Today I release a new analysis of CSDb, the principal Commodore 64 Scene database. In August 2010, I released the first of such an analysis, called CSDb: Quantify Me, and I rambled about a possible new era of increased scene activity starting. The last big analysis was in 2018 called DUPLUS, in which this was confirmed. Now, I took another look and collected the information in CSDb: Quantify Me – Pandemus. The increase in scene activity continues! If you fancy a read, get the PDF here.

Due to limited time available for the front page news updates, you haven’t seen anything here for a while. No matter! The Game Research Forum is alive as ever, and kicking like never before! If you need to keep track of what is going on at the forum, which tools have been created, models and archives have been cracked and much more, simply follow us on Facebook!  You won’t regret it! Like, and you will hear about the cool stuff!

After a tremendous cold and a complete internet blackout due to moronic and idiotic ISP (I warned Mr Mouse), final week from yours truly

3D/2D Models

• Watch Dogs: help needed for XBG models.
• Dragon’s Nest: update coming soon.
• Darksiders: script. problem solved.
• Tales of Vesperia: help needed for animation files.
• Darksiders II: zaramot has released a Maxscript. Kudos
• KH: the ever excellent GovanifY has released updated information.
• Warlords of Draenor: progress updated.
• Shin Migami Tensei: hex2obj discovered as a necessity for this game.
• Forza Motorsport: help needed to understand game models.
• Heaven of the Three Kingdoms: maxscript released, great!
• Iron Man 3: request for releasing the script.
• Battlefield 4: help needed to make sense of the model format.
• Dead or Alive series: tool nearing completion.
• S4 Model League: help neeeded for unconsistent model results.
• Battlefield 4: help needed to understand dumper error.
• Pokèmon battle Revolution: another bone error.

Audio File Formats

• ADPCM: yours truly wants to decompress ADPCM to pcm.
• Ratchet & Clank: work update.

Graphic Formats

• DDS: solved.
• Rayman Legends: joke post? Seriously…
• DXT1: converter being written, help needed.

Game Archive Research

• Unity3d: Chipicao has posted an update with Hex values.
• Giana Sisters Twister Dreams: sample file posted.
• Watch Dogs: more archive data posted.
• Shadows Heretic Kingdoms: I actually wanted to buy this game. BMS script posted.
• SW TOR: progress and success achieved.
• Tales of Xilia: progress being made thanks to Japanese version.
• OpenIV: tool as a work in progress. video updated.
• GTA V: more texture support for the tool.
• Wolfensteain: .pages structure posted.
• Disneyland adventures: archives discovered to be a ZIP variant.
• Sleeping Dogs: hash calculator by Ekey discovered.
• Farming Simulator: extraction \ injection help wanted. Data provided.
• Just Dance 2014: hex data provided in order to understand fonts.
• League of Legends: help needed in order for the first music mods to be created.

Compressed files and methods

• Text Compression: after more than two years, it has been cracked.
• Star Citizen: encryption key discovered.
• Onigiri: help wanted for a yummy game.
• .PAK: QuickBMS script released in order to extract contents.
• Watch Dogs: encryption apparently similar to Assassin’s Creed.
• KH2 Final Mix: GovanifY saves the day, wherever there’s KH!

Game Localization

• A Story About my Uncle: solved by itself.
• Among the Sleep: progressing but bugged.

Noesis

• No new version but a request from modding legend Truthkey!

Other Tools

• FF7 Crisis Core: work starting on this. Noesis does already a pretty good job for this game tho.

Another week.

3D/2D Models

• Dragon’s Nest: help needed, as per title.
• KH1: tool being halted
• Warlords WOW: sample uploaded.
• S4 League: model exporting continues.
• Shin Migami Tensei: info released for this.
• Point Blank: more data shared on meshes.
• Metroid Prime: ANCS files need explanation. Long overdue I’d say
• Pokemon Battle Revolution: more data is required to process on this.
• Darksiders: progress continues on this.
• XMX 3D: more info is required. The format is complicated.

Audio File Formats

• PSi-Ops: done and solved.
• Spyro the Dragon: problem solved, apparently.
• Eternal Darkness: FINALLY! Some interest for an awesome game! I was looking at those files too.

Graphic Formats

Oddly Enough, deserted this time. I wonder why.

Game Archive Research

• Captain America: DATA files need to be explained more.
• Coalesced CRC: more workings on this.
• Star Ocean the Last Hope: tool being updated and more information added.
• League of Legends FSB: a tool is required, and possibly present.
• Unity Assets Explorer: small guide released.
• Collapse: offer to make a script, apparently

Compressed files and methods

• Dynasty Warriors 8: compression doubt by the author.
• LiveMaker Engine: never heard of this tool, but apparently it’s important.
• Star Citizen: module released, and it needs to be decrypted.

