Proposed development of YR 1.002 Community Patch

[Marshall]

Just off the top of my head so sorry if the following text isn't well presented...



Installer must do the following:

create either an ini file or registry entry(s) to help future CP updates and mod authors. I favour an ini file.

provide uninstall options.

standard validation (ra2/yr/1.001). this also confirms that the user isn't using any nocd hacks - 1.002 should in no way help pirating, cheats, etc)

Patch <gamemd.exe> to 1.002 version [means we all have to agree on what makes it into <gamemd.exe>, pd has the controlling vote]

Add <expandmd02.mix> which includes:
rulesmd.ini [UMP/TX/exePatch]
artmd.ini [UMP/TX/exePatch]
mp*md.ini [UMP]
all02umd.map [1.000]
cmon.hva [UMP]
fixed UMP graphics [GAWETH,YAPSYT,CAOUTP]
need to either patch users RA2MD.MIX or extract RA2MD.CSF and patch just that (can we include it in expand? if it has to be loose then we obviously want to patch their RA2MD.MIX, because of mods needing to add their CSF. [1.002 CSF needs updated unholy alliance description, and all theme strings needed by YRPM)
assault ini (art/modes)
new PKT for assault maps (+others if included)
-----> if assault maps were modified to add themselves to the map list we wouldn't even need to include them in the PKT. would remove the Menu bug caused by not having the maps.

some form of assault flag imagery
TX expandmd06.mix (which should no longer contain GAWETH/etc), incorporated into either expandmd02 or kept seperate (expandmd03?)


everyone needs to help make sure there's nothing else that would need to go in UMP > CP
For example, test every single bridge repair hut on every [official] map and fix the broken ones.
+fix the maps that have no water but you can still build naval yards

So far, it seems that the filesize will be relatively small [1-2 MB]. With the TX being ~7MB when lzma compressed, I'm wondering if there's any way of making a Lite version of the TX, with an optional extra download to bring it up to the full TX. Just a thought.


I had an idea of including an empty ea_wwlogo.bik. But think it's a bad idea because:
1. Flies in the face of EA/WW a bit.
2. Some mods may want to include their own intro video (I know that I want to for the Enemy Unknown TC)



Optional extras provided by Installer:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
XWIS Connect Tool, + decent readme
YR Playlist Modifier (not sound track plugins obviously)
RA2YR Clean Up (which will need updating to take account of expandmd02.mix)

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I think we should make a second package too - 1.002 Modders Starter Kit - providing the 'unmodded' YRCP ini files, information on the exe-ini code differences, UMP 'Extras' info, and possibly other starting stuff for newbie modders like the XCC utilities, ini guides, tx terrain control ini files for TX mapping, etc, etc.



Should the CP help RA2 too? (in as much as ini code fixes and GAWETH.shp, etc) - something tells me this isn't a good idea.