Modding the Gold Demo

QuarianRex · #1 February 15th, 2002, 01:31 AM

Does anyone know if it is possible to mod the SEIV Gold Demo? I keep getting stymied.

Baron Munchausen · #2 February 15th, 2002, 02:20 AM

That's the point. It's a DEMO. If you want to be able to mod it to suit your preferences then buy the full game.

QuarianRex · #3 February 15th, 2002, 02:30 AM

I am. Its on order but release has been delayed for another month, and I'm chomping at the bit to try out some ideas.

Atrocities · #4 February 15th, 2002, 04:36 AM

Try em out on anywyas. If you can mod the demo, which I doubt, then mod it.

If not, then at least you tried.

Krsqk · #5 February 15th, 2002, 05:03 AM

As I recall from my SE4 demo days before I took the plunge

, it was possible to mod even the most recalcitrant file. I know some files were up for grabs for modding, while some would prevent the game from loading. I then tried keeping the file size the same by adding to or deleting from parts of a component; that seemed to do the trick. My favorite area to edit was component descriptions. I just kept track of what I changed and added or deleted accordingly.

I'm not sure if this would work for wholesale modding, though; there may be a check for number of components, etc, or even a spot check to match positions N through N+10 of the file with a hard-coded value from the original. Can't hurt to try, though.

[EDIT: fixed typos]

[ 15 February 2002: Message edited by: Krsqk ]

Suicide Junkie · #6 February 16th, 2002, 03:32 AM

The original demo was something like:
Text values must add up to the same length
Number values must add up to the same total
# of components must add up to a fixed total
# of abilities must add up to a fixed total

You can probably move some points from cost to size to hitpoints to ability amount, but thats about it.

Just mod SE4 classic if you've got it, then tweak your mod for gold when it arrives.

Hmmm...
Perhaps I should write a Classic-To-Gold Mod Patcher?

Phoenix-D · #7 February 16th, 2002, 04:41 AM

"Hmmm...
Perhaps I should write a Classic-To-Gold Mod Patcher?"

Yes! Veryvery useful. People would still have to go in and tweak, but certainly better than nothing.

Phoenix-D

QuarianRex · #8 February 19th, 2002, 10:45 AM

After getting some ideas from y'all I managed to do some limited mods. You can shift values in the same class (ie. take 100 kt from battle stations and place it on cruisers). There is one problem though, the AI won't use any craft over normal pre-set limits (ie. Won't use 800 kt cruisers).

While this doesn't equal full modding it is (almost) enough to tide me over till the full Version finally gets released.

Thanks for the helpful suggestions.

[ 21 February 2002: Message edited by: QuarianRex ]