freesynd-user Mailing List for FreeSynd

Hi,

Did you download also the original game resources (graphic files, sounds,
game data)?
Once you've done it, copy all files from the original game "DATA" directory
to the Freesynd "Data" directory.

PS : If you want to have time to read the error message, don't run the game
by clicking on it but open a DOS console and run the game from it. It won't
close when the game stops and you will see the message.

benblan

Hi,

I downloaded freesynd-0.4-win32 and I tried to run freesynd.exe but it is not working.

it appears a DOS screen for a second and then nothing.
 		 	   		  

Hi,

Just a heads up: as of this revision it seems the links on the news page 
no longer work (it just displays the html code for them).

Cheers,
Joost

ch...@us... wrote:
> Revision: 221
>           http://freesynd.svn.sourceforge.net/freesynd/?rev=221&view=rev
> Author:   chamel
> Date:     2010-09-30 11:06:09 +0000 (Thu, 30 Sep 2010)
> 
> Log Message:
> -----------
> website files update
> 
> Modified Paths:
> --------------
>     trunk/www/dev.php
>     trunk/www/include/common.php
> 
> Modified: trunk/www/dev.php
> ===================================================================
> --- trunk/www/dev.php	2010-09-30 10:43:21 UTC (rev 220)
> +++ trunk/www/dev.php	2010-09-30 11:06:09 UTC (rev 221)
> @@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
>  <ul>
>    <?php
>    //NOTE: symbol <'> must be escaped <\'>
> +  //function roadmapItem($id, $content) - id of bug/feature + short description
> +  //function roadmapItemNoid($content) - description only
>    roadmapItem('3005294','Debriefing information is not displayed after ending the mission');
>    roadmapItem('3031032','Rewrite animation generation procedures');
>    roadmapItem('3036610','Rewrite map drawing');
> 
> Modified: trunk/www/include/common.php
> ===================================================================
> --- trunk/www/include/common.php	2010-09-30 10:43:21 UTC (rev 220)
> +++ trunk/www/include/common.php	2010-09-30 11:06:09 UTC (rev 221)
> @@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
>  function newsItem($title, $content, $submitter, $date)
>  {
>      echo '<h3>' . htmlentities($title) . "</h3>\n";
> -    echo '<p>' . implode("</p>\n<p>", explode("\n\n", $content))
> +    echo '<p>' . htmlentities(implode("</p>\n<p>", explode("\n\n", $content)))
>          . "</p>\n";
>      echo '<div class="rght_algn"><b> -- ' . htmlentities($submitter)
>          . '</b><br />' . htmlentities($date) . "</div>\n\n";
> @@ -59,10 +59,16 @@
>  {
>      echo '<li><a href="http://sourceforge.net/support/tracker.php?aid='
>          . $id . '" target="_blank">'. $id . '</a> &nbsp;'
> -        . implode("</p>\n<p>", explode("\n\n", $content))
> +        . htmlentities(implode("</p>\n<p>", explode("\n\n", $content)))
>          . "</li>\n";
>  }
>  
> +function roadmapItemNoid($content)
> +{
> +    echo '<li>' . htmlentities(implode("</p>\n<p>", explode("\n\n", $content)))
> +        . "</li>\n";
> +}
> +
>  function printStartTime()
>  {
>      $now = getdate();
> 
> 
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> 
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hi

have just joind the list and want to help develop freesynd.

I am an embedded c & asm developer by trade and in my spare time i am writitng a developer suite for AROS

would love to get involved with this project

Dear Sir/Madam,

Since a while there has not been any new post about the project. How is
proces going? How can I support you? Marketing? Developement programmes
licence? Money? Please tell me.

Good luck with the Freesynd project!

kind regards,

Jaap

Hi,

I don't think someone will be able to explain you how the code works. It is
poorly commented, but names of classes and methods may give you a hint about
their function.
The development has stopped quite long ago, so I don't think anyone
remembers anything about the code.

Creating c# version is, in my opinion, not a good idea. This way you have
very little chances of pushing the project forward. Still, it's your choice.

You could start by analysing the code and writing Doxygen documentation tags
for it. Even if you will only write some comments and not a single line of
code, it is still valuable contribution that will surely help in further
development.

