Saturday, March 1, 2014

Note for the Community on Current Projects


Hey, so as you know I have been working on the Combat Training patch for Black Ops. It was going well until the other day. I am stuck on menu files, not on modifying them but with compiling them into the mod. I get an error when I try to compile a mod with any menu file. Without menu files, the mod compiles fine, but I get a "Filesize > 0 assert" error when I use any file from the "ui_mp" raw folder. The internet says that people get this error when they didn't convert their files to game data but I have done that several times already (even so, menu files are raw files so they do not need to be converted anyway). The error I'm getting typically happens to people when there is an error pertaining to files for weapon models or anything in 3D (that needs to be converted to game data), like there is something missing that the mod compiler needs to complete the mod. My only guess at this point is that my friend forgot to give me something when he uploaded the mod tools for me. Menu files are vital for this patch in order to fix the UI bugs with DLC maps and enable buttons like prestige mode. Until I get past this issue, I can't fix or improve anything. If any of you guys know anything about this, please leave a comment below and maybe we can figure this out together.

I've also been working on RSE v24 for Modern Warfare 2. I don't have a changelog for you guys but I have gotten ranked private match working correctly now (matches will no longer always count as a loss). I've also made some other cool improvements so stay tuned for a release in a couple of weeks.

61 comments:

  1. Is there a debug log being generated when the error comes up? Maybe I can help interpret it. Debug log reading is my second best skill, next to modding via text editing.

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    1. http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1943743

      this guy explains basically the same issue i have, but he doesn't seem to be making any menu files. the log highlighted in green is the same log that shows when i get the error. "process...PIMP (enabled)" is the last thing that my log says before the "linker_pc.exe" program quits with the assert filesize > 0 error.

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    2. Hmm. I think your guess on missing a file might be right. A file could also be corrupt. Usually, when I see errors related to file size, it is usually one of these two things.

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    3. good point, i'll check for corrupted files. it never crossed my mind because out of all of the years i've been using computers i can't think of a single time i've came across a corrupted file, well except for video files like .avi, those things get corrupted all the time...

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  2. Hey there, It's animamundi69 , I'm gonna double check for the files i've sent you and see if it was my mistake . You think it has to do with the raw folder again?

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    1. i copied over my files from Mac OS X to my Windows partition so as the anonymous user mentioned above, I might have something corrupted in the ui_mp folder. I'll re-copy over the files again and see if that fixes it. in the meantime please double or triple check to make sure that everything was sent. just one little missing file might be causing this error.

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    2. Animamundi69 here.
      waiting on your files list and willing to check out the problem =)

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    3. http://imgur.com/a/IcpRz#0

      here are the pics i took, the raw folder contains extra files from what you gave me because i applied an extra set of raw files from the mod repository website. i was getting the error before i did this and i'm still getting the error after i added the extra files. zone_source is an important folder as well. the mod compiler looks in the zone_source folder for lists to link other files needed to complete the fast file.

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    4. animamundi69 ok , I'll check it out and hopefully we'll solve this mystery =)

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    5. Animamundi69 back at you .OK , it looks like there are missing chunks in the ui_mp and zone_source . So I uploaded the full "zone_source" folder and the the missing "ui_mp" files and here's the link https://www.mediafire.com/folder/ox2rm7r7pr46zx5,fxxhq60966prsl9/shared

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    6. Animamuindi69 oops i think i left one link out ! here it ishttp://www.mediafire.com/download/ox2rm7r7pr46zx5/zone_source_all_files.zip

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    7. Animamundi69 (yet again... ) its all here :https://www.mediafire.com/folder/ox2rm7r7pr46zx5,fxxhq60966prsl9/shared

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    8. ohh i think you misunderstood some of the pics that i took. i got lazy and didn't show the rest of the zone_source and ui_mp folder. i just wanted you to see the first 30 or so files to see if they are the right ones, and to check that all of the folders in the root directory.

      i got an idea though, how about i'll send you the decompiled mod and you can compile it for me! its really easy, just put the "mp_try" folder into the "mods" folder, then go into the "bin" folder, launch "launcher.exe", click on the drop down menu and select the "mp_try" mod, check the 3 boxes (link fast file, build IWD, verbose) then click create mod. it should compile it and place it into the "mp_try" folder. you can send me the folder back with the mod.ff in it if it works. we will also know if this works that there is something wrong with my mod tools directory! if it doesn't work then there might be something wrong with the mod.csv that i wrote or something along those lines.

