Re-naming existing nations

[Chapman2424]

Anyway to rename existing nations in the MOBhack menu ?

I am trying to build 4 new forces under the last 4 nations (Tanzania/Uganda/Paraguay/Uruguay)

I don't need the flags changed but the names would help.

Thanks,


Stephen

[Mobhack]

Chapman2424 said:
Anyway to rename existing nations in the MOBhack menu ?

I am trying to build 4 new forces under the last 4 nations (Tanzania/Uganda/Paraguay/Uruguay)

I don't need the flags changed but the names would help.

Thanks,


Stephen

No

The names for nations are hard coded inthe game code, together with thier leader ratings, battle locations and so on.

Cheers
Andy

[Chapman2424]

Thanks,

Stephen

[MarkSheppard]

You CAN change the nation's names if you're willing to hex edit the game executable.
The Nation Names are right there in plain ASCII text in the executable.

I've found that you can change the names with no ill effects
as long as you:

Keep the string size similar; no changing BLUE into GRENADA,
because that will crash the game; but BLUE can be changed to
IRAQ for example for effect. (I Know Iraq's already in the
game, but I was just using it as an example of a 4-letter
nation name.

[jvankessel]

Mobhack said:
The names for nations are hard coded inthe game code, together with thier leader ratings, battle locations and so on.

Ouch. You guys have done a great job on the Windows conversions, but I'm slightly disappointed by the adherence to an IMHO outdated game design; compiled resources instead of xml, lbm/shp instead of paletted pngs. Oh well, can't have it all. ;-)

With regards to MarkSheppard's remarks: As the strings are zero terminated, lengths can be varied AS LONG AS some other strings are adjusted in length to compensate. [EDIT: Nevermind that; it doesn't work].

And a follow up: How would I go about changing the USMC flags (or any other flags for that matter) by my own spiffy Numenorean flag?

[Mobhack]

jvankessel said:

Ouch. You guys have done a great job on the Windows conversions, but I'm slightly disappointed by the adherence to an IMHO outdated game design; compiled resources instead of xml, lbm/shp instead of paletted pngs. Oh well, can't have it all. ;-)

With regards to MarkSheppard's remarks: As the strings are zero terminated, lengths can be varied AS LONG AS some other strings are adjusted in length to compensate. [EDIT: Nevermind that; it doesn't work].

And a follow up: How would I go about changing the USMC flags (or any other flags for that matter) by my own spiffy Numenorean flag?

Strings are in the data segment as constants, so you will neeed to overwrite with something exactly the same length for the full national name and any associated short name (e.g. Great Britain and GB).

To change flags - learn how to use SHPED, and then find the several spots in the game's SHP files where the various sized flags live, and overwrite those with your new ones, I would suppose. (They will not be in the ter or icon shp file sets is about all I know !


Cheers
Andy

[jvankessel]

I'm used to ShpEd; I just need to hunt for the right icon. Thanks for narrowing it down a bit, Andy.

EDIT: Attached are the results thusfar. The flagbuttons are in the Battle.shp file. What I haven't been able to find yet are the the files that contain the regular flag, as displayed on units and in certain screens. Still, I'm pleased. (If anybody knows in what shp file the other flags are, please let me know. Once I'm done, I'll write and post a country name/flag modding manual).

2nd EDIT: Gotcha! Little flags are in Icon97/98.shp. Big flags are in Icon95/96.shp.