Vanity Pack
Vanity Pack is a defunct mod for the PC release of Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box. Initially created by smilingfrog in early 2010, it is best known for the inclusion of content from the Cops and Robbers and Big Surf Island DLC packs in version 2.0.0. Neither pack came to PC officially until the release of Burnout Paradise Remastered in 2018.
Features
The main features of the original Vanity Pack (1.x) were:
- A collection of custom vehicle skins, replacing certain finishes of their base vehicles
- Usable traffic vehicles with custom names and Junkyard stats
- Ported sponsor vehicles, replacing certain finishes of their base vehicles (with the exception of the Micromania Custom)
- Custom world and GUI textures
- 8 custom Freeburn Challenges
Additionally, it came with an optional trainer which had various additional features:
- On-the-fly vehicle selection
- Color selection
- Boost type selection plus length and "fade" (capacity) adjustment
- Wheel selection
- Hover mode toggle, with added animations for the Toy 4x4, Nighthawk, and Toy Firehawk
- Boost flames toggle
- Horns on all vehicles
- Traffic toggle
- An "Off-road Mode" which made out-of-bounds areas accessible
- A "Stealth Mode" which hid online player names and map markers
- A "fusion" editor that combined one vehicle with another to alter performance
Changes in 2.0.0
The primary addition to Vanity Pack in version 2.0.0 was specific content from the Cops and Robbers and Big Surf Island DLC packs. These were launched with the 1.8 and 1.9 updates, respectively, which came to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles but remained unreleased on PC. By converting assets from these updates, smilingfrog was able to bring much of the content to PC. Certain aspects, such as Big Surf Island events, roads, traffic, and the Paint Shop, as well as the Cops and Robbers online game mode, were never ported due to them being partially hardcoded or server-based.
In all, the ported content included:
- All Big Surf Island vehicles
- All Cops and Robbers vehicles
- The Big Surf Island map expansion
- Big Surf Island collectibles (merged with the base game)
- Big Surf Island drivethrus (excluding the Paint Shop)
- Big Surf Island challenges
Version 2.0.0 brought other changes, too. One of the biggest was to the included trainer, which was now an overlay at the top of the screen. In addition to being the earliest mod menu created for the game, several features were added compared to the Vanity Pack 1.5 trainer:
- Bully repellent, featuring name-based autokick and automute functionality
- AFK mode, which made the vehicle invincible after sitting still for 30 seconds
- Manual gearbox
- Full HUD (speedo, tach, odometer, trip meter, fuel gauge, boost level, gear, and time)
- Vehicle protection (no vehicle replacement, non-VP players sent a fallback ID)
- Country flags beside player names
- Saved vehicle settings and saved colors
- Rebindable hotkeys
- Windowed mode support
Certain features which were present in Vanity Pack 1.5 were removed from 2.0.0:
- Hover mode toggle
- Horns on all vehicles
- The "stealth mode" toggle
- The "fusion" editor
There are also changes to the other parts of the mod. Most of the main features from Vanity Pack 1.5 are now gone, with the world textures, many community skins, and custom challenges all removed. However, several new community skins have been added, including mods such as the Extreme Olympus, Cavalry Kobra, and General Opus which alter vehicle performance as well.
Spinoffs
Russian Vanity
Russian Vanity is a mod by PASHOk_M_oVe. It is the largest of the spinoffs, aiming to emulate Vanity Pack's features, including a set of community vehicles and a trainer. Like with Vanity Pack, version 2 added Big Surf Island, but it was later revealed that the Big Surf Island assets came from Vanity Pack, which had been "cracked" and had its protection removed. It also includes a revamped trainer by DGIorio and 146 custom challenges, along with a generally larger focus on custom vehicles.
Unlike Vanity Pack, Russian Vanity supports pirated games and does not require any online connectivity. This means it is currently the only way to get Big Surf Island in The Ultimate Box.
Other mods
No mods besides Russian Vanity had a similar featureset to Vanity Pack, but there were many attempts to capitalize on both. RVEx, RV Add-on, VP Expansion, and other similarly named mods came to fruition. Even among mods that did not sell themselves as expansions, Vanity Pack and Russian Vanity compatibility was highly desirable.
Compatibility with Vanity Pack 2.0.0 was especially difficult as it did not allow replacement of its modded assets, only vanilla ones. This lead to incompatible mods, even popular ones such as the DGI Vehicle Pack, often being ignored or deserted in favor of the larger mod. This also lead to more mods being compatible with Russian Vanity than with Vanity Pack.
