Custom Track Tutorial

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Introduction

This is the main page of the Custom Track Tutorial. Here, you'll see a brief overview of the (track) folder, a listing of programs you might need to edit them and in-depth tutorials on creating and editing each of the files. All files and sections are combined together to form a track, so it is important to know what each of them does while working with them. It is important to read all the tutorials and topics thoroughly before starting to make the track. The tutorials are presented in order, however, you will find yourself jumping to previous and later steps, as it's impossible to define a strict "order" of building the track. During this process, it's common, even for advanced track makers, to run into issues or freezes of unknown origin. This is also addressed in the tutorial.

You can use the blue links box at the bottom of each page to navigate faster through the tutorials. If you have any questions, you may post them on the talk page (please sign your posts with --~~~~).

Overview of a Custom Track

Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe have folders for each track's data; all of the original tracks can be found and extracted from the game's ROM using a program such as (INSERT PROGRAM HERE). You will mainly be working with the following files when creating a custom track; they are all required for your track to load and work.

Your Track Folder

The track folder contains all the files needed by your track, including:

course_model.bfres, which is compressed in an .szs archive.

BFRES files contain 3D models and textures. They have no solidity of their own.

course_maptexture.bflim

This is the minimap image.

course_mapcamera.bin

This is the point of view that you are looking at the minimap image from. It is normally a birds-eye view of the track, but can also be set on an angle like on GCN Luigi's Mansion.

course.kcl

This is the 3D model that defines collision data. It determines what parts of the level can be driven on, where the walls and boost pads are, and which parts of the level are out of bounds.

course_muunt.byaml

This is a binary data file which controls the placement of all objects in a level, including item boxes and other animated objects, as well as enemy routes, start positions, checkpoints, intro and replay cameras, gravity paths, and more.

course.ptcl
course.bgenv
course.bglpbd

These files contains data for effects such as particles, fog, glow, bloom, lighting, reflections, and more.

Other files that may be found in the track folder include; battle_muunt.byaml (which is used on Mario Kart 8 only when playing balloon battle on a racetrack), course_muunt_200.byaml (which is used on Mario Kart 8 for courses that needed to be adjusted in 200cc, in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe this file was merged into the regular course_muunt.byaml)

Tutorials

If you're creating your first custom track, you should begin with the Modeling with 3D Editor page.

Main Tutorials

These tutorials cover all the normal procedures for making a Custom Track.

Model Related

Texturing

How to import and export textures to and from BFRES files.

Scale

How to make sure your track will be the right size; not too big or too small. And make sure that all drivable points (or the complete track) use coordinates between -131071 and +131071. Otherwise items will function improperly. (THIS IS FROM MKWII BUT DOES APPLY TO MK8 IN SOME WAY TOO, CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE NUMBERS ARE ACCURATE)