Chaos Engine Viewer

[Kroah]

Hello all,

I've updated my site with a viewer for Chaos Engine:


You can download it here: http://bringerp.free.fr/RE/ (you'll need the image of Chaos Engine CD32, available at my site too).

Even if it's based on the amiga CD32 version, the puzzles stay unchanged and may still interest you.

The viewer allows you to simulate heroes' actions: left click activates triggers (light blue) and scripts (light green), right click simulates missiles (red).
You can browse and export sprites too.

I have no time to write a user guide right now but i'll answer to your questions.

You can find the original thread at the EAB forum (amiga dedicated forum http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=41715)

Have fun,
Kroah

[Marakatti]

Very interesting tool. Did I understand correctly that it can't load ST-version files? Would have been a huge help to build maps for Guardians of the PaST...

[Mug UK]

More excellent work from Kroah. Good util.

The CD32 version, I'm guessing, would be in files? Maybe a look at a cracked ST version which has been put into files might get the same results (albeit in 16 colours)?

[Kroah]

Did I understand correctly that it can't load ST-version files? Would have been a huge help to build maps for Guardians of the PaST...

You are right. The tool uses the CD32-version files (levels and sprites included).
However, i'm highly interested if you have a "filed but not packed" ST-version of Chaos Engine. If you can provide me these files, i'll check if the map structures are the same and will adapt the viewer afterward.

To say you everything, i wanted to work on the ST version first but wasn't able to find a filed version, so i worked on the CD32 one (not easy because of the blitter and multiple sprites formats).

More excellent work from Kroah. Good util.

Thank you.

The CD32 version, I'm guessing, would be in files?

Yes they are.

Maybe a look at a cracked ST version which has been put into files might get the same results (albeit in 16 colours)?

I haven't found a filed version (but haven't looked into deeply). Colours are not a problem i think, i would have to change the loading process only.

So the question is: Does anyone own a clean filed ST-version of Chaos Engine ?

[AtariSince1989]

Does anyone own a clean filed ST-version of Chaos Engine ?

I have put a copy that I have on FTP Server:
ftp://ftp.datavase.info/atari/DSKIMG/Chaos_Engine(1_of_2)(cr_Cynix).zip
ftp://ftp.datavase.info/atari/DSKIMG/Chaos_Engine(2_of_2)(cr_Cynix).zip

It's in ST format. Is a copy cracked by Cynix.

Hope it helps.

[Kroah]

It's in ST format. Is a copy cracked by Cynix.
Hope it helps.

First disk contains files similar to the CD32 version (LEVSDAT.BIN, STATIC.BIN...) but no level files (should be on disk 2).
Unfortunately, i can't extract anything from the second disk. Seems to be raw data, not a system disk.

Can't find a "filed" disk 2 though.

Thank you anyway!

[AtariSince1989]

It's in ST format. Is a copy cracked by Cynix.
Hope it helps.

First disk contains files similar to the CD32 version (LEVSDAT.BIN, STATIC.BIN...) but no level files (should be on disk 2).
Unfortunately, i can't extract anything from the second disk. Seems to be raw data, not a system disk.

Can't find a "filed" disk 2 though.

Thank you anyway!

hmm, sorry, it's all I got

[Cyprian]

Kroah, for me disk works fine.
attached you can find zipped files

[Kroah]

Kroah, for me disk works fine.
attached you can find zipped files

Wow, nice.
Seems Floimg has some problem with this image, i had only garbage.

Thank you, i'll look what i can do.

Even if the structure is almost the same, i must reverse engineer the binary to find hard coded data (palettes, sprites definition, ...). It should follow most of the amiga binary i hope (at least for high level procedure).

[Kroah]

Kroah, for me disk works fine.
attached you can find zipped files

Which tool have you used to extract the files?
(Steem Engine? JayMSA?)

[Cyprian]

Which tool have you used to extract the files?
(Steem Engine? JayMSA?)