To become a developer, contact one of the current developers directly. They
may also give you a hint about what is required to do. Their emails are
listed on "About" page of Freesynd website.

Good luck,
Tomasz Lis

2008/10/13 <bo...@ge...>

> Me 2 ...C&C-series is also among my favorites along with Dungeon Keeper 2.
>
> I wanted to contribute to this project to, but there are tree problems.
> - game development has basically halted.
> - There are no design documents, its a bit messy to work with.
> - I don't have much c/c++ experience, but I'm a damn good C# developer &
> software   designer.
>
> This leads to three options for me
> - I jump off the project (don't want to do that)
> - Make a C# version with design documents.
> - Make the C/C++ design documents.
>
>
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I just found out your project and I was wondering whether I can
> > contribute to your work. Syndicate had been my favourite game for years,
> > roughly until I saw the C&C series and it is my main motivation for
> > willing to join you in this work.
> > If you think my contribution is welcome, please let me know what I could
> > do (and maybe some hints or references). Unfortunately I have no
> > experience in decompiling, reverse engineering and game programming but
> > I do have some experience in programming C and C++. I also have no
> > problems in learning new things, so don't be afraid to ask me something
> > which is not just programming. Obviously I'll do that in my spare time,
> > which is, unfortunately not so much.
> >
> > Greetings
> >
> > Lorenzo
> >
>

Me 2 ...C&C-series is also among my favorites along with Dungeon
Keeper 2.
 
 I wanted to contribute to this project to, but
there are tree problems. 
 - game development has basically
halted.
 - There are no design documents, its a bit messy to work
with.
 - I don't have much c/c++ experience, but I'm a damn good C#
developer & software   designer.
 
 This leads to
three options for me
 - I jump off the project (don't want to do
that)
 - Make a C# version with design documents.
 - Make the
C/C++ design documents.
 
 

> Hi all,
>

> I just found out your project and I was wondering whether I
can
> contribute to your work. Syndicate had been my favourite
game for years,
> roughly until I saw the C&C series and it is
my main motivation for
> willing to join you in this work.
> If you think my contribution is welcome, please let me know what I
could
>   do (and maybe some hints or references). Unfortunately I
have no
> experience in decompiling, reverse engineering and game
programming but
> I do have some experience in programming C and
C++. I also have no
> problems in learning new things, so don't be
afraid to ask me something
> which is not just programming.
Obviously I'll do that in my spare time,
> which is, unfortunately
not so much.
> 
> Greetings
> 
>
Lorenzo
> 
>
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_______________________________________________
> freesynd-cvs
mailing list
> fre...@li...
>
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>

Hi,

As I'm starting to prepare Packages for openSUSE, I also started to
worry about FSH conformity.

The datadir should be in another location so I just introduced very
basic ./configure to freesynd. Better start early than late, no?

Find attached a patch against the latest CVS; it introduces all these changes.

Would be nice if it would be considered to be included.

Best regards,
Dominique

Hello.

I have updated the game section of the document that comment the reverse 
ingenering of the data files.

I think that we can see a kind of scenario after the sfx structure. It 
seems to be a single linked list of behaviour (8 bytes each).

Every thing at http://icculus.org/libsyndicate/

Thanks !

Bye.

Hi

I have found some new structure for the GAME**.DAT files.
You will find the detail at 
http://icculus.org/libsyndicate/libsyndicate.html

Hello,

Here is a patch that fix some little memleaks found with valgrind.
Thanks for freesynd ;)

Bye!
-- 

Hi folks,

Here's just one patch:

 * Control key now influences mouse clicks on agents in gameplay menu.
    (When control is pressed, a click adds/removes agent from selection.
     The same what would happen if you pressed Ctrl + KEY_1 to KEY_4).

 * When group button or 0 or backquote (left from key 1) is pressed, all
    agents are selected. (This is not new, but I added backquote to mean
    the same as 0 or group button).
    When control is pressed along, it inverts the selection. (This is new).

    So, 
      3 - selects agent 3
      ` - selects all agents (or key 0, or click on group button)
      `,ctrl+` - unselects all agents
      1,ctrl+3 - selects agents 1 and 3
      ctrl+` - (when done after 1,ctrl+3, selects agents 2 and 4)

 * Reduce the number of times show(false) is called, by using boolean change,
   like it was done in some other existing functions.

