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[Tool] Champions Online demo_record Reader

nextnametakennextnametaken Posts: 2,212 Arc User
edited May 2015 in Controls and Interface
.demo files are text files defining the 3D playback of recorded Cryptic Studios games.
Demolisher for .demo files is now available.
Play, Edit or Render your .demo with ease.
Works for Star Trek Online, Champions Online, and Neverwinter.
JEiQh7k.png
Download Demolisher from Sourceforge today
*Not supported by Cryptic Studios, Inc. or PWE Inc.

In order for the software to find files and run demos you must drag a .demo file to its icon or open window from a folder "/demos" in a directory that contains GameClient.exe

Additionally the program can be set to the default for opening .demo files in Windows file properties, allowing for double click desktop access without need for drag and drop. This new method should allow you to run demos from your Steam or other custom install location.

*Update August 21, 2013 *
New UI, More Info, Rendering, Window Size, Playback range, and Exec options.
Post edited by nextnametaken on

Comments

  • nextnametakennextnametaken Posts: 2,212 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    The 'readcrypticdemo' project is open source and available at Sourceforge.net.

    LiveCode the IDE/language used to program it and make it pretty is Open Source as well.

    Links to more info:
    -demoplay mode console commands
  • itsbrou#5396 itsbrou
    itsbrou#5396
         Posts: 1,778 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    This is good. Maybe it will end all of the "I can't load it" comments.
    Brou in Cryptic games.
  • nextnametakennextnametaken Posts: 2,212 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    Updated Saturday April 27 2013 to version 003a
    'a' is for amazed when it works, angry when it don't.

    Drag and drop a ".demo" file from "/Live/demos/" to the CO_DemoReader.exe
    to set the path to GameClient.exe and launch in -demoplay mode.

    Drag and drop to the open CO Demo Reader window to
    set the path to GameClient.exe and launch in -demoplay mode.

    Right click a '.demo' file and choose "Properties"
    Click the Opens With Change button
    Navigate to CO_DemoReader_Main.exe
    and then simply double click any '.demo' file to launch GameClient.exe in -demoplay mode.

    Refer to this thread for more about demo_record and -demoplay mode.
    Unofficial Guide to using demo_record for Machinimas

    The Entity and Raw Data windows aren't actually useful in version 003a.
  • kaiserin#0958 kaiserin
    kaiserin#0958
         Posts: 3,173 Cryptic Developer
    edited April 2013
    Thank you for this.
    It brings me much glee to see folks developing tools for CO.
  • nextnametakennextnametaken Posts: 2,212 Arc User
    edited April 2013
    This project has been a long time coming.

    This week I was giggling madly about iSteve at Funny or Die when I felt the power of The Source come over me.
    I sprung out of bed and started writing code. The next day I wrote a different program with the drag and drop.
    On the third day I put the two together. It was not always pleasant, I was not always pleasant.
    But here we are at alpha version three. The big Oh oh oh trois A.
    Exciting stuff.


    Real artists ship. - Steve Jobs
  • lunaw78lunaw78 Posts: 293 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    nextnametaken wrote: »
    .demo files are text files defining the 3D playback of recorded Cryptic Studios games.

    Champions Online Demo Reader is a a front end graphical user interface for
    launching Champions Online in -demoplay mode with a selected .demo file.

    Download CO_DemoReader_003a from Sourceforge.net - April 27, 2013 version 003a

    In order for the software to find files and run demos you must drag a .demo file to its icon or open window from a folder "/demos" in a directory that contains GameClient.exe

    Additionally the program can be set to the default for opening .demo files in file properties, allowing for double click desktop access without need for drag and drop.

    This new method should allow you to run demos from your Steam or other custom install location.

    Please try the program and give some feedback.
    SrJPepr.png
    I`m a noob ok? What exactly this program does? Let you play in demoplaymode??? What the ... is this? You won`t get banned from PW if you use this program? It is legit? Is PW aproved?
    Nemcon and Nemesis Guide
    Custom Alerts of Champions Online Complete Guide
  • flamingbunnymanflamingbunnyman Posts: 2,035 Arc User
    edited July 2013
    Demo files are text files that store all the animation and power information sent your computer by the game servers.

    Demoplay mode is when the client loads a demo file and plays it (like a video) rather than cinnecting to the game server and letting you play.

    It is 100% legit, and is accessed by using in-game commands and command line operators that are built into the game.

    This program just automates the playback, which can otherwise be confusing for some users.
    _________________________________________________
    @flamingbunnyman in game. Formerly @Roderick in City of Heroes.
  • nextnametakennextnametaken Posts: 2,212 Arc User
    edited August 2013
    bump for updates
    .demo files are text files defining the 3D playback of recorded Cryptic Studios games.
    Demolisher for .demo files is now available.
    Play, Edit or Render your .demo with ease.
    Works for Star Trek Online, Champions Online, and Neverwinter.
    JEiQh7k.png
    Download Demolisher from Sourceforge today
    *Not supported by Cryptic Studios, Inc. or PWE Inc.

