Modder Friendly?

[sabre100]

I thought I read somewhere on the forum that the data files are text and can be modified to add new equipment, etc?

Is this true? and if so can Matrix post a sample of how one of the data text files looks like (the contents of it)?


Thanks

[junk2drive]

You cannot add new units at this point. You can mod the stats of a unit. The battles and stats are xml files. I have opened the xml file with IE and edited but there are programs to edit xml.
The skins of the polygons are bmp and dds files. You can mod the bmp with a paint program (like MS Paint, Irfanview, etc.) and convert to a dds.

[junk2drive]

Page 4 of the PC FAQ thread in the top section, there is talk of allowing other units to be added to the game.
 
I cannot find the thread that mentions the xml editor. It's around here somewhere...

[pipilongbeard]

I would love to see an editor in the next release of the game or as a seperate set of tools.
The best part of these games is to be able to play beyond what the developers had originally
envisoned. Creating new maps and campaigns with your choice of units is a very good way of
building a comunity of players and for developers to keep a franchise going.  I think it is a
 win - win for both parties. 

[pipilongbeard]

A good xml editor to try is: Altova xml Spy.
  http://www.altova.com/download_components.html
 The home edition you can request a free licence for personal use.

[sabre100]

Is it possible to post how the XML file is layed out the contents? 
 
Thanks

[Marc von Martial]

ORIGINAL: sabre100

Is it possible to post how the XML file is layed out the contents?

Thanks

We will provide detailed "how to's" once the game is released. Everything is prepared [;)]

[redwolf]

The contents are absolutely obvious for almost all values. You can hack on them without documentation.

In case you don't know, XML files always have a tree/hierarchy of attribute names in them.

[mbelew]

the data files are text and can be modified to add new equipment, etc?

Yes, you can do all these things. I highly recommend copying and pasting into new units, equipment, scenarios though. The game will still work if you mod the originals, but you have to make sure everyone you play-by-email with has the same exact mod. Sharing is less of a headache when you make your own personalized file to pass around, and leave the originals alone.

[Marc von Martial]

ORIGINAL: junk2drive

You cannot add new units at this point. You can mod the stats of a unit. The battles and stats are xml files. I have opened the xml file with IE and edited but there are programs to edit xml.
The skins of the polygons are bmp and dds files. You can mod the bmp with a paint program (like MS Paint, Irfanview, etc.) and convert to a dds.

I have to correct junk2drive here. Adding new units is absolutely possible. We will provide detailed information how to do that.


If you only want to edit / add vehicles by altering their XML file the all you need is a text editor / XML editor and some time to read through the "how to" document.

If you want to edit / add vehicles by creating a new 3D model you will need a 3D modelling and animation background of some degree. We provide info on how you have to set the model but of course we can not provide you with 3D modeling classes

If you want to edit the textures or generate new texture you will need a graphic or texturing background. Again we will provide you with info of how to edit given textures (or do new ones), but of course we can't hold graphic design or texturing classes.

[redwolf]

You cannot add new 3D models, though.

Not sure whether you can add a new vehicle, use it in a scenario and reuse some existing 3D model.

ETA: posted simultaneously with Marc.

[Bil H]

ORIGINAL: Marc Schwanebeck

If you want to edit / add vehicles by creating a new 3D model you will need a 3D modelling and animation background of some degree. We provide info on how you have to set the model but of course we can not provide you with 3D modeling classes

Hey Marc, you guys need to play up the angle of allowing new 3D content to be added to the game, as it could well make this game a run away hit. Add a map maker and other scenario design tools and you guys could really have something here.

Bil

[Marc von Martial]

ORIGINAL: Bil H

ORIGINAL: Marc Schwanebeck

If you want to edit / add vehicles by creating a new 3D model you will need a 3D modelling and animation background of some degree. We provide info on how you have to set the model but of course we can not provide you with 3D modeling classes

Hey Marc, you guys need to play up the angle of allowing new 3D content to be added to the game, as it could well make this game a run away hit. Add a map maker and other scenario design tools and you guys could really have something here.

Bil

You can add new 3D content, as I lined out in my post above.

A user friendly map maker is planned but will not make it for this release.
You can edit scenarios allready. And it is also planned to revise this to be more user friendly.

However, we will provide the needed documentation to do this and I'm sure Koios and Erik will help with problems.

[junk2drive]

ORIGINAL: Bil H

ORIGINAL: Marc Schwanebeck

If you want to edit / add vehicles by creating a new 3D model you will need a 3D modelling and animation background of some degree. We provide info on how you have to set the model but of course we can not provide you with 3D modeling classes

Hey Marc, you guys need to play up the angle of allowing new 3D content to be added to the game, as it could well make this game a run away hit. Add a map maker and other scenario design tools and you guys could really have something here.

Bil

Give the gamer too much and there won't be any need to buy the sequels/expansions.

[sabre100]

Marc -
 
Are you guys going to post this documentation the day of release or weeks later?  I want to buy this game asap but I would like to see the docs before I do if I could resist that long?
 
 
Thanks
 
 

[redwolf]

Trust me, you can work with the XML files without documentation, or if not I can help you.

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: sabre100
Are you guys going to post this documentation the day of release or weeks later?  I want to buy this game asap but I would like to see the docs before I do if I could resist that long?

A how-to on the in-game data files is included in the game manual. Info on how to edit the models/textures will be available soon after release.

Regards,

- Erik

[benpark]

Give the gamer too much and there won't be any need to buy the sequels/expansions.

While this may be partly true, I think that a game that has a high mod potential has a far greater chance of staying alive in buyers minds. There have been many, many wargames released with everything locked that are now forgotten. I would rather see the OOB locked than not have a decent map editor. I am all for supporting Koiosworks, they do good work. But I'm also a tinkerer. I want to make a few battles they will never get to.

When Koiosworks wants to move on from WW2 games, and if we don't have a mapmaker to make all the battles not produced-we all suffer. I most probably won't get the next one without it. The fact that the two previous games don't have map makers is the only thing dampening my enthusiasm for this title. For a series that references tabletop wargaming, it's a necessity!

[sabre100]

Redwolf and Erik thanks so much for answering my questions.   Now will it be out at 12:01am tonight [:D]

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: benpark
While this may be partly true, I think that a game that has a high mod potential has a far greater chance of staying alive in buyers minds.
When Koiosworks wants to move on from WW2 games, and if we don't have a mapmaker to make all the battles not produced-we all suffer.

Agreed, we wanted to make it open to unleash the creativity we know is there in the community. We feel this will help, not hurt, the series going forward. We also feel there will still be a market for our expansions as we plan to not only release professional campaigns but add in some new features and goodies with each one to keep moving things forward. [8D]

Regards,

- Erik