Portable Televisions

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Authors: Panopticon, Dante271

Last revision: 24 Feb, 2023 at 09:33 UTC

File size: 568.32 KB

On Steam Workshop

Description:

You are no longer limited to the couch-potato lifestyle. Take your TV shows with you on the go!

Handheld (pocket) TVs were interesting devices around the 80s and 90s that would capture radio-wave broadcasts for terrestrial television, for you to watch in B/W or color formats. Nowadays, terrestrial television has been replaced with digital broadcasts, and these have been long forgotten, only to be listed on eBay at a cheap price. The TV models added by this mod are lore-friendly in that they were made and popularized before 1993, the year when the game starts.

Note on Current Issue

Currently, you are not able to use any TVs, including these ones, while they are equipped in your hands. Why? Because for a TV to actually connect to a TV channel, it has to be placed somewhere. I have decided it to be a game limitation, due to the way the Java radio/TV classes have been made, and have suffered trying to make a workaround. There were a lot of things that I wanted to accomplish with this mod, but going on this journey has punished me enough to now simply let go and release this in a usable state. It has been quite an experience doing something other than text-editing to get a simple concept to work.
Update: Currently revisiting this issue and have been experimenting with new solutions. An update for fixing this is still uncertain.

Add-ons

Also includes three add-ons: one that changes the pocket TVs to their real-life counterparts, one that lets you spawn with a pocket TV using a trait, and one that enables them to take VHS tapes (although they really shouldn’t).

Items
  • "Premium Tech. Pocket TV" – based on the CASIO TV-10
    • lightest at 0.3 weight, rare
  • "ValuTech Pocket TV" – based on the Sony FD-10A Watchman
    • midweight at 0.5 weight, most common
  • "ValuTech SUPER Pocket TV" (and radio) – based on the Sony FD-510 MEGA Watchman
    • heaviest at 1.0 weight, rare
    • can switch between TV & radio modes using the context menu

To-Do List
  • Continue to explore giving TVs functionality while equipped (need to find the correct Java method that will actually do something about it)
  • Make the pocket TVs actually appear in your hand when you equip it? lol
  • Eventually figure out how to add multiplayer compatibility (I don’t know what is going wrong with this)

Compatibility
  • This mod is compatible with any mods that add new TV shows or functionality (although it may have unrealistic results)
  • Incompatible with Snow is water – Full version: this version of the mod is breaking mods in general, including this one when you right-click on a TV (use the "Rain Barrels only" version)
  • Incompatible with Basements: when you have this mod enabled, right-clicking on a TV generates a null pointer exception (there is something missing from a table in that mod). I have been able to continue using the TV after the error generates, but others have not.
  • Currently not multiplayer compatible (some issues are arising with TV functionality)
  • Save-game compatible (items will procedurally spawn in areas you have not visited yet – in office desks, lockers, and other places for electronics)

Languages

If you would like to have your language included, please create your own translations and provide them to me below. Thank you!
This currently supports 汉字 (CN), English (EN), Español (ES), Polski (PL), Русский (RU), and Türkçe (TR).

Licensing

If it seems like I am not actively maintaining this mod, you are free to update and reupload this mod to the Steam Workshop.

Contact Info

You can find me under @Panopticon in the Project Zomboid Discord server.

Credits
Contributors

Panopticon – created the initial idea
Dante271 – created the 3D models

Translators

如果你说愿意 (CN), Dante271 (ES), Paffcio (PL), KAMAKİRİ (TR)

Support

UdderlyEvelyn – showed me where to start my journey.
albion – saved my life multiple times.
Nippytime – was there for me when I hit rock bottom.
Reifel – helped me figure out how to add mobile TV functionality.
the Project Zomboid Discord server – everyone is very kind & helpful and I am grateful for their support.

Recommended Mods

Exp Recovery for Skill Books – take full control of your skill progression, along with this TV mod, to have more freedom in enjoying the game without the grind.
Car Multimedia Player – gives the vehicle radios complete TV and radio functionality, with CDs and VHS tapes as well. A great complement or alternative to this mod.
Radio Frequency Manager – use this to automatically put radio station presets on your SUPER Pocket TV for when you swap to the radio mode.

Workshop ID: 2932823902
Mod ID: PocketTV
Mod ID: PocketTVReal
Mod ID: PocketTVTrait
Mod ID: PocketTVVCR