Hey Guys,

Does the source code for MC2 include source for "tools" such as mission editors / map editors etc?

The reason I am asking is that we (Mechstorm Team) are developing a set of tools to make Mechwarrior maps better.

If, MC2 source had source code for the map/mission editors ... it might go a long way to helping create a custom mission editor for MW4.

Thanks,

Mack
(visit @ www.mechstorm.com)

It does; this is why I could extend the editor for MC

check out wolfman's missions and wolfman's forum at
http://s2.invisionfree.com/wolfman_x_forum/index.php

That's great. Do you happen to know if the MC2 terrains / maps are similar in structure to Mechwarrior 4 terrains / maps?

I don't have enough experience in MC2 to know where the terrains are stored in the "demo" version of MC2... Is there a tool to extract the MC2 maps / missions for inspection purposes?

Thanks again.

I don't know about MW4 too much therefore I can not compare but terrain textures and heights maps are tga files of specific sizes that can be made available using the editor from the missions even the original heights map are not available directly. The missions are contained in 5 type of files; a mission.abl file that carries "the frame" of the mission and all data that can not be directly edited. There is a mission.fit file that works like a script and contains the units,the objectives, the locations, the map and texture file names, fog, light, water, weather, sky, ...and it can be edited.
Beside that you can create mission scripts and warrior brain files that impact the behavior of units and any events during gaming.
A purchasing file that tells about availability of technology,units, weapons, pilots at start of the mission. All of those are editable.

check out wolfman's missions and wolfman's forum at
http://s2.invisionfree.com/wolfman_x_forum/index.php

Well there is a MW4 map called Lunacy that I can use as an example:

The maps for lunacy are contained in the lunar01.mw4 Archive file... an .mw4 archive is very much like an lzw archive using a variant of lzw to store information for individual files stored in the archive.

Once "extracted" there are 3 folders:
maps, resource, and textures.

The maps folder contains a Lunar01 folder that has:
lunar_01.instance, lunar_01.data{element} and
AA.erf, AA.bsp, AA.material thru AB, AC, BA,BB,BC, CA,CB,CC as well...
as well as:
lunar_01.erf{zones},lunar_01.erf, lunar_01.fgd, lunar_01culterals.mlr,lunar_01.data{GameModel}, and lunar_01..data

The resource folder contains files as does the texture folder:
Specifically, a bunch of sky.tga files, and a folder for composttexture (contains a bunch of .bid files)and maps folder (which contains a bunch of tga's.)


So, if nothing else sounds familiar except tga then likely they are not close enough to really help.
But, I do very much appreciate your responses.
Thanks!

Why don't you download the source code and simply look at it for 15 minutes. I guess you would see immediately if this is a fit or not.
Seems to be the more efficient way to figure it out
It seems both of us know only half of what we need to know to come to a conclusion

check out wolfman's missions and wolfman's forum at
http://s2.invisionfree.com/wolfman_x_forum/index.php

Well, for one thing, I don't like messing with source code that does not compile without having to go to the forums... and I know from experience that I will have to go to the forums to find the fixes for whatever is missing or needed for 2005 express compilation.
So, I figured, if there was anyone who knows the answer without going thru all that, it would save quite a lot of time.

But yea, your right, definitively... the best way would be to compile it.


I am satisfied tho, with your response, that none of those other MW4 file types seem familiar to you... as likely there are not many others out there these days who know as much as you about the files.

I appreciate your help, and If I ever do decide to take the next step... I will post back here if there was a significant file match.