Mods??

[Russian]

Are they even possible?? Has anyone attempted it? If the have have they suceeded? And if they did where can i get this mod and how can i make one myself? Sorry about all the Questions, but i have read through some topics and none of them really state that mods are not possible. This topic will help clear out any problems http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/smile.gif

[BanzaiZAP]

Then you should read more closely! http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/wink.gif

Actually, we've talked about this a bit, depending on what you mean by "mod." Several people have successfully made custom maps, and others have tried graphics changes, but only with limited success. Look at the threads for "changing unit colors" "Editing BIF files" and a few others to see what's slowing us down.

What it boils down to is: we can't get into the one file type that seems to be storing the actual unit animations. Once we're in there, making mods should be just a matter of who gets theirs finished first! If you can figure out the darn BIF files, let us know!!!!!

-- B)

[Kraellin]

a few minor mods have been made, sound, custom maps and even a weird change or two to the unit looks....course these have mostly produced dayglow samurai with swords sticking out their butts, but it was a 'mod'.

the units stats are stored in the main executable, or so i'm told thru the rumor line. the .bif files seem to store the unit appearance, but no one has really successfully cracked those yet. you can read my thoughts on those files in other threads. we also had a fellow here a while back who hex edited the map 'green' and had figured out a fair amount of the map data, but that's been about it.

good luck going thru the main executable to find unit stats. nothing like hunting and pecking around a few gazillion bytes to find that one crucial byte that will change your ashigaru into a raging dragon eater. someone well versed in memory editing could prolly do it, but i'm just not very well versed in it, so i havent even tried. i'm an old disk edit hacker and i've other things to play with at the moment :)

so, good luck and post whatever you find. just dont try and bring that dragon eater into online play. most of us would frown upon that quite a bit, not to mention EA and CA.

K.

[Swoosh So]

BIF's :-z

stumbled across some information hope its helpful

:
BIF is a member of a family of file formats created by Handmade Software and used by their Image Alchemy program for generic bitmap data interchange. Image Alchemy is an image processing and file format conversion program that imports and exports many of the formats described in this book, and is available for both MS-DOS and UNIX systems.

Exporting files is just the opposite procedure. Your program will write out BIF, PAL, and Raw files and call Image Alchemy to convert them to the desired output format. If Image Alchemy doesn't read or write a file format you need, then call or email the happy programmers at Handmade Software and request that their next version of Image Alchemy support your every image conversion need. Tell them the file format guys from O'Reilly sent you.

For Further Information
The BIF file format is described in the Image Alchemy PS User's Manual and is available from Handmade Software:

Handmade Software, Inc.
48860 Milmont Drive, Suite 106
Fremont, CA 94538
Voice: (800) 252-0101
Voice: (510) 252-0101
FAX: (510) 252-0909
BBS: (510) 252-0929
Email: support@handmadesw.com
WWW: http://www.handmadesw.com/


LOL i hope thats useful for someone!!!!!!
http://www.oreilly.com/centers/gff/formats/hsibif/



[This message has been edited by Swoosh So (edited 08-20-2001).]