.

2) CS Replacement

Follow the same procedure as number 2, but instead of adding ZClothesTest (or any other unused or test cell) to the cells, simply click the texture button, and navigate to a new texture. You should navigate to the /Menus/Loading texture. You can either choose an existing texture in my mod or use a different one.

3) CS Disable

Open up the TESCS and load my mod as the active file (with Oblivion.esm). In the Objects window, find the LoadScreens section, under Miscellaneous. Scroll until you see the loading screen with the texture you wish to remove. Double click it. Open the Cells Window (World > Cells), scroll down to ZClothesTest (or any other unused or test cell). Drag ZClothesTest (or any other unused or test cell) into the cell window on the LoadScreen window. Close both windows. Save the mod.

Removing Loading Background
========================
If you do not like the altered loadingbackground.dds included since version 1.85, you will find the original background in each /loading textures directory. It is named loadingbackgroundORIG.dds in the /Menus/Loading folder and loadingbackgroundORIG50.dds in the /Menus50/Loading folder. Simply delete my altered version and rename the ORIG and ORIG50 versions to loadingbackground.dds.

History
=======
0.5 - 1/25/07 - Initial (beta) release. 159 loading screens. 1-6 CTD-causing loading screens?

0.51 - 1/27/07 - Second beta release. Added missing files (thanks to Anach) and updated readme. No new screens.

0.52 - 1/28/07 - Third beta release. Added one more missing (?) file, again thanks to Anach.

0.60 - 2/11/07 - Fourth beta release. Added 11 more loading screens and manually tested the original 159. Added information for removing load screens.

0.70 - 2/22/07 - Initial non-beta release. Added 20 more loading screens, updated readme with information about upcoming 1.0 release(s).

0.80 - 3/3/07 - Second non-beta release. Added 52 more loading screens (thanks Trollf!) based on each Ayleid ruin, with two ruins having a pair of loading screens.

0.85 - 3/6/07 - Initial text release. No new loading screens, but includes "Random Quotes" and "No Text” versions of 0.80.

0.90 - 3/9/07 - Second (cursed) text release. 37 new loading screens (thanks Trollf) based on the “Birthstones" (13) (Atronach Stone, Lady Stone, Warrior Stone, etc.) and some (24) of the camps. Re-released twice due to incorrect/missing files.

0.95 - 3/25/07 - Third text release bringing the total to over 300 loading screens. All the original screens have been replaced. This release includes a few dungeons, one creature, and about half of the forts, all from Trollf yet again.

0.99 - 4/15/07 - Initial Shivering Isles release bringing the total to over 350 loading screens. Adds over 40 load screens from the Shivering Isles and a few from Cyrodiil.

1.00 - 4/26/07 - Second Shivering Isles release bringing the total to over 380 loading screens. Initial release of “Original Text” version. Adds over 30 load screens, including the remaining forts and some Oblivion gates, once again, from Trollf.

1.1 - 5/6/07 - Third Shivering Isles release bringing the total to over 415 loading screens. Adds over 30 loading screens, including chapels, inns, "power" stones, and landscapes, all from Trollf.

1.15 - 5/10/07 - Fourth Shivering Isles release bringing the total to over 450 loading screens. Adds 30 loading screens, including landmarks and mountains, all from Trollf. Additionally, the original 12 loading screens have been revised. Three reused and renamed textures have also been included to replace the loading screens added by the official plugin Mehrunes Razor.

1.20 - 5/24/07 - Fifth Shivering Isles release bringing the total to over 480 loading screens. Adds 27 loading screens, including the remaining mountains, 2 Oblivion realms, 1 picturesque shot, and the Hestra and Reman runestones, all from Trollf.

1.25 - 6/3/07 - Sixth Shivering Isles release bringing the total to over 510 loading screens. Adds 26 loading screens, including 4 Sidri-Ashak stones, 2 Ayleid ruin interiors and 17 scenic shots from Trollf, as well as 3 of my own screenshots.

1.30 - 6/18/07 - First release with update version available, bringing the total to over 540 loading screens. Adds 32 "settlement" loading screens from Trollf's screenshots.

1.35 - 7/6/07 - Second release with update version available, bringing the total to over 570 loading screens. Adds 31 loading screens, including 16 more scenic shots and 15 Daedric shrine shots, from Trollf, as usual.

1.40 - 9/1/07 - Third release (with much delay) with update version available, bringing the total to over 595 loading screens. Adds 25 loading screens, including 6 more SI shots, 9 stable shots, and 10 town shots, from Trollf, of course.