 * Supported KP_ENTER as menu enter key, alongside of KEY_RETURN.


Cya,
-doc

Hi folks,

Attached is a patch for a few files that improves honoring of
game screen size #defines and the scrolling over the map.

I've tested the patch in 640x480 and 1024x768 dimensions,
works great. The only issue is that fliPlayer is playing movies
in predefined size (starting from upper/left top), so during movie
sequences part of the screen is empty (black).

I suppose flis wouldn't look good resized, so the simple solution
would be to locate the fli player in the center of the screen.

I might submit that as the next patch.

-doc

Hi folks,

Attached is a patch for gameplaymenu.cpp that enables
numeric selection of agents.

Key 0 cycles between all agents and current selection.

Keys 1 - 4 select individual agents.
If control key  is pressed, then agents are added/removed
from current selection. This does not seem to interfere with
the pathway display which is also bound to the control key.

-doc

Wow!

Great piece of work. Nice HTML version!

In your previous packages, you've included PDF version of libsyndicate.

Please don't stop including this version. Many people (me too) don't have
and don't know how to use latex.

Regards,
Tomasz Lis

I purpose an update of informations available for GAME*.DAT files at :
http://paul.chavent.free.fr/libsyndicate/doc/file_format/libsyndicate.html

I have made a package for reading data files :
http://paul.chavent.free.fr/libsyndicate/libsyndicate.tar.bz2

I noticed that there hasn't been any checkins to CVS for a while but there 
has been to SVN, does this mean that you have switched over to SVN for all 
development now?

Grahame

I copy paste the structure i use for the GAMExx.DAT file format.
It's not yet complete but if it can help somebody.
My sources are at http://paul.chavent.free.fr/fichiers/syndicate/ in the 
tar.bz2 archive.

       struct GameStruct
       {
	uint8_t _header[8];
	
	uint16_t _offsets[128][128]; // '_offset + 32774' gives the offset in 
this file of the first object of this tile. if zero no object
	
	// This struct size is 92.
	// The first height pedestrians seems to be our agents.
	// But why is it used for ?
	struct Pedestrian
	{
	  uint16_t _offset_prev; // '_offset + 32774' gives the offset in this 
file of the previous object
	  uint16_t _offset_next; // '_offset + 32774' gives the offset in this 
file of the next object (usualy weapon)
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_x;
	  uint8_t  _tile_x;
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_y;
	  uint8_t  _tile_y;
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_z;
	  uint8_t  _tile_z;
	  uint8_t  _unkn10;      // always to 4 ? this bit may be connected 
with minimap in bottom left
	  uint8_t  _unkn11;      // this bit is connected with control
	  uint8_t  _unkn12[2];
	  uint16_t _static_index_anim;  // the index of the static sprite (even 
if the vehicle move) (HFRA-0.ANI)
	  uint16_t _static_index_frame; // the index of the static sprite (even 
if the vehicle move) (HFRA-0.ANI)
	  uint16_t _dynamic_index_anim; // the index of the animation (when the 
vehicle burn for example) (HSTA-0.ANI)
	  uint8_t  _nb_amos;
	  uint8_t  _unkn21[3];
	  //0x01 ped; 0x02 vehicle; 0x04 weapon; 0x05 object; allow to display 
a target, a pickup, and for minimap
	  uint8_t  _type;
	  //
	  uint8_t  _sub_type;
	  uint8_t  _unkn26[45];
	  // IPA levels: white bar level,set level,exhaused level and forced level
	  uint32_t _adrenalevels;
	  uint32_t _intelilevels;
	  uint32_t _perceplevels;
	  uint8_t  _unkn83[7];
	} _pedestrians[256];
	
