Steam and Editing AI cars ENG & HDC files?

Alfadan · 16 February 13, 00:37

Just would like a simple yes/no answer, and instructions on how to change code in the AI car files (above) and to get it to work in steam.

**So I extract files using gfscape then wttced the files then make changes in notepad, then where do I put the files?

Like tracks do you have to create gamedata folders etc??

dan

pez2k · 16 February 13, 02:34

You do indeed create the folder structure, it matches the layout of the GCF just as tracks do.

The GCFs are basically mounted as 'virtual folders' in the game directory, and if you put your version of a file in a real version of the same folder, it overrides the GCF copy (although some files are permanently marked as non-overridable). Hope that makes sense!

Alfadan · 16 February 13, 09:47

Ah thanks you an answer that sort of makes sense. So in theory if I mirror , let's say the mini challenge folder ( do I need to keep underscore and not spaces?) and i put a single line hdc file in there with my new changes

A) do I have to encrypt file back up again
B) will the game use this over default? Or do I need to mirror the whole mini folder, ur all folder structures and files.

As you can see after reading lots if threads I'm still a little confused so this is jut for clarity.

Alfadan · 16 February 13, 16:13

as a test I created a gamedata/teams/mini challenge folder

Downloaded from car setups by another user. I put the HDC file in there unencrypted and then changed all the torque stabs for the minis to 0.00. So In theory they shouldn't of stayed on the road?! They did though.

So steam I suppose isn't allowing much editing from this point of view.

pez2k · 16 February 13, 16:49

You need to keep the underscore in the folder name, it should be identical to the one in the GCF (Mini_Challenge).

You don't need all of the car's files, just the one you want to override. The game doesn't care if it's encrypted or not either.

I would also try making a large change to the HDC, ie. make the car weigh two tonnes, and see if you can see the effects. It may just be a file that the game refuses to override, I'm not sure. The moddability of Race07 seems to change every time they release a patch.

Alfadan · 16 February 13, 18:19

I juts changed the mass to 10000.0 and stab to 0.00, nothing happened. I also extracted the whole mini folder.. I think anything changes to the AI files steam reverts to default... Ive only managed to change a few things with code and they have mainly been graphical..

Do I have to change the path maybe in the installation file?

[COMPONENTS]
SEASONDIR=GAMEDATA\
SOUNDDIR=GAMEDATA\SOUNDS\
VEHICLESOUND=GAMEDATA\SOUNDS\
OPTIONSANIM=UIDATA\MOVIES\
OPTIONSFLAGS=UIDATA\ICONS\
OPTIONSSOUNDS=GAMEDATA\SOUNDS\
OPTIONSDIR=UIDATA\
REPLAYDIR=REPLAYDATA\
TIMEATTACKDIR=TIMEATTACK\
DRIVERDUELDIR=GAMEDATA\DRIVERDUEL\
DRIVINGSCHOOLDIR=GAMEDATA\DRIVINGSCHOOL\
MOVIEDIR=MOVIEFILES\
TRACKSDIR=LOCATIONS\
PITSDIR=SCRIPTS\
VEHICLESDIR=TEAMS\
DRIVERSDIR=GAMEDATA\TALENT\
LOGDIR=USERDATA\LOG\
SAVEDIR=USERDATA\
MUSICDIR=MUSIC\
MENUSKIN=
CAMERAEDITORRESOURCEDIR=DEVFILES\CAMED\
GRIDSIZE=50
CPURATING=0
SYSTEMRAM=0
VIDEORAM=-3
OBJDETAIL=2
TEXDETAIL=1
VIDEOGUID=D7B71EE2-2B59-11CF-2467-0A20BEC2C535
VIDEODRIVER=0
VIDEOMODE=43
VIDEOREFRESH=1
WINDOWEDMODE=0
RUNBENCHMARKS=0
FSAA=37
VSYNC=1
SHADERLEVEL=0
LANGUAGEINDEX=0

[INSTALL]
INSTALLFROM=
INSTALLTO=

[AUTOLAUNCH]
MODE=Off
LAUNCHTIME=600

[VERSION]
VERSION=-1.000000

pez2k · 16 February 13, 21:27

It sounds like they're no longer overridable then unfortunately. The only way around it that I can think of is creating a complete duplicate of the Mini car and class, then editing that instead - or using the outdated non-Steam disc version of Race07.

Alfadan · 17 February 13, 18:55

cheers chronus ive tried this but the game loads and all the cars are green in the menus and when load the race it crashes.

Alfadan · 18 February 13, 00:04

Think ill admit defeat into modding the ai code here. Thank so much chronic for your help I do see where ur coming from. Just it's a lot of hassle just to get the ai to make more mistakes or change fuel rather than just turn fuel use off

Thanks again

Regards

P.s y did u not put all gamedata stuff in gamedata2 folder rather than split it up like you prescribed?