1.45 - 9/3/07 - Fourth release (already) with update version available, bringing the total to over 620 loading screens. Adds 27 more town loading screens from Trollf's screenshots.

1.50 - 9/13/07 - Fifth release with update version available, bringing the total to over 650 loading screens. Adds 24 more loading screens from Trollf's screenshots, including 10 high quality closed Oblivion gate shots, 7 high quality town shots, and 7 water shots.

1.55 - 9/17/07 - Sixth release with update version available, bringing the total to over 670 loading screens. Adds 24 more loading screens from Trollf's screenshots, including 21 more water shots and 3 wayshrine shots. Also used TES4Files to check the three ESPs against each other and found some loading screens missing. These missing loading screens are now assigned correctly.

1.60 - 9/19/07 - Seventh release with update version available, bringing the total to over 700 loading screens. Adds 25 more wayshrine loading screens from Trollf's screenshots, which are now finished!

1.65 - 9/22/07 - Eighth release with update version available, bringing the total to over 720 loading screens. Adds 25 more loading screens, including 20 from WhiteWizard's screenshots and 5 more from Floydian's screenshots.

1.70 - 10/15/07 - Ninth release with update version available, bringing the total to over 740 loading screens. Adds 25 more loading screens, including 15 more from WhiteWizard, 6 from STG, 3 from Matalote, and 1 from me.

1.75 - 10/27/07 - Tenth release with update version available, bringing the total to over 760 loading screens. Adds 21 more loading screens, including 2 from Planeswalker18, 4 more from STG, and 15 more from Floydian.

1.80 - 11/4/07 - Eleventh release with update version available, bringing the total to over 780 loading screens. Adds 21 more loading screens, all based on screenshots from Floydian.

1.85 - 11/10/07 - First release with altered loading background, bringing the total to over 800 loading screens. Adds 21 more loading screens, all based on screenshots from Floydian. One loading screen from 1.70 (ironically, the one based on a screenshot of mine) has been removed due to a strange graphical issue.

1.90 - 11/16/07 - Second release with altered loading background, bringing the total to over 830 loading screens. Adds 21 more loading screens, all based on screenshots from Floydian.

1.95 - 12/2/07 - Third release with altered loading background, bringing the total to over 850 loading screens. Adds 21 more loading screens, including 17 more from Floydian and 4 more from Trollf. Also fixed some loading screens that were accidentally set to load only in SI in the No Text ESP.

2.00 - 1/12/08 - New Year release, bringing the total to over 880 loading screens. Adds 27 more loading screens, all from Trollf.

2.10 - 1/20/08 - Another release, bringing the total to over 900 loading screens. Adds 23 more loading screens, all from Trollf.

2.15 - 1/26/08 - One Year + One Day Anniversary release, bringing the total to over 920 loading screens. Adds 22 more loading screens, all from Trollf.

2.20 - 2/10/08 - Another release, bringing the total to over 940 loading screens. Adds 23 more loading screens, including 11 from Trollf, 2 from new contributor Gothic251, and 10 from new contributor Nicoroshi. Also includes substantial additions to this readme, including a new Usage section, a request for additional help, slightly updated screenshot requests, and a more descriptive Credits section. Also fixed the No Text and Original Text ESPs, which were missing 3 loading screens from 2.15.

2.25 - 2/23/08 - Another release, bringing the total to over 960 loading screens. Adds 20 more loading screens, including 13 more from Nicoroshi, and 7 from me.

2.30 - 3/2/08 - Another release, bringing the total to over 980 loading screens. Adds 20 more loading screens, including 13 more from Nicoroshi, and 7 more from me. Also corrected a minor error in the Random Quotes ESP.

2.35 - 3/14/08 - Another release, bringing the total to over 1000 loading screens! Adds 20 more loading screens, all from Nicoroshi. Added Wrye Bash tags (Graphics and NoMerge) to all three ESPs.

2.40 - 3/18/08 - Another release, bringing the total to over 1020 loading screens. Adds 20 more loading screens, including 4 each from new contributors Wednesday17 and BeramatKesawin, 1 from new contributor Vacuity, 3 more from Nicoroshi, and 8 more SI screens from Trollf. Also corrected a readme error that had Trollf's contributed screens understated by 38.

2.45 - 3/22/08 - Another release, bringing the total to over 1040 loading screens. Adds 20 more loading screens, all from the Shivering Isles and all from Trollf.

