Evil-Islands/Cursed-Earth developer tools

[Asaeis]

Hey all,

It's been over 10 years since I last played Evil-Islands/Cursed Earth, and I was wondering if the developer tools for scenario/quest editing and resource packing/unpacking had been released in any shape or form (be it official or unofficial) yet?

On the topic of game resources (like animated 3d models, decorative models, terrain models, textures, skins etc), what types of file formats does Evil-Islands use?

I specialize in 2d and 3d design, so I'm really interested to see if I could create some custom content for my favorite RPG.

- Asaeis

[StoneSpearman]

Hey all,

It's been over 10 years since I last played Evil-Islands/Cursed Earth, and I was wondering if the developer tools for scenario/quest editing and resource packing/unpacking had been released in any shape or form (be it official or unofficial) yet?

On the topic of game resources (like animated 3d models, decorative models, terrain models, textures, skins etc), what types of file formats does Evil-Islands use?

I specialize in 2d and 3d design, so I'm really interested to see if I could create some custom content for my favorite RPG.

- Asaeis
[right][snapback]43704[/snapback][/right]

I think there are some in the downloads section of the forum. If you're not that good in Russian you can use google translate. Anyways, good luck on your mod ))

[Jet]

He there, and welcome to the community!

Check out this topic and youtube channel. It is about creating new 3D models for Evil Islands.
In the video you can enable subtitles with automatic translation

[Asaeis]

Thanks very much for the replies StoneSpearman and Jet.

@Jet

Are there proper translations somewhere to those videos regarding EI .fig modeling to and from Blender which you linked to in your post? It doesn't seem like Youtube translates the video very effectively, as only about 40% of it is understandable, though what's being shown in those videos does look very promising.

I'm glad that EI modeling can be done from Blender as that is the tool that i use to create most of my 3d assets.

Though I'll need to fire off a few more questions about .fig models while we're on the subject -

Is there a specific grid formatting that I should set in Blender for .fig models? (This was mostly relevant for some older games which had a much more limited model grid resolution, where using an improper grid spacing with some older model formats would cause distortions to the model when loaded ingame)

Is there a limit to the amount of verteces/polys that can be present on a .fig model?

@StoneSpearman

I did notice some of those on the downloads section, but I'm not totally sure which file/program does what. Indeed, I'll try to see if an online translator yields some results.

[Asaeis]

I think there are some in the downloads section of the forum. If you're not that good in Russian you can use google translate. Anyways, good luck on your mod ))
[right][snapback]43706[/snapback][/right]

So I investigated some of the file descriptions using a translator, and have a -slight- better understanding over what some of them do; particularly the addon1447 file. Though upon installation I receive an error saying
"
---------------------------
Evil Islands (Add-on) 1.44.7 Setup
---------------------------
CRC unknown: 3852569
file: D:GOG GalaxyGamesEvil IslandsGame.Exe

Probably file was changed or damaged by virus.
Try to reinstall patch 1.6.


Continue install? (Not recommended)
---------------------------
Yes No
---------------------------
"

But I went ahead with the installation to see if it would work anyway, though the program just crashes on startup.

Is there something that I'm doing wrong? Perhaps it's the GOG installation of the game that's causing issues.

Any help would be gladly appreciated.

I'm also still interested in somewhere that has better translations of those videos that you linked to Jet, as Youtubes' inbuilt translation feature doesn't seem very clear.

[MorgenS]

So I investigated some of the file descriptions using a translator, and have a -slight- better understanding over what some of them do; particularly the addon1447 file. Though upon installation I receive an error saying
"
---------------------------
Evil Islands (Add-on) 1.44.7 Setup
---------------------------
CRC unknown: 3852569
file: D:GOG GalaxyGamesEvil IslandsGame.Exe

Probably file was changed or damaged by virus.
Try to reinstall patch 1.6.
Continue install? (Not recommended)
---------------------------
Yes  No 
---------------------------
"

But I went ahead with the installation to see if it would work anyway, though the program just crashes on startup.

Is there something that I'm doing wrong? Perhaps it's the GOG installation of the game that's causing issues.

Any help would be gladly appreciated.

