I Want to Mod Exoddus

Nepsotic · #1 04-16-2016, 01:22 PM

Pretty funny I'm posting in this place after all the shit I give it lol

Anyway, I want to make a full on Exoddus mod, but I'm not actually sure if there's a way to do everything I want so I might need a bit of a hand.
Basically, I want to take Oddysee and Exoddus, jam them together so they play as one game and create new puzzles for all the areas. I want to do it in the Exoddus engine, though - so no whistling or anything - just to keep the mechanics consistent.

Also, I was wondering if there's anyway to duplicate the game and add it to Steam, so I don't have to mess about with backup files, just have it as a total conversion mod.

Not really sure how active this place is anymore, but any help is appreciated. Cheers.

EDIT: Noticed you can't add new paths, so I guess it's a no to joining them together :c

Connell · #2 04-16-2016, 01:30 PM

Sorry to clog your thread, but damn I miss this place, this was the area of the forum I always used to post in regularly. Admiral Zaarin, you made some amazing levels I had fun playing. Thanks for your editor, Paul.

As far as your wish to combine the games, I'm not sure it's possible. I believe the way the editor worked (with my limited memories of it) Is that you have to overwrite existing levels in the game to make custom ones (E.G copying the file of a level, editing it in Paul's and then pasting it in place of the actual level, then booting it in the game, then when you're done playing, replace it with the original level again.) There are empty screens you can fill up within the levels I think, but I don't think it's possible using Paul's Level editor to add in new "areas".

Another problem that may arise is that Exoddus isn't as "user-friendly" or as optimized (not sure if that's the right word, but some aspects didn't work as well) as Oddysee is in Paul's editor, which may cause several problems if you want to use it's engine (AFAIK)

Someone else can probably give you a more detailed answer.

Admiral Zaarin · #3 04-16-2016, 01:31 PM

The first major problem I see is that there's fixed amount of screens and 'path' entities in Exoddus (as well as in Oddysee) so you won't be able to add new screens or even to edit the existing ones beyond certain limits. So if you're really determined to make such a game you'd better code it from scratch.

Nepsotic · #4 04-16-2016, 01:38 PM

Cheers guys, so much for that idea. How about the duplication thing, though? Would I just have to torrent another copy of Exoddus or something, or is there a way to copy it and then crack it from Steam?

Edit: Oh, and is there a way to replace the music?

Admiral Zaarin · #5 04-16-2016, 01:52 PM

I don't quite understand what you mean in exact under 'duplication'.

Nepsotic · #6 04-16-2016, 01:56 PM

I want to essentially copy the game so I can have a modded version to run separately. Saves me pissing about with the files and that.

Admiral Zaarin · #7 04-16-2016, 02:08 PM

I had two separate installations when I modded Oddysee. As far as I can remember you can just copy the main installation by plain copying the folder (even without any corrections to the register) and launch each such 'installation' via an EXE in it's respective folder. I have the CD versions of both games so I don't know how this can be done with Steam.

Nepsotic · #8 04-16-2016, 02:08 PM

Alright while I'll give it a try anyway, thanks.

Connell · #9 04-16-2016, 02:34 PM

I had the disk games, and when I tinkered I had a separate folder in my documents with copies of the "legit" levels saved under lock and key so I could put them back in at any time and have the game function as normal, and then I'd just edit the ones saved in the Oddysee directory. I feel like that was a bit garbled but I hope it makes some sense. Good luck with your venture, Nep.

Nepsotic · #10 04-16-2016, 03:23 PM

Cheers, I'll just torrent an extra copy of Exoddus to use for mods I guess.

Actually, thinking about it, seeing as Exoddus has a lot of chaff I want to cut out, I could totally fit some of Oddysee in the beginning, so I suppose that's a way to do it.

If anyone has any idea how to insert custom music that'd be great.

E: How the hell do I replace CAMs? Can't figure it out because right clicking seems to do nothing anywhere.

Paul · #11 04-16-2016, 04:31 PM

You can't:

-Add new paths
-Change the music
-Change an existing paths "map size"
-A whole bunch of other stuff

This is why I started making an open source version of the engine so these kind of things are easily do able.

Btw I think the hook DLL I made let you put modded levels in another folder. Then when you run the game it gives you a list of the folders and you pick what "mod" you want to run with. Can't remember how well that worked though.

So TLDR - you can't do what you want to do. But you could re-arrange paths/cut bits out etc. Editing these games really is painful.

Nepsotic · #12 04-16-2016, 04:38 PM

Cheers Paul, but how come I can't edit CAMs? I have 0.6 but for some reason right clicking does absolutely shit all.

Nepsotic · #13 04-16-2016, 06:12 PM

I give up lol

Paul · #14 04-17-2016, 05:37 AM

To replace CAMS in AE there is a hook dll that makes AO cam format work (because the compression algorithm is bat shit crazy, see here https://github.com/paulsapps/alive/b...ae_bits_pc.cpp for decompression ).

So there was some hacked 0.6.1 editor some where that lets you edit cams. But that LVL will crash the game unless you also use the ddraw.dll proxy/hook.

Again.. hence the need for a new engine