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Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283206] Sat, 08 September 2007 19:41 Go to next message
Yrr is currently offline  Yrr
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Colonel

Hello together!

As some of you may know, I am working on a tool to recreate LevelEdit packages for Renegade maps (.mix to .lvl). It's a pretty hard work, but I'm coming along with it quite fast.

I attached a first .lvl demonstration to this post. I used Skirmish00.mix, since it's not a custom map and no-one has the LevelEdit file for it (afaik).

The following things are on the ToDo:

  • Import light-scape object parameters.
  • Import ambient light parameters.
  • Attach scripts to objects (only spawners have scripts attached yet).
  • Assign waypath to their correct preset (if possible).
  • Maps which don't have their terrain w3d file(s) included do not have a terrain after conversion.
  • Editor only objects are not present. I'm not sure whether they are included in the .lsd file or not Sad
  • Rename objects to include the preset's name.
  • Import custom scripts.dll, if present.
  • Add a GUI Wink

I also need a name for that tool and suggest 'LevelRedit'.


Greetings,
Yrr


Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283207 is a reply to message #283206] Sat, 08 September 2007 19:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ryu is currently offline  Ryu
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Don't forget to add some sort of protection! Big Ups

And good luck with it, I can't wait for the release. Smile


Presence is a curious thing, if you think you need to prove it... you probably never had it in the first place.
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283208 is a reply to message #283207] Sat, 08 September 2007 19:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Yrr is currently offline  Yrr
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Colonel

Ryu wrote on Sun, 09 September 2007 04:47

Don't forget to add some sort of protection! Big Ups

And good luck with it, I can't wait for the release. Smile



I've not yet any idea what protection I could add since most of them can be circumvented quite easily.


Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283209 is a reply to message #283206] Sat, 08 September 2007 20:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ryu is currently offline  Ryu
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My idea is: You add some sort of script zone in the map, And attach a script to it, When your tool is trying to de-compile the map, It notices the script and aborts.

As for XCC Mixer and tools alike it.. err.. You're on your own there, bud. Sad


Presence is a curious thing, if you think you need to prove it... you probably never had it in the first place.
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283215 is a reply to message #283206] Sat, 08 September 2007 21:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jamiejrg is currently offline  jamiejrg
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Commander
I really don't think any protection is needed. If i wanted to steel someone's map I would just do it the hard way by extacting and rebuilding it.

However, I think this tools is going to be awesome.

Jamie


cncnick13 wrote on Fri, 24 August 2007 23:39

ok im using my dektop right now


cncnick13 wrote on Sun, 26 August 2007 00:04

umm whats the edit button
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283216 is a reply to message #283206] Sat, 08 September 2007 21:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Veyrdite is currently offline  Veyrdite
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Woot! Finally i might be able to resurrect lost maps.
Keep it up Big Ups

I don't think vertex lighting is important to import, as long as you get the coords and settings of each light node people will be able to Compute Vertex Solve on their own.

EDIT: I don't think the ambient light params are exported, they are probably a number before export, and simply discarded when exporting. (Only the vertex lighting information is left)


WOL: Veyrdite Previously: Dthdealer ( a long time ago )

[Updated on: Sat, 08 September 2007 21:45]

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Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283235 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 01:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sir Kane
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Finally something for the map stealers!

Proud N9500 and proud N6270 user. Creator of the IEE libraries (original bhs.dll) and the RB series software.
http://n00bstories.com/image.fetch.php?id=1189992501http://www.n00bstories.com/image.fetch.php?id=1257492907
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283238 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 02:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Oblivion165 is currently offline  Oblivion165
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IMO this is one of the two last things we need for renegade. The other is auto map download but this is for sure needed.

@Protecting the files: Would be too easy with hex editors to change any kind of protection.

For instance convert M01.mix then save it with the encryption method, use a binary compare tool and you will know exactly what you need to remove the blocker.

@SK: Worried about your vast amount of maps? This tool needs to be made. Just converting the skirmish map back to source would give us tons of info on bots that we haven't discovered in the years we've been here.


WOL: Ob165ion Skype: Oblivion165 Yahoo Instant Messenger: CaptainJohn165
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283240 is a reply to message #283216] Sun, 09 September 2007 02:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
PaRaDoX is currently offline  PaRaDoX
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Dthdealer wrote on Sun, 09 September 2007 00:38

Woot! Finally i might be able to resurrect lost maps.
Keep it up Big Ups

I don't think vertex lighting is important to import, as long as you get the coords and settings of each light node people will be able to Compute Vertex Solve on their own.

