Report, edit, etc...Posted by LegacyWeapon on 2006-04-05 at 22:13:18
I've always wondered what the file format was for an MPQ archive.
Anyone know where I can get a file format sheet or something?
Anyone know where I can get a file format sheet or something?
Report, edit, etc...Posted by BroodKiller on 2006-04-06 at 09:58:39
Well, I am not sure if there's one available around, although you may search out for Quantam and ask him personally (he is the MPQ god of the old and current days). Besides, there is no need for the research about it, since there are libraries available that handle the format just fine - SFMPQlib (by ShadowFlare), lmpqapi (by Lelik) or stormlib.
If you wanna learn about how different MPQ-functions work, search for the "Inside MoPaQ" article at www.campaigncreations.org
If you wanna learn about how different MPQ-functions work, search for the "Inside MoPaQ" article at www.campaigncreations.org
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Ojan on 2006-04-06 at 11:11:04
http://www.campaigncreations.org/starcraft/inside_mopaq/
http://shadowflare.samods.org/inside_mopaq/
http://www.zezula.net
The second one is the same as the first, except that the second has Appendix A written by ShadowFlare.
Those are the only ones there are AFAIK, but they should be sufficient, I belive.
http://shadowflare.samods.org/inside_mopaq/
http://www.zezula.net
The second one is the same as the first, except that the second has Appendix A written by ShadowFlare.
Those are the only ones there are AFAIK, but they should be sufficient, I belive.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by LegacyWeapon on 2006-04-19 at 22:32:30
The article contains much useful information but it's missing all of Chapter 5 "The MPQ Format".
Report, edit, etc...Posted by BroodKiller on 2006-04-20 at 06:39:46
Well, the format is still under copyrights I presume, so I think the best you can do is ask Quantam from Star Alliance and pray he'll share some of his knowledge with you.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Ojan on 2006-04-20 at 16:20:35
All modding is against Blizzards EULA, but they have done nothing to stop it. All they've done is banning hacking, but that is, as we all know, not the same thing as modding.
Thus, I don't think that we need to worry about copyrights when dealing with this. Chapter 5 wasn't completed due to laziness, I'd guess
Just read what Ladik's written, it covers most / parts of what Chapter 5 was intended to contain...
Thus, I don't think that we need to worry about copyrights when dealing with this. Chapter 5 wasn't completed due to laziness, I'd guess
Just read what Ladik's written, it covers most / parts of what Chapter 5 was intended to contain...Report, edit, etc...Posted by TERRAINFIGHTER on 2006-04-20 at 16:58:13
No, modding isn't against blizzards EULA (at least not with starcraft)
their legal faq mentions modding and says they allow it, so long as the mods follow the EULA's rules
heres most of their legal faq that talks about mods:
Can I get authorization to do an expansion pack, novel, screenplay, theatrical production, or other adaptation based on your games?
Unfortunately, Blizzard Entertainment® cannot accept unsolicited ideas or submissions. As a result, we will not be able to review or authorize any submissions related to expansions, novels, screenplays, productions or other adaptations.
their legal faq mentions modding and says they allow it, so long as the mods follow the EULA's rules
heres most of their legal faq that talks about mods:
QUOTE(Battle.net legal faq)
Can I make add-ons or expansions for Blizzard Entertainment® games? Can I sell them?
We do not allow add-ons or expansions for Diablo™. You may make and distribute StarCraft™ and Warcraft® maps and campaigns that you have created yourself, so long as it is for personal, non-commercial purposes. Any such maps or campaigns would also be subject to the other terms outlined in our End User License Agreements included with those products.
We do not allow add-ons or expansions for Diablo™. You may make and distribute StarCraft™ and Warcraft® maps and campaigns that you have created yourself, so long as it is for personal, non-commercial purposes. Any such maps or campaigns would also be subject to the other terms outlined in our End User License Agreements included with those products.
QUOTE(Battle.net legal faq)
Can I sell or charge for a CD or other media containing maps, add-ons or campaigns found on the Internet?
No.
No.
QUOTE(Battle.net legal Faq)
Can I get authorization to do an expansion pack, novel, screenplay, theatrical production, or other adaptation based on your games?
Unfortunately, Blizzard Entertainment® cannot accept unsolicited ideas or submissions. As a result, we will not be able to review or authorize any submissions related to expansions, novels, screenplays, productions or other adaptations.
QUOTE(Battle.net legal faqs)
Can I do a total conversion of your games?
