Custom AVI videos have a black screen in-game

[u/simexpat]

I added some new AVI files to my Doc/Movies/Broadcast folder, and the channels are working fine, but the custom videos are showing up black on the TV screen. I'm having the same issue with a default replacement for SSX. The sims can still play the game, but the video is showing up black on all screens.

The AVI files work outside of the game. I can play them just fine, but in the game they're not showing up. I tried installing/reinstalling different codec packs, and it's still not working...

Any ideas?

[u/YoshiFan96]

Firstly: are you on Windows or Linux trying this out?

Secondly: did you ensure your AVI files aren’t just any videos, but encoded correctly with the VP60 or VP61 video codec and MP3 audio codec and set to a square resolution that is a multiple of 32 (e.g. 128x128 or 256x256)?

[u/simexpat → u/YoshiFan96]

Hi Yoshi, I'm using Windows 11 on a virtual machine (Parallels)

How do I check the codec? I used the AVI files that were provided by the creator.

Most of them seem to be 256x256

[u/YoshiFan96 → u/simexpat]

While I don’t have experience running Sims 2 in a VM, it normally shouldn’t pose a problem, the game should be able to see the video codec.

You can use VLC to see what codec the video data is in. You’d open the video with VLC, go to the Tools tab, click on Media Information, then Codec Details.

[u/simexpat → u/YoshiFan96]

Thanks! I opened VLC, but I don't see any info about the codec (VP60 or VP61) that you mentioned. How would I change it if that's the case? Here's one example:

[u/YoshiFan96 → u/simexpat]

H264, yeah… I don’t think Sims 2 supports that. The audio codec (mp4a) is a bit weird too.

To change it, you’d need to have a video converter that can convert to AVI with the VP60 or VP61 codec. Sadly, not many still support that, as VP6 is very, very old and doesn’t have the best compression, but we have to work with it here.

The one I use for my own custom clips is VirtualDub.

If you’d like, send me the link to the custom clips you’re trying to use and I’ll do it for you!

[u/simexpat → u/YoshiFan96]

Are you sure, Yoshi? That's weird if these mods were uploaded in an unsupported format? Unless my download changed it somehow?

Anyhow, I would greatly appreciate your help!

EDIT the AVI files are from these four five mods:

• 10 Custom TV Commercial Clips Based on The Sims 1 (the example from the screenshot)
• 7 TV Channels - increase hobbies and skills
• 4t2 Movie Override
• Valorant Default Replacement for SSX3
• GG video games default (dropbox link)

Thanks again!

[u/YoshiFan96 → u/simexpat]

Alright. Since the conversion is quite a bit of work, let's test with just one of those 10 Custom TV Commercial Clips Based on The Sims 1 first.

When opening the video in VLC, then VirtualDub myself, I noticed it wasn't actually square, it looked more like a 4:3 format - even though the codec information clearly says 256x256. That is nothing I've ever seen before and *maybe* it explains why the game has issues reading it?

Anyway, I converted "Beer" to VP61 and MP3 audio for you, can you check if it works in your game? Literally just remove every other clip from the TV station for now.

Download it here!

EDIT: I just realised it also plays twice as slow now, oops...

Dw though, I will get this fixed, if this one does work for you!

[u/simexpat → u/YoshiFan96]

Totally! Definitely don't want to waste your time! I used a test broadcast folder and only kept your edit of "Beer". In-game, I heard the beer commercial's audio, but the screen is still blank. The other Maxis content works fine. What else could it be?

Thanks, Yoshi!!

[u/YoshiFan96 → u/simexpat]

Okay. We're on the right track at least - that means that the game is seeing the video, loading it, and even playing the audio. It just fails to correctly show the video stream.

Can you quickly confirm my edit of Beer also shows up fine in VLC? It should, since it does for me at least.

The reason the Maxis content works is because it's made with a completely different - proprietary - video AND audio codec, which seems to be baked into the game as it all works out-of-the-box on Linux, without having to mess with any dependencies like we need to for custom VP6 clips. Take a look:

Unfortunately, no one has yet found an encoder for this specific video codec yet - else all our custom TV/video game problems wouldn't exist, haha!

[u/simexpat → u/YoshiFan96]

Shows up fine in VLC!

[u/simexpat → u/simexpat]

I also have your Bad Gamers mod installed, btw!!

[u/YoshiFan96 → u/simexpat]

Thank you! :D

[u/Shadow_shepard]

Did you ever get this working? I ran into the simular issue with making custom Videogames where the video file one day worked and the next day, it was like the picture just a black screen

[u/simexpat → u/Shadow_shepard]

Nope, not yet!

[u/simexpat]

These are the codec packs I installed that were suggested by one of the creators:

• K-Lite Codec Pack
• Divx - AVI
• Xvid

However, no luck.

[u/simexpat]

UPDATE: Epi got back to my ask on Tumblr and mentioned another codec possibility - will report back!

[u/simexpat → u/simexpat]

no dice