EDIT: I don't think the ambient light params are exported, they are probably a number before export, and simply discarded when exporting. (Only the vertex lighting information is left)


You would be right if light did not react with everything else in the level when you play it.


http://renegadehelp.kinstry.co.uk/paradox/xfire.gif
Moee wrote on Wed, 31 May 2006 00:10

U 2 bumb as a pot

Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283245 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 03:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
danpaul88 is currently offline  danpaul88
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I wondered how long it would be before someone did something like this. Since all the data from the lvl file must be in the mix, lsd and ldd files somewhere, its just a matter of putting it all back together.

Good luck with this project, it will certainly prove useful, especially for server owners who want to make server side adjustments to a map that has no lvl file.


http://steamsignature.com/card/1/76561197975867233.png
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283255 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 05:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Yrr is currently offline  Yrr
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Colonel

Hello together and thanks for your feedback!


@Ryu: Scripts can be changed easily using a binary editor, as Oblivion165 said.
I'm thinking about not adding any kind of protection to the tool, but adding a protection for .lsd files, so that LevelEdit crashes if you try to import the .lsd with or without the tool (and it doesn't seem to be difficult to crash LevelEdit Wink).


@Dthdealer: The missing light information are the parameters for every light object in the editor (color, type, etc.).


@danpaul88: There are objects of which I think that they are not included in the .mix file and cannot be re-created automatically: Editor Only Objects (e.g. Pathfind Blockers), Manual Vis Points and Pathfind Generators.


Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283261 is a reply to message #283255] Sun, 09 September 2007 06:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jerad2142 is currently offline  Jerad2142
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Wow this is going to piss me off fast, I mean its only real use well be to steal maps. Because if we really wanted to make it so you didn't have to recreate the map over and over again we would have just released templates of those maps. In my opinion, people make maps the way they want them, and they don't want other people screwing with hours, days, months, or years of their hard work. This is why protection is necessary when you make something like this, even if it can be got around. Otherwise people could rip off entire mods in one day, or hack them so they just have one more way to cheat. You should make it read the "Comments:" text of objects on the map, if the "Commets:" box had certain text in it, the converter aborts. I really don't care if people can get around it. I just don't want every noob modifying ever map out there just so it is easier, or just flat out ruining it.

Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283269 is a reply to message #283261] Sun, 09 September 2007 08:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Yrr is currently offline  Yrr
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Jerad Gray wrote on Sun, 09 September 2007 15:55

Wow this is going to piss me off fast, I mean its only real use well be to steal maps. Because if we really wanted to make it so you didn't have to recreate the map over and over again we would have just released templates of those maps. In my opinion, people make maps the way they want them, and they don't want other people screwing with hours, days, months, or years of their hard work. This is why protection is necessary when you make something like this, even if it can be got around. Otherwise people could rip off entire mods in one day, or hack them so they just have one more way to cheat. You should make it read the "Comments:" text of objects on the map, if the "Commets:" box had certain text in it, the converter aborts. I really don't care if people can get around it. I just don't want every noob modifying ever map out there just so it is easier, or just flat out ruining it.



#1 There are several other reasons for recreating a map beside stealing it. There are, for example, various people who made a map but lost their sources of it. Some standard maps do not have .lvl files released too, such as flying-maps and Skirmish. Some servers want to enhance their maps server-side, which can already be done with Custom Scripts but will become easier with the recreated sources.

#2 Renegade wouldn't live anymore without ppl modifying the game and existing maps (server-side mods). This is possible without a converter too.

#3 Even if someone really 'steals' your map, it will always be YOUR map, because you were the first one releasing it and you are the only one having the .gmax files for map-specific models (I'm not sure how good the w3d importer is).

#4 Any protection that relies on a simple string is way too easy to circumvent and I'm not going to add such a protection. If you'd read all posts in this thread, you'd have seen that I'm already working on other types of protection.


Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283271 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 08:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Oblivion165 is currently offline  Oblivion165
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The bottom line is that this needs to be made and I for one don't care if anyone takes any of may maps and makes it more enjoyable for them or for others. I couldn't play 3 seconds of C&C Generals without Project Raptor and even then I made a Project Raptor Oblivion Edition to fix things even further.

Don't waste good coding time on trying to create a blocker because all it takes is one google search and they will just follow a step-by-step to get past it.


