First off there's been some exploration into the extraction of the BSA files that Fallout 3 uses to store textures, sounds and animations for the game. The hope is that if we can extract these files we will be able to modify or create new textures to add into the game. Perhaps better quality textures or textures that improve performance.
Delphy over on the NMA Forums has managed to reveal some great progress on this front where he explains:
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... the game has .bsa files that are the same as the ones used in Oblivion. The version number is 0x68, as opposed to 0x67 for Oblivion.
To open them with BSA Commander you have to do the following:
- Backup the original .bsa file
- Open it in a hex editor
- Change byte 5 from 68 to 67
- Save and open in BSA Commander
This will allow you to extract the textures, nifs etc.
To open them with BSA Commander you have to do the following:
- Backup the original .bsa file
- Open it in a hex editor
- Change byte 5 from 68 to 67
- Save and open in BSA Commander
This will allow you to extract the textures, nifs etc.
Essentially it is possible to extract the BSA files using an Oblivion modder's resource called BSA Commander (mirrored on Fallout 3 Nexus) and a hex editor. More details to follow on that front in the near future. Delphy goes on to clarify further:
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Okay I've looked at the .nif files - unfortunately they can't be loaded with nifskope at the moment (lots of errors with block ranges). I'll need to dissect the format some more to see exactly whats different.
So while the BSAs have been extracted there is no way of opening the mesh files at this time. And similarly no method of getting Fallout 3 to recognise modified game files has been discovered.
On the UI front Silverglade over on the official forums has been exploring the possibility of modifying the User Interface to his liking. His latest update on the matter states:
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Okay, I finally got the game to pick up my UI changes. Thanks for the tips AvidAlchy. After extracting the the Misc BSA I copied the files into my DATA folder and renamed the Misc BSA so the game wouldn't find it. I didn't have to make any INI changes, and I didn't have to choose the 'loose files' option from the Launcher/Data Files.
Time for me to get working on a minimal UI.
Time for me to get working on a minimal UI.
That sounds like progress to me. I can't wait to see what he comes up with.
Lastly after initial fears that the possibility of a "Script Extender", similar to OBSE that came out for Oblivion would not be possible due to the SecuROM DRM that Fallout 3 uses, ianpatt clarified the situation in regards to an FOSE:
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Without going in to detail discussing the protection used on the game, this is not true. Fallout 3 Script Extender is possible without any ugly hacks or bypassing copy protection. This is known 100% for sure on the retail DVD version. I'm not sure about the Steam version, but I'm hopeful. The D2D version will not work for the same reason it didn't work for Oblivion.
The OBSE team is actively working on a version of the script extender for Fallout 3...
The OBSE team is actively working on a version of the script extender for Fallout 3...
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The FOSE team has also been hard at work. We've learned quite a bit about things, and should have something to show you all soon. The Fallout Engine is quite similar to the Oblivion Engine (as expected). Many of the class names are the same - we'll just need to see if the class data has changed much. Our hope is that much of the OBSE infrastructure (and many of the functions perhaps) can be easily ported to the new system.
This is great news as OBSE enabled the creation of much more complicated and diverse modifications for Oblivion that weren't initially possible with the vanilla game and construction set.
Stay tuned for more modding news from around the various forums out there.
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