2.50 - 3/27/08 - Another release, bringing the total to over 1060 loading screens. Adds 20 more loading screens, including 8 more Shivering Isles shots from Trollf, 4 more shots (1 from the Shivering Isles) from Vacuity, and 6 more from Floydian.

2.55 - 3/30/08 - New contributor release, bringing the total to over 1080 loading screens. Adds 10 more loading screens from Floydian, and 2 each from new contributors Deathknowz, Dyfed_99, FalseEmperor, Ogramirad, and Szabo73.

2.56 - 4/2/08 - Fix release, including 7 missing Menus50 textures and one renamed Menus50 texture. Thanks to gothic251 for reporting the errors.

2.60 - 4/9/08 - Large release, bringing the total to over 1130 loading screens. Adds 52 more loading screens, including 32 more loading screens from Floydian, 2 more each from Deathknows, Dyfed_99, FalseEmperor, Ogramirad, and Szabo73, and 10 more from Vacuity.

2.65 - 4/16/08 - Normal release, bringing the total to over 1150 loading screens. Adds 25 more loading screens, including 5 more from Floydian and 4 more each from Deathknowz, Dyfed_99, FalseEmperor, Ogramirad, and Szabo73. Includes 4 fixed Menus50 textures that were incorrectly sized. Also made some minor readme adjustments and fixes, including fixing a typo stating that 2.60 was released in the future.

2.70 - 4/20/08 - Slightly larger-than-normal release, bringing the total to over 1180 loading screens. Adds 30 more loading screens, including 2 more from Floydian, 10 more from Deathknowz, 9 more from Dyfed_99, 7 more from FalseEmperor, and 2 more from Szabo73.

2.75 - 4/25/08 - Normal release, bringing the total to over 1200 loading screens. Adds 24 more loading screens, including 7 from new contributor TheLeeHarvey, 2 more from Dyfed_99, 1 more from Szabo73, 4 more from Vacuity, and 10 more from Floydian.

2.80 - 4/30/08 - Normal release, bringing the total to over 1220 loading screens. Adds 20 more loading screens, including 8 more from Vacuity, 1 more from Deathknowz, 4 more from Ogramirad, 2 more from Dyfed_99, and 5 more from Szabo73. Also includes 1 fixed Menus50 texture.

2.85 - 5/8/08 - Slightly larger-than-normal release, bringing the total to over 1250 loading screens. Adds 35 more loading screens, all from Vacuity. Some readme adjustments, including a more detailed screenshot request section.

2.90 - 5/19/08 - Large release, bringing the total to over 1290 loading screens. Adds 40 more loading screens, including 1 from new contributor Arnoldvsthegooch, 2 more from Deathknowz, 9 more from Dyfed_99, 5 more from Floydian, 5 from new contributor Gwannyn, 4 from new contributor LazyMonk, 4 more from TheLeeHarvey, and 10 more from Vacuity.

2.95 - 6/18/08 - Work-delayed release, bringing the total to over 1350 (revised total) loading screens. Adds 37 more loading screens, including 5 more from Dyfed_99, 5 more from Floydian, 1 more from me, 5 more from Gwannyn, 6 more from LazyMonk, 3 more from Szabo73, 2 more from TheLeeHarvey, 5 more from Trollf, and 5 more from Vacuity.

3.00 - 6/30/08 - Slightly larger-than-normal release, bringing the total to over 1380 loading screens. Adds 35 more loading screens, including 5 more from Deathknowz, 5 more from Dyfed_99, 5 more from Floydian, 5 more from Gwannyn, 2 more from LazyMonk, 1 from new contributor ShadeMe, 1 more from TheLeeHarvey, 5 more from Trollf, and 6 more from Vacuity. One of the new Floydian screens replaces F126.dds, since I noticed an issue with that original screen.

3.10 - 7/5/08 - Normal release, bringing the total to over 1400 loading screens. Adds 25 more loading screens, including 5 more from Deathknowz, 2 more from Dyfed_99, 1 more from LazyMonk, 1 more from ShadeMe, 11 more from Trollf, and 5 more from Vacuity. Corrected a readme error that understated TheLeeHarvey's screen count in the credits.

3.15 - 7/21/08 - Normal release, bringing the total to over 1430 loading screens. Adds 25 more loading screens, including 10 more from Floydian, 5 more from Gwannyn, and 10 more from Vacuity.