Issues and incompatibilities
Reported issues
As with any popular mod, Vanity Pack had a wide array of issues reported by users on the Burnout Hints forums. The vast majority of them will not be discussed here. Some of the most common were related to d3d9.dll, which provided the overlay for the trainer, and Steam installs, which used a directory junction to redirect to the modified game folder.
High CPU utilization
Compared to the base game, Vanity Pack used a tremendous amount of CPU resources. This was severe enough to cause performance issues for both the overlay and the game in less powerful systems. As the mod is closed-source, it is not known what it did in the background that utilized the CPU so heavily. Its use of Ruby, an interpreted language not known for its speed, may be a factor.
Origin DRM update
In October 2017, a DRM update was released for Burnout Paradise (following a similar trend with other old EA games) that replaced the antiquated SecuROM DRM with an in-house solution tied to Origin. This update also encrypted most of the executable.
Because of this update, compatibility between Vanity Pack and the Origin version of the game was broken. Origin versions continued to receive the executable with SecuROM DRM, which could be made to work under most circumstances by bringing back paul.dll and GL.ini.
Offline update
Vanity Pack always required an online connection to the game servers; it could not be run offline. This was intended as an anti-piracy measure—online connections are not possible without a valid license. After the servers were shut down on August 1, 2019, Vanity Pack 2.0.0 Beta 10 ceased to function. An offline update was provided two days later to remedy this.
SecuROM DRM server shutdown
Circa 2020, the SecuROM activation servers became unresponsive. This meant the previous workaround for new Origin users no longer worked, while new disc activations (even if unrelated to Vanity Pack) were not possible. New users could only install Vanity Pack on the Steam version of the game.
Current status
When launching beta 10, the offline update is no longer consistently offered. If offered, the download is often corrupt. However, even with a valid offline update installed, Vanity Pack no longer functions. As of June 2022, it encounters a 743: unexpected token error and fails to go further. This is due to it not receiving the expected response from smilingfrog.com. No fix is expected.
Version history
1.x
1.0 (Ant) - Initial release
1.1 (Ant) - Windows XP installation fix
More robust dynamic vehicle list lookup
Improved Steam support
Minor defect fixes
1.2 (Ant) - Fixed defect in Bike patch (it should be working properly now)
Added four new community finishes
* Hunter Racing Oval Champ - Party mod by Mr_bingley
* Hunter Civilian - Taxi mod by RichOG007
* Carson GT Concept - Punisher mod by RichOG007
* Hunter Reliable Custom - No Vinyl mod by RichOG007
Updated junk yard ratings and boost types for pedestrian vehicles
Enhanced wheel/color/boost/fusion editor (still in beta testing)
Restored original game graphics
Minor defect fixes
1.3 (Ant) - Enhanced vehicle editor UI
Enhanced vehicle editor with additional features
Created contact sheet with all wheels
Added new community finishes
* Hunter Oval Champ 69 - Hunter mod by ouerbacker
* Hunter Civilian - Microsoft mod by hazard96 (replacing Taxi mod by RichOG007)
* Carson Annihilator - Muscle mod by ouerbacker
* Carson Fastback Special - Sporty mod by ouerbacker
* Jansen P12 - mod by udreamibuild
* Kitano Touge Criterion - Vanity Pack mod by Mr_bingley
The Vanity Pack now creates a backup of the savegame on every run
Reduced new Vanity Pack size by almost half using patching
Added error trapping and logging to aid bug fixing
Minor defect fixes
1.4 (Ant) - Added new community finish
* Watson Burnout Roadster - Burnout Hints mod by Mr_bingley
Flames and Hovering
Minor defect fixes
1.5 (Ant) - Offroad Mode (experimental)
Stealth Mode (experimental)
Takedown Battle Freeburn Challenges
Improved Steam support
Added new community finish
* Carson Annihilator Phoenix - General Lee mod by ouerbacker
2.0.0
2.0.0 alpha 1 - Initial alpha testing release containing only
the Big Surf Island world and map
2.0.0 alpha 2 - Improved installer and launcher
2.0.0 alpha 3 - Updated loading screens
- Fixed issue with being teleported back to the Paradise
Keys Bridge after wrecking your vehicle
- Various minor bug fixes
2.0.0 alpha 4 - Added feature to allow VP and non-VP players to
share a room without crashing non-VP players' games
when VP players use new vehicles such as BSI vehicles,
cop cars and sponsor cars.
