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Author |
File Description |
Vardamir |
Posted on 09/18/15 @ 11:07 AM (updated 02/12/16)
File Details |
Version: |
The Conquerors 1.0c |
Screenshot:
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Genie Converter is a tool to convert between the various Age of Kings mod file formats that have developed over time, as well as installing mods. There are a range of advanced options, but it opens with a reduced interface suitable for installing AKX and GCM files.
Several external console programs are used for operation. Many thanks to their creators, without whom Genie Converter would not be possible:
7zip - by Igor Pavlov
drsbuild - by Stoyan Ratchev
drsdiff and langconv - Tools released by Voobly
Version 2.2 |
Author | Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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Possidon
Official Reviewer |
Posted on 03/24/17 @ 07:17 PM
Its amazing how long this has gone unnoticed over the last couple of years. Genie Converter by Vardamir is a simple program that can be used to install AKX and GMC files.
Usefulness/Novelty: 5
The simple program is a very useful tool for all modders, new and old. Especially those ones who have nostalgic memories of Mods from the past. In the past, most Mod Packs were made and installed with a popular program called Mod Pack Studio (MPS) a program that would turn Mods into an AKX file. These AKX files would then be used by MPS to install the Mod into the game. However due to the age of MPS it was only functional on 32 bit operating systems, and most modern operating systems now use a 64 bit OS. This means that Mod Pack Studio has not been used by modders for many years and has also meant that it has been incredibly difficult and time consuming for people to extract the SLPs from these AKX files and install older mod packs. This has been a shame since there are hundreds of lost relics in the depths of the Blacksmith that have not been used in years due to the lose of MPS.
Genie Converter is a simple tool that can help fix this problem. With a few simple clicks this impressive program can extract the files from an AKX, rename them and add them to your existing gamedata_x1_p1.drs file, thus installing the old mod pack and adding it into your game. This tool saves you loads of time because you now no longer have to manually extract the akx file and manually rename ever file extension into an SLP. The program also uninstalls the mod with a simple button click too. Since I have found this tool I have used it to go down memory lane and install some old mod packs so as METC and Rome at War.
Quality/Instructions: 5
The program is flawless, bug free, and very easy and simple to use. The user interface is user friendly and well layed out. The upload comes with a detailed and well written readme that has everything you need to know about the program, and detailed instructions on how to use it too. The program is designed to support both the CD and HD editions of Age of Empires and also has the ability to incorporate the Userpatch too. Overall I have found no flaws with the program and I believe it to be one of the best programs for modders since Turtle Pack and AGE, if not the best.
Additional Comments:
Overall this simple to use and flawless program is a must for anyone who would like to take a trip down the dusty halls of the AOKH blacksmith and take a look at some of the old classics that lay on the shelves.
A must for everyone.
Thank You Vardamir for this incredible tool!
Possidon |
rakovsky |
Posted on 11/19/20 @ 06:10 PM
Usefulness/Novelty: 5
This was very useful because I have used it for several Mods already, both in the AOK HD 2013 Steam version and AOE2 original CD version.
There is something similar with a name like Mod Studio Lite that is supposed to work on the AOE2 original version that will install Mods like RAW, s in a way, Genie Converter is similar to that. But Genie Converter actually does the work of installing the whole Mod, not just the AKX files.
And it lets you revert back if you are using a Mod on the CD version. So it's very useful and novel. I would give it a 10/10 in that aspect.
Quality/Instructions: 3
The Quality was good- a 5 - because it even converts language text files from txt to dll so that it can work on AOE2 HD (Steam version).
My main criticism is the clarity and detail and precision of the instructions, which brings down the score here. They need significantly more clarity and simplicity for someone new to this kind of Modding like me. For instance, even when I read the first several pages carefully, I did not realize that I had to run the Directory conversion AND the input file conversion for Mods like Rome at War that have both AKX and other files in their Mods. You run the file conversion on the Mod file and the directory conversion on the directory and you also need to rename the AKX file to match the name of the Mod folder.
The Designer was nice enough to explain to me personally how to make this all work, and I wrote about this in the Comments section.
Still, even though I've used this tool successfully on several Mods, there is alot that I don't understand or know with the Mod's options. Some of my lack of knowledge comes from simply the issue or aspect being one that doesn't pertain to me, like the INI files or trying to get it to work with Voobly or something like that. The fact that I don't get it doesn't mean that it's a bad tool, but it's still a little piece of evidence that the instructions were not easy to understand enough. Good luck with understanding it yourself. Hopefully you will do better than I did.
Additional Comments:
When you first install it, the default text language entry is set to "fr" on the main tab, so when you go to convert your Mod file, make sure to switch it to En (English) unless you are in the unlikely situation that you are using a French AOE2 language set for your normal game system. Both times that I downloaded it (on two different computers), the default box setting was "fr".
Overall, this is a very useful tool, maybe even a necessary one if you are involved in using Mods. |
HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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4.5 | Breakdown |
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Usefulness/Novelty | 5.0 | Quality/Instructions | 4.0 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 1,226 |
Favorites: [] | 0 |
Size: | 4.27 MB |
Added: | 09/18/15 |
Updated: | 02/12/16 |
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