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Post by TurkeySandwich on Oct 6, 2005 14:12:11 GMT -8
I seem to have caught up on BETA testing and converting walkthroughz to HTML, so will likely increase my frustration level (once again!) by trying to put together a working Version 1.12 with one additional "Secret Level". I am convinced that once I manage to add one new "Secret Level" to the .rez file, I will then be able to readily add the other six ... and release the 'patch'. Have you made any progress with beta-testing yet? Or, is the truth still zipped up?
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GooRoo
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Post by GooRoo on Oct 6, 2005 18:17:08 GMT -8
BETA testing for the Custom Levelz I have recieved is complete. I am expecting one from Brenda, but there is plenty for me to do until it arrivez. I am working on the Gruntz Level Editor Manual, sometimez on creating the index, sometimez creating threadz for thingz that I didn't put on-line when I first began this project ... such as the early page "Game Logics" and the like. Partly, I am doing such thingz because I dread the frustration of failure to link up to a Secret Level for any of "Gruntziclez" through "Gruntz In Space" SecretLevelTriggerz. For one thing, I have to take a considerable amount of time backing everything up, so that a catastrophic mistake (likely, on my part ) doesn't take me out of Gruntz for a considerable length of time. (I really would rather not have to re-install Gruntz, because I lost a working .rez file.)
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Post by TurkeySandwich on Oct 7, 2005 13:46:00 GMT -8
I have made an important discovery! The SecretLevelTrigger in Level 1 had a score of 32, right? Well, 32 is the number of the Yo-yo toy, which is what you need to activate it! Cool, huh? #yes#
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Post by GooRoo on Oct 7, 2005 13:51:27 GMT -8
Thanks for reminding me! I need to add an entry in the Gruntz Level Editor Manual for "SecretLevelTrigger"! (Then ... after linking in the additional 7 Secret Levelz ... all I need to do is figure out how to link one level (Warpstone1) to the next (Warpstone2), etc.!)
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Post by TurkeySandwich on Oct 20, 2005 15:53:57 GMT -8
Make a new Gruntz.ZZZ instead of .REZ! It takes Eonz less time to edit and in the process you could add replacement levelz for the space worldz. Ideaz exploded in my head after I realized that! Try it!
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Post by alexandgruntz on Mar 28, 2006 11:39:09 GMT -8
I'd extracted Gruntz.rez, and found that in Area 4, Level 4 (or Level 16) has a SecretLevelTrigger logic . It's just after the first checkpoint.
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Post by GooRoo on Aug 20, 2008 15:00:33 GMT -8
In my project to update and refresh the web site "Gruntz - The Journey Home" I have discovered another SecretLevelTrigger! So in my updated walk-throughz, I am including hintz about what is needed (and where) to invoke Secret Levelz. I am beginning to believe that there are SecretLevelTriggerz in most of the Gruntz 'Standard' Levelz. IMHO, to qualify for a "Secret Level", a Gruntz puzzle should be no larger (or smaller!?!) than 32 tilez wide by 24 tilez high; it should be playable without SAVEing, and (perhapz) without any additional cheating (beyond that required to get into the SL in the first place); it should include 'Water', 'Bad Water' (tar, quicksand, space, etc.), spikez and gulliez/plateauz ... and (ideally) continue the 'theme' of the puzzle from which it is launched. (For example, "Could someone get those purple switchez for me?" would have purple switch requirementz in the Secret Level it launchez.)
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Post by BattlezM on Aug 20, 2008 15:05:11 GMT -8
Hmm. I agree on the level size. It would be near impossible to find the triggers if the level is too big, especially since any tool or toy can activate it. As for theme, I'm not sure.... The first secret level from "The Giant Rock" did not even have any rocks in it, much less a giant one. btw: How's loading the secret levels to make them work from the warp going along?
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Post by FriedGruntzaholic on Aug 20, 2008 21:22:51 GMT -8
In my project to update and refresh the web site "Gruntz - The Journey Home" I have discovered another SecretLevelTrigger! Yes, according to GPFLith, there is a secret level trigger in each of the 32 Standard levelz. However because of time constraints caused by the rapidly approaching release date for the Game, it was decided to only include the one Secret Level. When the Secret Level Creation project was first proposed, it was by agreement amongst the Gruntzer population at the time to only create 7 new Secret Levelz-- one for each World less the Rocky Roadz World. As to how the project is proceeding, so far as yet I have not been able to get it to work. It appears that I have to obtain a second program to work in conjunction with WinREZ LT in order to successfully mod(ify) a Monolith game-engine based program. Right now, my priorities are kind of headed in other directions what with needing to renovate my house and possibly going back to college (after 20+yrs) and potentially looking for a new job. But STAY TUNED. As I get time to play with WinREZ and the Gruntz game engine (I still have 3 weeks of vacation to use up between now and the end of the year!) I will see if I can get this thing sorted out.