	// This struct size is 42.
	struct Vehicle
	{
	  uint16_t _offset_prev; // '_offset + 32774' gives the offset in this 
file of the previous object
	  uint16_t _offset_next; // '_offset + 32774' gives the offset in this 
file of the next object
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_x;
	  uint8_t  _tile_x;
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_y;
	  uint8_t  _tile_y;
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_z;
	  uint8_t  _tile_z;
	  uint8_t  _unkn10;      // always to 4 ?
	  uint8_t  _unkn11;      // this bit is connected with control ?
	  uint8_t  _unkn12[2];
	  uint16_t _static_index_anim;  // the index of the static sprite (even 
if the vehicle move) (HFRA-0.ANI)
	  uint16_t _static_index_frame; // the index of the static sprite (even 
if the vehicle move) (HFRA-0.ANI)
	  uint16_t _dynamic_index_anim; // the index of the animation (when the 
vehicle burn for example) (HSTA-0.ANI)
	  uint8_t  _nb_amos;
	  uint8_t  _unkn21[3];
	  // 0x01 ped; 0x02 vehicle; 0x04 weapon; 0x05 object; allow to display 
a target, a pickup, and for minimap
	  uint8_t  _type;
	  //
	  uint8_t  _sub_type;
	  uint8_t  _unkn26[16];
	} _vehicles[64];

	// This struct size is 30.
	struct Object
	{
	  uint16_t _offset_prev; // '_offset + 32774' gives the offset in this 
file of the previous object
	  uint16_t _offset_next; // '_offset + 32774' gives the offset in this 
file of the next object
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_x;
	  uint8_t  _tile_x;
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_y;
	  uint8_t  _tile_y;
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_z;
	  uint8_t  _tile_z;
	  uint8_t  _unkn10;      // always to 4 ?
	  uint8_t  _unkn11;      // this bit is connected with control ?
	  uint8_t  _unkn12[2];
	  uint16_t _static_index_anim;  // the index of the static sprite (even 
if the vehicle move) (HFRA-0.ANI)
	  uint16_t _static_index_frame; // the index of the static sprite (even 
if the vehicle move) (HFRA-0.ANI)
	  uint16_t _dynamic_index_anim; // the index of the animation (when the 
vehicle burn for example) (HSTA-0.ANI)
	  uint8_t  _nb_amos;
	  uint8_t  _unkn21[3];
	  //0x01 ped; 0x02 vehicle; 0x04 weapon; 0x05 object; allow to display 
a target, a pickup, and for minimap
	  uint8_t  _type;
	  // 0x0C door; 0x12 open window; 0x13 close window; 0x16 tree
	  uint8_t  _sub_type;
	  uint8_t  _orientation; //  40 EW / 80 NS
	  uint8_t  _unkn27[3]; // always 0 ?
	} _objects[400];

	// This struct size is 36.
	struct Weapon
	{
	  uint16_t _offset_prev; // '_offset + 32774' gives the offset in this 
file of the previous object (usualy the owner ?)
	  uint16_t _offset_next; // '_offset + 32774' gives the offset in this 
file of the next object
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_x;
	  uint8_t  _tile_x;
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_y;
	  uint8_t  _tile_y;
	  uint8_t  _tile_sub_z;
	  uint8_t  _tile_z;
	  uint8_t  _unkn10;
	  uint8_t  _unkn11;
	  uint8_t  _unkn12[2];
	  uint16_t _static_index_anim;
	  uint16_t _static_index_frame;
	  uint16_t _dynamic_index_anim;
	  uint8_t  _nb_amos;
	  uint8_t  _unkn21[3];
	  //0x01 ped; 0x02 vehicle; 0x04 weapon; 0x05 object; allow to display 
a target, a pickup, and for minimap
	  uint8_t  _type;
	  //0x01 persuadertron; 0x02 pistol; 0x03 gauss gun; 0x04 shotgun; 0x05 
uzi; 0x06 minigun; 0x07 laser; 0x08 flamer; 0x09 long range; 0x0A 
scanner; 0x0B medikit; 0x0C time bomb; 0x0D access card; 0x0E invalid; 
0x0F invalid; 0x10 invalid; 0x11 energy shield;
	  uint8_t  _sub_type;
	  uint8_t  _unkn26[10];
	} _weapons[725];

	struct Unkn07
	{
	  uint8_t _unkn[12];
	} _unkn07;

	struct Unkn08
	{
	  uint8_t _unkn[8];
	} _unkn08[2048];

	struct Unkn09
	{
	  uint8_t _unkn[437];
	} _unkn09;

	struct Mapinfos
	{
	  uint8_t _unkn10[11];
	  uint8_t _map[2];
	  uint8_t _minx[2];
	  uint8_t _miny[2];
	  uint8_t _maxx[2];
	  uint8_t _maxy[2];
	  uint8_t _zero[4];
	  uint8_t _objective[2];
	  uint8_t _objective_data[2];
	  uint8_t _unkn11[14*9 - 11 - 14];
	} _mapinfos;

	// Agents table?
	struct Unkn11
	{
	  uint8_t _unkn[15];
	} _unkn11[129];

       };

I don't know how advanced is Your work on the Sound Manager, so please
forgive me if I'm writing about things that are already done.