Juliet - plugin for TotalCommander
http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9723

[BoNuS]

I have always been a big fan of the Chaos Engine game ! Esp. the gfx are outstanding .
So nice work I will give this a good look.

[Kroah]

Juliet - plugin for TotalCommander
http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9723

Ho yes, i haven't stated your tool because i don't use Total Commander.

However, can you tell me if your plugin can extract content of ST image keeping original timestamp (the ones inside the image)?

[Kroah]

I've compared both version (ST and CD32).

ST version:
- has no duplicate files
- has no RNC archive (file containing several RNC compressed files)
- almost all files are protected RNC compressed files (using key '1234') with method 1 or 2 (CD32 version has only some unprotected RNC files compressed with method 1).
- tiles part in .CAS files are identical, but the remaining parts differ (should be a kind of index shift because the resulting levels are the same).
- .PLA files are still unknown (missing in the CD32 version)

[Cyprian]

However, can you tell me if your plugin can extract content of ST image keeping original timestamp (the ones inside the image)?

no, it can't.
files can be extracted with current date/time

[Epsilon]

ST version:
- .PLA files are still unknown (missing in the CD32 version)

The PLA files are the coordinates of sprites on map in ST version.
I have partially reversed the code to port it on C/SDL.

[nativ]

Don't suppose this might mean a Falcon version can be created?

Regards

[Kroah]

ST version:
- .PLA files are still unknown (missing in the CD32 version)

The PLA files are the coordinates of sprites on map in ST version.
I have partially reversed the code to port it on C/SDL.

Yes, i just saw they were the #007 to #022 files in the RNC archive SNGARC.BIN of the CD32 version. At least, i have now a name for these files!
The atari version helped me to give a name for the remaining archived files too. Cool!

Don't suppose this might mean a Falcon version can be created?

Ho, i really don't know this computer, and the reverse engineered code is not compilable either. There are still lot of stuffs to understand in this game (IA, anims, stats...).
Maybe some hardcore "Falconian" are out there?

[nativ]

Don't suppose this might mean a Falcon version can be created?

Ho, i really don't know this computer, and the reverse engineered code is not compilable either. There are still lot of stuffs to understand in this game (IA, anims, stats...).
Maybe some hardcore "Falconian" are out there?[/quote]


Well seems as you are already ripping the sources apart! Might be a project for me as my skills get better!?? Especially a full colour CD version, as it was promised by Atari!! and the Bitmap Bros!! Grrrrrrr.


Thanks

Ashley

[EvilFranky]

Just had a quick play of the CD32 version and it seems identical to the normal AGA version except for an enhanced start sequence and CD tracks...ingame music is still MOD, which I find strange.

Again though, I didn't see anything that the Falcon could not reproduce. It's not even a constant 50fps which a lot of Amiga guys brag about. No parallax just a hard scrolled map...

Infact I think the Falcon could do a better job of it if i'm honest. The extra sounds channels would help for a start, as it often happens that sound effects get cut short in the Amiga version to compensate for the lack of channels. And i think that it would be possible to have it a slightly higher res too.

[Kroah]

My viewer is now compatible with the ST version. I'll add it to my site soon.
Actually, I'm adding the Amiga OCS compatibility. IMOH, ECS is the best version because it has more colors keeping the Brothers style (i.e. without the shining/ugly colors of the AGA/CD32 version).

Concerning the falcon port, i have no programming skill on this system nor the time to develop anything.
However, i'll be glad to help on rules & data.

[Desty]

It's great to see these reversing efforts - keep up the good work Kroah!

[Kroah]

Chaos Engine Viewer - v1.03 released!
- Added: Support the Atari ST, Amiga OCS and CD32 versions of Chaos Engine.
- Added: Original game data are included in the package.
- Added: "Save All as PNG..." entry in the "File" menu exports all sprites at once.

As usual, you can download it at my website: http://bringerp.free.fr/RE/

If you compare the levels, you'll find minor changes between the versions but nothing important imho.
Most differences come from the gfx.

Have fun!

[nativ]

woohoo!

[dma]

Great job again Kroah!