Introducing: GP4 Memory Access (by Carl_gpgames, Öggo and ZaZ) [v1.0.1 released 2024/12/22]
Posted by Carl_gpgames
I started this project months ago. Later I had GP4 legends Öggo and ZaZ joining me. Houndreds of hours of work went into this project. Today, I proudly present:
(click on the picture to download GP4 Memory Access)
Overview
GP4 Memory Access allows you to directly access and edit the game's memory. It allows you to inject new code (DLL's) as well as full compatibility with GPxPatch and GP4 Tweaker.
You can save, organize, edit, import and export all kinds of patches and tweaks. GP4 Memory Access does not make any changes to your files (such as gp4.exe). Whatever it does, it only does in memory. This means no more fiddling with a corrupt gp4.exe.
GP4 Memory Access might change the way and philosophy you have used to modify GP4 so far. However, it provides full support for known formats (e.g. g3p from Physics Editor or patch.ini from CSM).
Please note that you need to acquire some basic knowledge about GP4 and modding in general in order to use this tool.
Installation
Simply download the installer from the link above and launch it.
If you receive a notification from your antivirus software, you can simply ignore it. This is mainly because I have not purchased a code signature that would prevent this. If necessary, you can add an exception to your GP4 folder / the directory where you install GP4 Memory Access.
Documentation
Instead of writing down all the possibilities here, I have taken the time to write a complete documentation of the program. Please read it carefully before using GP4 Memory Access. [Mediafire]
Database
I also took the time to create a database of some known patches and tweaks. You can download it here and import it into GP4 Memory Access: [Mediafire]
I might update the database from time to time. If some tweaks are missing, please let me know.
GP Files | GP Videos | Discord: Carl_gpgames#2350
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/22/2024 10:08PM by Carl_gpgames.
(click on the picture to download GP4 Memory Access)
Overview
GP4 Memory Access allows you to directly access and edit the game's memory. It allows you to inject new code (DLL's) as well as full compatibility with GPxPatch and GP4 Tweaker.
You can save, organize, edit, import and export all kinds of patches and tweaks. GP4 Memory Access does not make any changes to your files (such as gp4.exe). Whatever it does, it only does in memory. This means no more fiddling with a corrupt gp4.exe.
GP4 Memory Access might change the way and philosophy you have used to modify GP4 so far. However, it provides full support for known formats (e.g. g3p from Physics Editor or patch.ini from CSM).
Please note that you need to acquire some basic knowledge about GP4 and modding in general in order to use this tool.
Installation
Simply download the installer from the link above and launch it.
If you receive a notification from your antivirus software, you can simply ignore it. This is mainly because I have not purchased a code signature that would prevent this. If necessary, you can add an exception to your GP4 folder / the directory where you install GP4 Memory Access.
Documentation
Instead of writing down all the possibilities here, I have taken the time to write a complete documentation of the program. Please read it carefully before using GP4 Memory Access. [Mediafire]
Database
I also took the time to create a database of some known patches and tweaks. You can download it here and import it into GP4 Memory Access: [Mediafire]
I might update the database from time to time. If some tweaks are missing, please let me know.
GP Files | GP Videos | Discord: Carl_gpgames#2350
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/22/2024 10:08PM by Carl_gpgames.
wow, it's incredible what you've guys done
I'm so happy to finally see this released, after so many hours of work with Carl and Ronald. I am both proud and honored to have been part of the development of this groundbreaking tool. Thank you and kudos to everyone involved! 
And on a slightly different but related note, expect a couple of interesting things from me, that were made possible by this tool
And on a slightly different but related note, expect a couple of interesting things from me, that were made possible by this tool
A giant leap for GP4, what an incredible new tool with so much potential.
Thanks Carl, Diego and Ronald.
Thanks Carl, Diego and Ronald.
Great work Carl! Thanks Diego and ZaZ too.
Still keeping this lovely game and tools updated. Thanks!
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PLEASE VISIT: Grand Prix Mods Blog
Still keeping this lovely game and tools updated. Thanks!
PLEASE VISIT: Grand Prix Mods Blog
Wow! GP4 Memory Access opens such great possibilities for modding! This is a huge improvement in terms of tools dev for GP4. Can't wait to read the complete guide to understand how it works and to try it out.
Thank you very much Carl, Diego and Ronald!
Edit: If I may suggest, maybe a GP4 Memory Access Q&A thread would be great to group all the questions related to installation and specific uses with a Q&A synthesis on the 1st page to help other users to find their answers. Just a suggestion, tho
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2024 02:44PM by Excalibur.
Thank you very much Carl, Diego and Ronald!
Edit: If I may suggest, maybe a GP4 Memory Access Q&A thread would be great to group all the questions related to installation and specific uses with a Q&A synthesis on the 1st page to help other users to find their answers. Just a suggestion, tho
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2024 02:44PM by Excalibur.
Quote
GP4Addicted
Question:
Does this app/tool allows the insertion of those csm damage.ini individual values outside csm?
I think i have included all CSM tweaks to the database. You can download the CSV file and then import it (Database/CSV Import). The damage variables are in the physics_damage target file. You can write your modified values to the "value" field.