Game Localization

• Wolfenstein: progress going on, for this reboot.
• A Story About my Uncle: japanese tool is needed to work on the UPK files.
• Spongebob: problem opened and solved.
• Tropico 2: text help needed.
• Ys7: some help needed to decipher this data.
• Toy Story 3: somewhat late for this game, but still good. The movie was amazing

Noesis

• Nothing new under the sun…

Other Tools

• Gameloft Unscrambler released. Get it here.
• HPK Archiver released, but files not found.
• Beyond Two Souls: update coming soon.
• Natural Selection mesh tool released!

Sorry everyone, I was in court almost every day, and this work takes longer than it looks.

EDIT: and I am feverish too…. dammit. This on top of a perfect week.

3D/2D Models

• GT Racing 2: work beginning.
• Gladius: models attached.
• MGS1: kmd model requested.
• Lego Movie 3D: help required.
• Transformers: work initiated. Movie sucked, tho.
• WoW Warlords: expansion downloaded, now waiting to know details.
• PS3 One Piece: work commenced on this. Too bad the series is only halfway.
• SW TOR: Noesis Plugin released.
• KH1: toolset halted because author has no time
• SKI model: maxscript released.
• Splinter Cell 1: meshfile extracted.
• Princess and the Frog: model help requested. That movie can be quite scary!
• Unknown: hex data posted of animation file.
• S4 League Model Exporting: workings initiated on exporting.

Audio File Formats

• Crysis 3: problem solved.
• Bound by Flame: discovered the music is OGG.
• Ubisoft Sound: tool updated.
• PCK Files: wwise doubt. I agree, the WWise official tool is not only complicated, but it does not work.
• Psi-OPS: file and archive extracted but unreadable.
• 3DS ARC: tools still private. Curse them.
• Wildstar audio: some insight is required.
• XMA Transform: thread updated, but no new release.
• Hissing audio: issue in decoding audio, apparently.

Graphic Formats

• Alan Wake: help wanted with the various files and textures. It is an interesting game.
• Army Men: looking at animations is painful.
• Guild Wars 2: textures are being worked on, apparently.
• Gladius Ps2: tool works for textures, it shall work for models too.

Game Archive Research

• League of Legends: progress update.
• GTAV: progress on the tool for the game.
• Saint Seiya PSP: help wanted for this game I ignored. Want to download.
• NAMCO .AR: archive extracted but not unlocked.
• Dynasty Warrior 8: work beginning on the format of this game.
• Dark Souls: reverse engineering in progress.
• Omikron: format work in progress.
• DUST 514: Ravioli Explorer (?) works. Weheee.
• Anomaly .DAT Extractor: released.
• SW The Old Republic: update released.
• FFIII: texture help wanted.
• A Story About my Uncle: help needed for translating.
• Project Cars: help wanted.
• YS Seven ITV: also for this.
• Dragon Quest VIII: work initiated on this game. Epic saga.
• Watch Dogs: inevitable. Although the game is somewhat disappointing.
• Wolfenstein: archive investigation.
• RE Code Veronica: unpacker released.
• ArchAge Online: work initiated on this game.
• Goodbye Depoina: work and hex initiated on this.

Compressed files and methods

• Havok Animations: topic still open for those who wish to contribute.
• Uncharted 3: archives won’t recompile. any idea?

Game Localization

• Watch Dogs: This was inevitable, I assume.
• Wolfenstein New Order: serious progress being made.
• The New Sleep: first thread, never heard of this game.
• A Story About my Uncle: upk unpacker needed. Gildor made it?

Noesis

• New version was released. How nice

Other Tools

• Biohazard tool has changed hosting.
• OpenIV: tool released.

Here’s a small blog on prepping your old 8-bit ZX hardware to do some retrogaming: on fixing keyboard membranes, creating a composite video signal and using the DivMMC Enjoy! cartridge to ease your storage life. 

But before that first a word on Internet sellers of second hand Sinclair computers. You should be aware that a reknown problem of the ZX keyboards is that the membranes die in the course of 20 years. If you happen to stumble upon a ZX being sold on the internet, always ask them to check the keyboard. I’ve bought three computers the past few weeks, and ALL of them had worn keyboard membranes. But only one seller reported this before finishing the deal! The other’s claimed “it worked before I shipped it!”. Yeah right. Not in a million years, buster! However, I fixed them like this:

(more…)

No rest weekend, hence this happens on Monday

3D/2D Models

• ME2\ME3: help wanted in order to extract models.
• Wild Arms 3: work continues on the BIN file.
• KH1: toolset is a WIP of the excellent Gova .
• Diablo III: model viewer on the way.
• Havok Structure: vertex data needs to be read.
• S4 League: script updated.
• Splinter Cell 1: meshfile extracted.