Skruffy · 8 March 13, 06:45

if gfcscape lets you rebuild the gfc, what about if you make a backup of the originaol one and swap the edited one back into the steam folder...

has anyone tried that yet...

CaptSlower · 8 March 13, 21:37

many many many many people have tried this and it does not work.

The gcf files are hashed.

When you think about it, it's quite logical - if we could change what we like in gcf's then I could give my Formula BMW 100 bhp than everyone elses and cane everyone. They are locked down in most areas to prevent cheating etc.

Chronus · 9 March 13, 01:00

Nothing to do with cheating.

Steam games (not just Race07 and racing games) use non compressed archive files to store content. Valve developed steam and decided for the use of gcf in order to, among many reasons:
- prevent errors and validate content
- prevent/decrease fragmentation which follows after from intensive disk access during downloads of large files
- help prevent accidental deletion of content
- promote portability of games and game content
- allow for easier update to both content and resources

Cheat prevention is handled via other ways in SIMBIN games. "Booted as possible cheat" has been around for more than 6 years now and is often a message people get when they have tampered with original/default content of a SIMBIN sim.

As for editing gcf files, the author (Nem) of gfc extractors/viewers explained at length the whys and why-nots of modifying game cache files.

Skruffy · 12 March 13, 10:21

ther's still mods...if you want to run a car with differnt HDC of whatever...then i'd say do an extract and run the car that way...long as you don't cheat others and things.

which last year we could change the cam and cas files, by sticking them in the GameData...new steam will let you, but it ignores them and runs the GCF over the hardrive files...reason being, (i'm guessing) is updates and cheat prevention, as others have pointed out...

Chronus · 12 March 13, 11:06

I have the whole content extracted and modified, not just cas, cam and hed files. I explained elsewhere how, and someone else provided another alternative.

If steam changed something with the latest updates, maybe there is still a way around it. [I do not allow updates to my installation, so am not sure what are the consequences of these latest updates.]

As for cheating, again: these steam updates have nothing to do with cheating. Any mismatch between server side files and your own files triggers the "booted as possible cheat". SIMBIN has had this for more than 6 years. Odd why people disregard this fact and believe steam is preventing cheating...

16 February 13, 00:37	#1
Alfadan Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Essex, UK Age: 34	Steam and Editing AI cars ENG & HDC files? Just would like a simple yes/no answer, and instructions on how to change code in the AI car files (above) and to get it to work in steam. **So I extract files using gfscape then wttced the files then make changes in notepad, then where do I put the files? Like tracks do you have to create gamedata folders etc?? dan

16 February 13, 02:34	#2
pez2k Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: UK	You do indeed create the folder structure, it matches the layout of the GCF just as tracks do. The GCFs are basically mounted as 'virtual folders' in the game directory, and if you put your version of a file in a real version of the same folder, it overrides the GCF copy (although some files are permanently marked as non-overridable). Hope that makes sense!

16 February 13, 09:47	#3
Alfadan Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Essex, UK Age: 34	Ah thanks you an answer that sort of makes sense. So in theory if I mirror , let's say the mini challenge folder ( do I need to keep underscore and not spaces?) and i put a single line hdc file in there with my new changes A) do I have to encrypt file back up again B) will the game use this over default? Or do I need to mirror the whole mini folder, ur all folder structures and files. As you can see after reading lots if threads I'm still a little confused so this is jut for clarity.

16 February 13, 16:13	#4
Alfadan Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Essex, UK Age: 34	as a test I created a gamedata/teams/mini challenge folder Downloaded from car setups by another user. I put the HDC file in there unencrypted and then changed all the torque stabs for the minis to 0.00. So In theory they shouldn't of stayed on the road?! They did though. So steam I suppose isn't allowing much editing from this point of view.

16 February 13, 16:49	#5
pez2k Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: UK	You need to keep the underscore in the folder name, it should be identical to the one in the GCF (Mini_Challenge). You don't need all of the car's files, just the one you want to override. The game doesn't care if it's encrypted or not either. I would also try making a large change to the HDC, ie. make the car weigh two tonnes, and see if you can see the effects. It may just be a file that the game refuses to override, I'm not sure. The moddability of Race07 seems to change every time they release a patch.

