Editing?!

The save game files are different than the input files in that they are saved in binary information. They are not meant to be edited.

However, if you wish to create your own techs, ships, or improvements, you can do that by copying the format in the .tech, .ship and .imp files and modifying the descriptions, ids, etc.

We'll be releasing a toolset and docs to help you create your own objects after Gal Civ is released.

How much leeway will you give us in editing? can we script new events, races, storylines and so forth?

hmm, I may be jumping the gun here, but still it would be interesting to know

/Flemming Madsen
VP Lidium
www.lidiumonline.com

*nod* I essentially was hoping for more leeway to edit, much as Razon here.

And still, the binary code of 'most' files doesn't explain why, for instance, the Researched Techs file in Saved Games folders is not functioning properly. If, in reviewing the techs, I understand things properly, it SHOULD, were one to go into that file and plunk in every number from 1 to 133, give one EVERY tech in the game. Altering those numbers, deleting ones already there ... nothing done to that folder seems to make one fig of difference in the respective saved game.

The files you want to edit are those in the Data folder. The changes will take effect in any new game.

The problem with the files in the data folder is that there is no way to 'trigger' them. I can't give myself a dreadnought. I can't even edit the number of advantage points I have to spend when I start a new game (and believe me, I've tried tinkering with the numbers). Is there not some way to 'edit' things so that it gives one a better advantage from the start? If I edit the ship or tech files, it's going to affect all the other races as well.

One key ingredient in GalCiv is that the AI does not cheat. What the AI has available, so does the human player. Why shouldn't the reverse be true? Why should the huma player be allowed to cheat?

Razgon: For the toolset that I referred to, anything that's in the definition files in the data folder you will definitely be able to create. Ships, improvements, techs, improvements, upissues, random events, space anomalies. For other things, code would have to be added or modified, and we've been trying to focus on getting Gal Civ 1.0 released before talking too much about post release stuff.

MTCason: The Reasearched tech file that you are referring to isn't actually used in the game. It's a file that is in preparation for being able to upload your strategy to the metaverse so that other people can download it to use with the AI characters. Unless you can figure out the structs I used to write the save game info to disk, you're stuck with your save games as they are.

lets say we created a really cool edited version of the game, how do we share it with others? there needs to be a convenient way

We as players should have the option of changing things. I DID find a way to beef up my empire at the start by editting the starting bonuses but ... do the other races get the exact same boni?! It seemed to me they were operating under the self-same benefits that I was.

I haven't examined the files enough to modify the starting bonuses, but yes, the AI should have the exact same benefits you do at the start of the game, modified as appropriate for their choice of starting abilities.

Master Lame,
Note the Library button on the forum. That will eventually allow us to upload modified files and Stardock will examine and approve them. Other people will then be able to download those files to add to their games!

Paul.

but what if you modify virtually all files in the game? nobody would want to download 100 separate files just to make 1 game work

Should only be 6 files in total.

Single files containing all the ships, all the technologies, all the anomolies, all the events, all the improvements and all the UP issues.

I expect that post 1.0 release they will work a bit more on this putting ingame setup screens to allow to add or subtract modules from your current game.

Paul.