Given that it's getting quiet again, I thought I'd start this thread, because it tends to get more people modding.
First, I'd like to say that Generals is a great game to mod; there's a lot of freedom, unlike many games, and it's really easy once you get started. So Generals is a great place to start!
Download FinalBIG:
http://www.cnclabs.com/downloads/details.aspx?id=240 Install it, run it, & go to your zero hour directory (Standard is C:\Program Files\EA Games\Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour). Now find INIZH.big and open it (it might be in the Data\INI folder). Go to Edit->Extract All and extract to your zero hour directory (again, standard is C:\Program Files\EA Games\Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour, DO NOT EXTRACT IT TO Data\INI). Close the program and there will be files in Data\INI that contain the code for the units in the game.
You can open and edit .ini files with notepad, which comes as standard with windows. So experiment with these files and when you get stuck, we're here to help.
If you want to modify the units, you go into the Object folder. LaserGeneral.ini contains every unit & building of the laser general. FactionBuilding.ini contains all the buildings of GLA, China & USA. Etc, etc.
If you want to change a weapon, it's in weapon.ini. If you want to change the units built at a building, it's in CommandSet.ini (don't forget to change the prerequisites in the units file). If you want to change the speed of a unit, it's in Locomotor.ini. The damage units take from different weapons is in Armor.ini. Etc, etc.
This will also work for generals, but the directory is different and the file is called INI.big instead of INIZH.big.
Tools and TroubleshootingGenerals and Zero Hour come with an in-built debugger. When you have a syntax error, you can generally find the problem by running world builder. It will tell you which file, which line, and often the exact problem.
The Zero Hour Module List will tell you everything you can do with a module.
http://contra.cncguild.net/oldsite/Eng/checker.php It is far more thorough than world builder and will even tell you the original errors in the ini files. Unfortunately, these errors can make it difficult to find the real problem. So if you do use this checker, I recommend using a text difference checking tool to compare the original ini files errors to your own INI file errors.
AdvancedMap.iniAs no one ever seems to find my Map.ini tutorial, I'm adding a link here. It's a bit more in depth.
You can find it here. If that link dies, you can find it in the tutorial section titled Map.ini basics.
Bike Logic http://www.cnclabs.com/forums/cnc_postst12640_Advanced--Bike-Logic.aspx If that link dies, you can find it in the tutorial section titled Advanced: Bike Logic.
Edited by user
10 years ago |
Reason: Added something
If you need help, post in the forum. You'll get help a lot faster than if you send me a PM.
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