      anyway, here is the "mp_try" folder:
      http://www.mediafire.com/download/yi8ya6a61zu79pz/mp_try.zip

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    9. Animamundi :OK I'll try that out for you

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    10. Animamundi reporting good news , the mod works with my steam Black Ops . It takes a couple of minutes to load but it's working . So here is the link to the mp_try folder with included mod.ff file . http://www.mediafire.com/download/xzy7bl49v1qiesq/mp_try.zip

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    11. lol i know that it loads i included that mod file in the mp_try folder, that was compiled without menu files. you need to compile a new one (to overwrite the old one that was in the mp_try folder. you'll probably get that error.

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    12. Animamundi here .Well....that shows how much I know about this things ...hehehe
      I did this again and when I started the make mod function,after a couple of seconds got the message:
      "linker pc stopped working" and the all process just stopped there.
      have no idea what that means ...

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    13. yup thats what happens to me. you should also see the "assert Filesize > 0" error as well. i don't know what is wrong. like i said, it compiles fine without menu files, but just adding one menu file causes this issue.

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    14. Is the "no menu mp_try" that compiled well has Prestige enabled?
      If yeah that will do for now. People can just make configs to make some basic changes to the game mode settings using the "\exec configname.cfg" command since that's a much faster way instead of running each cvars via console.

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    15. no, its basically the same as the patch v1 i released last week. menu files are needed to change anything in the UI, including fixing the dlc map image bugs and to enable prestige mode. i can't do anything else if i can't compile mods with changed menu files.

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    16. I see. Wish Nta would help probably he could do his magic on that compiling thingies hehe.

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    17. Animamudi . Well, at least we know now that the modding tools aren't missing any files because of me ;- ) .... I really wish i could be more helpful but the modding and coding thing is definitely NOT my thing. I'm also not much of a PC guy either as I only run windows 7 via bootcamp on my macbook pro,pretty much like you macporter, butr just to be able to play the games =)

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    18. animamundi69 ,Well, I personally really don't care for the prestige thing (it doesn't really make the game better now does it... ? ). If anything , maybe improving the bots in games like ctf for instance but overall , I like the training patch as it is already. I must admit to be ore exited about the RSE MW2 improvements and eventually ( i pray for that! ) RSE for MW3!!! I personally really like MW3 and oit runs very well on my mac too ( via bootcamp ).

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    19. I must ask, where did these mod tools originally come from? How old are they?

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    20. the mod tools came out in like april of 2011, there is virtually no support or proper tutorials for them and i'm starting to think that they are bugged... i've used the mod tools from World at War and I never had these issues with compiling that i do now in the Black Ops tools.

      anyway, @ animamundi69 thanks for your help, i just feel so close to accomplishing everything i wanted to in black ops. its kinda frustrating. if it wasn't for the UI bugs in dlc maps i'd be content with the way the patch is now, but in its current state i won't even use it. yea i really like MW3 as well, the maps are really well built and its actually a pretty good PC port in terms of performance. unfortunately MW3 does not have a script compiler like there is in MW2. this means that .gsc mods are not possible in the same way. thats why the plugins for dedicated servers became popular as it was the only way to make mods for the game. i will look into the plugins more when i have time but for me its a whole new way of modding that i'm not familiar with.

      @alencore yea NTA has all of the cool toys needed to basically change anything in MW2. he would probably know what is wrong. at this point, i'm going to try and contact the creator of the Black Frontlines mod, Hajas. he used changed menu files in his mod so he would probably know what I did wrong.

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    21. I hope that doesn't mean you've given up completely on the Black Ops patch. I really enjoy it, and the very least I would want is the ability to change game rules for non-deathmatch gametypes. Perhaps you could take a page off of the Battlefield 2142 modding scene playbook and port the W@W modding tools to Black Ops, or evening find a coder willing to finish up the mod tools, if at all possible.

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    22. Sorry, didn't see that last part of your post. I hope Hajas is able to help you fix the issue. I really do.

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    23. Yeah mac don't loose hope coz I know you can do it as what you've proven fixing the sliding bug on RSE which was really tough even nta didn't figured that out hehe.

