10-11-2001 06:59									#1
	Enable multiplayer with jackal.txt? Tired of ads?

Hmmm, I don't know, but... it looks to me like the CIV 3 network code is a direct copy of Alpha Centauri! In other words, copying the right files from Alpha Centauri will enable multiplayer. But I don't know which ones (if any).

Here's the evidence...

1) Alpha Centauri had working network code.
2) Civ 3 has network code (look in jackal.txt, in the civ3 root directory).
3) This code was copied straight from Alpha Centauri with a few edits.

Here is a sample of jackal.txt proving the AC link (between ***'s):
***

#CDNOTFOUND
#xs 320
#caption Sid Meier's CIVILIZATION III
#button Retry
The Alpha Centauri CD-ROM was not detected. Some game features
will not function without the CD in the drive.

***
And here is another sample proving that the file is related to network code:
***

#NETCONNECT_JOIN_OR_CREATE
#xs 320
#caption Host or Join Session
Would you like to host a new game or join an existing one?

Host
Join

#SELECTSERVICE
#xs 320
#caption MultiPlayer Setup
Select a service...

***
Hmmm suspicious eh? My theory: There was partially working net code, based on the AC engine, removed at the last minute to be add later for in a for-money patch. If this is true, and all they edited in the files was text, then to enable multiplayer all you would need to do is copy the appropriate AC binaries to the appropriate place, and (hard part) hack some little toggle to make the option to start an MP game appear.

But this is just my suspicion... I'm not a hacker, just a programmer.

	10-11-2001 07:13									#2
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

unless you know where theres some sort of enable multiplayer within the civ3 game itself, good luck finding the right place to "toggle". Assuming you can get a breakpoint, or whatever those special hooks in programs are, you'll be hard pressed to find the code. Also you'll only be looking at hex, not the real source code! Finally, decompiling the game and so forth isn't allowed

btw, look at the other text files, lots of them simply have text like stats, but also pop ups and message boxes. That's what jackal has, simple settings, warnings etc.

Remember that originally Firaxis said MP was in, so it's normal to see at least "some" MP related files. I would of removed it though

but maybe they left jackal.txt to keep the players optimistic. perhaps it's a hint that multiplayer will come for free (IMO infogrames aren't that bad ... ). At the very least though, traditional TBS multiplayer options should come for free, although I won't mind paying extra for their "revolutionary" TBS multiplayer stuff that was promised... how they will do that beats me though.

	10-11-2001 07:19									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

PS.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that jackal.txt is in the Civ 3 root directory, it's not some file I pulled out of my @$$ or something.