Hacking Wii U DS VC - Custom Layouts!

Deleted member 391145

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Wii U DS VC Custom Layouts

What this is:
This allows you to modify the layouts of the DS VC and even use custom backgrounds!

What you need:
Dumped DS VC ready for Loadiine. Injected one work too
Editor for .json files, I reccommed Notepad++
.png editor if you want to use custom backgrounds

How it works:

Custom Layouts:

1. Open your VC's configuration_cafe.json in an editor. Located in SD:\wiiu\games\VCDS\content\[numbers]
2. Inside, you'll see all the layouts. Heres the discription what everything does:
Code:
{
    "configuration": {
        "layouts": {
            "layout": [
                {
                    "screen": [                       //Part for the position of the screens
                        {                                      
                            "source": "upper",     //Which DS screen this block applys to
                            "rotation": 0,            //Rotation. 0 is normal
                            "size": "480 360",      //Size onscreen in pixels.
                            "target": "tv",           //Target screen. "tv" = TV, "drc" = GamePad.
                            "position": "400 0"     //Position of the top-left corner on the target.
                        },                               //End of block
                        {                                //Next block
                            "source": "lower",     //Same thing as one block above.
                            "rotation": 0,
                            "size": "480 360",
                            "target": "tv",
                            "position": "400 360"
                        },
                        {
                            "source": "upper",    //Same thing as one block above.
                            "rotation": 0,
                            "size": "0 0",
                            "target": "drc",
                            "position": "568 240"
                        },
                        {
                            "source": "lower",    //Same thing as one block above.
                            "rotation": 0,
                            "size": "640 480",
                            "target": "drc",
                            "position": "107 0"
                        }
                    ],
                    "desc_string_id": "VCM_LAYOUT_1_EXPLANATION",            
                    "background": [                   //background info
                        {                                                                        
                            "position": "0 0",          //Position of the top-left corner of the background
                            "rotation": 0,               //Rotation of the background.
                            "resource": "//content_dir/assets/textures/tvback.png",         //Location in the game files. "//content_dir/assets/textures/tvback.png" would be in SD:\wiiu\games\VCDS\content\[numbers]\assets\textures\tvback.png for example. tvback.png and drcback.png are black screens, tvback for the tv and drcback for the gamepad. You can insert custom ones too
                            "target": "tv",              //Target screen. "tv" = TV, "drc" = GamePad.
                            "size": "1280 720"        // Size of the specified png file. always has to be 1280x720 on tv and 854x480 on GP, crash otherwise!
                        },
                        {
                            "position": "0 0",        //Same thing as one block above.
                            "rotation": 0,
                            "resource": "//content_dir/assets/textures/drcback.png",
                            "target": "drc",
                            "size": "854 480"
                        }
                    ],
                    "name_string_id": "VCM_LAYOUT_1_NAME"
                },
3. Just edit as you like. Pretend your TV has a resulution of 1280x720 and the GamePad 854x480.
4. Thats it, just save and try it.


Custom Backgrounds:
1. In configuration_cafe.json again, search for "resource" of one of the layouts.
Code:
{
    "configuration": {
        "layouts": {
            "layout": [
                {
                    "screen": [
                        {
                            "source": "upper",
                            "rotation": 0,
                            "size": "480 360",
                            "target": "tv",
                            "position": "400 0"
                        },
                        {
                            "source": "lower",
                            "rotation": 0,
                            "size": "480 360",
                            "target": "tv",
                            "position": "400 360"
                        },
                        {
                            "source": "upper",
                            "rotation": 0,
                            "size": "0 0",
                            "target": "drc",
                            "position": "568 240"
                        },
                        {
                            "source": "lower",
                            "rotation": 0,
                            "size": "640 480",
                            "target": "drc",
                            "position": "107 0"
                        }
                    ],
                    "desc_string_id": "VCM_LAYOUT_1_EXPLANATION",
                    "background": [
                        {
                            "position": "0 0",
                            "rotation": 0,
                            "resource": "//content_dir/assets/textures/example_tv.png", // tv
                            "target": "tv",
                            "size": "1280 720"
                        },
                        {
                            "position": "0 0",
                            "rotation": 0,
                            "resource": "//content_dir/assets/textures/example_drc.png", // gamepad
                            "target": "drc",
                            "size": "854 480"
                        }
                    ],
                    "name_string_id": "VCM_LAYOUT_1_NAME"
                },
2. Change their names as in the example above. Keep the dictory and use 2 different names for Gamepad and TV!
3. Go to SD:\wiiu\games\VCDS\content\[numbers]\assets\textures and create 2 images.
They have to be as follow:
  • .png format
  • 1280x720 and 854x480 respectively
  • Named like you registered them in configuration_cafe.json (1280x720 = TV, 854x480 = GP
4. Change them as you like. Remember that the DS screens are over them!
5. Save them, you should be good to go.

Example:
http://i.imgur.com/9cPd2aB.jpg
Feedback much appreciated!
 
Last edited by Deleted member 391145,

Irastris

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Does the configuration need to specify that my TV is 1080p if the Wii U is running in 1080p mode? Or does it handle that automatically?
 

fiveighteen

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Is there a way to set the "default" layout in the configuration_cafe.json file, or is the one that displays always set to VCM_LAYOUT_1?
 

LoganK93

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Could anyone help me with a couple layouts? I tried making my own but the whole thing is fucked. I just want one with both screens vertical but as full as they can be for the Mario Luigi Rpg's.
 

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GSBS

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This was recently linked to from another front page topic, and I wanted to thank the OP for their nicely written guide. I've been trying out a bunch of DS injects, but felt like the gamepad screen space wasn't being used optimally. I whipped up a new default template for gamepad mode if anyone likes it.

uzaWV
 

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JomSpoons

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Hey guys. I made a config that has a full vertical top screen on the TV and a full vertical touchscreen on the game pad. The default DS view is replaced with a right handed version, and the typical full screen view is replaced with a left handed version. I made this specifically for Rhythm Heaven. Hope you guys enjoy!
 

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Maxbeta

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Is it possible to switch the top and bottom screens and have them fit the screen from top to bottom without ugly stretching out to the sides and keeping their nice clean aspect ratio?

I have a few games that can benefit from this and its not in Nintendo’s default configuration, like for example the Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow hack that gets rid of the magic seals and touch screen stuff and Resident Evil Deadly Silence.

I just want to be able to have a full gameplay screen on the tv and a map/status screen on the gamepad but it seems they did not make it this way for many games.

Any help is appreciated.
 
Last edited by Maxbeta,

Mirby

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Is it possible to switch the top and bottom screens and have them fit the screen from top to bottom without ugly stretching out to the sides and keeping their nice clean aspect ratio?

I have a few games that can benefit from this and its not in Nintendo’s default configuration, like for example the Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow hack that gets rid of the magic seals and touch screen stuff and Resident Evil Deadly Silence.

I just want to be able to have a full gameplay screen on the tv and a map/status screen on the gamepad but it seems they did not make it this way for many games.

Any help is appreciated.
Should be a fairly simple fix, just switch the coordinates of the top and bottom screens in the configuration_cafe.json file.
 
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ivan13x

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Does anyone knows how to add extra layouts? There is 10 layouts as standard and i'm trying to create an 11th one modifying the "configuration_cafe.json" and "strings.json", but the menu crashes when I click on the configuration button. Do I need to modify any other file?

Also, there is any way to assign the ZL button to swap between 2 of the layouts without needing to enter the config?

Thank you!
 

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