2.0.0 alpha 5 - Added BSI cars, Cops & Robbers cars, Sponsor cars and Traffic cars
- Rearranged junkyard menus and added new icons
- Various minor bug fixes
2.0.0 beta 1 - Added PCPD Rai-Jin and PCPD Olympus cars
- Added BSI and Vanity Pack branding
- Added horns to most BSI cars
- Added hover to the P12 88 Special Toy Car
- Various minor bug fixes
2.0.0 beta 2 - Fixed execution issue for Windows XP
- Improved vehicle game crash protection
- Various minor bug fixes
2.0.0 beta 3 - Fixed Steam issue for online freeburn play
- Added player greeting as feedback for proper initialization
- Added Respawn feature from Vanity Pack 1.5
- Added Traffic On/Off feature from Vanity Pack 1.5
- Added Offroad On/Off feature from Vanity Pack 1.5
- Added game overlay information console
- Various minor bug fixes
2.0.0 beta 4 - Improved game overlay information console, which crashed
in beta 3 for some players.
- Fixed issue where changing graphics mode would crash the game.
- Added color selection feature from Vanity Pack 1.5
- Added boost selection feature from Vanity Pack 1.5
2.0.0 beta 5 - Fixed crash when quitting the game
- Updated keyboard handling code
- Updated online detection
2.0.0 beta 6 - Fixed issue where initialization never completed on the Steam version
- Expanded vehicles available for quick spawning to all vehicles
- Added saving and loading of user's vehicles and color preferences
- Added FAQ
2.0.0 beta 7 - Fixed issue with winning burning route vehicles and not being able to proceed
- Improved player name detection during initialization
- Added Hunter Extreme Olympus from Russian Vanity Pack courtesy of PASHOk_M_oVe
- Added experimental support for player country flags
- Added remaining BSI props
- Added BSI auto repair, gas stations and junk yard
- Added BSI smash gates, billboards and mega jumps (realized as super jumps)
- Added Vanity Pack 1.5 community vehicles:
* Hunter Olympus - No Vinyl mod by Rich0G007
- Updated FAQ
2.0.0 beta 8 - Added BSI challenges
- Added support for installing future versions on top of older versions (beta 8 or later)
- Added hotkey to toggle hotkeys on/off
- Added 5th (unknown) color type
- Updated experimental support for player country flags
- Added support for disabling player country flags (see FAQ for details)
- Resequenced BSI vehicles in junk yard (except for P12 Diamond, which was already in the PC game)
- Fixed Burnout Paradise launch issue for Origin
- Fixed issue with crash when entering online freeburn for Steam
- Fixed one issue with races crashing non-VP players
- Fixed map cursor boundary
- Fixed issues with online road rage and custom races to not allow BSI checkpoints
- Fixed issue with hotkeys not working for some players
- Fixed issue with hotkey modifiers
- Fixed various stability issues from reported game crashes
- Updated FAQ
2.0.0 beta 9 - Fixed issue with going online using Steam
- Fixed issue with reading VanityPack.ini file during initialization
- Fixed numerous issues with vehicle selection during online races
- Added extra vehicles to vehicle selection during online races
- Improved detection for if all players in the online freeburn have Vanity Pack
- Improved experimental support for player country flags
- Added extra logging for players having network issues during initialization
- Added support for remembering if to show or hide the information console on startup
- Added support for custom key bindings
- Added support for bully repellent
- Added hotkeys for saving and restoring vehicle settings in VanityPack.ini
- Added experimental Away From Keyboard (AFK mode)
- Updated Hunter Extreme Olympus from Russian Vanity Pack courtesy of PASHOk_M_oVe
- Added Hunter Toy Extreme Olympus from Russian Vanity Pack courtesy of PASHOk_M_oVe
- Added community vehicles:
* Carson Annihilator Street Rod - Carbon mod by oleg_aka_djmeg
* Carson GT Flame - Starry Night mod by isma-lopez
* Carson GT Nighthawk - Alien Nighthack mod by isma-lopez
* Carson Opus - General Opus mod by oleg_aka_djmeg
* Hunter Cavalry Bootlegger - General Lee mod by PCPunisher_OFC
* Hunter Civilian - Non Grata mod by isma-lopez
* Hunter Oval Champ 69 - Kobra mod by DarkRain098
* Kitano Hydros Techno - Valve mod by Slashcammas
* Kitano Touge Criterion - Tough mod by Serrmix
* Montgomery Hawker - Beat the Team mod by Electronic Arts
