Extract bootfiles from game

[paoloambrosio]

If any mod has config to be applied and no __bootfiles* "mod" has been installed

• Create an extraction directory in the temp path and there...
  • Unpack Pakfiles\BOOTFLOW.bff and Pakfiles\PHYSICSPERSISTENT.bff
  • Create a Pakfiles\BOOTFLOW.bff archive with no files
  • Create an empty Pakfiles\PHYSICSPERSISTENT.bff-remove file
  • Remove vehicles\_data\effects\backfire\*.bmt
• Install the virtual mod just created as __bootfiles_generated

Still relevant for tracks after AMS2 1.5, but not for cars (see development update):

There is a lot more to be said about V1.5 beyond physics - among other highlights, we are pushing for a solution to lift the need to use Bootfiles for mod installation and possibly lifting some other hurdles based on feedback being received on this topic to better support the great modding projects already being delivered for AMS2

[paoloambrosio]

Extracting pak files is very easy with PCarsTools. It would have to be published as a library though. License is the same as this project.

• Extract Pakfiles\BOOTFLOW.bff and Pakfiles\PHYSICSPERSISTENT.bff.
• Add a Pakfiles\BOOTFLOW.bff from other bootfiles. According to madmaxx, this is always the same file in all bootfiles. Some are repacked files from the original pak archive, but others are not. Maybe they are from PC2?
  • From the original Pakfiles\BOOTFLOW.bff:
    • gui\login.bspr
    • gui\login001.dds
    • gui\login002.dds
    • render\materials\dynamicterraindebugrender.bmt
    • render\materials\meshvisualisation.bmt
  • In Pakfiles\BOOTFLOW.bff but different:
    • gui\login000.dds from PC2! The original one has Reiza.
  • Not in there:
    • gui\background_frontend_branded.dds from PC2
    • gui\jp-antipiracy.dds
    • gui\menu_splash_load.bgui
    • text\splash.tdb
• Remove vehicles\_data\effects\backfire\*.bmt... WHY?
• For JSGME, add a Pakfiles\PHYSICSPERSISTENT.bff-remove.

The original Pakfiles\BOOTFLOW.bff uses ZLib compression, so it does not require Oodle. The one in the bootfiles instead uses Mermaid.

[paoloambrosio]

The new Pakfiles\BOOTFLOW.bff must be there because the Madness Engine looks for it, but it can be a completely empty bff (with no files inside)!!!

" KAP"
uint32: 1 << 11 | 1
int32: 0
byte[12]
byte[0x100]: BOOTSPLASH\0...\0
uint32: 0
uint32: 0
uint32: 0
byte[8]
byte: 0
byte: 0
byte[2]

Code

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Text;

namespace BootfileCreator
{
    internal class Program
    {
        private const string fileTag = " KAP";
        private const uint version = 1 << 11 | 1;
        private const uint fileCount = 0;

        private const string fileName = "BOOTSPLASH";

        private const uint tocEntrySize = 16; // Required or PCarsTools will fail
        private const uint crc = 0;
        private const uint extInfoSize = 0x308; // Required for cert size even with no encryption

        private const byte flags = 0;
        private const byte encryptionType = 0;

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            var writer = new BinaryWriter(File.Create("EMPTY.bff"));
            writer.Write(fileTag.ToCharArray());
            writer.Write(version);
            writer.Write(fileCount);
            writer.Write(new byte[12]);
            writer.Write(fileName.ToCharArray());
            writer.Write(new byte[0x100-fileName.Length]);
            writer.Write(tocEntrySize);
            writer.Write(crc);
            writer.Write(extInfoSize);
            writer.Write(new byte[8]);
            writer.Write(flags);
            writer.Write(encryptionType);
            writer.Write(new byte[2]);
            writer.Write(new byte[tocEntrySize]);
            writer.Write(new byte[extInfoSize]);
        }
    }
}