As you probably know, Syndicate is using an early version of Miles Sound
System library to play sound. The library contains nice functions to play
VOC files, and to play MIDI files with different instrument banks.

The Miles Sound System 2.0 source code is now avaible as Open Source on John
Miles site here:
http://www.thegleam.com/ke5fx/

The source code may be quite useful in making the music and sound to play in
the same way it was in original game.

ps. AI works on first release! Great work!

I think that COL01.DAT represent the type of map tiles.

Ther are 256 uint8. One for each tile.
Each uint8 is the type of the tile.

Ther is a graphical representation at :
http://paul.chavent.free.fr/fichiers/syndicate/Page.html

I have also updated the output of HREQ01.DAT with the "good" colors.

Hello people.

Ther is an info in HFNT that freesynd seems to ignore : it is the 
vertical margin. In HFNT.DAT there is offset, width/heigth, and the last 
byte is the margin.
The COL.DAT seems to be used for "colisions/elevation information/minimap".

Sorry if thes informations are redundant, but i haven't found them anywhere.

CU !

Hi,

Thanks for information. I thought all fonts are in DAT/TAB files.

Your whitebook looks very promising. Keep a good work.

Regards,
Tomasz Lis

Hello Tomasz.

Here (http://paul.chavent.free.fr/fichiers/syndicate/hreq.png) is a dump=20
of the HREQ.DAT file. It contain the caracters that are displayed in the=20
gameplay screen. I still have some trouble with the palette...
Moreover, if think i know what COL01.DAT is used for. This is a kind of=20
lut or mask that indicate if the tiles of a map are walkable etc...

I'am writing a library that could be used for any project which would=20
like to access syndicate data files (editor, games etc). I'am doing this=20
because i think that the freesynd project is too dependant of the=20
datafiles format, the code is very difficult to read and the maintenance=20
  will be very difficult for new members of the project.
And i'am writing a kind of whitebook of the syndicate datafile format.
You can have an overview of the actual state of the work here :
http://paul.chavent.free.fr/fichiers/syndicate/



Tomasz Lis a =E9crit :
> Hi Paul,
>=20
> My name is Tomasz Lis. I'm not a Freesynd programmer, but I know most o=
f
> things that are reworked in Syndicate.
>=20
> It looks like no one knows what is the HREQ.DAT for (because noone repl=
ied
> you). Neither do I. It seems to have 64 bytes per line, 4 bytes per ent=
ry -
> and this is all I can say.
>=20
> Anyway we'll need to rework all files, so it would be helpful to know w=
hat
> this one do.
>=20
> Please inform me about your progress, so I could update information I h=
ave
> on my site (syndicate.lubie.org).
>=20
> _______________________________________________
>=20
>> freesynd-user mailing list
>> fre...@li...
>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freesynd-user
>>
>=20

Hi Paul,

My name is Tomasz Lis. I'm not a Freesynd programmer, but I know most of
things that are reworked in Syndicate.

It looks like no one knows what is the HREQ.DAT for (because noone replied
you). Neither do I. It seems to have 64 bytes per line, 4 bytes per entry -
and this is all I can say.

Anyway we'll need to rework all files, so it would be helpful to know what
this one do.

Please inform me about your progress, so I could update information I have
on my site (syndicate.lubie.org).

_______________________________________________
> freesynd-user mailing list
> fre...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freesynd-user
>

Hello people.

My name is Paul, I'am french (live in Toulouse), and i have 26. Sometime 
i'am on the irc channel as valefor.

I was intrested in joining your effort for a free remake of syndicate.

I have read the freesynd code for somme weeks now.

I have a question about the HREQ.DAT. Your code seems don't use it. Is 
it because you don't know what is it or what else.

If there are some work do do on this i think i can make it.

So please tell me if i can help you.

A bientot.

Paul.