Modding query

[rohit11122]

Can anyone tell me how can we analyze data files using hex editor and find out which file does what???

[BlindedByTheGrace]

4 hours ago, rohit11122 said:

Can anyone tell me how can we analyze data files using hex editor and find out which file does what???

Hi,

Data in the files are all hexadecimal numbers as you know. There is nothing in the files which say what each data controls.

Often we try to look for recurring patterns of data or maybe ID's of superstars in Hex. 

The wwe 2k17 game folders contained additional files which stated what is contained in each of the files. For instance a text file misc01_start.win was included in the 2k17 folders which contained a list of the data contained in each file when the misc01_start.pac file is decompressed. Here is a screenshot of parts of the file.

You will see 2. is the arena file which we edit to add misc01 data for arenas

5 is for alternate attires 

8 and 9 contains the rules and options in exhibition matches. These were the files I modified for the gender selection mod

10 is the assignment of locations to arenas. Like Raw takes place in random cities, Wrestlemania 34 takes place in a fixed location etc.

These files in 2k17 were instrumental in figuring out a lot of the data in the game like the cae-item files , sound_p30 etc. The data is in hex and will not make any sense when opened, but by having an idea what the data contains, we can now begin to look for recurring patterns in the data. One other thing is a lot of the data contains string ID's which we look up in the string file. Even with this, some stuff is still hard to figure out .

On analysing the 2k19 files, there are minor changes as the developers still used the same ID's. For instance 5 has been used for alternate attires since probably 2k14 etc.

In some cases , data from previous games has to be analysed to make comparisons.

Personally I had to dig into 2k17 to analyse the data in that game. I had to look into 2k15, 16 and 17 to figure out move animations and compare the file structure changes with 2k18 and 19.

A lot of testing will have to be performed in game. This cannot be ruled out.

Edit some data. save, start the game, see what change was made. That's the way to know what the data really does.

Sometimes the game will crash, sometimes youll lose your data in the process. Thats just how it is.

Edited October 3, 2020 by squaredcirclefan

[rohit11122]

10 hours ago, squaredcirclefan said:

Hi,

Data in the files are all hexadecimal numbers as you know. There is nothing in the files which say what each data controls.

Often we try to look for recurring patterns of data or maybe ID's of superstars in Hex. 

The wwe 2k17 game folders contained additional files which stated what is contained in each of the files. For instance a text file misc01_start.win was included in the 2k17 folders which contained a list of the data contained in each file when the misc01_start.pac file is decompressed. Here is a screenshot of parts of the file.

You will see 2. is the arena file which we edit to add misc01 data for arenas

5 is for alternate attires 

8 and 9 contains the rules and options in exhibition matches. These were the files I modified for the gender selection mod

10 is the assignment of locations to arenas. Like Raw takes place in random cities, Wrestlemania 34 takes place in a fixed location etc.

These files in 2k17 were instrumental in figuring out a lot of the data in the game like the cae-item files , sound_p30 etc. The data is in hex and will not make any sense when opened, but by having an idea what the data contains, we can now begin to look for recurring patterns in the data. One other thing is a lot of the data contains string ID's which we look up in the string file. Even with this, some stuff is still hard to figure out .

On analysing the 2k19 files, there are minor changes as the developers still used the same ID's. For instance 5 has been used for alternate attires since probably 2k14 etc.

In some cases , data from previous games has to be analysed to make comparisons.

Personally I had to dig into 2k17 to analyse the data in that game. I had to look into 2k15, 16 and 17 to figure out move animations and compare the file structure changes with 2k18 and 19.

A lot of testing will have to be performed in game. This cannot be ruled out.

Edit some data. save, start the game, see what change was made. That's the way to know what the data really does.

Sometimes the game will crash, sometimes youll lose your data in the process. Thats just how it is.

WOW!!! THNX FOR TELLING ME ALL THAT STUFF. I REALLY WANT TO LOOK AND LEARN ABOUT ALL THIS STUFF. THNX FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE ALL THIS UP AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.