    In order for the software to find files and run demos you must drag a .demo file to its icon or open window from a folder "/demos" in a directory that contains GameClient.exe

    Additionally the program can be set to the default for opening .demo files in Windows file properties, allowing for double click desktop access without need for drag and drop. This new method should allow you to run demos from your Steam or other custom install location.

    *Update August 21, 2013 *
    New UI, More Info, Rendering, Window Size, Playback range, and Exec options.
  • nextnametakennextnametaken Posts: 2,212 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    That is not dead which can eternal lie ...Rise my thread, Rise!

    I've updated Demolisher. Download version v009 here

    New Features:
    Updated UI
    Get some info about the demos as you browse
    Save and play with "Empty Zone" for blue screen keying
    Extracts characters and costumes into folders "createdEnts" & "Costume" in the demo folder
    Replaces characters in .demo files. Put those spam bots to good use.
    Render frames to a directory named after the demo file
    Demolisher stays active while running a demo (was blocked waiting on shell command before)

    The replace costume feature doesn't work yet.

    Please test and report any odd behavior or suggestions.

    Now get out there and record some demos.

    Click for higher resolution preview

    h0NZmfG.png
  • biffsmackwellbiffsmackwell Posts: 4,739 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    This is really cool, not sure why I never saw this before.
    biffsig.jpg
  • nextnametakennextnametaken Posts: 2,212 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    Stealth Aura...and now that the forum page has flipped I'll just duplicate my post so this page has the important details

    Demolisher, a .demo file editor version v009 can be Downloaded at Sourceforge

    What it does:
    • Edits and launches playback feature for .demo files made by Cryptic Studios games*
    • Extracts characters to folder /Live/demos/createdEnts
    • Extracts costumes to folder /Live/demos/Costume
    • Replaces characters in demo files, creating new files
    • Creates alternate files in the Empty Zone map for blue screen imaging
    • Renders image frames into directory named after the demo file
    • Hides garbage UI elements from your demo render
    • Edit render settings, frame range, render scale, visscale, time step scale, and window size
    • Browse files with preview of map name, player character, cutscene and misc summary info.
    • Drag and Drop files to Demolisher icon or window for playback or to update extracted characters and costumes.

    *Works for Champions Online and theoretically Star Trek Online and Neverwinter, but I haven't tested it on those two.
    Please test and report any odd behavior and/or make suggestions. The replace costume feature doesn't work yet.
    Click for higher resolution preview
    h0NZmfG.png

    The Unofficial Demo_Record Sticky

    -demoplay mode console commands

    Commands to move objects in the demo and change animation bits

    Demo_Record Neverwinter thread

    Demo_Record Video Tutorials from Star Trek Online

    Soriedem's Demo Record Tutorial - Introduction

    Soriedem's STO Demo Record Tutorial 2 - Easy Path & Points

    Soriedem's Demo Record Tutorial 3 - From Demo to Trailer

    Soriedem's STO DemoRecord Tutorial - Controls & Camera Movement

    Soriedem's Unholy Alliances I - Slave Action Trailer

    Did I forget anything?
  • nextnametakennextnametaken Posts: 2,212 Arc User
    edited May 2015
    There was a bug, the Exec script was not saving correctly. Fixed it and uploaded the fix, Download version 0009b

    Also here are some more helpful demo record tutorials

    TimTom's Camera Path Tutorials Tutorials for Star Trek Online
    The Basics

    Easy Path

    Orbit and Look Around Cameras

    Normal Path

    Follow and Shadow Camera

    Advanced Tricks
  • lordwolfylordwolfy Posts: 140 Arc User
    Sorry to resurrect this thread but I just got the program and it literally does nothing. I try and drag the file to the window and nothing happens. I try telling the program where the demo folder is and click on the file to play (yes its a .dem file) and..nothing happens. What am I doing wrong?
  • nextnametakennextnametaken Posts: 2,212 Arc User
    edited July 2016
    Windows 10? Drag and Drop seems broken after that.

    If you drag a .demo file to Demolisher.exe icon you should get a help text that says "Open with Demolisher. a demo file editor", dropping the file there will fill the "Path to Live" and "Demofile" fields in the program, then hitting the "Play Demo" button at the bottom right of Demolisher will launch GameClient.exe and play the demo file.

    Clicking the Path To Live field will ask you to find the GameClient.exe in the Live folder.

    Clicking the Demofile field will ask you to find a .demo file

    The Players tab allows you to replace player characters in a .demo file, creating a new file, and then playing it back if you want. The Costume tab is an unfinished broken mess.

    The Render button and options render frames to files.

    The Options Menu + "Extract Created Ents" choice will extract player character data to text files.

    Everything else is self explanatory.

    Simple enough.
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