Hardwar Enhanced development

[gmcjimmy]

I didn't see a Enhanced or Enhanced2 thread yet so I guess I'll make one.

I've been worming my way through Max's hwe_20070607 archive off and on for a few weeks now. And I'm happy to say that I've finally landed on something usable. Without claiming any credit for myself. I'm really just following the bread crumbs left behind by Max and all of the others in the community that came before me.

So far I've managed to get the mod to stop crashing when you target someone with cargo as well as preserved most of the features listed in the about.txt from Max last dev update.

I was also fortunate enough to have located and corrected a minor typo that prevented AI from upgrading their drones. Now the AI seem to upgrade their moths with weapons, engines, and misc other parts as the game wears on.

I was able to restore the hangar que/req/dock sequences to something resembling the original. Which I'm rather pleased about even though Max had intended for something different. Sorry Max.

I was able to keep the "AI Trade Missions" to players hangars but unfortunately all of the stock prices are slightly out of whack. Sadly the flow of assembly code still eludes me.

I'm happy to share what I have so far with anyone else that would like to get their hands dirty with this stuff.

I believe this is the best that I could get to happen. The rest is up to you. Good luck.

You'll need NASM to compile 'enhanced' and Code::Blocks(w/MinGW) to build the econmod.dll if you want to use it. Econmod.dll is optional but NASM is a must to build Enhanced.

I used NASM 2.08.01 and Code::Blocks 10.05 with MinGW.

Here is my compiled binaries. ~842k (You only need this one to play)

And here is Maxs original source code, my modified copy and misc other resources. ~6329K (You'll need this one for compiling)


How to get everything setup;
1 - Install Hardwar.
2 - Apply UIM06 patch.
2a - Extract Enhanced_dev_(jimmy_2010-11-12).zip to your Hardwar game directory.
3 - Extract hwe_20070607-jimmy_20101112.zip to any location of your choosing.
3a - Install NASM and Code::Blocks

To build 'enhanced' change directory to hwe_20070607-jimmy_20101112 and run nasm excode.asm. You'll see some error messages about labels. They are safe to ignore. Optionally you can choose to suppress those errors with nasm -w-orphan-labels excode.asm. Finally copy excode enhanced

The easiest method I've found for building econmod.dll is to use the Code::Blocks application wizard. Select File -> New -> Project and then select "Dynamic Link Library." That will get the enviroment setup properly. Then paste the contents of econmod.cpp and econmod.h in to your project.

Edit by Ouch: Changed the download link so new users won't have their hearts broken anymore...

[gmcjimmy]

Updated OP.

[Pilot]

Let me now if you need another tester. ^^

Edit: Zedo added a mod section tell me if you want this moved there. ^^

[gmcjimmy]

Added download link to OP.

[ouch]

Moved this to the modding section. It will likely get more exposure here than being buried in the general discussion where it no longer belongs in the first place.

[gmcjimmy]

Thanks for the move! I'da made it here first but this thread is a few days older than the board it's in.

[Pilot]

Quick question, did anyone up the AI's battle strength? I never have that much trouble in Hammer's game with pirates. Then again their isn't that many either... No it still seems harder. Maybe I am rusty? ~ Godfather Start. Side Note destroyed 18 Laz-Research Moths with the Devs I started with. ^_^

Okay for the real reason for this post, I tried to run Enhanced in dedicated mode and it crashes at 8:29:59 has slightly varied by -3 milliseconds. Only happens when Attract When Idle is on.

[gmcjimmy]

With increases to moth strengths and a wider range of weapons to choose from all of those upgrades, the AI are a little more than annoying now.

On another topic, I found a couple of pricing and manufacturing glitches. I'll be posting another download once I work out where the glitches are coming from.

[Pilot]

I scoured the Internet to find my favorite hex editor (It's sad that I had forgotten the name.) ^^;

ntcore.com/exsuite.php - What you want is to download CFF Explorer, did I mention it's freeware?

Resource_Editors

[ouch]

I use HxD myself. It's insanely fast compared to other hex editors I've used.

mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/

it's got a direct harddrive editor as well. so you can for example recover deleted files. Or see why your (or a) program is writing corrupted files.

it's free too.

[Pilot]

Pretty nice that has a memory editor too, check out CFF, if you haven't already.

[gmcjimmy]

I've been testing Enhanced along side of Enhanced2 because I hate to give up Enhanced2's thug code. Smurphs Enhanced2 patch finally makes thugs useful as you can hire them to protect you (or another pilot) and as if that wasn't enough you can also order them to continuously resupply your own hangar automatically. As long as the thug and hangar both have the necessary funds, of coarse.

I'm using the Enahnced2 from 05.07.27.enhanced2.zip with the modified enhanced patch from Max's dev archive.

The econmod.dll that Max used with hwe_dev_econmod_latest.zip is different than the source code that is in the archive. Something just isn't the same as the prices will vary from Max's econmod.dll and the one I compile from the source code.

I really need help working out a stable econmod.dll. I know it writen in C but my knowledge of that language it rudimentary and basic at best. Hell, as far as that goes the same could be said for my knowledge of assembly as well. If anyone else is up to the task, I'm all to happy to collaborate and cooperate.

[Pilot]

What HardwarW.exe are you using? I can't seem to find the latest HardwarW.exe in my files.


Enhanced 2 Question;
Anyone know how to contact Smurph? It would be nice to have a code of its source too.

Enhanced Question;
Now for my main reason for posting using Enhanced would it be posible to modify what a Hangar will buy? (Not player hangar.)

MSGC Question/Theories;
Since Duncan was able to force AI to supply 'The Ore Reseller' with goods, would it also be possible to add another moth factory with it? And have the Police spawn there instead of Highrise Motors?

This would also be best if Police Traders where present (remember their corrupt.) And any attack on a Police Trader would be the same as attacking a Police Moth, Maybe as well or even better armed then a regular Police moth.

Which would be limited to buying only the items needed for Police Moths and only Police allowed to buy from it, I think this would also require a second Ghost that would take any moth that isn't a Police moth or a Police Trader moth to Highrise motors for sale, easing the burden on Highrise Motors.

[gmcjimmy]

The HardwarW.exe that I'm using is from Wez's site named HWE_base_uim06(2L).zip. I also have another copy from Smurph named HWE_base_uim06_2L_.zip. I assume that they are the same.

In the past I was able to contact Smurph by e-mail from his site.

In the dev version of Enhanced all you need to change in the manufdat.inc and update the recipe and the code will automatically handle updating the hangars purchase orders with the new items required for a that recipe.

[gmcjimmy]

Fixed a pricing glitch. I *think* I fixed the manufacturing glitch, I'll be testing it throughout the weekend. More like reverted back to an older manufacturing patch that, thankfully, Max had left disabled in the code. However I found an issue with the trade missions being canceled leaving AI stuck mid-way in hangar doors, but I have a clue what might be causing it. I'll keep you all posted and push out an updated copy afterward. Probably not till sometime during the next week. Wish me luck!