What makes the collection packs different?

[Rarr]

I have noticed that some mods (such as AGS) say that they can't work with a game that has any collection pack in it. I'm curious about why the collection packs conflict with some things. Do they work differently? Does something not recognize the EP's as well when they come from a collection pack?

[Mootilda]

The AnyGameStarter needs to understand the registry format for any game that it handles, since it modifies the registry to make the game believe that only specific EPs and SPs are installed.

Downloaded games and collections have different registry entries than games on DVD. Numenor left the community before the later collection packs were released, so he was not able to change the AnyGameStarter to support those packs. What's more, Numenor did not leave us the source code for the AGS, so it's impossible to take over the development. If someone wanted to support the collection packs and downloaded games, that person would basically have to rewrite the AGS from scratch.

I believe that it is completely possible to make the AGS work with collection packs, after the fact, by modifying the BAT and REG files generated by the AGS. However, I haven't found anyone who has collection packs and wants to risk their installation in testing my theory.
http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=450094

[maxon]

Uh-oh, Moo has a theory.

[Mootilda]

Sigh. I've even considered buying Fun with Pets collection just so that I can test my theories.

However, looks like I may not need to, since I'm getting some good information on the other thread.

It's really too bad that Numenor never shared his source code for his utilities. I'm sure that this would be easier to solve with the source code.

[maybesomethingdunno]

I have both the University Life and Best of Business Collection Packs installed. If there is anything you need to know about from their registry files, let me know. :)

[maxon]

Sigh. I've even considered buying Fun with Pets collection just so that I can test my theories.

However, looks like I may not need to, since I'm getting some good information on the other thread.

It's really too bad that Numenor never shared his source code for his utilities. I'm sure that this would be easier to solve with the source code.
Are you really going to take over maintenance of the AGS too?

[Rarr]

Sigh. I've even considered buying Fun with Pets collection just so that I can test my theories.

I don't know much about programming or anything but I have the University Life collection if I can help. I've recently started taking an interest into how programs work.

[Mootilda]

Are you really going to take over maintenance of the AGS too?Due to real-life issues, I can't say at this time. I expect my spare time to be extremely limited for the foreseeable future. (You may have noticed that I've been on MTS a lot less over the last few months.)

As I tried to explain, no one can take over maintenance of the AGS without the original source code. Instead, a programmer would have to re-write the AGS from scratch, trying to generate the exact same AppFiles folder as the original AGS for all of the existing choices. Only then could work continue on trying to support the collection packs and perhaps Origin or Steam.

I am trying to document what I know about the files in the AppFiles folder, so that people may be able to make the appropriate changes themselves. The files which need to be changed can all be modified in Notepad or any other text editor. I have personally set up new AnyGames without the use of the AGS, just by copying an existing AnyGame and modifying the appropriate files. I've also helped people to move their AnyGames to a new disk, outside of the Documents folder (yes, it's possible), and helped set up AnyGames on the MAC (yes, that works too).

The main problem with attempting to help with this endeavor is that the AGS will destroy your registry if you have collections or downloaded games, thus making even your full game unplayable. Unfortunately, this appears to be true, even if you never run the AnyGame. I believe that this can be fixed by making a system restore point and extracting the appropriate registry entries before installing the AGS, and by restoring from your system restore point after collecting the required AGS files.

At this time, I'm waiting for confirmation from fruitsymphony that the system restore resolves all of the issues created by installing the AGS. Once we have confirmation that you won't have to uninstall and reinstall all of your games, I'll be more willing to ask for additional data from other people.

From the data that I've collected so far, it would appear that the AGS is even more confused than I had hoped. However, I'm plodding through the data that I have so far and will document the technical details on the other thread.

Any programmer should be able to take over the AGS development. If I can find the time, it would be a project that I'd be interested in.

[iCad]

Mootilda: I took all of the Sims stuff off my laptop and moved it to a desktop. For the purposes of what you need, I could re-install stuff on my laptop and find the info you need or whatever. I wouldn't care about that install at all, so if it blows up, so be it. I confess that I AM a little leery of messing with the registry (and am not knowledgeable about doing so) for fear of messing up my comp in general, but if what I'd need to do would only potentially mess up a game install I don't care about anyway, then I'm game. :) I have Double Deluxe and Fun With Pets, both on disk.

[Mootilda]

Well, my tester for using the AnyGameStarter with collection packs started having problems with her computer and uninstalled all of the collection packs. I've learned quite a bit, but I still need someone who has one or more of the collection packs and who is willing to risk testing the AGS. We seem to have come up with a strategy which will ensure that you don't have to reinstall all of your games, just so long as you do what I say before you install the AGS.

Any volunteers? It's probably best if I work with just one person until I can come up with a comprehensive strategy. Then, other people could test the strategy to ensure that it works for all collections.

[Sims2Playerfan]

Well, my tester for using the AnyGameStarter with collection packs started having problems with her computer and uninstalled all of the collection packs. I've learned quite a bit, but I still need someone who has one or more of the collection packs and who is willing to risk testing the AGS. We seem to have come up with a strategy which will ensure that you don't have to reinstall all of your games, just so long as you do what I say before you install the AGS.

Any volunteers? It's probably best if I work with just one person until I can come up with a comprehensive strategy. Then, other people could test the strategy to ensure that it works for all collections.

I'll volunteer if you need help. I don't have Double Deluxe, but I have all three collection packs. I'd love to help, especially if it would make the AGS useable, it would help me build lots that don't require every EP. Plus, I've got a fast computer, so a reinstallation wouldn't bother me that much should something go wrong, so long as I have my data backed up (which I do). I don't know much about computer programming, but I follow directions well, so if you know what you are doing I can get you the data you need.

[Mootilda]

Great. Let's keep the techie stuff in the other thread:
http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=450094

See you there.