3.20 - 7/29/08 - Normal release, bringing the total to over 1460 loading screens. Adds 25 more loading screens, including 1 more from Deathknowz, 9 more from Floydian (bringing him past 300 loading screens), 4 more from Gwannyn, and 11 more from Vacuity (bringing him past 100 loading screens). Also includes another fixed Menus50 texture that was the incorrect size, and fixed three loading screens from 3.15 in the Random Quotes ESP that were missing quotes.

3.25 - 8/7/08 - Normal release, bringing the total to over 1480 loading screens. Adds 25 more loading screens, including 2 more from Deathknowz, 8 more from Floydian, 1 more from me, 3 more from Gwannyn, 4 more from ShadeMe, and 7 more from Vacuity.

3.30 - 8/20/08 - Pure Shivering Isles release, bringing the total to over 1500 over loading screens! Adds 20 more loading screens, including 2 more from Deathknowz, 3 more from Gwannyn, 4 more from LazyMonk, 1 from new contributor Mag1c-Wind0w, 3 more from ShadeMe, 4 more from Szabo73, and 3 more from TheLeeHarvey. All 20 loading screens are based on screenshots from the Shivering Isles.

3.35 - 8/31/08 - Dark Ages release, made during a week with no internet access, no cable, and no work to do, bringing the total to over 1540 loading screens. Adds 41 more loading screens, including 2 more from Arnoldvsthegooch, 15 more from Deathknowz, 1 more from LazyMonk, 2 more from Mag1c-Wind0w, 1 (an SI shot) from new contributor Sanguine Assassin, and 20 more from Vacuity.

3.40 - 9/11/08 - Slightly smaller release, bringing the total to over 1560 loading screens. Adds 20 more loading screens, including 3 more from Deathknowz, 1 more from ShadeMe, and 16 more from Vacuity.

3.45 - 10/3/08 - Normal release, bringing the total to over 1580 loading screens. Adds 25 more loading screens, all of which are from Vacuity.

3.50 - 10/23/08 - Slightly smaller release, bringing the total to over 1600 loading screens. Adds 20 more loading screens, including 4 more from Deathknowz and 16 more from Vacuity.

3.55 - 11/8/08 - Slightly smaller release, bringing the total to over 1620 loading screens. Adds 20 more loading screens, all of which are from Vacuity.

3.60 - 5/29/10 - First Vacuity release, normal size, bringing the total to over 1640 loading screens. Adds 25 more loading screens, including 1 from Deathknowz, 3 from Stg, 2 from Szabo73, and 19 from Vacuity

3.65 - 6/16/10 - Second Vacuity release, large size, bringing the total to over 1690 loading screens. Adds 50 more loading screens, all from Vacuity.

4.00 - 9/13/11 - 2011 Vacuity release, huge size. Loading frame has been enlarged and altered for wide-screen resolution screenshots, and over 400 loading screens have been been added (some replace lost or unusable screens that did not make the transition to the new frame) to bring the total to 2011 loading screens.

4.05 - 10/10/11 - Very large release, bringing the total to 2211 loading screens. Adds 200 more loading screens, including 66 from Darkstone, 88 from Galahaut, 17 from Garx, 22 from Leandro Conde and 7 from Vacuity. First bsa release.

Seeking Screenshots
===============
If you have any screenshots that you think would fit in with the rest of the screens (see Picasa albums), please send them to either Galahaut or Vacuity (see Contact below). You can send them by email, upload them to a site, etc. Please try to leave them in their original size and quality, if possible. You will obviously receive credit if your screenshots are used.

With the current amount of screens, the best submissions are those that are unique, different, and interesting. Some examples are below, but this list is not exhaustive.

*Underrepresented areas such as DLC, Shivering Isles, rarely visited locations, and especially mods that add new locations, quests, structures, etc.
*Non-action screenshots of NPCs and creatures (both hostile and friendly). Good shots that include (but are not entirely focused on) the player character are also possible.
*Screenshots with varied texture packs or other visual enhancements (OBGE, etc.).

Things to avoid:
*Low resolution screenshots. Non-widescreen is okay as long as the resolution is high.
*Compressed, lossy screenshots (re-uploaded JPGs, etc.).
*Action shots (combat, etc.). Could be great, but don't fit ALS style/theme.
*Nudity, excessive violence, or anything else that would run afoul of either Nexus or Bethesda forum rules.
*Overly tweaked (via photo editing, shaders, etc.) screenshots. Too much blur or film grain or glow or desaturation/saturation may make using shots difficult.

Modders are welcome to contribute screenshots from their mods.

