XeNTaX

I cannot figure out how the AMM/ATL files for the maps in army men are loaded into the game. I assume the tiles and many of the required assets are included within these two files for a map, but cannot figure out how to extract these assets. The maps also include a "objects.dat" file which I assume is where some assets are possibly.

I have been trying my hand specifically at Army Men 2 [PC] by 3DO

Info
http://www.mobygames.com/game/army-men-ii

Demo
http://www.fileplanet.com/135544/130000 ... ial-Client

These two files are present throughout all their games including the original Army Men, Army Men: Air Tactics, etc

Any help is greatly appreciated

Ok, this is what I figured out so far: OBJECTS.DAT

byte[4] maybe checksum?
byte[1024] color palette (256 colors)
uint32 number of objects

// object index table
for each object {
byte[4] unknown
uint32 offset
}

// actual objects
for each object {
byte[24] header
uint32 size of section1
<section1>
uint32 size of section2
<section2>
uint32 size of section3
<section3>
}

<section1>
uint16 sprite_width
uint16 sprite_height
for (sprite_height) {
uint16 line_offset
}
<run-length encoded pixel data>

<num_transparent_pixels><num_opaque_pixels><opaque_pixels[]>
e.g.
55 00 -> 0x55 transparent pixels, no opaque pixels
45 01 20 0F 00 -> 0x45 tr., 1 opaque (index: 0x20), 0xF tr.

<section2>
same structure as section1 (maybe semi-transparent pixels?)

<section3>
looks like a monochrome bitmap (each byte represents 8 pixels)
maybe the shadow of the object?

size of section3:
(sprite_width/8) round up to the next even number
e.g. sprite_width = 85, sprite_height = 80
85 / 8 = 10.625 -> 12 (=line width)
size of section3 = 12*80 = 960

I also managed to rebuild the map with the tileset (ATL) and the data from the TLAY section (ANM):
https://www.mediafire.com/?f3dq5d022c6836r (2.34 MB)

Oh nice! I never would have been able to begin trying to comprehend that stuff xD I can't thank you enough for this help so far. Do you know about the .ani files in any way as well?

Update: File format of "objects.dat" unveiled. The *.ani files have a similar format but I haven't had time yet to go in for a closer look.

I'm building an editor for these files. Thank you for documenting the dat format... I had figured out up to the palette, and this saved me tons of time.

I'll incorporate this information here: https://github.com/tminard/3do-army-men-file-reader, and I'll be sure to credit you.