I'm also still interested in somewhere that has better translations of those videos that you linked to Jet, as Youtubes' inbuilt translation feature doesn't seem very clear.
[right][snapback]43710[/snapback][/right]

It's GOG version. Addon verifies the checksum or something like that of Game.exe That's why you received the warning. You can try to "fix" the GOG version. There is a patch made by Demoth that replaces few bytes in Game.exe making it look exactly like original file from russian version of the game. After that it may ask to insert a CD in order to play, but you can disable it by clicking the checkbox in Addon settings.
Here is the tool by Demoth http://allods.gipat.ru/files/ei/soft/eifixer_1_0.zip Just extract it into your Evil Islands folder and run. If you are not sure whether it did it's job, make a screenshot and post it here (make it when you run it for the first time).

As of youtube videos, you can probably write to the author with your questions.

[Asaeis]

Thanks, I will check that eifixer patch.

Does eifixer also re-enable the multiplayer portion of the game? It seems like the GOG version has completely disabled everything multiplayer-wise apart from LAN mode.

Edit: Hmm, I tried running eifixer, though when changing the game.exe I receive an error

---------------------------
Evil Islands repair tool
---------------------------
Repair status:
Fixing registry: Not required
Fixing game.exe: Error
Fixing autorunpro.reg: Error

---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

Aswel as an error fixing autorunpro.reg.

Though thankfully I will be able to retrieve my original Evil-Islands copy today, so then these things should not be a problem, but thank you for informing me about the repair tool, since maybe I will need it in the future.

Edit 2: I was able to install a non-GOG version of Evil-Islands, though while uninstalling my previous installation of addon1447, and creating a fresh installation to the new directory, after clicking on 'Next' on the 'Set your Evil-Islands directory' step of the installation, nothing happens. I guess this is where I should try the fix again, then I will let you guys know how I got on with that process

Edit 3: Applying the fix ended up breaking the game entirely, it wouldn't launch due to not being able to find speech.res D:

[Demoth]

Asaeis, hi! The main problem with english version of Evil Islands is game.exe
Polish/russian game.exe and english game.exe are two different files.

If you want to use addon, you should replace your game.exe with russian version:
https://yadi.sk/d/qrSrKBEn3SamG3

BUT, you need to repack speech.res... Because in russian version it is in another format.
1. Download this program: https://yadi.sk/d/ua1MwX05ot7Ju
2. Open speech.res with eipacker.exe (just drag speech.res to eipacker.exe)
3. Wait...
4. Open speech_res folder in the same directory as speech.res
5. Create folders "s" and "t".
6. Copy "Briefing" directory to "s" folder, and move this to "t" folder.
7. Go back to "res" folder and drag speech_res folder to eipacker.exe

You can use this video instruction: https://yadi.sk/i/N1cuI8JP3SanBi

[Asaeis]

Asaeis, hi! The main problem with english version of Evil Islands is game.exe
Polish/russian game.exe and english game.exe are two different files.

If you want to use addon, you should replace your game.exe with russian version:
https://yadi.sk/d/qrSrKBEn3SamG3

BUT, you need to repack speech.res... Because in russian version it is in another format.
1. Download this program: https://yadi.sk/d/ua1MwX05ot7Ju
2. Open speech.res with eipacker.exe (just drag speech.res to eipacker.exe)
3. Wait...
4. Open speech_res folder in the same directory as speech.res
5. Create folders "s" and "t".
6. Copy "Briefing" directory to "s" folder, and move this to "t" folder.
7. Go back to "res" folder and drag speech_res folder to eipacker.exe

You can use this video instruction: https://yadi.sk/i/N1cuI8JP3SanBi
[right][snapback]43715[/snapback][/right]

Hey Demoth,

I guess speech.res is the character speech resource package? The English version doesn't have this package, I think the voiceover files go under a different package name

Also, will the menu/onscreen text and information remain in English even with the Russian .exe? I'm unfortunately not able to speak/read Russian (at the moment anyway).

Thanks in advance for the help

[Demoth]

I guess speech.res is the character speech resource package? The English version doesn't have this package, I think the voiceover files go under a different package name[right][snapback]43716[/snapback][/right]

No, speech.res is in every version. Sometimes it is on CD2.
Install GoG version and check "c:gamesevil islandsres" (or something like that) folder.

Also, will the menu/onscreen text and information remain in English even with the Russian .exe? I'm unfortunately not able to speak/read Russian (at the moment anyway).[right][snapback]43716[/snapback][/right]

Yes, all text will be in english. Two game.exe differ only in speech.res format.

[Asaeis]

Ah, you were right, the Speech.res was found on the res directory of the CD, thanks.