WOL: Ob165ion Skype: Oblivion165 Yahoo Instant Messenger: CaptainJohn165
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283273 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 08:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ghostshaw is currently offline  Ghostshaw
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You do realise that its highly likely also a way to make cheats for specific maps....

-Ghost-


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Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283275 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 09:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Yrr is currently offline  Yrr
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No, not really. The map is CRC-checked against the map on the server.

Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283278 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 09:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ghostshaw is currently offline  Ghostshaw
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Tbh fixing that would be 2 seconds work for someone like 0x90....

-Ghost-


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Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283281 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 09:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Canadacdn is currently offline  Canadacdn
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PLECOS MASTER
Seriously, don't release this.

Signed,
Every Renegade mod ever
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283285 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 09:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
DL60 is currently offline  DL60
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Map-Stealing looooooooool sry but lol, lol and lol again.

As Yrr said "it will always be YOUR map". We are a small community and we notice quickly when somebody "steals" a map. The only condition for that process is that you show RenCom your map (here in this forums, on CCR-Fanpages and so on). MOST people will know that you are the true mapper and that is enought I think.

You can also add a plane with your name in gmax/max to the terrain. With that you can show people very quickly that you are the one.
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283292 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 09:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
danpaul88 is currently offline  danpaul88
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Apart from anything else it's pretty easy to just rip the terrain from the .mix and setup the LE settings yourself, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to replicate the original level file, this tool just makes the process easier and will hopefully allow server owners to make server side mods for custom maps.

http://steamsignature.com/card/1/76561197975867233.png
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283293 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 09:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
IronWarrior is currently offline  IronWarrior
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The IQ level here is dropping fast.

Editing an map for server side servers, is not stealing an map.

Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283294 is a reply to message #283293] Sun, 09 September 2007 10:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Oblivion165 is currently offline  Oblivion165
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IronWarrior wrote on Sun, 09 September 2007 12:49

The IQ level here is dropping fast.

Editing an map for server side servers, is not stealing an map.





EDIT: Not at Iron Warrior: This is in no way going to spawn a massive outbreak of cheaters. How could having the level file help a cheater anymore than what can already be done?


WOL: Ob165ion Skype: Oblivion165 Yahoo Instant Messenger: CaptainJohn165

[Updated on: Sun, 09 September 2007 10:12]

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Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283296 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 10:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
danpaul88 is currently offline  danpaul88
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Especially when they already have the lvl files for the most common maps from the FTP Sarcasm

http://steamsignature.com/card/1/76561197975867233.png
Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283297 is a reply to message #283206] Sun, 09 September 2007 10:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Oblivion165 is currently offline  Oblivion165
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How about a compromise for the people who fear that they will loose their creation to the vast personal fans they think they have. How about it only get released to those who have proven themselves and have a concrete reputation.

Its a small list but in the end its all up to the creator. I say make and release it publically because it's an old ass game and to build a solid reputation can take years.


WOL: Ob165ion Skype: Oblivion165 Yahoo Instant Messenger: CaptainJohn165

[Updated on: Sun, 09 September 2007 10:13]

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Re: Status: .mix -> .lvl converter [message #283304 is a reply to message #283297] Sun, 09 September 2007 11:59 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Jerad2142 is currently offline  Jerad2142
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Here is the main thing, how often does it happen that you lose the level edit files and not the mix files. I lose the mix way more often then the level edit, this because every time you reinstall the game it well remove all your .mix and .pkg files in the data directory. And if you have to format your hard drive you lose it all anyways, so tell me how you lose the level edit files with out purposely deleting them (okay, besides what happened to my first 15 mods, the client had the package and I had to format my hard drive so I lost all the level edit files. And until recently I had the .pkg, but then I uninstalled and the reinstalled Renegade, and now they are all gone. Don't ask were the back ups on my other computers went, they must just have got lost over time. But thats okay I guess, its things like that that force you to move on and make something better).

Yrr wrote on Sun, 09 September 2007 06:32

@Dthdealer: The missing light information are the parameters for every light object in the editor (color, type, etc.).


Something like this also happens if you copy and past a light, it will not generate the lighting correctly unless you actually go into the lights settings and open up the lighting tab. Then the lighting will be generated correctly and stuff (even though it doesn't generate the lighting correctly, the settings are still correct in the light).


[Updated on: Sun, 09 September 2007 12:13]

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