Of course, *any* screenshots are appreciated. Don't worry if you think your screenshots aren't "good enough," as long as they fit in with the overall style of the current loading screens. They may not be bad at all, and if they are truly "bad", it may be possible to fix them up.

Additionally, I would gladly accept contributions of already completed (Dark UI) loading screens if you do not want to submit straight screenshots or if you would like to try creating loading screens yourself. These loading screens could be part of a mod you have released or simply screens that you made but have not yet used.

Additional Help - ESPs (Text Options)
============================
If anyone is interested in creating alternate text versions for inclusion in this mod, please contact me. I do not currently have the time or the motivation to create an entirely new text ESP from scratch, but if someone is willing to do the first huge portion of work (setting up the ESP for all of the current screens), I would gladly include it in future releases and handle the subsequent updating of that ESP, if wanted. You would, obviously, receive appropriate credit for your work.

Of course, anyone is welcome to create their own ESPs for this mod and release them on their own, but I would love to include more options.

Contact
=======
Comments? Concerns? Questions? Queries? Quandaries?

Bethsoft Forums: Galahaut / Vacuity
TESNexus: Galahaut / Vacuity

Email: [email protected]

Steam: Galahaut
Skype: Galahaut

Credits
=======
*****Dark UI*****
Darkbirdy - Created Dark UI, Dark UI Loading Screens, and Dark UI Loading Screen Creation Kit.

****Hosting****
TESSource/TESDB/TESNexus, Dark0ne, and the rest of the staff - Mod Hosting
Planet Elder Scrolls, APY, and the rest of the staff - Mod Hosting
RapidShare - File Mirroring
4shared - File Mirroring
Photobucket and its staff - Image Hosting
PBWiki/PBWorks and its staff - Site Hosting

***Screenshot Contributors (2011)***
A - Arnoldvsthegooch - 3
Ar - Arthmoor - 149
B - BerematKesawin - 4
B2e - Banjo2E - 16
CSR - 2Cold Scorpio - 8
Dd - Daemondarque - 61
DK - deathknowz - 57
Dst - Darkstone - 108
DY - dyfed_99 - 42
FE - FalseEmperor - 15
FWi - FallenWizard - 9
Gal - Galahaut - 133, original developer of ALS.
Gar - Garx - 72
Goth - Gothemasticator - 2
GW - Gwannyn - 30, reported a corrupted file in the 2.85 archive, reported missing OMOD script in version 3.20.
Ig - Iggey - 4
Kar - thekarithian - 1
LC - Leandro Conde - 22
LH - theLeeHarvey - 17
LM - Lazymonk - 18
MW - Mag1c-Wind0w - 3
N - Nicoroshi - 57
OG - Ogramirad - 12
Pa - Palidoo - 133
Prop - Propugnator - 16
PW - Planeswalker18 - 1
SA - Sanguine Assassin - 1
SM - shadeMe - 10
STG - stg - 13, started a topic to gather more screenshots.
SZ - szabo73 - 24
T - trollf - 593, asked Nicoroshi to contribute screenshots.
V - Vacuity - 539, reported two missing/corrupted files in the 2.75 archive, participated in useful discussion about this mod, now updating ALS.
W - Wednesday17 - 4
WW - WhiteWizard - 34

***Screenshot Contributors - Pre 2011 Versions***
Sanguine Assassin - 1 loading screen from his contributed screenshots.
Mag1c-Wind0w - 3 loading screen from his contributed screenshots.
ShadeMe - 10 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
Arnoldvsthegooch - 3 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
LazyMonk - 18 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
Gwannyn - 30 loading screens from his contributed screenshots, reported a corrupted file in the 2.85 archive, reported missing OMOD script in version 3.20.
TheLeeHarvey - 17 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
Szabo73 - 23 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
Ogramirad - 12 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
FalseEmperor - 15 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
Dyfed_99 - 42 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
Deathknowz - 58 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
Vacuity - 213 (!) loading screens from his contributed screenshots, reported two missing/corrupted files in the 2.75 archive, participated in useful discussion about this mod.
BerematKesawin - 4 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
Wednesday17 - 4 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
Gothic251 - 2 loading screens from his contributed screenshots, reported two relatively major mistakes in version 1.30, reported Menus50 omissions/error in version 2.55.
Nicoroshi - 59 (!) loading screens from his contributed screenshots, contributed over 500 (!) potential screenshots.
Planeswalker18 - 2 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
Matalote - 3 loading screens from his contributed screenshots.
STG / Sean Hardy - 10 loading screens from his contributed screenshots, started a topic to gather more screenshots.
WhiteWizard - 35 loading screens from contributed screenshots.
Trollf - 596 (!!!) loading screens from his contributed screenshots, contributed over 500 (!) potential screenshots, asked Nicoroshi to contribute screenshots.
Sensa - 6 loading screens from his contributed screenshots, started a thread about loading screens.
Floydian1 - 309 (!!) loading screens from his contributed screenshots.

