ModPack Studio Homepage Welcome to the Mod Pack Studio Homepage. Currently MPS is in Version 2.0. This software is freeware, meaning I (j_c_a) can only work on it in my free time, so updates may not be instantaneous, but hopefully I'll be able to make them in a timely fashion.
Welcome | ModPack Forum | Release Notes | Hosting | Special Requirements | End-User License Agreement | Download MPS 2.0 | Screen Shot | Notes | Tutorials

Before downloading, please take a moment to review the Version 2.0 Release Notes, Special Requirements and the End-User License Agreement.

Screenshot:

Technical Support: Please use the Modpack Discussion forum, here at Age Of Kings Heaven, there are many friendly people there that will be glad to help you. Please report all bugs there. Or, you can use The Modpack Stable's MPS Tutorial.

Special Update: (Not applicable to users of 2.0) Several days after the release of MPS 1.0, I've discovered that the "Install & Run" button is not working properly. That has been corrected with build 1.0.41 and the setup program has been recompiled. If you've already downloaded MPS 1.0.40 (The first version 1.0 release) you can download the 1.0.41 patch here.

Version 2.0 Release Notes:

What hs been added in Version 2.0?

- AoK: TC compatibility: Version 2.0 lets you build mod packs for machines with AOK:
The Conquerers (TC) installed. Due to changes in TC, mod
packs designed for AOK won't work properly if TC is
installed.

MPS 2.0 adds a new file format for TC mods to accompany the
AKS format for AOK mods. The new files end with a AKX
extension and are created for mods targeting machines w/
TC installed.

If you do not have TC installed, MPS will work the same
way as it always has although there are a number of new
interface features to assist your work.

- Favorites Tab: MPS 2.0 adds a new, "Favorites" tab to the "Project
Explorer" window in addition to the standard "By Type" and
"By File" tabs. On this tab you can group and arrange
resources in any order you wish, and even create an
organizational heirarchy to catagorize your resources in
any way useful to you. You "Favorites" list can be exported
the same way as resource descriptions, via. a REG file.

Version 1.0 Release Notes:

For users of MPS Beta 2, you'll find Version 1.0 very familiar. Only a few major features have been added to 1.0 with the bulk of the coding effort dedicated to refining the software and fixing bugs, including the mysterious Windows 95 bug. Here's a run-down of the new features:

Multiple Mod Pack Installation - Due to the large number of requests, multiple AKS mod packs can now be installed at the same time. The mechanism for this is an AKG file which is a simple script that ties multiple mod packs together. MPS has an installation wizard that creates AKG files automatically via drag-and-drop or you can hand code them yourself. A file called akgfmt.txt is installed along with MPS and includes the syntax rules for AKG scripts.

AKS Decompilation - To allow more flexibility in how mod packs are installed, you can now decompile an AKS file to extract the resources contained. This could be useful for creating composite mod packs or converting AKS mod packs to DRS mod packs. Mod pack authors can optionally password protect their AKS files to prevent decompilation.

Composite/Animation Preview Window - MPS now provides a tool that can be used to preview multiple SLP's. For example, you can preview a building and its shadow as one scene. Or a ship's hull animation and it's sail animation. You can specify the palette to use when viewing SLP's and also a background terrain.

Special Requirements:

AKS is the file extension for the original MPS "install-on-
the fly" mod packs. This format is still used for mod packs
targetting machines without TC installed. For machines with
TC installed the new AKX file format does the same thing.

NOTE - The distinction is not whether you want to play AOK
or TC, it's whether you have TC installed on your machine.

MPS won't let you install the wrong type of AKS/AKX file on
your machine, but it will let you build both types if your
MPS installation allows.

MPS can produce mod packs for both AOK and AOK:TC, but your
options depend greatly on the order in which you install
AOK, AOK:TC and MPS.


Option 1:

If you only have AOK on your machine when you
install MPS, you will only be able to make and install
AKS mods.

Option 2:

If you install MPS AFTER installing AOK:TC, you
will only be able to make AOK:TC mods. The reason is simple:
MPS needs a clean copies of your original AOK DRS files in
order to work. Once has been installed, these files have
been altered and are useless to MPS for making AOK mods.

If you find yourself in this position, but still would like
to make AOK mods, then you can enabled this feature by
creating a folder named "Data" in the MPS installation
folder and copying all the original AOK DRS files from your
original AOK CD to this folder. The next time MPS starts, you
will be able to create AOK:TC mods as well.

Option 3:

If you have installed MPS (any version) prior to installing
TC, and then install this update over top of your original
MPS installation, you will be able to make mods for AOK and
AOK:TC. Note however, that this increases the disk space
needed by MPS to backup DRS files subtantially, as you now have
two sets of DRS files backed up.

If you have this configuration and would like to disable the
feature to create mods for the original AOK, simply delete the
"Data" folder found in the MPS installation directory.

In order to use MPS, you MUST have Age of Kings installed! This software works with AOK not AOE! Also, you'll need to have about 138 Megs free, up and above that required by the software, because MPS makes a backup copy of all your AOK resources the first time it is run. For the same reason, make sure that you have your original AOK DRS files installed the first time you run MPS.

Also, at the moment I can't say how MPS will perform with AOK:TC since it isn't out yet and I don't have a copy to test against. I'm certain that it will require an update to MPS to function properly with AOK:TC, but at the moment I don't know how significant of an update will be required.

Hosting - A Note to Webmasters:

I've publically stated that I (j_c_a) didn't want anyone else to host the download for any of the beta versions of MPS. The reason for that had to do with testing and keeping an idea of how many beta copies were in use. With the release of version 1.0, that restriction has been lifted. If you would like to host the download from your site, I have only a couple of requirements:

If you can satisfy these requirements, then feel free to host the download, mpssetup.exe.

Notes:

Program Created by JC.

Tested by AoErat and Ronin.

End-User Licence Agreement:

ACCEPTANCE AND DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

MOD PACK STUDIO (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS "MPS") IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE RESULTS, USEFULNESS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE MPS SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY THE END-USER. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, CORRESPONDENCE TO DESCRIPTION, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. FURTHER, THE AUTHOR SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES REGARDING lack of viruses, accuracy or completeness of responses, results, lack of negligence, AND lack of workmanlike effort, FOR THE MPS SOFTWARE.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, ARISING FROM THE USE OF MPS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, AND THE LIKE, ARISING OUT OF THE PERFORMANCE, USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, ALL OR PART OF THE MPS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Special thanks to JC for kindly letting Age Of Kings Heaven host ModPack Studio and it's website.