Audio File Formats

• KH Cutscene: audio cutscene ripping in progress, I’d say.

Graphic Formats

• Nothing new under the sun

Game Archive Research

• One For All: author needs some support I’d say.
• Diablo 3: help wanted for the physicsmesh and the worldmesh.
• Tales of Xilia: not possible to get models yet.
• Survarium: help wanted for the maps.
• 1954 Alcatraz: script released.

Compressed files and methods

• Tales of Vesperia: update after Ekey’s script was released.
• The Lost Vikings: DOS game needs some work done, for the author.
• Havok ANIM: how difficult this appears to be.

Game Localization

• GTAV: more info released about the in-game font.

Noesis

• Nothing relevant, this week. But the tool is as wonderful as ever. Wish it could view Metroid models, ah well. It can view ActorX stuff tho.

Other Tools

• BTS Tool: more progress is made.
• Bloodrayne Betrayal: tool released by Ekey. Will upload to the tools section.
• DisUnity: more questions asked, less answers given.

After weeks of frustration I seem to have the solution to a X-Fi issue in Windows 8.1. There would be no sound each time after a reboot or after cold start. I’d have to go into Configuration Panel, go to Hardware and deactivate / reactivate the Soundblaster and reboot to get the speakers to play. Bottom line: the SB software / card thinks a headphones is connected. Solution:  go to the SB Configuration Panel, go to Headphones settings and disable “autodetection of headphones” AND disable “mute speakers automatically”. Reboot. Done. 

Happy Mother’s day to all mommies out here. A few, I bet, but still.

3D/2D Models

• FFX HD: progress update.
• MGS HD: script released, in embryonal state.
• Enchanted Arms: Noesis script request.
• Diablo III: progress continues happily.
• S4 League: progress is being made with help!
• Wipeout: the 1995 game has found a useful website!
• KH1: Giov is still working his magic
• Wild Arms 3:  the bin file is finally being experimented upon!
• Bots .bsc: seriously good progress.

Audio File Formats

• XWC: new script and information released.

Graphic Formats

• Swizzled: author has answered himself. Lucky him!
• Gladius PS2: tool is a WIP.

Game Archive Research

• Captain America: the game of the Winter Soldier, obviously!
• Shadow Warrior: erm, I’m not sure I understand what’s going on here.
• Darksiders WOW: script released.
• Farming Simulator: work on .shapes format.
• Diablo 3: info wanted on how to access levels.
• TOTEXB: unknown file format, info wanted.

Compressed files and methods

• J Stars: data provided.
• Rayman 2: tool provided for this. Amazing!
• GOD X360 Games: bad news for the author…
• Illusion Softworks SFL: Ekey has shared details on compression methods.
• Tales of Vesperia TLZC: Ekey has released script.

Game Localization

• Dark Souls 2: needs more attention apparently.
• Child of Light: serious progress being made.
• XCOM Enemy Unknown: first post about this game. Data provided.

Noesis

• Update Released with Doom map support!

Other Tools

• Ninja Ripper: development stopped…

Labor day week. And Star Wars Anniversary! May the 4th be with you

3D/2D Models

• Darksiders WOW: maxscript released.
• S4 League: fatduck is putting some serious effort in the script.
• Shenmue 2: textures being worked on. Didn’t know this game existed!
• Princess and the Frog: more than a kiss will be required to make those models appear, I fear.
• Survarium: zaramot promises to work on the script and he is known to deliver
• Corpse Party: no joke, that’s the game name. Noesis plugin wanted.
• Star Wars TOR: alpha plugin for gr2 discussion and release here

Audio File Formats

• Still working on those pesky ME2 files.
• .AWB: files being worked on!

Graphic Formats

• Gladius: textures are still being worked on.

Game Archive Research

• Child of Light: released QuickBMS script for unpacking archives.
• 2Dk Drive: chipicao has released a script for this game.
• Android .Obb: and also a script for this format.
• Black Desert: .paz archives being investigated.
• KOTOR iOS: Ekey saves the day!
• 1954 Alcatraz: first time a .myn file is encountered..
• Darksiders: .oppc archives should not be too different from Warhammer files.
• BlackGold: 2 scripts and a friend at Snailgames make OP a happy bunny.
• LB DAT: more info on Hex offset data.

Compressed files and methods

• Wargame Red Dragon: edat files failed by QuickBMS script..
• Dawngate: chrrox has released a model script for this game

Game Localization

• Just one thread there was, solved with abundant suggestions of Notepad++. I like that utility!

Noesis

• A pretty silent period with no updates…

Other Tools

• Beyond Two Souls: tool close to being updated! Thanks HugoPeters!