extracting and converting units from AOE

[The Guardian]

I have just acquired AOE III and both expansions ( The Asian Dynasties and Warchiefs ). I read this post from steph:
Quote I have only Cossacks Art of War and American Conquest, without the expansion.

So it means I'm missing some units to convert to civ III.

So if someone as these games, please contact me at stephane.f.david@free.fr, I will send him an extractor, so he can send me back the animation for conversion. End Quote

Will this work with AOE? If so, can you send it to me Steph?

I know that several graphics modders have posted AOE unit conversions. Can anyone help me to extract and convert these units?

 

[Takhisis]

Can you wait until tomorrow? I converted a couple together with Aluminium (check my profile for downloads) and wanted to convert a few more. I'll have to dig up the instructions and redownload one or two programs.

 

[The Guardian]

Can you wait until tomorrow? I converted a couple together with Aluminium (check my profile for downloads) and wanted to convert a few more. I'll have to dig up the instructions and redownload one or two programs.

Great, I can wait.

 

[Takhisis]

Well, I'm doing the diggin' up, but nearly all of the units can be converted.

 

[The Guardian]

Well, I'm doing the diggin' up, but nearly all of the units can be converted.

Fantastic, looking forward to it.

 

[Takhisis]

I've found this 4-year-old email from Aluminium:

Hmm, It's been a long time ago when I last did that. It's a complicated process.

In any case you need AoK Mod Pack Studio. Therein is a tool called SLP viewer.

It can load the CLP files, center, and save the unit frames. The save process, I've automated with a macro script.

Then I've processed the saved images in PSP to get a storyboard. Also with scrips.

But there's no need to do it again, since I have storyboard of the most units, I think.

You can get the required programs here. The rest, well, is pretty much self-explanatory. Browse through it, and good luck.
I don't remember whether Age of mythology units could be converted too, but it wouldn't hurt to try either.

 

[tom2050]

Guardian, I thought you said in the PM there were no SLP files in your directories ?

There was this tool also http://artho.heliohost.org/age/files/slpcnvt.html

Can you do a search of your Age of Empire directory for *.slp

It should bring up all files, if any, with those extensions.

Tom

 

[The Guardian]

Guardian, I thought you said in the PM there were no SLP files in your directories ?

There was this tool also http://artho.heliohost.org/age/files/slpcnvt.html

Can you do a search of your Age of Empire directory for *.slp

It should bring up all files, if any, with those extensions.

Tom

I did check TOM and could not find any files with the extension slp

 

[Steph]

The extractor I mentionned is specific to Cossacks and won't work with AOE.

Beside, isn't AOE III 3D? So different from AOE1 and 2 and perhaps not compatible with CivIII?

 

[Takhisis]

I know that the program I linked to works for AOE I and II. But I've never had AOE III so I don't have a clue.

 

[tom2050]

I did a google image search, and looks like AoE 3 is 3d, as Steph said. In order to do conversions, you would have to go along the route of importing the model/animations into a 3d program, like 3ds Max or Maya, and then rendering them (if it's possible, not sure what format they are in, some formats are a pain and I can't do them).

If you find out what type of graphic files it uses (could be NIF and KF files like civ4; or something else), I could attempt to do one, but would need the specific unit file to try. Not sure the implications of such a thing as sending a game model file only. My guess would be it shouldn't be done.

Tom

 

[The Guardian]

I did a google image search, and looks like AoE 3 is 3d, as Steph said. In order to do conversions, you would have to go along the route of importing the model/animations into a 3d program, like 3ds Max or Maya, and then rendering them (if it's possible, not sure what format they are in, some formats are a pain and I can't do them).

If you find out what type of graphic files it uses (could be NIF and KF files like civ4; or something else), I could attempt to do one, but would need the specific unit file to try. Not sure the implications of such a thing as sending a game model file only. My guess would be it shouldn't be done.

Tom

I'm still trying to find the unit files. I did find some terrain files but I'm not positive that they are graphics files. the extension is .xs

 

[tom2050]

I've read that it uses .gr2 files... see if you have any of those.

From what I have seen so far, they say exporters work on static buildings, but not on animations (or rarely so).

Info from: http://aoe3.heavengames.com/modding/tutorials/index.shtml

Perhaps that may be older information, but I would have to look around some more.

These files may be contained inside a .bar file.

Tom

 

[The Guardian]

I've read that it uses .gr2 files... see if you have any of those.

From what I have seen so far, they say exporters work on static buildings, but not on animations (or rarely so).

Info from: http://aoe3.heavengames.com/modding/tutorials/index.shtml

Perhaps that may be older information, but I would have to look around some more.

These files may be contained inside a .bar file.

Tom

Thanks TOM, I'll check.

 

[The Guardian]

I've read that it uses .gr2 files... see if you have any of those.

From what I have seen so far, they say exporters work on static buildings, but not on animations (or rarely so).

Info from: http://aoe3.heavengames.com/modding/tutorials/index.shtml

Perhaps that may be older information, but I would have to look around some more.

These files may be contained inside a .bar file.

Tom

TOM, I found the .bar files. There are 6 art.bar files and 3 data.bar files. There are also sound and font .bar files. The art files are large , from 230 - 430 MB each.

 

[tom2050]

TOM, I found the .bar files. There are 6 art.bar files and 3 data.bar files. There are also sound and font .bar files. The art files are large , from 230 - 430 MB each.

I would think the data.bar files would hold the models, but I suppose it could be in any of them. To check it out, you would need to download the viewer/extractor on the page in the .bar link I gave. Then you can extract files with it. Usually the models and textures (DDT or TGA extension) will be named by unit/creature.

Up to you if you feel like messing with it though.

Tom

 

[The Guardian]

I would think the data.bar files would hold the models, but I suppose it could be in any of them. To check it out, you would need to download the viewer/extractor on the page in the .bar link I gave. Then you can extract files with it. Usually the models and textures (DDT or TGA extension) will be named by unit/creature.

Up to you if you feel like messing with it though.

Tom

I downloaded the viewer/extractor and the the converter. Yes I can see the files now. there are g2 and ddt files. There are also precomp, xml, and xmb files. The later (xml, xmb files are files that contain code. The g2 files should be able to be read with RAD tools. I will get that and check and see if that works. Any other advice?

 

[The Guardian]

I have tried to work with the files using RAD tools and RAV tools suite however, I am not very familiar with these programs and I will have to spend a considerable amount of time before I can work with them. Unless someone else wants to try and work with them, I am going to shelve this project until I can get time to learn how to work with these programs. I am a little busy now working on several different projects.

 

[Takhisis]

Too bad. Well... bump this when you get to the appropriate skill level

 

[The Guardian]

Too bad. Well... bump this when you get to the appropriate skill level

It may be a month or two as I have a lot of work on my to do list, but I WILL get back to this.