.lvl files -

Paul · #31 07-01-2007, 08:20 AM

you can always call me "PaulM" if "Paul" isnt enough

Also AE has the same level file format, and the backgrounds are slightly diffrent, but until I get a new cd so I can view exactly how they're diffrent I wont know

Maybe they're just a diffrent resoultion or somthing (hopfully)

my overall goal was to write my own engine simlar to AO that used the files from AO.. of course if I figure out all the file formats i'd have to write some kinda level editor first

but yeah .ban/sprites are next on the todo list..

Chubfish · #32 07-01-2007, 08:33 AM

I was mucking with one of the backgrounds, and happened to make this new screen:

Thanks Paul and Xavier! I just went around the sprites in paint...now if only we could actually do that with what Paul is making...

Zerox · #33 07-01-2007, 12:45 PM

I know one thing we could do if we get the sprites...
Scrabs and Paramites in the stockyards. See how many people fall for that.

Chubfish · #34 07-01-2007, 12:50 PM

Lol, yeah, people would go nuts saying "OMG t3h p4r4m1735 1n 73h 5t0ckyardszorzzz!!!111! h4xx!!" but probably only the noobs (and not even that nuts). Still, it would be quite a nice thing to see anyway.

***Nate*** · #35 07-01-2007, 04:08 PM

:

I extracted all the files in bmp format

here is another one...

Is it just me or is the image stretched horizontally?

Paul · #36 07-01-2007, 06:02 PM

:

Is it just me or is the image stretched horizontally?

" also note that the oringal resoultion here is 640x240, the game scales the height up to 480 but you can use some image editing package to do that or somthing.."

thats why, as typo'd by myself :P, why did they do it that way? I dont know.. its werid, and so is a lot of other things too maybe it was to deter reverse enginnering

***Nate*** · #37 07-01-2007, 06:04 PM

Oh, I see. How strange. You can't really see any pixelation due to stretching in the game though.

SligStorm · #38 07-01-2007, 06:52 PM

sadly no, I can't help btw.

I can only create, not edit files.
(I don't have the first clue on how to edit these types of files.)

On topic: Nice work on what you have done so far Paul.

Paul · #39 07-02-2007, 06:21 AM

:

sadly no, I can't help btw.

I can only create, not edit files.
(I don't have the first clue on how to edit these types of files.)

On topic: Nice work on what you have done so far Paul.

why thank you

ZANGG · #40 07-02-2007, 08:30 AM

Has Paul or anyone else tried making a recompressor to load edited images back into the game? First step towards a full-blown editor. :P

Zerox · #41 07-02-2007, 09:57 AM

Even so, it would only be an image, not so you'd have no idea what you were doing, unless it was a plain flat floor or something, and the original programming was also.

Would be interesting, though.

If we could, let's replace Abe's sprites with Scrab ones, and see what happens. Or replace all the Mudokons with Sligs (and Sligs with Mudokons), since they don't need to jump or climb or anything. That would be funny. Save all the Sligs from the evil, gun-toting Mudokons!

SligStorm · #42 07-02-2007, 10:14 AM

:

Even so, it would only be an image, not so you'd have no idea what you were doing, unless it was a plain flat floor or something, and the original programming was also.

Would be interesting, though.

If we could, let's replace Abe's sprites with Scrab ones, and see what happens. Or replace all the Mudokons with Sligs (and Sligs with Mudokons), since they don't need to jump or climb or anything. That would be funny. Save all the Sligs from the evil, gun-toting Mudokons!

Hahahaha! that would be awsome!

what would the mud shooting animation be? them saying hi? lol

Chubfish · #43 07-02-2007, 11:24 AM

Lol, although it would be better if it was their blowing up anim...but I would like to see a background change as that could be interesting, like Zerox said...

Paul · #44 07-02-2007, 02:04 PM

:

Has Paul or anyone else tried making a recompressor to load edited images back into the game? First step towards a full-blown editor. :P

I do have one but its poinltess if you dont know how to make your own .cam files, basicly you could edit all the background images, replacing a slig with a scrab or somthing requires a lot more than just changing the sprites, if you do that it will just crash :/ figuring out how to do anything with the files by looking a the disassembled exe file and hex dumps of the files is easier said than done..

ZANGG · #45 07-02-2007, 07:50 PM

So there's a file that stores level data as well that you've extracted? That's great, even if you don't have any idea, if you can extract and recompress it, other people could probably try for themself to edit stuff.

zimfromBM · #46 07-02-2007, 08:51 PM

Wow this is history in the making right here! finally getting close to a level editor after 10 years.

Paul · #47 07-03-2007, 04:45 AM

:

So there's a file that stores level data as well that you've extracted? That's great, even if you don't have any idea, if you can extract and recompress it, other people could probably try for themself to edit stuff.

I have an idea, it just takes time.. the "[levelname]path.bnd" seems to have the level map in it from what I can tell.. but anyway heres my other quick buggy app to rebuild .lvl files, i'll say rebuild because "compress" means make smaller, adding stuff to .lvl files adds a few mb of nulls.
Also note that there is some stuff that you wont beable to change, for example the strings that have the messages on the lcd screens are hard coded into the exe, so you couldnt distribute that with the .lvl file you'd have to have some kind patch to change the strings in the exe too.
Info on how to use the .lvl archive builder are in the zip.

ZANGG · #48 07-03-2007, 05:32 AM

Alright, time to see what I can do with this.

Any chance of a converter back to CAM?

***Wil*** · #49 07-03-2007, 09:18 AM

Excellent work, Paul. Not knowing half of what you say means I am much impressed. Also, Xav: YAY! I love you. Downloading now.

SligStorm · #50 07-03-2007, 01:09 PM

:

Alright, time to see what I can do with this.

Any chance of a converter back to CAM?

I agree with ZANGG.
Without a .CAM Encoder the game crashes when u try putting the bmps in the file along with the other stuff and converting it to a .lvl again.

ParamiteSurprise · #51 07-04-2007, 11:27 AM

It'd be cool if you could make a room full of sligs!

SligStorm · #52 07-04-2007, 11:58 AM

Heh yeh, It would lag abit though... :/

ZANGG · #53 07-05-2007, 08:24 AM

How about a room full of snakes on a plane?

Chubfish · #54 07-05-2007, 08:29 AM

How about a room with a slig, 20 meat grinders(mega fast ones real close to the ground) and 3 floating mines, with almost no flooring. Lol, impossible.

Zerox · #55 07-05-2007, 08:40 AM

That could be used in areas where there's normally a really high pit you'd fall into. Lol.

ZANGG · #56 07-05-2007, 08:51 AM

How about a room with a scrab, a paramite, and a slig, all eating stuff?

***Wil*** · #57 07-05-2007, 09:03 AM

How about a room with sixty Scrabs all fighting each other? LOL

How about you stop wasting words and space with extreme suggestions? If your ideas will work, you can share them with us when a level editor emerges. Until then, this isn’t really the place to brainstorm.

ZANGG · #58 07-05-2007, 09:17 AM

How about a level where Max gets pwned by sixty scrabs? :P

Chubfish · #59 07-05-2007, 10:02 AM

What I want to know is what is Paul doing now with the Level Editor? Cause I dont want this thread to get closed cause of flaming and the such...stop with the "How About" stuff now!

***Xavier*** · #60 07-05-2007, 10:56 AM

Seriously, Paul if you need any files from AE I can send them to you via one way or another.