bic & bix files...

[kryszcztov]

Hello !

I have a simple question to which I did not get a full answer by myself. I want to know what are the .bic files and the .bix files. They are some already installed with the game (PTW). Is it : .bix files are maps and .bic files are mods ? Or scenarios ? Or can it be both...? I'm getting confused.

I just want to make things clear. On the one hand, you have .bic and .bix files, on the other hand, you have maps, scenarios, mods, and so on... How is all this stuff related to itself ? What can I do if I want to create something new ?

Hoping a well-explained answer to my confusing questions...

 

[pdescobar]

I normally call them scenario files or BIC/BIX files. They can contain custom rules, custom maps (with or without units and cities already placed), custom player data (who is what civ and what do they start with) or any combination thereof. Thus a bic/bix file can be a simple custom map or the heart of a very complex mod or scenario; it all depends on what it contains.

For vanilla civ3, these files use the BIC format and .bic extension; the "standard rules" for vanilla are contained in civ3mod.bic in the game folder. Since PTW added some new features, anything made with the PTW editor is a .bix instead and the PTW standard rules are contained in civ3x.bix in the PTW folder.

Note that the PTW editor can open both types although it can only save in .bix and the PTW game can play both types. Vanilla civ3's game and editor can obviously only handle .bic files.

If you want to create something new, just start up the editor you have, choose which items you want to customize in the Scenario menu, and go to town

 

[DJ_Izumi]

BIC and BIX are the same file, only a BIC is for Civiliation 3, and BIX are for Civilization 3: Play The World.

 

[kryszcztov]

Yeah, thanks. It makes more sense now. I should have found out that the "x" in ".bix" meant "eXpansion pack", therefore PTW, and maybe the "c" in ".bic" means "Civ".

So the .bix files (I won't use .bic files obviously) are all that changes a standard game : map(s), rules, scenarios... I need to know how to use and to store these different features within the game, how to come back to a standard game, without messing up all my folders, but I will do that on my own.

First, I need to be able to play none-French games. If anyone has a clue how to get the translations fixed between French PTW and American PTW, I'll gladly hear. (I've already posted for this in General Discussions.)

 

[kryszcztov]

I have another question about .bix files : if I make a scenario, a mod, or a map, will they all be stored as a .bix file ? If I make something, is the result entirely stored as a .bix file ? Or might some pieces of data be found in alterded text files, .ini files, sound files, units folders...?

 

[mrtn]

The editor will never create folders and such for you. If your mod requires a certain folder, you will have to add it yourself. The bix is just the rules, if you want to alter graphics or something like that, you have to create those folders.