      Anyway bo bots are almost perfect, the prestige, more menus and other visual bugs aren't even a real issue but yeah cleaning those would complete the mod and some few more bot tweak conerning their capturing AI...seems their very aggressive and dead accurate at HARD and FU. May be you could make them very aggressive but less accurate or have higher reaction time when set at EASY so novices players could still enjoy them. At Easy they tend to wonder a lot especially friendly bots on capture type game modes.


      For those who wanna tweak dom, ctf, sab, dem and koth (hearquraters) game mode settings via notepad here are my config settings...
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
      g_speed 250
      //190 is the default but I like it faster just like BO2.

      bot_friends 3
      bot_enemies 5

      bot_difficulty hard
      //other bot difficulty setting...easy, normal, fu

      scr_ctf_idleflagreturnti 15
      scr_ctf_roundlimit 10
      scr_ctf_scorelimit 10
      scr_ctf_timelimit 20
      scr_ctf_waverespawndelay 5

      scr_dem_bombtimer 30
      scr_dem_defusetime 1
      scr_dem_extratime 1
      scr_dem_planttime 1
      scr_dem_scorelimit 10
      scr_dem_timelimit 5

      scr_dom_flagcapturetime 1
      scr_dom_roundlimit 10
      scr_dom_scorelimit 500

      scr_sab_defusetime 1
      scr_sab_planttime 1
      scr_sab_playerrespawndel 5
      scr_sab_roundlimit 10
      scr_sab_scorelimit10
      scr_sab_timelimit 5

      scr_koth_roundlimit 1
      scr_koth_roundswitch 1
      scr_koth_timelimit 30
      scr_koth_scorelimit 500
      ------------------------------------------------------------------
      Just copy those cvars and edit at notepad save as any configname.cfg placed at your players folder and simply run it via console before starting a game with chosen map and gamemode as so..."\exec configname.cfg" and hit enter. Of course you can put more cvars you like.

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  3. animamundi69 again . Actually the best way is for you to make me a list of the files you already have and email it to me ( zebland@hotmail.com ) . That is the best way, considering that the way I've sent you the mod was a bit messy.....
    I'll be glad to check and make sure you get all your toys ;-)

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    1. good idea, i'll send you pics of my folder directories, maybe i put some folders in the wrong folders D:

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    2. One way to check file integrity is with the HashCheck Shell Extension.

      And aren't BO Mod Tools on Steam? located under Library > Tools.

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    3. From the steamdb: http://steamdb.info/app/42740/

      App ID 42740
      App Type Tool
      Name Call of Duty Black Ops - Mod Tools (BETA)

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  4. Tnx for the info wip report Mac! Man modding looks so complex but I'm sure you can fix those technical problem soon coz I already reached level 50 and I'm dying to prestige up.

    Btw is it even possible using the bo mod tools to make custom maps?

    Glad there's an upcoming update for RSE. Hope you fixed the weapon position on 3rd person view when they walk or run I think.

    No I'm not ranting hehe..COD4 devs and beyond in general really knows how to make games no matter all the BS they get from us. Yeah we need hackers and modders to make their game better to the way we like but COD games are like fully pack games with lots of plugins pre-installed...the maps are perfect for fast paced CQB emulation as what I love when playing airsoft in RL.

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    1. your welcome! yea it seems hard at first but once you know what all the buttons do its a piece of cake :P

      i believe you can make custom maps, weapons, etc. most people just port weapons from previous titles and the zombie mode.

      well the developers are given a ridiculously short amount of time to make these games its no wonder that such bad discussions are made. they are dictated by the corporate meatheads and the real features that the community wants fall by the waist-side. thank god for modders, we always eventually get what we want :)

      tons of people hate on CoD now but for people like us, the true CoD enthusiasts, we like CoD for different reasons than the bimbos that buy the game at the end of every year then complain about it for the next 11 months. i grew up playing quake and unreal tournament. for me, CoD is an evolution of those older games. its a fast paced twitch shooter with super smooth controls and a more realistic setting and graphics. if someone doesn't like those type of games then no wonder they hate CoD :P

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    2. The fault of the fanboys: (

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    3. @Mac........oh man I love the classic fps games. You forgot to mention Half-Life, this game has the greatest SP ever imo
      and of course it's undying modding community. Check out my
      old cs map called de_tool (mirrored de_dust)....yeah shameless pimping here LoL!
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2c8MYuP0cg

      More talk here...don't read hehe!
      Seems bots are always the good stuff that brings me back to fps games starting with Pezbot, BO bots, and RSE.

      AlterIWnet gave more than mw2 bots and it was really fun playing an improved version of mw2 online. Blissfully played for months online but as the cheaters started multiplying and ruining things I needed to finally test RSE. I got really nervous when RSE won't work bec. of my stupid AV. Finally it work along that LAN/offline launcher and AIW suddenly shutdown...good timing hehe.

      The sliding bug animation of RSE was a hopeless bug to fix then.
      I even tried asking KWO the current podbot dev to help out but wasn't interested and even if he was Rendflex was sure no one can fix it bec. of some needed modding tools that only NTA can provide.
      But some years later.....finally it's FIXED!!!...and still improving...

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  5. RSE 2.4, will that be again with your alteriw client?

    And will you add the additional way-points from bot warfare?

    For those who play with bgamer...

    Speaking of, are you in contact with die rache, any plans to join forces?

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  6. I have a questions. Today i got into the waypoint editor so i create more pats for bots and i dont understand something. how does those knifes point? can i change the directions? I did full pats and then at the end the knife was in the wrong directions so i couldn't finish. How does that work? can you explain what i am doing wrong?

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  7. dude,who fucking cares about your silly waypoints.

    and tel die_rache to get of his lazy bum and release mw3 lan client already so my man macporterjoe can work his magic!

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  8. well mac you need a mod support for bo1 heheh

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  9. Hey Macporterjoe great job so far,but I have a request: if you do continue with MW2 bots,could you please,please make them any easier on easy difficulty,or at least put in another difficulty...see the problem is that the bots are extremely precise,so,maybe just reduce their response time or so...keep it up, BO is much greater with bots so far!

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  10. Why when i open the multiplayer it just connects nothing really happens then?

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    1. Sorry I commented at the wrong place

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  11. guy if you want level 50 fast you need start game and type on console Type this and hit enter "scr_tdm_scorelimit 0;scr_tdm_score_kill 9999999" without quotes Get a kill. Level 50

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  12. want to prestige legit or just prestige to max when your in the combat training menu and you have max level such as level 50 go to playercard and type in cosole : /prestigerequest
    and it should prestige you i learned that by simply searching/typing prestige in the console and that popped up and i tested it and it worked. but i only tested it after i used the cosole cheat given in this post im not sure you can do by simply getting to level 50 on your own and the typing it, but i will test it. happy prestiging!

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    1. nice find! just in time too! (i just became level 50) :P

      i wonder if there is some way to enable stat tracking again in combat training after you load a mod. (it is disabled when any mod is loaded)

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    2. thanks :) i find on ismod website copy and paste

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  13. I hope I'm forgiven if I don't get this obsession with "prestiging". It's an offline mod so no one really cares if the other reaches prestige or not....well, maybe except from being able to make you own emblems and put them on your gun but still, I don't really get turned on by this. What would turn me on ,personally, is to see MW 3 bots ...hehehehe

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    1. lol yea but the gold camo is really cool O_O

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    2. you can go to playercard and type on console /prestigerequest and repeatedly 11 time and VOLA you got prestige 11 with unlock gold camo

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  14. mann where's RSE v24 BC i woud like to see seamless and fluid bug-fixed animations am i am already eager to see ADS bots also

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    1. RSE v24 is coming but those features will take more time.

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    2. I think it should be a priority at the moment.

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    3. i agree it is but i haven't made much progress for ADS so i am working on other features that i know can be done. some features like ADS at this point is mostly researching possible methods that i haven't tried yet. for instance, meatbot for CoD2 has a bit of ADS with the bots, so i will try to look at the code for that mod and try to find a possible solution (or idea for a solution) there.

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  15. How about BO bots? is there room for some AI improvements like guarding capture points?

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    1. yes definitely! with some of the different ways i am applying the patch now (gscs are in .iwd format for v2 just like in mw2) this means that adding and changing A.I. code in the gsc files will be much easier. compiling .ff files are now only necessary for UI elements like mode selection and playercard options.

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  16. man everyone wants MOAR MW2 BOTZZZ so pls make RSE v24 and also take note BGamer MW3 is zeroing in to release day. my BOT friends couldn't wait

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    1. lol yes more Modern war stuff is coming :P

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    2. Have you already began looking for a method to port RSe to MW3?

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