gametechmods

Robot Arena => Modifications => Topic started by: nightcracker on September 05, 2011, 05:44:26 PM

Title: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nightcracker on September 05, 2011, 05:44:26 PM
I created a version of RA2 that can handle multiple AI packs in one installation.

Basically it's download, extract and go. Instead of making a shortcut to Robot Arena 2.exe you make a shortcut to aiselect.exe. Now, everytime you start RA2 you get asked what AI pack you want to use and then it boots the game. Note that aiselect.exe saves the last selection, so if you also make a shortcut to ra2.exe it will launch the last selected AI pack immediately.

By default it comes with the stock AI, Starcore v3 and Pys AI, and I'm going to tell you how to install other AI packs:

Instead of putting the AI folder in the Robot Arena 2 folder you put it in Robot Arena 2/AI packs. Now you're nearly there, you'll only need to do one more thing. You'll need to add a new file to the AI pack called pack.inf. It should look like this:

Code: [Select]
[AI pack info]
name=Starcore AI
creator=Starcore
version=3
directory=starcorev3

Name, creator and version are self-explaining, and directory should be the name of the directory as seen in AI packs. Names don't need to be unique, only directories (obviously). Version is optional.

Have fun, if you have suggestions tell me.

Download:
Zip archive (http://nclabs.org/downloads/Robot Arena 2 multi-ai.zip) (90.8MB) or 7-zip archive (http://nclabs.org/downloads/Robot Arena 2 multi-ai.7z) (67.7MB)

Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: Mr. AS on September 05, 2011, 05:50:28 PM
this is good... O_O
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nightcracker on September 11, 2011, 06:31:21 PM
Alright, huge update.

I fixed the AI select script, I messed up with compiling Python to an executable last time and forgot to include the right DLL's.

I completely stripped the game to barebones making it quite a lot faster and nicer to work with (I went through the effort of replacing textures with 1kb transparent ones and lowering the bitrate on the music).

I also added Starcore v3 and Pys AI to the standard package and I uploaded the download to my own website (nclabs.org) for a bit faster download.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: Squirrel_Monkey on September 12, 2011, 11:32:38 AM
Working great, It failed when adding BTTB AI though. Just crashes... (probably just me failing).
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: RpJk on September 12, 2011, 11:51:31 AM
Its not working for me.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nightcracker on September 12, 2011, 12:50:40 PM
Its not working for me.

What did you do?

SM, what did you do to try and make it work?
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: RpJk on September 12, 2011, 12:52:29 PM
I was trying to put it on my game but when I turned it on it just did not work.

Anyways I thought this was a version in which all teams were in one single AI pack.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: Squirrel_Monkey on September 12, 2011, 01:00:46 PM
Its not working for me.

What did you do?

SM, what did you do to try and make it work?
I merged the two AIs (BTTB1 and 3) into one AI folder, they were layed out as and addon to stock rather than as a standalone so I had to renumber the teams and stuff. I put in the pack file and renamed the stuff inside. It just then crashed on startup of Ra2. I reckon it's me just merging them badly.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nightcracker on September 12, 2011, 01:15:49 PM
I was trying to put it on my game but when I turned it on it just did not work.

Anyways I thought this was a version in which all teams were in one single AI pack.

Nope. You swap AI teams when you start the game using aiselect.exe.

In order to install a new AI pack you must copy the AI pack's AI folder into the "AI packs" and rename it to an according name (for example "bbeans5"). Then you add a file named "pack.inf" to that folder with the following information (obviously edited):

Code: [Select]
[AI pack info]
name=Starcore AI
creator=Starcore
version=3
directory=starcorev3

You don't have to add the "version=" part.

Also, I wouldn't recommend merging the AI packs, just add one BTTB1 and one BTTB3 AI.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: Squirrel_Monkey on September 12, 2011, 01:21:38 PM
I was trying to put it on my game but when I turned it on it just did not work.

Anyways I thought this was a version in which all teams were in one single AI pack.

Nope. You swap AI teams when you start the game using aiselect.exe.