Yes. We've seen some very polished and fun conversions for our games, and have no problems with total conversions so long as they are for personal use and do not infringe our End User License Agreement included in our games, nor the rights of any other parties including copyrights, trademarks or other rights.
Yes. We've seen some very polished and fun conversions for our games, and have no problems with total conversions so long as they are for personal use and do not infringe our End User License Agreement included in our games, nor the rights of any other parties including copyrights, trademarks or other rights.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by BroodKiller on 2006-04-20 at 21:17:00
Well, if you ask me, they do NOT allow modding with the above. They only speak about SC customs (maps/campaings) that could be created with the tools they provided, i.e. StarEdit. They do not mention modding at all. I second Ojan here - modding is illegal, it's just that Blizzard decided to allow it to live, because it enhances the gaming experience over the boundaries they did not even imagine.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by TERRAINFIGHTER on 2006-04-20 at 23:10:01
*ahem*
that is talking about starcraft mods, and they don't limit you to their tools...just so long as your mod follows their EULA
QUOTE(Battle.net legal faqs)
Can I do a total conversion of your games?
Yes. We've seen some very polished and fun conversions for our games, and have no problems with total conversions so long as they are for personal use and do not infringe our End User License Agreement included in our games, nor the rights of any other parties including copyrights, trademarks or other rights.
Yes. We've seen some very polished and fun conversions for our games, and have no problems with total conversions so long as they are for personal use and do not infringe our End User License Agreement included in our games, nor the rights of any other parties including copyrights, trademarks or other rights.
that is talking about starcraft mods, and they don't limit you to their tools...just so long as your mod follows their EULA
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Doodle77(MM) on 2006-04-23 at 12:50:49
Yeah, it says Total Conversions, which are definitely not maps.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by BroodKiller on 2006-04-23 at 13:08:44
Oh, I must've missed that one out. So, as far as modding falls under what Blizzard meant by saying "Total Conversions", there is little risk that a few guys dressed in blue (or black, depending where you live) wil knock to your house some pretty morning....
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Cole on 2006-04-24 at 23:30:34
As a developer you would be a complete fool to not allow modding of your games.
If you take a look at Quake, Quake 2, Quake 3, Half-Life, Half-Life 2, BF1942, UT, UT2003, UT2004, etc.. all these games and their developers harness the modding community. Why?
A sweet mod comes out. People show it to there friends. They wanna play it. They need the game it was made for to play it. Thus $$$.
I don't know how many of my friends bought HL just for Cs or DoD or Natural Selection.
Or do what Valve has done and taken mods under there wing(CS, DoD) or offering to make them retail via steam(Garrys Mod).
As long as you don't steal from other games or violate copyrights your good. For example, the Starcraft mod for C&C Generals was shut down due to it having Starcraft in its name. Blizzard does not want a game that would cause Starcraft fans to go to it and leave Starcraft. It's also why they allow project revolution. That can possible cause some Wc3 gamers to look into Starcraft and Starcraft gamers to look into Wc3 thus causing them $$$$.
Infact Blizzard has recently extended it's modding support when they redesigned battle.net opening up a modding section on it for Wc3. I wouldn't even be suprised if Blizzards next game(Not MMO), included Mod Utilites or worked in a flexible way to allow a lot of modding.
If you take a look at Quake, Quake 2, Quake 3, Half-Life, Half-Life 2, BF1942, UT, UT2003, UT2004, etc.. all these games and their developers harness the modding community. Why?
A sweet mod comes out. People show it to there friends. They wanna play it. They need the game it was made for to play it. Thus $$$.
I don't know how many of my friends bought HL just for Cs or DoD or Natural Selection.
Or do what Valve has done and taken mods under there wing(CS, DoD) or offering to make them retail via steam(Garrys Mod).
As long as you don't steal from other games or violate copyrights your good. For example, the Starcraft mod for C&C Generals was shut down due to it having Starcraft in its name. Blizzard does not want a game that would cause Starcraft fans to go to it and leave Starcraft. It's also why they allow project revolution. That can possible cause some Wc3 gamers to look into Starcraft and Starcraft gamers to look into Wc3 thus causing them $$$$.
Infact Blizzard has recently extended it's modding support when they redesigned battle.net opening up a modding section on it for Wc3. I wouldn't even be suprised if Blizzards next game(Not MMO), included Mod Utilites or worked in a flexible way to allow a lot of modding.