I adjusted the folder formatting of the speech.res archive by unpacking it with eipacker and repacking it after putting the briefing speech files into a folder called S, then moving the S folder into a folder called T. Will this still work even though there is a speech.res on the CD? There was a noCD patch made a long time ago, but that was such a long time ago that I would no longer remember where to obtain it (or if it's still hosted anywhere, I couldn't find it on the downloads section of this site). I assume if i run into a problem with conflicting speech.res packages the no-cd patch would fix it.

Thanks again in advance for the help.

Edit: It looks like it runs perfectly even with the double speech.res archives (one on the disk and one in the Evil-Islandsres directory) Thanks very much for the help.

I was even able to launch the addon1447 this time, though when launching it i see the starter window with only a dropdown box and nothing else. Is there something missing?



Edit 2: It turns out after the changes I made with the .exe and speech.res, dialogue soundfiles are no longer playing when talking to a character in singleplayer. I'm assuming that the game.exe is searching for the speech.res on the CD and is not finding the one with the edited folder formatting on the Evil-Islandsres directory on the hard drive. Perhaps somebody knows where the noCD patch can be downloaded? (if it changes the speech.res directory to the res folder on the hard drive)

[Asaeis]

Hmm, sorry for the thread bump, but perhaps i should have originally just made a new post rather than editing my previous post, as forums don't tend to notify users from outside the thread when a post has been edited, only when a new post has been made.

As mentioned in the edited post above, sound files for dialogue are currently not playing in singleplayer after the changes i made, I assume it's because the game is not directed to the speech.res on the hard drive instead of the CD, is there a way where i can change the directory of where the game looks for the speech.res package so that it looks for the right one (the one with the changed folder format in the Evil-Islandsres directory)?

Additionally, cutscenes are not playing after making these changes as well, do I need to change the cutscene directory or its file formatting like the speech.res package too?

Hopefully we can get back on track with the thread subject after these issues are fixed

Thanks again in advance for the help.

[MorgenS]

Hmm, sorry for the thread bump, but perhaps i should have originally just made a new post rather than editing my previous post, as forums don't tend to notify users from outside the thread when a post has been edited, only when a new post has been made.

As mentioned in the edited post above, sound files for dialogue are currently not playing in singleplayer after the changes i made, I assume it's because the game is not directed to the speech.res on the hard drive instead of the CD, is there a way where i can change the directory of where the game looks for the speech.res package so that it looks for the right one (the one with the changed folder format in the Evil-Islandsres directory)?

Additionally, cutscenes are not playing after making these changes as well, do I need to change the cutscene directory or its file formatting like the speech.res package too?

Hopefully we can get back on track with the thread subject after these issues are fixed

Thanks again in advance for the help.
[right][snapback]43720[/snapback][/right]

I belive it could be because of incorrect path settings. Go to regedit, check the path "ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareNival InteractiveEvilIslandsPath Settings"
It should contain a series of Keys, that should point to your game folder and res folder. See screenshot below. "Проклятые Земли" is "Evil Islands".
P.S. You have learned you first two russian words

[Asaeis]

Hi Morgen,

Yeah, my registry paths are pretty much identical to that, but I think somewhere there's something that's telling the game to keep looking for the CD directory for speech.res :/

But I'm not sure why the cutscenes aren't working either, perhaps I need to change some of the names of the CGI cutscenes in order for the Russian game.exe to know how to find them?

Thanks in advance for the help.

^_^

[MorgenS]

Hi Morgen,

Yeah, my registry paths are pretty much identical to that, but I think somewhere there's something that's telling the game to keep looking for the CD directory for speech.res :/

But I'm not sure why the cutscenes aren't working either, perhaps I need to change some of the names of the CGI cutscenes in order for the Russian game.exe to know how to find them?

Thanks in advance for the help.

^_^
[right][snapback]43723[/snapback][/right]

Have you copied speech.res from CD2 to your game folder/res?

Regarding CGI cutscenes, I believe I had such issue too some time ago. First check that there are all available Movies in your game folder/Movies. I also believe there was something wrong with binkw32.dll since all EI movies are in very old bink format.
But there is another even more likely solution. If you have anti-aliasing turned on in starter (Addon) settings, movies won't play. If you still can't access starter settings, go to registry as in screenshot attached and set Antialiasing key to 0.

[Asaeis]

Have you copied speech.res from CD2 to your game folder/res?