16 February 13, 18:19	#6
Alfadan Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Essex, UK Age: 34	I juts changed the mass to 10000.0 and stab to 0.00, nothing happened. I also extracted the whole mini folder.. I think anything changes to the AI files steam reverts to default... Ive only managed to change a few things with code and they have mainly been graphical.. Do I have to change the path maybe in the installation file? [COMPONENTS] SEASONDIR=GAMEDATA\ SOUNDDIR=GAMEDATA\SOUNDS\ VEHICLESOUND=GAMEDATA\SOUNDS\ OPTIONSANIM=UIDATA\MOVIES\ OPTIONSFLAGS=UIDATA\ICONS\ OPTIONSSOUNDS=GAMEDATA\SOUNDS\ OPTIONSDIR=UIDATA\ REPLAYDIR=REPLAYDATA\ TIMEATTACKDIR=TIMEATTACK\ DRIVERDUELDIR=GAMEDATA\DRIVERDUEL\ DRIVINGSCHOOLDIR=GAMEDATA\DRIVINGSCHOOL\ MOVIEDIR=MOVIEFILES\ TRACKSDIR=LOCATIONS\ PITSDIR=SCRIPTS\ VEHICLESDIR=TEAMS\ DRIVERSDIR=GAMEDATA\TALENT\ LOGDIR=USERDATA\LOG\ SAVEDIR=USERDATA\ MUSICDIR=MUSIC\ MENUSKIN= CAMERAEDITORRESOURCEDIR=DEVFILES\CAMED\ GRIDSIZE=50 CPURATING=0 SYSTEMRAM=0 VIDEORAM=-3 OBJDETAIL=2 TEXDETAIL=1 VIDEOGUID=D7B71EE2-2B59-11CF-2467-0A20BEC2C535 VIDEODRIVER=0 VIDEOMODE=43 VIDEOREFRESH=1 WINDOWEDMODE=0 RUNBENCHMARKS=0 FSAA=37 VSYNC=1 SHADERLEVEL=0 LANGUAGEINDEX=0 [INSTALL] INSTALLFROM= INSTALLTO= [AUTOLAUNCH] MODE=Off LAUNCHTIME=600 [VERSION] VERSION=-1.000000

16 February 13, 21:27	#7
pez2k Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: UK	It sounds like they're no longer overridable then unfortunately. The only way around it that I can think of is creating a complete duplicate of the Mini car and class, then editing that instead - or using the outdated non-Steam disc version of Race07.

17 February 13, 18:55	#8
Alfadan Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Essex, UK Age: 34	cheers chronus ive tried this but the game loads and all the cars are green in the menus and when load the race it crashes.

18 February 13, 00:04	#9
Alfadan Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Essex, UK Age: 34	Think ill admit defeat into modding the ai code here. Thank so much chronic for your help I do see where ur coming from. Just it's a lot of hassle just to get the ai to make more mistakes or change fuel rather than just turn fuel use off Thanks again Regards P.s y did u not put all gamedata stuff in gamedata2 folder rather than split it up like you prescribed?

8 March 13, 06:45	#10
Skruffy Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Oklahoma, USA	if gfcscape lets you rebuild the gfc, what about if you make a backup of the originaol one and swap the edited one back into the steam folder... has anyone tried that yet...

8 March 13, 21:37	#11
CaptSlower Join Date: Nov 2009	many many many many people have tried this and it does not work. The gcf files are hashed. When you think about it, it's quite logical - if we could change what we like in gcf's then I could give my Formula BMW 100 bhp than everyone elses and cane everyone. They are locked down in most areas to prevent cheating etc.

9 March 13, 01:00	#12
Chronus Donated Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Local Group-Milky Way-Sun-Earth Age: 44	Nothing to do with cheating. Steam games (not just Race07 and racing games) use non compressed archive files to store content. Valve developed steam and decided for the use of gcf in order to, among many reasons: - prevent errors and validate content - prevent/decrease fragmentation which follows after from intensive disk access during downloads of large files - help prevent accidental deletion of content - promote portability of games and game content - allow for easier update to both content and resources Cheat prevention is handled via other ways in SIMBIN games. "Booted as possible cheat" has been around for more than 6 years now and is often a message people get when they have tampered with original/default content of a SIMBIN sim. As for editing gcf files, the author (Nem) of gfc extractors/viewers explained at length the whys and why-nots of modifying game cache files.

12 March 13, 10:21	#13
Skruffy Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Oklahoma, USA	ther's still mods...if you want to run a car with differnt HDC of whatever...then i'd say do an extract and run the car that way...long as you don't cheat others and things. which last year we could change the cam and cas files, by sticking them in the GameData...new steam will let you, but it ignores them and runs the GCF over the hardrive files...reason being, (i'm guessing) is updates and cheat prevention, as others have pointed out...

12 March 13, 11:06	#14
Chronus Donated Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Local Group-Milky Way-Sun-Earth Age: 44	I have the whole content extracted and modified, not just cas, cam and hed files. I explained elsewhere how, and someone else provided another alternative. If steam changed something with the latest updates, maybe there is still a way around it. [I do not allow updates to my installation, so am not sure what are the consequences of these latest updates.] As for cheating, again: *these steam updates have nothing to do with cheating. Any mismatch between server side files and your own files triggers the "booted as possible cheat". SIMBIN has had this for more than 6 years*. Odd why people disregard this fact and believe steam is preventing cheating...