!hehe.scm is a test map attempting to merge CHK and MPQ data together, as well as exploit bugs that make the map valid.

Currently, it is 1228 bytes in size.
Features:
- You can't open it as a valid MPQ archive outside of Starcraft(storm.dll).
- 2-players, multiplayer only (will be invalid in single player).
- Non-UMS only.
- No start locations. Proves that players without a start location do not crash the game(defaults top-left, instant defeat).
- Valid map. Goes in-game without crashing. Only required map sections are used.

[attach=2332]

TODO:
- Change the file start position to read from the MPQ header and save some 12 bytes or something.
- Figure out VCOD so that I can actually compress it inside the MPQ and save space.

Attachments:

I must admit, it's impressive, but can you use it for anything truly useful?

Hmm, not sure, use your imagination.

If I could manipulate the positions of files in the MPQ, then it may be possible to overlap data which can give you several opportunities, like making weird music from the MTXM section or putting small sounds in where data isn't used by the map(like PUNI and UNIx, if units are using their defaults), or define positions in a single WAV file to start playing from.

It may be possible to make any UMS map multi-player only without using the single player detection trick.

Cutting off data at the end of the CHK file still causes the section to be valid. For example, the size of the UPGx section is constant in UMS maps, but you can move the section to the end of the file, and delete some bytes. Starcraft will read the data as an overflow and consider it valid.

I'd really rather you put your effort into a compression that helps UMS maps since melee usually has no size issues. Still, very impressive, a map under 2kb, I would've never thought it possible.

Edit: Read your reply. In that case, I do hope you manage to get to the point where this can help UMS. Good luck.

Yeah, if you could put out a program to compress using these kinds of functions, it could help a ton.

Not sure about the "truly useful" part, but it definitely protects your maps against any automated unprotector.

I've made maps without start locations before... and it sometimes drops players randomly (unless that was something else in the map.)

lol, I just found this old topic from Google, but I don't think anyone will mind if I bump it as long as it is relevant, considering there probably isn't another topic about it.

WinMPQ with the latest build of my MPQ library appears to be able to.
(or probably anything with the latest build of my MPQ library)

By the way, does it get the correct staredit\scenario.chk extracted, or are there flaws in the output file?

Post has been edited 2 time(s), last time on Aug 22 2009, 11:12 pm by ShadowFlare.

The only problem when it is extracted is the extra bytes appended to the file. EDIT: Actually I have no idea if that was supposed to be there or not.

Also note: This isn't the smallest size I can make it. This map has no VCOD compression. I will make a fully playable smallest map possible.

Thanks for bringing this back up.

EDIT: New map.
[attach=4376]

Map Size: 256x256
Players: 8
Suggested game setting: Greed (Or whatever game type gives you resources at the start).
File Size: 276 bytes

EDIT: It should be .scm, but whatever

EDIT: Updated map.
[attach=4377]
File size: 275 bytes

Tileset changed to Space. (increased by 1 byte)
STR section decreased to 1 byte. (No change)
VCOD section modified to contain a more uniform set of characters. (No change)
MTXM and ERA sections moved to the beginning of the file. (decreased by 2 bytes)

Attachments:

Post has been edited 5 time(s), last time on Aug 23 2009, 9:33 am by Heinermann.

Wow, 275 bytes, now that's impressive.

Remembers me this: http://www.ioccc.org/years-spoiler.html#1994 look for the entry "smr".