I'm looking for a ripper for the DOS FPS game Eradicator.
You can download the game here, I expect the MAIN.RID file to contain the desired resources.
Basically the (now abandoned) tool XWE, source available states it has Eradicator support, but it doesn't seem to work. Still, the source code might contain a clue.
I've tried several other general rippers, none of which seem to get the job done.
Important information: this site is currently scheduled to go offline indefinitely by end of the year.
[REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
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Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
*edit* use the script provided by GameZelda
Last edited by aluigi on Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
Wow, I never imagined getting a response to this, let alone so quickly! Thank you so much!
While I now managed to decompose the MAIN.RID file, the resulting files don't make much sense; they lack a file extension and the headers aren't too helpful either as they differ for each file.
I think I'll have to see how much I can do with the ripped files, but at least I'm one step closer to my goal!
While I now managed to decompose the MAIN.RID file, the resulting files don't make much sense; they lack a file extension and the headers aren't too helpful either as they differ for each file.
I think I'll have to see how much I can do with the ripped files, but at least I'm one step closer to my goal!
Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
aluigi: Your script is broken It doesn't extract the files in the root dir and it doesn't handle subdirectories.
Fixed (& modified syntax...):
EDIT: About the files...
The files seem to have this format:
Haven't tried any of this but seems very simple...
EDIT: Found a small optimization for the script...
Fixed (& modified syntax...):
Code: Select all
# Eradicator
# script for QuickBMS http://aluigi.org/papers.htm#quickbms
# modified by GameZelda
Set @outputPath string ""
CallFunction !unpackRidb
StartFunction !unpackRidb
SavePos @ridbOff
# Header
IDString "RIDB"
Get @numEntries long
Get @entriesOff long
Math @entriesOff += @ridbOff
# Entry table
GoTo @entriesOff
For @i = 0 < @numEntries
# Entry
GetDString @entryName 12
Set @entryOutputPath string @outputPath
If @entryOutputPath != ""
String @entryOutputPath += /
EndIf
String @entryOutputPath += @entryName
Get @entryOff long
Math @entryOff += @ridbOff
Get @entrySize long
# Entry contents
SavePos @entriesOff
GoTo @entryOff
GetDString @magic 4
If @magic == "RIDB" # RIDB magic = folder
Set @outputPathBak string @outputPath
Set @outputPath string @entryOutputPath
GoTo @entryOff
CallFunction !unpackRidb
Set @outputPath string @outputPathBak
Else # no RIDB magic = file
log @entryOutputPath @entryOff @entrySize
EndIf
GoTo @entriesOff
Next @i
EndFunction
The files seem to have this format:
Code: Select all
struct PICTURES
{
uint32_t width;
uint32_t height;
uint8_t image[width * height]; // 8 BPP
}
struct TEXTURES_SKIES
{
uint32_t width;
uint32_t height;
uint32_t unk; // Always 0?
uint8_t image[width * height]; // 8 BPP
}
(most likely using some of the included palettes)
struct SOUNDS
{
uint8_t sound[fileSize]; // 8 BPS
}
struct PALETTE_PALETTE
{
uint24_t color[0x100]; // 8R8G8B
}
EDIT: Found a small optimization for the script...
Last edited by GameZelda on Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
Ah, I was wondering whether there would be more in the main file, or if I had its purpose wrong. Thanks for the quick fix GameZelda!
So, this means they used their own (non-standard) file format with the graphic/sound resources? No wonder generic rippers can't produce meaningful files.
I was somewhat expecting some BMP/GIF files to appear, along with some VOC/WAV files. Basically the only programming I'm relatively skilled at is PHP, and I haven't got a clue how to define the Structs you mentioned, nor how to 'read' those files into them. And the addition of having custom palettes only makes matters worse, right?
I guess I'll try some fopen/fread code to see if I can make sense of it. First time I've been looking into binaries though, it'll be a challenge.
So, this means they used their own (non-standard) file format with the graphic/sound resources? No wonder generic rippers can't produce meaningful files.
I was somewhat expecting some BMP/GIF files to appear, along with some VOC/WAV files. Basically the only programming I'm relatively skilled at is PHP, and I haven't got a clue how to define the Structs you mentioned, nor how to 'read' those files into them. And the addition of having custom palettes only makes matters worse, right?
I guess I'll try some fopen/fread code to see if I can make sense of it. First time I've been looking into binaries though, it'll be a challenge.
Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
The sounds can be loaded with Audacity in RAW data mode, with a frequency of 11025Hz (It worked for the files that I have tested), and "Unsigned 8-bit PCM" format.
The images & textures are also effectively 8-bit palettized images.
Does someone know / have any idea about what are the other files in the PALETTE folder (DEPTH, NIGHTVISION, RED, TRANSLUC)?
The images & textures are also effectively 8-bit palettized images.
Does someone know / have any idea about what are the other files in the PALETTE folder (DEPTH, NIGHTVISION, RED, TRANSLUC)?
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Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
It is an interesting coincidence that somebody requested this, as I just today got my hands on it as part of my retro collection. I was going to look into it myself but it seems you got most of it already. I suppose all that is needed is a simple tool for the images. Or perhaps GGD can handle it?
EDIT: TiledGGD works for palette and graphics. Still can't beat a batch program that reads from an assigned palette and spits them out in BMP/TGA. But this works for me since I'm fine with the slow but surely way.
EDIT2: Example below. Works fine but is a slow process. I believe the palette is correct.
EDIT: TiledGGD works for palette and graphics. Still can't beat a batch program that reads from an assigned palette and spits them out in BMP/TGA. But this works for me since I'm fine with the slow but surely way.
EDIT2: Example below. Works fine but is a slow process. I believe the palette is correct.
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Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
Woohoo! More progress then!
Thanks SO much for the info GameZelda and Darkfox, I'll be checking it out!
*edit*
Sounds ripped already, now for the graphics. I can't seem to be able to reproduce the results with TiledGGD, not even when using the settings 1:1 to those in the screengrab...
As for the palettes, it could be that different palettes were used for different levels. XWE (allegedly supporting the Eradicator palette) offered this palette.
Thanks SO much for the info GameZelda and Darkfox, I'll be checking it out!
*edit*
Sounds ripped already, now for the graphics. I can't seem to be able to reproduce the results with TiledGGD, not even when using the settings 1:1 to those in the screengrab...
As for the palettes, it could be that different palettes were used for different levels. XWE (allegedly supporting the Eradicator palette) offered this palette.
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Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
Was that palette correct? The monster seemed correctly shown, it was zoomed in though. And I adjusted height/width. And I think I used the core RED palette in 3-byte format.
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Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
I can see the settings in that screenshot.Darkfox wrote:Was that palette correct? The monster seemed correctly shown, it was zoomed in though. And I adjusted height/width. And I think I used the core RED palette in 3-byte format.
And actually I don't recall the graphics being THAT good in the game, I assumed it would've been a still from a prerendered/movie file or something. I don't even remember that monster from the gameplay this way hehe...
If these indeed are the sprites, the quality is much better than I remember from the game. The palette seems to match the atmosphere from the game, rather dark and blue like the screenshot you posted. I'll try to see if I can grab some screenshots from the monster in-game.
Slightly offtopic: you buy retro games to see if you can make sense of their resource-files? Or are you a (retro) games collector?
*edit*
Palette is correct, here's an ingame shot:
Perhaps the engine is kinda sucky as I find your rendering much more detailed!
Perhaps your sprite should be flipped though, like a negative width.
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Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
Great! Palette correct! This makes the job much easier. And yes, it is the ingame rendering that does it.
The sprite I shown was 2x it's normal size. But yes, it is very detailed. In many games like this you do not often see the full detail because of the in-game scaling.
The sprite I shown was 2x it's normal size. But yes, it is very detailed. In many games like this you do not often see the full detail because of the in-game scaling.
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Re: [REQ] PC Eradicator (c) 1996 Accolade
Well Darkfox, I've been toying with TiledGGD some more and I still can't reproduce the results you presented.
However, in my case it seems like the MENUPAL does the trick, whereas the RED palette doesn't:
Anyway, I also specified my own offset so that the monster fits in the frame (the top of his head was on the bottom in the previous setting). I'm not sure however if the vertical offset is right, as the weapon comes awfully close to the edge of the frame.
However, in my case it seems like the MENUPAL does the trick, whereas the RED palette doesn't:
- RED palette:
- MENUPAL palette:
Anyway, I also specified my own offset so that the monster fits in the frame (the top of his head was on the bottom in the previous setting). I'm not sure however if the vertical offset is right, as the weapon comes awfully close to the edge of the frame.