In order to install a new AI pack you must copy the AI pack's AI folder into the "AI packs" and rename it to an according name (for example "bbeans5"). Then you add a file named "pack.inf" to that folder with the following information (obviously edited):

Code: [Select]
[AI pack info]
name=Starcore AI
creator=Starcore
version=3
directory=starcorev3

You don't have to add the "version=" part.

Also, I wouldn't recommend merging the AI packs, just add one BTTB1 and one BTTB3 AI.
They were designed to be merged. i.e. Stock+BTTB1+BTTB3
I'll just redo it later. Works great itself, just I fail sometimes. How would I transfer it to DSL?
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: G.K. on September 12, 2011, 01:24:56 PM
Have I made things confusing by making them designed to be merged?
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: Squirrel_Monkey on September 12, 2011, 01:25:44 PM
Well there are bindings files as .txts with teams all over the place. I'll probably work it out eventually.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nightcracker on September 12, 2011, 01:27:11 PM
Let's not go through the trouble of you porting it to DSL ;)

If someone can give me a clean link to the latest official version of DSL itself (not already installed in a "extract and go package") that would be awesome.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: Squirrel_Monkey on September 12, 2011, 01:30:03 PM
https://gametechmods.com/forums/index.php/page,page3913.html (https://gametechmods.com/forums/index.php/page,page3913.html)
In here, v2.0 +2.1 patch
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nightcracker on September 15, 2011, 04:13:16 PM
Sneak preview:

(https://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/95893aiselect.png)

Also, I'm going to add a real installer for the game.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: RpJk on September 16, 2011, 01:42:36 AM
That looks much easier.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nightcracker on September 16, 2011, 02:47:09 AM
Alright, BETA link: http://nclabs.org/downloads/ra2setup.exe (http://nclabs.org/downloads/ra2setup.exe)

Please provide feedback!
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: Squirrel_Monkey on September 16, 2011, 08:31:55 AM
OK, nothing happens when I run aiselect.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nightcracker on September 16, 2011, 09:06:41 AM
Ok crap, that means your missing some DLLs which I didn't pack (wasn't sure if you guys would need it). I'll fix that later.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: Serge on November 01, 2011, 06:31:12 PM
Sneak preview:

(https://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/95893aiselect.png)

Also, I'm going to add a real installer for the game.

What widget toolkit is this? Tkinter?
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nightcracker on November 02, 2011, 05:09:26 AM
Yes, Tk/ttk.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: FOTEPX on November 02, 2011, 06:14:02 AM
Thanks for this, Night. It really helps me out (And others), considering I have like 20 AI packs XD

Is there a limit to how many AI packs this can support at once?
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: dainiusb on November 02, 2011, 06:46:56 AM
How about adding ability to add all packs in the game at the same time? Or any1 could Combine all packs into 1?
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: Skiitzzox220 on November 02, 2011, 07:39:45 AM
This has helped me so much, now I don't have to worry about having 20 RA2 icons all over my desktop. Thanks NC :D
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: martymidget on November 02, 2011, 09:19:11 AM
How about adding ability to add all packs in the game at the same time? Or any1 could Combine all packs into 1?

Go for it, its not diffucult, just time consuming. I spent an hour or so combining Pys, Starcore 4, BBEANS and Inf AI a while back. NC's way is more convenient though.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: cephalopod on November 02, 2011, 09:28:22 AM
@dainiusb
https://gametechmods.com/forums/index.php/topic,749.msg7812.html#msg7812 (https://gametechmods.com/forums/index.php/topic,749.msg7812.html#msg7812)

Have a look at the end part of that message - philetbabe combined a load of AI packs into one, which has 200 teams, which you can download XD
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nicsan2009 on November 02, 2011, 10:45:22 AM
OK, nothing happens when I run aiselect.
Same thing happens to me
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: dainiusb on November 02, 2011, 11:01:08 AM
Thanks, Craaig! You're best.
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: Skiitzzox220 on November 02, 2011, 12:03:48 PM
It took me about 30 seconds to load it the first time, try running aiselect then RA2. That worked for me
Title: Re: Multi-AI RA2
Post by: nicsan2009 on November 03, 2011, 02:16:57 PM
It didn't work, help please?