Ship length in Recognition manual [Nasty Hack]

[deadok]

What:
sh4.exe, fixed to include ship length in addition to mast height (edit: forgot to mention, sh4.exe version = 1.5 )




How:
Small code chunk, which reads value from ship's .cfg file and adds it to "base height" string before actual height (values divided by '/' symbol).
Since it doesn't change any config data it should be compatible with any mod (as long as mod doesn't change .exe file by itself).
Should work in metric system as well ( both values for len/height would be in meters).

What should i do:
Replace original sh4.exe with one in archive (don't need to remind that backup of original .exe is always a good idea, right?)

Optional, but recommended:
Fix position of the string, since it would be longer than before and can be truncated.
It can be done by editing menu_1024_768.ini in /data/menu folder.
should be smth like this

[G25 I37]
Name=Mast Val
Type=1029;Static text
ItemID=0x25070006
ParentID=0x25070000
Pos=429,-22,100,22
Zone= 615 305 100 22 0 1 0x25070007 1 -0.5 0x25070006 0.1 0.5 0 0
Color=0xFE
Font=19
Text=955
TextFlags=0x4

Totally optional:
Fix 'Base Height' string in menu.txt - obviously it should be 'Len/Height' now.

Where:
Link removed...

ps/
feel free to re-upload/adapt to mod of your choice/ask a question/etc.

[Frederf]

Sort of unrelated but isn't the little black/white -----======------- bar on the bottom calibrated to be 50yds per bar (150yd total for black white black)?

[deadok]

Originally Posted by Frederf

Sort of unrelated but isn't the little black/white -----======------- bar on the bottom calibrated to be 50yds per bar (150yd total for black white black)?

Well, at 1920x1200 this bar placed somewhat outside of manual and kind of unusable (might worth fixing though)
But even at 1024x768 according to this bar elco torpedo boat is longer than 50yds, and wiki and .cfg files says it ~80ft.

[Frederf]

My memory is extremely hazy on this but I swore that the bar had meaning, even if it had 2 or 3 different scales depending on ship class. Next time I play I'll make note of what various ships are in terms of "bar lengths"

[AOTD_MadMax]

@ deadok

did i read right ? You hacked the SH4-exe ?

Greets

Maddy

[vanjast]

Originally Posted by AOTD_MadMax

@ deadok
did i read right ? You hacked the SH4-exe ?

you've been a busy boy!! - Did you use IDA .. ??

[deadok]

Originally Posted by vanjast

you've been a busy boy!! - Did you use IDA .. ??

it took one evening, tbh.
ida made it easier and much longer (sometimes ida is too smart)

[Rockin Robbins]

I'm not sure hacking the sh4.exe file is considered modding. If we start doing that we have really stopped modding and started vandalizing Ubi's property and I don't think we want to go there.

Modding is a permitted activity within certain mandatory guidelines. This is outside reasonable modding. We can never forget that SH4 and other games are moddable only by permission of the game manufacturers, who could easily shut us down for all future games if we misbehave in this manner.

It would be child's play for Ubi to build an integrity checker within the game program and refust to run if modifications were found. More of this type of vandalism will result in that.

Not only that, but you are distributing a copy (modified) of the sh4.exe file. That is illegal.

[deadok]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

Modding is a permitted activity within certain mandatory guidelines.

Could you give me example of such permission?

From license.txt

It is not permitted:
...
- To modify the Multimedia Product or create any derived work,
- To create or distribute unauthorised levels and/or scenarios,
- To decompile, reverse engineer or disassemble the Multimedia Product.
...

ps/
2-nd part + included level editor = fun

[vanjast]

TBH.. If it enhances the game, UBI would benefit from continued sales.

It generally only becomes a problem if this 'mod' stole potential sales from UBI, which I'd think they have a very difficult time proving this. If this was followed up then why not 'hit' the whole modding community - Nope this would not be in UBIs interest at all, besides UBIs onto SH5 now.

[irish1958]

Why should Ubisoft get pissed off because somebody (at no expense to them) fixed a glaring mistake which they had no intention of fixing?
I don't think even a Philadelphia lawyer could make a case for this.

[irish1958]

Great advice, thanks.
Moderator please note.

[fireship4]

Would it be a bad thing to have people's opinions? I guess you can't answer yes to that as you would be giving yours!

Maybe its not a good idea to start going on about it, but the point above still stands. You had to be able to give your opinion in the first place to say it! But I do know how internet threads can get.

Anyhow it is a complicated argument on ownership of a product vs. licencing. I initially felt very against the idea of someone presuming to say what I can do with what I own (heh good luck to me in this day and age) but then again, if it is a condition of sale - isn't that their choice?

I don't know if its worth discussing it here as you said, interesting anyway that the point of the discussion and whether it should be had at all both rest in similar areas (freedom).

[vanjast]

I'm goin' down's POV here seems to be a general lawyers POV. We have to ask whether this is a Financial, Legal, Copyright, Patent, etc.. type of lawyer. Your speciality indication would be appreciated.
As a lawyer I'm sure you are aware of international agreements, most of which
do not agree with the USA.
If the 'offendant' resides within the USA you have a case, otherwise it might be difficult, unless the offendant resides in the puppet state 'UK' Then this person may be extradited for making the Pentagon/DOD look stupid, as they aways are Sorry just a good joke

[vanjast]

There is a simple patent law..
If you introduce your product onto the market before patent rights are signed, It's a 'free for all'.

UBI has been grossly stupid in advertising, as anybody who can grab their whole development code, or movie for that matter, and produce the same game, can lay claim to originality - it's just a matter of proving time spaces.

So if I had super-game-developers, I could whack UBI, and they could do zulch about it, except 'bad mouth' my product...

You lot think about it..