Though this isn't exactly a bug report it would be nontheless make a good addition to 227 in my opinion. As you may know, there are some skins in Unreal that are normally inaccessible to players unless one takes special measures to get them to work.

There are currently two ways floating around to get these skins working in Unreal. The first method only works on UTeamFix servers and must be done manually. The second method is to download and install the Hidden Skins Pack. This method can work offline and on any server. The skins can be also be then chosen from within the game itself.

I apologise if this sounds like an advert but personally I think that 227 should inculde them. The best way I think would be to just include the files as they exist already in the HSP. I know that you could add the skins into the existing packages but as you know this would bring network incompatiblity with previous versions.

Since these are official skins and already present in Unreal I think that 227 should allow players to use them. They don't take up much room either, all the files coming to about 1MB when uncompressed.

mmh, maybe there is a way to fix the included skins with this skinpack without causing more compatibility problems. Donno yet, but i will probably need the sources of the hsp to try it.

doesnt this package contain skins from a beta version as well ?
If the hsp is only a copy of the included skins, whats the problem with activating them anyway (in detail) - maybe i can fix it there.
But even if, I remember some trouble with the nali skins, such as you can't see it carry a weapon and such. Whats with the meshes of the HSP- is it fixed there ? If not, which of the skins are working correctly, and which not ?

I'm currently working on getting the fixed NaliPlayer mesh (that will hold a gun) package together to include in the version 227 patch. I have got it imported just having some problems with the animations. Still a work in progress but I don't think I will run into anything that will not keep me from fixing it.

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Um.. why dont you just rip off the model from UT instead of waiting for that?

I believe I did rip the one from UT or OldSkool (Don't recall which). There are some differences that are causing problems. More animations are available in the UT version and are listed (and named) in different order from those in standard Unreal. Thus I'm having to figure out which frame belongs to which name....

The credit for the valuable post why the internal skins cannot be used go to Bane.

In Smirftsch's position, I would just take a look at the code Bane posted and change the loader accordingly. Then neither UTeamFix nor an extra skinpack would be required for installation... but.... one good question was raised: compatibility? Would you see those textures on a non-227 client...? Probably not err!?

In my opinion it makes only sense to include these skins if they are working. It seems to be no good idea to include f.e. the Naliskins as long the meshes are not working correctly.
I think bozo is working on it, so if he, or anyone else can provide me with working skins, I see no reason not to include them.

I never knew that this would cause such a big debate and apologies to Bane... Wolf did most of the talking in that thread so I probably got mixed up with some of the posts there.

Anyway I'm personally not happy with two mutally incompatible methods going around to use the skins. 227 is aiming for maximum compatiblity with pervious versions right? It would probably confuse players. One method for all works best. You don't have to even modify any of the source code or anything with my way either. All you have to do is include a few UTX's and INT's plus a few additional ServerPackages with the patch and you're done.

As for the Nali skins it's your choice but it may confuse those that expected them to be there. It would also necessitate people having to download additional files to complete the set of the skins.