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GooRoo
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Post by GooRoo on Sept 26, 2008 18:15:07 GMT -8
There are 32 SecretLevelTriggerz ... one in every 'Standard Level'. On my web site are walk-throughz for each 'Standard Level', with (in most of them) the required Tool and/or Toy and the approximate location of the SecretLevelTrigger. I have "place holderz" for each of the Secret Levelz, and (when time permitz) I will add in the cheat code(z) for the Tool and/or Toy required to activate the Secret Level. I also hope to be able to spend a significant amount of time trying to resolve the "naming convention problem" so that the seven CLz awaiting inclusion in the Gruntz Version 1.12 REZ file may be officially installed. My new problem is that I will now have to choose which of the four 'Standard Levelz' should receive the first Secret Level in each of the seven graphicz areaz.
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Post by GooRoo on Sept 29, 2008 13:43:12 GMT -8
I am attempting to link in the Secret Level for Gruntziclez, Stage 1 ... I just tried Level501.WWD, and that didn't work. While I am waiting for the next re-name, I decided to provide an update on (lack of) progress in the Secret Level project. My next attempt is Level505.WWD. Each time, the re-naming process takez about 15 minutez, in WinRezLT ... even for changing a single character in a file name! Then I have to re-name the current REZ file, and re-name the testing file to Gruntz.REZ, load Gruntz, and try again. With the frustration level of this project, this will probably be my last test for the day ... back to walk-throughz after that. My Grunt getz sucked down into a White Wormhole ... never to be seen again ... his entry on the status bar just disappearz. I see that WinRezLT is writing the Index now, so it must be just about time for me to make my next attempt at invoking a new Secret Level. No luck ... his entry on the status bar just went to a skull, and he was gone.
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Post by FriedGruntzaholic on Sept 29, 2008 20:14:22 GMT -8
I've had no luck either. For those of us who have installed "The Patch" (which is to say, just about 100% of us), if you look in the Gruntz folder, you will see a file labeled Grunt.ZZZ. Using WinRezLT, I was able to extract that file and determine that those are the updated maps that "The Patch" addresses. And all they are, are WAPWorld files just like our custom level maps. But just creating a .REZ file with the Secret Level maps and installing it into the game folder in a similar manner just doesn't work. I'm beginning to think there is something else that we are missing. Sooooo...I'm beginning to entertain the idea that I(we) may have to insert those maps directly into the GRUNTZ.REZ file (despite WinREZLT's warning to the contrary) to see if that has any effect. I figure the worst it could do is screw up the game to the point where I would have to completely uninstall/reinstall the game. Any thoughtz?
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Post by GooRoo on Sept 29, 2008 21:06:06 GMT -8
I am inserting the new Secret Levelz into the Gruntz.REZ file ... with the original REZ file SAVEd under a different name. But I have not found a name that makez the game engine ... the poor (cheating) grunt just goez into Never-Never Land ... instead of into a freshly loaded puzzle. Hey! It just occurred to me ... perhapz the problem is with the Gruntz.ZZZ file!!! That is, the mere fact that it existz! I, too, have examined (and extracted the mapz of) the Gruntz.ZZZ file. I wonder if it would work to put the new mapz into Gruntz.REZ (along with the Secret Levelz) and re-name Gruntz.ZZZ so that the Gruntz game engine cannot find it ... and maybe Gruntz would then 'find' the Secret Levelz!!! I'll have to try that ... tomorrow ... tonight I have reached my limit of Gruntz, and am going to try instead.
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Post by FriedGruntzaholic on Oct 3, 2008 19:22:19 GMT -8
I'm beginning to wonder if this project is simply beyond our capabilities because we're missing another piece of the puzzle. Our REZ file structures and naming are correct. But I think there is something else that we need in order to make it work. You got close with the .ZZZ file and I think it holds the key to at least why we can't our mod to work. Here's why: As you know, the .ZZZ file is the .REZ file that contains the corrected maps for the issues that the patch addresses. Coincidentally, the patch is the last known modification to the game. It occurred to me to check the patch and see if there were more files besides the REZ file. So, I downloaded it again from here and instead of extracting the patch files to the Gruntz folder as normal, I extracted them to MyDesktop. Lo, and behold, there are 3 filez included with the patch: the ZZZ REZ file, a ReadMe file (both of which are known to be in the patch) and[\b][\u] a 2.39 MB[\b] .EXE file which is labeled as version 1,0,1,77. Granted, it is the same size as the 1.0 version, but there may well be something in that file besides changing the version # that allowed the .ZZZ file to work in the game. Or am I barking mad and clearly barking up the wrong tree?