***Useful Programs***
Wrye - Wrye Bash
MentalElf - TES4Files
Timeslip - Oblivion Mod Manager (OBMM)
Ethatron - Nifopt
lhammonds - Readme Generator used for this readme.

***Interface/Compatibility Contributors***
Ismelda Lasombra - Retextured my Dark UI screens to match 6 of Luchaire's UI retextures.
Shingouki - Created a compatibility mod allowing Phinix Immersive Dark UI's long loading bar to be used with Atmospheric Loading Screens.
Zarius - Created the edited XML from Darkbirdy's XML that allows text + full loading screen. He was going to send me the XML, but was having issues moving and getting internet access set up.
ICUP - Created the new DarkUI loading screens mod (Loading Screens Remade) that inspired this one, sent me the edited XML for text from Zarius.

***Suggestions, Bug Reports, and Other Help***
cjwilke - Pointed out incorrect date in forum thread for 3.25 update.
_Bonk_ - Reported missing OMOD script in version 2.80.
8_of_11 - Reported a typo in the 2.75 patch readme.
Leomorg - Told Trollf about Nicoroshi's screenshots.
Tarnsman - Suggested update archives for users of previous versions.
Midnight Voyager - Reported the incorrect update date in the version 1.20 readme.
Casey Lee - Reported the added loading screens from Mehrunes Razor that had not been replaced.
Nomad9i - Reported the incorrect/missing files in 0.90 (the cursed version!?).
Rykno - Reported the incorrect uploads of 0.90.
Sativarg - Reminded me that HTML could be used on PES and TESS.
Motub - Recommended this mod (among others) to Sensa.
Anach - Reported the missing file(s) in version 0.5.
Steel_Grunty/Gh3yz0r - Moral support, artistic advice/opinions/constructive criticism, comic relief.
FallenWizard - Tracked down the cause of crashes for some users using the No Text plugin.
Lojack - Added command line functionality to Wrye Bash allowing procedural generation of the ALS plugins.

*Obvious*
Bethesda - Created the sometimes-great, sometimes-terrible game, Oblivion.

Tools Used
==========
TES Construction Set - http://www.theelderscrolls.com/downloads/updates_utilities.htm
Readme Generator - http://lhammonds.game-host.org/obmm/tools_readme_generator1.asp
Adobe Photoshop CS4 - http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/
GIMP - http://www.gimp.org/
TES4Files - http://www.mentalelfz.com/tes4files.html
Oblivion Mod Manager - http://sourceforge.net/projects/obmm/
Nifopt - http://obge.paradice-insight.us/wiki/Modder%27s_Supplements
Wrye Bash - http://sourceforge.net/projects/oblivionworks/files/Wrye%20Bash/

Usage
======
Anyone is welcome to create alternative or edited ESPs with different text and/or different loading locations. No explicit permission is necessary for this purpose, as long as credit is given as appropriate, but please contact me if you do so so I can see what is being done.

Anyone is, of course, welcome to create altered XMLs or other loading screen UI assets for use this mod. Obviously, no permission (from me) is necessary, since the UI is not something I have created, but again, please contact me so I can see what is being done. Of course, you will need to obtain any necessary permissions if you make use of UI assets created by someone else (the XML by Zarius, Dark UI from Greybird/Darkbirdy, etc.).

Anyone wishing to retexture the loading screens for an interface other than Dark UI must contact me before releasing the retextured screens. This is at least in part because I may be able to save you a whole heap of work or even do it for you.

Please do not use any loading screens in your own, independent loading screen mod without first contacting me.

Legal
======
You must contact me (Galahaut) and obtain my permission before reusing any part of this mod for any public release.

In the case that this mod is ever completely unavailable to download (hosting sites go down, it is removed, the download is broken, etc.), please do not re-upload it to any permanent sites without first contacting me. Temporary hosting or person-to-person sharing (via email, etc.) is fine. If I do not respond within 4 weeks, anyone has my permission to re-upload this mod as long as the original archive and this readme are kept intact and together.

This mod may NOT be included in "mod compilations" (or anything similar) that simply combine many mods into one package for "easy" downloading/access/etc.