MSG File Format

MSG files are files with indexed (numbered) text, containing in-game messages and characters' lines, and are located in the text\english\game\ and text\english\dialog folders, respectively.

The main provisions:

   * Each indexed text line has the format: "{}{}{}".
   * The first set of curly braces "{}" indicate the line index (number) in decimal format.
   * The second set of braces can (optionally) indicate the name of an ACM-file sound.
   * The third set of braces contain the text.
   * The length of the lines between the braces cannot exceed 1024 characters.
   * Linebreaks inside the braces are allowed.
   * At the end of the file there is a blank line (with no characters in it).
   * The game only looks for text within braces, which allows leaving comments in between the indexed lines. Comments are usually preceded by a "#".

For more on working with MSG files in the game, see "Resource Handling".

Sound files are only used in dialog with important characters ("talking heads"). For details, again see "Resource Handling".

Example:

{100}{}{Before you stands Hakunin, the village shaman. He appraises you with his crazy eyes from somewhere in the world only he inhabits.}

{101}{}{You see Hakunin lying on the ground. He's badly wounded.}

{102}{}{You see Hakunin. He's very near death.} {103}{}{Hakunin is badly burned. He smells like roast chicken, looks like burnt meatloaf, and you don't know how he's managed to stay alive this long.}

1. Commentary: the following line of text plays a sound (the sound file is hak001.acm)

{104}{hak001}{Greetings, Chosen. Why does the earth before me warm to the touch of your passing?}

{105}{}{Uh?}

About the author:

Author: . Translated by Kanhef @ nma-fallout.com; intellectual property of teamx.ru

Thanks to for significant additions.

Last updated: 23.09.2006.