DTX and replacement of music/textures

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:59 pm

DTX for Descent 1 had a rudimentary patch feature that allowed a developer to include a PIG patch file with a mission pack for Descent 1 and a program called DTXPATCH that made a backup copy of the original Descent.pig and modified the first one with your new material, thus having 'custom' textures/music in Descent 1. Problem is, the DTXPatch program no longer works on XP or new OS. So not sure how to get this 'function' of DTX to work again. Furthermore, if its possible to 'patch' the Descent.pig file with new textures and music like so, isn't it possible to 'patch' Descent 1 robots with new ones? What is the feasibility of this?

Duper · Post by **Duper** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:01 am

I think the DTX site is still operational. Give it a try and e-mail ol' what'shisface.

DTX was an awesome tool

zico · Post by **zico** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:04 am

The Problem with such a patch I might add is that it:
a) Might only work with 1.0 or 1.4a or 1.5
b) Will probably be an EXE file

Pumo · Post by **Pumo** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:14 am

I remember the original old D1X project had support for POG & HXM files for D1 (so you wouldn't need to use a DTX patch).
Check out this:

http://d1x.warpcore.org/readmed1x.txt

On version 1.00 says something about that.
I also remembered that you can put your HXM files (as long as it only contains D1 robot entries) and rename it to something like .HX1 to work (can't remember well).

However, i don't know if this feature is still present on D1X-Rebirth.

EDIT: Found this on Devil 2.2lc2 site about D1X features support:

Devil will automatically add any PG1/DTX and HX1 files belonging to the level which is found in the level's directory.
For example, the files:

* MYLEVEL.RDL
* MYLEVEL.PG1 (or MYLEVEL.DTX or DEVIL.PG1 or DEVIL.DTX)
* MYLEVEL.HX1 (or DEVIL.HX1)

will all be added to the HOG file if they are present in the same directory.
This will allow you to develop levels using D1X with custom textures and customize robots.

Check this URL for original reference (it'a a Google cache page):

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:zj- ... cd=1&gl=mx

So i hope D1X-Rebirth to have this good old feature from original D1X.

zico · Post by **zico** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:47 am

Hmm it's true D1X-Rebirth supports this code, still. However I have no idea how *good* this works.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:29 am

I can see that its possible. Because I'd like players to have the option to 'turn on' whenever they wish, new music, textures AND robots for Descent 1. Not just for the 50 level set I'm currently making, but it should be appliable to any other D1 mission set. So this, essentially can breath fresh air into all D1 missions, not just my upcoming one. I'm currently looking through hi-res Quake 2/3 textures for good matches to the existing D1 textures (Forgotten Fortress was a test subject in this) but I can't seem to find matches for all, which means I have to broaden my scope.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:14 pm

You can put new robots in D1 by modifying the stock .PIG, yes. I don't know whether DTX will let you go that far, but it's theoretically possible at least.

P.S. Using DTX patches in that D1X-introduced mode (.HX1 etc) is not supported by the original Parallax code - ergo if anyone is still using Descent 1.4a/1.5 - I doubt it, but it's worth knowing about - they won't be able to use it.

zico · Post by **zico** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:33 pm

I agree. For for the DOS versions there would need to exist a Patch-the-PIG solution. Guess just shipping the modified PIG would not be very legal as long as not EVERYTHING would be re-created.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:50 pm

well I guess redistributed an entire PIG I guess is legal in this case since I'd be replacing every robot, every textures and every midi. What else is in there? Because basically, itd be a PIG file with nothing of the original content in it. Problem is the robots. I'm not sure there is a program out there that can replace D1 robots. DTX can help patch the PIG, but for editing the Descent 1 PIG directly and replacing all textures/music/robots, I do not know of a way to do this.

Also, Sirius, if this entire plan is feasible, I'll be using the entire cast of TEW robots, so a few texture alterations are probably in order to make it gel with the limited amount of robot textures Descent 1 has available. The bosses of TEW, unfortunately, two are going to make the cut, while the others are dropped. I'm thinking Boss 1: The Raptor and boss 6: Hangman are the neatest looking and are probably going to be our two boss candidates.

zico · Post by **zico** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:41 pm

Well, as said - if you replace ALL content of the PIG, no problem.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:04 pm

yes, now here's the problem, how do we directly edit the PIG?

zico · Post by **zico** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:36 am

Well at least for custom Music I could say: Ship them as MP3/OGG so at least the new ports (XL, DXX) can play them directly. Not trying to be selfish, but we all face more and more problems getting HMP/MIDI running (observation based on user reports).

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 4:33 pm

well, for the moment, all I have to say is: everyone states its theoretically possible to alter the main PIG file, but no one has any idea in actually doing it.

zico · Post by **zico** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 3:20 am

Yeah I have to admit I am not aware of any tools - except Devil as Pumo mentioned.
But creating whole D1 PIGs from scratch might be another story.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 6:56 am

well, unless I have a surefire way of creating such a PIG, I'm not investing any more time into textures/music/robots right now until I know it can be done 100%

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:45 am

If we were to convert TEW robots for Descent 1, do D1 robots have the ability to fire two types of weapons like D2 robots can? Or was that a feature added in Descent 2?

Pumo · Post by **Pumo** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:42 am

That was added on D2, as well as energy blobs, sniper behaviour, and some other stuff (like boss invul. flags).

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:06 pm

good to know. Anyhoo, just playing around in rbotedit and comparing what is actually there in the descent.pig. Not sure how to actually import them into the pig physically however.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:22 pm

There may actually not be any tool to do it... the specs are there, but the only editors for most of the Descent package files except .HOG were made by DNet from my memory, and I don't recall any for .PIG files. DTX can manipulate textures within PIG files but I think it ignores everything else.

Theftbot · Post by **Theftbot** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:38 pm

I remember making a d1 level w/quake 2 textures and d1x automatically used the patch file as long as the file names were the same as the rdl file or mission if only 1 map.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:52 am

so let me get this straight, for new textures and music, etc. All I need is the .DX1 extension file with the same name as the mission to have it work with Rebirth, etc?
Furthermore, for new robots, should I create a HXM trying my very best to only stick with D1 related material (since RBOTEDIT includes D2 stuff and has eliminated some D1 material) and simply rename it to a HX1 file and it should run fine? I'm confused as to how it'll work.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:47 am

Good point ... the D2 robot data format must have changed from D1 since it supports new weapons, so if it's HXM-based D1X would have to have some method of dealing with the non-D1 data...

zico · Post by **zico** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:59 am

I actually never worked with the code or this feature. If someone is willing to try it, I am willing to fix or improve. But I can only test - I cannot create those datas.

DarkFlameWolf · Post by **DarkFlameWolf** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:10 pm

then I shall help you test it.