How can I enable taunts in the developer version of the 1.6 patch?

[Razortron]

Hi, I just got back into Empire Earth 2 recently, I'm looking for how to enable or add the Age of Empires taunts to the developer version of the 1.6 patch since I've been playing with friends and its fun for us to mess around with the taunts in the game. I was made aware that there could be a special configuration command that enables the taunts. I'm new here so I apologize if I posted in a wrong way.

[Dr.MonaLisa]

The custom configuration command that should be inserted in UP1.6 Settings (or added to UnofficialVersionConfig.txt file) is:

Code: Select all

EnableAudioTauntsSystemOnThisDevelopersVersion=1

However, it won't magically make the audio taunts work, as these sounds are not the part of the Developers Version of UP1.6. This command is only a "security" unlock that allows this UP1.6 feature to work on Developers Version.

On the Normal Version of UP1.6, the audio taunts are defined in the following files:

EE2: zips\db_155.zip\db\Audio\dbsoun5.csv
AOS: zips_ee2x\EE2X_db_155.zip\EE2X_db\Audio\dbsoun5.csv

As example for AOE taunts on EE2:

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up15cs_a1,aoe3_01.mp3,1.0,0,1,0
up15cs_a2,aoe3_02.mp3,1.0,0,1,0
up15cs_a3,aoe3_03.mp3,1.0,0,1,0

For AOS it differs a bit:

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up15cs_a1,aoe3_01.mp3,1.0,0,1,0,1,0
up15cs_a2,aoe3_02.mp3,1.0,0,1,0,1,0
up15cs_a3,aoe3_03.mp3,1.0,0,1,0,1,0

So basically, the "up15cs_" prefix for the sound database entry that decides that this sound is an audio taunt. If it was "up15cs_blablabla", then audio taunt would be played on message "Blablabla" and such, just as defined here: https://ee2.eu/multiplayer/taunts/#about

Since you use the Developers Version, the files structure is unchanged, and the files are:

EE2: zips\db.zip\db\Audio\dbsound.csv
AOS: zips_ee2x\EE2X_db.zip\EE2X_db\Audio\dbsound.csv

So you need to add your audio taunts to this file.

However, the Normal Version audio taunt (.mp3 files) are not available for access for players. They're encrypted in one of UP1.6 files for legality reasons. It's because the SoundDogs license forced me to encrypt these files (mostly purchased for the new ambient sounds). This is why in order to prevent piracy, these sounds can't be copied from the Normal Version to Developers one.
As an exception, I attached the AOE .mp3 files for you:

aoe_taunts.zip

(1.47 MiB) Downloaded 4 times

You should paste these .mp3 files to some .zip archive, such as "sounds_taunts.zip\Sounds\UP15ChatSounds" in "zips" folder (it's always "zips" folder, even for EE2: AOS, so just use 1 archive, and AOS will see it). So simply rename "aoe_taunts.zip" to "sounds_taunts.zip", and paste to your "zips" folder.

[Razortron]

Thank you! I was able to get the taunts to work in game.

[Dr.MonaLisa]

That's great! Seems like you have some modding experience. The guide wasn't very detailed. I'm happy that you got them working.

[Razortron]

I made some mods for a different game in the past, so the programming/file tools I have and time I spent using them definitely helped.