How its possible to lock Mesh files ?

**OneManShow** · June 24, 2009, 03:56 AM

Who know a way to lock the 3d models as CA did with the 14 buying units ?
I dont understand how its possible, a model is a file, in the game, nothing modify it, only read it, how they can make the mesh files working only in his original part ?

**Tobler75** · June 24, 2009, 05:54 AM

As i got bladerunner right they are simply crypted, but as i got no experience in that i don't know how CA did it

**Bladerunner** · June 24, 2009, 06:12 AM

If you remember CA once told us how ETW handles it's files and tables. ETW creates a Virual-Filesystem at start. So all they need to do was entering a routine, that decrypted the meshes into the virtual-filesystem. And there is sure a routine to block the use of those meshes if you didn't have payed for them. They only need to block the meshes with the original name, as if you remane the models, you might be able to use them, but etw don't decrypt them and you got a CTD.

This is only a guess how this could be made by CA. Sure there are other possible way to do it, but the seems resonable and covers the now effects we found this far.

Would be nice to have a chance to read out the virtual-filesystem....

**OneManShow** · June 24, 2009, 07:35 AM

Ok, thanks for reply. But the first way they used to crypt special units was not the same as now. When u know ETW was 50% bugged, CA had to work hard to correct it and i'm not sure they created a such heavy VFS only for these 14 units. They have others importants things to do. I guess there is a 1/0 values somewhere to unlock special units when u buy it. And may be its not so hard to find out the key to make mesh moddable.

**joedreck** · June 24, 2009, 08:01 AM

Whats about the "PDLC" file? Did someone try to change it, delete it?

What the difference between normal version and a version with DLC units? Is there more files, less files?

**Bladerunner** · June 24, 2009, 10:35 AM

As they said, they were surprised about how fast we had tools like the pfm. That why they changed the system. A simple switch can't be the trick. I looked in those files and while normal files had a readable header, those don't have.

**Zaphod** · June 24, 2009, 01:48 PM

As far as I know the DLC does not add or replace any files... and if it does they're so small that Steam sees no reason to update. People that have downloaded the patch and then bought the DLC don't have to download anything. All of the content is already there in the patch for everyone.