Regarding CGI cutscenes, I believe I had such issue too some time ago. First check that there are all available Movies in your game folder/Movies. I also believe there was something wrong with binkw32.dll since all EI movies are in very old bink format.
But there is another even more likely solution. If you have anti-aliasing turned on in starter (Addon) settings, movies won't play. If you still can't access starter settings, go to registry as in screenshot attached and set Antialiasing key to 0.
[right][snapback]43724[/snapback][/right]

Alright, it looks like that fixed the cutscene problem, thanks Morgen The issue was that the cutscenes were on the CD directory rather than the game directory on the harddrive.

As for speech.res, that still seems to not be working while in the game directory folder /res.

I will double check Demoths' advice to make sure I didn't put the folders the wrong way around.



Edit: Also I think I still haven't gotten addon1447 to work yet, I have a feeling the menu items on the starter are not showing :/

[MorgenS]

Alright, it looks like that fixed the cutscene problem, thanks Morgen The issue was that the cutscenes were on the CD directory rather than the game directory on the harddrive.

As for speech.res, that still seems to not be working while in the game directory folder /res.

I will double check Demoths' advice to make sure I didn't put the folders the wrong way around.



Edit: Also I think I still haven't gotten addon1447 to work yet, I have a feeling the menu items on the starter are not showing :/
[right][snapback]43725[/snapback][/right]

Well, english version is still a mystery for many EI players here in Russia. Demoth may be your best help in making it work right

[Asaeis]

Well, english version is still a mystery for many EI players here in Russia. Demoth may be your best help in making it work right

Maybe I should contact Demoth via private message, thank you for the advice

_____________________________________

So, in between trying to fix the problem with speech audio (character dialogue) not playing in singleplayer, I've started experimenting with some of the development tools such as MapEd, EIDBEditor, MQToolkit1.1, MMP <> .dds converter, Matilda's EiFig plugin for Blender, Demoth's HeightToMPR Generator and maybe some others, while receiving alot of technical help from Matilda.

Firstly, I've been attempting to add some new quests to the multiplayer game, using MapEd, MQToolkit, and also using EIDBEditor to refine the very unpolished, (and I think very unfinished) base multiplayer game using singleplayer as a reference, as well as adding new monster unit/race class prototypes (with new skins) to the multiplayer database (not that I'm totally sure that I've set them up correctly).

Though after changing/re-arranging some unit positions (and adding some new ones to the map), selecting the quest in game then heading out to the map results in the game crashing shortly after arriving in the game zone (about 5 seconds after reaching the map) with the following errors:

Код:

---------------------------
Evil Islands
---------------------------
Error during parsing update prevID=42 curID=42

---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------

---------------------------
Evil Islands
---------------------------
No valid spell prototype

---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------

So as for the first one I guess i've done something wrong, but as for the second error, I'm not sure what is going on there (as I haven't added any new spell prototypes to the database).

And here are the properties of the new unit from within MapEd

...



I don't know if this would provide any insight into the issue (by the way, the new Orc Warrior prototype does not cast any spell, so I'm not quite sure why this new test quest would be causing this problem).

If it's necessary, I could also provide the database in it's current state incase something in it is causing a problem.

[MorgenS]

Firstly, I've been attempting to add some new quests to the multiplayer game, using MapEd, MQToolkit, and also using EIDBEditor to refine the very unpolished, (and I think very unfinished) base multiplayer game using singleplayer as a reference, as well as adding new monster unit/race class prototypes (with new skins) to the multiplayer database (not that I'm totally sure that I've set them up correctly).

EI community here in Russia was doing this for quite some time. And now there are quite a lot of mods for multiplayer. Most of them aiming to make the game somewhat more challenging, others are just adding new materials and quests. It is always sad for me that most of them are only available in russian. Hope you will do a nice mod!

Also if you will ever start learning russian or find a courage to read some stuff using google translate (hope it gets better ), there is a website called "Allods Universe", that is one of the last about Evil Islands and Rage of Mages (Allods) Series. I've been maintaining it for more that 10 years now and I have collected there almost all of the mods that were created for Evil Islands. And many other stuff. You can find a link in my signature.

[Asaeis]

Yeah I've checked out your website about Evil-Islands/Allods franchise quite a few times, some of the mods and projects advertised there indeed look interesting

A while ago I was thinking about learning Russian, though I'd first need to start learning the alphabet before anything else D: