Staredit Network

I mean like the way hacks work? They inject a .dll right? Why can't we get the program to extract the mod from the mpq and inject it?

There's no reason we couldn't. You just couldn't do it from within Starcraft itself, I think is what he was thinking. But the Automod program would be hacking the memory of Starcraft anyway, so it wouldn't have to do any of it through Starcraft.

.dll files are not injected, THOSE dll's only present instructions read by a separate program that will then modify memory at a certain address in the Starcraft process. It's different than what we want to accomplish here.

oh great, dont tell me you can send viruses over B.Net? but then SC couldnt read it, right?

A big implication of such an automodder is that there's no way to stop it from working in melee games.

Tux, the blocks of memory that must be changed don't have headers. It would be possible, however, to predict what the memory must look like based on the contents of the files that it reads and search for that.

There's really no way to send a virus in a map because there's no way to force it to execute its code.

Can't you determine the game type one is playing?

Could you use a trigger as a 'flag'? Since triggers only activate during UMS, could you have it detect whether a certain trigger was running?

You could just detect if a player was using the game type. I know the game type values and I can easily get the address.

ADDITION:
Came up with two addresses:

0065B0A8
0065B0ED

Anyway, here are the values for the game types:

Melee - 2
Free for all - 3
One on One - 4
Capture the flag - 5
Greed - 6
Slaughter - 7
Sudden Death - 8
Ladder - 9
Use Map Settings - 10
Team Melee - 11
Team Free for all - 12
Team Capture the flag - 13
Top vs Bottom - 15

KBK - 16 [Unused]
KBK Singles - 16 [Unused]
KBK Team - 17 [Unused]
KBK Pro - 18 [Unused]
KBK Beginner - 19 [Unused]
KBK Zone - 20 [Unused]
KBK Game Room - 21 [Unused]
Private UMS - 27 [3PP]
PGL - 32 [Unused]


EDIT: Use the second address. It's much more accurate, especially for single player.

Ok, I've pondered it some more, and made a decision: Unless some kind of program like this were to exist, there'll be no A&O for SC. Period. There's just too many limits to this old game to make it possible. Simple as that. I'd rather make a whole new game for A&O than try to butcher it to fit in SC. And no W3 either.

As for making an Automodder, I've also decided I have no clue on where to even begin, since I'm WAY out of touch with programming since I last did anything serious years back. If this were to be made real, it would have to be someone else's effort, since frankly I'm no hacker and I'm not gonna divide up my resources again into another "maybe" project, as I've done countless times before.

Sorry for sounding misleading before. I don't doubt it's possible to make an Automodder, but I'm really just not up to the task at this time. It'd still kick ass if someone else were to make this.

If such program came out, most people would start modding (probably) and mapmaking would die out

hmm, awesome idea. by the way, space is no issue, .mpq/.scx is an amazing archive format, it can like quarter the size of any file. also there might be a problem with lag, where would the mod be applied, because if you apply it in the breifing or after then custom portraits in the breifing wouldnt show, if you applyed the mod in the chat room then it would look like one of those funny secense wher its like 3...2....1...0.....LAAAAGGGGGGGGG. also there would be sever splits if somebody had a slow computer and so had the mod applied even slightly late, it wpuld sill be an amazing program

I am not good in proggramming C++ Or Visual Basic, i Can Program Good In HTML

No it wouldn't. Map making + modding = Uber.

On top of that, the files aren't even that big to begin with, and you wouldn't be modding most of Starcraft anyway.


What do you mean by "server splits" and lag? How does a mod create lag?


Would you want to start on such a project? And HTML is no good.

ADDITION:
Decided to get the path for the map that will be used.

0050926C - Address for the path to the map that will, or is, being used.
0065B0ED - Address for the game type about to be played.

An alternate address that is only written at with non-replay files is 01210714.

Well I don’t mean to throw a monkey wrench into this, but I honestly feel that ppl could care less about mods. The fact is there are tons of mods out there right now. While I agree more ppl would play them if a program like this conveniently auto-fired up these mods, I think few ppl would still play them.

Take for instance my small mod http://www.staredit.net/index.php?act=ST&f=59&t=12876 Racine, Mike, and myself have spent literally months and months of testing/coding a simple 65kb file that few ppl seldom play or even know about. Even tho Entropy claims over 200,000 plus ppl as of dec 2004 have downloaded a form of this mod, I’ve yet to see anybody actually playing it on Bnet. Racine and bajadulce who?

Does this mean I don’t think ppl should make mods or continue exploring this program’s possiblity? NO! I love mods just as much as you do. However, if you’re going to pursue this, realize that the time and effort put into creating them is usually a much bigger reward than the end result itself.

While UMS’s, Mods, etc are fun to play, and I love them, the bottom line is that MELEE starcraft is really the spice that has kept a 7year old game fresh as long as it has. There’s only so much you can do with a program just slightly 1Mb in size.

I believe melee itself can't keep Starcraft running. Without UMS, Starcraft wouldn't be as much of a success.

But this topic wasn't created for discussion over UMS/Melee, what's worth it or not, it's merely created for the discussion and possibilities of this program. If 200 000 people downloaded this, it would be a success. If 20 people downloaded this, it would be just as much of a success.

Well DK I would have to agree 100% with everything you said in your last post! There is nothing "debatable" about anything you've said. Every single statement I would consider to be absolute truth!

On top of that, It will be a sucess if NOBODY downloads it because of the satisfaction and reward of building/constructing it.

Ums's definitely helped make starcraft a success including the great storyline, characters, etc. As I write this probably thousands of games of starcraft are being played around the world right now. How many of these ppl are playing UMS, I don't know, but a considerable amount for sure!

I wish any mod, UMS project luck! I love them! I don't mean to digress from the topic at all. In fact I would glady offer any help with watever I could contribute. Whether in the form of testing/promoting/organinzational/developing etc. You and many others here at SEN are very talented and there really is no limit as SEN's logo suggests!

I just had an idea. Since this is a separate program and all, why not have it support mp3 files? Instead of playing wav files, you could use mp3 files. It would be played by the "automodder" when Starcraft wants to load it, and you could have it "pause" when Starcraft is paused as well, which helps out map loops to play more smoothly.

EDIT: Chu pointed out, that if the program could play mp3's, it could do everything else with them, so you could use like "Play "StopAllSounds" " as the action to stop the sounds and stuff.

And not only will the "Automodder" benefit the mappers here, it would also benefit modders as well.

If this is done correctly, it could be a revolution in SC mapping. I know many people who are dying for something like this. If I can help in any way, I will.

why not make it play wc3 while we are at it? thatll be cool, SC supporting all the warcraft units!(though the 8-bit colors probably wouldnt...).


I suspect if this program is really made, someone will make a map editor that mods too(like someone else said). i hope it's SF or SCM lol, cause i only use those 2 now.
also you could creat your own terrain.

it'd be nice seeing my face shooting someone elses, lol.(spit attack!).

oh, can you mod attacks?

ADDITION:

why not have the modder supprot JPG images? so you can upload it int oyour maps at, liek banners or street signs!

This is not making a modding program. This is discussion of a program that automatically mods Starcraft for you when you join a game. The creation of the mod is up to you.

Hmm, if you're modifiying memory, you could allow non-static terrain. In other words, change tiles with some sort of command. Man would that own.

Oh right...
Modding+mapping... Though modding could be useful in defenses....

I know HTML too!
but that is webpage editing

I still can't believe warcraft has more power than starcraft mapping+modding.

lag would be created when the mod was applied b/c that is not instant, and you might get server splits if somebody has their mod applied just a *bit* late b/c then those 2 ppl would read a diff map. i dont know what im saying so ill just shut up

has anyone looked at how HUGE mods can be...
Some Total Conversions are HUGE

That would caue tons of waiting time and make the DL even longer...
If you wait 1 hour for a MOD download ( I have ) Who would sit in a game
that long?