TFD: RA1 interpretation of Rules.ini

[pugsquasher]

Hello,

First post on this forum, and my question is this: does the TFD version of Red Alert interpret the rule.ini file differently than the original version. I've noticed that several mods that used to work rather well on my old 486DX33MHz PC, do not work so well in the TFD version. Is this due to a rewrite of the code, my OS(Win7x64), my failing memory of how well the mods worked, or a combination of these factors? Has anyone else noticed this?

Regards,

Pugsquasher

[Nyerguds]

There is no real difference between TFD RA and normal CD RA.

You may want to check the version of the game, though. Vanilla TFD has v2.0, which is the basic Aftermath version. However, there is a 3.03 patch, and mods may be made to need that.

[pugsquasher]

I'm pretty sure EA did something to the code. Before, I could modify the Rules.ini file to increase my fire power/armor while weakening the computerized opponent in campaign play. However, in the TFD version, any change in firepower/armor affects both sides, thus cancelling out any advantage that would have given me. Yes, I made sure I was only editing the firepower for one side, and I still noticed the same effect. I'd have to violate the EULA, and use a disassembler to be certain of my suspicions, but I'm pretty sure this was a slight by EA to prevent the game from being too easy... :-/

[Nyerguds]

Maybe you simply didn't have v2.0 (The Aftermath). Westwood kinda did stuff to the code as well, you know. It's called 'patching'

My guess, you're tweaking rules.ini and expecting changes to show up in skirmish, while you have to add the values from aftrmath.ini to that to get the full picture. From the moment Aftermath is installed, the Skirmish is sadly Aftermath-only.

And no, the creators of TFD didn't do anything at all to the TFD games. They missed a magnificent opportunity to add previously-unreleased content and patch never-fixed bugs, but never did any such things. Quite the contrary; the installation of TFD contains tons of errors, and their patches, which only serve to correct those errors, bloat the game with a whopping 1.5 GB of unneeded disk space usage.


On a completely unrelated note, I got C&C4 for free from EA for violating their EULA in exactly that way, by supporting C&C95 with patches made through disassembling and hacking. Well, it was more of a general 'thank you' for my unwavering support in keeping the classics alive (which probably includes my forum hints they used to make their TFD patches), but that doesn't change the facts

They don't mind disassembling if it's used in a constructive way. In chronological order, RA2:YR, C&C95, TS and RA1 have all received community created upgrades made through disassembling the games. Renegade too I think, but I don't really know about the chronology of that one. I do know one of the community's Renegade-centered development teams was given access to parts of the Renegade source code at one point. Originally this hacking was only aimed towards RA2:YR modding (rockpatch, NPatch, Ares), but since then it's been increasingly used to actually patch games, for both fixing and enhancing them.