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Post by GooRoo on Sept 11, 2010 15:24:49 GMT -8
I just thought of a reason why my Gruntz go down a Red Wormhole ... but never arrive anywhere! If I am correct, it also meanz that all seven of the Secret Levelz that have been submitted need to be changed. Just like with any type of Wormhole in a Custom Level, if the destination is a Death Tile at the time the Grunt divez in ... nothing happenz. I am going to look into the one good example of a Standard Level invoking a Secret Level we have, to see if my suspicionz are correct. If I am right, we will have seven new Secret Levelz playable in mere dayz! You see, if my theory holdz water, the problem is not a naming convention, but a relatively simple logic error on our part. As another result of my theory "holding water", it will mean it is time for Designerz to begin creating small, low Coin count, playable without SAVE-ing puzzlez for 24 more 'Standard Levelz' to be able to invoke. We have one Secret Level waiting for each of the seven graphicz setz currently without one ... and I believe that all of them are set to be "Stage 1" add-onz. That meanz that puzzlez intended to be SLz should be for Stagez 2, 3 and 4 (proper base numberz, and Warpstonez for Stagez 2 , 3 and 4 . Now, another thing about Secret Levelz; a Grunt from the 'Standard Level' will arrive, so there doesn't have to be a Grunt provided in the SL! Although, it would probably be a good idea for the SL to require two (or more) Gruntz, with one of them 'supplied' to start. For testing, you will need to supply the Grunt who will "drop in on you", of course. Ideally, the Grunt who dropz in will be carrying the Tool and/or Toy that was acquired via cheating ... and it should be required to solve the SL. A well-designed SL will be solvable without cheating (further) ... what is required to solve is available on the map ... somewhere. It is the solver's task to find those thingz, after all. If all the solver has to do to solve it is to cheat some (maybe a LOT) more, it is not really a puzzle. Wait until I post with the result of my experiment with the goal of proving my theory before you bombard me with requestz to do any Secret Levelz. If I post SUCCESS in this thread, that meanz that the thread is open for SL assignmentz. If I post FAILURE, any SL creationz will be an exercise in futility.
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Post by GooRoo on Sept 11, 2010 20:01:05 GMT -8
Very bad newz, indeed! I do not have WinREZ on my laptop ... and my desktop computer refusez to boot up ... where I last used WinREZLT to access the componentz of the REZ file. Tonight, I tried to install it from the archive I have on the laptop, and it has a Trojan! ZoneAlarm quarantined the Black Angel version, and I deleted everything. I went in search of WinREZ/WinREZLT/LithREZ and could not find anything except the Black Angel (cracked ... and Trojaned, evidently) version that I could actually download. Several download sitez led me on a merry chase from window to window, without ever starting a transfer. One 'hit' re-directed me to a porn site!!! So I am unable to view the Secret Level WWD for Rocky Roadz, Stage 1. STALLED! Now I cannot even find the last copy I made of the Gruntz Extraz CD-ROM which contained a working copy of WinREZLT. So I will probably be off-line for quite a while, tearing apart my computer room, looking for that CD. Or, perhapz, I have the file SAVEd to the web site ... without the Trojan ... and can recover from there. If it turnz out that it is on the web site storage, but is infected, I will remove it ASAP! I don't think there is a punishment severe enough for malware creatorz!
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Post by GooRoo on Sept 11, 2010 20:26:41 GMT -8
The web host version of WinRezLT was infected ... and has been deleted. Based upon the response (none) I have received from Monolith to the e-mail I sent yesterday, it will be at least Monday afternoon before I can obtain a virus-free copy of the software to access the REZ filez. If then! It may well be that some hard ca$h will be required to get something that I can actually use to analyze the three varietiez of REZ filez to work out a solution to merging in the seven additional Secret Levelz. And hard ca$h is in short supply in the GooRoo household. I only hope that someone at MPI actually readz my e-mail, and takez the time to either reply, or forward it to someone who can respond, with authority. Monolith Productions, Inc. does not even have a reasonable "contact us" link on their web site, no information about how to obtain gamez or supporting software for their gamez, certainly nothing of value about a ten year out-of-market game such as Gruntz. Even though MPI is located about 50 milez away form me, I cannot afford to drive there, nor try a telephone contact ... I can just hear the "for .... press 1; for ... press 2; .... press 9" recording in my mind ... and am confident that that is exactly what I would get making a long-distance telephone call to them.
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Post by FriedGruntzaholic on Sept 11, 2010 20:29:52 GMT -8
Hmmmmmm....Interesting. I had the same problem here. My version of Black Angel WinrezLT was also quarantined by my anti-virus program (a Kaspersky offshoot, I believe) for the very same reason: supposedly it was infected by a trojan virus. But the only file that was quarantined and deleted was the .exe file. All the other files remained intact. And it seems that Black Angel Software may have gone out of business. Like you, a search for their website turned up nothing and their domain appears to have been abandoned. I haven't made a real vigorous search for it lately, but I may see if I can come up with something.
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Post by FriedGruntzaholic on Sept 11, 2010 21:03:37 GMT -8
Update--GooRoo, look in your antivirus list of quarantined objects. The WinRezLT program--or at least the relevant missing parts--may be still there, being held in quarantine or (as in my case, Backup). If so, you may be able to Restore it to its original folder. However, you may have to turn off or pause your anti-virus program in order to be able to use WinRezLT. I had to because the AV program kept deleting the file. I think this is a case of a false positive.
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Post by GooRoo on Sept 11, 2010 21:31:46 GMT -8
I believe I will, instead, send an e-mail to CheckPoint/ZoneAlarm with the particularz, and see if they cannot resolve the issue ... determine manually (instead of via their programz) if there truly is a problem with the executable. My search turned up that WinRezLT is a 'cracked' program, which makez it rather unethical to use it. But I could find no legal source for "WinRez", "WinRezLT" or "LithRez" ... even for a fee!
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