New Graphic & Sound Mod for Aces of the Deep

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by Jeff-Groves

The file size of the Subsim.exe between versions seems different.
Now that may be because I was sent upgraded Game files?

That'd be my guess, especially since the patches includes the expansion pack.

[Jeff-Groves]

I've got the original files from both now.
Nice thing is I can compare from the first release through all releases and patches.

Now given 010 can De-compile the files now? That throws things into Machine language!
Guess who just happens to have some knowledge of that!

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by Jeff-Groves

I've got the original files from both now.
Nice thing is I can compare from the first release through all releases and patches.

Now given 010 can De-compile the files now? That throws things into Machine language!
Guess who just happens to have some knowledge of that!

I think it'd be easier to list what you DON'T know about all this computer mumbo jumbo !
Lucky to have your talents on this project.

[John Pancoast]

The map grid is a HUGE improvement and help.

[Jeff-Groves]

@Andreas86

Nice to see you got a nice shiny badge!
Nicely done Mate! You have Earned it!

[Andreas86]

Thanks a lot Jeff! I really appreciate all the feedback you guys have given me. Very motivating.

[Jeff-Groves]

All I did was nominate you. You earned the Award all on your own Mate!

[Andreas86]

Originally Posted by John Pancoast

That'd be my guess, especially since the patches includes the expansion pack.

Makes sense.

On a side note, it was the expansion pack that gave me a clue that AOTD could be modded graphically. The expansion pack works in the same way I have referenced in the tutorial, it just places the new files in the SIM folder outside of the .DYN archive. So when I was able to open and modify one of these files, namely the CONTROL3.SCR file (control room screen for the type XXI), I figured that the other ones must be in the same workable format -just packed away somewhere. From then it was just a question of finding information on the .DYN files and getting the graphics out of it.

[Jeff-Groves]

So what could be done in the long run?
We create a blank DYN file and just have all the files open for install in the proper folders.
Reduces file size of the install and actually reduces download size.
Why a decrease in download size?
There's a lot of information in the header area of the DYN files that does not relate to the files in the DYN. I suspect maybe a guide of sorts to files contained in the DYN but not confirmed.

I can find no reason to even bother with the DYN format once all files are extracted!

How do we test this theory?
Extract the DYN files and place in the folder where the DYN was.
Once that is done? Delete the DYN and see what happens. Then work BACKWARDS from there!

[Jeff-Groves]

I have to go to one of my Job sites to solve problems for the next several days.
So I'll probably not be around for 2 or 3 days.
Life on the road and all that. But I will be thinking about things.

[Andreas86]

That would be very interesting indeed!

By the way, here is a quick test I did with new ocean color. In fact I just lowered the exposure for the wave cycling frames. Looks more like the rough atlantic than the original tropical azure blue, don't you think?

The most interesting thing here is that this sprite bitmap SEA.BMP has BIN/VGA with LZW compression originally. I saved them all as BIN/VGA with compression NONE, and the game accepts them! This is in line with what I have read about other Dynamix games.

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by Andreas86

That would be very interesting indeed!

By the way, here is a quick test I did with new ocean color. In fact I just lowered the exposure for the wave cycling frames. Looks more like the rough atlantic than the original tropical azure blue, don't you think?

The most interesting thing here is that this sprite bitmap SEA.BMP has BIN/VGA with LZW compression originally. I saved them all as BIN/VGA with compression NONE, and the game accepts them! This is in line with what I have read about other Dynamix games.

How does it look at night though ? That's the main reason for the stock color; so the ships will be visible, i.e.
Nice looking ! But I have to admit, I've always liked how the water looks in AOD.

[Andreas86]

It looks good actually, I thought there would be some day/night palette issues, but I JUST watched it cycle to night on time compression and it gives some light to the surface. But as said, this was just a first try. I will work on the color.

[Jeff-Groves]

What Pallet is the Sea.BMP using?
I haven't figured out how to load a different pallet yet.

[John Pancoast]

Originally Posted by Andreas86

It looks good actually, I thought there would be some day/night palette issues, but I JUST watched it cycle to night on time compression and it gives some light to the surface. But as said, this was just a first try. I will work on the color.

Sounds good !