* Montgomery Hawker Solo - Hawker GT mod by isma-lopez
* Nakamura Ikusa GT - Proyecto Silvia 3 mod by isma-lopez
* Nakamura Ikusa GT - Supra mod by isma-lopez
* Watson R-Turbo Roadster - Split/Second mod by Slashcammas
- Added Vanity Pack 1.5 community vehicles:
* Carson Annihilator - Muscle mod by ouerbacker
* Carson Fastback Special - Sporty mod by ouerbacker
* Carson Inferno Van - DHL Van mod by Mr_bingley
* Carson Inferno BRT Van - A-Team Van mod by Mr_bingley
* Hunter Citizen - FBI mod by LeMansRacer
* Hunter Civilian - Taxi mod by RichOG007
* Hunter Oval Champ 69 - Hunter mod by ouerbacker
* Hunter Racing Oval Champ - Party mod by Mr_bingley
* Hunter Reliable Custom - No Vinyl mod by RichOG007
* Jansen P12 - mod by udreamibuild
* Kitano Hydros Custom - Subaru mod by Mr_bingley
* Kitano Hydros Techno - Drivers Ed mod by LeMansRacer
* Kitano Touge Criterion - Vanity Pack mod by Mr_bingley
* Krieger PCPD Special - Carbon mod by Hellcopa
* Rossolini Tempesta GT - Tempesta Dream GT mod by S-J
* Watson Burnout Roadster - Burnout Hints Roadster by Mr_bingley
- Updated vehicle handling for Carson Annihilator Street Rod finishes 2 & 3 to match finish 1
- Updated boost bar length for Montgomery Hawker Mech finishes 2 & 3 to match finish 1
- Fixed strength, camera and lights for AI vehicles
- Added Vanity Pack Heroes to scrolling credits
- Updated Vanity Pack log file contents to UTF-8 encoding
- Added lock for preventing running multiple concurrent instances of Vanity Pack
- Added support for Vanity Pack closing down the game when exiting Vanity Pack (when running the game in windowed mode)
- Added modding support for modders
- Various minor bug fixes
- Updated FAQ
2.0.0 beta 10 - Updated Carson Opus - General Opus mod by oleg_aka_djmeg
- Updated Hunter Extreme Olympus from Russian Vanity Pack courtesy of PASHOk_M_oVe
- Updated Hunter Toy Extreme Olympus from Russian Vanity Pack courtesy of PASHOk_M_oVe
- Updated Kitano Touge Criterion - Tough mod by Serrmix
- Fixed issue with entering junk yard, entering water or respawning upside down with offroad mode on
- Fixed some crashes due to incorrect vehicle model data
- Fixed some crashes due to incorrect world model data
- Fixed Steam crash on game exit
- Added speedometer (in mph or km/h) and tachometer
- Added local time option for tachometer
- Added fuel meter and nitro (boost) meter
- Added odometer and trip meter
- Added manual gearbox
- Updated some key bindings to trigger on key up instead of key down/repeat
- Added manufacturer icons to the junk yard for Cop, BSI and DLC cars (all but The Chrome Car)
- Added experimental support for spawning cars in bike rooms and vice versa
- Fixed issue with incorrect respawn location after wrecking on the mainland (non BSI) map
- Added Traffic On/Off feature for bike rooms
- Added possible fix for Steam's Application load error 5:0000065434
- Added possible fix for startup error related to a third party library used for UUID generation
- Added experimental support for toggling between fullscreen and windowed mode (ALT+ENTER)
- Added configuration for centering of game window when toggling to windowed mode
- Added configuration for starting the game in windowed mode
- Changed limit of color values from 0x100000000 to 0x10000
- Added support for saving up to 10 colors
- Added support for saving up to 10 vehicles
- Updated default key bindings for saving and restoring colors
- Updated default key bindings for saving and spawning vehicles
- Added key binding for toggling AFK mode
- Added wheel selection feature from Vanity Pack 1.5
- Added thumbnail contact sheet of all wheels
- Fixed issue with country flags showing on top of menu
- Fixed issue with loading of vehicles from the VanityPack.ini file into their save slots
- Fixed issue with incorrect color type being applied after respawning a vehicle having settings saved in VanityPack.ini
- Fixed boost sound for Carson Toy Nighthawk
- Fixed siren sound for Hunter Toy Spirit
- Fixed Boost Fade value range
- Updated fallback vehicles for Extreme Olympus and Toy Extreme Olympus for non VP players
- Updated support for Vanity Pack closing down the game when exiting Vanity Pack
- Added support for closing down Vanity Pack when exiting the game
- Added backup of VanityPack.ini file into backup folder before upgrading its format
- Various minor bug fixes
- Updated FAQ