Convert a full version map to a CE map

[Kavawuvi 6,681]

NOTE: There is a much better, safer way to do this: 

---

 

Earlier today, I was asked if it was possible to convert a Halo Full version map to a Halo CE map. After about a couple hours of researching it, I've done it with just Eschaton and a hex editor alone. For your guys' sake, I will write a patcher to take care of the hex editor part.

Know that this tutorial will bloat your map by internalizing all assets, and you cannot undo this. That also means you only need to do this once, so let's get started.

Tools needed:

 

• Eschaton 0.8
• A hex editor. I use HxD on Windows and Hex Fiend on OS X. Alternatively, I wrote a patcher (Windows Only) https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30298900/000Release/BabelCL/babel.exe
• Halo: Combat Evolved; You CAN use HaloMD, but the bitmaps.map is modified in it, so some bitmaps may get broken.
• Halo: Custom Edition (I will refer to this as Halo CE); You will need the Windows version of Halo to install this. You can download Halo Custom Edition's installer here: http://opencarnage.net/index.php?/topic/2940-halo-custom-edition-download/

Note: For legal purposes, I will not upload the full version of Halo or Halo Custom Edition. You will need to get those on your own. That means that if you're on a Mac, you will need to install Windows or perhaps Wine to install it.

Step 1, you need to open and expand your Halo full version map in Eschaton. I will be using Phoenix 3 for this. Once you have expanded it, internalize all bitmaps and sounds using your Halo full version bitmaps.map and sounds.map.

Step 2, open a multiplayer map from Halo Custom Edition. Do not open ui.map or loc.map. I will be using bloodgulch.map, because we love picking on poor Blood Gulch.

Step 3, recursively extract the tagc tag: ui\ui_tags_loaded_multiplayer_scenario_type from the CE map. When asked to replace, click on Replace and Internalize, then select your CE maps folder and your Halo CE bitmaps.map and sounds.map.

Step 4, import the tagc tag into your expanded map. Be sure that Eschaton does not import duplicates to avoid increasing the file size any more. Any assets are already internalized, anyway.

Step 5, rebuild.

Step 6, open your map in a hex editor. I recommend HxD if you're on Windows, and Hex Fiend if you're on OS X.

At offset 0x4, change it from 07 00 00 00 to 61 02 00 00.

Know that changing this will cause it to only work in Halo CE. You can change it back and it will work with Halo full version, instead.

It runs in command prompt. Syntax is: babel.exe <path to map>

[Sceny 2,997]

Time for Phoenix 3 CE bitches?

[Kavawuvi 6,681]

I'm now working on the patcher. Know that it is not a replacement to a CE->FV converter like Pearl, and only works with Halo full version maps that have been made into a hybrid map from this method. It is to be used to replace the last step, with the hex editor.

I've uploaded the patcher. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30298900/000Release/BabelCL/babel.exe

An OS X version will probably not be released.

The syntax is babel.exe <path to map>. Let me know if there are any issues with it, and I will help address them. It will undo changes it makes if you run it through the patcher again.

For PC->CE, it will require all bitmaps and sounds to be internalized, as well as the 44 ustr tags located in the tagc tag "ui\ui_tags_loaded_multiplayer_scenario_type" from a stock CE multiplayer map.

For CE->PC, in addition to all bitmaps and sounds being internalized, it will require all tags to be internalized, as Halo PC does not support indexed tags.

Edited April 18, 2014 by 002

[WaeV 5,047]

It's too bad it's not really possible to make a PC->CE converter without having solved map rebuilding. I mean, yeah Eschaton can do it, but you have to do all the clicks manually. There's a real need for rebuilding that anyone can use in their own programs.

Zero2, you're working on rebuilding along with your various C libraries, right? Any status?

[Kavawuvi 6,681]

It's too bad it's not really possible to make a PC->CE converter without having solved map rebuilding. I mean, yeah Eschaton can do it, but you have to do all the clicks manually. There's a real need for rebuilding that anyone can use in their own programs.

Zero2, you're working on rebuilding along with your various C libraries, right? Any status?

I've actually decided to move onto trying to write a rebuilder in C++. I've got C code that works, but it's kind of a mess.

Edited February 15, 2015 by 002

[WaeV 5,047]

I've actually decided to move onto trying to write a rebuilder in C++. I've got C code that works, but it's kind of a mess.

So you're starting with your old C code, and refactoring it with C++ features?

When I'm doing "C but with select C++ features", I end up using std::vector and std::map quite a lot. Be sure to check out C++11/14 features, especially smart pointers. But take care -- just because a feature exists doesn't mean you have to use it (way too easy to overcomplicate things using C++).

Can't wait to see what you make!

[Kavawuvi 6,681]

So you're starting with your old C code, and refactoring it with C++ features?

When I'm doing "C but with select C++ features", I end up using std::vector and std::map quite a lot. Be sure to check out C++11/14 features, especially smart pointers. But take care -- just because a feature exists doesn't mean you have to use it (way too easy to overcomplicate things using C++).

Can't wait to see what you make!

 

 

std::vector is definitely a boon, as it saves me from having to either re-allocate something over and over again with lots and lots of code, or having to go through a tag twice. I'm actually not using any C code right now, though I may include some. It's going a little faster than I expected, since I'm a bit new to C++, but I'm not new to C (C99 in particular).

 

I'm trying to write this like I would be proud of it, but I'm also trying to get a working rebuilder. It'll take some time, and I'll definitely make it open-source. The goal of Proton was originally meant to serve as an easy way to rebuild maps for Halo map editors, so it was going to be open-source regardless.

Edited February 15, 2015 by 002

[Intrepid 30]

This turned out to be pretty helpful. Just curious, what does bloating the map mean?

[Locke 1]

Hi, sorry to bump this five year old topic, but I figured this was the best place.

 

My clan was highly active on Halo Trial 10+ years ago, and a few of us are starting to enter the Halo CE scene thanks to the improved gameplay with SAPP and Chimera.

 

We grew tired of playing bloodgulch over and over, so a clan member modded the trial Silent Cartographer map, and we were able to spend countless hours playing it. I was wondering if it would be possible to port this modded Trial map to Custom Edition?

 

I appreciate any help anyone can provide!

[Sceny 2,997]

6 hours ago, Locke said:

Hi, sorry to bump this five year old topic, but I figured this was the best place.

 

My clan was highly active on Halo Trial 10+ years ago, and a few of us are starting to enter the Halo CE scene thanks to the improved gameplay with SAPP and Chimera.

 

We grew tired of playing bloodgulch over and over, so a clan member modded the trial Silent Cartographer map, and we were able to spend countless hours playing it. I was wondering if it would be possible to port this modded Trial map to Custom Edition?

 

I appreciate any help anyone can provide!

 

Have you checked out Halomaps? In sure there are plenty of SP to MP Silent Cartographer maps.