Matrix Games Forums

What is the word on doing graphics or data mods for the game? I have been working on 3 things over the past two days. One is changing the color of the vehical graphics in the status window to match the counter colors. The other is modding the csv files to change the name tags of units to their vehical desginations like T-80 or M1A1. Makes ID'ing a unit easier. The third thing is adding some AT and AD sections to the selection screens to give forces some cross attached air defense and anti-tank assets. Robert what level of modding are you guys going to support? Also as a technical issue, saved games and scenarios appear to hard code save unit data making it impossible for a naming mod or data mod to take hold. Is there going to be a way to "recompile" those files to make use of new data?

Other then that I'm having a blast with this game. Like playing the ole GDW assult game, but I don't lose counters when someone sneezes.

S!

Cap'n D

ORIGINAL: Capn Darwin

Other then that I'm having a blast with this game. Like playing the ole GDW assult game, but I don't lose counters when someone sneezes.

Or worse, you bang your knee on the table when getting up to get a drink. At that point, you would either start over, or put the game back on the shelf. [:D]

I too have been playing with modifying the counter graphics. I've posted the desire for the map counter silhouettes to match the predominant vehicle type (which they've said is in the works - especially having an M2 Bradley silhouette on the map).

I have not had any success at changing any graphics so I second your question about how far will we be able to modify graphics.

I've modified my graphics in Battles in Normandy quite a bit to make the tanks more real (IMHO). Of course the one thing I immediately fixed in BiN, was to add .50 cal. machine guns to the tops of the Shermans and Firefly's. They left them off the map counters graphics ? [:-] ... one of the few advantages a Sherman had over any german tank.

hank

Hank,

I can change any of the graphics and I would like to make each counter unique by using the status graphics (there appears to be some indexing errors which may explain why certain units are showing up funny in the status screen), but the database appears to use a hardcode word reference instead of a numeric index like the status pics do. I've had success adding in new formations and making name tag changes but these name tag changes do not show in the canned scenarios. They appear to be "hard" coded into the scenario file and do not update against the csv file on loading (hint, hint for the dev's). As for maps I haven't fiddled with them. Yet. [;)]

S!

Cap'n D

Here is the after pic...

Glad you are having fun and I'm impressed at how far you have gotten. The short answer to what "level of midding are you guys going to support?" is I don't know yet. I have been playing around with ideas but really need to talk to David and some of the others some more first. FWIW, my position all along has been "lots" but not quite 100%.

I am writing code right now to let you change the icon counters and and also 'unit badge' (the one or more vehicle silhouttes that appear in the Unit Description Panel in the lower right corner) for each unit type to whatever you like in version 1.0.2. I couldn't quite get it finished in time for 1.0.1 - sorry!

Changing the unit 'tags' to vehicles descriptions is an interesting idea. They should indeed be persistent in saved games. For the scenarios, you have to be the scenario author to be allowed to change any of the data. This is deliberate to protect the hard work of those people who would like to create scenarios and have them circulate intact. If they don't want to lock them though they don't have to - just leave the password field empty. The original Matrix scenarios are all locked but you can easily dump the forces to a csv file as you have done and then start a whole new scenario and reimport them all back in. You can then set the tags to whatever you like and they will persist.

Have fun, Rob.

ORIGINAL: Capn Darwin

What is the word on doing graphics or data mods for the game? I have been working on 3 things over the past two days. One is changing the color of the vehical graphics in the status window to match the counter colors. The other is modding the csv files to change the name tags of units to their vehical desginations like T-80 or M1A1. Makes ID'ing a unit easier. The third thing is adding some AT and AD sections to the selection screens to give forces some cross attached air defense and anti-tank assets. Robert what level of modding are you guys going to support? Also as a technical issue, saved games and scenarios appear to hard code save unit data making it impossible for a naming mod or data mod to take hold. Is there going to be a way to "recompile" those files to make use of new data?

Other then that I'm having a blast with this game. Like playing the ole GDW assult game, but I don't lose counters when someone sneezes.

S!

Cap'n D

ORIGINAL: RobertCrandall

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I am writing code right now to let you change the icon counters and and also 'unit badge' (the one or more vehicle silhouttes that appear in the Unit Description Panel in the lower right corner) for each unit type to whatever you like in version 1.0.2. I couldn't quite get it finished in time for 1.0.1 - sorry!

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[/quote]

No problemo Mr Crandall. I'm beginning to worry we may be burning you out. Please pace yourself.

... and take breaks occassionally. Its a long road ahead.

hank

It has also been a long road behind too...

ORIGINAL: Catgh

It has also been a long road behind too...

Never look behind ...... [:D]

ORIGINAL: hank

ORIGINAL: RobertCrandall

..... snipped

I am writing code right now to let you change the icon counters and and also 'unit badge' (the one or more vehicle silhouttes that appear in the Unit Description Panel in the lower right corner) for each unit type to whatever you like in version 1.0.2. I couldn't quite get it finished in time for 1.0.1 - sorry!

... snipped

No problemo Mr Crandall. I'm beginning to worry we may be burning you out. Please pace yourself.

... and take breaks occassionally. Its a long road ahead.

hank
[/quote]

Hey, I like this "Mr. Crandall" bit. Nobody else calls me that anywhere else!

I'm a busy guy of course but I'm pacing myself. Sometimes it seems like I'm getting a lot done and sometimes not but I just keep slogging away anyway. The carefree life of a software developer requires a certain discipline underneath.

This ought to be a big programming weekend though and I'll finish the unit icons first since you were so nice! Don't any else get any ideas though! No sucking up allowed!! It will get you nowhere.....

Cheers, Rob.

[&o] All hail Lord Crandall[&o], and may the good lord bless you for what you have bestowed upon us...your loyal servants[:)].

I finished up all of the Type ID's last night and started adding some AT, AD and Scout Helo sections to the lists for the countries. I'll work this weekend on finishing it up and then wait on the 1.0.1 release before posting it in order to incorparate any changes. One other question that leaps to mind is a place to upload any mods to. Is there a site supported by these Matrix Boards? I'm also going to work on the Status pic colors for Nato to have them match the counter colors (trivial but I think it will look good). Depending on 1.0.1, I may have an arty workaround to fix the ammo loadouts (chem, mine, ICM). I'll be looking into that this weekend too.

S!

Cap'n D