Maxis Documentation - Comments
@SimGuruEugi – since you said here that you’d look into updating the docmentation PDF, here’s some more suggestions I thought I should post – perhaps you can take a look at that too while you’re at it...
Forum Discussion
I think you have a lot of good points about how to improve the documentation, but I want to say that the language used when referring to hashes and setting bits are actually appropriate given the expertise required to know how to use this information.
Remember that s4pe is required for most of these things you mention here, and things like setting high bit and calculate hashes are actually features that should be considered in the purview of such a tool.
Having modders and not tool makers care about how to set the high bit and calculate the hashes is like expecting them to use a hex editor to edit simdata or package files. The reason I say this is that I think it is more important that the Gurus provide new information for the people who can use it rather then providing explanations of old information to those who shouldn't have to care.
For instance it was very easy for me to create my tool that calculates all types of hashes one would need, so now no one else need to bother looking into it (unless they want to add the functionality to their tools).
I know there are some problems with the toolmakers currently and that collaboration hasn't been as good as it could be, but I still believe that we should focus on making modding easier and more strait-forward rather then trying to educate everyone about the internals of the game.
And as I said, your other points are valid and important in my opinion. I don't mean to be hostile. :)
Remember that s4pe is required for most of these things you mention here, and things like setting high bit and calculate hashes are actually features that should be considered in the purview of such a tool.
Having modders and not tool makers care about how to set the high bit and calculate the hashes is like expecting them to use a hex editor to edit simdata or package files. The reason I say this is that I think it is more important that the Gurus provide new information for the people who can use it rather then providing explanations of old information to those who shouldn't have to care.
For instance it was very easy for me to create my tool that calculates all types of hashes one would need, so now no one else need to bother looking into it (unless they want to add the functionality to their tools).
I know there are some problems with the toolmakers currently and that collaboration hasn't been as good as it could be, but I still believe that we should focus on making modding easier and more strait-forward rather then trying to educate everyone about the internals of the game.
And as I said, your other points are valid and important in my opinion. I don't mean to be hostile. :)