Quote
Excalibur
If I may suggest, maybe a GP4 Memory Access Q&A thread would be great to group all the questions related to installation and specific uses with a Q&A synthesis on the 1st page to help other users to find their answers. Just a suggestion, tho
That's a good idea. I will collect Q&A's from time to time and add them to the first post.
GP Files | GP Videos | Discord: Carl_gpgames#2350
Wow, what a potential game changer! Thanks Carl and everyone who contributed.
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Intel NUC 8i3, 8GB RAM, MS Sidewinder Wheel
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Intel NUC 8i3, 8GB RAM, MS Sidewinder Wheel
Trying to use FileExtender to add cars but it's not working for me, I just get a Jaguar instead of the car I'm trying to add. Can someone give an example of how to patch a car shape and textures please?
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Intel NUC 8i3, 8GB RAM, MS Sidewinder Wheel
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Intel NUC 8i3, 8GB RAM, MS Sidewinder Wheel
Folder Extender basically doesn't do anything but forcing GP4 to prioritize the files (or folders, which you can specify in foldercontent.ini) from the local directory over the files from the wads.
It, however, doesn't change anything in the team, driver or filename strings. Example given: if you add something like car_mercedes_car1_lod_0.gp4, it won't be loaded because GP4 doesn't recognize "mercedes" as a team name. This means, unless you change the strings, your new car must be named like one of the original cars (and you must add the textures of course, where the filenames don't matter).
I currently run the game completley without cars.wad and anim.wad, simply by extracting their content to the GP4 directory and adding this to foldercontent.ini:
When you add a folder to the list, FolderExtender will add all files from this folder and its subfolder to the table. If you add a subfolder (like maps\resources), it will only add the files from the subfolder. If you just want to add a single file, you only add the file (without path) to the [File] section.
You can simply copy the cars-folder (incl. subfolders) from your cars.wad to the local cars folder and also copy the animationdata-folder from anim.wad to your local gp4 dir:
Keep in mind to also copy the file from maps and fonts folders from cars.wad to the local folders (unless they already exist).
This comes with the great benefit that you don't need to compile a wad each team you change a file.
The files listed in the default [Files] section in foldercontent.ini are the files from the original table in gp4.exe. i have noted that removing some of them (can't remember which ones) leads the game to crash.
Here is a readme, btw: [github.com]
Edit: Oh, an place the DLL in your GP4 dir since paths are relative to the DLL location.
GP Files | GP Videos | Discord: Carl_gpgames#2350
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2024 06:59PM by Carl_gpgames.
It, however, doesn't change anything in the team, driver or filename strings. Example given: if you add something like car_mercedes_car1_lod_0.gp4, it won't be loaded because GP4 doesn't recognize "mercedes" as a team name. This means, unless you change the strings, your new car must be named like one of the original cars (and you must add the textures of course, where the filenames don't matter).
I currently run the game completley without cars.wad and anim.wad, simply by extracting their content to the GP4 directory and adding this to foldercontent.ini:
[Folders] folder1=cars folder2=maps\resources folder3=animationdata
When you add a folder to the list, FolderExtender will add all files from this folder and its subfolder to the table. If you add a subfolder (like maps\resources), it will only add the files from the subfolder. If you just want to add a single file, you only add the file (without path) to the [File] section.
You can simply copy the cars-folder (incl. subfolders) from your cars.wad to the local cars folder and also copy the animationdata-folder from anim.wad to your local gp4 dir:
Keep in mind to also copy the file from maps and fonts folders from cars.wad to the local folders (unless they already exist).
This comes with the great benefit that you don't need to compile a wad each team you change a file.
The files listed in the default [Files] section in foldercontent.ini are the files from the original table in gp4.exe. i have noted that removing some of them (can't remember which ones) leads the game to crash.
Here is a readme, btw: [github.com]
Edit: Oh, an place the DLL in your GP4 dir since paths are relative to the DLL location.
GP Files | GP Videos | Discord: Carl_gpgames#2350
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2024 06:59PM by Carl_gpgames.
Very interesting.
Still no internet online play.
2010 to 2021 Gp4 Track updates Jorge's Track updates blog
Still no internet online play.
2010 to 2021 Gp4 Track updates Jorge's Track updates blog
No luck 
I've named the files as car_ferrari_car1_lod_0.gp4 and so on. Placed them in the Cars folder. But the new shape doesn't appear in the game.
The log says the dll has been injected correctly:
[Information] : DLL successfully injected: C:\Users\TomMK\Grand Prix 4\FolderExtender.dll
[Information] : DLL injection completed successfully.
Has anyone else go this DLL working?
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Intel NUC 8i3, 8GB RAM, MS Sidewinder Wheel
I've named the files as car_ferrari_car1_lod_0.gp4 and so on. Placed them in the Cars folder. But the new shape doesn't appear in the game.
The log says the dll has been injected correctly:
[Information] : DLL successfully injected: C:\Users\TomMK\Grand Prix 4\FolderExtender.dll
[Information] : DLL injection completed successfully.
Has anyone else go this DLL working?
=====================================================
Intel NUC 8i3, 8GB RAM, MS Sidewinder Wheel
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