By
VonS
Hello Gents',
I have been investigating the core string and ini files that make up FE2 - primarily to see if multiplayer can be reintroduced. The relevant files can be found in the MenuData.cat and MenuText.cat files of the "Menu" folder of the actual game (not in the user folder for the game).
I managed to restore the "multiplayer" button to the main screen of the game, but it leads nowhere. Also possible to restore was the "network" button under the options settings - but again this led nowhere when you click on it.
It seems that each STR (string?) file requires a corresponding INI (initialization) file to work at all. Most of the files have both components, such as is the case with OPTIONSSCREEN.INI and OPTIONSSCREEN.STR - the ini file contains the relevant buttons, lists, codes, placements, lots of other things too, and the str component file contains the relevant data calls that correspond with what is called for in the ini file.
I was however stumped to find that most of the network sub-option files have the STR component files in place - but ini files for those are all missing, perhaps having been removed by the game designer - or perhaps there is a more obscure way of calling up those string files that I am not aware of with my very limited knowledge of program/app coding.
As an example, the NETWORKCONNECTIONSCREEN.STR file and the NETWORK.STR file - obviously important ones (and it's obvious what they are for) - cannot be called up in game, likely because corresponding ini files for those are missing. Looking through some of those network option str files shows, in some cases, more than 30 or 40 different data calls. I can only imagine then how much time it would take to create corresponding ini files for all of those different data calls in the str files, with all of the relevant buttons, menus, submenus, toggles created in the corresponding ini files - to get mutliplayer up and fully functional in FE2 - a daunting task that while theoretically possible would probably take a good month at least of full-time work on it (and then there is the risk of how stable the setup would be when done).
Those who are inclined to tinker further with multiplayer possibilities in FE2 are advised to look at the main Options.ini file first that's in the user folder for FE2. The multiplayer settings should read as follows to be enabled:
[MultiplayerOptions]
LobbyLaunched=TRUE
The following should also be toggled but I didn't experiment with correct values:
[Multiplayer]
Connection=0
PlayerColor=0
SessionType=0
GameType=0
Password=MyPassword
MaxPlayers=8
IPAddress=127.0.0.1
In the OPTIONSCREEN.INI file that should be extracted to your "Menu" folder, the following should be toggled:
[NetworkOptionsButton]
StickySelection=TRUE
Active=TRUE
In MAINSCREEN.INI, also to be placed in the "Menu" folder, the following should be toggled:
[MultiplayerHotspot]
Active=TRUE
Enabled=TRUE
Also, the following should be modified to look as you see here, from the same file indicated above:
[MissionControl]
SingleMission=SingleMission
InstantAction=InstantAction
Campaign=Campaign
Multiplayer=Multiplayer
And finally, the relevant STR files that are missing corresponding INI files - or maybe requiring some other kind of call that I'm not aware of, are:
NETWORK.STR
NETWORKCONNECTIONSCREEN.STR
MPDOGFIGHTSCREEN.STR
MPHANGARSCREEN.STR
MPMISSIONSCREEN.STR
MULTIPLAYERSTATUS.STR
PILOTRECORDSCREEN.STR (this one is to enable flight recording in multiplayer)
As far as I can see, it's more feasible to continue improving the single-player side of the game, such as improvements in AI, scenery, also the great plane and skin mods that often come out for FE2. And thanks to all who contribute to this game and make it great. Those interested in pursuing the multiplayer aspect further will hopefully find my post useful. I will not be pursuing this topic further since I don't consider the project to be worthwhile.
Happy flying,
Von S
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